The Rational View podcast with Dr. Al Scott

Is being a billionaire morally defensible? In this episode, Dr. Al Scott digs into extreme wealth, corporate power, executive pay, inherited fortunes, and the way modern capitalism rewards people at the top. He looks at how much a billion dollars actually represents, why CEO compensation has exploded, how companies squeeze workers and customers in the name of growth, and why basic necessities stil...

This episode is a fun book review with a new author who provides a comprehensive review of astrology, the source of generic horoscopes and perhaps serves as a gateway drug to astronomy for the anti-science crowd. We’ll find out about the history of this occult practice and why people believe that the month of their birth might have an impact on who they should date. Carlos Orsi is an award-winning...

Welcome to The Rational View, where we apply evidence and critical thinking to the biggest issues of our time. Trump declared on election night, "I'm not going to start wars. I'm going to stop wars," while warning that a victory by Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate at the time, would lead to "World War III." He has repeatedly referred to himself as the "President of Peace" and is obviously u...

This podcast is my opinion on the Republican regime’s anti-democratic and corrupt behaviour. As Steve Bannon said they are going to push against all of the guardrails and flood the zone with questionable behaviour. They are doing this because they are only popular with a small minority of Americans, and if everyone voted they would be out. No surprise. Pam Bondi is slow-walking the court-ordered r...

In keeping with its Donroe doctrine, the Republican Regime recently captured the president of Venezuela and ferreted him away in a New York prison to face charges on drug trafficking and weapons possession. Open flaunting of international law is now a thing as all of the guardrails are being tested in a full court attack on democratic institutions and international law and order. Welcome to 2026!...

This episode was originally a live interview discussing podcast 249 with Mike Conley where we explored claims that the linear no threshold theory of radiation health effects was politically motivated and is not supported by evidence. In this podcast I speak with author Mike Conley, and subject matter experts Steve Curtis, and Dr. Stephen Boyd. Please join us for an informal discussion on an import...

In this episode I want to dig into a source of injustice in the world—hidden markets—where who you know is often more important than what you know. My guest has spent his life highlighting these hidden systems that silently maintain inequity. Strap in for The Rational View on hidden markets. Judd B. Kessler is an award-winning teacher and the inaugural Howard Marks Endowed Professor of Business Ec...

In this episode I am continuing to look at pathways to save us from the slow motion economic collapse of late stage capitalism. Today we’ll be talking to an author who has a roadmap to a new system the calls Dynamic Capitalism. Let’s see if we can find a Rational View to a solution. A passionate advocate for entrepreneurship and long-time venture capitalist, Seth Levine, works with venture funds a...

In this episode I’m going to be diving into a topic of interest to everyone in the nuclear energy field. It is a scandalous expose on the history of the dreaded ALARA principle regarding radiation exposure regulations (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), based on the idea that no amount of radiation is safe. What is the scientific basis behind this idea and is it supported by the evidence, or has th...

In this episode I’m going to dig down into the roots of the religious right and show you just how long they have been planning their coup. For decades, a well-funded network of religious and political operatives has been quietly working to dismantle democracy and replace it with Christian theocracy. Matthew Boedy is a professor of rhetoric at the University of North Georgia. He holds a Ph. D. in E...

In this episode I’m going to explore modern society’s car culture. We all know that the energy use that supports cars is a huge contributor to the greenhouse effect and climate change. We know that the resources society devotes to transportation are significant, and yet they are also the lifeblood of commerce. They represent freedom. The automobile manufacturing industry directly employs and susta...

In this episode I’m digging into the state of healthcare in the United States: the only country in the developed world that believes health care is best delivered as a luxury product. Everywhere else, people go to the doctor when they’re sick. In America, you go only if you’re sick and your credit score is feeling strong. They treat hospitals like casinos: you walk in, take your chances, and hope...

In this episode I’m discussing Gerrymandering and how it clearly demonstrates US exceptionalism by maintaining incumbents and invalidating the democratic will of the people. If you like this, you might want to move to Texas where it has become a popular sport, alongside of hunting democratic representatives. Come find me on Facebook and Youtube!  

