Open Minds with Christopher Balkaran

By Christopher Balkaran

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Category: Society & Culture

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Subscribers: 9
Reviews: 0
Episodes: 223

Description

Imagine if you could explore, with genuine curiosity, the most controversial and divisive topics of our time. The conversations would push you to explore new areas and uncover insightful ‘a-ha’ moments that pique your interest. These talks could help answer the questions you may have, like: why would anyone support capital punishment? Or, what are the pros and cons to tobacco control, or public healthcare, or legalizing sex work? I’m Christopher, and I have created engaging Podcast discussions since 2018 to do exactly this. I invite guests involved in these areas to share with me their opinions. My hope is that through this natural exploration, I can craft a Podcast experience that attempts to build bridges during a time when we need it the most. Join me as I attempt to uncover these issues with true, genuine curiosity.

Episode Date
#221: 1 Moderate vs. 25 Kamala Harris Voters
Nov 02, 2024
#220: Multi-Decadal Hurricane Patterns: Part 2 with Tom Knutson
Oct 31, 2024
#219 Decoding Climate Change: A Pragmatic Approach with Tom Knutson
Oct 29, 2024
#218: Chloe Smellinck: Mental Health for Men and Social Pressures
Oct 08, 2024
#217: Curious Mondays: Can True Free Speech Exist?
Sep 05, 2024
#216: Unpacking Historical Narratives with Professor Matthew Alan Sears
Sep 03, 2024
#215: Ethan Duggan, Take Back Canada - Examining Immigration and Corporate Interests
Aug 29, 2024
#214: Curious Mondays - What’s the Matter with Australia?
Aug 27, 2024
#213: The Abraham Accords and Middle Eastern Geopolitics: US Ambassador Gerald Feierstein
Aug 20, 2024
#212: The Global Food Crisis: Sylvain Charlebois on Supply Chains and Geopolitics
Aug 13, 2024
#212: The Canadian Dream through Representation: Lionel Loganathan
Aug 09, 2024
#211: The Spiral of Silence and How it's Terrible for Us, Christopher Balkaran
Aug 08, 2024
#210: Understanding Breast Implant Illness, Dr. Amanda Savage Brown
Aug 06, 2024
#209: Joe Biden and Divisions Within the Democratic Party, Dr. Alison Dagnes
Aug 01, 2024
#208:The Impact of Chlorine on Water Quality, Dr. Angus Chu
Jul 29, 2024
#207: The Outrage Industry - Understanding Political Media with Dr. Jeffrey Berry
Jul 23, 2024
#206: Instagram Debates with Open Minds: Christopher and Isidora on Respectful Disagreement
Jul 15, 2024
#205: Echo Chambers and Media Consumption, Dr. Alison Dagnes
Jul 04, 2024
#204: A Mother's Battle - Navigating the Opioid Crisis with Correne Antrobus
Jun 30, 2024
#203: Why Safe Injection Sites Matter: An Interview with Professor Mark Tyndall
Jun 20, 2024
#202: Dr. Julian Somers - Harm Reduction as a Public Policy Response?
Jun 17, 2024
#201: Dr. Ramona Coelho: The Dangers Of Medical Assistance in Dying
Jun 04, 2024
#200: Dr. Karen Neufeld and Dr. Jack Haggerty, Beyond the Verdict: Navigating MAID and Mental Health
Apr 23, 2024
#199: Susan Desjardins, Dying with Dignity Canada and the Misinformation on MAiD
Mar 23, 2024
#198: Jane Katkova, Navigating Canada's Immigration Maze
Mar 16, 2024
#197: The "Leave Our Kids Alone Movement," Mahmoud Mourra
Nov 02, 2023
#196: Anti-LGBTQ Hate? Dean Lobo, Reenita V, The 519
Oct 12, 2023
#195: Glenn Blackett, Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms - Wokeism
Sep 28, 2023
#194: Why Young Men and Remixed Racism with Jamil Jivani
Sep 05, 2023
#193: Canada's Increasing Role in Your Digital Life, with Professor Michael Geist
Jul 04, 2023
#192: Exploring Climate Uncertainty and Risk with Professor Judith A. Curry
Jun 27, 2023
#191: The Dinner Table Conversation - Diversity in Hiring and on College Campuses
Jun 24, 2023
#190: The Dinner Table Conversation - A Man's World?
Jun 22, 2023
#189: The Dinner Table Conversation - Changing Roles of Education
Jun 20, 2023
#188: Deepfakes: Believability, Vulnerability, Detection with Todd C. Helmus
Jun 13, 2023
#187: Poverty and Crime, A Conversation with Law Enforcement in the United States
May 30, 2023
#186: Poverty and Health, A Conversation with a Resident Physician in New Jersey
May 23, 2023
#185: Is a 4 Day Work Week in our Future? Charlotte Lockhart, 4 Day Week Global
May 16, 2023
#184: Injecting Satire into our News: Blah TO and the Rise of News-Meets-Humour.
May 09, 2023
#183: Is Student Debt Relief the Best Policy Decision? Professor Willie Elliott, University of Michigan
May 04, 2023
#182: Should We Teach Race and Gender in the Classroom? Kaylene Stevens, Boston University
Apr 18, 2023
#181: The Three Skills I Wish I Learned in School, Christopher Balkaran Gives a Talk at York University
Apr 11, 2023
#180: How Does One Navigate Modern Dating?
Mar 28, 2023
#179: What is the Impact of Mental Health on Quality of Life? Pat Corrigan
Mar 21, 2023
#178: What is Gender Dysphoria? Ken Zucker, Clinical Psychologist
Mar 14, 2023
#177: The Dinner Table, Episode 01
Mar 07, 2023
#176: The Challenges with Affirmative Action, Professor Peter Arcidiacono
Feb 28, 2023
#175: The Benefits of Affirmative Action, Professor Harry Holzer
Feb 21, 2023
#174: The Freedom Convoy's Impact on Supporters: Jenna Quenneville
Feb 07, 2023
#173: The Freedom Convoy's Impact: Sarah Davis, Cornerstone Housing for Women
Jan 31, 2023
#172: Is SafeTO Effective? Scott McKean, Manager, SafeTO
Jan 24, 2023
#171: How Canada's Emissions Targets are Affecting Farmers.
Dec 20, 2022
#170: Are Emissions Reductions in the Agriculture Space Realistic?
Dec 13, 2022
169: Surveying American Public Opinion on Electric Vehicles with Professor Jon Krosnick
Nov 30, 2022
#168: Will Consumers Choose EVs?
Nov 22, 2022
#167: Student Loans - More Than Just Tuition.
Nov 15, 2022
#166: Forget Student Loans - Start Youth with Assets.
Nov 08, 2022
#165: Matching Savings - Will Your Financial Behaviour Change?
Nov 01, 2022
#164: What Has Inflation Done to the Most Vulnerable?
Oct 25, 2022
#163: Rising Cost of Living - What Does This Mean for Womens Shelters?
Oct 18, 2022
#162: Developer Fees are Adding to Toronto's Housing Crisis.
Oct 10, 2022
#161: The Stress of Rising Interest Rates on Low Income Families
Oct 04, 2022
Welcome to Open Minds with Christopher Balkaran!
Sep 30, 2022
#160: What will EVs Mean for Low-Income Families? Gordon Bauer, Data Principal.
Apr 26, 2022
#159: Professor Mike Pesko - Taxing Tobacco - Does it Work?
Feb 16, 2022
#158: Andy West - Climate Change Attitudes are Cultural
Feb 03, 2022
#157: Reflections: 2021 and the year ahead!
Jan 08, 2022
#156: My Second Conversation with Judith Curry
Nov 30, 2021
#155: Reflections: Capital Punishment
Nov 02, 2021
#154: Capital Punishment: Joshua Marquis, Former District Attorney Clatsop County, Oregon
Oct 26, 2021
#153: Read with Me: The Bhagavad Gita
Oct 22, 2021
#152: Capital Punishment: Lindsey Vann, Executive Director Justice360
Oct 19, 2021
#151: Basic Income: John Clarke, Anti-Poverty Activist, former lead for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
Oct 05, 2021
#150: Basic Income: Geoff Crocker, Editor of the Basic Income Forum, and UBI.org
Sep 28, 2021
#149: Reflections: Canadian Election, Basic Income and my Recent Trip to Ikea!
