The Fact of the Matter

 As part of my other podcast I do on real estate, noted past London, Ontario city councillor Gordon Hume joined me for a discussion on what makes cities dynamic and vibrant and I thought it would be a great discussion to have here as well.  Gord is recognized as one of Canada's leading voices on municipal government, sustainable urban development, cultural planning, and creative cities as well as an established author on the subject (as well as several novels!).Let's see what makes for a great city and see if we are on the right track! Gord Hume's WebsiteOrder Gord's Books HereSupport the show

In recent years, many western nations are being accused of all the same evils: misogyny, racism, white supremacy, etc., etc., but is this true or is there something else going on?Today we take a brief look at some of the sources of these charges including our Truth and Reconciliation Commission and then we briefly look at two books challenging this narrative that have come out in the last year.In the end, I'm going to leave you to make up your own minds, but I will give you the information you need to gain an understanding of the situation.You will need to keep an open mind because there you are about to hear two very different stories.Support the show

We hear a lot of talk these days about Agenda 2030, driving only electric vehicles or autonomous vehicles and the banning of fossil fuel vehicles by 2035, but just how realistic is this? Is this possible or even desirable? Even if it is possible, what will be the consequences on humanity?Global Energy Transformation expert Mats Larsson of the Global Energy Transformation Institute (GET Institute) joins me for a fascinating discussion on how innovation and transformation really work, and on the many challenges we face innovating in a world of exponentially increasing information.His book How Building The Future Really Works, as well as his other books, is available on Amazon. I found it a fascinating look at the complexities we face in the information age.GET InstituteHow Building The Future Really Works available on Amazon hereSupport the show

In today's episode, I ask an expert on whether or not the Bible condones slavery. Some detractors point to several biblical verses to argue that it condones or even promotes slavery. Michael Jones of Inspiring Philosophy joins us to give his arguments why he believes it absolutely does not promote slavery.Michael is a Christian apologist (defender of the faith) and you can find his Youtube channel here: Inspiring PhilosophyNow let's dig into his arguments!Support the show

Today we finish off the enquiry into who was Paul the apostle. He has been the most widely known, most widely praised and most widely criticized apostle of all time. Where did he come from, where did he go and what did he do? What was his life like? In the last two episodes we answer all these questions and more. Today finishes off with some of the questions that are still asked about Paul, a man who may remain an eternal mystery.Ready? Great! Let's finish finding out just who he was. Support the show

Who was Paul the apostle who has been the most widely known, most widely praised and most widely criticized apostle of all time? Where did he come from, where did he go and what did he do? What was his life like? In the next two episodes we will answer all these questions and more.Ready? Let's find out just who he was.Support the show

Well, I did it. After doing my episode last year on the origins of wokeism, I've been thinking of a follow up episode on some of the problematic claims of woke ideologies, but I've been hesitating because I try to keep the show non-partisan and non-political. The episode just wouldn't leave my mind and the topic needs to be covered, so I finally said okay, do it! And I did. Hopefully it was worth the wait.Support the show

In Part 4 we dig deep into interpretation problems arising from whether or not one believes in The Bible. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many analytical challenges arise from what exactly one believes or does not believe. Yes, we are going down the rabbit hole today. Let's start digging in!Support the show

Today's episode kicks it up a couple notches as we delve into the field of hermeneutics, the study of interpretation of biblical texts. Get your thinking caps on because things are going to get heavy. Grab a pen and paper and let's get going!Support the show

Today's episode will be a deep dive into the political, social, economic and family life of people in Palestine (Galilee, Judea, etc.) around New Testament times. We will explore both serious topics such as persecution of Jews and Christians and lighthearted topics such as local celebrations, the harvest, married life and more.Support the show

The Bible is the most influential book of all time but did you know it's also one of the most fascinating?In the first part of a  new series on understanding the bible, beginning with the New Testament, we ask why should I care? Why should I even want to read and understand this book? After addressing that question, we start with an introductory look at the the creation of this fascinating book and its main message.Support the show

Wait, what? More climate? Yes, I know I promised no more climate change but I wanted to include this book in my research of climate change, but the waiting list at the library was too long and it didn't arrive in time.So, I thought I would do a review of my thoughts on the book.Well, let's dive in for a look!Support the show

