The CRAM Podcast ~ Extraordinary Ideas Unleashed: Recent Episodes
Mary Ito
The CRAM Podcast features engaging and thought-provoking interviews that explore innovative ideas and exciting new research that’s shaping our lives - whether it's the evolution of the work world, the transformative ways we connect, the re-imagining of home and place, or the dramatic changes in our identity and community. We interview leading researchers and big thinkers about the human condition and the possibilities of tomorrow.
There’s ONE experience that nearly everyone in Canada - and other developed countries - has: a visit to a hospital emergency room.
But the commonality ends there as the QUALITY of that ER experience can differ greatly according to Dr. Brian Goldman.
Brian has been an ER physician for over 40 years. From broken limbs to broken hearts to broken minds, he’s seen it all. But perhaps the most disturbing thing he’s seeing, is the critical situation that many ERs in the country are facing. Long wait times. A shortage of hospital beds. Patients being treated in hallways and waiting rooms. Even ERs being shut down because of lack of resources.
Brian reveals what really goes on in the ER (great stories), what’s good and bad with our healthcare system, and what we need to do to improve patient care. It’s a must-listen-to conversation!!
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. Brian Goldman has been an ER physician for over four decades with Sinai Health System in Toronto. https://doctorbriangoldman.com/
He’s host of the popular medical show White Coat, Black Art, on CBC Radio.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat
Dr. Goldman is the author of The Casino Shift: Stories From An ER On The Edge. https://doctorbriangoldman.com/#about
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Whether you’re an employee or a business, large or small, you’ve probably been wondering if you can keep up with AI.
And that’s because “today, AI is the least powerful it will ever be in our lifetime.”
Those prophetic words are from researcher Simon Blanchette. So how we prepare for the jobs we want, keep the jobs we have, and maintain the viability of the businesses we run? And how do students educate themselves for the future? He believes there’s no job that won’t be affected by AI.
Listen to what Simon says about the future of work and our evolving relationship with artificial intelligence
INFO ON GUEST:
Simon Blanchette is a Faculty Lecturer with the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University.
https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/simon-blanchette
His article on Canada’s “A.I. for All” strategy:
https://theconversation.com/canadas-ai-for-all-strategy-has-ambitious-growth-targets-but-it-falls-short-on-workers-and-the-environment-284648
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
How happy are you?
If you’re under the age of 25 and you live in Canada, the U.S., Australia or New Zealand, you are among the unhappiest of generations. That’s according to the latest World Happiness Report.
At an age that’s seen as the launchpad to adulthood and usually associated with hopes and dreams for the future - this is deeply concerning. Why are young people in Canada and a number of western countries, unhappy? What’s
causing this decline? When most of the world’s young people are on an upward trajectory, why are GenZ’s in these countries becoming unhappier? We look into this issue as well as what actually makes us happy.
INFO ON GUEST:
John Helliwell is one of the cofounding editors of the World Happiness Report that’s released
every year. He’s a Professor Emeritus of the Vancouver School of Economics at UBC. For
more info on John https://economics.ubc.ca/profile/john-helliwell/
Check out the 2026 World Happiness Report: https://www.worldhappiness.report/ed/2026/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
How trusting are you of other people these days?
According to the Environics Inst. for Survey Research, current politics is dividing Americans more than any other time since that country’s Civil War over 150 years ago. Here in Canada, our divisions are not quite as dramatic, yet we see what’s happening with our neighbours to the south amidst own dilemmas of immigration, Quebec sovereignty, Alberta separatism just to name a few.
And all these issues are heightened by what we hear in the media and read online.
Are we losing trust with one another? And with our public institutions - our governments, law enforcement, health agencies, and so on?
We speak with one of our country’s most prominent researchers in public opinion – Keith Neuman who’s had nearly 40 years of experience in this field.
INFO ON GUEST:
Keith Neuman is a public opinion researcher and cofounder of The Environics Inst. for Survey Research. He now runs his own consulting firm KNeuman Survey Insights.
For more on Keith Neuman: https://environicsinstitute.org/keith-neuman/
Environics survey on social trust in Canada and the U.S.A: https://environicsinstitute.org/social-trust-in-canada-and-the-usa/
Other surveys discussed in the podcast: https://environicsinstitute.org/reports/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Ahhh, life’s everyday dilemmas…
How should I deal with my horrendous sister-in-law?
Do I have to tell my new boyfriend about my past infidelity?
Can I cut ties with a friend who helped me through a hard time?
Do any of these questions resonate with you?
They probably do as we all deal with various forms of these issues at various times in our lives. These moral and ethical dilemmas can weigh us down. It feels like we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t!
So what SHOULD we do?
We can ask Kwame Appiah. He writes The Ethicist column in the New York Times. People write to him about their problems and he answers them with what kind of action they might take.
So how does he arrive at his answers? Take a listen…
INFO ON GUEST:
Kwame Appiah is a Professor of Philosophy and Law at New York University, and the author of numerous books including his most recent: Captive Gods: Religion and the Rise of Social Science.” He also writes the weekly column The Ethicist in the New York Times.
https://as.nyu.edu/faculty/kwame-anthony-appiah.html
https://www.nytimes.com/by/kwame-anthony-appiah
https://appiah.net/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Leonardo da Vinci, Frank Lloyd Wright, Margaret Atwood, even the Dalai Lama – they all had something in common.
Procrastination. Surprising right? Because they all had such impressive achievements.
But procrastination is common - maybe so common that we take it for granted. But there could be a stiff price to pay when you put off studying for that exam, getting your car checked, leaving a project to the last minute.. even worse, delay seeing your doctor. And there’s not only a personal cost to procrastination but there can be a larger social and economic cost as well.
Find out how to get to that task or job and get it done from an expert on procrastination.
GUEST INFO:
Piers Steel is a Professor and Brookfield Management Chair with the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/piers-david-gareth-steel
He’s also the author of “The Procrastination Equation: How to stop putting things off and start getting stuff done.”
https://www.amazon.com/Procrastination-Equation-Putting-Things-Getting-ebook/dp/B003ZSHUP2?ref_=ast_author_mpb
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
So you want to have a baby?
It used to be there was only ONE way to achieve this. One might call it the “old fashioned way.” And that went on for hundreds of thousands of years!
But with technological advancements, there are many ways to have a baby today. And one of them is in vitro fertilization. In Canada, about 15% of couples, or 1 in 6, can experience infertility and many pursue IVF. It’s the most common procedure among reproductive technologies to help couples and individuals get pregnant.
It’s been an area of interest and research for Dr. Shirin Dason who’s passionate about spreading awareness on issues around fertility, IVF, and what people should know about getting pregnant.
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. Shirin Dason is a reproductive, endocrinology and infertility specialist. For more info on her work: https://www.drshirindason.com/
https://triofertility.com/team-member/dr-shirin-dason-md-obgyn-rei/
She’s also an Ass’t Professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Toronto. https://obgyn.utoronto.ca/faculty/shirin-dason.
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Splashdown! Artemis 2 was a success! It took humans the farthest they’ve ever been from earth.
The mission also increased deep-space capabilities required for a permanent presence on the moon – and even more exciting – the possibility of sending humans to Mars.
A professor who spent his career bringing space research to the public is Paul Delaney. He’s even been recognized for his life’s work by having an asteroid named after him – the Asteroid Pauldelaney. Pretty cool! Listen to this fascinating astronomer who still wonders about the universe and the possibilities of space exploration.
INFO ON GUEST:
Paul Delaney is a professor emeritus in the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy and former Director of the Allan I. Carswell Astronomical Observatory. https://news.yorku.ca/experts/?mid=3594
Asteroid Pauldelaney: https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2024/11/19/york-university-professor-emeritus-gets-asteroid-named-after-him/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Living your BEST life. Does that mean staying single?
Should the well worn phrase “happily ever after” be used for single people and THEIR lives?
You might think so based on the movement by some academics, celebrities, influencers, and the public, who embrace the single life, also known as the “solo or single at heart movement.” Many say life’s actually BETTER when you’re single compared to being coupled. Is this true? What’s the evidence behind this?
Geoff MacDonald is a psychologist who says there are benefits to both: being single or being partnered.
But when you tally it up, which way of living comes out on top?
INFO ON GUEST:
Geoff MacDonald is a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. He’s also a Fellow of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology and the Int’l Assoc. for Relationship Research: https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/geoff-macdonald
He runs the MacLab whose aim is to better understand wellbeing in singlehood: https://www.macdonaldlab.ca/
On CBC TV’s The National - 2026 Relationship Goal: Stay Single? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9XaQC7-i6Q
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Can you think of a “gamechanging” drug – a drug that’s had a profound impact on humanity?
How about penicillin discovered in the late 20's marking the beginning of the antibiotic era? Or insulin, a Canadian discovery that changed the lives of people with diabetes? Also vaccines, oral contraceptives.. aspirin?
And then there’s Ozempic, or more broadly GLP-1's – THE most talked about drugs today. Tens of millions of people around the world are on a GLP-1 like Ozempic or Wegovy. A recent survey found 3 million Canadians are currently taking them.
Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam of CAMH shares the latest research on how these drugs can affect our brain, our behaviours, and our relationships.
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam is the Chief Medical Officer and Sr. Vice President, Education at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/about-camh/leadership-team-directory/executive-leadership-bio-sanjeev-sockalingam
He’s also Vice-Chair and a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto: https://psychiatry.utoronto.ca/faculty/sanjeev-sockalingam
And Scientific Director of Obesity Canada: https://obesitycanada.ca/news/new-leadership-dr-sanjeev-sockalingam/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
If you’re a woman in your 30’s or older, please listen to this interview
What I learned was surprising - and disturbing.
It’s about perimenopause – the stage before menopause – that can begin in women as early as their 30’s. And it’s often misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated according to endocrinologist Jerilynn Prior who has studied this field for decades.
She says there’s a lot of confusion and lack of awareness about what perimenopause is – even with many medical doctors. And that’s despite the research and evidence that exists on what happens during this stage and what treatments can actually help.
Actually our conversation covers a lot more than perimenopause. It’s about the chemistry of being female and understanding what happens to our bodies - and our brains - at an important stage of life.
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. Jerilynn Prior is an endocrinologist and a professor emerita of Endocrinology and Metabolism in the Dept. of Medicine at UBC. https://medicine.med.ubc.ca/jerilynn-c-prior/
She is the founder of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research:
https://cemcor.ubc.ca/
She’s the author of the award winning book Estrogen’s Storm Season: Stories of Perimenopause:
https://cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/estrogens-storm-season/
For more info and support on perimenopause: https://womenlivingbetter.org/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
It can seem like a mysterious place we once knew – adolescence.
We’ve all been there. But the angst, drama, the questioning, the ups and downs of that time, may seem hard to understand now that we’re older.
A lot has been studied and written about the parent/adolescent relationship as well as the influence of peers and friends.
But what about siblings? They’re usually an integral part of home life. How important is the sibling relationship on the development of a child? And how does it affect future relationships with friends - even romantic partners? Psychologist Ryan Persram has some fascinating answers!
INFO ON GUEST:
Ryan Persram is psychologist and Ass’t Professor in the Dept. of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University. For more info on Ryan and his work: https://www.torontomu.ca/psychology/about-us/our-people/faculty/ryan-persram/
He also directs the ASPIRE Lab at TMU: https://psychlabs.torontomu.ca/aspirelab/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
It’s not too often I come across research that’s this simple AND effective – according to the evidence.
Based on the results of a number of studies, this simple strategy can elevate your mood, make you feel connected, happier… and even give greater meaning to your life. You can do it almost anywhere and maybe best of all, it doesn’t add any significant time to your day.
The strategy is called “Noticing Nature.” And the researcher behind it is Psychologist Holli-Anne Passmore. Try this practice and see if it works for you!
INFO ON GUEST:
Holli-Anne Passmore is an Assoc. Prof. and Chair of the Dept. of Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton. https://concordia.ab.ca/faculty-arts/departments/psychology/faculty/full-time-faculty-psychology/holli-anne-passmore/
She’s also Director of the multi-university Nature-Meaning in Life Research Lab and an editor at the Int’l Journal of Well Being. https://nature-mill.org/
Here’s a CBC article on her “Noticing Nature Intervention:”
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/noticing-nature-experts-1.7434315
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
You’ve probably come across this word: gaslighting.
It was Word of the Year in Mirriam Webster’s dictionary in 2022. Maybe you’ve even experienced it.
Definitions of gaslighting vary but it’s a form of manipulation and can go on for years.
What’s shocking is that it can be the very people whom you trust and love, who are trying to manipulate you.
“You must be crazy to think that” or “you probably imagined that” or “there’s no reason to be upset” are common lines that are used. More women than men are affected and the consequences can be damaging and long lasting.
How do you know if you’re being gaslit? What effect can it have? And who are the perpetrators? Willis Klein of McGill University fills us in on the latest research.
Info on Guest:
Willis Klein is a PhD candidate in Experimental Psychology at McGill University. For more info on Willis: https://willis-klein.com/
Article on Willis’ research on gaslighting: https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/researchers-delve-how-gaslighting-works-367747
“A Theoretical Framework for Studying the Phenomenon of Gaslighting” by Willis Klein, Suzanne Wood, and Jennifer A. Bartz was published in Personality and Social Psychology Review.
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
*NOTE: This interview was recorded in late Nov. of 2025.
Canada is generally regarded as a safe and peaceful country. But is that changing?
For the first time, the head of CSIS Dan Rogers, addressed the public last year with these stats:
1 in 10 terrorism investigations in Canada involves at least one minor under the age of 18.
There have been 20 violent extremist attacks in Canada resulting in 29 deaths since 2014.
He also warned about Chinese and Russian interference in Canada, and the weaponization of Canadian data and information.
As we enter a new year, we thought it important to take stock of where we are with national security and the complex threat environment we face with international relations and security expert Stephanie Carvin.