Sep 23, 2021
#148: Basic Income: Jessie Golem, Recipient of Ontario's Basic Income Pilot
Sep 21, 2021
#147: Basic Income: Matthew Flisfeder, Associate Professor, University of Winnipeg
Sep 14, 2021
#146: Basic Income: Hugh Segal, Former Senator, Canadian Political Strategist and Commentator
Sep 07, 2021
#145: Reflections: Afghanistan, the Canadian Federal Election and More
Aug 27, 2021
#144: Joyce Arthur, Executive Director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, Responds to the Alliance for Life Ontario
Jul 27, 2021
#143: The Alliance for Life Ontario: Misinformation? Dangerous? My 2nd Conversation with Jakki Jeffs
Jul 08, 2021
#142: My Conversation with Edwin Frondozo - @edwin100x
Jun 15, 2021
#141: Left Meets Right: Khushbu Dhaliwal
Jun 08, 2021
#140: Tobacco Control / Harm Reduction Panel - Chris Bostic, Cliff Douglas, Brad Rodu
Jun 01, 2021
#139: Tobacco Control: Dr. Gan Quan and Omara Dogar, The Union
May 11, 2021
#138: Tobacco Control: Cliff Douglas, Director, University of Michigan Tobacco Research Network
May 04, 2021
#137: Tobacco Control: Samrat Chowdhery, President, International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organisations (INNCO)
Apr 27, 2021
#136: Tobacco Control: Alex Clark, CEO, The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association (CASAA)
Apr 20, 2021
#135: Tobacco Control: Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator, Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates
Apr 13, 2021
#134: Tobacco Control: Professor Brad Rodu, DDS, School of Medicine, University of Louisville
Apr 06, 2021
#133: Tobacco Control: Chris Bostic, Policy Director at Action on Smoking & Health
Mar 30, 2021
#132: A Conversation with the Creators of "Better Left Unsaid", Curt Jaimungal and Desh Amila
Mar 16, 2021
#131: Gun Control Part Two: Rod Giltaca, the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights
Mar 09, 2021
#130: Sex Work: Lyra McKee, Co-Executive Director, PACE Society
Mar 02, 2021
#129: Sex Work: Shae Invidiata, Free Them
Feb 22, 2021
#128: Sex Work: Kim Pyke and the Experiences faced by Sex Workers
Feb 16, 2021
#127: Sex Work: Alex MacDonnell, Executive Director Stepping Stone NS
Feb 09, 2021
#126: Climate Change - a Different Perspective with Andy West
Feb 02, 2021
#125: What Are The Problems with Climate Change Modelling?
Jan 26, 2021
#124: Is a Pragmatic Approach Better to Address Climate Change?
Jan 19, 2021
#123: The Gun Violence Conversation: Cauldrick Woods, Amadeusz Toronto
Dec 29, 2020
#122: The Gun Violence Conversation: Amadeusz Toronto
Dec 22, 2020
#121: The Gun Violence Conversation: Canadian Doctors for Protection from Guns
Dec 15, 2020
#120: The Gun Violence Conversation: Danforth Families for Safe Communities
Dec 08, 2020
#119: The Gun Violence Conversation: Amber Wardell, Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses
Dec 01, 2020
#118: Do Gun Bans Reduce Gun Violence?
Nov 24, 2020
#117: The Gun Violence Conversation: Ricky Atkinson, former leader of the Dirty Tricks Gang
Nov 17, 2020
#116: The Gun Violence Conversation: Zero Gun Violence Movement (ZGVM)
Nov 10, 2020
#115: The Gun Violence Conversation: The National Firearms Association
Nov 03, 2020
#114: The Abortion Debate: Final Thoughts
Oct 28, 2020
#113: The Pro-Choice Perspective: A Conversation with Dr. Jill Doctoroff, National Abortion Federation Canada
Oct 24, 2020
#112: The Pro Life Abortion Perspective: A Conversation with Jakki Jeffs, Executive Director at Alliance for Life Ontario
Oct 17, 2020
#111: The Pro Choice Abortion Perspective: Joyce Arthur, ED Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
Oct 10, 2020
#110: The Pro Life Abortion Perspective: Cam Cote, Centre for Canadian Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR)
Oct 03, 2020
#109: The Right Mindset: A Conversation with Sean Zahedi
Sep 26, 2020
#108: Community Policing with the LGBTQ2S Community: A Conversation with Sgt. Henry Dyck of the Toronto Police
Sep 19, 2020
#107: Digital Democracy with Minister Audrey Tang!
Sep 12, 2020
#106: Mid Year Check In and Summer Break!
