Preconceived

We all make mistakes – sometimes they are innocent mistakes, and sometimes they are true lapses in character judgement that we only later come to regret.  And with any good mistake comes a good apology, and hopefully a genuine forgiveness on the other side.  But what if the apology is disingenuous?  Or what if the other side refuses to forgive?  Why do we cr...

In this 250th episode of Preconceived, Zale revisits segments from some of his favourite episodes whose messages truly resonated with him. Is age just a number? How can we make decisions amidst uncertainty? Is the grass always greener on the other side? And how do we know if we are a good person? These are some of the questions explored in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...

There are few cultural events that grasp the world’s attention as much of The Olympics.  Regardless of what might be going on politically in the world, The Olympics is largely seen as a globally unifying moment, once every four summers, and once every four winters.  But what is it that captivates so many people to turn on their televisions and tune into Olympics events? &n...

When a Muslim father was asked by his son if Islam is inherently a violent religion, he was taken aback. Where did his son get these ideas from, and how many other people shared this concern? In his book 'Being Muslim Today', Dr. Saqib Iqbal Qureshi explores the history of Islam and seeks to understand some of the preconceptions regarding Islamic doctrine and how, if at all, it relates to Muslim p...

Pranks, Joshing, Deception, Practical Jokes ... Humor takes shape in many forms. But can a joke go too far? Should a joke's funniness be measured by the reactions it elicits, the intentions of the joke, or none of the above? Cornell Professor David Shoemaker is a philosopher and author. He joins the podcast to discuss his latest book, 'Wisecracks: Humor and Morality in Everyday Life'. Wisecracks -...

The Aztec Empire famously fell following the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century. Much of what we know about the Aztecs – including their rise, the nature of the empire, and its eventual fall, comes strictly from European accounts. But what did the Aztecs themselves think? The narrative has almost solely been shaped by the European perspective – but how did the Aztecs view the Europeans w...

There is a certain stigma about only children - the idea that they may become more self-centred, and the concern that they will be lonelier in life without siblings. Such concerns have even prompted some to suggest that it is 'selfish' for parents to only have one child. But what does the evidence show about the life experiences of children who do not have siblings? Psychology Professor Tony Falbo...

The Preconceived or ‘status quo’ path in life typically includes a variety of steps; one major milestone is graduating from college.  It’s something that we are ‘supposed to do’, a relatively expensive all-consuming four-year program that most of experience after high school.  But how important is college?  Do the academic benefits of college merit the time and cost o...

For many people, travel provides some of the most profound experiences of their lives.  Whether it’s a short excursion or a year living abroad, disengaging from your typical routine and transplanting yourself into the unknown is bound to lead to personal growth and self-discovery.  But for all the good that can come from it, travelling can also be confusing.  Is trave...

When it comes to our finances, it’s natural for many to follow the traditional approach to investing by using a stock broker.  Over the past couple of decades, however, there has been a growing trend to go against the grain and  not  use a stockbroker.  You may have seen the commercials online by companies urging you to bypass stock brokers by investing in their onlin...

Since the October 7th massacre and the ensuing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, much world attention has been given to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.  In this episode, we take a look back at the origins of this conflict, the concept of Zionism, and the events leading up to the 1948 war, known as the War of Independence in Israel, and referred to as The Nakba ('the catastrophe...

The relationship between humans and non-human animals is a fascinating one. In particular, the pet-owner relationship begs many questions. The preconception is that it is totally normal that we cohabitate with other animals in our homes. People love their pets, and for the most part, we assume that our pets love us. But how normal really is the concept of having pets? And even if pets do add much...

There is often an expectation that when parents die, their children will be left with some form of inheritance. But what does the research show about what actually happens to inheritance? What do the recipients tend to do with their inheritance? Is the money put to good use, is it spent right way, is it saved, or is it sometimes totally squandered? Jay Zagorsky, from the Questr...

When we go through elementary school, high school, and college, we are tasked with learning and memorizing mounds of information. But how much emphasis is actually put on how we learn? What are the most effect memory strategies that can help us excel on exams? Are the strategies for short-term memory the same as the techniques for long-term retention? And how does an understanding of one's own 'le...

What if you knew from the beginning of your life that you would die at age 30?  How would you choose to live those 30 years?  Needless to say, your path would completely deviate from many elements of the preconceived status quo of a typical life.  And what if, just as you were reaching the end of your predicted life expectancy, you found out that you would not indeed...

On April 13th, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones over Israel.  While Israel’s missile defensive system was able to mitigate most damage, the attack itself was unprecedented and a frightening development to the international community.  When most of us think of modern-day Iran, we think of an oppressive authoritarian regime that suppresses the rights of its people and a...

We all know people who have been sick, whether with acute illness or chronic disease.  But despite how common it is for people we know to be sick, we don’t always know how to deal with it in the best way.  How do we support someone who is going through health troubles?  How do you treat them normally, so to speak, while also acknowledging that what they’re going throu...

‘Work-life-balance’ is a common phrase, a buzzword even, that refers to the way we find balance in our professional lives and personal lives.  The goal for many is to achieve an equilibrium, where we devote sufficient time to our work, family, and personal lives, without letting one domain dominate the other.  But is work-life balance truly attainable in the ways most of us thi...

As excitement grows regarding the upcoming solar eclipse, so do feelings of anxiety and fear amongst many people.  What exactly is a solar eclipse, and how dangerous is it for your eyes?  Ophthalmologist Dr. Tina Felfeli joins the podcast to prepare you for this once-in-a-lifetime event . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Zale opens up about his own experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. What is an obsession, and what is a compulsion? How does OCD extend far beyond the preconception of a pure focus on cleanliness? Zale gives a window into what it is like living with anxiety and sheds some light on psychiatric illness in general. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Roman Empire is thought of as one of the most powerful empires in human history.  But as we all know, the Roman Empire did indeed fall after several centuries of domineering economic and political power.  Many historians have tried to understand why exactly the Roman Empire fell, and many theories have emerged.  In the present day, the United States, and ‘The West’ at large, has been seen for...

The idea of one human eating another human is almost unfathomable to most of us.  Even when stories have surface of life and death situations when people were arguably forced to resort to cannibalism in order to survive, the act still raised many eyebrows in society at large. But how abnormal really is the practice of cannibalism?  From an evolutionary and survival perspective, how can the practic...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on the rise, influencing many facets of our lives.  With the emergence of ChatGPT and other AI-related tools, the landscape of education is already changing.  From the student's perspective, will certain skills such as writing and critical thinking fall by the wayside if AI can do the work for them?  Have rates of cheating increased?  And on a more optimistic note,...

The Oscars is considered the most prestigious awards ceremony in the entertainment industry. There is a certain magic about the Academy Awards, where some of the greatest films and performances of all time have been recognized. Ben Zauzmer is the author of Oscarmetrics, a book that shares an in depth look at the predictive analytics of The Oscars over its 93 year history. What makes a movie most l...

The SATs have been a hallmark of the college admissions process for decades in the United States. But this popular standardized test has come under scrutiny the past several years, with many colleges eliminating the SATs as part of their admissions criteria. So why is the tide changing for the SATs? Is GPA a better predictor of college performance, or are both metrics fraught with bias and error?...