For most of the Western world, the main headline of the war in Ukraine has been something along the lines of ‘Russia invades Ukraine, Putin is a war criminal, and Ukraine has been the victim of a terrible, nonsensical war’. And this may very well be accurate. But if you spoke to someone in Russia, what would they say about the war? How would Putin justify this war against Ukraine, and how would the average Russian citizen explain the necessity of defeating Ukraine? Maria Popova joins the podcast.

Maria Popova's latest book on Russia and Ukraine - https://www.amazon.ca/Russia-Ukraine-Entangled-Histories-Diverging/dp/1509557377

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Climbing Mount Everest is one of the most extreme adventures on which a human can embark. The highest peak in the world, there is a certain mystique and allure associated with the mountain. Some seek the summit for a love of climbing, and others climb it for the glory and fame. Is there a 'right' reason for someone to climb Everest? Why is Everest so challenging to climb? What can the mountain reveal about the human condition? And how has the rise of 'luxury climbing' changed the Everest landscape? Alan Arnette, seasoned climber and an Everest Summit Coach, joins the podcast.

Learn more about Alan Arnette at https://www.alanarnette.com/

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Most of us do try and eat healthy in some capacity. The majority of us are at least conscious of the fact that what we put in our bodies deeply shapes our present and future health. But even with a certain degree of health awareness, are we still in many regards doomed? Do the basic food systems and manufacturing processes that are in place in North America inherently lead to foods that are not only unhealthy, but perhaps harmful? Food Safety epert Darin Detwiler joins the podcast.

Learn more about Darin Detwiler at https://cps.northeastern.edu/faculty/darin-detwiler/

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Part of 'The American Dream' is predicated on home ownership. Conventional wisdom suggests that it is a financially sound and important decision to buy a home rather than to rent from a landlord. But is this just something we've been indoctrinated to believe, or does the math really add up to support the financial wisdom of owning a home? Brad Barrett of the ChooseFI podcast joins the show.

Subscribe to Brad's weekly newsletter at Choosefi.com/subscribe for Brad’s weekly newsletter

Check out ChooseFI's latest episode that further delves into home ownership - https://www.choosefi.com/common-sense-spending-guidelines-ep-381/

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While AI is starting to dominate many facets of the cultural conversation, perhaps the potential impacts of AI are highlighted no more clearly than by looking at AI in the military. AI has been increasingly used in military operations to more accurately determine targets, allow for more efficient military operations, and to ideally limit civilian casualties. But what is at stake if we allow decisions of life or death to be made by AI systems? What are the moral implications? What are the practical results? Tal Mimran joins the podcast and breaks down how AI has been utilized in the war between Israel and Gaza.

Tal Mimran - https://csrcl.huji.ac.il/people/tal-mimran

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When hear the term 'genetic engineering', what do you think of? Does your mind immediately jump to the extreme thoughts of eugenics and creating 'the perfect human'? Or do you think of more socially acceptable genetic modifications to treat medical diseases such as cancer and inflammation? Well regardless of what you facet of genetic modification you think of, genetic engineering in any form is considered controversial by many. So what exactly is genetic engineering, and how is it be using to both treat disease and to alter some of our available choices for the babies we are producing? Dr. Eben Kirksey joins the podcast.

Learn more about Eben Kirksey and his multiple books at https://eben-kirksey.space

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Sigmund Freud was one of the most prominent figures of the 19th and 20th centuries. The founder of psychoanalysis, he's viewed as one of the fathers of modern day psychiatry and psychology. But for all the interest in Freud, there's also much intrigue around him and perhaps even confusion as to what exactly his theories were, how accurate they were, and what kind of importance they play in our modern understanding of the mind. Professor Henk de Berg joins the podcast.

Professor de Berg's book on Freud - https://www.amazon.ca/Freuds-Theory-Literary-Cultural-Studies/dp/1571133011

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There are many people who exist on the shorter end of the height spectrum. For some people, it might be not the biggest deal – but for others, it might significantly impact their lives. But what if there were a way to change your height … to go from shorter to taller? Enter the surgery known as leg lengthening, a procedure designed to help people get taller. Actor Rich Rotella joins the podcast to share his recent experience undergoing leg lengthening surgery.

Learn more about Rich Rotella

https://www.youtube.com/c/RichRotella

https://www.instagram.com/richrotellaofficial/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22383626/

Learn more about Leg Lengthening Surgery

https://www.youtube.com/c/Cyborg4Life

This episode is sponsored by the podcast, A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk Into a Bar.

https://pastorandphilosopher.buzzsprout.com

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