The CRAM Podcast ~ Extraordinary Ideas Unleashed

Do you have a philosophy of life? Is there some kind of philosophy or belief you have about life and how you should live it?  Do you think about the choices you make and the actions you take?  What is of most value to you? Some of us rarely think about these questions – if ever.   Others have pondered them deeply over the millennia.  Like philosopher Chris Howard.   He believes there is value in t...

Do you know who you are? You may see yourself as being shy and reserved – or social and the life of the party. But maybe other people see you differently. And perhaps there are aspects of your personality that you wish you could change.   Could you?   We delve into the fascinating world of personality and its possibilities with Brian Little, a pioneer in the study of human personality and well-bei...

It can be scary - dating, relationships, intimacy - especially when it’s been a loooong time since you’ve been single and wanting to meet someone.  And then there’s the pandemic and how that’s changed the way people meet.  How do you in mid life (or beyond) navigate this new world?  How are people forming relationships?  And when it comes to older people, why is it rare to hear the words “sex” and...

It’s spring!  Restrictions have eased.  You’re eager to get out and meet someone.  But the last two years have changed how people engage and form relationships. What’s happening in this new world of post pandemic dating? Sex and relationship researcher Kristen Mark explores what’s out there – and the possibilities. Info on Guest: Kristen Mark is a Canadian sex and relationship researcher, a profes...

Are you a perfectionist?  Do you want everything to be perfect and berate yourself if something falls short of your expectations?  Are you hard on yourself – and others?  Does looking at social media make you feel bad about your life?  If this sounds familiar,  you’re not alone.  According to Simon Sherry of Dalhousie University,  there’s been a rise in perfectionism over the last couple of decade...

Many of us dream of finding our one true love.   But what if that one true love turned into two, three or more loves - all happening at the same time?  Polyamory is a way of loving that philosopher Carrie Jenkins embraces personally and professionally.  She’s been involved in polyamory for a number of years and explores what love is in this fascinating conversation.    Info on Guest: Carrie Jenkin...

No one likes the thought of dying.  But once we’re dead – what then?  What happens to our bodies when we “shuffle off this mortal coil” as Shakespeare said? Shari Forbes is an expert on what happens to our physical selves after we die.  She’s a forensic scientist and the creator of Canada’s first “body farm” – a unique outdoor lab whose volunteers never leave.  Listen to the interview to find out...

It’s the final frontier of imagination – space. The possibilities are mind boggling and Sarah Gallagher is thinking about them.  Sarah is an astrophysicist and advisor to the Canadian Space Agency.   While we’re thinking hard about what to order at Starbucks, Sarah is thinking hard about the universe.   What goes on in the mind of an astrophysicist?  How does she look at our world and the world be...

You will NEVER look at an ant the same way again after hearing this interview! You may think of them as pests but they’re far from that. Ants have an astounding ability to adapt to changing environments.  They are farmers, architects, queens, babysitters, soldiers, slave owners – the list goes on.   And what’s really intriguing is how they handle war – and sex.  We could learn a few things. Info o...

Puzzles have existed since the dawn of humankind.  And they’ve evolved and thrived in every culture around the world.  According to linguist Marcel Danesi it’s all because of our puzzle instinct.  From the first known “life or death” riddle to logic and math puzzles to jigsaws and crosswords, it’s a fascinating history.   A puzzle can challenge, vex and confound us as we attempt find an answer to...

“Fake news” is a term we hear all the time – whether in mainstream media, social media or day to day conversations.   But what is it really?  How do we determine what is “fake news?” And what can we do about it?   Ahmed Al-Rawi is a researcher who uncovers fake news in the media and studies its impact.  He believes fake news is more pervasive and dangerous today, and that we all need to be more cr...

What can nurses learn from dancers? That's not a trick question but it may sound like one.  Hard to believe the two have anything in common. But ask Coralee McLaren.   She was a professional dancer.  Then she became a pediatric nurse.  Now she's a scientist and points to the unlikely intersection of nursing and dancing.  As well as the exciting possibilities involving children and the re...