INFO ON GUEST:
Stephanie Carvin is an Associate Professor of Int’l Relations at the Norman Paterson School of Int’l Affairs at Carleton University. https://carleton.ca/npsia/people/stephanie-carvin/
Her most recent book is “Stand on Guard: Reassessing Threats to Canada’s National Security” which was nominated for the 2021 Donner Prize. https://utppublishing.com/doi/book/10.3138/9781487524517
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
The holidays can be a joyous time for many families.
But it can also be the saddest time for those who are experiencing estrangement.
It’s something many parents don’t talk about. The pain and the shame that a child is no longer in their lives can be enormous. But estrangement is common.
One U.S. study found a significant number of families will undergo some type of estrangement.
So how do you deal with it? And not just on a personal level but in a broader social context – especially during the holiday season when getting together with family and friends is expected?
Denise Whitehead knows a lot about conflict in families and teaches a course on it. I found this to be a valuable, insightful interview on parent/child relationships - whether you’re going through an estrangement or not. I learned a lot.
INFO ON GUEST:
Denise Whitehead is an Associate professor in the Dept. of Sexualities, Relationships, and Families, at St. Jerome’s University, the University of Waterloo.
Denise recommends this book: Rules of Estrangement by Dr. Joshua Coleman.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/622584/rules-of-estrangement-by-joshua-coleman-phd/9780593290644
and Fault Lines by Dr. Karl Pillemer:
https://a.co/d/5HBC3jI
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Of course you’d ruin your shoes to save a drowning child! What a question, right?
But if that’s the case, why wouldn’t you donate a few dollars to save the life of a child? Doesn’t it come down to the same thing? This is the question that a global movement called Effective Altruism asks.
EA does research on where you should donate your money so it has the biggest impact. The EA approach is to gather data and use specific criteria to determine which charities are saving or extending lives, dollar for dollar.
Does this sound like a good approach to giving? Economist Calum Carmichael a retired professor formerly with the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University explores the pros and cons of Effective Altruism.
INFO ON GUEST:
Calum Carmichael is a retired professor formerly with the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University. https://carleton.ca/sppa/people/carmichael-calum-m/
Carmichael’s articles on Effective Altruism: “What the Philanthropic Sector can take from the downfall of Sam Bankman-Fried and his ties to EA.” https://carleton.ca/panl/closer-takes/
The Centre for Effective Altruism. https://www.centreforeffectivealtruism.org/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
It was fast and brazen.
In less than eight minutes, thieves stole jewellery worth over 130 million dollars from the Louvre in Paris. It was a daytime job while visitors were admiring the very jewellery that would soon be taken.
You may think crimes of art don’t happen very often because we don’t hear about them. But in fact art and cultural property worth billions of dollars are stolen annually. It’s a significant and costly issue.
Why do we feel a sense of loss, sadness – even anger – when we lose art? How does art reflect who we are and our identity? Sally Hickson, an art historian, explores our complex relationship with art.
INFO ON GUEST:
Sally Hickson is an Assoc. Professpr of Art History in the School of Fine Art and Music at Guelph University. She’s also the Director of the School of Theatre, English and Creative Writing at Guelph. For more on Sally and her work: https://www.uoguelph.ca/arts/sofam/people/sally-hickson
Her article on eco-activism and art: https://theconversation.com/eco-activist-attacks-on-museum-artwork-ask-us-to-figure-out-what-we-value-193575
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Is violent crime actually going up in Canada?
According to Stats Canada, it is. Violent crime has increased by about 50% in the last decade.
And a new report that compares the rate of police reported violent crime in Canada and the U.S. says the gap between the two countries has narrowed. It’s the result of decreases in violent crime in the US and increases in Canada over the last 25 years.
What’s going on and what should we be doing about it?
Irvin Waller knows what the evidence-based solutions are to reduce violent crime. He’s consulted with int’l organizations like the United Nations and governments around the world. Hear what he has to say.
INFO ON GUEST:
Irvin Waller is Emeritus Professor in the Dept. of Criminology at the University of Ottawa.
https://uniweb.uottawa.ca/view/profile/members/885?lang=en
He’s the author of a number of books including “Science and Secrets of Ending Violent Crime” and Rights for Victims of Crime.” https://www.linkedin.com/in/irvin-waller-225b7b10/?originalSubdomain=
An article on what Canada should do to reduce violent crime: https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2025/05/23/How-Carney-Can-Reduce-Violent-Crime/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
What if there was something simple you could do that would improve your physical and mental health, keep you young, and possibly stave off conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's?
It's not a pill, it's not invasive and there's no equipment.
It's dance! Sounds hard to believe, right?
But there’s growing evidence on the benefits of dance across a host of conditions.
Rebecca Barnstaple is a dance researcher and has seen the incredible effects that dance can have on patients. Even on herself!
INFO ON GUEST:
Rebecca is a Assistant Professor in the School of Theatre, English, and Creative Writing at the University of Guelph. For more on Rebecca and her work: https://www.uoguelph.ca/arts/sotec/people/rebecca-barnstaple. Video on dance and health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4idqXKYO-YQ
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
It’s called "the silent killer" and for good reason.
One in three deaths around the world is caused by cardiovascular diseases.
That’s almost 20 million people. And with aging populations, the problem is increasing.
What happens if you have heart failure in a remote community - and the nearest hospital is hundreds if kilometres away?
How do we ensure everyone gets good care?
These are critical questions that researcher and cardiologist Heather Ross has been grappling with for decades.
She herself faced a life and death situation with her own heart and that experience had a huge impact on how she sees her work and mission.
Hope you listen to what this brilliant doctor has to say about heart health and living life to the fullest.
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. Heather Ross is head of the Division of Cardiology at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at UHN. She’s also a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She received the Order of Canada in 2020.
https://www.uhnresearch.ca/researcher/heather-j-ross
https://kite-uhn.com/fibre/scientist/heather-ross
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_J._Ross
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
In what country did young employees work the most number of days from home? Canada!
In one study, Canadian employees who were recent graduates worked an average of 1.9 days per week from home. The U.K. and U.S. rounded out the top three. Asian countries had the lowest levels when it came to remote work.
Many people say remote work is more convenient, more productive, and less hassle with travel and time pressures.
But remote work has its downsides too. According to the Harvard Business Review and other sources, there’s growing evidence that remote and hybrid work have a dampening effect on job performance. And there are other issues such as high turnover, isolation and loss of collaboration, managing remote workers, just to name a few.
Nita Chhinzer, an expert on our changing work world, explores current issues and what the future of work looks like!
INFO ON GUEST:
Nita Chhinzer is an Associate Professor in Leadership & Organizational Management, Dept. of Management at the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, University of Guelph. For more on Nita and her work: https://www.uoguelph.ca/lang/people/nita-chhinzer
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
What’s your favourite snack?
Is it gummy worms? Maybe a bag of salt and vinegar chips? Or how about a bowl of your favourite ice cream?
In Canada, we are a nation of snackers. Surveys show about 80% of us have at least one snack a day.
But our relationship with snack foods is a complicated one.
We often feel guilty when we snack. And we even refer to junk food as a “guilty pleasure.”
But why all the guilt? Aside from the health implications, why is there such a strong stigma around snack foods? And who gets to decide what is a snack or junk food?
Historian Janis Thiessen has a fascinating look into why snack foods are “loved and reviled.”
Now go grab some popcorn and listen!
INFO ON GUEST:
Janis Thiessen is a Professor of History at the University of Winnipeg. She’s the author of “Snacks: A Canadian Food History.” For more on Janis and her books: https://janisthiessen.ca/about/
The Manitoba Food History Project https://www.manitobafoodhistory.ca/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Why should you think like a Roman Emperor?
The emperor in question is Marcus Aurelias who was born in the second century.
He ruled for almost 20 years and was a leading Stoic.
Stoicism is a school of philosophy and it’s had a resurgence in popularity around the world. People are turning to it as a way to approach life and help navigate the various challenges they face. Cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT which is one of the most widely accepted forms of psychotherapy has its roots in Stoicism.
We speak with author and former psychotherapist Donald Robertson, a founding member of the organization Modern Stoicism about how this ancient philosophy can guide us towards a calmer and more meaningful life.
INFO ON GUEST
Donald Robertson is one of the founders of Modern Stoicism, a former cognitive behavioural psychotherapist and the author of nine books including How To Think Like A Roman Emperor.
For more info on Donald Robertson: https://donaldrobertson.name/
Interview with Donald Robertson: https://modernstoicism.com/interview-with-donald-robertson-2/
Modern Stoicism: https://modernstoicism.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Note:
A warning that the content contains graphic descriptions of the aftermath of the atomic bomb.
This podcast is one of the most deeply affecting interviews I’ve ever done.
On Aug. 6, 1945, 13 year old Setsuko Thurlow experienced a horror previously unknown to the world – the detonation of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
She miraculously survived while tens of thousands of people including members of her family and the classmates she was with, died. Some estimate the death toll at 140,000. Three days later a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki causing many more deaths.
At 93 years of age, she is part of a shrinking group of survivors known as “hibakusha.”
Today she’s one of the world’s most prominent nuclear disarmament activists, and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 on behalf of ICAN, an international organization whose mission is the abolishment of nuclear weapons.
Listen to her incredible story and eyewitness account of the day the bomb dropped.
INFO ON GUEST:
Setsuko Thurlow is a Japanese Canadian living in Toronto. She is one of the world’s most prominent voices in the nuclear disarmament movement and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 on behalf of ICAN, an international organization whose mission is the abolishment of nuclear weapons. She is also a “hibakusha,” a term used to describe survivors of the atomic bomb. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsuko_Thurlow
For more on Setsuko and her work: https://rise.icanw.org/setsuko_thurlow
SPECIAL THANKS:
Our thanks to Director Susan Strickler and Producer Mitchie Takeuchi for allowing use of the footage from their documentary “The Vow From Hiroshima.”
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
They kill more humans – than humans.
I’m talking about mosquitoes. Surprised?
Sure those pests cover us with bites, drive us indoors, and keep us awake all night with an itch that drives us crazy.
But they also pose the much more serious threat as carriers of disease. Malaria, Yellow Fever and other mosquito-borne diseases kill hundreds of thousands of people every year.
But what if we could get rid of mosquitoes - permanently? It’s possible.
Ben Matthews, a neuro sensory biologist, has thought a lot about what’s involved in eradicating mosquitoes and what the consequences might be.
Info on Guest:
Ben Matthews is a neuro sensory biologist in the Dept. of Zoology at the Univ. of British Columbia https://zoology.ubc.ca/person/ben-matthews
Ben’s Lab: https://mosquitolab.zoology.ubc.ca/
Ben also served on the expert panel for Health Canada that looked into regulating gene-edited organisms for pest control. https://cca-reports.ca/reports/gene-edited-organisms-for-pest-control/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Furries are people who dress as talking animals.
Are they weird? Harmful? Or just misunderstood?
Sociologist—and furry—Courtney Plante has spent years studying this growing subculture. In this episode, he tackles big questions:
Is being a furry unhealthy? Who joins these communities?
And is that story about kitty litter in classrooms actually true?
All your furry questions—answered.
GUEST:
Courtney Plante is a professor of social psychology in the Dept. of Psychology at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. https://www.ubishops.ca/academic-programs/faculty-of-social-sciences/psychology/faculty-contact/
The Int’l Anthropomorphic Research Project: https://furscience.com/we-are-scientists-studying-the-furry-fandom/
More on Courtney: https://blog.ubishops.ca/meet-dr-courtney-plante/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
They say space is the final frontier. No way. The final frontier is right there within you – your brain!
The brain is still a big mystery – even to scientists who are trying to figure out its puzzle.
But they’re learning more and more about the brain and dispelling old beliefs about it.
Are there left brain, right brain people? Are we born with a finite set of brain cells? Is it normal to lose memory as we age?
Join us as we dive into the most complex, interesting and important organ in our bodies with neurologist Lorraine Kalia.
GUEST:
Lorraine Kalia is a neurologist and senior scientist with the Krembil Brain Inst. at the University Health Network in Toronto. She’s also an Assoc. Prof. in the Dept. of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Video on why she studies Parkinson’s Disease: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6nNS4x8QCg
Her lab: https://kalialabs.org/team/
Research at the University Health Network: https://www.uhnresearch.ca/researcher/lorraine-kalia
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Did you know almost every person on this planet will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives?
And here’s another other unsettling fact: there’s NO good evidence for many common treatments that millions of people undergo. And yet a huge amount of research has been done in this field and billions of dollars spent on therapies.
What are these treatments? Why do people get them? What actually does work?
Is it time for a revolution in the way we approach back pain?
Jason Busse who’s an expert on chronic pain gives us the latest evidence.
GUEST INFO:
Jason Busse is a Canada Research Chair in the Prevention and Management of Chronic Pain. He’s also a professor in anaesthesia in the Dept. of Health Sciences at McMaster University. https://experts.mcmaster.ca/display/bussejw
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988 in Canada or go to headsupguys.org. Help is available.
The facts are shocking.
Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for men under the age of 50.
Men die by suicide at 3X the rate that women do in North America and elsewhere.
Why? What’s going on with men? And why is there silence around men and suicide?
Dr. John Ogrodniczuk is on a mission to help men and bring more awareness to this issue.
He created a program at UBC called HeadsUpGuys, a mental health resource designed for men and their families.
If you’re a man who’s finding it difficult to cope, or you have a male in your life - a family member, a friend or a colleague – please listen to this interview.
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. John Ogrodniczuk is a Professor in the Dept of Psychiatry and Director of the Psychotherapy Program at the University of British Columbia https://psychiatry.ubc.ca/john-ogrodniczuk/
Founder of Heads Up Guys, a mental health resource for men: headsupguys.org
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Have you heard of the series Adolescence?
