Podcast for Inquiry S04E05: Distinguishing jargon from gobbledygook - Dr. Jonathan Stea on evidence-based medicine over wellness industry misinformation

Dr. Jonathan Stea (BlueSky, Facebook) is a full-time practicing clinical psychologist and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. In today’s episode, Jonathan reveals that many mental health practitioners have no scientific grounding for their treatments, which can lead to disaster - yet it can be very difficult for an layperson to distinguish between a new technique they don’t understand that works, and a new technique they don’t understand that is gibberish. “Quantum neurological reset therapy” should get your spidey sense tingling, and Jonathan shares a few other signs of pseudoscientific grift as well. 

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Canadian election and democracy for beginners

Last week I had the pleasure to give a talk to the members of Ensaneyoun, a secular group for Arabic-speaking immigrants to Canada. I do not speak any Arabic, but fortunately everyone there spoke English very well. My talk is about Canadian democracy, its institutions and structures, and what each citizen's vote entails. This was followed by a 90-minute Q&A session (not included in the video below). If you want to learn the basics of how Canadian democracy works, invest a half hour. Let me know what you think!