Curiosity in Focus
75 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 5 years ago - ★★★★ - 3 ratingsCurious about the world? Looking to find some order in the intellectual chaos that surrounds you? Look no further! This is Curiosity in Focus, a bi-weekly series hosted by Daniel Kwan — archaeologist, gamer, vlogger, and teacher. Curiosity in Focus is a record of conversations that he find really f**king cool! From computer hackers to witchcraft, anything and everything is possible!
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Episodes
CiF #019 - Luxury Footwear & the Entrepreneurial Spirit
April 07, 2017 19:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBDaniel sat down with the brilliant minds behind The Milton Shoe Company to discuss the world of luxury footwear, entrepreneurial motivation, and fashion!
CiF #018 - Representation in Hollywood & Beyond
March 31, 2017 04:04 - 1 hour - 108 MBWhile in Vancouver speaking at the 82nd annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Daniel sat down with fellow anthropologist Paulina Przystupa to discuss diversity in academia and pop culture!
From the Archives #3 - Are eSports "Real" Sports?
March 24, 2017 23:45 - 1 hour - 85.5 MBDaniel sat down with esports journalist and Evil Geniuses social media coordinator Matt Demers to discuss the nature of the esports scene, authenticity in gaming, and whether or not esports professionals are real athletes. This was a fascinating episode to record!
CiF #017 - Trouble Brewing
March 18, 2017 06:56 - 1 hour - 68.8 MBThere's trouble brewing! Daniel sat down with anthropologist Thomas Blennerhassett to discuss the role of alcohol in North American history!
From the Archives #2 - Breakout Con 2017
March 13, 2017 02:20 - 50 minutes - 54.1 MBI recently hosted a panel on children's education and tabletop gaming at Breakout Con 2017 with Rachel Kahn and Sean Munro here in Toronto. We had an amazing time, and I managed to even record some of the audio from our panel for an episode of From the Archives! Enjoy!
CiF #016 - Hero Forge
March 10, 2017 05:56 - 57 minutes - 54.4 MBJoshua Bennett, the co-founder of Hero Forge, Skyped in to talk about 3D printing and the tabletop gaming industry. Originally funded by Kickstarter, Hero Forge® is a platform which allows gamers to create detailed characters in full 3D right in their web browser! Using the power of 3D printing, they make that character a reality!
CiF #015 - Do the Academy Awards Matter?
March 06, 2017 03:40 - 1 hour - 83 MBDaniel sat down with film industry professional and educator Angela Moritsugu to discuss all recent (and not so recent) Academy Awards controversies, nominee diversity, and what it's like to work in the movie business!
CiF #014 - Toronto Comics: Yonge at Heart
March 04, 2017 02:07 - 1 hour - 66 MBDaniel sat down with Steven Andrews and Allison O'Toole of the Toronto Comics Anthology to discuss their upcoming graphic novel, Toronto Comics: Yonge at Heart!
From the Archives #1 - Is Dungeons & Dragons Educational?
February 24, 2017 00:29 - 50 minutes - 48.3 MBMy good friend Kiron Mukherjee and I recently hosted a live-chat on the Royal Ontario Museum's Facebook page to discuss my work using tabletop role playing games to teach teenagers social skills, history, and science! I recorded the audio as an "archive" episode of Curiosity in Focus for your listening pleasure!
CiF #013 - Are Zoos a Necessary Evil?
February 17, 2017 05:20 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBDaniel sits down with educator, radio host, and science communicator Julie Tomé to discuss the nature of modern zoos. Are they a necessary evil for education? Or do they give us a false sense of what is "natural"?
CiF #012 - Human-Powered Flight
February 03, 2017 05:10 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBDaniel dives into the world of materials engineering as he discusses the creation of the world's first human-powered helicopter with engineer Aidan Muller! As usual, things take a turn for the random as space elevators, high tech bikes, and Wikipedia all fall under discussion!
Special Announcement: SAME PODCAST, DIFFERENT NAME
January 29, 2017 16:44 - 3 minutes - 4.47 MBBased in Toronto, Curiosity in Focus emerged as a way to capture the conversations Daniel has when learning about and from really interesting people. Short and simply, it's a record of conversations that Daniel finds really freaking cool. He's curious about the world, and is looking to find order in the intellectual chaos surrounding him. Listen bi-weekly as he tackles the unknown – but definitely cool – world we live in. From computer hackers to witchcraft, anything and everything is possi...
CiF #011 - The Death of Snapchat?
January 22, 2017 06:07 - 46 minutes - 51.1 MBGet ready for perhaps the most personally revealing episode of the podcast yet! Kiron Mukherjee is a science communicator, social media master, and one of my closest friends. For the inaugural episode of Season Two of the Really Fucking Cool Podcast, we decided to sit down and chat about how social media has transformed our friendship, our YEAR LONG Snapchat streak, and the stresses of having a social media following while working in countries with questionable internet. Check out our offici...
Special Announcement: IT'S 2017!
January 01, 2017 23:14 - 8 minutes - 9.19 MBHappy New Year! While we at Curiosity in Focus strongly disagree with the notion of waiting until the new year to make a change in your life, we thought it'd be a good idea to post an update regarding the future of the series!