It’s one of THE most watched streaming shows and has sparked a lot of conversation around incel culture.
A boy living in the UK is accused of murdering one of his female classmates.
He’s 13 years old.
The details about his life make the situation even more disturbing. He does well in school, he’s never been in serious trouble, and he comes from a loving family.
Nothing unusual except… his online life.
Sociologist Eran Shor gives a startling profile of the young
men who become radicalized.
GUEST INFO:
Eran Shor is a Professor in the Dept. of Sociology at McGill University.
https://www.mcgill.ca/popcentre/people-0/members/eran-shor
He’s the co-author of Aggression in Pornography:
https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/channels/news/professor-eran-shors-book-presents-some-surprising-results-about-place-aggression-within-pornography-324543
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
If I said people are upset, fearful and angry, you might assume I’m talking about U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
And that’s because a day doesn’t go by when those tariffs and our reaction to them… make headlines.
And there’s been intense scrutiny on the way Trump has approached tariffs – his negotiation strategy - which seems unpredictable. But is it?
What’s behind Trump’s tactics? How effective are they? What can we learn from his actions and how can we better understand different styles of negotiation?
Shai Dubey is an expert on negotiation and conflict management. He’s got valuable insight on an issue that’s affecting all of us.
INFO ON GUEST:
Shai Dubey is a professor in the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University with a focus on negotiation and conflict management.
https://smith.queensu.ca/faculty_and_research/faculty_list/dubey-shai.php
How to be a better negotiator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I_9aA5SBD4
TEDx talk on the biggest barrier to negotiation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9PezyQ0Lo
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
A day doesn’t go by when you’ll hear about a new survey or poll. And you might even be asked to participate.
But just how credible are they?
It’s one thing if we’re talking about “are we a dog or cat person” but quite another if we’re asked “who will we vote for in the next election” or “should we stop the flow of immigration?” These are weighty issues.
Like it or not, polls and surveys are important. What do we need to know about them? What makes a good or bad poll? How do they influence our actions?
We speak with an expert on polls who’ll tell us what to watch out for.
INFO ON GUEST:
Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme is a sociologist and Associate Professor in the Dept. of Sociology at the Univ. of Waterloo:
https://uwaterloo.ca/sociology-and-legal-studies/profiles/sarah-wilkins-laflamme
She also runs the International Social Survey Program in Canada. The survey explores our attitudes in a number of areas incl. the Role of Gov’t, Social Networks, Family and Changing Gender Roles, Work Orientation, Religion, and the Environment:
https://uwaterloo.ca/statistical-consulting-survey-research-unit/about/projects/issp-canada
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Thinks about ads. We love to hate them. And we hate to love them. We try and avoid them but they’re everywhere.
And when they’re good they can stir up all kinds of emotions in seconds.
On this podcast I interview a guru of the advertising and marketing world – Terry O’Reilly. Terry’s the host of “Under the Influence” on CBC Radio. He’s won hundreds of awards and is one of the best storytellers I’ve come across.
You’ll be entertained and you’ll learn a ton about the ad world.
Guaranteed or your money back.
INFO ON GUEST:
Terry O’Reilly has been an ad man for over 40 years. He’s won hundreds of awards and is the host of “Under the Influence” on CBC Radio. He’s the author of three books on advertising with a fourth coming out this fall. For more on Terry and his work: https://terryoreilly.ca
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
We’ve never had so much information.
But we don’t know what’s true.
Billions of google searches occur daily, thousands of news items are published, hundreds of hours of content are uploaded on youtube, every minute. Radio, television, news articles, podcasts. We’re adrift in a storm of information chaos according to researcher Tim Caulfield who’s an expert on evaluating information and evidence.
He says what we believe to be true and what is actually true can be miles apart. And that information can be dangerous.
How do we steer our way clear of misinformation that can mislead and even harm us?
INFO ON GUEST:
Timothy Caulfield is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health, and Research Director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta.
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/law/faculty-and-research/health-law-institute/people/timothycaulfield.html
He’s the author of the new book “The Certainty Illusion: what you don’t know and why it matters.” https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/authors/255688/timothy-caulfield
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
In the words of Dr. Seuss… “oh the places you’ll go!!” Think about it. The act of moving from one place to another. I’m talking about migration.
How you and I move over our lifetime is not only life-changing. It’s world-changing.
Think for example about the waves of migration after the two world wars. They dramatically changed the composition and character of countries. And migration changed us – our identity - in the most fundamental way.
When and why do we move from one place to another? How has that changed through history and over our lifetimes? And what will migration look like in the future?
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion!
INFO ON GUEST:
Michael Haan is an Assoc. Prof. and Director of the Statistics Canada Research Data Centre at Western University. https://sociology.uwo.ca/people/profiles/Haan.html
Research on home ownership among second generation immigrants: https://sociology.uwo.ca/research/research-areas/social-demography-and-migration/researcher-haan.html
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
There’s nothing like it in our universe. Black holes.
They’re enormous (understatement), mysterious (understatement) and they’re
positioned at the centre of many galaxies – including our own.
Sagittarius A, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way, is over 4 million times the mass of the sun. And there are even bigger black holes. Stuff goes into a black hole. NOTHING comes out. Why? What happens to the matter that’s in there? How fast do black holes grow? When did they start?
So many questions that astronomer Daryl Haggard is trying to figure out that will help us better understand the universe and how it’s evolving.
INFO ON GUEST:
Daryl Haggard is an Assoc. Professor of Physics at the Trottier Space Institute at McGill
University. https://www.dhaggard.physics.mcgill.ca/
She’s also the co-leader of the AXIS mission, a space probe that aims to increase our
understanding of black holes and the evolution of our galaxies. AXIS is one of two
finalists in the NASA $1 billion space probe competition.
For more on AXIS: https://www.mcgill.ca/science/channels/news/mcgill-linked-axis-
mission-one-two-finalists-nasa-selection-process-361498
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Don’t take your gut for granted. Researchers are discovering more and more astonishing things about our gut.
Its connection to allergies, auto-immune diseases like lupus and inflammatory bowel disease. Its relationship to heart disease, cancers – and even mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Did you know how you were born – whether a vaginal birth or a C-section – affects gut development?
Whether you went to daycare and how dirty you got as a kid - these too affect the health of your gut microbiome.
And diet has a major impact on your gut which in turn affects your overall health.
Listen in on a super informative discussion about your “second brain!”
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. Deanna Gibson is a microbiologist and professor in the Dept. of Biology at the University of British Columbia – Okanagan campus. For more info on Deanna and her work:
https://biology.ok.ubc.ca/about/contact/deanna-gibson/
Here’s a short video about Deanna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmNfHPE3MFA
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Do you work remotely or at the office? Which is better in terms of productivity and mental health?
You may not like the answer. Or maybe you will.
And if you’re working a typical eight hour workday – that’s probably an inefficient way to work according to Dr. Brynn Winegard.
You could do so much better in terms of productivity and satisfaction.
Brynn is an applied neuroscientist who’s looked at the evidence around how our brain works and how we work best.
The results are fascinating and will dispel the myths and beliefs you have about your working brain!
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. Brynn Winegard is an applied neuroscientist who focuses on brain health and how we work best.
She’s part of Faculty at Schulich School of Business and Lang School of Business & Economics
Her new book is called The Working Brain: Optimize Your Workday Performance.
For more info on Brynn and her work: https://www.drbrynn.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
One of the most remarkable questionnaires I’ve ever come across was psychologists Arthur and Elaine Aron’s 36 questions.
Their aim was to bring two people in a lab – strangers in fact – closer together by having them answer a series of questions. But the miraculous thing is that some couples who’ve tried the 36 questions have actually fallen in love!
As in the case of Mandy Len Catron, a Canadian who wrote about her falling-in-love-on-the-first-date experience. Her essay appeared in the New York Times and became a sensation.
It’s been over 25 years since the original study was published and I was curious to hear Dr. Arthur Aron’s thoughts on it. Why do these questions create closeness among two people? Does it have the same effect on men and women? Have they discovered anything more powerful at creating intimacy since their original study? Join me for a surprising conversation on love and keeping passion alive.
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. Arthur Aron is a Social Psychologist and Research Professor at Stony Brook University in New York: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/psychology/faculty/faculty_profiles/aaron
He’s also an Affiliate at the University of California, Berkeley.
The 36 questions are in this NY Times column:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/style/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html
Mandy Len Catron’s essay “To Fall In Love with Anyone, Do This:”
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/style/modern-love-to-fall-in-love-with-anyone-do-this.html
Dr. Aron’s study: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0146167297234003
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
What if your age has very little to do with your health and well being? Whether you’re 20, 40.. or 80?
And what if there was a “clock” that gave you a more accurate picture of how old, biologically, you really are? That’s what’s known as an epigenetic clock.
Even celeb Kim Kardashian is into it. She’s 43 but her epigenetic clock says that biologically, she’s more like a 34 year old. Lucky her.
There are different kinds of epigenetic clocks that give us a window into our health – and the future.
There’s even a clock that will tell us when we’ll die! Sounds creepy right?
But it’s all part of the growing field of epigenetics which microbiologist Michael Kobor researches.
Whether it’s identifying social influences early on that affect us years down the road or why people who live in Blue Zones have healthier, longer lives, Michael is looking for answers on how we age and how we stay healthy. Hope you listen to this fascinating conversation!
INFO ON GUEST:
Michael Kobor is a microbiologist and a Professor of Medical Genetics at the University of British Columbia and Canada Research Chair in Social Epigenetics: https://biochem.ubc.ca/fac-research/faculty/michael-kobor/
Epigenetics and the Human Life Course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IhXE5Lfoso
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988 in Canada or go to headsupguys.org. Help is available.
The facts are shocking.
Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for men under the age of 50.
Men die by suicide at 3X the rate that women do in North America and elsewhere.
Why? What’s going on with men? And why is there silence around men and suicide?
Dr. John Ogrodniczuk is on a mission to help men and bring more awareness to this issue.
He created a program at UBC called HeadsUpGuys, a mental health resource designed for men and their families.
If you’re a man who’s finding it difficult to cope, or you have a male in your life - a family member, a friend or a colleague – please listen to this interview.
INFO ON GUEST:
Dr. John Ogrodniczuk is a Professor in the Dept of Psychiatry and Director of the Psychotherapy Program at the University of British Columbia https://psychiatry.ubc.ca/john-ogrodniczuk/
Founder of Heads Up Guys, a mental health resource for men: headsupguys.org
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
It’s not new but more people are talking about it. And doing it.
According to anthropologist Treena Orchard, there’s been a rise in younger men dating older women.
And it’s not just about sex.
Recent movies like Idea of You starring Ann Hathaway, Lonely Planet with Laura Dern and A Family Affair with Nicole Kidman are reflecting this trend.
So what’s going on? What are young men looking for? What are older women looking for? And how is this part of the larger scene of people looking for connection and meaning in their lives?
Treena Orchard has been exploring this and has a lot to say!
She herself ventured into the online dating world, and yes, she had relationships not just with younger men, but all kinds of men. She gives a frank and revealing take on what she learned.
Her insights into relationships and the dark side of dating apps is well worth a listen.
INFO ON GUEST:
Treena Orchard is an anthropologist and Assoc. Professor in the School of Health Studies at Western University: https://www.uwo.ca/fhs/shs/about/faculty/orchard_t.html
Article on age gap relationships: https://news.westernu.ca/2024/08/relationships-millennial-gen-z/
She’s also the author of “Sticky, Sexy, Sad: swipe culture and the darker side of dating apps.”
Check out her website: https://treenaorchard.com/
ADD’L INFO:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast, subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. If you like what you hear, please share our podcast with others! Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
This is a podcast for true crime lovers – and for those who are NOT! You will definitely learn a thing or two about human behaviour that may even help you in your own life.
We explore TRUE crime – not the Hollywood, sensationalized version of true crime - but the facts behind real cases with Michael Arntfield. As a former police officer, he’s had on-the-ground experience with crime and killers. And as a renowned criminologist, he speaks with knowledge and insight as to why murder investigations fail, what motivates serial killers and how they operate, and how cold cases have been solved by amateur sleuths.
This was an eye-opening podcast for me. You’ll hear the story behind North America’s most prolific serial killer – a name unfamiliar to many people. And the game changing technology that may make cold cases a thing of the past.
INFO ON GUEST:
Michael Arntfield is a criminologist and professor at Western University in London, Ontario where he founded the Cold Case Society. For info on his research and teaching at Western University: https://www.uwo.ca/english/people/arntfield.html
Michael is also a director at The Murder Accountability Project in Washington: https://www.murderdata.org/
He’s had numerous television shows on crime and has written over a dozen books including “How to Solve a Cold Case: And Everything Else You Wanted to Know about Catching Killers.” https://michaelarntfield.com/
ADD’L INFO
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Look around you.
War, political upheaval, unstable economies, and increasing division and hate among people. Democracy is in trouble according to a number of experts who say we’re heading towards a crisis – if we’re not in one already.
Currently less than 8% of the world’s population live in a full democracy.
2024 is a pivotal year in elections with the majority of the world’s population going to the polls.
That includes the most anticipated election of all – the U.S. Presidential election in November whose outcome will have global impact.
Listen to what Lucan Way, an expert on democracy, has to say about the state of democracy in the world - and its future.
INFO ON GUEST:
Lucan Way is a Distinguished Professor of Democracy with the Dept. of Political Science at the University of Toronto. For more on Lucan and his work:
https://politics.utoronto.ca/faculty/profile/95/;
His award winning book, co-authored with Stephen Levitsky, is “Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism” was one of TIME's 33 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2022:
https://politics.utoronto.ca/publication/revolution-and-dictatorship-the-violent-origins-of-durable-authoritarianism/
ADD’L INFO:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast, subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks a lot for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Sure you want to lead a long and healthy life. But what’s the secret? People are spending billions and billions of dollars on all kinds of diets, testing, tracking and health regimens that don’t do anything – or may be harmful.
