192: Challenging Preconceptions In Our Lives with Zale Mednick

192: Challenging Preconceptions In Our Lives with Zale Mednick

Author: Simona Costantini August 8, 2023 Duration: 34:44

Have often do you stop to question if your actions in life are based on what you truly desire for your life, or if you are subscribing to what you believe you should be doing?

In this episode, my guest Zale Mednick and I discuss our preconceptions of life and how our individual backgrounds may affect how we interpret them and incorporate them into our lives, without even realizing it.

Zale Mednick is a practicing ophthalmologist in Toronto.  He also runs the award-winning podcast, Preconceived, which aims to challenge preconceptions on an array of topics related to society and culture.  

His recent book, 'Preconceived - Challenging the preconceptions in our lives', is an anthology of fifty short essays written by previous guests on the podcast.  

We talk about why Zale has chosen to devote so much of his life to sharing these stories from different guests of all walks of life and perspectives, and what he hopes we all can gain by listening.

We’ll touch on:

  • [1:27] What does happiness mean to Zale?

  • [4:34] Digging into Zale’s book

  • [8:10] How much do you think people really subscribe to the preconceived ideas that we feel are out there for everyday life?

  • [10:54] A few thoughts on figuring out if something is true to us or if it is something we've just subscribed to our whole life.

  • [14:28] The catalyst for him to explore this topic for his book and podcast.

  • [15:41] Preconceptions Zale might have had at the start of his podcast.

  • [20:52] How our backgrounds shape us.

  • [22:43] The role of empathy in examining preconceptions.

  • [26:25] Why it's important to talk about these potentially taboo topics.

  • [28:53] What is the goal of his podcast and book?

  • [31:38] How can someone create a little more happiness each day starting today


 

Resources:


 

Connect with Simona


We all ask those big questions about contentment and purpose at some point. Happiness Happens doesn’t treat those queries as abstract philosophy, but as a practical, weekly conversation hosted by Simona Costantini. Rather than offering a rigid formula, this podcast explores the many facets of a meaningful life through dialogues with thoughtful guests from various fields. You’ll hear from psychologists, artists, thinkers, and everyday people who have found unique pathways to fulfillment. The discussions are grounded in real experience, focusing on actionable insights that go beyond simple positive thinking. Each episode feels like a deep dive into a different corner of the human experience, whether it’s examining the role of community, the pursuit of creative passion, or the quiet practice of self-acceptance. Simona guides these conversations with a genuine curiosity, making complex ideas about well-being feel accessible and personal. The result is a resource that feels both expansive and intimately useful. Tuning into this podcast is less about searching for a single secret and more about gathering a toolkit-a collection of perspectives and practices that help you define what happiness actually means in your own life. It’s for anyone who believes that a more contented life is built from a series of conscious choices and deeper understandings, one honest conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Happiness Happens
Podcast Episodes
165: How to find genuine joy in unexpected places with Annik Welsh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:03
Have you ever had those moments of pure joy and bliss that are completely unexpected? Finding joy, happiness and purpose in your life doesn’t have to be this big, emotional thing. It can be as simple as leaning into more…
164: What to do when you feel uninspired with Simona Costantini [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:18
What can you do when you’re feeling uninspired? This is a theme and feeling a lot of people have experienced over the last few years, myself included. It’s not that we’re being ungrateful for what we have and all we’ve a…
163: How to balance masculine and feminine energy with Petia Kolibova [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:18
How do we balance our masculine and feminine energy? There are so many differing opinions when it comes to this, which is why I want to highlight it in this episode. I know for myself, I tend to steer a little bit more i…
162: Honoring the calling of your soul with Keira Poulsen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:29
Have you ever felt the calling of your soul? The small voice from within that nudges you to tell you there is more out there for you? We’re diving into this idea today, and ways to honor the whispers your soul sends you…
160: How to make any job your dream job with Carson Tate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
Let’s face it, not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur, have their own business, or have a side job. In a world where it feels like the only path to happiness is by working for yourself, it just might not be part of you…
159: Can money really buy happiness? with Madison Dalmaso [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:08
Can money really buy happiness? We live in a society where it’s always about “more, more, more” and striving to get the next best thing. But what happens when you get all of the things you’ve ever wanted or could have as…