Mind & Matter

Send us a textAbout the guest: Robert Barton, PhD is an evolutionary anthropologist and Professor at Durham University. He studies the evolution of the brain and behavior across species, including humans.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Barton discuss: mammalian brain evolution; how brain and body size scale across mammals; how metabolism relates to brain size and function; the evolution of the neocortex & cerebellum in primates & humans; the concept of “intelligence” and whether it relates to brain size; and more.Related episodes:Evolution of Complex Behavior, Perception, Cognition, Consciousness & the Brain | Paul Cisek | #107Organisms, Cities, Companies & the Science of Scale | Geoffrey West | #12*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textAbout the guest: Melissa Herman, PhD is a neuroscientist and associate professor at the University of North Carolina. Her lab studies the effects of drugs on the brain and behavior in rodents.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Herman discuss: sex differences in the brain between males and females; behavioral variability among individuals; the effects of psychedelics like psilocybin on the amygdala and hypothalamus; effects of alcohol and vaporized nicotine; and more. Related episode:Sex Differences in the Brain, Endocannabinoid Biology, Purpose of Juvenile Play Behavior, Cannabis & Pregnancy | Margaret McCarthy | #81*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Giulia Santoni, a neuroscientist with a PhD from EPFL, dives into the captivating world of epigenetics and memory. She discusses how gene regulation and chromatin plasticity influence memory formation. The conversation explores the intricate processes of synapse formation, highlighting how calcium influx and transcription factors strengthen memories. Santoni also reveals the significance of energy supply in memory encoding and the shift toward using human brain organoids in research, emphasizing ethical considerations and the future of neuroscience.

Luis de Lecea, a neurobiologist at Stanford, dives into the intriguing science of sleep. He explores how sleep architecture operates across species, detailing the vital roles of REM and non-REM phases. Stress and cortisol’s impact on sleep patterns are discussed, revealing the physiological consequences of disruptions. De Lecea also shares insights on innovative ultrasound technology for enhancing sleep quality and the significance of orexin neurons in sleep disorders like narcolepsy. A fascinating discussion on sleep's role in DNA repair wraps up this deep dive into slumber science.

Send us a textAbout the guest: Iain Oswald, PhD is an organic chemist and Director of Research & Development at Abstrax Tech.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Oswald discuss: plant chemistry; marijuana strains and their aroma; the chemical basis of cannabis aroma; terpenes vs. non-terpene volatile organic compounds; and more.Related episodes:Marijuana, Plant Chemistry, Terpenes, Volatile Sulfur Compounds, Cannabis Industry, What Pungent Weed Smells Like & Why | Iain Oswald | #114Endocannabinoids, Stress, Exercise, Cortisol, Anxiety, Cannabis & Effects of Marijuana on Brain Development | Matthew Hill | #123*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Rudyard Lynch, a history and anthropology scholar and YouTube host, dives deep into the evolution of agriculture and its impact on human society. He discusses how dietary practices shape social behavior, linking meat consumption to individualism and rice to collectivism. The conversation also explores the rise and fall of civilizations, emphasizing the connection between population density and social stability. Lynch touches on the cognitive revolution and its monumental effects on culture, creativity, and even future genetic enhancements.

Send us a textAbout the guest: Michael Lynch, PhD is an evolutionary biologist at Arizona State University who studies the origins of genomic and cellular complexity.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Lynch discuss: natural selection vs. genetic drift; genetic mutations & the speed of evolution; origin of life; the evolution of cellular complexity; epigenetics & the inheritance of acquired characteristics; and more.Related episodes:Evolution & Animal Development: How Nature Builds & Changes Bodies | Sean B. Carroll | #138Evolution, Language, Domestication, Symbolic Cognition, AI & Large Language Models | Terrence Deacon | #141*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Richard Bazinet, a neurochemist and nutritional scientist at the University of Toronto, dives into the fascinating world of brain lipid metabolism. He explores how dietary fats, especially omega-3s, impact cognitive health and function. The discussion unveils the intricate mechanics of fatty acid transport and their crucial role in neural health. Bazinet also tackles the complexities of fatty acid metabolism, emphasizing how our dietary choices can influence conditions such as fatty liver disease and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's.

Send us a textAbout the guest: Tucker Goodrich is an independent researcher and self-described “seed oil zealot” who credits many of his own health improvements with minimizing his consumption of industrial seed oils. He runs a Substack page, and provides interesting commentary about scientific research on seed oils, metabolic health, and related topics.Episode summary: Nick and Tucker discuss: what seed oils are and their history; differences between omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); seed oils, sunburn, and oxidative stress; Seventh Day Adventism and the relationship between religion, ideology, and diet; paleobiology of human diet; and more.*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Melissa Sharpe, a neuroscientist at the University of Sydney, dives into the fascinating world of dopamine and its multifaceted role in motivation beyond pleasure. She discusses the lateral hypothalamus as a key player in feeding behavior and learning associations. The conversation explores how impulsive decisions in addiction can affect long-term goals, revealing the complex interactions between brain circuits. Additionally, Sharpe shares insights from her academic journey across continents and the cultural differences in work-life balance between Australia and the U.S.