The Giants Shoulder

Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman is a clinical professor of psychiatry and author of *The Molecule of More*, one of the most influential neuroscience books of the last decade.Dopamine drives our ambition, creativity, addictions, obsessions, and even our experience of love — but it’s not the pleasure molecule you think it is. It’s the molecule of *desire*. And understanding how it works could change your life.Expect to learn why wanting and liking are completely different systems in the brain, how dopamine tricks us into chasing goals that never satisfy, the difference between desire and control dopamine circuits, how these circuits shape addiction, success, relationships and motivation, why social media and porn hijack our brains, how to rewire your dopamine system for self-control and meaning, why falling in love doesn’t last — and what real long-term love looks like, how to cultivate contentment, and much more…...00:00 Why Dopamine Is the Most Misunderstood Molecule in Neuroscience02:00 How One Neurotransmitter Controls Love, Ambition, Creativity & Addiction06:04 The Secret Role of Dopamine in Mental Time Travel08:46 Crows, Pebbles, and the Origins of Imagination11:26 The Two Dopamine Circuits Controlling Your Life13:39 The Dopamine Trap: Wanting vs Liking16:52 Why Mick Jagger Slept With 4,000 Women (and Wasn’t Happy)19:43 Buzz Aldrin and the Dopamine Crash After the Moon22:11 Elon Musk’s Mind: Obsession, Achievement, and the Dopamine Storm25:05 Why Love Feels So Good (and Why It Fades)27:06 The Projection Illusion: You Don’t Fall in Love With People30:00 The Real Reason You Want the Donut (and Hate Yourself After)33:04 The War Between Impulse and Identity in the Brain36:13 Why People Self-Sabotage: The Conflict Inside the Desire Circuit39:07 How to Rewire Your Brain with Meaning, Not Just Happiness41:30 Dopamine Detoxing: Science or Scam?44:45 How Long It *Really* Takes to Break Dopamine Addictions47:39 What Most People Get Totally Wrong About Dopamine49:46 Two Kinds of Pleasure: Why You're Missing One of Them52:18 Is It Possible to Work Hard *and* Be Present?55:05 The Hard Truth: Growth Isn’t Easy and Life Hacks Don’t Work57:45 The Neuroscience of Doing Hard Things Daily1:01:00 Can Cold Showers Boost Dopamine? Separating Myth from Science1:03:15 Supplements, Biohacking & Dopamine: What Actually Works?1:05:34 The Final Takeaway: Know Thyself — or Dopamine Will Know You Better...Follow 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/id1752486249Get the Comfiest Sleep Mask on the Planet at https://bit.ly/4ilzfBL (use Code GIANTSMANTA10)

Giant Moment taken from Dr Christof Koch - Consciousness, Psychedelics and Mental Health Giants Shoulder 3

Kevin Mitchell is an associate professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin. His research is aimed at understanding the genetic program specifying the wiring of the brain and its relevance to variation in human faculties, especially to psychiatric and neurological disease and to perceptual conditions like synaesthesia.

Get the Comfiest Sleep Mask on the Planet at https://bit.ly/4ilzfBL (use Code GIANTSMANTA10)Dr. Guy Leschziner is a neurologist, world-renowned sleep expert, and acclaimed author specialising in the fascinating complexities of sleep disorders and their extraordinary impact on human behaviour.Sleep is not just an 'on or off' state—it's a complex spectrum where different parts of our brains can independently switch between waking and sleeping. From sleepwalkers who cook meals, drive cars, or even commit crimes without memory, to the phenomenon of 'local sleep' occurring even when we're wide awake, sleep continues to surprise scientists.Expect to learn why some people can function on shockingly little sleep without health consequences, what sleepwalking reveals about our subconscious minds, whether we should trust sleep supplements, the truth behind blue light and circadian rhythms, how insomnia might indicate deeper neurological issues, why some people experience paradoxical insomnia, the mysteries behind dreaming and Parkinson's disease, and the shocking extremes of what can happen when parts of your brain are awake while you sleep....00:00 - Sleepwalking Murders & Midnight Motorbike Rides01:04 - Dr. Guy Leschziner: Inside the Mind of a Sleep Expert02:58 - When Sleep Disorders Reveal the Secrets of Your Brain05:36 - What Actually Happens in the Brain During Sleepwalking?13:12 - Insomnia vs. Sleep Deprivation: What's the Real Difference?30:31 - Why Your Bedroom Might Be Ruining Your Sleep35:08 - Mastering Your Mind: Reducing Sleep Anxiety and Reactivity39:46 - Blue Light Controversy: Myth or Real Sleep Threat?43:17 - Should You Try Blue-Light Blocking Glasses?49:05 - Eating Late: Does It Really Ruin Your Sleep?51:29 - The Truth About Sleep Medication & Supplements54:19 - Can Sleeping Pills Cause Dementia?56:53 - How Parkinson’s Disease Reveals Itself Through Sleep59:30 - Melatonin: Miracle or Myth?01:06:18 - Craziest Sleep Disorders Dr. Leschziner Has Ever Seen...Follow 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

