Preconceived

By Snack LabsSociety & Culture Education Self-Improvement Philosophy

Preconceived episodes

December 10, 2024 263. Stand-Up Comedy
They say people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death. If that's the case, people must be terrified at the notion of performing stand-up comedy, which entails not only public speaking, but relying on people's laughs as validation that you're doing a good job! So what makes a good stand-up comedian? What goes into crafting an effective sketch? And while the well-trained comedian makes it all look 'off-the-cuff', how much of the sketch is prepared down to the exact word? Comedian Jacob Samuel joins the podcast.

Learn more about Jacob at www.jacobsamuelcomedy.com

Watch Jacob's comedy special, 'Horse Power', at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD4l6ODKwCg
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
54 min
December 03, 2024 Whole Body MRI - The Dangers of Over Testing
What if you could undergo a scan of of your whole body once a year to screen for any tumors, aneurysms, or any other medical abnormalities? On the surface, it sounds like a great idea, and indeed many companies are offering the opportunity to undergo whole body MRIs to catch medical findings before they become medical 'problems'. But is whole body MRI really all it's cracked up to be? Or can it also lead you down a rabbit hole chasing a diagnosis when nothing of consequence is to be found? Radiologist Dr. Matthew Davenport joins the podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
50 min
November 26, 2024 262. Is there an Afterlife?
Many people who've had near death experiences speak of similar sensations - a white light, a sense of calm, and a feeling of warmth Many come back from such experiences saying they've had a glimpse into the afterlife. So what exactly is occurring in during these near death experiences? Are people truly getting a glimpse into what happens after we die? Or are the experiences that people report a reflection of a biological process that's occurring? Or are these not mutually exclusive? Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova joins the podcast.

Learn more about Near Death Experiences at University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies -
https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/our-research/near-death-experiences-ndes/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
44 min
November 19, 2024 261. Alternative 'Medicine'
Does Alternative Medicine actually work? If it does work, why is it still branded as 'alternative'? And if it doesn't work, why do people invest so much time and money into it? Alternative medicine encompasses many branches, including homeopathy, chiropractic medicine, and acupuncture. So what works, and what doesn't work? What does the evidence show? Dr. Edzard Ernst joins the podcast.

Check out Dr. Ernst's latest book, 'Bizarre Medical Ideas ... And the Strange Men Who Invented Them' at https://www.amazon.ca/Bizarre-Medical-Ideas-Strange-Invented-ebook/dp/B0CY1FZK9T
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
54 min
November 07, 2024 260. 'My Child Has Cancer'
It’s hard to think of more devastating news for a parent than hearing that their child is dealing with a serious illness. Cancer is one of those illnesses. So what do you do as a parent when your child is diagnosed with cancer? What do you tell your child? How honest are you with them? And when the cancer has hopefully gone into remission, how does one continue to approach life? Sam Taylor, host of The Deep C Podcast, joins Preconceived.

The Deep C Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-deep-c/id1728343851
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
50 min
October 29, 2024 The Benefits of Getting A Bit Drunk
We all know about the potential abuse and addiction associated with alcohol and other drugs. Yet despite this, alcohol has persisted since the dawn of human societies. Does its persistence suggest that alcohol may actually be an important factor in the history of our civilization? In Edward Slingerland's book, 'Drunk', he explores the social benefits of alcohol and intoxication. He joins the podcast to share his insights.

Check out 'Drunk' at https://www.amazon.ca/Drunk-Sipped-Danced-Stumbled-Civilization/dp/0316453382
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
46 min
October 22, 2024 259. How To Debate
In a world that increasingly feels like it’s falling into disarray, heated debates are taking place about a multitude of topics – war in the Middle East, the immigration crisis in the US, abortion rights, and much more. Personally, I’ve found myself listening to a disproportionate amount of debates on the above topics on some of my favorite podcasts. But I’ve come to wonder – what makes a good debater? What are the general tenets and principles of a debate that a participant needs to know before engaging in one? And perhaps more practical, are the rules of formal debate applicable to the way we argue things off of a debate stage? Or should they be considered totally different forums of discussion?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
35 min
October 15, 2024 258. Hitler and Trump - A Comparison
For many years now, the media and general population has loved making comparisons between Donald Trump and Adolf Hitler. On the one hand, the comparison seems odd – Hitler was a mass murderer and the architect of the most devastating genocide the world has ever seen; Donald Trump has committed no genocide. On the other hand, both are extreme political figures who each galvanized large segments of the population to rise to power. For those who deplore Trump, it is perhaps a political strategy to compare him to Hitler, to scare people into thinking that if he is allowed back into power, he will pose the same risks to humanity as Hitler did. Yet beyond such conjecture, perhaps there are similarities between these two figures that can teach us important lessons, and help guide us moving forward, as America gears up for its next presidential election. Professor Henk de Berg joins the podcast.

Check out Henk's book, 'Trump and Hitler: A Comparative Study in Lying', at 'https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-51833-1
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
55 min
October 08, 2024 257. Regret and Decision Making
‘Regret’ is a word that many in society hesitate to use. At its core, it implies we made the wrong decision, and that if we could go back in time, perhaps we would have acted differently. While there’s no doubt we all make poor decisions, we typically don’t frame our bad decisions as ‘regrets’. Often we will try to cast our regrets as ‘learning moments’ and might even say things like ‘I don’t regret that action because of what it taught me’. But the reality is, regret, or whatever you want to call it, does exist. There are decisions most of us would probably take back. So what does the research show on regret, and what it can teach us on how to make better decisions? Todd McElroy, an expert in regret research, joins the podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
39 min
October 01, 2024 256. Could our 'Peaceful World' Devolve Back into War?
While wars are still waged today and atrocities still occur, many argue that this is actually the most peaceful period of humankind. Is this true? And if so, why is this the case? Is society’s inherent desire for peace higher than it was in ancient and medieval times? Is the value of peace and protecting human life given a greater premium than it was in the past? Are our values fundamentally different than they were in prior centuries and millennia? Were power, dominance and legacy valued more greatly in ancient and medieval times? Or rather, is it not so much that our values have shifted, but more so that the framework of modern society has more checks and balances to keep power and wars in check? Professor Keith Bradley joins the podcast.

Keith Bradley's latest book on Hadrian - https://www.amazon.ca/Marguerite-Yourcenars-Hadrian-Writing-Emperor/dp/1487548818
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38 min

About Preconceived

From the publisher's feed

Preconceived, hosted by Zale Mednick, dives deep into the intricacies of human experience, challenging the assumptions that shape our understanding of the world. In each episode, Zale engages with…