The Rational View podcast with Dr. Al Scott

Al Scott
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Physicist Dr. Al Scott addresses politically and socially divisive issues with insightful evidence-based analysis of the facts. Learn to apply the tools of science to discover the most rational path to an optimistic vision of the future. https://www.therationalview.ca

  1. Dr. Matthew Boedy unveils plans to turn the USA into a Christian theocracy

    OCT 18

    Dr. Matthew Boedy unveils plans to turn the USA into a Christian theocracy

    In this episode I’m going to dig down into the roots of the religious right and show you just how long they have been planning their coup. For decades, a well-funded network of religious and political operatives has been quietly working to dismantle democracy and replace it with Christian theocracy. Matthew Boedy is a professor of rhetoric at the University of North Georgia. He holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of South Carolina. He researches and writes about religious rhetoric, particularly in the last few years about the rise of Christian Nationalism. Dr. Boedy is president of the Georgia conference of the American Association of University Professors. He authored three books and has appeared on CNN and MSNBC and in The New York Times, The Washington Post. He was once a crime reporter and high school teacher.  Come visit me on Facebook at The Rational View group.

    44 min
  2. Dr. Henrietta Moore and Arthur Kay want us to rethink 'car culture'

    OCT 8

    Dr. Henrietta Moore and Arthur Kay want us to rethink 'car culture'

    In this episode I’m going to explore modern society’s car culture. We all know that the energy use that supports cars is a huge contributor to the greenhouse effect and climate change. We know that the resources society devotes to transportation are significant, and yet they are also the lifeblood of commerce. They represent freedom. The automobile manufacturing industry directly employs and sustains hundreds of thousands of people, and the surrounding industries like rest stops, motels, highway building and maintenance, towing, paramedics, speed cameras manufacturers, traffic light installers, and mortuaries are all dependent on them.  Modern vehicles are the culmination of decades of development. Can we imagine a world without them? My guests today have done just that. Henrietta L. Moore is the founder and director of the Institute for Global Prosperity at University College London. Arthur Kay is an urban designer, advisor and a board member of Transport for London and the Royal Academy of Engineering. They are co-authors of Roadkill, a new book about the costs of car dependency. Let me know what you think about this episode at The Rational View Facebook group!

    54 min
  3. Dr. Troyen Brennan knows how to fix healthcare

    SEP 20

    Dr. Troyen Brennan knows how to fix healthcare

    In this episode I’m digging into the state of healthcare in the United States: the only country in the developed world that believes health care is best delivered as a luxury product. Everywhere else, people go to the doctor when they’re sick. In America, you go only if you’re sick and your credit score is feeling strong. They treat hospitals like casinos: you walk in, take your chances, and hope you don’t lose the house on the way out. Other nations pride themselves on how they treat the less fortunate. Americans  think of healthcare as a benefit for capitalist success. If you can’t afford insurance and get sick you’ve been judged unworthy to live. Troyen A. Brennan is an adjunct professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. A former professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and the former chief medical officer at CVS Health, he is the author of The Transformation of American Health Insurance: On the Path to Medicare for All and Just Doctoring: Medical Ethics in the Liberal State Come chat with me on Facebook at The Rational View

    37 min
  4. A review of US Gerrymandering - not just popular in Texas

    SEP 6

    A review of US Gerrymandering - not just popular in Texas

    In this episode I’m discussing Gerrymandering and how it clearly demonstrates US exceptionalism by maintaining incumbents and invalidating the democratic will of the people. If you like this, you might want to move to Texas where it has become a popular sport, alongside of hunting democratic representatives. Come find me on Facebook and Youtube!

    32 min
  5. If the post is bait, then you should wait: exposing disinformation on immigrants, ICE, and Epstein.

    AUG 23

    If the post is bait, then you should wait: exposing disinformation on immigrants, ICE, and Epstein.