Jul 23, 2020
#105: Community Policing: A Conversation with Sgt. Jeff Zammit of the Toronto Police
Jul 07, 2020
#104: Race-based Data Collection and COVID-19: A Chat with Dr. Vinita Dubey
Jun 27, 2020
#103: Enforcing the Law and the Need for Community-based Policing
Jun 14, 2020
#102: Youth Hidden in Plain Sight: Part 2 - Warren Abbey
Jun 07, 2020
#101: George Floyd
May 31, 2020
#100: 72 Days: 05 - A Chat with Dr. Kenton White on COVID-19 and Data Collection
May 23, 2020
#099: 72 Days: 04 -The Canada Emergency Relief Benefit and, AI?
May 17, 2020
#098: 72 Days: 03 - Why the WHO?
May 09, 2020
#097: 72 Days: 02: A Serious Conversation on the Role of Government in a Pandemic
May 02, 2020
#096: 72 Days: Justin Trudeau's Reality Pre-COVID-19
Apr 24, 2020
#095: Power of Positivity - 25 - The End - Onto the Next!
Apr 19, 2020
#094: Power of Positivity - 24 - Start Thinking About the Transition!
Apr 18, 2020
#093: Power of Positivity - 23 - Stay Balanced
Apr 16, 2020
#092: Power of Positivity - 22 - Don't be Afraid of Losses
Apr 15, 2020
#091: Power of Positivity - 21 - Relentlessly Pursue your goals!
Apr 14, 2020
#090: Power of Positivity - 20 - Setbacks are a part of achieving goals!
Apr 13, 2020
#089: Power of Positivity - 19 - It's all about a state of mind!
Apr 12, 2020
#088: Power of Positivity - 18 - Fight Politics!
Apr 11, 2020
#087: Power of Positivity - 17 - Stay Productive to Fight the Negative Energy!
Apr 10, 2020
#086: Power of Positivity - 16 - Fight your Worry!
Apr 09, 2020
#085: Power of Positivity - 15 - Treat Yourself!
Apr 08, 2020
#084: Power of Positivity - 14 - Embrace Failure!
Apr 07, 2020
#083: Power of Positivity - 13 - Stay Positive around Negativity, define your biggest challenges to your goals
Apr 06, 2020
#082: Power of Positivity - 12 - Fight Worry and Add to your Stock!
Apr 05, 2020
#081: Power of Positivity - 11 - Choose what you give LIFE to!
Apr 04, 2020
#080: Power of Positivity - 10 - Reframe your State of Mind!
Apr 03, 2020
#079: Power of Positivity - 09 - Envision the Day Back to Normalcy!
Apr 02, 2020
#078: Power of Positivity - 08 - Choose Positivity!
Apr 01, 2020
#077: Power of Positivity - 07 - What is your Biggest Goal / Idea?
Mar 31, 2020
#076: Power of Positivity - 06 - Time Thiefs!
Mar 30, 2020
#075: Power of Positivity - 05 - Identify your Dragons
Mar 29, 2020
#074: Power of Positivity - 04 - Visualization, Do one thing and Journal
Mar 28, 2020
#073: Power of Positivity - 03 - Clean your Space, Choose your Media, Give Back
Mar 26, 2020
#072: Power of Positivity - 02 - Exercise and Healthy Nutrition While in Self Isolation!
Mar 25, 2020
#071: Power of Positivity - Begin Fighting COVID-19 with your Energy
Mar 24, 2020
#070: Analyzing the Coverage of the 2020 Ontario Teacher's Strike
Mar 15, 2020
#069: Youth Hidden in Plain Sight: Warren Abbey's Story on Guns, Gangs and Violence
Mar 07, 2020
#068: Getting Young People Active: Vanessa Lodge
Feb 29, 2020
#067: Artificial Intelligence: A Conversation with Erin Kelly, President and CEO of Advanced Symbolics Inc.
Feb 22, 2020
#066: Artificial Intelligence and Refugee Claims
Feb 15, 2020
#065: Oliver Lane and his Journey as a Trans Athlete
Feb 08, 2020
#064: The Barriers Still Faced by the LGBTQ2S community: A Conversation with Jacq Hixson-Vulpe
Feb 01, 2020
#063: The LGBTQ Community and the Conservative Movement: A Conversation with Jamie Ellerton
Jan 11, 2020
#062: How do we Restore Balance in our Conversations? End of Year/Decade Reflection!
