“Fake News” is the zeitgeist of social media! It is incredibly easy in our always-on, connected world to spread lies.  Even respected news organizations fall victim to fake news.  Legitimate journalists sometimes knowingly spread fake news. When they do, and are found out, punishment is swift to maintain journalistic integrity by the publisher of those fake news reports.   What about news spread by people who do NOT claim to be journalists?  What about bloggers, facebook posts, random tweets – is there a way to tell what is fake news, and what is a legitimate news report?  How does a news consumer discern between honest reporting which can in good faith report an erroneous fact, and a full blown intention to deceive by knowingly reporting falsehoods?     How does one root out truth in a seemingly overwhelming pile of lies? JR and Gino discuss the concept of fake news, give free plugs to some news outlets they enjoy, and present tips to help you determine if what you are consuming is real or fake news.  Is that news story too good to be true?  It probably is… Subscribers get the latest and greatest episodes automatically! Subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and wherever fine podcasts are distributed. We are also available on YouTube for listening at your desktop and working around pesky office firewalls. Please SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE using the links below:Subscribe in Itunes Like our page on Facebook Follow on Twitter We love doing the show for you, we hope you love listening, and we appreciate you sharing with your friends - THANKS!Tweet #AskTheCrew

Gino and JR discussed death education in episode 4 of Crew Round Table Bites.  In this episode we further explore this topic, discussing living wills and debate Canada's medically assisted death legislation.  There is strong support for this legislation, as well as equally strong opposition.  We breakdown the law, explain it's application provisions, and discuss it as best we can. We reference the case of Terri Schiavo, and the nearly five year legal battle between her husband,  her parents, and the state of Florida. The Schiavo case eventually wound up before the Unites States of America Supreme Court.   This case serves as a warning to everyone the benefits of having your life support decisions made ahead of time.  Speak for yourself while you are able. Do you believe there is a right to die?  Make yourself heard! Subscribers get the latest and greatest episodes automatically! Subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and wherever fine podcasts are distributed. We are also available on YouTube for listening at your desktop and working around pesky office firewalls. Please SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE using the links below: Subscribe in Itunes Like our page on Facebook Follow on Twitter We love doing the show for you, we hope you love listening, and we appreciate you sharing with your friends - THANKS!Tweet #AskTheCrew

Are you aware how your actions affect women in certain situations?  Can you define “rape culture”?  Rape culture is a sociological concept used to describe a setting in which rape is pervasive and normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality. In the aftermath of many allegations of sexual assault against Harvey Weinstein, men have been asking, "How can I help?"  Ms. Nicole Stamp has written a Facebook post to help men behave better towards women, and ultimately, fight against rape culture. If rape culture is a problem caused by some men, all men should be aware of how their behaviour can perpetuate bad behaviour towards women.  The full text of Nicole's post is available at https://www.facebook.com/nicole.stamp/posts/10156116595689341- We ask that everyone, male and female, read it with an open mind.  Discuss it with your friends and family. Reflect on your own behaviour. JR and Gino discuss each item in the post above, and we especially encourage our male listeners to examine their behaviour towards women.  Subscribers get the latest and greatest episodes automatically! Subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and wherever fine podcasts are distributed. We are also available on YouTube for listening at your desktop and working around pesky office firewalls. Please SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE using the links below: Subscribe in Itunes Like our page on Facebook Follow on Twitter We love doing the show for you, we hope you love listening, and we appreciate you sharing with your friends - THANKS! Tweet #AskTheCrew

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The Government of Ontario is ready to be your marijuana hook up, holler if you hear me! Ontario is the first province to outline a plan addressing the Federal government’s coming legalization of marijuana. The LCBO model will be employed. Ontario will set up new, dedicated storefronts for marijuana distribution, and run the online distribution for approved government growers. Join Crew Roundtable as we discuss how this affects existing Ontario dispensaries, and compare models for beer and liquor sales in other provinces. All this and more in another fantastic episode of “Crew Roundtable”! Subscribers get the latest and greatest episodes automatically! Subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and wherever fine podcasts are distributed. We are also available on YouTube for listening at your desktop and working around pesky office firewalls. Please SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE using the links below: Subscribe in Itunes Like our page on Facebook Follow on TwitterTweet #AskTheCrew

