Most of us are familiar with the ethical quandaries of eating meat, and in particular the large-scale abuse of animals in modern-day farming and mass meat production. And in many ways, the question of whether it is ‘okay’ to eat other animals is a philosophical and personal one. But what does the research show about more objective measures of eating meat, like how it affects the environment and the impact it has on our health? Plant-based food diets are becoming increasingly popular – especially with the more recent advent of ‘beyond-meat’ food, food that is vegetarian but designed to taste like real meat. Is this actually a good alternative? Stuart Waldner, author of 'Escape the Meatrix', joins the podcast.

https://www.amazon.ca/Escape-Meatrix-Plants-Great-Planet/dp/1544528752

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Over the past several years, plunges into freezing cold ice baths have become increasingly popular – trendy even. There are growing communities of those who engage in the ritual of ice baths together, combined with breathwork and a form of meditation. Others practice cold therapy by simply taking freezing cold showers. But what does the research actually show? Dr. Matthijs Kox joins the podcast, to share his research in this field, with a particular epmahsis on The Wim Hof Method.

https://www.radboudumc.nl/en/people/matthijs-kox

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The conflict in Israel and Palestine predates even the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. This episode explores the complicated history of Israel and Palestine, chronicling the ancient history of the temples in Jerusalem, to the Crusades, to the settlement of the land by Arabs almost 1,000 years ago, and to the more recent wars of 1948, 1967, the Intifadas, and the state of the conflict in present day. Tour gide and educator Yoav Biller shares shares perspectives from both the Israeli and Palestinian narratives.

Yoav Biller's Website - https://www.wanderingisrael.co.il

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When one thinks of traditional parenting, one might remember a stern talking to, or maybe even punished. In many ways, the traditional paradigm of parenting has been quite disciplinarian. In some regards, this has changed over the last several years. Many thought leaders and therapists now seem to be encouraging a different approach – one based less on punishment and ‘taking things away’, but more based on understanding our children’s feelings, walking them through their emotions, and not relying as heavily on punishment and consequences. So what exactly spawned this transformation? And how are kids being raised differently than they used to. Katy Albert joins the podcast.

https://redpathcentre.ca/therapists-coaches/

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If one looks at the English language, there are many terms now considered offensive that were considered commonplace, perhaps even sensitive, just a few decades ago. A typical pattern tends to emerge – a word is used to describe a particular group, perhaps innocently at first, and over time, it can become misused and turn into a slur. Another word comes in to replace it, but with time, that word too becomes misused and a slur. New words and phrases can be coined multiple times over the course of a few decades as the initial word becomes stigmatized. But is this a good thing? Or has society become too sensitive? Is The Euphemism Treadmill, as it has become known, a good thing? Author and linguist Karen Stollznow joins the podcast.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/contributors/karen-stollznow-phd

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When one of thinks of a musician, the first image that might come to mind is their favorite recording artist. But the reality is – there are millions of musicians in the world who are not on your favorite Spotify playlist. Musicians include a wide variety of artists who have developed careers in all facets of the music industry. So what are the greatest preconceptions about musicians and what it takes to make 'good' music? Dr. Mike Daley and Jill Daley, two professional musicians, join the podcast.

https://mikedaleymusic.com

This episode is sponsored by Ministry of Ideas
https://www.ministryofideas.org

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In modern times, Germany is considered one of the more progressive Western countries in the world. During the Syrian refugee crisis, few countries took in as many Syrians as Germany did. But despite this, the first thing that likely comes to mind to many who hear the word ‘Germany’, is its association with the Holocaust and World War II. There is a stigma that still persists, despite the passage of almost 80 years since the events of the Holocaust took place. So how have Germans grappled with this stigma over the last eight decades? And how has this historical perception transformed in the minds of non-Germans? Professor Monica Black joins the podcast.

Professor Monica Black
https://history.utk.edu/people/monica-black/

This episode is sponsored by Ministry of Ideas
https://www.ministryofideas.org

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In our 200th episode, Zale highlights some of the greatest preconceptions that have come to light for him over the course of series. Is the word 'extremism' overused? How do we analyze our preconceptions without being overwhelmed by every aspect of our lives? And is the ultimate preconception that each of us believes deep down that 'I am a good person'? Zale is joined by public speaking coaches Eric Silverberg and Eli Gladstone.

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We’ve all been to a party and felt a bit awkward walking around, immersing ourselves in some conversations that go nowhere, approaching someone we've kind of met before but don’t really know, and gauging when a conversation has come to an end. Most of us have also been in situations where we want to go up and talk to someone who seems interesting, but it just feels a bit too awkward to approach them out of the blue and initiate a conversation. And if we do start a conversation, what exactly are we supposed to talk about? Catherine Blyth, author of 'The Art of Conversation', joins the podcast.

Catherine Blyth's Website
https://catherineblyth.wordpress.com

This episode is sponsored by Ministry of Ideas
https://www.ministryofideas.org

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When one thinks of birth control, it might be natural one might think of women before thinking of men. Aside from condoms and vasectomies, medical forms of birth control have really been directed towards women, with 'the pill' and intrauterine devices. But perhaps things are changing. Research has been underway to investigate the possibility of an on-demand male birth control. Dr. Lonney Levin and Dr. Melanie Balbach from the Levin/Buck Laboratory at Weill Cornell Medical College join the podcast.

https://levbucklab.weill.cornell.edu

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