CiF Special #1: Holiday Gaming!
December 21, 2016 04:07 - 45 minutes - 44.6 MBIt's time for the very first RFC holiday special! Daniel sat down with the hosts of the Greatway Games podcast to discuss gaming with family, holiday purchases, and diversity in the board game industry!
CiF #010 - COSPLAY CONFESSIONS
December 18, 2016 04:24 - 1 hour - 49.8 MBCosplay is more than just a hobby, it's a way of life! Today on the RFC Podcast, I'm joined by Vicky, a prominent cosplayer in the North American scene!
CiF #009 - BODY BY CHOSEN
December 08, 2016 19:43 - 1 hour - 62.1 MBBody by Chosen is more than just a gym, it's a lifestyle movement workign to show people that with a strong body and mind, anything can be achieved. We talk about more than just fitness training - but how to lead a fulfilling and healthy goal-oriented lifestyle!
CiF #008 - IS INDIE DEAD?
December 04, 2016 16:11 - 1 hour - 67.2 MBAre indie comics dead? I went to the Comic Book Embassy in Toronto to discuss the nature of the indie label with Rachel Kahn, Megan Kearney, and Megan Carter!
CiF #007 - ANGKOR WAT, HINDU GODS, AND HOMESICKNESS
November 27, 2016 05:00 - 52 minutes - 56 MBAndrew Harris is a PhD Candidate in the University of Toronto's Department of Anthropology specializing in the ancient temple complexes of ancient Cambodia. For this episode, we talk about mythology, Cambodian temples, archaeology, the antiquities industry, and working in Asia! I’m Daniel Kwan, and you’re about to learn something really fucking cool. Twitter @danielhkwan & @jamiemkwan Instagram @danielhkwan & @jamiemkwan danielhkwan.com & jamiemkwan.com Music: “Blind Man See” by Soulchef F...
CiF #006 - DIVERSITY IN THE COMIC BOOK INDUSTRY & CROWDFUNDING
November 20, 2016 05:00 - 55 minutes - 59.8 MBRachel Kahn is an independent comic book creator and freelance artist working in the gaming industry. For this episode, we talk about women and diversity in the comic book industry, finding success on crowdfunding platforms lie Kickstarter and Patreon, and how to make your own comic books! I’m Daniel Kwan, and you’re about to learn something really fucking cool. Twitter @danielhkwan & @jamiemkwan Instagram @danielhkwan & @jamiemkwan danielhkwan.com & jamiemkwan.com Music: “Blind Man See” b...
CiF #005 - SHOULD YOU BE AFRAID OF THE INTERNET?
November 14, 2016 00:35 - 37 minutes - 53.6 MBWe decided to discuss what it really means to have "privacy" in the digital age. Is it possible? Have we forfeited our privacy at the price of internet access? In this episode, we discuss Mr. Robot, computer hackers, internet privacy, and how you can hang onto your anonymity online! I'm Daniel Kwan, and you're about to learn about something really fucking cool. Twitter @danielhkwan & @jamiemkwan Instagram @danielhkwan & @jamiemkwan danielhkwan.com & jamiemkwan.com Music: "Procrastination" by ...
CiF #004 - ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE DIGITAL AGE
November 13, 2016 07:43 - 39 minutesWhat happens when technology meets the social sciences? Today on a technologically advanced episode of the Really Fucking Cool Podcast, I'm joined by fellow archaeologist James Kilpatrick to discuss the direction of archaeology in the digital age, research abroad, and what it really means to dig up the past. I'm Daniel Kwan, and you're about to learn about something really fucking cool. Twitter @danielhkwan & @jamiemkwan Instagram @danielhkwan & @jamiemkwan danielhkwan.com & jamiemkwan.com ...
CiF #003 - EXPLORING PLANET MADAGASCAR
November 06, 2016 04:01 - 42 minutes - 59.4 MBWelcome to an adventure-filled episode of the Really Fucking Cool podcast! Today's topic? Madagascar - an incredible world on a small island. In this episode, we will discuss what it takes to start your own non-profit, lemur biodiversity, and the spirit of exploration. When most think of great living explorers, they think of people like Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Ed Stafford. I think of Travis Steffans. Travis is an expert on Madagascar and its primate biodiversity. He’s conducted research in B...
CiF #002 - WITCHES, BLACK MAGIC, AND THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
November 05, 2016 05:08 - 38 minutes - 54.6 MBHappy Halloween! For this magical episode of the Really Fucking Cool podcast, we talk about witches, magic, and the fear of the unknown. With the help of Alex Bauer, a PhD Candidate in the Medieval Studies we dissect popular media depictions of witchcraft and talk about the history of magic!
CiF #001 - 911 ROULETTE?
November 05, 2016 05:02 - 46 minutes - 73.3 MBCTV W5's Kevin Newman recently reported that calling 911 might not get us the best prehospital medical care we need in a moment of crisis. But is that really true? For the first episode of the Really Fucking Cool Podcast, I sat down with my good friend Lukas, a Paramedic based out of Ontario, Canada, for a frank discussion about prehospital medicine.