Preconceived

Preconceived

Preconceived, hosted by Zale Mednick, dives deep into the intricacies of human experience, challenging the assumptions that shape our understanding of the world. In each episode, Zale engages with leading experts, thought leaders, and individuals with unique perspectives to uncover the layers beneath societal norms and expectations. From exploring cultural phenomena to dissecting scientific breakthroughs, Preconceived invites its listeners to question their preconceptions about love, life, technology, health, history, and beyond. With a blend of curiosity and critical thinking, Zale navigates through complex topics, offering his audience a chance to gain new insights and broaden their horizons. Whether it's debunking myths, confronting biases, or simply indulging in the joy of learning something new, Preconceived is more than just a podcast; it's an invitation to view the world through a different lens. Join Zale Mednick every week on Preconceived for enlightening conversations that promise to inspire, inform, and intrigue. Perfect for the inquisitive mind, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone eager to challenge their understanding of the world and embrace the complexity and beauty of human existence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

238. Iran - Ideology, Nuclear Capability, and Threat to the West

April 23, 2024 • 65 mins

On April 13th, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones over Israel.  While Israel’s missile defensive system was able to mitigate most damage, the attack itself was unprecedented and a frightening development to the international community.  When most of us think of modern-day Iran, we think of an oppressive authoritarian regime that suppresses the rights of its people and also deeply hates the West. &nb...

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237. 'Sickboy' - How to not be Awkward around Sick People!

April 16, 2024 • 52 mins

We all know people who have been sick, whether with acute illness or chronic disease.  But despite how common it is for people we know to be sick, we don’t always know how to deal with it in the best way.  How do we support someone who is going through health troubles?  How do you treat them normally, so to speak, while also acknowledging that what they’re going through is in many ways not normal and r...

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236. 'The Work Life Balance Myth'

April 9, 2024 • 32 mins

‘Work-life-balance’ is a common phrase, a buzzword even, that refers to the way we find balance in our professional lives and personal lives.  The goal for many is to achieve an equilibrium, where we devote sufficient time to our work, family, and personal lives, without letting one domain dominate the other.  But is work-life balance truly attainable in the ways most of us think of it?  Should we be f...

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235. Solar Eclipse - What You Need to Know!

April 4, 2024 • 29 mins
As excitement grows regarding the upcoming solar eclipse, so do feelings of anxiety and fear amongst many people.  What exactly is a solar eclipse, and how dangerous is it for your eyes?  Ophthalmologist Dr. Tina Felfeli joins the podcast to prepare you for this once-in-a-lifetime event .

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

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My Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

April 2, 2024 • 60 mins
In this episode, Zale opens up about his own experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. What is an obsession, and what is a compulsion? How does OCD extend far beyond the preconception of a pure focus on cleanliness? Zale gives a window into what it is like living with anxiety and sheds some light on psychiatric illness in general.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

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234. Why Empires Fall - Rome, America, and the Future of the West

March 26, 2024 • 44 mins
The Roman Empire is thought of as one of the most powerful empires in human history.  But as we all know, the Roman Empire did indeed fall after several centuries of domineering economic and political power.  Many historians have tried to understand why exactly the Roman Empire fell, and many theories have emerged.  In the present day, the United States, and ‘The West’ at large, has been seen for several centuries as the world’s su...

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233. Cannibalism

March 19, 2024 • 43 mins
The idea of one human eating another human is almost unfathomable to most of us.  Even when stories have surface of life and death situations when people were arguably forced to resort to cannibalism in order to survive, the act still raised many eyebrows in society at large. But how abnormal really is the practice of cannibalism?  From an evolutionary and survival perspective, how can the practice of cannibalism be better understo...

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232. How is Artificial Intelligence Transforming Education?

March 12, 2024 • 42 mins
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on the rise, influencing many facets of our lives.  With the emergence of ChatGPT and other AI-related tools, the landscape of education is already changing.  From the student's perspective, will certain skills such as writing and critical thinking fall by the wayside if AI can do the work for them?  Have rates of cheating increased?  And on a more optimistic note, how are teachers and professors usi...

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Predicting The Oscars

March 8, 2024 • 34 mins
The Oscars is considered the most prestigious awards ceremony in the entertainment industry. There is a certain magic about the Academy Awards, where some of the greatest films and performances of all time have been recognized. Ben Zauzmer is the author of Oscarmetrics, a book that shares an in depth look at the predictive analytics of The Oscars over its 93 year history. What makes a movie most likely to win Best Picture? Which ac...