Just when you thought it was safe, I'm back with one more episode on climate change. The discussion has (pun intended) heated up over the last few weeks and this episode practically wrote itself, so what could I do? I had to do it.Bonus, at the end I delve into conspiracy theory briefly, but I promise only briefly. So there you go, something to look forward to.Okay, sunglasses and suntan lotion on, let's get into the final final climate change episode.Support the show

Here it is folks, the one you've been waiting for. Today we take a deep dive down the rabbit hole of climate change and come back up with some conclusions.This episode will mark the final one in the climate change series. It's a deep topic so don't hesitate to just use these episodes as your stepping stone into your own research.Support the show

Today we peer into the abyss. Today we delve into the controversial arguments around climate change; today we get into the muck. We are going to look at the more alarmist arguments and start into some of the arguments against these claims.Buckle up for this one, it's going to be a hard ride - so let's go!Support the show

Covid 19 has been with us for over three years now. What is the virus up to these days? Is the pandemic over, or is this virus still hanging around? Are there any changes of note happening? Any news on the vaccine front? Let's find out.Merogenomics WebsiteMerogenomics Youtube ChannelSupport the show

It's here! The long promised series on climate change has commenced. In the first episode, Dry Toast reviews the basic field of climate science, covering the basic science. We talk about the different ways and methods of measuring climate indicators and what we are seeing. Basically, we are laying the groundwork to help you critically analyze the claims being made, so that when we present the more in-depth arguments being made, you will be able to draw your own conclusions as to what is actually happening and what the best course of action is on our part.Grab your sunscreen, a beach towel and a cold drink, and let's talk climate change.Support the show

I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Jeremy Bormann of Buision podcast after he interviewed me some weeks back. Jeremy is an intelligent young man and a deep thinker, and it was enjoyable to hear his insights on several topics.We start out with a discussion on the rule of law, but quickly swing into numerous other intriguing and captivating areas of importance including current events, history and society.Buision PodcastSupport the show

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Jeremy Bormann of the Buision podcast, a podcast focusing on a new way of tackling problems in business, law and life together.Jeremy asked me some deep  questions about the current tensions between China and the USA.You can check out his intriguing and informative podcast on most podcast carriers. Here it is on SpotifyBuision PodcastSupport the show

In this, the final episode of our series on Quebec, Britain launches a major offensive in the Seven Years War, including attacks on all French forts in Canada. Get behind the ramparts, watch out for flying cannonballs, and let find out what happens!Support the show

In this first of two episodes on the battle between England and France for Canada, we take an in-depth look at the construction of the forts and fortifications at Quebec city, Montreal, Trois Rivieres, and of course, Fort Louisbourg. We then take a deep dive into the early battles of the Seven Years War, also called the French and Indian Wars in Canada.In the next episode (coming in only a few days) we will finish off the battle for Canada. Grab your musket, bring some dry powder because the fighting is about to start.Support the show

Today's episode is a rundown on the current political scene that has put Canada on the world map. We provide a firsthand, in-depth look at the amazing goings on of the last couple years that have made our Prime Minister and our country front and centre in world politics.Canada is truly a completely different country than it was only five or ten years ago, thanks to the policies and vision of one government, perhaps one man.Support the show

Today we expand on Pt. 1 and delve deeper into both life in early Quebec as well as the history, and throw in a couple bonuses for you, including some of the French place names in North America and some Algonquin Cree words you may not realize you are familiar with.Support the show

Today begins an exciting series on the story of one of Canada's most notable provinces - Quebec. It is a mainly French speaking province in a mainly English speaking country, with a rich history and many historic sites, beautiful parks, and so much more. As well, the culture of les Quebecois is very unique and we will try to convey that culture as best we can.Today's episode is a brief overview of the history of Quebec; upcoming episodes will focus on some of the major events that shaped this unique region and its unique people.D'accord? Allons-ySupport the show

In this final episode of our series on World War I and Canada's historic battle of Vimy Ridge, we look at the decisive battles as the tide turns  against Germany in the last year of the war. We also go over the punitive Treaty of Versailles imposed upon Germany by the Allies.Support the show

Author and researcher Dr. David Edward is my guest today. He has written numerous novels but today he discusses his in-depth research on a site he believes is indeed the lost city of Atlantis. Dry Toast thinks the evidence is quite compelling, let's see what you think!Frequency 99 PublishingSupport the show

April 9, 1917 was an historic day for Canada when its small army took Vimy Ridge, a strategic ridge that France and Britain were unable to take from Germany in several attacks over the previous 3 years. The Canadians planned the assault on Vimy Ridge right down to the last paper clip, but how would the plan hold up under the vagaries of war? Jump in for a listen and let's find out.Support the show

Lance has 34 years experience working as a social worker with Child Protective Services and he shares his experiences and ideas with us today. Does the system serve children and families well? Could it be improved? How?Lance's book In Place of The Parent shares many touching stories as well as thoughts around how the system could possibly be improved. He has also written Build A Better Bridge which focuses more on ideas for improving the system.Lance Hillsinger - Goodreads profile pageLance Hillsinger's Web PageSupport the show

In today's episode of our series on World War I, we look at the events leading up to the battle of Vimy Ridge in northern France.Support the show

Today's episode, the second in my new Uncommon Sense series, takes a look at the evidence around whether or not democracy is in danger and, if so, from where?The Uncommon Sense series mixes facts, common sense, and maybe even a bit of opinion to see where it leads the discussion.It's a good 'un so check it out!Support the show

The early months of WW I began with an astounding number of casualties, including hundreds of barbaric killings of citizens, and set the stage for the remainder of the war, at least in the western front.We look at these early months in the western front in detail, as well as an overview of the situation in Serbia, Gallipoli, and - Mexico - yes Mexico. Didn't see that coming, did you?Okay, then grab your helmet, your gun, and your backpack, keep your head down and let's get into the trenches.Support the show

Today we are going to look at 7 very spooky but very true happenings.This is the first of hopefully many more periodic episodes where instead of delving deep into the facts of a situation, we mix facts with common sense to discuss interesting scenarios. We will still continue digging into the facts behind many well-known situations, this is just an additional avenue to travel down.Support the show

Today we lay out the many factors contributing to the outbreak of World War I and that caused it to be so devastating on a scale never before seen. Like a snowball rolling down a hill  (warning - lots of mixed metaphors coming) , the perfect storm of destruction and mayhem were inexorably building from every direction until finally the proverbial straw broke the camel's back and the guns of August let loose with a thunder that still rolls across the fields of Europe. The world was forever changed. Join me for an in-depth discussion on these events.Support the show

I had the distinct pleasure of being a guest on Wade Fransson's show Created In The Image of God where we discussed whether or not religion and science are compatible.Wade has had a rather amazing life spanning 7 countries, included an international custody battle and much more.I can hear the creaking sound of minds being expanded as we pursue the topic, wandering into interesting side avenues here and there. I hope you find the discussion enlightening.Wade's show: Created In The Image of GodSupport the show

What more noble goal can we have in this world than to live a good and virtuous life? But what exactly is a good and virtuous life, how do we know and how do we go about living the virtuous life? Dry Toast to the rescue once again! Welcome to a summary of thousands of years of study in the field of ethics and some useful tools to live a life of virtue and excellence.Support the show

We are living in turbulent times; politics is very divided and polarized, the news media tends to be very biased and propagandist, and discerning fact from fiction is becoming very difficult.Dry Toast to the rescue as he reviews critical thinking skills right from sensory input through to problem solving processes. After today's episode you will be better equipped to logically and effectively decipher the barrage of manipulated information coming your way. Support the show

In the final episode of our enquiry into Western legal systems, we move into the modern era to discuss legal positivism, cultural relativism and more pressing movements of our time, and their effects on our legal systems.Support the show

Welcome back to part 3 of our series on Western Law. The concept of natural law, that governed justice for some 2000 years, is put under duress during the period known as the enlightenment.Many changes and new concepts emerge, including some that are directly embedded in the U.S. declaration of independence and its Constitution. The plot definitely thickens.Support the show

Recently I had the distinct pleasure of being interviewed by Terry McMullen, host of the What's The Value podcast, where he asks his guests what their main guiding value is in life.What do you think I chose for the most important guiding value in  my life? What do you think is the beacon I set my sail by? Take a guess and then have a listen.What's The Value Podcast (on Spotify)Support the show

On our journey through the history of our western systems of law, here in episode 2 we leave ancient Greece and Rome behind and head into medieval Europe and the long fight between monarchs and parliaments for power. For centuries, monarchs could imprison, torture and kill at will. This is the story of the fight for human rights and justice.Support the show

Today we embark on a journey into the fascinating world of western law and how our legal systems came about.This promises to be a fascinating trip as we journey through many pivotal moments in history and see how they contributed to our current concept of justice.In episode 1, we head back in time to ancient Greece and ancient Rome as we start with the critical concept of natural law and natural justice.Support the show

In my second interview with Dr. Raszek, we venture into the rapidly developing field of DNA testing. This was a great discussion as we delved into topics on the leading edge of science and bioethics.It is a field with so much promise and so many questions, our talk will certainly leave you with lots to think about.Support the show

Today we have an interview with Dr. Mikolaj Raszek, a biochemist and geneticist who specializes in genomic medicine based on human DNA sequencing. We discuss science, covid, immune systems and vaccination and it was a fascinating and informative discussion. You will enjoy our talk immensely.Check out Dr. Raszek's companies;MerogenomicsBiostreamSupport the show

It's over! After several episodes of laying out the details of socialist theory vs democracy and capitalist theory, Dry Toast picks the winner - and it's not exactly what you think it's going to be!So let's dig in and find out the who, what and why of our winner. The future of humanity is at stake.Support the show

Today, Dry Toast goes deep into the heart of the Soviet Union to take a detailed look at the economic systems of communist countries during the Soviet era, as well as a few lesser known socialist style economic projects throughout history.Before we wrap up with a final decision on which system of government and economics is better in the next episode, we examine the nuts and bolts of soviet economies.(CORRECTION: The author of Russia and the West was George F Kennan)Support the show

Dry Toast moves his study of socialism versus democracy into the economic realm. We now contrast the two economic systems.In this first episode, we discuss the great thinkers of both capitalist and socialist economic thought, then we launch into a review of world economic history and development.Sounds like the most fun you could have with your boots on, so let's dig into it.Support the show

Dry Toast takes us through the requirements for a country to call itself democratic. We review the masterful On Democracy by Dr. Robert A Dahl to get an education on the history of democracy, the required criteria for an ideal democracy, the required institutions for a functional, attainable democracy and then finish off with a review of why democracy is better than other forms of government...and, as usual, he digresses just a little here and thereThe book On Democracy by Robert A DahlSupport the show

 In this short series on the ideologies of communism, Dry Toast started with a review of the bible of Communism, the Communist Manifesto and then started an enquiry into the quotations of Mao Tsetung, Mao's Little Red Book. It is a collection of Mao's quotations over about a twenty year period some 70 years after the Communist Manifesto and should provide some clues as to the development of the movement over this time period. This is part 2 of 2 on the Little Red Book.We will next enquire into democracy and capitalism and end off with a bang as we dare to compare the two. Support the show

In this short series on the ideologies of communism, Dry Toast started with a review of the bible of Communism, the Communist Manifesto. Today we begin our study of the quotations of Mao Tsetung, Mao's Little Red Book. It is a collection of Mao's quotations over about a twenty year period some 70 years after the Communist Manifesto and should provide some clues as to the development of the movement over this time period. This is part 1 of 2 on the Little Red Book.When done with communism, we will enquire into democracy and capitalism and end off with a bang as we dare to compare the two.Support the show

In a short series on the ideologies of communism, Dry Toast starts with a review of the Communist Manifesto, reading the most salient parts and commenting as he goes.Let's take a step back in time to the early days of Marxism.CORRECTION: Website is www.thefactof the matter.ca (in the episode I incorrectly said tfotm.ca)Support the show

Bringing the current series of podcasts looking at politics full circle, Dry Toast ends off with an enquiry into the Us vs Them mentality so prevalent in today's politics, social media and events in general. We take a look at where it is appearing, where it's coming from, why, and what we can do.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/factofthematter)