If there’s anyone who’s got an informed answer, it’s Dr. Mike Evans. He’s the former Lead of Digital Healthcare for Apple. He ran health experiments and gathered data from a billion users. It’s a fascinating and super informative conversation based on the latest evidence.
You want to live a healthy, long life? Listen to what Mike Evans has to say.
Info on Guest:
Dr. Mike Evans is the former Lead of Digital Healthcare for Apple. He was also an inner city family doctor and professor of medicine in Toronto for twenty-five years.
For more on Dr. Mike Evans and his health videos: https://www.youtube.com/@DocMikeEvans
His most popular health video that’s had almost 7 million views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. You’ll keep up to date on all our fascinating topics. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
Support the CRAM Podcast!Research shapes our lives, yet so much of it doesn’t reach the public. CRAM bridges the gap, bringing groundbreaking Canadian research to everyone. To keep this important work going, we need your support.
CRAM is a registered charity, and Canadian donors will receive a tax receipt. Help us share the research that matters and donate using the link below. Thank you!
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124993
Do you think about every purchase you make?
I’m talking about the ethical and moral implications. Do you know where and how your clothes were made? Is your shampoo filled with toxic chemicals? What kind of additives are in your cereal? Are the companies behind the brands you purchase good corporate citizens?
Life is already complicated and we’re confronted with millions of choices everyday.
We’re asked to choose wisely, conscientiously, ethically.
But are we really making informed choices? How do we know?
Aya Aboelenien, a marketing expert, navigates the murky world of ethical marketing.
Info on Guest:
Aya Aboeleneien is an assistant professor in the Dept of Marketing at HEC Montreal, the graduate school of business at the University of Montreal. For more info on Aya and her work: https://www.hec.ca/en/profs/aya.aboelenien.html
Her article on entertainment brands adapting to Gen Alpha: https://theconversation.com/from-barbie-to-thomas-the-tank-engine-how-entertainment-brands-are-adapting-to-generation-alpha-228682
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. You’ll keep up to date on all our fascinating topics. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Would you have sex with a robot?
It’s not an outlandish question – at least not to a growing number of people who are interested in high tech intimacy.
According to philosopher Neil McArthur, millions of people around the world are already having relationships – and not just with robots – but with chatbots and other forms of A.I.
And AI is rapidly evolving and becoming more and more sophisticated and human-like in its thinking. So could our deepest and most meaningful relationships be with A.I. partners?
What would this mean for the future of human relationships? Will we still need each other?
Info on Guest:
Neil McArthur is a Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba: https://umanitoba.ca/arts/neil-mcarthur
Check out his website for articles, interviews and his blog: https://neilmcarthur.com/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. You’ll keep up to date on all our fascinating topics. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Here’s a question – and a really important one that you probably haven’t asked yourself: “When is the last time I felt a sense of WONDER?”
That thrilling feeling that you’re witnessing something magical. Something surprising.
Something phenomenal.
Maybe it’s been awhile. Maybe you can’t even remember when you last felt that way. Why?
Do you think you’ve figured things out? Do you cast a cynical eye on the state of the world? Have you lost the ability to open up your mind and heart?
That’s a huge loss according to philosopher Wendy O’Brien.
And that’s because wonder is connected to the best part of being human.
Philosopher Wendy O’Brien was worried about that state of wonder in the world. And she began an incredible exploration called The Wonder Project. I hope you join us for this amazing, wonder-filled conversation! I loved it!!
Info on Guest:
Wendy O’Brien is a philosopher – a phenomenologist - writer and speaker. She was a professor for over
30 years and taught at the University of Guelph, Humber, and Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario.
Wendy is involved in an exploration of wonder called The Wonder Project.
Find out more about Wendy: https://www.think-well.ca/about-us and her Wonder Project:
https://www.think-well.ca/wonderproject
Her essay “Living in Wonder”. https://www.classicalpursuits.com/living-in-wonder/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social
@CRAMideas. You’ll keep up to date on all our fascinating topics. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Sure we love our animals. Rover and Fluffy are like family to us. But we often make the mistake of assuming animal behaviour is human behaviour.
But it’s not – they are not us.
Animals have their own language and their own behaviours which can confound us and leave us scratching our heads.
Psychologist Suzanne MacDonald has long been fascinated by animals and studies their behaviour to gain more insight into how their worlds work.
Let’s delve into the minds of Rover, Fluffy and a whole host of fascinating animals.
You won’t look at them the same way again!
Info on Guest:
Suzanne MacDonald is a psychologist who studies animal behaviour (a rare breed!) in the Dept. of Psychology at York University.
For more info about her: https://health.yorku.ca/health-profiles/index.php?mid=4702
Check out her website and the cute racoon! https://suzannemacdonald.ca/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Please listen to this podcast. This one really got to us.
It changed the way we look at the prospect of death.
Chris Kerr, a physician and palliative care researcher, with his team, interviewed over 1500 patients who were dying – and was amazed by what he heard.
You’ll hear from some patients who are dying. With very little time left, they describe with clarity and confidence, a transformative recurring event.
Truths that were buried are acknowledged. Those who loved unconditionally are cherished.
It is a profoundly moving meditation about an experience all of us will face.
Info on Guest:
Dr. Christopher Kerr is a physician and Chief Exec. Officer and Chief Medical Officer of Hospice and Palliative Care of Buffalo in NYState. He’s a Canadian originally from Toronto. He’s also the author of “Death Is But A Dream.” Dr. Kerr’s research is also featured on the Netflix series “ Surviving Death” Episode 5. For more on him and his work: https://www.drchristopherkerr.com/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Taylor vs. Beyonce. Do you care?
Maybe not but a lot of people do. And not just fans – those people who follow their every move and every word. Politicians – presidents! - business leaders, economists, stock market analysts, and yes even academics are interested in the Taylor Swift and Beyonce effects.
And that’s because their impact is huge. In terms of the economy, we’re talking billions of dollars. And their influence is felt in other ways around the globe.
Sarah Olutola, a professor at Lakehead University has always been interested in pop culture and digs deep into its history, influence and meaning. Hear what she has to say about two of the biggest artists in entertainment - Beyonce and Taylor Swift.
Info on Guest:
Sarah Olutola is an Assistant Professor of Writing, in the Department of English at Lakehead University. For more info on Sarah and her work: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/users/O/solutola/node/65634
Check out this article: https://theconversation.com/the-humiliating-downfall-of-japans-johnny-and-associates-fans-reckon-with-sexual-assault-in-entertainment-214831
Sarah also writes YA novels and children’s books under the pen name Sarah Raughley.
https://sarahraughley.com/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
REPEAT from 2023: You probably know people who you think are irrational (and you’re certainly NOT one of them!).
They have views you don’t agree with and make decisions that make no sense. And maybe you even feel irrational people are on the rise. And that makes you nervous.
But just who is a rational person? What constitutes rational thinking? And can we use this form of thinking to make better decisions and live better lives?
Let’s turn to a philosopher for answers. Duncan McIntosh is a Professor of Philosophy at Dalhousie University in Halifax and teaches a course on the Theory of Rational Decision.
Info on Guest:
Duncan McIntosh is a Professor of Philosophy at Dalhousie University in Halifax and teaches a course on the Theory of Rational Decision. To find out more about Duncan’s work: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/arts/philosophy/FacultyandStaff/our-faculty/duncan-macintosh.html
Check out this article on his involvement with the Center for Ethics and Rule of Law:
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/arts/philosophy/FacultyandStaff/our-faculty/duncan-macintosh.html
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
When we think of bad behaviour, we often think of men and the dirty deeds they’ve done. But what about women?
Women, like men, are also capable of bad behaviour. Very bad behaviour.
Just look back at the Roman Empire. Women were expected to be good girls, wives and mothers. But there were notable bad-ass women who stopped at nothing to gain power.
Their stories are shocking and gruesome. They reveal what happens when power or control is taken away from women. And what the drive for power can do.
Classics professor Alison Keith gives a fascinating and revealing exploration of human behaviour.
Info on Guest:
Alison Keith is a Prof. of Classics at Victoria College and Director of the Jackman Humanities Institute, University of Toronto. If you’d like to know more about Alison and her work: https://www.classics.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/alison-keith
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Special Edition
Do you have a feeling that all is not right with the world?
There’s war, racial conflict, huge economic disparity, political extremism, growing societal discord. And of course climate change.
You wonder – are we on a path to complete self-destruction?
It’s the ultimate question that researcher Luke Kemp has been studying. He’s an expert on global catastrophic risk. He’s looked at the collapse of past civilisations and applies this knowledge to the present day.
Normally our podcast features the work of Canadian researchers but Luke’s work and ideas were so compelling we wanted to have him on to share his views. What are the signs that a civilisation is coming to an end? Do we see those signs now?
What CAN we do about it?
Info on Guest:
Luke Kemp is a Research Affiliate with the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge, in the UK. But currently he’s a faculty fellow with the Notre Dame Inst. for Advanced Studies in Indiana, U.S.A. For more info on Luke and his research: https://www.cser.ac.uk/team/luke-kemp/ and https://ndias.nd.edu/fellows/kemp-luke/
Check out his article on the collapse of societies: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240424-do-societies-civilisations-grow-old-frail-and-vulnerable-to-collapse
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Remember when you used to see your doctor every year for a “physical?” He looked at you from top to toe, did a full blood workup and maybe sent you for other tests as well.
But a number of years ago, the annual physical was replaced with the periodic health exam. Based on the evidence, the medical profession said an annual checkup wasn’t necessary for everyone and might even be detrimental.
But even after all these years, not everyone is convinced incl. some doctors. Why? And there are still questions among patients - esp. after the pandemic - and what to expect from a periodic health exam, what tests you should be getting, and whether doctor visits should be virtual or in person.
Listen to what family physician and researcher Dr. Aisha Lofters has to say about the pros and cons of the periodic health exam and what you should know before getting one.
Info on Guest:
Dr. Aisha Lofters is a family physician and researcher at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto and Assoc. Prof in the Dept. of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto. For more info on Dr. Lofters and her work: https://www.womensacademics.ca/staff-members/aisha-lofters-md-phdaisha-lofters/
https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/43-aisha-lofters
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
It’s a hot topic lately. Narcissism.
You’ll find it everywhere – on social media, online articles, talk shows, documentaries.
And it seems everyone knows someone who has Narcissistic Personality Disorder – or they think they have it themselves!
Even if you know someone who genuinely has NPD.. well then what?
Can you have a successful relationship with them and if not, what are the signs to leave?
This is an important discussion and we invited Dr. Martin Drapeau for some answers. He’s a clinical psychologist and and professor of Counselling Psychology and Psychiatry at McGill University.
Info on Guest:
Dr. Martin Drapeau is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Counselling Psychology and Psychiatry at McGill University. For more information on his research and work, please check out these links:
https://www.mcgill.ca/edu-ecp/martin-drapeau
https://www.drmartindrapeau.ca/ Dr. Drapeau also has some helpful videos on his website that cover different aspects of psychotherapy and mental health incl. this one on how to choose a psychotherapist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCQNtQA9Lg0
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
It’s a once in a lifetime event: a mesmerizing, soul-stirring experience. At any given point on earth, the ability to see a total solar eclipse happens only once every three to four hundred years.
And on April 8, 2024, at least 30 million people will be able to experience it. They’ll be plunged into darkness as the moon completely blocks the sun. Even if you’re not going to experience the eclipse, it’s a fascinating journey of discovery to hear science writer Andrew Fazekas talk about it.
Andrew explains what we’ll see, the science and history around solar eclipses, and what makes them unique and unforgettable.
Info on Guest:
Andrew Fazekas is a science writer, broadcaster and lecturer known as the “Night Sky Guy.” He works with National Geographic, CBC Radio and CTV News. He’s past president of the Montreal Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and author of National Geographic’s “Backyard Guide to the Night Sky.” For more info on Andrew and his work, check
out his website: https://thenightskyguy.com/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’ve all had nightmares. Some are worse than others and can haunt us for days.
Whether it’s a nightmare, a night terror or sleep paralysis, they all happen while we sleep.
But they can feel very real.
Why do we have nightmares, and what does it mean when they recur over and over again?
Did you know there’s a difference between nightmares and night terrors and when they occur? Should you awaken a sleepwalker? And what is sexsomnia?
So many mystifying questions about what happens while we sleep!
Elizaveta Solomonova has been studying sleep and dreams for many years and sheds light on this puzzling phenomenon we all experience.
Welcome to your dream world.
Info on Guest:
Elizaveta Solomonova is a cognitive scientist who teaches a course called The Science of Dreams at Concordia University in Montreal. She’s also a researcher with the Neurophilosophy Lab at McGill University. For more info: https://sociabilityofsleep.ca/elizaveta-solomonova/
Cross-cultural sleep & dreams study: https://www.neurophilosophylab.org/s-projects-basic-2
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/contributors/elizaveta-solomonova-phd
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Have you heard of “The Dark Triad?” It sounds like a mysterious crime syndicate in a James Bond movie. But it’s real. The Dark Triad refers to the worst personality traits a person can have. Narcissism. Machiavellianism. Psychopathy.
Think of former U.S. President Donald Trump. NY financier Bernie Madoff. Serial killer Paul Bernardo.
Each of them has at least one of these traits according to a researcher who studies personality disorders.
And there’s even a fourth dark trait – sadism. Put them all together and they form a tetrad of the most dangerous qualities a human can possess.
Renowned personality researcher Delroy Paulhus gives a compelling overview of why we have these human traits, how they’re exhibited, and even more shocking - why no one is exempt from any of these behaviours.
Info on Guest:
Delroy Paulhus is a personality researcher and professor emeritus of the Dept. of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. For more info: https://psych.ubc.ca/profile/del-paulhus/
An article on the four “dark personalities”: https://paulhuslab.psych.ubc.ca/research/dark-personalities/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Humans are complex beings.
