4 chapters across the catalog
During his apology, Prime Minister Trudeau referenced the "fruit machine," a failed 1950s technology intended to detect homosexual attraction through pupil dilation and other physiological responses. The hosts also explore the term "two-spirit," an indigenous Canadian identity for individuals possessing both masculine and feminine spirits. They mock the historical absurdity of the government's attempts to scientifically identify sexual orientation.
A listener and Scientologist clarifies the difference between the Scientology E-meter and the Canadian "Fruit Machine." While both involve galvanic skin response, the Fruit Machine was a Cold War-era device used by the Canadian government to identify homosexuals through pupillary response tests. The E-meter, designed by Volney Matheson for L. Ron Hubbard, remains a central tool for "auditing" within the Church of Scientology.
The hosts officially open the show, thanking the "Troll Room" and artist Illuminadia for the episode's artwork. The art, titled "Fruit Machine," is described as looking like an archaeological discovery on animal hide. This leads into a teaser for a segment regarding the history of the "fruit machine" device.
The hosts explore the history of the "fruit machine," a device used by the Canadian government in the 1950s and 60s to identify homosexuals in the civil service. The manufacturer of the device, Matheson, later produced the E-meters used by the Church of Scientology. The discussion includes anecdotes about L. Ron Hubbard's motivations for starting the religion, including a desire to avoid taxes.
