Two Brad For You

The great Jay Ingram returns to the show to talk about his latest book The Science of Why 5 and for a discussion on science communication in a pandemic. Jay is a long-time science communicator, broadcaster, author and host of two iconic, Canadian science programs, Quirks and Quarks on CBC Radio and Daily Planet on Discovery Channel Canada. Now, aside from authoring books Jay does live shows, sometimes with a band, panel discussions, talks and evidently, guest spots on small time science podcasts.

Hamish Tweed, technical diving instructor and team lead for the Deep Glass Sponge Research Team (@deepglasssponge on Instagram/Facebook) joined to talk about their efforts to document the rare glass sponge reefs off the coast of British Colombia. Hamish was the subject of the documentary Moonless Oasis (check out episode 15 of TBFY In Conversation) and continued the conversation about these amazing creatures, the challenges and rewards of diving to visit them and the importance of protecting these habitats. Also, check out the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society (mlssbc.com) who are playing a big part in this work as well.

This episode has a family connection as Brad's brother Darrell, a ten year vet of teaching, joins to talk about social media use in adolescents and mental health. Darrell provides an in classroom perspective of how kids are growing up with technology and the discussion covers many aspects of the research into youth mental health. Things like social media of course, but also the decline in play behavior and social interaction and the increase in pressure for kids to be perfect.

The full panel of regular, everyday normal Canadians assembled to milk the last bits of content from the Trump administration and engage in a lively conversation about the potential slow creep of populism, Trumpism and truth defying rhetoric into Canada. They also touched on how the new US administration might tackle the appalling coronavirus situation and struggle to maintain solidarity within the Democratic party.

Noemi Weis, an award-winning filmmaker joins us to talk about her latest documentary Connecting The Dots, a film about the global youth mental health crisis. It was a great chat and it's an important topic. Please check out their website connectingthedotsfilm.com to join the global screening and roundtable on Nov 19th or to host your own screening. You can also follow on Instagram and Facebook, @connectingthedotsfilm or with #RaiseYourHand

The Brads reunite to talk about the new strain of corona found in Denmark and explain why that has the Danish government culling 17 million mink. They also discuss a proposal from one bioethicist arguing we should considered paying people to get vaccines. Finally, Brad provides a recap of the Nobel prize wins for physics, medicine and chemistry.

Filmmakers Nate Slaco and Bryce Zimmerman join the show to talk about their new documentary Moonless Oasis. The film follows a group of citizen scientists as they attempt to document the habitat of the rare glass sponge. These sea creatures were once thought extinct but have been discovered off the West Coast of Canada. Nate and Bryce talk about the sponges, the dedication of the crew who at times put themselves in danger to do this work, and their thoughts on tackling scientific topics as filmmakers and not scientists. Check moonlessoasis.com to learn more about the film follow @moonlighoasis.

The panel of regular, ordinary dudes who like to talk politics reconvened for this spur of the moment discussion about the upcoming American election. Coleman and Steve lay out their pre-election thoughts and talk about polling, Supreme Court decisions and past precedents. As well as, how to deal with uncredible stories emanating from Rudy Giuliani’s trousers, social media and the reach of platforms like The Joe Rogan Experience? All with plenty of flatulence jokes. You’re welcome. 

An anthropologists view of an Ebola epidemic. Sarah Bell, PhD candidate at Oxford Brookes University joined to chat about her work researching how messaging around the consumption of "bush meat" affected people's behavior and perceptions of the epidemic. Her work is very relevant to the conspiracy theories and misinformation we are seeing with COVID and we touched on that and the Pan Verus Project Sarah started to help with conservation efforts in Sierra Leone. Check her out at @sarahsgonewild, sarahbell.org and panverus.org

The panel of everyday, regular guys is back, minus one, to talk politics in Canada and of course the US. The summer in Canada that saw a WE scandal and a new Conservative party leader elected was covered. Plus, scandal alert! That new leader Erin O'Toole is younger than Justin Trudeau. And of course, we talked extensively about the, to put it politely, situation unfolding in world superpower and reigning world military champion, the United States of America.