Preconceived

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...

We often hear American politicians recite lines like, ‘The United States is the greatest country in the world’. Especially when it comes to US presidential elections, the notion that the United States is somehow different than the rest of the world is on full display. There’s an idea of American exceptionalism that persists, the thought that the United States is a fundamentally unique and special...

One of the most significant preconceptions that governs our lives revolves around our career trajectory. For the most part, the status quo typically involves us choosing a general career path in our twenties and sticking with it for the duration of working years. But not for all of us. Robert Markowitz was a practicing criminal lawyer who gave it all up and became a clown. He joins the podcast. Ro...

The terms ‘wellness’ and ‘mental health’ have been around for many years, but over the last decade, it’s taken on a life of its own. And while most of us would agree that looking after our wellness and self-care is a very important thing, one might also wonder, has this movement gone too far in some regards? And while it might seem that such a focus on wellness would naturally reduce stigma regard...

On October 7th, Israel experienced its bloodiest day since its founding in 1948. In the immediate aftermath of these crimes, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic protests erupted around the world, coinciding with Hamas's "Day of Rage" to "attack Israelis and Jews". In this episode, we try to understand the events that transpired and equally try and comprehend the world's response. Risa Epstein, an educato...

We live in a world in which we have easy access to almost anything we want. We see something online that we want, and we can have it delivered to our home that same day. And while increased access and availability can be a good thing, it can also be a dangerous one. With limitless access to more seemingly benign pastimes such as shopping and social media, as well as more obviously concerning pasti...

Pretty much everyone knows that recycling is important. But what exactly is recycling? The concept that’s been disseminated to society is that when you recycle thing, it gets repurposed and reused, hence recycled. This reduces the amount of garbage that goes into landfills and is ultimately a good thing. But is the glory, so to speak, of recycling somewhat of a preconception? How much of what you...

Over the past several years, there has been controversy in many fields of the art world, including literature, film and television. Questions have been posed regarding the appropriateness of authors writing about certain topics, and actors portraying certain characters. For example, is it okay for a White author to write a fictional book about slavery in the United States? Is it okay for a cis mal...

Bipolar Disorder is an oft-misunderstood condition by the public. It can be tough to comprehend, because it requires an understanding of each of depression, mania, and the swings that can occur between them. So what exactly is Bipolar Disorder? What kind of insight does a patient with the disease have when they are experiencing the swings in mood and tendencies? And what are some of the benefits o...

Torture is generally thought of as a bad things - an unacceptable means to an end. But what if that end is justifiable? In many cases, torture is clearly unethical - for example when used as a means of political suppression, as a fear tactic, or for a forced confession. But what about torture in more ambiguous cases - when the torturer is fairly confident that the person being tortured has key inf...