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231. The SATs

March 5, 2024 • 35 mins
The SATs have been a hallmark of the college admissions process for decades in the United States. But this popular standardized test has come under scrutiny the past several years, with many colleges eliminating the SATs as part of their admissions criteria. So why is the tide changing for the SATs? Is GPA a better predictor of college performance, or are both metrics fraught with bias and error? Eddie Comeaux joins the podcast.

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230. Personality Disorders

February 27, 2024 • 38 mins
Personality disorders are listed in the DSM – the bible of psychiatric diagnoses – as a distinct set of psychiatric disorders. Such disorders include narcissistic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, as well as several others. It can be confusing, however; at what point does someone’s narcissism, for example, extend so far that it qualifies as a psychi...

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229. North Korea

February 20, 2024 • 60 mins
There is perhaps no country in the world more perplexing and bewildering than North Korea. Considered by many as a silo shut off from the rest of the world, much of North Korea is shrouded in mystery. Unfortunately, much of that mystery involves a dictatorial regime and severe oppression of its peoples. But what exactly does it look like inside of North Korea? What are our preconceptions about North Korea, and equally important, wh...

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228. Pedophilia

February 13, 2024 • 49 mins
Pedophilia, understandably, is a word that conjures up negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Acting on pedophilic thoughts is a horrible crime, and the ramifications are fittingly severe. But what exactly is pedophilia? Is it a distinct entity, a medical condition perhaps? Or can it be seen as an abnormal part of the spectrum of human desire? What is it like to live as a pedophile, and what kind of emotional angst do pedophile...

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Life Extension (Part 2) - Do you really want to live forever?

February 8, 2024 • 43 mins
The idea of 'life extension' has become trendy over the past several decades. If we take the right supplements and certain medications, is it possible to live well beyond a hundred years old and to slow the aging process itself? Dr. Jay Olshansky is one of the world leaders in the field. He joins the podcast to shed some misconceptions.

http://sjayolshansky.com/sjo/Background.html

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Life Extension (Part 1) - What does the science show?

February 5, 2024 • 41 mins
The idea of 'life extension' has become trendy over the past several decades. If we take the right supplements and certain medications, is it possible to live well beyond a hundred years old and to slow the aging process itself? Dr. Jay Olshansky is one of the world leaders in the field. He joins the podcast to shed some misconceptions.

http://sjayolshansky.com/sjo/Background.html

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227. The Retirement Myth

January 30, 2024 • 50 mins
In the typical preconceived framework in which we tend to view our lives, there are many steps … growing up, getting an education, finding a job, getting married, having kids, being grandparents, and ultimately - retiring. But in recent years, many have come to question what retirement really means and what it entails. So what exactly is retirement, and does society’s concept of retirement ultimately limit us in our endeavors when ...

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226. Free from Desire - No Sex, No Romance

January 23, 2024 • 51 mins
Sex and romance are core aspects of most people's lives; yet for some, the role they play is different. Aline Laurent-Mayard has never been attracted to anyone—not sexually, not romantically. On her award-winning podcast Free From Desire, they tell us how difficult it was to realize and accept their asexuality and their aromantism in a society that only talks about exactly that: love and sex. Aline joins the podcast to explain what...

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225. Jihad

January 16, 2024 • 44 mins
When people hear the word 'Jihad', they likely think of extremism, terrorism, and utter disdain for the West. But what is exactly is Jihad? What are its true origins? Is Jihadist philosophy truly violent in its original sense? Or is it a concept that has been politicized and weaponized by some, taken to the extreme as a justification for terrorism and hate? What is the role of Jihad, if any, in typical Islamic doctrine, and how can...

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Love and Anxiety - Relationship OCD

January 10, 2024 • 43 mins
There are so many adages in regards to love and relationships. Many hinge on the notion that we must be absolutely certain in our choice of a romantic partner and that there should be no doubts when we ultimately decide on 'the one'. But is that a realistic framework for love? And how can the search for the Hollywood vision of love, in some cases lead to severe cases of relationship anxiety, otherwise known as relationship OCD (ROC...

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224. Climate Change - 'Science for People Who Give a Shit'

January 3, 2024 • 54 mins
For most of us, it’s a known that global warming and climate change are real and problematic Yet at the same time, despite society’s apparent concern at large, the issue has persisted for decades and in many regards, only gotten worse. So how bad is climate change, and how concerned do we need to be? And for as much as we try to be optimistic, are we perhaps past the point of no return? If that’s the case, why even care about clima...

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