    In this episode I’m going to fact check some polarizing memes on current issues in the news. I’m going to help you to identify fake memes and to question the possibility of AI-generated videos. Did you just read something that confirms your worst fears about the opposition and gets your blood pumping? Are you angry? Stop for a moment and think before you hit like and share. I want to remind you to pause and verify any triggering story you get before you share it. Does it confirm a belief you have about how bad the other guys are? Are you getting emotional? Take a deep breath. You are smart. There are ways to avoid embarrassing yourself and falling prey to manipulators who want to sow chaos and distrust and foment violence.  In Canada there seems to be a well-funded social media effort to demonize progressive values and the current liberal government. They’ve hooked onto oil-rich Western conservative disillusionment and seem to be trying to make good on Trump’s threats to annex Canada. I’ll investigate a few of these memes, and I’ll also wade into the morass of politics in the US. Come see the videos on YouTube!

    48 min
  6. Dr. Ewelina Kurtys is developing computers made of real neurons

    AUG 9

    Dr. Ewelina Kurtys is developing computers made of real neurons

    In this episode I’m interviewing a scientist who is trying to revolutionize computing by replacing power hungry silicon gates with highly efficient biological neurons. For a present-day silicon-based computer to approach the processing power of a human brain would take MegaWatts of power—we are seeing some of these inefficiencies looking at AI systems that require massive amounts of energy to run. A human brain can do the same thing on less than 20 Watts. My guest today is a scientist who is working on the interface between brain and machine. Dr. Ewelina Kurtys is an entrepreneur with a PhD in neuroscience. After academia, she transitioned into business development and technology commercialization, advising tech companies on sales, partnerships, and market strategy. She founded Ekai Ltd to support innovation and scale in science-driven companies. Her work spans advisory roles, go-to-market planning, and translating complex R&D into real-world impact. She also speaks publicly on innovation, neuroscience, and the intersection of science and entrepreneurship. Check out the video versions on my YouTube channel. Chat with me on Facebook.

    28 min
  7. The climate is always changing, why worry?

    JUL 26

    The climate is always changing, why worry?

    Have you ever heard someone spouting off on social media that the climate is always changing?  Apparently this carries great weight amongst people who don’t want to admit that humans are involved in the accurately predicted warming trend that we are currently experiencing. I just recently encountered someone on social media claiming that the climate is self-correcting and we don’t need to worry about how much CO2 we emit, it will take care of itself….like the North Atlantic cod fishery, or the dodo bird. In this episode I’m going to review the state of our knowledge of past climates on our planet. This episode draws heavily on the nice summary recently published by Elise Cutts in Science News. Come find me on YouTube and Facebook!

    29 min
  8. Infodemiologist Dr. Pauline Hoffmann on how to find truth amidst a sea of disinformation

    JUL 13

    Infodemiologist Dr. Pauline Hoffmann on how to find truth amidst a sea of disinformation

    In this episode I am taking us on a journey to seek truth amidst a sea of fake news with a person who has published a book on the topic. Hopefully we can get a lifeline to find out how to separate the wheat from the crap. Infodemiologist, Dr. Pauline W. Hoffmann is an associate professor in the Jandoli School of Communication and a New York State senior public health fellow with the Cattaraugus County Health Department working on strategic and communication planning and implementation. She has a BSc in Biology and an MA and PhD in communication. She is an entrepreneur with two LLCs to her name – Wild Mountain Organics and Data Doyenne. She has a LinkedIn newsletter titled WTF? (What the Facts?) which delves into all things infodemic. She most recently published her first book - Fake News, Witch Hunts & Conspiracy Theories: An Infodemiologist’s Guide to the Truth. Her research and teaching focus on infodemics, conflict management, conflict resolution, and corporate and health communication and strategy. Prior to going into academia, Dr. Hoffmann worked in creative services for Catholic Health. She also served as the deans of the Jandoli School of Communication and graduate studies. She was a Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellow having written a policy blog on disinformation related to lead poisoning as it impacts public health. Personally, Dr. Hoffmann lives on a farm in the Southern Tier of New York with two dogs, six chickens, a duck and one hive of bees. She is a master scuba diver and regularly dives with sharks. Find me on Youtube and Instagram!

    53 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
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9 Ratings

About

Physicist Dr. Al Scott addresses politically and socially divisive issues with insightful evidence-based analysis of the facts. Learn to apply the tools of science to discover the most rational path to an optimistic vision of the future. https://www.therationalview.ca

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