And one of the most perplexing puzzles that John McPhee is trying to figure out – is how we move.
It’s a question that’s fascinated him for most of his life.
And during his 30+ years as a systems design engineer, he’s come up with remarkable achievements:
everything from improving electric and autonomous vehicles, developing exoskeletons for stroke patients, and increasing the performance of Olympic and pro athletes.
His lab even developed a hockey blade that allows hockey players to skate faster.
As well as a baseball pitching machine that can replicate every baseball pitch ever produced in the last ten years. Even Garrit Cole’s.
Canada's leading expert in systems dynamics John McPhee shares his amazing inventions and how he’s advancing the way we move.
Info on Guest:
John McPhee is the Canada Research Chair in Biomechatronic System Dynamics and Professor in Systems Design Engineering at the U of Waterloo. In 2021, Stanford University named him among the top 2% of scientists in the world.
For more on his research and inventions: https://uwaterloo.ca/systems-design-engineering/profile/mcphee
To watch a video on his work: https://uwaterloo.ca/systems-design-engineering/contacts/john-mcphee
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Are there some things about you - habits or behaviours you’d really like to change? Maybe you’re dealing with anxiety? Or depression?
Or you’ve been in one bad relationship after another and you want this pattern to stop. You’ve wondered about going for counselling. But you’re skeptical. Maybe even scared. Can psychotherapy, or as some people call it – talk therapy - REALLY help??
Who needs it? What are the different approaches? And how often do you need to go to benefit? We cover that and a lot more with clinical psychologist Martin Drapeau.
He’s knowledgeable, thoughtful, and open to discussing some of the troubling issues he’s seeing. I learned a lot!
Info on Guest:
Dr. Martin Drapeau is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Counselling Psychology and Psychiatry at McGill University. For more information on his research and work, please check out these links:
https://www.mcgill.ca/edu-ecp/martin-drapeau
https://www.drmartindrapeau.ca/ Dr. Drapeau also has some helpful videos on his website that cover different aspects of psychotherapy and mental health incl. this one on how to choose a psychotherapist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCQNtQA9Lg0
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
I bet if you took a random poll, many would say people’s general behaviour has deteriorated. - a lot.
And you can witness this just about anywhere. On the street with strangers, shopping in a store, when you’re driving – all kinds of rude behaviour. And you see it with politicians, corporate leaders, celebrities. And let’s not even get into social media.
The world seems less welcoming. .. even dangerous.
What’s happened to good manners, politeness, and behaving respectfully towards others?
We explore the question of bad behaviour, what it means, and what could be behind it.
Info on Guest:
Mervyn Horgan is a sociologist and professor with the Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Guelph. For more info: https://socioanthro.uoguelph.ca/people/mervyn-horgan-0
Sociable Cities Project: https://www.sociablecities.uoguelph.ca/
The Civil Sphere in Canada: https://csahs.uoguelph.ca/news/2022/05/the-civil-sphere-in-canada
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
It occupies a significant chunk of our life. But we pay little or no attention to it at all. Dreaming.
There are scary dreams, happy dreams, erotic dreams.. and everyday, run-of-the-mill dreams. But what do they mean?
How do we remember them, analyse them, even CONTROL them? (yes it’s possible) By studying how we sleep and dream we can better understand ourselves and our lives.
Listen to cognitive scientist Elizaveta Solomonova on the world of dreams. It will open your eyes.
Info on Guest:
Elizaveta Solomonova is a cognitive scientist who teaches a course called The Science of Dreams at Concordia University in Montreal. She’s also a researcher with the Neurophilosophy Lab at McGill University. For more info: https://sociabilityofsleep.ca/elizaveta-solomonova/
Cross-cultural sleep & dreams study: https://www.neurophilosophylab.org/s-projects-basic-2
Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/contributors/elizaveta-solomonova-phd
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We hope you're enjoying the holiday season with family and friends. It is a time meant for peace and goodwill and yet, for many, this has been a time of conflict, violence and war. How can we better understand the world during troubled times and even come away with hope? We thought hard about this and we wanted to end 2023 with our interview with Dr. James Orbinski-- first aired in June of this year. It's difficult to listen to. This interview can be disturbing, but it is also incredibly powerful and moving, bringing an understanding of the common humanity we all share.
There are very few people who’ve experienced life like James Orbinski - doctor, humanitarian, activist . He’s had unforgettable experiences on the front lines of aid: Somalia during its civil war and famine, Afghanistan as the Taliban came to power, and Rwanda during its horrific genocide.
And though he’s witnessed the very worst of human behaviour, he has also witnessed the best. People willing to sacrifice the greatest gift of all – their life – to help those in need.
James spent years with the int’l aid organization Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) that received the Nobel Peace Prize under his leadership in 1999. Today he’s director of the Dadaleh Institute for Global Health Research at York University.
He continues to work for a better tomorrow – for everyone.
Info on Guest:
Dr. James Orbinski is a medical doctor, humanitarian, activist, and currently the Director of the Dadaleh Inst. for Global Health Research and York University in Toronto. Dr. Orbinski received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Médecins sans Frontières in 1999 when he was President.
For more on his background: https://www.yorku.ca/dighr/person/james-orbinski/
He is also the author of the bestseller “An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action in the Twenty-First Century.” https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/124758/an-imperfect-offering-by-james-orbinski/9780385660709 A must read book!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas.
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
It’s the holiday season – a time for family, friends and happy times together. But then the season’s over and we’re back to the worries and grind of everyday life. Happiness can seem fleeting, so difficult to hold on to.
But there’s actually a science around happiness and some answers as to what makes us happy.
Some of the findings seem obvious. But others may be surprising including the fact that many people think they know what makes them happy. But they’re wrong.
Are you one of them?
Info on Guest:
Lara Aknin is a social psychologist and a professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University. She’s also a co-editor for the United Nations World Happiness Report which comes out every year. For more info on Lara and her work:
https://www.sfu.ca/psychology/about/people/current-faculty/laknin.html;
Lara’s Helping and Happiness Lab: https://www.sfu.ca/psychology/research/hhl.html
The UN’s World Happiness Report: https://worldhappiness.report/
Add’l Info:
Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. And if you’d like to check out our website: https://cramideas.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Are you stressed? Who isn’t! We seem to be faced with constant demands at work and at home.
Obligations to family, responsibilities at work, commitments to friends and so on. And it’s all a race against the clock.
As a society, we seem to be stressed out.
And what makes this dilemma even more problematic is that stress is contagious! That’s right. The research on this is fascinating. Just listen to neuroscientist Jaideep Bains.
We take a deep dive into our brains to find out what’s happening to us when we’re on stress overload.
Info on Guest:
Jaideep Bains is a neuroscientist, Director of of the Krembil Research Institute and Senior Scientist at the Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network in Toronto. He’s also a Professor in the Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary. For more info on Jaideep’s work: https://www.uhnresearch.ca/researcher/jaideep-bains
and https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/jaideep-bains.
and https://stressynomicslab.ca/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening! And if you’d like to check out our website: https://cramideas.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
There are all kinds of delusions.
Here’s one: You believe you’re the star of a movie and that your life is being watched and recorded. Every second of it. And everyone around you – your family, friends, even strangers – they’re in on it. This is your life and it’s hell.
This unusual mental disorder, dubbed The Truman Show syndrome (after the movie starring Jim Carrey), was observed by psychiatrist Joel Gold in a number of patients. He along with his brother, neurophilosopher Ian Gold wrote about it.
On this podcast, Ian Gold explores this disorder and other kinds of delusions. The Truman Show syndrome is a serious condition. But what about delusions a lot of people seem to have – who aren’t necessarily mentally ill? How and why does this happen?
Is this someone you know? Could it be you?
Info on Guest:
Ian Gold is a neurophilosopher. He’s a Professor of philosophy and psychiatry, and Chair of the Dept. of Philosophy at McGill University. For more info about his work and research, check out these links: https://www.mcgill.ca/tcpsych/faculty/iangold
Ian Gold’s lab: https://www.neurophilosophylab.org/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening! And if you’d like to check out our website: https://cramideas.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
What is the meaning of memory? Imagine waking up one day with no memory from the time you were 15. That’s what happened to a woman in the Maritimes. She went into cardiac arrest and was in a coma for three weeks. She was 29 at the time but when she awoke, she was a child again.
It’s such an incredible story that I reached out to Dr. Howard Chertkow, a cognitive neurologist. I wanted to find out how this could happen, and to explore more about memory’s function, how we can preserve it, and how it affects who we are.
Info on Guest:
Dr. Howard Chertkow is a cognitive neurologist and Chair in Cognitive Neurology and Innovation at Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto, and senior scientist with the Rotman Research Institute:
https://www.baycrest.org/Baycrest/Research-Innovation/People/Researchers/Scientists/Dr-Howard-Chertkow
Dr. Chertkow on reducing your risk of dementia: https://www.facebook.com/baycrestcentre/videos/15-things-you-can-do-now-to-reduce-your-risk-of-dementia-11-protect-your-heart/254144695551740/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening! And if you’d like to check out our website: https://cramideas.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
It’s almost Hallowe’en. Sure it can be a scary time of year with ghosts and goblins, witches and warlocks, not to mention the living dead. (yuck)
But what is truly frightening in our lives? Perhaps it’s something far deeper and darker. A haunting that you can’t run away from in the light of day or even while you sleep.
Suzette Mayr has thought a lot about what haunts us as a writer and teacher - how it can prey on us, unsettle and unravel us, and even destroy us.
I loved this far ranging, imaginative conversation on haunted houses (she lived in one), why we run to and away from horror, and what it means when you are “the monster” or the other.
And yes she believes in ghosts.
Info on Guest:
Suzette Mayr is the award winning author of six novels incl. The Sleeping Car Porter which won the Giller Prize in 2022. She’s also a Professor of English at the Univ. of Calgary. https://english.ucalgary.ca/profiles/suzette-mayr
For more info on Suzette and her work: https://www.suzettemayr.com/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening! And if you’d like to check out our website: https://cramideas.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Tyrant.
A word that can instill fear in millions of people. A monster capable of mass murder to achieve his own ends. But could one person’s tyrant actually be another person’s hero, even saviour? Who really is a tyrant? Why do they become one? And who are the worst tyrants in the world?
If there’s anyone who’s thought deeply about this topic, it’s Waller Newell, a professor of political science and political philosophy at Carleton University.
Listen to this compelling conversation by one of the leading authorities on tyrants and tyranny and his concerns about the state of the world today.
Info on Guest:
Waller Newell is a professor of political science and political philosophy at Carleton University in Ottawa. He’s also the author of seven books including three on tyrants and tyranny. He’s currently a visiting faculty fellow and professor at the Hamilton Center for Civic and Classical Education at the University of Florida. For more information on Waller, his books and other work: https://www.wallernewell.com/
https://carleton.ca/bhum/people/waller-newell/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Here’s a startling fact.
Lifestyle factors such as what you eat and whether you exercise can affect your risk of cancer by as much as 50%!!
But there’s so much confusing info when it comes to food. And we all want that magic bullet.
One week it’s tofu. Then it’s acai. Then it’s goji berries.
We try the latest dieting craze hoping it’ll make us healthier and give us a longer life.
But it’s time to separate fact from fiction.
Listen to nutrition expert Rachel Murphy who’s got the hard evidence on food and its relationship to cancer.
Get the lowdown before you eat another edamame!!!
Info on Guest:
Rachel Murphy is a nutrition scientist and an Ass’t Prof. School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UBC. For more info on Rachel and her work, check out these links:
https://www.bccrc.ca/dept/ccr/people/rachel-murphy and https://spph.ubc.ca/faculty/rachel-murphy/
Add’l Info:
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas.
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Do you feel there’s a general anxiety that’s been on the rise in our society – especially among young people? Many seem worried, unsettled, fearful.
And their worries seem all encompassing: school, relationships, jobs, money, their health, the economy, the environment, global instability. They worry about their future and the future of the planet.
I’m sure my friends and I had similar worries when we were young but I’m not sure our worries were as many and as consuming as they are for today’s young people.
What’s going on and what can we do about it? We take a deep dive into this issue with Jo Henderson, a clinical psychologist who’s worked with many children and young adults.
If you’re a Millennial or GenZ, or a parent of one, you’ll want to hear this conversation.
Info on Guest:
Dr. Jo Henderson is a clinical psychologist and Director of the Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health at the CAMH in Toronto. For more info on Dr. Henderson:
https://www.camh.ca/en/science-and-research/science-and-research-staff-directory/joannahenderson
Add’l Info:
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas.
As more and more of our lives become increasingly online, what happens to those chance encounters, moments of discovery, and unexpected but meaningful interactions with others – the serendipity of life?
You might think working remotely is easier and more productive. And maybe it is. You have control over your day. And as far as relationships go, let’s just text or maybe zoom. Less complicated. But are we losing something important? As messy as life can be, it’s the messiness that makes us human and gives meaning to our lives. A.I. is not messy.
So we’d like to replay this podcast from a year ago as we think it’s especially relevant today.
How vital is serendipity to your life?
Info on Guest:
Anabel Quan-Haase is a Professor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies and the Dept. of Sociology at Western University. For more information about Anabel and her work: https://sociology.uwo.ca/people/profiles/Quan-Haase.htm
Add’l Info:
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas.
How do you define a generation? Think about it.
What do you think of when you hear the term baby boomers, millennials or any other generation? They bring to mind a specific group of people who share a common set of characteristics.
Competitive, selfish, innovative? Oh those are Baby Boomers,
Lazy, self-entitled, environmentally conscious? Got to be Millennials.
Anxious, unfocussed and multi-tasking? You’re talking GenZ.
Every generation has certain characteristics that have been ascribed to them. But is there any truth to these descriptions? Listen to what sociologist Lisa Strohschein says!
