The CRAM Podcast ~ Extraordinary Ideas Unleashed

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.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/by/kwame-anthony-appiahhttps://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-steelHe’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_mpbWe’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=3594Asteroid 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-macdonaldHe 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-i6QWe’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-sockalingamHe’s also Vice-Chair and a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto: https://psychiatry.utoronto.ca/faculty/sanjeev-sockalingamAnd 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 interviewWhat 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-1.7434315We’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/10.3138/9781487524517We’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/9780593290644and Fault Lines by Dr. Karl Pillemer:https://a.co/d/5HBC3jIWe’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-hicksonHer article on eco-activism and art:  https://theconversation.com/eco-activist-attacks-on-museum-artwork-ask-us-to-figure-out-what-we-value-193575We’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=enHe’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 Barnstaple is an 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-YQWe’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-rosshttps://kite-uhn.com/fibre/scientist/heather-rosshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_J._RossWe’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-chhinzerWe’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 GUESTDonald 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_ThurlowFor more on Setsuko and her work:  https://rise.icanw.org/setsuko_thurlowSPECIAL 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-matthewsBen’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=V6nNS4x8QCgHer lab: https://kalialabs.org/team/Research at the University Health Network:  https://www.uhnresearch.ca/researcher/lorraine-kaliaWe’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/bussejwWe’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.orgWe’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-shorHe’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-324543We’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.phpHow to be a better negotiator:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I_9aA5SBD4TEDx talk on the biggest barrier to negotiation:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9PezyQ0LoWe’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-canadaWe’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 

Think 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.htmlHe’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-caulfieldWe’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.htmlResearch on home ownership among second generation immigrants: https://sociology.uwo.ca/research/research-areas/social-demography-and-migration/researcher-haan.htmlWe’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’repositioned 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 McGillUniversity. https://www.dhaggard.physics.mcgill.ca/She’s also the co-leader of the AXIS mission, a space probe that aims to increase ourunderstanding of black holes and the evolution of our galaxies. AXIS is one of twofinalists 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-361498We’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=rmNfHPE3MFAWe’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 & EconomicsHer 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.htmlMandy 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.htmlDr. 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=-IhXE5LfosoWe’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.orgWe’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.htmlArticle 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.htmlMichael 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 INFOWe’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/@DocMikeEvansHis most popular health video that’s had almost 7 million views:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGoAdd’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-228682Add’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 

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-mcarthurCheck 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.  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 

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 over30 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/wonderprojectHer 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.  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 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=4702Check 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.  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 

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 of these 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.  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 

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/65634Check out this article:  https://theconversation.com/the-humiliating-downfall-of-japans-johnny-and-associates-fans-reckon-with-sexual-assault-in-entertainment-214831Sarah 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.  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 

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.htmlCheck 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.htmlAdd’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.  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 

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-keithAdd’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.  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