Brain Shaman

In this episode, our guest is Daniele Scuteri, a fitness enthusiast, language learner, black belt, and former amateur soccer player.  We talk about how to level up your mental and physical performance, happiness, and growth by embracing hard things. Challenges and difficulties can be opportunities for transformation along your journey through sports, work, love, learning, and life. We discuss various tools for improving your ability to embrace and push through challenges, including: breath work, cold exposure, discomfort, coaches, mindfulness, nutrition, exercise, social connection, goals, and mindset.  RESOURCESBOOKS - The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeownORGANIZATIONS & EVENTS- CrossFit- Flow Research Collective- Hyrox- Spartan RacePEOPLE - Andrea Prondo- Andrew Huberman- Andrew Weil- Gianmarco Citelli- Lorenzo Pennati- Matthew Walker- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - Nicolas Luna- Peter Attia- Stanislav Grof- Steven Kotler- Wim HofYOUTUBE CHANNELS - Breathe With Sandy**Connect with Daniele**LinkedIn: /daniele-scuteri-0a2bb5

In this episode, our guest is Al Wadleigh, a Feldenkrais practitioner and the co-host of the Feldenkrais for Life podcast. We talk about how to rewire our nervous system through Feldenkrais, increasing our learning, memory, health, and potential. Returning us to that childlike state of exploration, curiosity, aliveness, and possibility, Feldenkrais is like a playful portal into adult neuroplasticity and change. Waking us up from our habits and removing our rigid societal masks and algorithms, it can likewise unlock self-awareness, self-image, spontaneity, lightness, ease, authenticity, freedom, and growth.We delve into this via various interconnected angles, including: novelty, making mistakes/errors, correcting, contradictory movements, speed of movement, pausing, relaxation, zooming in and out, focus and unfocus, attention, the eyes, neck, lips, mouth, creativity, the imagination, the voice, the skeleton, effort, finding links and connections, technology (e.g. smartphones, the Internet), and other exercise and movement-based practices. The episode wraps up by putting all this into action through a short powerful Feldenkrais lesson using the eyes and imagination.  **CONNECT & LEARN MORE**podcast: feldenkraisforlife.com website: achievingexcellence.com audio lessons & more: achievingexcellence.com/all-productsRESOURCESBOOKS - The Brain that Changes Itself  by Norman Doidge - The Brain's Way of Healing by Norman DoidgeLESSONS - Alexander Yanai lessons - Al Wadleigh lessonsPEOPLE- Donna Ray- Moshé Feldenkrais- Norman DoidgeVOCABULARY - Functional Integration- homunuculus- Weber-Fechner LawListen to Feldenkrais for Life, Al Wadleigh and Donna Ray's podcast, on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite podcast app. Connect with Al on his website: achievingexcellence.com.

Dr. Ilene Naomi Rusk is a neuropsychologist and functional medicine brain health consultant who helps heal people with trauma and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's. Her education, training, and experience are vast, dancing like a constellation of stars through the nervous system night. We captured glimpses of it today, focusing primarily on the important role that connection and engagement (with others, nature, yourself, your sensory experience, and the beyond) play on your nervous system health and well-being.  You can change, heal, and grow your brain in beneficial ways, what Dr. Rusk calls "positive neuroplasticity."  Today we discuss some of the portals into such plasticity, including: education, social connection, nature, positive thinking, mental reframing, memories, and the imagination. Through such, we can learn to overcome our trauma, get our nervous system and life unstuck, and more easily enter into a state of safety, calm, connectedness, playfulness, presence, love, wellness, and hope.  We also talk about: eye contact, humming, the voice, the face, cameras, photos, screens, functional medicine, and more.This was a very healing and educational conversation for me, and I hope it is for you too.Sadly, the event Dr. Rusk invited us to has now finished. But she always has lots of upcoming online events, which you can find on the events tab of her website.**CONNECT WITH DR. RUSK** website: ilenenaomirusk.com Instagram: @dr_ruskFacebook: /drilenenaomiRESOURCESPEOPLE- Dale Bredesen- Dan Siegel- Esther Perel- Helen Reddy- Stephen PorgesSONGS- I Am Woman by Helen ReddySTUDIES- Emotional valence modulates the topology of the parent-infant inter-brain network (NeuroImage, Feb 2020)Learn more, connect, and find out about upcoming events at:  ilenenaomirusk.com

