How do colonial histories shape the way we understand the world today? Can we ever truly escape the frameworks that have been imposed upon us by history, or is unlearning and relearning the key to breaking free?

Today’s guest is Dr. Marcel Parent, a lecturer at Concordia University’s Department of Religions and Cultures, where he has been teaching for over 20 years. Specializing in postcolonial theory, decolonization, and epistemology, Marcel’s work focuses on how knowledge production has been shaped by colonial histories and how we might rethink the structures of education and power. His research critically examines the intersection of religion, philosophy, and coloniality, and his classes challenge students to rethink the way they engage with history, culture, and ideology.

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of decolonization, examining how universities, language, and even the disciplines we study are shaped by colonial legacies. Marcel provides deep insight into how the Western world has historically defined itself in opposition to the "non-Western Other" and how these narratives continue to shape global structures today. We explore the ideological underpinnings of education, the role of power in knowledge production, and why solidarity is crucial for systemic change. Marcel challenges us to rethink the way we define rationality, modernity, and even progress, urging us to question the hidden biases embedded within our own perspectives. If you've ever wondered what it truly means to deconstruct the structures of thought we've inherited, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.