Info on Guest:
Lisa Strohschein is a Professor in the Dept. of Sociology at the University of Alberta. She is one of the coauthors of the textbook “Sociology: Your Compass in a New Social World” which comes out in Feb. 2024. For more info on Lisa and her work, go to https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/las5.
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
Me against you. Us against them.
As humans, we form tribes or groups we belong to. And they can be divisive and lead to rejection, isolation, and violence to those on the “outside.”
But tribalism can also mean family, community, solidarity.
David Samson is an evolutionary anthropologist who studies our “tribe drive.” How does it work and what do we gain or lose from it? How can it explain heroic acts done for strangers? And can it be used for the good of the human race, rather than something that pits us against each other?
A fascinating and timely conversation on one of the most important aspects of human nature.
Info on Guest:
David Samson is an evolutionary anthropologist with the Dept. of Anthropology at the University of Toronto. He’s also the author of “Our Tribal Future: How to channel our foundational human instincts into a force for good.”
For more on David Samson’s work: https://davidrsamson.com/
University of Toronto site: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/anthropology/people/david-samson
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Thanks for listening!
*A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE CRAM PODCAST
Very few people have led the life that Thupten Jinpa Langri has experienced.
At 11 years of age, he entered a Buddhist monastery after his parents fled Tibet and became refugees in southern India.
Soon after he met the Dalai Lama who noticed the brilliance and curiosity of this young student. It was the start of a life-long relationship. He’s been the Dalai Lama’s interpreter for almost forty years and translator of many of his books.
Jinpa eventually left monastic life and has become a world renowned scholar, researcher, speaker and writer on Tibetan Buddhism and the vital role of empathy and compassion in our lives.
I recently had a chance to interview this remarkable man at the 2023 Roots of Empathy Symposium in Toronto.
Here’s my conversation with him on what it means to live a meaningful life… and death.
Info on Guest:
Thupten Jinpa Langri is a Tibetan Buddhist scholar, researcher and interpreter for the Dalai Lama. He is the Founder and President of The Compassion Institute, an adjunct professor at the School of Religious Studies at McGill University, and visiting research scholar at the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neurosciences. He’s the author of several books incl. “A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to be Compassionate can Transform Our lives.”
For more info on his work:
https://www.mcgill.ca/religiousstudies/people/emeritus-and-affiliated-faculty/thupten-jinpa-0
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. A special thank you to Roots of Empathy and Thupten Jinpa Langri for permission to use this broadcast.
To view the full broadcast of the 2023 ROE symposium, go to https://rootsofempathy.org/
Many people live with constant pain.
They’ve seen all kinds of specialists. They’ve tried all kinds of therapies and drugs. They’ve even had surgery. But they still have pain.
Doctors have told them it’s “all in your head.” It’s not.
That’s according to Dr. Andrea Furlan, a pain specialist who’s made it her life’s work to research the mechanisms of chronic pain and what actually works to alleviate it.
She’s been one of our most popular interviews and we’ve asked her back to talk about her new book: “8 Steps to Conquer Chronic Pain.”
Yes there is hope.
Info on Guest:
Andrea Furlan is a physician, and senior scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute; scientist at the Inst. For Work & Health; and senior scientist at the KITE Research Inst., University Health Network. She’s the author of “8 Steps to Conquer Chronic Pain: A Doctor’s Guide to Lifelong Relief.”
Check out Andrea’s videos on pain on her youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXnFys9ZXBE0uyDhKHUi-dA
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
Why do we still get married?
We can live together – cohabit. Or we can live apart but have some kind of commitment, or understanding, or arrangement. There are so many options for people in relationships today.
Why do we need the stamp of marriage?
Take this unexpected and eye-popping journey through the history of marriage and discover why people around the globe have said – and continue to say - “I do!”
Award winning historian Elizabeth Abbott looks at some of our strangest customs: from babies being betrothed, to couples marrying themselves to people marrying others who aren’t even alive.
You’ll never look at marriage the same way again!
Info on Guest:
Elizabeth Abbot is a historian and Senior Research Associate in the Arts with Trinity College at the University of Toronto. She’s the award winning author of a number of books incl. A History of Marriage, A History of Celibacy, A History of Mistresses, and Sugar: A Bittersweet History. For more info on Elizabeth and her work: https://www.trinity.utoronto.ca/directory/abbott-elizabeth/
Add’l Info:
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
This is an interview that will stay with you. It’s difficult, unsettling, and absolutely inspiring.
There are very few people who’ve experienced life like James Orbinski - doctor, humanitarian, activist . He’s had unforgettable experiences on the front lines of aid: Somalia during its civil war and famine, Afghanistan as the Taliban came to power, and Rwanda during its horrific genocide.
And though he’s witnessed the very worst of human behaviour, he has also witnessed the best. People willing to sacrifice the greatest gift of all – their life – to help those in need.
James spent years with the int’l aid organization Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) that received the Nobel Peace Prize under his leadership in 1999. Today he’s director of the Dadaleh Institute for Global Health Research at York University.
He continues to work for a better tomorrow – for everyone.
Info on Guest:
Dr. James Orbinski is a medical doctor, humanitarian, activist, and currently the Director of the Dadaleh Inst. for Global Health Research and York University in Toronto. Dr. Orbinski received the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Médecins sans Frontières in 1999 when he was President.
For more on his background: https://www.yorku.ca/dighr/person/james-orbinski/
He is also the author of the bestseller “An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action in the Twenty-First Century.” https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/124758/an-imperfect-offering-by-james-orbinski/9780385660709 A must read book!
Additional Info:
Dr. Orbinski is the keynote speaker at the Roots of Empathy int’l symposium on June 20, 2023.
The symposium is in person and virtual. For more info: https://rootsofempathy.org/2023-symposium/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
Admit it, you’re nervous about A.I.
There’s all the talk around chatbots like ChatGPT. These LLMs (large language models) can write code, lawyer a document, train a doctor, plan a military operation. Its uses seem limitless. Scary, right?
So what’s next?
Geoffrey Hinton, one of the godfathers of artificial intelligence, is warning us of the possible “end of people.” But other experts say these doomsday scenarios are overblown,
Acclaimed sci-fi writer Robert J. Sawyer has been writing about the possibilities of A.I. for years. Listen to this fascinating conversation on the future of A.I., whether he believes it can develop consciousness, and what could be the outcome for humankind.
Info on Guest:
Robert J. Sawyer is one of Canada's most popular and prolific science fiction writers. He’s the only Canadian to have won all three top international awards for science fiction: the Nebula, the Hugo, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award.His most recent book is “The Oppenheimer Alternative.” Rob will soon be releasing his 25th book called The Downloaded. For more info on Rob’s work, visit his website at https://www.sfwriter.com/.
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
Is it possible to feel healthy no matter what? Yes!!
“You are equipped with the versatility and the tools to overcome practically any obstacle that prevents you from being healthy.”
That’s according to Alex Jadad. It sounds incredible but Dr. Jadad believes you can feel healthy despite having illnesses like diabetes, arthritis, even cancer. He’s conducted large scale health studies and consulted with heads of states and leading organizations for many years. Dr. Jadad is the co-author of “Healthy No Matter What.”
This is an eye opening interview that challenges long held beliefs about what health is and how we achieve it. If the status quo is no longer working for you, you need to listen to this podcast!
Info on Guest:
Alex Jadad is a physician, researcher, innovator and philosopher. He’s also the co-author, along with his daughter Tamen Jadad-Garcia of “Healthy No Matter What: How Humans are Hardwired to Adapt.” He is the founder of the Centre for Digital Therapeutics in Toronto, a simulator to design and develop prototypes of the future. He is also the creator of the Jadad Scale, the most widely used tool in the world to assess the quality of controlled clinical trials, and the author of 12 books and hundreds of scientific publications. In 2021 he became one of the members of the global Public Health Leadership Coalition, which focuses on finding answers to the most pressing challenges for the health of humanity.
For more information on Alex: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Jadad
Check out his article on toxic stress load in TIME: https://time.com/6255795/toxic-stress-life-expectancy-how-to-reduce/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
Think about building an airport.. a bridge.. a museum.. even staging the Olympics! Why is it these mega projects often end in failure? Bloated budgets. Massive delays. Unhappy stakeholders. Even doing a home reno often runs into the very same problems.
What do all these failures have in common? And is there actually a formula for success?
Bent Flyvbjerg, a Danish researcher who studies mega projects around the world thinks there is a way for projects to come in on budget, on time and on vision. He along with Canadian journalist Dan Gardner have co-authored a new book called “How Big Things Get Done.”
This is one of the most informative books I’ve read this year and I’m really excited to share this interview with you. You will never look at a big (or small) projects the same way again!
Info on Guest:
Dan Gardner is a Canadian journalist, Honorary Senior Fellow, Graduate School of Public and Int’l Affairs at the University of Ottawa, and best selling author of four books including his latest with coauthor Bent Flyvbjerg, “How Big Things Get Done.” For more info on Dan including his books and articles, visit his website https://www.dangardner.ca/.
For more info on Bent Flyvbjerg, a Danish economics geographer and professor emeritus with the University of Oxford: https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/about-us/people/bent-flyvbjerg
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
One of the fundamental questions of humans has been “who am I?”
To know our identity and where we came from has been a powerful driving force. And it was a force in Norma Dunning, a professor at the University of Alberta, to find out about her Inuit heritage that was never spoken about in her family.
Norma spent years doing research that revealed practices of a colonial system that had devastating consequences for her ancestors. One such practice was known as the Eskimo Disc System whose impact is still felt today.
Norma’s story highlights a little known part of Canadian history. In her search for the answer of “who am I?” it also raises the troubling question of “who are we?” to Canadians.
Info on Guest:
Norma Dunning is an Ass’t Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. She’s written several books and is the Governor General’s Award winner for “Tainna: The Unseen Ones”
Her latest book is called “Kinauvit: What’s Your Name?” The Eskimo Disc System and A Daughter’s Search for her Grandmother.”
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
You probably know people who you think are irrational (and you’re certainly NOT one of them!).
They have views you don’t agree with and make decisions that make no sense. And maybe you even feel irrational people are on the rise. And that makes you nervous.
But just who is a rational person? What constitutes rational thinking? And can we use this form of thinking to make better decisions and live better lives?
Let’s turn to a philosopher for answers. Duncan MacIntosh is a Professor of Philosophy at Dalhousie University in Halifax and teaches a course on the Theory of Rational Decision.
Info on Guest:
Duncan MacIntosh is a Professor of Philosophy at Dalhousie University in Halifax and teaches a course on the Theory of Rational Decision. To find out more about Duncan’s work: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/arts/philosophy/FacultyandStaff/our-faculty/duncan-macintosh.html
Check out this article on his involvement with the Center for Ethics and Rule of Law:
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/arts/philosophy/FacultyandStaff/our-faculty/duncan-macintosh.html
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
There’s always excitement around the Academy Awards. It could be the celebrities, their outfits, the sheer spectacle of the show, and of course the movies. Since the pandemic started, movie making and movie watching have changed dramatically - just look at the popularity of streaming services. But movies and the film industry have always been evolving - reflecting, imagining and even forecasting changes In our world. And perhaps most importantly, they show us who we are and who we could be.
Sarah Bay-Cheng is a lover of cinema. Join us for an insightful and entertaining look at the meaning of movies and their impact from the 70’s to today.
Info on Guest:
Sarah Bay-Cheng is the Dean of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, and Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies at York University. For more on Sarah’s background: https://ampd.yorku.ca/profile/sarah-bay-cheng/ Her website: https://sarahbaycheng.net/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
What if I were to show you the face of someone and ask: “Do you think this person is beautiful?” I bet you wouldn’t have a problem giving me an answer. But if I were to show that same picture to someone else, I might get a different answer.
So how does our perception of beauty develop? Why does it differ from one person to the next? And how does it change over time?
These are questions that Daphne Maurer, an experimental psychologist, has been exploring for over three decades with her husband, science writer Charles Maurer. Hear about the fascinating studies she’s done that can help explain the way we see ourselves and the world.
Info on Guest:
Daphne Maurer is an experimental psychologist; a Professor Emeritus in psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour with McMaster University. She and her husband science writer Charles Maurer are the authors of “Pretty Ugly: Why We Like Some Songs, Faces, Foods, Plays, Pictures, Poems, etc. - and Dislike Others.”
More about Daphne Maurer and her work: https://experts.mcmaster.ca/display/maurer
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And we’re bombarded with the message that true love means happiness forever after, right? Sure the message is to sell chocolates, flowers and romantic cards. But that idea that love equals happiness runs deep and goes way back in history - in literature, art, culture, even politics. It’s become an accepted belief for many of us.
So is there anything wrong with that?
Philosopher Carrie Jenkins thinks so. She believes THAT romantic ideal can be limiting and even damaging to ourselves and our relationships. In her new book called “Sad Love: Romance and the Search for Meaning” she offers a new approach to the “happily ever after” tale.
Info on Guest:
Carrie Jenkins is a professor in the Dept. of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. She’s the author of “Sad Love: Romance and the Search for Meaning,” and other books including “What Love Is: And What It Could Be” and the novel “Victoria Sees It.”
For more info on her research and work, check out these links: https://www.carriejenkins.net/
and https://philosophy.ubc.ca/profile/carrie-jenkins/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
How is it that a bunch of sounds in a particular order can evoke sadness, joy, restlessness, or some other emotion in you? That is the power of music. And if you’re a music lover, you will love this interview.
Music is found in every culture around the world. Are there universal aspects to the way music is expressed and in the way we respond? Why do some people love one kind of music, say jazz, while others love pop? Why do we feel the need to move or dance when we hear a particular piece of music? And what is the potential of music to heal?
So many fascinating questions to explore with cognitive neuroscientist Robert Zatorre who’s
spent much of his life trying to solve some of the mysteries of music by studying its effects on the brain.