Dr Taylor Guthrie is a social neuroscientist, researcher, and one of the leading experts in how our sense of self emerges from our relationships, our goals, and the powerful social forces around usWe all assume we know what’s happening inside our own minds. But what if the way you describe your identity—your inner narrative, your motivations, your beliefs—turns out to be incomplete? What if you’ve spent your entire life overlooking how deeply social context shapes you? Taylor’s research suggests that most people don’t truly understand the hidden processes guiding how they think, feel, and behaveExpect to learn why the self is far more malleable than you might believe, how close friendships literally alter the brain’s activity, why dopamine is more about drive than pleasure, how the default mode network weaves your memories into a cohesive story, whether so-called “quick brain hacks” truly live up to the hype, and the fascinating ways that shared group identity can both unify and polarise usThis episode will make you question everything you thought you knew about your own mind....00:00 Intro: The Most Social Species On Earth01:54 Why Should Anyone Care About Social Neuroscience?02:57 How Our Brains Evolved For Social Interaction03:43 Language & Cooperation: The Human Advantage05:04 Abstract Thinking & The Evolving Frontal Lobe08:40 What Does It Mean To Have a “Self”?10:47 How the Self Impacts Motivation & Memory15:15 Seeing Others as Extensions of Ourselves20:10 Shifting Selves Across the Lifespan27:10 Redefining Goals: The Neuroscience of Change34:55 Dopamine vs. Serotonin: A Complex Interaction39:00 Intrinsic Motivation & Identity42:50 Overcoming Bad Habits & Building New Paths49:04 Mental Illness & the Self: Depression, Anxiety & Identity56:00 Myths About Dopamine & “Quick Brain Hacks”01:01:30 Cannabis, Psychedelics & Ego Dissolution01:07:52 The Default Mode Network: A Master Conductor01:13:10 Daydreaming, Self-Talk & Integrating Experience01:21:59 Group Identity, Polarization & Belief Systems01:30:25 Neuralink, AI & Real-Time Brain Data01:40:52 The Potential & Risks of Brain-Tech Integration01:48:45 Leaving Self-Limiting Beliefs Behind01:56:15 Practical Takeaways for Changing Your Self-Concept02:03:10 Final Reflections & Where Neuroscience Is Headed...

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is a board-certified gastroenterologist, bestselling author, and a leading expert on the microbiome.Understanding your gut is a lifelong journey. Repairing a troubled microbiome, fueling your “second brain,” and harnessing the power of short-chain fatty acids are all part of the process. So how do we move beyond the confusing myths around gut health to support our mood, energy, and overall well-being?Expect to learn how gut microbes influence motivation and ambition, how to use fiber to boost brain power, what cutting-edge science says about fecal transplants, how chronic stress damages your digestion, why we crave certain foods (and how to manage those cravings), how simple daily habits like morning sunlight can reset your microbiome—and dive into strange, wonderful insights Dr. Will has never shared before.Check out Fibre Fueled - https://amzn.to/41qnV0q...00:00 Intro01:44 The Misunderstood Science of Gut Health07:46 The Impact of Diet on the Microbiome13:35 The Role of Microbiomes in Pregnancy and Child Development19:34 The Microbiome's Influence on Disease and Health36:58 The Gut-Brain Connection and Neuroinflammation42:41 The Role of Diet and Supplements in Gut Health48:29 Human Connection and Microbiome Health56:44 Microbial Influence on Behavior01:06:00 Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and the Microbiome01:11:25 Understanding Prebiotics and Probiotics01:17:48 The Importance of Dietary Variety01:25:49 The Role of Red Meat in Gut Health01:30:55 The Impact of Antibiotics on the Microbiome01:36:52 Fecal Transplants: A Revolutionary Approach01:43:23 Exploring Postbiotics and Their Benefits01:49:30 The Role of Genetics vs. Microbiome01:56:50 Skepticism in Microbiome Research02:07:32 Practical Takeaways for a Healthy Microbiome...Follow 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/id1752486249Get the Comfiest Sleep Mask on the Planet at https://bit.ly/4ilzfBL (use Code GIANTSMANTA10)

This first giant moment is from episode #20 with inner experience expert Dr Russell Hurlburt. In this clip Dr Hurlburt talks about the clinical case that shaped his 50 year career in the field of Inner Experience research. It blew my mind. Dr Russell Hurlburt is a psychologist, researcher, and one of the leading experts in the study of inner experience.We all assume we know what’s happening inside our own minds. But what if the way you describe your inner thoughts—your inner monologue, mental images, emotions—isn’t accurate? What if you’ve spent your entire life mischaracterizing your own experience? Russell’s research suggests that most people don’t truly understand how their minds work.Check out the full episode after watching this Giant Moment!

Dr Russell Hurlburt is a psychologist, researcher, and one of the leading experts in the study of inner experience.We all assume we know what’s happening inside our own minds. But what if the way you describe your inner thoughts—your inner monologue, mental images, emotions—isn’t accurate? What if you’ve spent your entire life mischaracterizing your own experience? Russell’s research suggests that most people don’t truly understand how their minds work.Expect to learn why you might not actually have an inner monologue, the five core phenomena of inner experience, why most psychological self-reports are unreliable, the surprising differences in how people experience thought, how experience sampling can reveal the hidden structure of your mind, whether meditation really increases self-awareness, and the astonishing story of a woman whose perception of reality was forever altered by this method.This episode will make you question everything you thought you knew about your own mind.---01:26 Exploring Inner Experiences06:31 The Five Frequent Phenomena of Inner Experience11:27 Understanding Experience Sampling Methodology16:12 The Role of Meditation in Inner Awareness21:23 The Challenge of Self-Reporting Inner Experiences26:23 The Prevalence of Inner Monologue31:19 Case Study: Lena's Inner Monologue36:16 Insights from Sadie's Aphantasia43:49 Exploring Aphantasia and Inner Experience49:06 Understanding Descriptive Experience Tests56:49 The Importance of Inner Experience01:08:37 The Impact of Trauma on Inner Experience01:20:54 Reflections on Inner Experience and Relationships---Donate to my Paypal. You're Supporting Bootstrapped Science Communication!https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=L38HCUYY5TDTGFollow the Podcast on other Platforms Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5m3Gta5MtIYdk59pb2GJ7M?si=b33232eae67b4126Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/brief-enquiry-to-the-brain/id1752486249

Dr William Li is a medical doctor, internet personality with over a million combined followers and author of Eat to Beat Disease. His viral Ted Talk “Can we Eat to Starve Cancer” has been viewed over 11* million times where he lays out his pioneering work in the field of angiogenesis. The process by which our body forms new blood vessels. Correction from video as I state only 5 Million times. In 1994 he co-founded the Angiogenesis Foundation with the mission of using advances in angiogenesis to tackle the worst plagues of society like cancer and Dementia.Buy His Book that is Changing Lives:Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself - https://amzn.to/3Q4y65fWe really went above and beyond on this episode so please show some love and Subscribe to the Channel. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Angiogenesis and the Brain06:31 The Interconnection of Blood Flow and Cognitive Function13:42 Developmental Disorders and Vascular Issues19:40 Stem Cells and Brain Regeneration25:52 The Brain Microbiome and Its Implications36:20 Practical Tips for Maintaining Healthy Blood Vessels45:12Optimising Your Diet for Blood Vessel HealthFollow 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

Dr. Paul Cisek is a professor of neuroscience at the University of Montreal, and focuses on understanding how the brain controls behaviour. Particularly through the lens of motor control and decision-making. His interdisciplinary approach combines neurophysiological recordings, computational modelling, and evolutionary biology to explore how the brain mediates interactions with the world. This type of knowledge makes for an incredibly interesting conversation! Timestamps: 00:00 The Evolutionary Lens on Neuroscience 06:56 Understanding the Brain as a Control System 13:14 The Historical Context of Nervous System Development 20:30 Key Evolutionary Transitions in Brain Development 31:00 The Role of Reinforcement Learning in Evolution 45:52 Evolutionary Leaps: From Water to Land 54:41 Consciousness and Its Emergence 01:03:47 The Complexity of Brain Function and Evolution 01:24:29 Debunking Myths: Understanding Evolution's Nature 01:26:43 Engineering vs. Evolutionary Solutions 01:28:36 AI Models and Evolutionary Insights 01:35:09 The Grounding Problem in AI 01:42:52 The Role of Motion in AGI 01:54:55 Future of AI: Optimism vs. Pessimism Donate to my Paypal. You're Supporting Bootstrapped Science Communication! https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=L38HCUYY5TDTG Follow My Neuroscience Podcast - The Giants Shoulder Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5m3Gta5MtIYdk59pb2GJ7M?si=b33232eae67b4126 Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/brief-enquiry-to-the-brain/id1752486249