This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg

Whether it's our shopping habits, Google searches, or Facebook friends, we are all aware that our personal information is being collected and often sold online. But what about our thoughts, what's going on in our minds? With all the advances in consumer Neurotechnology and AI, stealing data from our brains is no longer science fiction and at least for now, it can collected and used without our consent. Can anything be done to stop this intrusion into our most personal information? Dr. Sean Pauzauski, Medical Director at the Neurorights Foundation, discusses how companies collect our brain data, and whether or not your mind has any right to privacy. Plus - The art of "Mentalists" who make you believe they can read your mind! 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. Gary Wenk, a neuroscientist and author of 'Your Brain on Exercise', explores the fascinating connection between exercise and brain health. He explains that our brains motivate us to move due to survival instincts, revealing how movement affects aging and inflammation. Wenk discusses the runner's high and warns against intense exercise's potential harm. He emphasizes the social aspects of exercise, debunks myths about fitness and depression, and advocates for moderation in activity for optimal brain function.

We all know that exercise is good for our bodies, but do our brains benefit as well? In our next episode Dr. Gary Wenk of the Ohio State University reveals exactly how our muscles communicate with our brains when we work out, and why exercise is so important to our mental health. Plus – how our brain chemistry explains why there's a Dunkin Donuts on every corner and the mental and physical price we pay for too much exercise. 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

Until the death of actor Matthew Perry many people had never even heard of Ketamine. As a recreational drug, known as "Special K", it can be extremely addictive and dangerous. But, when used under supervision, this powerful drug can help people with depression and various other mental health issues. Dr. John Krystal, a leading expert on the neurobiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders, offers insights into why and how a drug once used as a horse tranquilizer and anesthetic has become a lifeline for those suffering from clinical depression. 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