Preconceived

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?...

Personality disorders are listed in the DSM – the bible of psychiatric diagnoses – as a distinct set of psychiatric disorders. Such disorders include narcissistic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, as well as several others. It can be confusing, however; at what point does someone’s narcissism, for example, extend s...

There is perhaps no country in the world more perplexing and bewildering than North Korea. Considered by many as a silo shut off from the rest of the world, much of North Korea is shrouded in mystery. Unfortunately, much of that mystery involves a dictatorial regime and severe oppression of its peoples. But what exactly does it look like inside of North Korea? What are our preconceptions about Nor...

Pedophilia, understandably, is a word that conjures up negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Acting on pedophilic thoughts is a horrible crime, and the ramifications are fittingly severe. But what exactly is pedophilia? Is it a distinct entity, a medical condition perhaps? Or can it be seen as an abnormal part of the spectrum of human desire? What is it like to live as a pedophile, and what k...

The idea of 'life extension' has become trendy over the past several decades. If we take the right supplements and certain medications, is it possible to live well beyond a hundred years old and to slow the aging process itself? Dr. Jay Olshansky is one of the world leaders in the field. He joins the podcast to shed some misconceptions. http://sjayolshansky.com/sjo/Background.html Hosted on Acast....

The idea of 'life extension' has become trendy over the past several decades. If we take the right supplements and certain medications, is it possible to live well beyond a hundred years old and to slow the aging process itself? Dr. Jay Olshansky is one of the world leaders in the field. He joins the podcast to shed some misconceptions. http://sjayolshansky.com/sjo/Background.html Hosted on Acast....

In the typical preconceived framework in which we tend to view our lives, there are many steps … growing up, getting an education, finding a job, getting married, having kids, being grandparents, and ultimately - retiring. But in recent years, many have come to question what retirement really means and what it entails. So what exactly is retirement, and does society’s concept of retirement ultimat...

Sex and romance are core aspects of most people's lives; yet for some, the role they play is different. Aline Laurent-Mayard has never been attracted to anyone—not sexually, not romantically. On her award-winning podcast Free From Desire, they tell us how difficult it was to realize and accept their asexuality and their aromantism in a society that only talks about exactly that: love and sex. Alin...

When people hear the word 'Jihad', they likely think of extremism, terrorism, and utter disdain for the West. But what is exactly is Jihad? What are its true origins? Is Jihadist philosophy truly violent in its original sense? Or is it a concept that has been politicized and weaponized by some, taken to the extreme as a justification for terrorism and hate? What is the role of Jihad, if any, in ty...

There are so many adages in regards to love and relationships. Many hinge on the notion that we must be absolutely certain in our choice of a romantic partner and that there should be no doubts when we ultimately decide on 'the one'. But is that a realistic framework for love? And how can the search for the Hollywood vision of love, in some cases lead to severe cases of relationship anxiety, other...

For most of us, it’s a known that global warming and climate change are real and problematic Yet at the same time, despite society’s apparent concern at large, the issue has persisted for decades and in many regards, only gotten worse. So how bad is climate change, and how concerned do we need to be? And for as much as we try to be optimistic, are we perhaps past the point of no return? If that’s...

Taylor Swift is arguably the most famous person in the world – a pop star the likes of whom many of us haven’t seen in our lifetimes. Especially over the past year with the release of her latest album Midnights and her record-breaking The Eras Tour, it’s not crazy to wonder if what we are witnessing right now is somewhat analogous to the Beatlemania of the 1960s. So what exactly is the phenomenon...

Sometimes our convictions can be so indoctrinated that it’s tough to separate them from reality and the facts in front of us. One such example is the Salem Witch Trials from 1692-1693, where an episode of mass hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts led to over 200 people being put on trial for witchcraft, culminating in nineteen executions. So how did this happen? How was it possible that people in one...

At its core, sex is supposed to be pleasurable. It’s typically considered much easier for a male to reach orgasm than a female, and although orgasm is not the only way to experience pleasure from sex, it’s certainly a more defined and easily measurable endpoint. So with that said, how frequently and to what degree do women experience sexual pleasure when compared to men? Does it often take more ti...

With the advent of botox and fillers, cosmetic procedures have become much quicker to administer and more accessible to the masses. In many ways, one could argue this is a good thing – it offers a service to people who want it in a more available way than ever before. But in other ways, has the obsession with a certain definition of beauty and staying younger only further stigmatized getting older...

Napoleon Bonaparte is considered one of the greatest military leaders of all time. He is often mentioned alongside names such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, but whereas they existed thousands of years ago, he died only 200 years ago. And as such, his legacy is perhaps still being shaped more so than other comparatively more ancient figures. So what is the legacy of Napoleon? What are so...

Choosing a baby name can be stressful. While a name is just a name, it will follow your child around for the rest of their life. What are some of the factors that go into this decision, and what are some newer trends that are being witnessed? The preconception might be that picking a baby name is as simple as googling lists online, but how can the process be more targeted and simplified? Name cons...