The Giants Shoulder

I've condensed a full year of Giant conversations on topics of drug science and psychedelics into just 59 minutes. From life-saving medical cannabis to MDMA therapy, the serotonin myth, DMT entities, and the future of psychedelic mental health care, this episode brings together the most shocking, eye-opening and culturally important insights from leading experts — all in one place.Expect to learn from David Nutt on why medical cannabis laws are still failing sick children, from Dr Joanna Moncrief on how the serotonin imbalance theory of depression collapsed under scientific scrutiny and why antidepressants may work for reasons entirely different from what we’ve been told, from David Nutt on how MDMA helps people safely revisit trauma, the real neurobiology of psychedelic experiences and from Adam Saffron on what DMT is doing in the brain, why some users encounter “entities,” how misinformed drug policy has distorted science for decades, and much more…Timestamps: 00:42 David Nutt: "They're Lying To You About Cannabis"09:42 Christof Koch: "The Psychedelic Trip That Convinced Me Consciousness is Fundamental" 23:17 Joanna Moncrief: "Debunking the Serotonin Hypothesis of Depression"37:11 David Nutt: "The Insane MDMA Classification Story" 49:49 Adam Saffron: Why Do People See Mechanical Elves on DMT?...Episode Links: 1) Meet the Neuroscientist Fired For Exposing the Truth! Dr David Nutt - https://youtu.be/BLk6a5Vb2O02) The Psychedelic Trip that Convinced Christof Koch Consciousness is Fundamental - https://youtu.be/kJlV-b2bvaE3) Meet the Psychiatrist Debunking The Chemical Imbalance Myth That Fooled Millions! - https://youtu.be/lJq400heTaE4) Neuroscientist Ranks Every Drug By How Hard They Are to Quit! Tier List - https://youtu.be/G-OZ_UBGvvo5) Meet the Neuroscientist Unifying Consciousness, Free Energy & Psychedelics! - https://youtu.be/wlFt7jcaZC0...❤️ Subscribe to our main channel - https://www.youtube.com/@thegiantsshoulder?sub_confirmation=1💚 Follow on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5m3Gta5MtIYdk59pb2GJ7M?si=Ka2rAQv7TyqiC9wvGwERpA💜 Follow on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-giants-shoulder/id1752486249Download my FREE EBook 26 Neuroscience Books for 2026 HERE: https://thegiantsshoulder.com/

Dr. Johannes Kleiner, a mathematician and physicist pioneering mathematical consciousness science, explores the intersection of math and subjective experience. He discusses how mathematical structures can reveal the geometry of consciousness, the role of meditation in understanding minimal experiences, and the significance of color spaces. Kleiner also critiques current AI systems for their lack of consciousness, outlines the implications of Integrated Information Theory, and emphasizes the potential for new computational models to explore consciousness in innovative ways.

Anil Seth, a neuroscientist renowned for his work on perception, dives into how our brains rely on predictions to shape reality. Michael Levin shares his radical views on cognition in simple systems and the potential for synthetic life to possess awareness. Peter Godfrey-Smith explores the evolution of agency and why nervous systems are critical for subjective experience. Nick Lane connects metabolism and bioelectricity to feelings, even suggesting bacteria might experience basic emotions. Mark Solms emphasizes that raw feelings form the heart of consciousness, driven by brainstem systems.

Dr. Adam Frank is a theoretical astrophysicist, NPR science commentator, and professor at the University of Rochester whose work spans the cosmos—from dying stars to the deep nature of consciousness.In this episode, we explore why life—not black holes—is the most mind-blowing problem in physics, how bacteria challenge our view of machines, and why the science of the future must take subjective experience seriously. We break down why LLMs aren’t even in the right stadium when it comes to sentience, how quantum mechanics reveals the blind spots of reductionism, and what it would take to detect intelligent life on distant worlds. Plus, a journey through Zen meditation, alien technosignatures, and the real problem with Skynet.Expect to learn why science needs a reboot, why your brain isn’t just code, and how a planet’s lights might give away its civilization.Timestamps: 02:30 The Emergence of Life Beyond Reductionism 05:33 The Journey from Physics to Consciousness 08:28 Interrogating Inner Experience 11:25 The Role of Subjectivity in Science 14:25 AI and the Misconceptions of Consciousness 17:23 Quantum Mechanics and the Measurement Problem 23:18 Life as an Emergent Phenomenon 29:26 Rethinking Cognition and Experience 32:30 The Challenge of Subjective Experience in Science 36:26 Agency and the Physics of Life 38:57 Astrobiology and the Search for Life 45:25 Technosignatures and the Search for Intelligent Life 51:59 Mars Discoveries and the Quest for Extraterrestrial Life...Download my FREE EBook 26 Neuroscience Books for 2026 HERE: https://thegiantsshoulder.com/Get Adam Franks Books: The Blind Spot: Why Science Cannot Ignore Human Experience: https://amzn.to/4p56MDUThe Little Book of Aliens: https://amzn.to/3KbkBBJ