This is a solo episode reflecting on the behavioral and sensory locks and keys to our inner world, that beautiful melty sacred space where imagination, possibilities, dreams, creativity, freedom, and the unconscious come alive, where we are no longer controlled by the external puppeteers and can instead awaken to the authenticity, simplicity, and greatness of our true natural being. Today, we discuss how to leverage those sweet gentle tools that bring us inward and avoid those that blast us outward into existential and psychophysiological oblivion. Learn to shift your attention toward the inside, rather than letting it get hijacked by external stimuli, and watch your health, mood, life, and autonomy re-emerge. Bask in your inner oasis, where all those invisible things you’ve always dreamed of and run from become visible, perty, and real. If this sounds like the kind of vibe and life you want, then listen in as together we traverse this wild inner dreamscape where rules do not exist, nature melts with mind, memories dance, and you are colorful like a child. The shamanic keychain provided today contains the following keys (and corresponding locks) into your boundless inner self:eyes closed (vs. open)darkness (vs. light)direct sensory experience (vs. screens and cameras)valuing those things on the inside (vs. those on the outside)imagination (vs. videos, pictures, and porn)silence (vs. noise)odorless (vs. fragrance)flavorless (vs. flavors)nose breathing (vs. mouth breathing)exhales *including humming, chanting, singing (vs. inhales)fasting (vs. eating)breaking rules (vs. obeying cultural and habitual rules, norms, & limits)solitude (vs. socializing)sleep & dreams (vs. waking life)creation (vs. consumption)meditation & hypnosis (vs. brainwashing and memes)difficulty, discomfort, challenge & pain (vs. easiness, comfort, & pleasure)nature (vs. city)death, loss, & change (vs. immortality, possessiveness, & permanence)minimalism (vs. materialism)stillness & slowing down (vs. busyness and going fast)curvy and spontaneous movement (vs. rigid and predictable ones)In addition, there are experiences that sweetly bridge the inner and outer worlds, which can also be embraced to your comfort. Some of these include: books, podcasts, psychedelics, conversations, interviewing, safe connection and embrace, eye gazing, instrumental music, and more.You can also stack these tools on top of one another, mix and mash them, to create your own little customized meditation-like retreat. We also discuss a brief history of sense-hacking technologies and how that evolution intertwines with the collapse of the inner world. Don’t let your beautiful mind go the way of the dinosaurs. Become like a bird and fly freely into the future.RESOURCES - Between Two Worlds (episode #60) - Darshan with Paramahamsa Vishwananda (the darshan event I went to in Osaka) - Duncan Trussell (podcaster / comedian)- Duncan Trussell Family Hour (podcast) - Merlion (overphotographed statue in Singapore)- scratch and sniffs (fragrance technology)- Say Cheese and Die! by R.L. Stine (Goosebumps book #4)

Roland Verment is a neuropsychologist, biohacker, and the owner of Neurobics, an at-home neurofeedback service. In this interview, we discuss how to understand and change the brain via neurofeedback and nootropics.We talk about brain waves (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) and how they correspond to various brain states, regions, neurochemicals, and disorders, including: OCD, ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, and visual neglect). Learn how to manipulate these brain waves in order to increase your creativity, organization, productivity, memory, happiness, focus, flexibility, calm, balance, and overall brain health. We also discuss: EEG, fMRI, sleep, resurrecting old childhood memories ("time traveling"), alcohol, meditation, medications, VR, emerging tech, and nootropics (including: caffeine, rhodiola, alpha GPC, Huperzine A, and  cerebrolisin). *CONNECT & LEARN MORE*Instagram: @neurobicsneurofeedback     or               @rolandsnapFacebook: @Neurobicswebsite: neurobics.careRESOURCESNEUROANATOMY- anterior cingulate cortex - frontal lobe- hypothalamus- occipital lobe- parietal lobe- temporal lobe- visual cortexCOMPANIES - AppliedVR- BrainBit- Cleverpoint- Divergence Neuro- GrayMatters Health - Headspace - Kernel- Muse- Tripp PEOPLE- Andrew Huberman - Cody Rall - Jay Gunkelman- Josh Sackman- Kirill Krasnogir - Tim Ferris SUPPLEMENTS & DRUGS - alpha-GPC - CDP-Choline-  Cerebrolysin -  Huperzia serrata (Huperzine A) -  lithium -  Methylphenidate (brand names: Ritalin and Concerta)-  rhodiola (active compound: salidroside) Learn more at: neurobics.care (or on Instagram @neurobicsneurofeedback)

