Preconceived

We all make mistakes – sometimes they are innocent mistakes, and sometimes they are true lapses in character judgement that we only later come to regret.  And with any good mistake comes a good apology, and hopefully a genuine forgiveness on the other side.  But what if the apology is disingenuous?  Or what if the other side refuses to forgive?  Why do we crave apologies from others, and why is it so hard to move past a situation if we are unable to obtain one’s forgiveness?  Susan Shapiro, author of 'The Forgiveness Tour', joins the podcast. Learn more about Susan Shapiro and her book 'The Forgiveness Tour' at https://susanshapiro.net/forgiveness.html

In this 250th episode of Preconceived, Zale revisits segments from some of his favourite episodes whose messages truly resonated with him. Is age just a number? How can we make decisions amidst uncertainty? Is the grass always greener on the other side? And how do we know if we are a good person? These are some of the questions explored in this episode.

There are few cultural events that grasp the world’s attention as much of The Olympics.  Regardless of what might be going on politically in the world, The Olympics is largely seen as a globally unifying moment, once every four summers, and once every four winters.  But what is it that captivates so many people to turn on their televisions and tune into Olympics events?  Is it the love of competition?  The quest for glory?  Robin Mednick, co-editor of the book 'Heroes in Our Midst', joins the podcast to shed insight on the stories behind the Olympians.

When a Muslim father was asked by his son if Islam is inherently a violent religion, he was taken aback. Where did his son get these ideas from, and how many other people shared this concern? In his book 'Being Muslim Today', Dr. Saqib Iqbal Qureshi explores the history of Islam and seeks to understand some of the preconceptions regarding Islamic doctrine and how, if at all, it relates to Muslim perception today. Dr. Qureshi joins the podcast to discuss Islam and some of the misconceptions surrounding it. Being Muslim Today - https://www.amazon.ca/Being-Muslim-Today-Reclaiming-Islamophobia/dp/1538189321

Pranks, Joshing, Deception, Practical Jokes ... Humor takes shape in many forms. But can a joke go too far? Should a joke's funniness be measured by the reactions it elicits, the intentions of the joke, or none of the above? Cornell Professor David Shoemaker is a philosopher and author. He joins the podcast to discuss his latest book, 'Wisecracks: Humor and Morality in Everyday Life'. Wisecracks - https://www.amazon.ca/Wisecracks-Humor-Morality-Everyday-Life/dp/0226832988

The Aztec Empire famously fell following the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century. Much of what we know about the Aztecs – including their rise, the nature of the empire, and its eventual fall, comes strictly from European accounts. But what did the Aztecs themselves think? The narrative has almost solely been shaped by the European perspective – but how did the Aztecs view the Europeans who eventually conquered them? Professor Camilla Townsend joins the podcast. Camilla's Book - Fifth Sun https://www.amazon.ca/Fifth-Sun-New-History-Aztecs/dp/0190673060/ref=asc_df_0190673060/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=411041496657&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2406240501790207548&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9000956&hvtargid=pla-715823711027&psc=1This episode is sponsored by Discover More Podcast - https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/discover-more-benoit-kim-w1KlycAfQGB/

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

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