Pedophilia, understandably, is a word that conjures up negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Acting on pedophilic thoughts is a horrible crime, and the ramifications are fittingly severe. But what exactly is pedophilia? Is it a distinct entity, a medical condition perhaps? Or can it be seen as an abnormal part of the spectrum of human desire? What is it like to live as a pedophile, and what kind of emotional angst do pedophiles experience? Are pedophilic feelings more common that we might think they are, and how can one live with thoughts of pedophilia without acting on them. Dr. Skye Stephens joins the podcast.

The idea of 'life extension' has become trendy over the past several decades. If we take the right supplements and certain medications, is it possible to live well beyond a hundred years old and to slow the aging process itself? Dr. Jay Olshansky is one of the world leaders in the field. He joins the podcast to shed some misconceptions. http://sjayolshansky.com/sjo/Background.html

The idea of 'life extension' has become trendy over the past several decades. If we take the right supplements and certain medications, is it possible to live well beyond a hundred years old and to slow the aging process itself? Dr. Jay Olshansky is one of the world leaders in the field. He joins the podcast to shed some misconceptions. http://sjayolshansky.com/sjo/Background.html

In the typical preconceived framework in which we tend to view our lives, there are many steps … growing up, getting an education, finding a job, getting married, having kids, being grandparents, and ultimately - retiring. But in recent years, many have come to question what retirement really means and what it entails. So what exactly is retirement, and does society’s concept of retirement ultimately limit us in our endeavors when we get older? And if we do conform to the more traditional view of retirement, should we be seriously rethinking the age of retirmenet given the increased life expectancy of humans? George Jerijian joins the podcast. https://georgejerjian.com

Sex and romance are core aspects of most people's lives; yet for some, the role they play is different. Aline Laurent-Mayard has never been attracted to anyone—not sexually, not romantically. On her award-winning podcast Free From Desire, they tell us how difficult it was to realize and accept their asexuality and their aromantism in a society that only talks about exactly that: love and sex. Aline joins the podcast to explain what it means to be asexual and aromantic. Check out Aline's podcast at https://podcastingtoday.co.uk/new-memoir-style-podcast-follows-journey-of-aline-laurent-mayard/

When people hear the word 'Jihad', they likely think of extremism, terrorism, and utter disdain for the West. But what is exactly is Jihad? What are its true origins? Is Jihadist philosophy truly violent in its original sense? Or is it a concept that has been politicized and weaponized by some, taken to the extreme as a justification for terrorism and hate? What is the role of Jihad, if any, in typical Islamic doctrine, and how can peaceful Islam be reconciled with these more extreme ideologies? Glenn E. Robinson, author of 'Global Jihad: A Brief History', joins the podcast. https://glennerobinson.com

There are so many adages in regards to love and relationships. Many hinge on the notion that we must be absolutely certain in our choice of a romantic partner and that there should be no doubts when we ultimately decide on 'the one'. But is that a realistic framework for love? And how can the search for the Hollywood vision of love, in some cases lead to severe cases of relationship anxiety, otherwise known as relationship OCD (ROCD)? Kiyomi LaFleur, founder of Awaken into Love, joins the podcast. www.awakenintolove.com

For most of us, it’s a known that global warming and climate change are real and problematic Yet at the same time, despite society’s apparent concern at large, the issue has persisted for decades and in many regards, only gotten worse. So how bad is climate change, and how concerned do we need to be? And for as much as we try to be optimistic, are we perhaps past the point of no return? If that’s the case, why even care about climate change at all? Why not just accept that the damage is done, and that the best we can do is mitigate it as opposed to saving our planet? Quinn Emmett joins the podcast. Quinn Emmett Founder of Important, Not important: Science for people who give a shit Sign up for his newsletter at Importantnotimportant.com/subscribe

Taylor Swift is arguably the most famous person in the world – a pop star the likes of whom many of us haven’t seen in our lifetimes. Especially over the past year with the release of her latest album Midnights and her record-breaking The Eras Tour, it’s not crazy to wonder if what we are witnessing right now is somewhat analogous to the Beatlemania of the 1960s. So what exactly is the phenomenon of Taylor Swift? Why has she risen to the heights that she has and captivated so many people like few other artists have before her? Is this truly a special pop culture moment, or is it perhaps being overstated? Music industry veteran Ralph Jaccodine joins the podcast.

Sometimes our convictions can be so indoctrinated that it’s tough to separate them from reality and the facts in front of us. One such example is the Salem Witch Trials from 1692-1693, where an episode of mass hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts led to over 200 people being put on trial for witchcraft, culminating in nineteen executions. So how did this happen? How was it possible that people in one of the most educated societies of the time, not far from Harvard, became so convinced that witchcraft was real, to the point that they killed 14 women and 5 men for being witches? World-renowned Salem expert, Marilynne Roach, joins the podcast.