In this episode I’m going to fact check some polarizing memes on current issues in the news. I’m going to help you to identify fake memes and to question the possibility of AI-generated videos. Did you just read something that confirms your worst fears about the opposition and gets your blood pumping? Are you angry? Stop for a moment and think before you hit like and share. I want to remind you to...

In this episode I’m interviewing a scientist who is trying to revolutionize computing by replacing power hungry silicon gates with highly efficient biological neurons. For a present-day silicon-based computer to approach the processing power of a human brain would take MegaWatts of power—we are seeing some of these inefficiencies looking at AI systems that require massive amounts of energy to run....

Have you ever heard someone spouting off on social media that the climate is always changing?  Apparently this carries great weight amongst people who don’t want to admit that humans are involved in the accurately predicted warming trend that we are currently experiencing. I just recently encountered someone on social media claiming that the climate is self-correcting and we don’t need to worry ab...

In this episode I am taking us on a journey to seek truth amidst a sea of fake news with a person who has published a book on the topic. Hopefully we can get a lifeline to find out how to separate the wheat from the crap. Infodemiologist, Dr. Pauline W. Hoffmann is an associate professor in the Jandoli School of Communication and a New York State senior public health fellow with the Cattaraugus Co...

We’ve all seen them. Endless Terms and Conditions followed by a click-box. Pages of Terms and Conditions whenever you sign a contract with a large company for services, loans, or just employment.  Often the T’s and C’s are illegal or unenforceable, yet you feel you need to sign them. Are you now at the mercy of the large entity because you’ve signed up to onerous terms?  Things are getting out of...

In this episode I’m doing a fact check on the claim that CO2 is plant food. This really is a well known fact. Plants use CO2 in photosynthesis to grow. It is indisputably true. And yet on the Skeptical Science website it is listed as a Climate Myth. How can this be? Some folks think it depends on context. It’s like saying ‘all lives matter’ at a black lives matter protest.  Sure, this is obvious a...

In this episode I'm interviewing a nuclear energy educator with a series of informative videos on LinkedIn. He works to address radiophobia and provides an evidence-based assessment of nuclear fission and the many polarized debates surrounding its safety.  Dr. Robert Hayes is an Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University. He holds a joint faculty appointment with...

In this episode I look at the economic system we find ourselves in, and try to peel away some of the fictions that we've bought into.  If money isn't linked to a gold standard, is it worth what we think it is? Is the GDP an accurate representation of productivity? Are we being played by the financial system? Look me up on Instagram and YouTube. Give me your feedback on Facebook.

In this episode, have you ever felt that there is too much injustice in the world and you just can’t respond to it all? Have you ever found yourself making a compromise with your ethics just to make it through the day? I think we all have. My guest today has written a book looking at these tradeoffs. Hopefully it will help us all to be able to make moral choices and address the guilt we feel at no...

In this episode I’m digging into a growing industrial segment that mines waste for precious metals. Often discarded systems contain higher precious metals fractions than the original ore they are mined from. Discarded computers and electronics, and in this case, catalytic converters can be recycled and thereby mitigate new mining operations and their environmental impact. Don Weatherbee, CEO of Re...

In this episode I’m discussing energy, specifically hydrogen and nuclear with a leading environmentalist author. His recent book the Hype about Hydrogen (revised) highlights the seemingly intractable problems with a Hydrogen economy. He’s also publishing a whitepaper highlighting the high costs of SMRs and touting renewables as the cheapest solution. He suggests nuclear is uniquely dangerous in hi...

Welcome to my Canadian election review podcast. As of the time of this episode Canada is just a couple weeks away and the Rational View is here to provide you with a rundown on the major parties.  In Canada we have two major parties, the Liberals and the Conservatives who are the only parties who have ever won elections, plus a third party, the New Democrats (NDP) who usually manage to capture a s...