This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg

Following the 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry, more people have become aware of Ketamine, also known as “Special K”, a popular but very dangerous party drug. But few people know about the other side of the story, that Ketamine, which, when used properly, is one of the most effective tools in treating severe depression and PTSD. In our next episode Dr. John Krystal, a pioneer in the uses of Ketamine for psychiatric disorders, will discuss both its transformative and sometimes life-saving effects, as well as the many risks associated with its misuse. Is it really the miracle drug that it seems to be?   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org

At age 70, after a long career as a neurosurgeon and best-selling author, the tables were turned on Dr. Henry Marsh. Diagnosed with cancer, and facing his own mortality, Marsh offers a humble and honest look at what it was like when a prominent doctor becomes a patient; just as scared and dependent as anyone of us would be dealing with a terrible diagnosis, with regrets, fears, and feelings of helplessness.   In his latest book chronicling his experience, Marsh shares some valuable lessons that he learned from both sides of the Doctor/Patient relationship.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

Have you ever felt the type of grief where it seemed like you would never recover, like your heart was actually broken? Whether it’s a member of your family, a friend or a beloved pet, all of us will experience the loss of a loved one, and the deep and difficult emotions that follow.    One of the reasons grief can be so difficult is actually more about our brains than our hearts.  Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor has been studying grief for decades, and she has learned its profound effects on our brains and our bodies. She will reveal some surprising insights about why our minds struggle to understand and process when someone is gone. She’ll also provide some very practical ways to help us cope with one of the most difficult experiences of our lives. Plus, how some animals grieve on land and sea. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

When was the last time you actually took time to play, to  simply have fun?   For most adults, the answer is usually not often enough. The benefits of play for adults, like children, has been shown to have many benefits to both physical and mental health. In fact, it can play a vital role in whether someone is happy or depressed, fulfilled or empty.  In this podcast we will hear from a Play Expert whose career actually began by studying a mass murderer.   He will help you discover what type of play personality you have as well as how important and easy it is to add play to your life.  To hear special bonus content from this episode, please go to our website:  https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/09/bonus-segment-play-is-not-just-kids-stuff/    For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

Women obviously go through many changes to their bodies and their minds when they become mothers.  But what about fathers?  Although moms have been studied extensively, few people have paid any attention to what happens to men when they become dads.   Do they go through any physical changes at all?  Do they also experience hormone surges and shrinking brains like women do (yes mom and dads, your brains got smaller). Do they also suffer from depression and anxiety?   Dr. Darby Saxbe has dedicated her career to studying fathers, and in her new book, Dad Brain, the New Science of Fatherhood, she reveals things about fathers that are as surprising as they are dramatic, discoveries which could have enormous impact on how society views dear old dads, and their role in raising children. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

Dr. Fred Luskin, director of the Stanford Forgiveness Projects, explains how releasing resentment can transform both mind and body. Drawing on decades of research and work with people in war-torn regions around the world, Luskin explains why forgiveness is a powerful act of healing for the forgiver. He shares compelling stories and practical steps to help keep past hurts from stealing your peace today. Plus, the Zulu concept of Ubuntu and how South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission used Ubuntu to help guide a nation’s journey towards healing. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

What are your dreams really telling you? Renowned sleep researcher Dr. Robert Stickgold joins Dr. Stieg to unravel the mysteries of dreaming. From the bizarre to the brilliant, dreams are a window into how the brain processes memory, emotion, and problem-solving. Learn why your brain needs to dream, how dreams shape your waking life, and what science says about interpreting them. Whether you're a vivid dreamer or rarely remember a thing, this episode will change the way you think about what your brain is doing when you go to sleep at night.     For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

What happens when your hands refuse to listen to your brain? For Alexandra Lebenthal, essential tremor was more than a neurological disorder, it was a lifelong challenge that affected everything from drinking water in meetings to giving public speeches. In this deeply personal episode, Alexandra shares her journey from a childhood marked by frustration and embarrassment to becoming one of the first patients in the U.S. to undergo focused ultrasound, a groundbreaking, non-invasive treatment that changed her life.   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org    

Everyone loves a good story.  And so do our brains.  Whether its books, movies, fairy tales, or even office gossip, stories are much more than just entertainment.  According to Dr. Fritz Breithaupt, narratives in our lives are way more powerful than we realize. We don’t just enjoy stories, we actually need them.  But why are they so important?  Does the brain gain anything from a good plot on your favorite Netflix series, or the well-developed characters in an Oscar winning film?   There is actually something much more important in a good story, a reward for our brains that has actually been essential to human survival. Plus, tales of Dungeons & Dragons as therapy! For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

We all do it - put things off, tell ourselves we'll start tomorrow, and somehow still miss the deadline. But chronic procrastination isn’t just a bad habit; it’s self-sabotaging behavior that can derail our goals, relationships, and even our health. Psychologist Dr. Joseph Ferrari, a leading expert on procrastination, breaks down the emotional roots of procrastination, debunks the myth that we “work best under pressure,” and offers science-backed strategies for change. Plus - meet one of history’s most legendary procrastinators: Leonardo da Vinci. Find out how his epic delays shaped the Mona Lisa, and why some believe he never truly finished it.   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org