Info on Guest:
Robert Zatorre is Director of the Montreal Neurological Institute and a Professor in the Dept. of Psychology at McGill University. For more on Robert and his work at McGill: https://www.mcgill.ca/neuro/robert-zatorre-phd For more on the Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory: https://www.zlab.mcgill.ca/
We really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
Do you realize you’re at the start of a new year that will be filled with hundreds of thousands of decisions you’ll make! Small decisions and big decisions – many regarding your health. And what exactly are these decisions based on? Listen to this eye-opening interview with Timothy Caulfield who looks behind our everyday decisions – like brushing our teeth, drinking coffee, going on a diet, and yes even wearing underpants – and examines the evidence.
Info on Guest:
Timothy Caulfield is the Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy, and professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. He’s the author of five books including his latest “Relax: A Guide to Everyday Health Decisions with More Facts and Less Worry.”
For more on Tim’s work:
https://www.ualberta.ca/law/faculty-and-research/health-law-institute/people/timothycaulfield.html
*And congratulations to Tim who was recently named a Member of the Order of Canada!
We really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
This is a special edition of the CRAM Podcast - a recording of “Big Ideas at U of T: Celebrating 50 Years of the Connaught Fund.” Three remarkable researchers at the University of Toronto spoke about their innovative work: evolutionary biologist Maydianne Andrade, political scientist Ronald Diebert and cosmologist Renee Hlozek. Should scientists be activists? How are you affected by cyber surveillance? And when will the universe end? They discuss some BIG questions with BIG ideas behind them, and then take part in a round table with host Mary Ito.
Info on Guests:
Renee Hlozek is a cosmologist with the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at U of T. She studies the greatest puzzle of all - the universe, its structure and eventual fate. Renee is also an Azrieli Global Scholar with the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and a Senior TED Fellow. For more on Renee’s work: https://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/dunlap-people/prof-renee-hlozek/
Watch her TED-ed video “The Death of the Universe:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSzCS_5qtVY
Maydianne Andrade is an evolutionary biologist in the Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto – Scarborough who’s an expert on black widow spiders. She’s also the founder of The Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence (TIDE), and the cofounder and president of The Canadian Black Scientists Network.
For more on Maydianne’s work: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/biosci/maydianne-andrade
The Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence: https://www.toronto-tide.ca/about-us/
Canadian Black Scientists Network: https://blackscientists.ca/
Ronald Diebert is a political scientist and Director of The Citizen Lab at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, U of T. Their work has been at the forefront of landmark research into cyber espionage, commercial spyware, internet censorship and human rights.
For more on Ron’s work: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/person/ron-deibert
The Citizen Lab: https://citizenlab.ca/
His latest article “The Autocrat in your iPhone: How mercenary spyware threatens democracy:
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/world/autocrat-in-your-iphone-mercenary-spyware-ronald-deibert
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
It’s been three years of living with the coronavirus – and the world has changed. We spoke with popular sci-fi writer Rob Sawyer a year ago to get his predictions on the pandemic. Where would we be with covid a year later? How would our lives and relationships change? And where is technology taking us? Now we’ve invited him back to see whether those predictions held true. Hear what one of Canada’s big thinkers has to say about where we are now and what’s to come.
Info on Guest:
Robert Sawyer is one of Canada's most popular and prolific science fiction writers. He’s the only Canadian to have won all three top international awards for science fiction: the Nebula, the Hugo, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award.His most recent book is The Oppenheimer Alternative. Rob is releasing his 25th book called The Downloaded in March of 2023 on Audible. The print version will be out in the fall. For more info on Rob’s book and other work, visit his website at https://www.sfwriter.com/.
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. Our thanks to the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.
Step into the incredible mind of Nina-Marie Lister! She looks at our streets, our communities, our world, as places full of potential to live harmoniously with nature. This has been her life’s work - from designing wildlife crossings (including the world’s largest) to implementing systems that will connect green spaces and communities to changing city bylaws to support biodiversity. You’ve probably heard the arguments before for biodiversity and sustainability but Nina-Marie has a uniquely compelling way of addressing these issues. She’ll change the way you look at the world!
Info on Guest:
Nina-Marie Lister is a Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning, and Director of the Ecological Design Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. She’s also a Visiting Professor with the Graduate School of Design at Harvard. For more information on her work:
https://www.torontomu.ca/school-of-urban-and-regional-planning/about/people/faculty/nina-marie-lister/ Her Ecological Design Lab: https://ecologicaldesignlab.ca/
Plandform: https://plandform.com/
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Serial killers. You probably know the names of some of the world’s most infamous. Charles Manson, Ted Bundy. Robert Pickton and Paul Bernardo. If roughly 1% of the world’s population has psychopathic personality disorder, most of them live among us. Who are they? What distinguishes them from others? Psychologist Stephen Hart is an expert on this condition and has spent years studying it and working with the people who interact with them. It’s a fascinating and eye-opening conversation about a condition that’s often misunderstood.
Info on Guest:
Stephen Hart is a Professor of Psychology at Simon Fraser University and Director of the Terrorism, Risk and Security Studies Program. His expertise is in the field of clinical-forensic psychology, with a special focus on the assessment of violence risk and psychopathic personality disorder. For more info on his work: http://www.sfu.ca/psyc/faculty/hart/Hart,_SFU_Website/
Book recommendation: “Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us” by Robert D. Hare
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
In Part I, psychologist Kang Lee talked about the development of lying in children – when it starts, why kids lie, and whether you can tell if a child is lying. It’s natural for kids to lie but what if it becomes a problem, what then? And what happens as kids get older and become teens, then adults? How and why do adults lie? Dr. Lee has some fascinating research to share.
Info on Guest:
Kang Lee is a professor in applied psychology and human development at the Ontario Institute For Studies in Education. He studies moral development and the development of lying in children and young adults. For more on his work: https://www.kangleelab.com/
Check out this video that’s had more than 11 million views on whether you can tell if a child is lying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6diqpGKOvic
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Hallowe’en is around the corner – and you may think magic is all about witches, warlocks, and wizards. But did you know that hundreds of years ago, magic was practiced by people known as cunning folk – or as Prof. Sharon Wright likes to call them everyday magicians. Find out how these everyday magicians used magic to solve the everyday problems of life. Sharon Wright is a professor of late medieval history and the Director of Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies at the Univ. of Saskatchewan.
Info on Guest:
Sharon Wright is a professor of late medieval history and the Director of Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies at the Univ. of Saskatchewan. For more on Sharon’s research
https://artsandscience.usask.ca/profile/SWright Publications include:
“Everyday Magicians: Legal Records and Magic Manuscripts from Tudor England”
https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-09393-2.html
“The Magic of Rouges: Necromancers in Early Tudor England”
https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-08929-4.html
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Adam Kahane has been involved in some of the world’s most enduring and disruptive conflicts as a peace or progress facilitator: Colombia’s civil war, South Africa’s transition from apartheid, Northern Ireland and Guatemala after genocide.
When former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos received the Nobel Peace Prize, he referred to a meeting with Adam Kahane as one of the most significant events in the country’s search for peace. Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela also credited Kahane’s work in helping his country post-apartheid.
How do you collaborate with the enemy? How do you work with people you don’t like or trust?
Adam Kahane talks about how it’s possible for organizations, governments, and workplaces to achieve this.
Info on Guest:
Adam Kahane is a Director of Reos Partners, an international social enterprise that assists people in moving forward together on important and intractable issues. For more info on Adam and the work that Reos does: www.reospartners.com Adam’s books include: “Facilitating Breakthrough” and “Collaborating with the Enemy.”
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
What is serendipity?
You may think of it as a happy accident or an unexpected outcome that’s good. And though it gives you pleasure, you may see it as random and something not worth thinking about.
But sociologist Anabel Quan-Hasse says serendipity plays a very important role in our lives. And she’s concerned that we’re losing opportunities for serendipity – especially in our online lives. Why is this happening? And what exactly do we lose?
Info on Guest:
Anabel Quan-Haase is a Professor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies and the Dept. of Sociology at Western University. For more information about Anabel and her work: https://sociology.uwo.ca/people/profiles/Quan-Haase.htm
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
No one likes to be lied to, right? But face it, we all lie probably more often than we’d like to admit. How does lying actually start in life? Why do children lie and can we tell if they’re lying?
Kang Lee is a world renowned expert on lying and some of his research was so unexpected, it
even startled his lab assistants. Here’s what he discovered about children and lying.
Kang Lee is a professor in applied psychology and human development at the Ontario Institute
For Studies in Education. He studies moral development and the development of lying in
children and young adults. For more on his work: https://www.kangleelab.com/
Check out this video that’s had more than 11 million views on whether you can tell if a child is
lying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6diqpGKOvic
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social!
@CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland ~ Compelling
passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation to give you a sense
of completion at the end of your busy day.
It's been a super busy summer for us and we've had to extend our break just a little longer. Our apologies, but we'll be back on our new date of Thursday, September the 8th.
We'll have a brand new season of podcasts on some of the most innovative, exciting and eye opening research that's happening across Canada. So please join us on Thursday, September the 8th, when we drop our first episode of the new season.
See you then!
How do you achieve a life as good as it can be? Jim Davies, a cognitive scientist has thought a lot about this.
Changing your life can mean changing bad habits and that's not an easy thing to do. And it can take more than willpower. So how do you change bad habits into good ones? Jim Davies looks at research that helps answer this question.
Jim is a cognitive scientist and Director of the Science of Imagination Lab at Carleton University in Ottawa. https://carleton.ca/cognitivescience/people/davies-jim/
He’s also the author of several books including “Being the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are” and the cohost of the award winning podcast “Minding The Brain.”
For more info on Jim and his work: http://www.jimdavies.org/
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?
An eye-opening exploration of black beauty culture in North America – and its ties to colonialism, slavery, political unrest, power and money.
Communications researcher Cheryl Thompson gives us a fascinating and unique lesson in history – examining social, political and economic influences on black women and what’s been perceived as “beautiful.” What is beautiful and why? Thompson wants us to examine our own beliefs about beauty and where they come from.
Cheryl Thompson, is an Ass’t Professor in the School of Performance at Toronto Metropolitan University. She’s the author of Beauty in a Box: Detangling the Roots of Canada’s Black Beauty Culture as well as Uncle: Race, Nostalgia and the Politics of Loyalty. For more on Cheryl and her work: https://www.drcherylthompson.com/about
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Do you have a philosophy of life? Is there some kind of philosophy or belief you have about life and how you should live it? Do you think about the choices you make and the actions you take? What is of most value to you?
Some of us rarely think about these questions – if ever. Others have pondered them deeply over the millennia. Like philosopher Chris Howard. He believes there is value in the examined life.
Info on Guest:
Chris Howard is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Philosophy at McGill University.
https://www.mcgill.ca/philosophy/chris-howard
For more on his research and work, check out his website:
http://www.chrismhoward.com/
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Do you know who you are? You may see yourself as being shy and reserved – or social and the life of the party. But maybe other people see you differently. And perhaps there are aspects of your personality that you wish you could change.
Could you?
We delve into the fascinating world of personality and its possibilities with Brian Little, a pioneer in the study of human personality and well-being.
Info on Guest:
Brian Little is a Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus at Carleton University, and has taught at many schools including Oxford, Cambridge, McGill, and Harvard where graduating classes voted him Favourite Professor. He is the 2020 winner of the Henry A. Murray Award for distinguished research on the study of lives awarded by the Assoc. for Research in Personality.
For more info check out his website: https://www.brianrlittle.com/
Carleton University: https://carleton.ca/psychology/people/brian-little/
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
It can be scary - dating, relationships, intimacy - especially when it’s been a loooong time since you’ve been single and wanting to meet someone. And then there’s the pandemic and how that’s changed the way people meet. How do you in mid life (or beyond) navigate this new world? How are people forming relationships? And when it comes to older people, why is it rare to hear the words “sex” and “seniors” together? Kristen Mark, a sex and relationships researcher will surprise and enlighten you with the latest research.
Info on Guest:
Kristen Mark is a Canadian sex and relationship researcher, a professor at the Inst. For Sexual and Gender Health at the University of Minnesota.
For more on Kristen: https://med.umn.edu/bio/familymed/kristen-mark
Her website: http://www.kristenmark.com/
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
It’s spring! Restrictions have eased. You’re eager to get out and meet someone. But the last two years have changed how people engage and form relationships. What’s happening in this new world of post pandemic dating?
Sex and relationship researcher Kristen Mark explores what’s out there – and the possibilities.
Info on Guest:
Kristen Mark is a Canadian sex and relationship researcher, a professor at the Inst. For Sexual and Gender Health at the University of Minnesota.
For more on Kristen: https://med.umn.edu/bio/familymed/kristen-mark
Her website: http://www.kristenmark.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Are you a perfectionist? Do you want everything to be perfect and berate yourself if something falls short of your expectations? Are you hard on yourself – and others? Does looking at social media make you feel bad about your life? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. According to Simon Sherry of Dalhousie University, there’s been a rise in perfectionism over the last couple of decades. Why.. what’s going on? And what can we do to feel better about ourselves and the world.
Info on Guest:
Simon Sherry is a psychologist and Professor in the Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, and an internationally recognized expert on perfectionism.
For more on his work: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/psychology_neuroscience/faculty-staff/our-faculty/simon-sherry.html
For info on his clinical practice: https://cruxpsychology.ca/team/simon-b-sherry/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Many of us dream of finding our one true love.
But what if that one true love turned into two, three or more loves - all happening at the same time? Polyamory is a way of loving that philosopher Carrie Jenkins embraces personally and professionally. She’s been involved in polyamory for a number of years and explores what love is in this fascinating conversation.
Info on Guest:Carrie Jenkins is a professor in the Dept. of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia. She’s the author of “What Love Is: And What It Could Be” and the novel “Victoria Sees It.” She continues her exploration of love in “Sad Love” set to be released this summer.
