
Braincare
Braincare podcast is a series dedicated to helping you care for your most important organ. You'll learn about how to optimise your brain health and mental well-being through a series of bitesize interviews with the world's leading scientists and experts. Host, Dan Murray-Serter, co-founder of brain care company, Heights, interviews guests ranging from celebrities like Stephen Fry and Jay Shetty, to neuroscientists Dr Tara Swart and Professor Sophie Scott, and brilliant doctors like Rangan Chatterjee and Daniel Amen, and many more. You'll leave each episode feeling inspired, empowered, and armed with tools to help you take care of your brain and reach your heights, whatever they might be. You can learn more about Heights @yourheights and http://www.yourheights.com and Dan @danmurrayserter on social media. You can also receive an exclusive £10 off a quarterly subscription (how long science says it takes to feel the benefits) at Heights with the code 'workingin' ♥️ Your brain impacts every aspect of your life; from focus and performance to energy and sleep. Are you taking care of it? Check for free in just 4 minutes with our brain health assessment: yourheights.com/brainhealth
Latest episodes

May 21, 2021 • 16min
Longevity with James Temperton
James Temperton, Digital Editor of Wired Magazine and author of The Future of Medicine, knows that it's possible to live longer and healthier lives. With the help of medical technologies and therapies, human longevity can increase.Today, Temperton shares medical developments and overall lessons around longevity. We discuss his book, access to quality healthcare for all, studies of people who have lived longer lives, and how science and genetic therapies are helping increase human health spans.We talk about:
Increasing health spans
Immune therapies
Medical technologies
Access to quality healthcare
Biomarkers of longevity
Precision targeted medicines and genetic therapies

May 19, 2021 • 5min
Top 5 books to start learning about Brain Health
In this minisode, Dan shares his top five brain health books to help you on your journey.These books touch on various aspects of mental health including tools for positive thinking, concurring depression, how to make your brain work for you, solving mental health issues through nutrition, and how we interact with ourselves and others.Listen to Dan share why he swears by these books and how they have helped him on his journey.

May 16, 2021 • 13min
Best Mental Health Activities with Nawal Mustafa
Brain health influencer Nawal Mustafa uses her 550K+ Instagram following to share tips, do's and don't's, and all things to do with the brain and science. The full-time PhD student and advocate knows doing activities that help the brain are just as important as therapies and medication.Today, Mustafa shares mental health and brain activities that anyone can start right away. We discuss how to notice if your mental health is declining, moving your body, journaling, and only doing activities you actually enjoy to improve your brain.We talk about:
Why the state of mental health actually matters
Factors that contribute to mental health issues
How to notice your mental health is declining
Mental health activities
Brain activities
Being human and consistency

May 14, 2021 • 13min
Ways to Improve Mental Health with Nawal Mustafa
Brain coach and PhD student Nawal Mustafa advocates for affordable ways to take care of mental health. When not studying clinical neuropsychology, Mustafa influences brain health and science to her 550K+ followers on her Instagram page, @thebraincoach.Today, Mustafa shares ten forms of affordable therapy that anyone can incorporate into their daily routines. We discuss social connections, natural mood boosters, and how to create positive mindsets to handle stress and anxiety.We talk about:
Forms of therapy
Covid-19 mental health effects
Social connections and mental wellness
Sleep and nutrition for brain functioning
Exercise and sunlight exposure for mood boosts
Routine, structure and mindset for managing stress and emotions
Self-compassion and setting realistic goals for handling anxiety

May 12, 2021 • 4min
How I care for my mental health
Nature is the theme for this week's Mental Health Awareness Week, and Dan is encouraging listeners to go outside!In this mini-episode, Dan shares how this week's theme ties into his mental health behaviours and offers tools he uses on a daily basis that help take care of his mental well-being.For those getting started with a brain care routine, Dan emphasizes drinking water and going on daily walks. Reserving JUST 10 minutes in nature and staying hydrated will help your brain health. Supplements, gratitude, and additional tools can follow.

May 9, 2021 • 14min
Ketamine Therapy with Dr. Mike Dow
Dr. Mike Dow is healing severe mental disorders with ketamine. The certified psychedelic ketamine-assisted psychotherapist advocates for the drug that is more effective than standard antidepressants.Today, Dr. Dow shares the history of ketamine and how it has been developed to help the long-term improvements of severe anxiety, major depressive disorder, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts within 24 hours. We discuss how this drug is a true game-changer when it comes to mental and brain health.We talk about:
Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy
The history of ketamine and studies
Standard antidepressants compared to ketamine
Long term improvements of mental health disorders
Patient perspectives and the paradigm shift
The Field Trip experience

May 7, 2021 • 15min
How to Get Rid of Brain Fog with Dr. Mike Dow
Dr. Mike Dow combats brain fog using a whole person-centred, integrated approach. The highly sought after psychotherapist and New York Times best-selling author of The Brain Fog Fix focuses on various areas of life, including diet and spirituality, to help people feel like their best selves.Today, Dr. Dow shares how to spot the symptoms of brain fog and why dealing with all areas of life are important to tackle it. We discuss cognitive impairments, spiritual practices, and how what you eat can affect your mood.We talk about:
The Brain Fog Fix
Psychotherapy and spiritual practices
Cognitive behavioral therapy and thinking patterns
Diets and behavioral disorders
Senior moments
Stress and neurotransmitters

May 2, 2021 • 15min
Anxiety, Trauma and Psychedelics with Dr. Russell Kennedy
Dr. Russell Kennedy has a new way to heal anxiety. The neuroscientist, medical doctor and bestselling author of Anxiety Rx took the path less travelled in the search of relief from trauma and anxiety, and he's here to share that with us today.Today, Dr. Kennedy tells us why he believes trauma begins in the body, and how putting a name, shape and form to it can unlock the healing process. We discuss the therapeutic value of psychedelics, and how to move past judgement and shame.We talk about:
Interoception and exteroception
Finding the source of alarm
Looking for trauma in the body
What are defensive accommodations?
Using psychedelics for therapy
The pursuit of healing and balance

Apr 30, 2021 • 12min
How to Heal Anxiety with Dr. Russell Kennedy
Dr. Russell Kennedy believes anxiety begins in the body. The neuroscientist, medical doctor and bestselling author of Anxiety Rx has a deep understanding of the challenge of overcoming anxiety, because he's been there himself.Today, Dr. Kennedy tells us how he tackled his anxiety once he realised traditional therapies weren't working. We discuss the difference between anxious thoughts and anxiety, and the role that nutrition plays on our nervous system.We talk about:
Mental health in the family
Career-based self doubt
What IS anxiety?
The link being nutrition and anxiety
Diagnosis difficulty
New scientific treatments for PTSD in veterans

Apr 25, 2021 • 16min
Exercise and the Brain with Dr. Kelly McGonigal
Dr. Kelly McGonigal wants to give you an intravenous dose of hope. The pioneering health psychologist, Stanford lecturer and serial best-selling author is back again to share her radical thoughts on how movement affects the brain.Today, Kelly gets us hopped up on endorphins as we discuss the endless positives of exercise. She explains how exercise can make our brains both more flexible and more resilient, why myokines are the most important proteins you've probably never heard of, and how you can use your body to engage with life.We talk about:
Exercise vs. cats?
Mental health benefits of movement
How exercise can make your brain resilient
Can training help you with trauma?
Music, endorphins and music
What are myokines?
Depression and exercise