Dr. Kevin Mitchell is a neurogeneticist at Trinity College Dublin and author of Innate and Free Agents, two very influential books on how brain wiring shapes who we become.Autism is one of the most heritable conditions in psychiatry — yet for years, headlines have claimed gut bacteria, probiotics, and mouse models could explain or even treat it. Kevin’s new paper tears that story open, revealing how tiny samples, noisy data, and weak statistics created an illusion of evidence that never truly existed.Expect to learn why early microbiome studies were almost guaranteed to produce false positives, how mouse “models of autism” rely on behaviours that barely map onto human symptoms, why effect sizes of ~1.1 don’t mean what people think, what proper replication actually looks like, why placebo-controlled trials keep finding nothing, how hype and incentives distort entire fields, and how bad science creates real-world harm for autistic people and their families.Timestamps: 03:30 Introduction and Gratitude04:30 The Link Between Gut Microbiome and Autism07:08 The Tylenol Controversy and Misinterpretation of Data11:24 The Complexity of Autism and Its Causes16:12 Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis25:34 Evidence Line 1: Human Observational Data 42:42 Understanding Causation in Microbiome Research45:16 The Role of Effect Size in Autism Studies48:04 Confounding Factors in Scientific Research54:30 Evidence Line 2: Mouse Models of Autism59:20 The Limitations of Germ-Free Mouse Studies01:05:45 Statistical Flaws in Microbiome Research01:13:14 Skepticism in Behavioural Studies and Drug Testing01:17:15 Understanding Autism's Heterogeneity01:19:14 The Challenges of Diagnosing Autism01:24:35 Evidence Line 3: Human Trials 01:29:28 The Importance of Placebo-Controlled Trials01:34:42 The Role of Citations in Scientific Literature01:40:15 The Ethics of Marketing Probiotics for Autism01:45:17 Current Research and Future Directions...

Lee Cronin, the visionary Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow, delves into the intersection of chemistry and the quest for alien life. He discusses his groundbreaking 'Chemputer' aimed at programmable matter, revolutionizing drug discovery. Hear insights on Assembly Theory, which quantifies complexity in biology. Lee also speculates on extraterrestrial life, suggesting it may be vastly different from Earth's. The conversation touches on digitizing chemical processes and the ethics of democratizing innovation in science, making it a thought-provoking listen!

Earl K. Miller, a leading MIT neuroscientist, revolutionizes our understanding of the brain with insights into the prefrontal cortex's role in creating mental models. He discusses how brain oscillations – alpha, beta, and gamma rhythms – organize neural networks, contributing to consciousness and decision-making. Miller explains the dynamic nature of neurons, the concept of mixed selectivity, and how these elements are crucial for flexible thinking. He also addresses the distinctions between digital AI and human cognition, emphasizing the brain's analog-like processing.

Dr. Stephen Grossberg, a pioneer in computational neuroscience and the mind behind Adaptive Resonance Theory, dives into the incredible world of brain science. He shares how he derived the first neural network equations at just 17 and discusses the plagiarism scandal that overshadowed his groundbreaking work. The conversation explores the flaws in modern AI like ChatGPT, the neuroscience of consciousness, and how his theories could reshape AI’s future. Grossberg also reveals his insights on learning without forgetting and the intricate ties between emotion and attention.

Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley, a pioneering neuroscientist and psychedelics researcher focused on trauma and women's health, shares her groundbreaking insights. She discusses the contrasting risks of cannabis and alcohol, dispels myths about cannabis and psychosis, and highlights the therapeutic potential of MDMA for PTSD. Grace reveals why the FDA rejected MDMA trials and explores how psychedelics can treat addiction by rewiring the brain. She emphasizes the importance of cultural contexts and community in healing, and anticipates exciting future developments in psychedelic research.

Dr. Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist, author, and science communicator whose work is redefining what we know about women’s brains — from hormones and birth control to motherhood and mental health. She’s the author of The Women’s Brain Book, Baby Brain, and Brain Health for Dummies, and host of ABC’s Catalyst, where she brings neuroscience to life on screen.Check Out Sarahs Books The Women's Brain Book: The neuroscience of health, hormones and happiness: https://amzn.to/3LiixYNBaby Brain: The surprising neuroscience of how pregnancy and motherhood sculpt our brains and change our minds: https://amzn.to/47SIG9fBrain Health For Dummies: https://amzn.to/47C70uCSarah has spent her career debunking the myths that hormones “run the show,” revealing instead how the female brain is adaptable, resilient, and constantly changing through puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.Expect to learn how the pill reshapes the brain and influences attraction, why mood changes during the menstrual cycle are far more complex than we think, how pregnancy and motherhood physically rewire neural circuits for empathy and care, why “baby brain” might actually be a superpower, how men’s hormones change after fatherhood, how AI is helping scientists uncover hidden “pregnancy signatures” in the brain, and what neuroscience gets wrong — and right — about women.Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction – What Men Don’t Know About Women’s Brains03:14 Myths About Hormones and Emotion08:29 How Scientists Actually Measure Emotion12:26 The Constructed Nature of Feelings17:05 PMS, Expectation, and the Power of Belief20:18 How the Pill Changes the Brain26:20 The Pill, Mood, and Depression Risk33:35 Attraction, Personality, and the Hormone Myth39:04 Are We Rewiring Evolution Through the Pill?44:02 Maternal Instinct and the Neuroscience of Motherhood52:16 How Pregnancy Rewires the Brain57:26 AI, Plasticity, and the “Pregnancy Signature”01:03:26 What Happens to the Father’s Brain01:08:03 The Future of Women’s Brain Health...Neuroscience Products I Swear By (Supports the Channel)Sentia Spirits: https://sentiaspirits.com/mcgloughlin4209355084Manta Sleep Mask: Get the Comfiest Sleep Mask on the Planet (Use Code GIANTSMANTA10 https://bit.ly/4ilzfBL )Brain.FM: Music Entrainment for Focused Deep Work (30 Day Free Trial: https://www.brain.fm/giantsshoulder)Consensus.AI: https://get.consensus.app/we00d2cmjpqeFollow My Neuroscience Podcast - The Giants Shoulder Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5m3Gta5MtIYdk59pb2GJ7M?si=b33232eae67b4126Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/brief-enquiry-to-the-brain/id1752486249