The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller & Adam Scott The Science of Severance (with Karen Aldridge, Dr. Kim Hellemans, and Mike Lang)
Sep 4, 2025
This week features Dr. Kim Hellemans, a neuroscience professor at Carleton University, and Mike Lang, a military veteran and Severance superfan. They dive deep into the fascinating world of memory formation and the real-life implications of severance. Dr. Hellemans explains how trauma can shape identity and memory, while Lang shares how Severance resonates with his experiences of PTSD. The conversation uncovers the emotional struggles behind severance and addiction, highlighting the importance of confronting trauma for personal healing.
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Actor's Prep For Technical Scenes
- Karen Aldridge describes shifting from theater to TV and playing the unpredictable Dr. Asal Raghabi.
- She practiced technical actions and worked with the show's medical consultant, Dr. VJ, to make procedures feel real.
Real Neurosurgery Elements In Severance
- Dr. Kim Hellemans says Severance hits realistic neurosurgical details, like the halo and awake patients.
- She identifies the implant region as plausibly near memory-related structures like the hippocampus.
Hippocampus And Personal Identity
- The hippocampus is central to forming long-term memories and identity.
- Disrupting it can erase large swaths of autobiographical memory, affecting who a person is.