Protests are a cornerstone of free speech.  Speaking out against perceived wrongdoings by the government, and other authorities, is an essential part of modern western democracy. In 2016, Colin Kaepernick became a national figure after his protest against the oppression of people of color in the United States.  He was a quarterback in the NFL, and protested by not standing while the United States’ national anthem was played before the start of NFL games. Since then he has been demonized, called everything from unpatriotic to a traitor.  He has been accused of being disrespectful to the American flag, to America itself, and American veterans.  He is vilified daily because he chose to exercise his right to free speech.  He has been effectively shut out of playing in the NFL.  Is this right?  Is this the price of protest? Subscribers get the latest and greatest episodes automatically! Subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and wherever fine podcasts are distributed. We are also available on YouTube for listening at your desktop and working around pesky office firewalls. Please SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE using the links below: Subscribe in Itunes Like our page on Facebook Follow on Twitter We love doing the show for you, we hope you love listening, and we appreciate you sharing with your friends - THANKS!Tweet #AskTheCrew

​"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." - Benjamin Franklin No truer words have ever been spoken, yet, while we *LOVE* to talk about taxes and how much we hate them, in today's society we are increasingly leaving the discussion of death behind. ​We discussed the new Ontario sex education ​curriculum back in Episode 11 of the Crew Round Table podcast, and spoke about how people want to shut down the conversation surrounding sex and teenagers because it makes them uncomfortable. Well we seem to have already done that when speaking about death, both ours and of our loved ones. ​JR and Gino come together in today's episode of Crew Round Table ​Bites and examine how death has become relatively rarer that it used to be and how that has made it a taboo subject, how discussing your parents' funeral arrangements can save you stress in your time of grief, and when exactly is the best age to start teaching your children about death? Are we doing children a disservice when we use euphemisms about sending Fido to the farm? Should we teach this to children as part of the curriculum and prepare them for a world where people die? Help ​us reignite the conversation! Subscribe to the Crew Round Table podcast on iTunes and Google Play, and tweet to us @crewroundtable! Make yourself heard!Tweet #AskTheCrew

​Google created headlines when executives fired James Damore after an internal memo criticizing the company's diversity efforts came to light in the media. The article started conversations about diversity in the workplace, and his firing began conversations about freedom of speech in the workplace. In this episode of Crew Round Table Bites JR and Gino dissect the controversy into its two parts: Do James' criticisms of office diversity efforts have merit, and was his firing justified or was it just feeding his original complaint of Google's diversity efforts. As always, we value your voice in the discussion!  Subscribe to the Crew Round Table podcast on iTunes and Google Play so you don't miss an episode, and tweet us @crewroundtable to join in the conversation!Tweet #AskTheCrew

Voting is a key element in the structure of democracy, but it can take many forms depending on how the local government chooses to execute it.  Recently, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that based on their research the Federal Liberals would not be moving forward with their promise of electoral reform. In this episode of Crew Round Table Bites, Gino and JR look at several options that were proposed as options to our current "First Past the Post" system.  We discuss, critique, applaud, and compare alternate voting styles some of which are currently in use in the world today, and some which are borderline theoretical. As always, listen and subscribe to the Crew Round Table podcast on iTunes and Google Play and join the discussion with @crewroundtable on Twitter! Tweet #AskTheCrew

Prof. Jordan Peterson has angered many in and outside U of T with his refusal to use gender-neutral terms.  In doing so he has ignited a debate as to how far do we get to define ourselves.  How much weight do our self-descriptions and do others get to redefine us? At the heart of the debate is the transgender community, fighting for their right to have their self-description acknowledged and respected.  Essentially fighting for their right to exist on their own terms. Opposing them are groups who feel there are limits to how we can define ourselves.  Can a human be gender neutral?  Can a white person define themselves as black?  Can an able bodied person define themselves as special needs?  And is it a hate crime to ignore their definition and substitute your own? Gino and JR debate this topic here on the first episode of Crew Round Table Bites, and discuss what freedom of speech really is, and when does disagreement become harassment and a hate crime. Never miss another show by visiting crewroundtable.com and subscribing - THANKS!Please SUBSCRIBE AND SHARE using the links below:Subscribe in ItunesSubscribe in Google Play MusicSubscribe in Stitcher RadioSubscribe in TuneIn RadioSubscribe in RSSLike our page on Facebook Follow on Twitter Tweet #AskTheCrew