Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Podcast for Inquiry S01E21: Thomas Westbrook on becoming Holy Koolaid

Thomas Westbrook (@holykoolaid) was brought up as an evangelical Christian. Upon learning that truth should be able to withstand scrutiny, he eagerly looked at the tenets of his faith with a critical lens… and found it wanting. After realizing that science explained the world in a much more coherent manner than religion, he started his enormously popular Holy Koolaid YouTube channel and website. His favourite video series are Nothing Fails Like Bible History and Exposing Psychics

Listen to our conversation here:

A video recording is also available:



Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Podcast for Inquiry Diatribe #1: Covid Vaccine Patents

 On an irregular basis, I will use my platform on Podcast for Inquiry to rail against something that really gets under my skin. In today's episode, I talk about covid vaccine patents. These are wonderful innovations, responsible for saving the lives of tens of millions of people (and preventing hundreds of millions or even billions of people from serious illness). All of them were paid for by public funds, in full or in significant part. So why did governments around the world grant patents - an exclusive right to manufacture these vaccines - to pharmaceutical companies?

Listen to my diatribe here:

A video recording is also available:



Wednesday, October 05, 2022

Podcast for Inquiry S01E20: Dying for Rights: Putting North Korea’s Human Rights Abuses on the Record with Dr. Sandra Fahy

In this PfI episode, Dr. Fahy describes the human rights abuses perpetrated by the Kim dynasty in North Korea, and why it is important to have them documented. Despite being considered a pariah nation by many, some defend the nation and the regime expends considerable effort to bolster its reputation internationally. Sandra and I discuss the limits of national sovereignty, when it becomes a moral obligation to intervene, and the ramifications of the radically different approach taken to North Korean relations by the former US president, Donald Trump. For those who wish to support the people of North Korea, Dr. Fahy recommends HanVoice or Liberty in North Korea.

Listen to our conversation here:

A video recording is also available:



Saturday, October 01, 2022

Podcast for Inquiry BONUS episode: TDSB Trustee Candidate Matt Farrell on Merging Ontario’s Public and Catholic School Boards

Municipal council and school board elections in Ontario will take place on Monday, October 24, 2022. One Toronto District School Board (Toronto-Danforth) Trustee candidate, Matt Farrell (@Matt4TO_Trustee), will do something that no other public school trustee has promised. If he wins, he will initiate a process “culminating in a formal request by the TDSB to recommend a merged system to the Government of Ontario.” Note: CFIC explores news idea in the political realm, but does not endorse candidates.

Listen to our conversation here:

A video recording is also available: