The Rational View podcast with Dr. Al Scott

In this episode I’m following up on a tip from a listener who suggested that I should speak with David Bernstein. David was on Michael Shermer’s podcast discussing civil liberty, free speech, and constitutional law issues. In the current situation of highly polarized public debate it is critical that we listen to both sides of the argument and don’t fall victim to bias. This is a job for The Rational View! David E. Bernstein holds a University Professor Chair at George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School. He is the author or co-author of seven books including, most recently, Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America. Find my on Facebook, LInkedIn, and Instagram

In this episode I’m interviewing a thoughtful kindred spirit to the Rational View. Someone who has made it her mission to bridge polarizing gaps in society and work for the greater good. Please excuse my deep bass FM radio voice as I’m getting over a nasty virus. Juliana Tafur is the director of the Greater Good Science Center’s Bridging Differences program at UC Berkeley. She is now leading a Campaign for Connection to bridge political and cultural divides using resources rooted in science. She’s spent more than a decade creating spaces–through film and mediated dialogue–to bridge differences of race/culture, politics, socioeconomic status, and more. An Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University, Juliana’s work combines research on the science of human connection with lived experience, making her insights both practical and deeply personal. Come find me on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube

This episode is providing a rational review of events to the south in the new republican administration. There is a lot of concern on the left over the activities of Musk and Trump. There is a huge pile of propaganda that both sides are producing. What are the facts? Should we be worried? Appearing in the Oval Office and addressing the nation whilst Trump looks on bored and confused, Musk hoists his young son on his shoulders. Lately he has not been out in public without a human shield after the recent assassination of elite health-insurance CEO Brian Thompson. What is Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE up to? Is it legal for a department to have access to the private data of citizens held by other departments? Why are Americans allowing this? Why would Musk  donate $290 million dollars of his own money to re-elect Trump? What deal was made? Why do they love Putin and Xi? Why are they abandoning Ukraine and Taiwan? Follow the money.

In this episode I’m going to play devil’s advocate and look at the flaws on the left of the political spectrum. I am always trying to challenge my biases and poke holes in my positions by listening to opposing opinions. I have been butting heads with a UK professor over social media on several issues recently as he has been posting what I would consider biased right wing positions and I have been challenging him. We are both in agreement on many issues, however, that may come as a surprise to those people on the left. This is a job for The Rational View. Dr. Anton Van Der Merwe is a Professor of Molecular Immunology at the University of Oxford. He has been on the left his entire life from membership of the ANC, while in South Africa, to membership of the Labour Party since living in the U.K. He is also a passionate environmentalist. He has recently expressed  dismay at how the left and environmental groups have abandoned science and replaced it with dogma. Look for me on Youtube and Instagram or join the discussion on Facebook.

In this episode I am exploring the divergence between productivity and wages in western economies since 1970.  This was covered in one of my first podcasts and is a striking failure of society that has derailed post-war successes and led to the current situation of inequity and unrest. It puts us in the strange position that robotics and AI are going to make the vast majority of the world poorer and further behind. Dean Baker is the co-founder and a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. He has written numerous books and articles. His most recent book is Rigged: How Globalization and the Rules of the Modern Economy Were Structured to Make the Rich Richer. Join The Rational View on Facebook Follow me on YouTube

In this episode I’m reviewing the scientific evidence on the safety of new mRNA vaccines. There has been a flurry of misunderstandings and misinformation posted online with the result being spreading vaccine hesitancy and a growing public health emergency.  The WHO highlighted vaccine hesitancy as a major global health risk. Just this morning I heard announcements of Measles outbreaks. Vaccines have saved millions of lives. They’ve eliminated smallpox and we are on the brink of eliminating polio. Measles no longer needs to hospitalize thousands of children unless we let it.  That being said, there is risk associated with vaccines. Can we have a frank talk about the actual risks? Look me up on YouTube and Facebook! Patron dot podbean dot com slash THERATIONALVIEW

In this episode I am continuing to cast a lens into the presence of inequity in society. The Rational View is about using evidence-based practices to promote justice for all. Over the years we, as a society, have made great progress in addressing inequality, but unscientific biases still abound. Many folks would say that we’ve already equalized opportunities. Many would say great gulfs remain to be bridged. What does the data say? Nilanjana Dasgupta is Provost Professor of Psychology and founding Director of the Institute of Diversity Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and neuroscience from Smith College and a Master’s degree and PhD in social psychology from Yale University. She is a leader in research on implicit bias and diversity science, applying it to complex social problems. Her award winning research has been featured widely in print and broadcast media. She is the author of Change the Wallpaper: Transforming Cultural Patterns to Build More Just Communities Find me on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWU2V-SviNZV7mXd6VB0dAA

In this episode I’m interviewing a researcher who studies equality in the workplace.  Her work stands out as being heavily influenced by quantitative studies on the effectiveness of various interventions aimed at leveling the gender gap in the workplace. I hope we can gain some insights into what is good and what does not work to promote fairness in the workplace. Siri Chilazi is a senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School whose life’s work is to advance gender equality in the workplace. As a keynote speaker and strategic advisor, Siri collaborates with a wide range of organizations around the world. Her work regularly appears in leading media outlets. Siri has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard College. Her most recent book, with co-author Iris Bohnet, is called “Make Work Fair”. Support the podcast at patron dot podbean dot com slash TheRationalView Join the Facebook discussion at TheRationalView

The podcast dives into the health trend of earthing, questioning if it really aids healing and reduces inflammation. Personal anecdotes mix with a critical examination of the scientific evidence behind grounding techniques. Skepticism is emphasized, highlighting the need for thorough research to support these claims. The discussion also explores electric fields' roles in wound healing and safety concerns regarding grounding products during storms. Tune in for an intriguing look at a popular health fad and the science that underpins—or debunks—it.

In this episode I’m interviewing a scientist turned science fiction author who has written a book that takes the reader on a journey around the solar system to the many remote places we’ve visited with our space probes. I’m eager to learn what he thinks about space exploration. Dr John Moores is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science at York University. He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, a recipient of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute’s McCurdy Award and served as the Science Advisor to the President of the Canadian Space Agency from 2022-2024. John holds a BASc in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in Planetary Science. An author on over 100 articles in planetary science, John has also been a member of five NASA and ESA-led space mission teams. Support the podcast at patron dot podbean dot com slash TheRationalView Come chat on Facebook @TheRationalView