Ken Middleton is the author of Bamboozled: How Alcohol Makes Fools of Us All and the editor of the publication AINYF (Alcohol is NOT Your Friend). In this episode, Ken shares helpful tools and strategies for quitting alcohol. These include: exercise, nutrition, education, sleep, hobbies, social connection, finding a supportive partner, and having a big goal.We also discuss:the neuroscience of alcoholaddiction and strategies for habit changeshort-term and long-term alternatives to alcoholalcohol's effects on sleep, memory, and cognitionhealth risks associated with alcohol (e.g. cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's)the costs and benefits of alcohol consumption across various life stageshow alcohol can block personal growth and impede self-improvementthe deceptive portrayal of alcohol in movies, media, and advertisingmetaphors and analogies to help illustrate the effects and dangers of alcoholthe gifts and benefits of quitting alcohol**CONNECT & LEARN MORE**book website: thebamboozledbook.comDry-90 Challenge: dry90.comInstagram: @kenmmiddletonRESOURCESBOOKS- Alcohol Explained by William Porter- Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck- Atomic Habits by James Clear- Bamboozled by Ken Middleton- This Naked Mind by Annie GraceCOMMUNITIES- Alcohol-Free Lifestyle- Tribe SoberMOVIES & TV- American Pie- House Party (starring Kid 'n Play)- Scandal- SuperBad- Sherlock Holmes PEOPLE- Annie Grace- Craig Beck- James Clear- James Swanwick- Janet Gourand- Robert Downey Jr.- William PorterVOCABULARY- acetaldehyde - anhedonia- dynorphin- nucleus accumbens Connect or learn more at: thebamboozledbook.com

In this episode, we discuss strategies for managing and reducing alcohol cravings, uncovering alternative pathways to satisfy the deeper needs that fuel them. Today, we delve into 11 needs, exploring alternative actions to address each:waternutritionsocial connectionsextouchmovementsleepfeeling of possibility, novelty, chaos, & adventurestimulation (light, sound, etc.)stress reduction and calmgoals/projectsListen in to discover your hidden needs and other healthier ways to satisfy them, ultimately diminishing the urge to drink and granting you greater freedom in how you choose to live. RESOURCES:COMMUNITIES:- Alcoholics Anonymous - Tribe SoberENTERTAINMENT- Six Flags Magic Mountain (amusement park)- Memento (movie) SCIENCE VOCAB:- basal ganglia- intercostal muscles- mesolimbic pathway- prefrontal cortex- striatum- substantia nigra- ventral tegmentum

In this episode, we're joined by Osinakachi Akuma Kalu, the founder of TAFFD's, dedicated to enhancing health and biological longevity for Africans through educational initiatives. He's also an author, futurist, musician, and speaker. Our discussion centers on traditional African health practices, mindsets, and tools, covering: social connection, community, movement, nutrition, farming, medicine, music, dance, language, metaphysics, morality & ethics, biodiversity, environmental factors, holistic living, and more. We also discuss how Westernization has negatively impacted the health and longevity of Africans, across these various dimensions. History, politics, education, and big business are a big part of this. Some ways in which Africa is degenerating include: social isolation, fracturing of family and community, poor nutrition (e.g. processed foods and added sugars), environmental toxins, loss of religion and culture, and increasing use of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.  Osinakachi aims to reconnect Africans to their ancestral roots, returning to a time marked by robust health, longevity, strong social bonds, community, safety, trust, empathy, vulnerability, natural exercise, biodiversity, nutritious food, and a mindset that values such.  We must redefine wealth, prioritizing health and social cohesion over money, comfort, and convenience. While traditional practices like farming and open dwellings may be disappearing, education and hard work can help revive some of the positive aspects of Africa's heritage. The principles, practices, and mindsets discussed in this episode can be applied to your individual life, relationship, family, or community, regardless of your location in the world.*Connect with Osinakachi*LinkedIn: /osinakachi-akuma-kalu Facebook: /authorOsinakachi website: taffds.orgRESOURCESMUSIC IN AFRICA- African Traditional Music (ATM)- Afrobeats- Amapiano- Bongo Flava- HighlifePEOPLE- Aristotle- Feta Kuti- Izu Marcel Onyeocha- Ludwig Wittgenstein - Martin Buber- Plato- R.L. StineVOCABULARY - assimilation- association- Berlin Conference- Igbo - Ohafia War Dance- Omenala- palm wine- Scramble for Africa- Ubuntu- Zulu

Josh Sackman, cofounder and president of AppliedVR, joins us today to talk about pain management using virtual reality (VR). We discuss the bio-psycho-social dimensions of pain, and how to manage and reduce it accordingly. Some of the evidence-based tools and features discussed include: breath (e.g. box, 4-7-8, Wim Hof, diaphragmatic breathing, etc.), visualization, social connection, mindfulness & meditation, distraction & attention control, movement & interactivity, presence & immersion, sleep, biofeedback, interoception-building practices, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), pain education, grit & resilience, voice, and various other self-regulatory techniques.Although VR has proven benefits for the reduction and management of both acute and chronic pain, the goal of today's episode is to teach you principles, practices, and skills that you can use anywhere and anytime, with or without the headset. We discuss the various benefits of VR, how it compares with opioids and other existing therapies and technologies, common hurdles that VR helps overcome (e.g. accessibility, availability, affordability, complexity, enjoyability), pain's connection and interference with other facets of life (e.g. sleep, social interaction, mood, etc.), and how to find more peace, stability, and calm amidst your pain. **CONNECT & LEARN MORE**Josh's LinkedIn: /joshsackman company (AppliedVR) website: appliedvr.ioproduct (RelieVRx) website: relievrx.comInstagram: @appliedvrLinkedIn: /appliedvrRESOURCESBOOKS - Breath by James NestorCOMPANIES, SCHOOLS, & ORGANIZATIONS - ByteDance- International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)- Stanford University - University of California, Berkeley- University of Washington- USC- Virtual Human Interaction Lab (@Stanford)PEOPLE- Albert "Skip" Rizzo- Andrew Weil- Beth Darnall - Bob Jester- Hunter Hoffman- James Nestor- Jeremy Bailenson- Matt Walker- Sean Mackey- Wim HofPODCASTS - Huberman Lab      -  Dr. Sean Mackey: Tools to Reduce & Manage Pain (1/15/2024)      - 6-part sleep series with Matt Walker (4/3/2024 ~)- The Matt Walker PodcastLearn more at: appliedvr.io

In this episode, our guest is Jan Kounen, French film director and producer, VR creator, author, comic book artist, and Ayahuasca expert explorer.The conversation focuses on various aspects of the Ayahuasca experience, such as: vision, sound (the chants/songs known as "icaros"), embodiment, fear, thinking, cognition, surrender, fragility, reality, perception, self-discovery, pain, beauty, interconnection, and death. This thereby aims to help us gain a deeper understanding and experience of ourselves and our lives.Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey, Jan's VR simulation of the experience (now available on Quest 2 and 3) serves as a template for our discussion. Other mind-opening tools we talk about, that can be used as alternatives to (or, as preparation for) Ayayhuasca include: meditation (e.g. Dzogchen), yoga, various plants, psychedelics, light technology (e.g.  roXiva lamp), binaural & monaural sounds, float tanks, music, art, eyes, chants, nature walks, and more. We also discuss filmmaking, VR/AR, comics, and Jan's continuing evolution as a human and creator. This is a conversation that traverses various technologies, both natural and man-made. It is a journey beyond your standard human experience, diving into the deeper realities of what you are. As with Ayahuasca and VR, you will never look at life the same. BOOKS- Doctor Ayahuasca by Jan Kounen- Visionary Ayahuasca by Jan Kounen- Why Materialism Is Baloney by Bernardo KastrupFILMS- 8- 99 Francs- Baraka- Blade Runner- Blueberry- Captain X- Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky- Darshan: The Embrace- Dobermann- Koyaanisqatsi- Other Worlds- The Story of Panshin Beka- Vibroboy IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES - Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey (VR experience *available on Quest 2 and 3)- Shamanic Visions (exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly -  in Paris, France) ORGANIZATIONS - Essentia FoundationPEOPLE - Alex Grey- Bernardo Kastrup - Erasure (band)- Godfrey Reggio- Ron Fricke- Shipibo (indigenous people)