For more info on her research and work, check out these links: https://www.carriejenkins.net/
and https://philosophy.ubc.ca/profile/carrie-jenkins/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
No one likes the thought of dying. But once we’re dead – what then? What happens to our bodies when we “shuffle off this mortal coil” as Shakespeare said?
Shari Forbes is an expert on what happens to our physical selves after we die. She’s a forensic scientist and the creator of Canada’s first “body farm” – a unique outdoor lab whose volunteers never leave. Listen to the interview to find out more!
*A warning that some of the content is graphic and may not be suitable for some listeners.
Info on Guest:
Shari Forbes is a forensic scientist and Canada 150 Research Chair in Forensic Thanatology at the University of Quebec in Trois Rivieres.
For more on Shari and her work: https://shariforbes.com/
We’d really appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast and subscribe and follow us on social @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
It’s the final frontier of imagination – space.
The possibilities are mind boggling and Sarah Gallagher is thinking about them. Sarah is an astrophysicist and advisor to the Canadian Space Agency.
While we’re thinking hard about what to order at Starbucks, Sarah is thinking hard about the universe. What goes on in the mind of an astrophysicist? How does she look at our world and the world beyond? A captivating conversation with one of this country’s BIG thinkers.
Info on Guest:
Sarah Gallagher is an astrophysicist, a professor of physics and astronomy with Western University and Science Advisor to the Canadian Space Agency.
Info on Sarah: https://physics.uwo.ca/people/faculty_web_pages/gallagher.html
Article in Western News: https://news.westernu.ca/2021/10/sarah-gallagher-leads-western-space/
Canadian Space Agency: https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/Default.asp
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
You will NEVER look at an ant the same way again after hearing this interview!
You may think of them as pests but they’re far from that.
Ants have an astounding ability to adapt to changing environments. They are farmers, architects, queens, babysitters, soldiers, slave owners – the list goes on.
And what’s really intriguing is how they handle war – and sex. We could learn a few things.
Info on Guest:
Aaron Fairweather is an entomologist and Ph.D candidate in the Dept. of Environmental Sciences at the Univ. of Guelph.
For more info on Aaron: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/aaron-fairweather-97206b45
An interview on CBC’s As It Happens: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-the-thursday-edition-1.5676573/this-scientist-is-living-with-thousands-of-ants-because-of-covid-19-campus-restrictions-1.5676580
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
Puzzles have existed since the dawn of humankind. And they’ve evolved and thrived in every culture around the world. According to linguist Marcel Danesi it’s all because of our puzzle instinct. From the first known “life or death” riddle to logic and math puzzles to jigsaws and crosswords, it’s a fascinating history. A puzzle can challenge, vex and confound us as we attempt find an answer to it – and life.
Info on Guest:
Marcel Danesi is a linguist, semiotician and professor emeritus with the Dept. of Anthropology at the University of Toronto. He’s the author of many books including The Puzzle Instinct and An Anthropology of Puzzles. For more info on Marcel: https://www.anthropology.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/marcel-danesi
Article on puzzle popularity during the pandemic: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-05-chaos-jigsaw-puzzles-popular-pandemic.html
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
“Fake news” is a term we hear all the time – whether in mainstream media, social media or day to day conversations.
But what is it really? How do we determine what is “fake news?” And what can we do about it?
Ahmed Al-Rawi is a researcher who uncovers fake news in the media and studies its impact. He believes fake news is more pervasive and dangerous today, and that we all need to be more critically aware of it.
Info on Guest:
Ahmed Al-Rawi is an ass’t professor in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University and Director of the Disinformation Project. For more info on Prof. Al-Rawi: https://www.sfu.ca/communication/team/faculty/ahmed-alrawi.html
The Disinformation Project: https://www.sfu.ca/communication/research/projects/the-disinformation-project.html
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
What can nurses learn from dancers? That's not a trick question but it may sound like one. Hard to believe the two have anything in common. But ask Coralee McLaren.
She was a professional dancer. Then she became a pediatric nurse. Now she's a scientist and points to the unlikely intersection of nursing and dancing. As well as the exciting possibilities involving children and the relationship between movement and learning.
Info on Guest:
Coralee McLaren is an Assistant Professor in the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing at Ryerson University in Toronto. https://www.ryerson.ca/nursing/about/people/faculty/coralee-mclaren/ And watch this video to learn more about Coralee’s exciting research:
https://www.ryerson.ca/fcs-news-events/news/2021/08/dancing-and-nursing-come-together-to-understand-spaces-how-we-move-in-them-and-how-we-learn/
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
If those dire warnings on climate change and the future of our planet has got you feeling down – STOP! Listen to what Kai Chan has to say. He has a positive message of hope and meaningful action based not on what the individual can do, but a powerful collective. And imagine bringing back species that have long been extinct to help ecosystems thrive. It’s a process called “rewilding” which plays an important role in our sustainable future. Did someone say woolly mammoths?!!
Info on Guest:
Kai Chan is a professor and Canada Research Chair at the Institute for Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia. For more info on Kai and his work: https://chanslab.ires.ubc.ca/
He’s also the cofounder of CoSphere: a community that takes collective action towards sustainability https://www.cosphere.net/
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
How does war begin? And what are the rules surrounding its onset and conduct? These are questions we may never have contemplated until now.
From Mesopotamia 4000 years ago, to the present war in Ukraine, political scientist Catherine Frost will take a sweeping look at how wars have started, how declarations have been used and abused, the concept of a “just war,” and wars that have no beginning or end. A fascinating history lesson that gives context to the wars and conflicts in the world today.
Info on Guest:
Catherine Frost is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Political Science at McMaster University in Hamilton. For more info on her research: https://socialsciences.mcmaster.ca/people/frost-catherine
Her article on declarations of war: https://theconversation.com/putins-ukraine-invasion-do-declarations-of-war-still-exist-177880
We appreciate your support! Please rate our podcast. And subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas. And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day.
What can we learn from people in prison? A lot according to students who are part of a special program called Walls to Bridges. They attend class in prison with people who’ve been incarcerated. And the idea is that each student, whether from the outside or living in prison - is a learner AND a teacher. Simone Davis is cofounder of the Walls to Bridges program and talks about how the experience can be life changing.
Info on Guest:
Simone Davis began her prison education work with the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, and went on to co-found the Walls to Bridges program. She teaches Ethics, Society and Law at Trinity College at the University of Toronto.
We appreciate your support! Please rate, subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas
And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day!
The story of pain is a complicated one. We need pain as part of our alarm system to tell us if something is wrong with us. But when we’re in constant pain, we can barely think of anything else and we just want it to go away. Why do we feel pain long after an injury has healed? Do I feel pain differently than you? How does culture affect our perception of pain? And what’s the most effective way to treat the pain that doesn’t stop? A fascinating conversation with Andrea Furlan, a leading expert on pain.
Info on Guest:
Andrea Furlan is a physician, and senior scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute; scientist at the Inst. For Work & Health; and senior scientist at the KITE Research Inst., University Health Network.
Check out Andrea’s videos on pain on her youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXnFys9ZXBE0uyDhKHUi-dA
Book recommendation for chronic pain: The Way Out by Alan Gordon and Alon Ziv
We appreciate your support! Please rate, subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas
And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day!
What makes the BIGGEST difference to our health? Good medical care? Checkups? “Clean” living? This is a fundamental question that researchers like John Frank have tried to find an answer to. He’s dedicated his career of almost half a century to the study of why some people are healthier than others and what we need to do to improve health outcomes for everyone. An enlightening conversation with one of the world’s leading experts in public health.
Info on Guest:
John Frank is an epidemiologist and former Director of the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy; a professor emeritus with the University of Edinburgh and the University of Toronto.
For more information on John Frank’s background in public health:
https://www.iwh.on.ca/people/john-frank
On his research: https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/john-frank
We appreciate your support! Please rate, subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas
And check out our literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of your busy day!
Imagine being known as “People of the Ice” for hundreds of years. Then one day, there is noice. Who are you now? And what happens to your community and way of life? Ashlee Cunsolo has been studying a group of Inuit in Labrador, a region that’s experienced the most devastating impact of climate change in the world. The impact has affected the Inuit both physically and mentally, as they deal with a condition known as “ecological grief.” But Ashlee says there can be good that can come out of grief – for all of us.
Info on Guest:
Ashlee Cunsolo is the Founding Dean of the School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies at Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador. If you’d like to see the video “Lament for the Land” about the Inuit from Nunatsiavut, Labrador, here’s the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi7QTyHERjY. And for more info on Ashlee’s work, go to:
https://ashleecunsolo.ca/.
Please check out or other literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of a busy day.
And please remember to rate, subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas
They're small and insignificant. Most of us don't think twice about these words in the English language. Pronouns like "I" and "you". Or prepositions like "of" and "at." Even the articles "an" and "the" are pretty forgettable.
But these invisible words can reveal - and even predict – our behaviour and our health.
That's according to social psychologist Jamie Pennebaker, who's spent years studying the way we use words and their impact. He and his team of researchers have analysed thousands upon thousands of pieces of text.
And they've come up with some startling findings.
Prof. Jamie Pennebaker is with the Dept. of Paychology at the University of Texas in Austin.
His most recent book is called The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us.
Remember to rate and follow. And check out or other literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of a busy day.
What do we spend a significant part of our life doing but usually take for granted? Sleeping! But if you have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, then a good night’s rest becomes a precious and sought after commodity. Psychologist and sleep expert Colleen Carney has some startling insights into that mysterious state we call sleep and advice for people with chronic insomnia. A must listen if you’re chasing a good night’s sleep!
Guest:
Colleen Carney is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Psychology and Director of the Sleep and Depression Lab at Ryerson University in Toronto. https://drcolleencarney.com/
Check out her books including “Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep,” and “Goodnight Mind for Teens.” Colleen also developed a sleep app for teens called “doze.” https://dozeapp.ca/
And check out or other literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of a busy day.
Everyone wants to be happy right? But do we really know what happiness is?
Is it a feeling – brief, ephemeral? Or is it a state where we can bask in its glow for awhile?
We think we know what brings us happiness - love, leisure, doing the things we want in life, and having the things we want. But do they? What actually contributes to happiness in life?
Guest:
Jim Davies is a cognitive scientist and Director of the Science of Imagination Lab at Carleton University in Ottawa. He’s also the author of several books including “Being the Person Your Dog Thinks You Are” and the cohost of the award winning podcast “Minding The Brain.”
Check out or other literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of a busy day.
And please remember to rate, subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas
Do you feel lucky – or not? How often do you blame bad luck if something unfortunate happens to you, or attribute good luck to a happy occurrence? Jeff Rosenthal is a statistician who’s examined many occurrences in life – from casino wins to murder trials to Friday the 13th! Jeff reveals the surprising stats behind so-called lucky or unlucky events in our daily lives.
Guest Info:
Jeff Rosenthal is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Toronto. He’s the author of “Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities,” and his most recent book “Knock on Wood: Luck, Chance, and the Meaning of Everything.” If you’d like more info on Jeff and his work, go to www.statistics.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/jeffrey-rosenthal and www.probability.ca/jeff
And check out or other literary podcast, Passage to Wonderland. Compelling passages from books, old and new, about discovery, insight and revelation. To give you a sense of completion at the end of a busy day.
And please remember to rate, subscribe and follow us on social! @CRAMideas
Why are bee populations being decimated around the world? It’s a disturbing and puzzling question for many biologists and bee lovers. And it’s a critical question for humanity since our survival depends on theirs. Amro Zayed is heading a huge research project called BeeCSI. He and his team are sleuthing their way through possible suspects and solutions to help bees survive – and thrive.
Guest:
Amro Zayed is a biologist with York University. If you’d like to know more about his work with BeeCSI and other work he’s involved with, check out this link:
https://biology.gradstudies.yorku.ca/faculty/a-zayed/
**Most companies face internal problems at some point or other. And those problems can be really messy. Enter Design Thinking. It came out of the world of art and creative thinking. Big brands like Apple and Google have used it. And so has the Israeli military. Now Michele Mastroeni, a researcher and professor of design, wants to see if design thinking will work for the Canadian armed forces. A conversation about a new way of thinking to solve long standing problems.
Michele Mastroeni is a an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Design at OCAD University in Toronto. For more info on Michele and his research, go to https://www2.ocadu.ca/bio/michele-mastroeni**and
https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=hj7-CI4AAAAJ&hl=en
We all wonder about our future – post pandemic. And it’s something sci-fi writer Robert Sawyer thinks about a lot. His writing has captivated audiences with explorations of alternate worlds. Hear what one of Canada’s most fascinating big thinkers has to say about OUR world, and the transformation it’s undergoing.
His audio series “The Downloaded” about a metaphorical post pandemic world will be available Fall 2022 on Audible. Robert Sawyer’s most recent book is “The Oppenheimer Alternative.”
Find out more on his website www.sfwriter.com
The pandemic has been called “the world’s greatest experiment.” But how about the world’s greatest LOVE experiment? It’s been a test for couples around the world who’ve faced health risks, lockdowns, financial loss and many other challenges. A conversation with psychologist Amy Muise on love in the time of Covid, and what keeps relationships thriving throughout the years – pandemic or not.
Amy Muise is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Psychology at York University in Toronto. For more on her research and publications, go to www.amymuise.com.
We all know we should eat a nutritious diet, exercise, stop smoking and drinking too much, and save more money.
But we don’t – even when we want to. Why?
Behavioural economist Dilip Soman looks at what motivates us to make certain decisions in life – both good and bad. And how we can use “nudges” to push us in the right direction.
Info on guest:
Dilip Soman, Canada Chair in Behavioural Science and Economics, Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto. For more info go to: https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Faculty/FacultyBios/Soman