Episodios

  • 247. 'Wisecracks' - Can a Joke Go Too Far?

    247. 'Wisecracks' - Can a Joke Go Too Far?
    Jul 16 2024

    Pranks, Joshing, Deception, Practical Jokes ... Humor takes shape in many forms. But can a joke go too far? Should a joke's funniness be measured by the reactions it elicits, the intentions of the joke, or none of the above? Cornell Professor David Shoemaker is a philosopher and author. He joins the podcast to discuss his latest book, 'Wisecracks: Humor and Morality in Everyday Life'.


    Wisecracks - https://www.amazon.ca/Wisecracks-Humor-Morality-Everyday-Life/dp/0226832988


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    56 m
  • Fall of the Aztecs

    Fall of the Aztecs
    Jul 9 2024

    The Aztec Empire famously fell following the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century. Much of what we know about the Aztecs – including their rise, the nature of the empire, and its eventual fall, comes strictly from European accounts. But what did the Aztecs themselves think? The narrative has almost solely been shaped by the European perspective – but how did the Aztecs view the Europeans who eventually conquered them? Professor Camilla Townsend joins the podcast.


    Camilla's Book - Fifth Sun

    https://www.amazon.ca/Fifth-Sun-New-History-Aztecs/dp/0190673060/ref=asc_df_0190673060/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=411041496657&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2406240501790207548&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000956&hvtargid=pla-715823711027&psc=1


    This episode is sponsored by Discover More Podcast - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/discover-more-benoit-kim-w1KlycAfQGB/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    44 m
  • 246. The Only Child

    246. The Only Child
    Jul 2 2024
    There is a certain stigma about only children - the idea that they may become more self-centred, and the concern that they will be lonelier in life without siblings. Such concerns have even prompted some to suggest that it is 'selfish' for parents to only have one child. But what does the evidence show about the life experiences of children who do not have siblings? UCLA Psychology Professor Tony Falbo joins the podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    36 m
  • 245. Is a Bachelor of Arts Degree Useful?

    245. Is a Bachelor of Arts Degree Useful?
    Jun 25 2024
    The Preconceived or ‘status quo’ path in life typically includes a variety of steps; one major milestone is graduating from college. It’s something that we are ‘supposed to do’, a relatively expensive all-consuming four-year program that most of experience after high school. But how important is college? Do the academic benefits of college merit the time and cost of the endeavour? While many cite the importance of ‘the college experience’ as part of our maturation, is this just an idea we’ve been overly conditioned to accept that then dictates a significant chunk of our life? Derek Newton joins the podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    49 m
  • 244. Travel - The Joys and Complexities

    244. Travel - The Joys and Complexities
    Jun 18 2024

    For many people, travel provides some of the most profound experiences of their lives. Whether it’s a short excursion or a year living abroad, disengaging from your typical routine and transplanting yourself into the unknown is bound to lead to personal growth and self-discovery. But for all the good that can come from it, travelling can also be confusing. Is travelling always supposed to be joyful? Is there a trap that some fall into of travelling simply because that’s the ‘cool’ thing to do and permits you conceive of yourself as ‘worldly’? And Is there a risk that one can become obsessed with a certain impermanence that travel breeds, an escapism of sorts? Jesse O'Reilly-Conlin, author of 'Go: A Memoir of Movement', joins the podcast.


    Jesse O'Reilly-Conlin - https://jesseoreillyconlin.com


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    36 m
  • 243. Stockbrokers- Do You Need Them?

    243. Stockbrokers- Do You Need Them?
    Jun 11 2024
    When it comes to our finances, it’s natural for many to follow the traditional approach to investing by using a stock broker. Over the past couple of decades, however, there has been a growing trend to go against the grain and not use a stockbroker. You may have seen the commercials online by companies urging you to bypass stock brokers by investing in their online platforms; they show curves of net worth over the course of decades, suggesting that when one takes compound interest into account, all the fees one pays to a stock broker can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run? So what does the math show? Is using a stock broker actually detrimental to one’s overall earnings in the stock market? Or despite the higher fees, does the stock broker bring an added intangible value?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    50 m
  • 242. Israel and Palestine - Two Perspectives

    242. Israel and Palestine - Two Perspectives
    May 28 2024

    Since the October 7th massacre and the ensuing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, much world attention has been given to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. In this episode, we take a look back at the origins of this conflict, the concept of Zionism, and the events leading up to the 1948 war, known as the War of Independence in Israel, and referred to as The Nakba ('the catastrophe) by Palestinians. This episode explores two perspectives - a Jewish perspective shared by Harvard Professor Derek Penslar, and a Palestinian perspective shared by Brown Professor Beshara Doumani.


    Professor Derek Penslar - https://history.fas.harvard.edu/people/derek-penslar

    Professor Beshara Doumani - https://vivo.brown.edu/display/bdoumani


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 h y 51 m
  • Is it Normal to Have Pets?

    Is it Normal to Have Pets?
    May 21 2024
    The relationship between humans and non-human animals is a fascinating one. In particular, the pet-owner relationship begs many questions. The preconception is that it is totally normal that we cohabitate with other animals in our homes. People love their pets, and for the most part, we assume that our pets love us. But how normal really is the concept of having pets? And even if pets do add much value to humans' lives, is it really moral to keep pets, especially in the ways that we do? Professor Hal Herzog, expert in human-animal relationships, joins the podcast.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    49 m