If those dire warnings on climate change and the future of our planet has got you feeling down – STOP!  Listen to what Kai Chan has to say.  He has a positive message of hope and meaningful action based not on what the individual can do, but a powerful collective.  And imagine bringing back species that have long been extinct to help ecosystems thrive.  It’s a process called “rewilding” which play...

How does war begin? And what are the rules surrounding its onset and conduct?  These are questions we may never have contemplated until now.  From Mesopotamia 4000 years ago, to the present war in Ukraine, political scientist Catherine Frost will take a sweeping look at how wars have started, how declarations have been used and abused, the concept of a “just war,”  and wars that have no beginning...

What can we learn from people in prison?  A lot according to students who are part of a special program called Walls to Bridges. They attend class in prison with people who’ve been incarcerated.  And the idea is that each student, whether from the outside or living in prison - is a learner AND a teacher.  Simone Davis is cofounder of the Walls to Bridges program and talks about how the experience...

The story of pain is a complicated one.  We need pain as part of our alarm system to tell us if something is wrong with us.  But when we’re in constant pain, we can barely think of anything else and we just want it to go away.  Why do we feel pain long after an injury has healed?  Do I feel pain differently than you?  How does culture affect our perception of pain?  And what’s the most effective w...

What makes the BIGGEST difference to our health?  Good medical care? Checkups? “Clean” living?  This is a fundamental question that researchers like John Frank have tried to find an answer to.  He’s dedicated his career of almost half a century to the study of why some people are healthier than others and what we need to do to improve health outcomes for everyone. An enlightening conversation with...

Imagine being known as “People of the Ice” for hundreds of years.  Then one day, there is no ice.  Who are you now?  And what happens to your community and way of life?  Ashlee Cunsolo has been studying a group of Inuit in Labrador, a region that’s experienced the most devastating impact of climate change in the world. The impact has affected the Inuit both physically and mentally, as they deal wi...

They're small and insignificant.   Most of us don't think twice about these words in the English language. Pronouns like "I"  and "you".   Or prepositions like "of" and "at."  Even the articles "an" and "the" are pretty forgettable. But these invisible words can reveal - and even predict – our behaviour and our health.  That&apo...

What do we spend a significant part of our life doing but usually take for granted?  Sleeping! But if you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, then a good night’s rest becomes a precious and sought after commodity.  Psychologist and sleep expert Colleen Carney has some startling insights into that mysterious state we call sleep and advice for people with chronic insomnia.  A must liste...

Everyone wants to be happy right?  But do we really know what happiness is?   Is it a feeling – brief, ephemeral?  Or is it a state where we can bask in its glow for awhile? We think we know what brings us happiness - love, leisure, doing the things we want in life, and having the things we want.  But do they?  What actually contributes to happiness in life? Guest: Jim Davies is a cognitive scient...

Do you feel lucky – or not?  How often do you blame bad luck if something unfortunate happens to you, or attribute good luck to a happy occurrence?  Jeff Rosenthal is a statistician who’s examined many occurrences in life – from casino wins to murder trials to Friday the 13th!  Jeff reveals the surprising stats behind so-called lucky or unlucky events in our daily lives. G uest Info: Jeff Rosentha...

Why are bee populations being decimated around the world?  It’s a disturbing and puzzling question for many biologists and bee lovers.  And it’s a critical question for humanity since our survival depends on theirs.  Amro Zayed is heading a huge research project called BeeCSI.  He and his team are sleuthing their way through possible suspects and solutions to help bees survive – and thrive.   Gues...

Most companies face internal problems at some point or other.  And those problems can be really messy.  Enter Design Thinking.  It came out of the world of art and creative thinking.   Big brands like Apple and Google have used it.  And so has the Israeli military.  Now Michele Mastroeni, a researcher and professor of design,  wants to see if design thinking will work for the Canadian armed forces...

We all wonder about our future – post pandemic.  And it’s something sci-fi writer Robert Sawyer thinks about a lot.  His writing has captivated audiences with explorations of alternate worlds.   Hear what one of Canada’s most fascinating big thinkers has to say about OUR world,  and the transformation it’s undergoing.   His audio series “The Downloaded” about a metaphorical post pandemic world wil...