Dec 24, 2019
#061: Climate Change: How Industries are reducing their Carbon Footprint
Dec 14, 2019
#060: Youth and Politics: the Generation after Milennials
Dec 07, 2019
#059: Peter Downing and WEXIT's Constitution
Nov 30, 2019
#058: A Conversation with Gillian Smith
Nov 23, 2019
#057: One Year Anniversary!
Nov 16, 2019
#056: 2019 Federal election results, proportional representation, and is western separation doable?
Nov 09, 2019
#055: The West: Part 1 - Confederation and Western Alienation
Nov 02, 2019
#054: Canada Votes: Young People in Politics
Oct 28, 2019
#053: Canada Votes: Bloc Quebecois
Oct 25, 2019
#052: Canada Votes: WEXIT - Interview with Peter Downing
Oct 19, 2019
#051: Canada Votes: Populism
Oct 11, 2019
#050: Canada Votes: The Peoples Party of Canada
Oct 05, 2019
#049: Justin Trudeau's Blackface / Brownface Scandal
Oct 02, 2019
#048: Canada Votes: The Green Party of Canada
Sep 28, 2019
#047: Canada Votes: The Conservative Party of Canada
Sep 19, 2019
#046: Canada Votes: The New Democratic Party (NDP)
Sep 07, 2019
#045: Canada Votes: The Liberal Party of Canada
Aug 31, 2019
#044: The Canadian Military Part 4: Supports for Returning Military Personnel
Aug 24, 2019
#043: The Canadian Military Part 3: Veterans
Aug 17, 2019
#042: The Canadian Military Part 2: Procurement
Aug 10, 2019
#041: The Canadian Military Matters.
Aug 03, 2019
#040: Hate Speech
Jul 27, 2019
#039: Introduction of Heon Lee!
Jul 20, 2019
#038: The Gender Gap: Identity Politics Part 2
Jul 14, 2019
#037: Identity Politics
Jul 07, 2019
#036: Alabama and its Ban on Abortion (Part 4): Special Guest!
Jun 21, 2019
#035: Abortion Part Three: Understanding the Anti-Abortion Movement
Jun 17, 2019
#034: Brainstorming a Better Way: Genuine Curiosity!
Jun 10, 2019
#033: Abortion Part Two: Psychological Effects on Women
Jun 03, 2019
#032: Abortion Part One: Personhood
May 30, 2019
#031: Anti Vax Movement
May 20, 2019
#030: Conversations about Education in Ontario
May 12, 2019
#029: Cuts to Education?
May 04, 2019
#028: You Should Care About the new 5G Network!
Apr 15, 2019
#027: Before You Reply Online - Confirmation Bias!
Apr 12, 2019
#026: Quebec's Ban on Religious Symbols: Bill 21
Apr 09, 2019
#025: Before You Reply Online: 02 - Political Sniping!
Apr 05, 2019
#024: Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
Mar 31, 2019
#023: Before You Reply Online: 01!
Mar 27, 2019
#022: Islamophobia
Mar 25, 2019
#021: Donald Trump and Immigration Policy
Mar 12, 2019
#020: SNC Lavalin Mini-series: Part 3 - Deferred Prosecution Agreements
Mar 03, 2019
#019: SNC Lavalin Mini-series: Part 2 - Legislation
Feb 25, 2019
#018: Food for Thought: Public Governance
Feb 21, 2019
#017: SNC Lavalin Mini-series: Part 1 - Public Governance!
Feb 17, 2019
#016: Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline - Meaningful Engagement with Indigenous Peoples
Feb 10, 2019
#015: FFT03: Taking a Deep Dive on Issues
Feb 07, 2019
#014: Minimum Wage in Ontario
Feb 03, 2019
#013: FFT02: OSAP and Evidence-Based Protests?
Jan 30, 2019
#012: Changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
Jan 27, 2019
#011: FFT01: E Government in Canada?
Jan 22, 2019
#010: Canada's Immigration System
Jan 20, 2019
#009: Carding
Jan 13, 2019
#008: Basic Income!
Jan 06, 2019
#007: Thank you!
Jan 01, 2019
#006: Cannabis Legalization!
Dec 24, 2018
#005: U-S-M-C-A !
Dec 18, 2018
#004: Free Trade!
Dec 17, 2018
#003: Towards a Civil Discourse!
Nov 27, 2018
#002: Carbon Pricing in Canada!
Nov 19, 2018
#001: Strong and Free: Episode 1!
Nov 15, 2018