Full Show: Religions and cults, Robot caregivers the future for senior care & Improving flood preparedness

Seg 1: Are religions just mainstream cults? When we hear the word “cult,” we often think of religious groups that are considered unconventional or disapproved of by society. While modern religions may have some cult-like qualities, they seem to be more transparent and aim to reduce the presence of any harmful practices. Guest: Jonny Thomson, Philosopher and Writer for Big Think Seg 2: View From Victoria:  Why do pundits pay so much attention to opinion polls? Because politicians and political parties are obsessed with them, especially in an election year. Guest: Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun Columnist Seg 3: The Weekly Cecchini Check-in Donald Trump's reference to a "bloodbath" during a campaign appearance in Ohio underscores his tendency to use dramatic language to emphasize the high stakes of the election. Guest: Reggie Cecchini, Washington Correspondent for Global News Seg 4: Could robot caregivers fill the shortage of healthcare workers? Initially touted as a breakthrough in personal robotics with the ability to interpret emotions, Pepper was envisioned to revolutionize elderly care by providing companionship and assistance to aging populations. However, despite significant enthusiasm and investment, Pepper's journey from the lab to real-world application has been fraught with challenges and limited success. Guest: Stephanie Murray, Contributing Writer at The Atlantic Seg 5: Will $39 million improve BC’s flood strategies? The long-awaited B.C. flood protection strategy was announced yesterday. It aims to enhance flood resiliency and governance amid the escalating risk of climate-fueled flooding. Guest: Nathan Cullen, BC’s Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship Seg 6: Kickin It with the Caps Guest: Vanni Sartini, Coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps Seg 7: Did rogue government operatives kill Hardeep Singh Nijjar? Documents filed by U.S. law enforcement agencies revealed that Indian government operatives may have been behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Guest: Steven Chase, Senior Parliamentary Reporter for The Globe and Mail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices