Beautiful Dust Specks

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and enjoying friends and family. Sometimes the chaos of the holiday makes us forget this keystone feature of Thanksgiving. As I sat around the table with my family I became motivated me to share with you my thoughts, ideas, and practices regarding how I find gratitude in my life. I begin the episode outlining some wonderful and intriguing new research that has been published about gratitude. Next, we review the concepts around neuroplasticity and end with me sharing my gratitude list that of course is centered around science. This episode will make you think and can act as a jumping off point in finding more gratitude in your life. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Each episode topic and details come about based on what is happening in my life or in the science of the moment. This episode I wanted to blend the current events surrounding LIGO discovering kilonovas, to the creation of the rarest elements to me giving a gold ring to my fiance (were engaged). Each event and moment of our lives is layered with awesome. Sure it is just a ring, but it is a ring that is now a symbol and it is created by a series of cosmic events that are to rare to turly comprehend. However, with a little time, curiosity, and science we can feel a whole new perspective regarding the complexity right under the surface of our day to day lives. Click to view: show page on Awesound

The human experience is the best and worst of being you. Life is full of wonder and awe, tears and laughs, hugs and kiss. Nature is a constant state of change and chaos is the catalyst for change. Evolution is change, we are change, and change is everyday. But in the end this life is something to enjoy and marvel at. Go out today and find others who are like you. Find a team of people and surround yourself with others who want you to be only you. Embrace the chaos and enjoy the ride. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This episode discusses the how and why behind the human need to belong and find their tribe. This episode discusses how time and evolution play a role in creating the human condition. A condition that centers around our own duality - selfishness and selfishness. We are hardwired to belong, but we live in a world that is growing evermore exclusive and individualized. This episode will give you background into why you feel the way you feel about groups and why belonging to a group can help you reach a higher level of happiness. On a deeper level this episode allows us to think about the biggest group of them all - Human on Earth. Click to view: show page on Awesound

The cosmos is vast. A vastness outside of human comprehension. The size, scale, composition and origin are wondrous and complex. Although we humans can not always comprehend the scope of things, that won't stop us from trying. The unknown and the unknowable are the key factors in what makes today great. Take a step back and ponder some of the ideas brought to light in these episodes. Internalize and let them fill you up. Embrace the chaos and enjoy the ride, knowing that you are a machine made of cosmic debris energized by starlight. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Light is everything. We see because of light. We get energy from light. Daytime would not be daytime without light. The Sun is the fuel for life, but it took sometime for the Universe to evolution into these wonderful crucibles of stellar light and stellar nucleosynthesis that the twinkles in the sky are today. We just experienced daylight saving time so let us take a moment to appreciate light and all of the wonder it floods our lives with each day. It is the vision and the energy that fuel this creative world. You are stellar dust machines, energized by starlight. So enjoy the ride you Beautiful Dust Specks. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Our world is a connected web of energy and energy flow. Where there is water and energy there is not just life, but ecology. Science has recently discovered how this even plays in region without the Sun. Each region of the world where energy is present has life and an entire ecosystem flourishing around it. This episode describes some of the webs and connections that can be found in a few unlikely places. By describing an understanding the intricate web of ecology, you will see and feel a new appreciation for the energy in your body. Feel the energy, obtain the energy, and express the energy. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This episode allows the listeners to discover and marvel at the influence the Sun has on biology. The vast majority of life on Earth is energized by the Sun. We have learned in previous episodes that our bodies are made of stardust and now we can discuss how we are also energized by starlight. While also discussing how the Sun is the heat engine of our planet. It creates all of the wind, the rain, and ever changing weather. Ecology teaches us to appreciate the little creatures. Especially the ones who can do photosynthesis- create sugar from sunlight. Humans (heterotrophs) can not take light and turn it into sugar, but we can eat things who can or eat things that can eat the things that can turn light into sugar. These crazy food webs on our planet is what makes life tick and evolve. I do mean tick in the literal sense. All of the energy that motivates, moves, and is expressed with our bodies was once light created and emanated from the Sun. You are stellar dust, energized by stellar light. Click to view: show page on Awesound

The Sun will rise again tomorrow and continue to do so for another 5,000,000,000,000 years. Each day the Sun converts crazy amounts of hydrogen into helium through the process of thermonuclear fusion giving us the by products of light and energy. Our lives are illuminated by our Sun. This daylight is also the catalyst for all biological energy on this planet. Let us take a little time to appreciate the Sun's origin story, it's past, present, and future. Let's dive into the crazy daily battle the Sun wages with gravity. In the end, you will get to know that wonderful crazy bright sphere in the sky a little better. After all, you are star dust energized by starlight. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Each week a listener of the show will send me three words of their choosing. Three words that I piece together off the cuff and freestyle/rant/flow/talk/connect through the looking glass of science and life. Get a little fun motivation before the week starts. If you are interested in becoming part of the show please send me an MP3 to beautifuldustspecks@gmail.com... You will be a part of the show and a part of the fun. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This episode is simple, but it is complex. The age we are living in today is very unique, but also terrifying. As we move through this age of anti-intellect and fake news we must be able to have conversations in hopes of building bridges. However, we must know what we are talking about and what words we are using. "Theory" is one of the most misused words out there. A scientific theory is a tool and an explanation dealing with the whys of reality, of nature, and of science. Laws are the explanations using math and equations. But we need the theories to explain why something is happen and this is how theories change the world. If we talk science and you get into a discussion/debate with anyone who says "it's just theory" when trying to debunk whatever science you are discussing you have won the debate. Also, you can walk away and save your breath since this person has a fundamental flaw in their understands about science. Click to view: show page on Awesound

The three wonderful words this week are provided by Youngman Brown - host of Your Creative Push: Space travel, dreams, and creativity. Three words that could easily be used in describing so many aspects of life, love, and today. Have quick a listen and get a little motivational push to kick off your weekend. Listen in and enjoy being a creative space traveler who will travers the dreams of yesterday, today, and beyond. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Sadly, on January 16, 2017 we lost another great human and another hero of the Apollo NASA program. Gene Cernan was just one piece of the 100,000 people who played a role in getting us to the Moon, but he was my favorite of all the Apollo astronauts. This episode is my attempt to pay tribute to him, the programs, the people, the discoveries, and impact NASA had and has on our lives today. While also reflecting on how we can embody the astronaut life to further our everyday journey into the unknown of our hopes, dreams, and ideas. Thank you Gene and all of the other people who dared to embark on the greatest adventure of the 21st century - walking on the moon. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Round 3 of Freestyle Friday. In these quick little episodes I take three random words given to me by fans of the show and rift/rant/flow with their ideas. Each week the words change and the randomness changes. Tune in and get a quick science fill up before the weekend. If you would like to be a part of the show please email me beautifuldustspecks@gmail.com and send me an mp3 discussing who you are, stating your three words, and anything else you would like to say. Click to view: show page on Awesound

In this episode I explore the basic physics behind waves that create music. But more importantly this episode discusses how music effects our neurochemistry, biology, society, minds, bodies, and life. Most people love music and listen daily, but may never take the time to realize that our music is a wonderful manipulation of physics. While also pondering how music here on Earth is our music because of our atmosphere. Take your favorite song to another planet and it changes the feel. Music embodies the rhythms of the day, our lives, and our feelings. So take a moment to appreciate what it takes to use the creative powers of humans to put forth beats into the ether... beats that have the power to change the fundamental matter or the body and mind. Click to view: show page on Awesound

My second installment of a little side project within the show. The three special words this week were given to me by my lovely best friend and girlfriend, Stefanie. Tune in and enjoy a quick little science flow to start off your weekend. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Each time our planet goes around the Sun we take time to celebrate and reflect on the previous year. It is a time of wonder and goals. In this episode I want to discuss with you the first beginning ever in this Universe called the Singularity and how it was the OG starting point of the Big Bang, the Universe, and today. This idea is a powerful archetype we can use to craft and guide our thoughts as we go forth into the new year in hopes of creating a new you. So let's discuss how we can craft new beginnings or new "starts" that will lead to accomplishing our goals or new "ends." Click to view: show page on Awesound

Freestyle Fridays is going to be a new segment added to Beautiful Dust Specks. Each week I am going to ask my listeners to send me a little MP3 recording outlining three words of their choosing. Three words I will then rift off of. I will then listen to the words right for the first time on air and with them I will blend them into a five minute science-connection-motivational flow. Click to view: show page on Awesound

The job of Santa is epic. He is epic. It is all epic. However, your parents only told you a little bit of the story. You want to know the truth about the crazy, weird, wild, powerful, cool story… look no further than science. I have always loved Santa. I have always loved Stories. Stories, legends, tales, epics, sagas, and fables have been given to each new generation to pass on imagination, information, ideas, and feelings. We as a society are connected by tales being passed on from one person to the next. As it passes on it gets a little added personal flavor from one person to the next added to it. My flavor always comes in the form of science. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Geology teaches us a story. A story of epic proportions and events that has led to this moment, this day, this life. As the season swings to cold and winter comes back for the fun it is time to appreciate what we have. We have a planet that has changed again and again, over and over, for billions of years. Take a second to appreciate this winter because there have been many in the past. Each winter played a role and acted as a chapter in the story of how we got to today. A long time ago there was a series of events that took place which tipped the Earth into cold chaos. Snowball Earth is a theory that describes a time where our whole planet was covered in ice over a mile deep. Imagine a world cold as the Arctic as the equator and then reflect on how this winter is not so bad. Then get out there and play a snow sport since life is short. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Gratitude and empathy are two emotions we all need more of in our lives. For years these ideas have resided in the eastern side of science, but has now been brought to the for front of western science. These wonderful scientists have now use fMRI scanners to show where these emotions activate in the mind and brain. This new data also shows us the power of how we can swift our awareness towards being more gracious to literally change our mind-body to be of a lightning rod for gratitude. And increasing gratitude can have a positive effect on all aspects of your life. Let me teach the science and some basic strategies on how to get more of it in our mind, body, and life. Click to view: show page on Awesound

“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.” Carl Sagan -CosmosThe morning of the 5th I awoke to a new world. A world that I didn't want, but hope that it will be alright. I wanted to create this episode to help us find some love and kindness in the world today. Sometimes we can get flooded by the negative vibes around us and I think science can increase our inner awareness regarding our capacity for empathy and for gratitude. In this episode I break down multiple studies with findings that will empower you to choose a happier mindset and therefore a happier life. Today's world seems to be doubling down on fear and hate... Let's take a different route by doubling down on love, empathy, and gratitude. Doing so will not only enliven the self, but will permeate through those around us. And when love spreads, a better tomorrow will follow. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Take control of your mind and body. We humans are a crazy creatures endowed with crazy powers. None more powerful that our ability to think and move. Our mobile bodies allow for our mind to be mobile. Our mobile bodies allow us to share what is inside our mind and put our imagination into reality. Movement breaks down into the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the nervous system. However, this list is missing a major player in the game... the fascia. Fascia is the connective tissue that connects every part of the body together. It connects bones to bones, muscles to muscles, muscles to bone so on and so on. So yes the tendons and ligaments are fascia, but for this episode I want to talk more about the myofascia. This is the fascia that surrounds, supports, and binds the muscles together. Let's learn about it to appreciate it, understand it, and control it. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This episode you will provide you with a deeper understanding of what makes you the awesome thing that you are. Each nook and cranny of you, me, and us is made up of tiny little cells. The amount of cells that make us up is to big of a number for us to ever comprehend. But these little things make up our minds and bodies. You start as one cell and grow to Ten Thousand Trillion cells. Cells that know exactly what to do and have only your health and happiness in mind. We don't teach them, they allow us to be taught. We don't have to think about them, but they are always thinking about us. We are made of cells and we are a "we" because of these amazing protein making machines. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Everything you do in life requires energy, ATP. Your body is the pinnacle of complexity, but this complexity needs energy to express it. 3.8 billion years ago a crazy event took place by chance that turned you into what you are today. This is that story of Endosymbiosis. The story of how two bacteria came together to create the first complex cell. A cell that now had a surplus of energy. Energy that could now be used to create all of the human experiences of today. We are born to live a dynamic life, but to be active you require fuel. Fuel that our mitochondria turns into ATP and that is why you are alive. Let's celebrate this!Click to view: show page on Awesound

A few months ago I decided to sign up for my first marathon, but not two minutes after signing up I was asked the most popular question of the last three months... "why would you do that?" My answer is simple, I want to show people that the wonderful human body can do great things. I want my students to see that you can adapt to whatever environment you choose and achieve whatever goals strike you in the now. I run to challenge my biology and to enjoy the ups and downs in the training for this. Science truly does motivate me people and I hope this episode can motivate you to get a new goal started. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Our senses allow our epic bodies to take the inputs surrounding us and give it to our minds. Our minds will then turn the world into physical data. Humans are able to take this data and turn it into emotions, feelings, and ideas. The sounds and sights of the world integrate together in perceptions of the now. The body-mind connection is so strong and uses these senses every moment of the day. Humans sense the world and we turn those perceptions in the wonders of art, music, and language. We feel the world, we see the world, we are the world. Click to view: show page on Awesound

In this episode I break down our sense of smell and taste. Science now knows that these two senses combine to provide our minds and lives with the wonders of flavor! Flavor, smell, and taste give the gifts of delicious food and provide our minds with connections to what we are eating. By understanding the science behind our bodies perceptions with food we can change our mindset surrounding our food choices. A healthy body and mind will allow you to get the most out these wonderful moments we call life. Lets peel back the layers of our senses to relive just how truly amazing the flavor of today is! Click to view: show page on Awesound

Have you ever sat back and really pondered your ability to ponder? Have you ever tried to feel your sense of feeling? Have you ever listened to the wonders of listening? Have you ever really attempted to taste and smell the taste and smells of your favorite meal? The senses of the body allow of take the internal and make it external and the external and make it internal. Our ideas, thoughts, feelings, and emotions are all governed and even created by our senses. These are our superpowers and these are how we "feel" the world at our fingertips. Take the time to appreciate these gifts so that you may attempt to change the input settings. Surround yourself with positive stimuli and watch your body and mind flourish. Click to view: show page on Awesound

I have always lived a life a wash in flow. I have spent endless hours, dollars, and body parts on chasing it down. Flow is the newest buzz terms regarding the human state of optimal performance. In the zone, in the pocket, losing a sense time and space. Science is uncovering a whole new world and quantifying what is happening in you that could allow your body and mind to reach an unconscious level of optimal human performance. This episode will breakdown the neurotransmitters and introduce concepts that will allow you to control your environment in hopes of reaching new heights of cognitive and physical moments. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Each aspect of this life is a part of a story that dates back to the dawn of the Universe. This fantastic tale is the greatest story ever told. If you study it with a curious mind it will enliven your life. Science is always thought of and remembered as a tough subject you took in school, but it is so much more. It is a lens to gaze upon the Earth, a lens that will fill your life up with wonder, awe, and motivation. Science enlivens the mind and can fill you with gratitude for each of moment of this life. I promise I will tell you this story each week with passion, enthusiasm and laughs. All you need to do is listen, open your mind, and enjoy the ride. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Love is the most powerful emotion we humans can experience. We spend our whole lives chasing these feelings and dealing with them if/when we can catch the love. Creatives have attempted to describe it for all of recorded history through the lens of art, music, poetry. Now science is joining the conversation in hopes of adding to our human understanding of the awesome power of LOVE. Love yourself and be love everyone around you. Click to view: show page on Awesound

The last episode taught us that our "feelings" of happy and sad are neurotransmitters flowing through our brain, nerves, and bodies. This flow creates various states of being that we call happy, sad, love, pumped, bummed, etc. Let me share with you couple easy strategies that will allow you reach, strive, and attack your own happiness. Happy and love are the best. These two emotions are the best emotions and I want to help you reach higher/longer/fuller states of happiness. Click to view: show page on Awesound

We all strive for happiness. We strive for a life filled with joy and wonder. A life of contentment, peace, and smiles. However, we are human and we humans live our days out swimming through a sea of emotions. In this episode I want to first teach you about the NEUROCHEMISTRY that is in your body and discuss the good and the bad it brings us. By understanding how the machine, you, is regulated by this chemistry we can begin to hack it. You can make choices, reframe the question, and choose a dynamic life. By doing so you will increase happiness, prolong the highs and lessen the lows. In order to embrace the chaos, we must first learn about the chemical chaos with. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Another fun episode that was kind of unexpected. I am going to do a three part episode on Neurochemistry. This episode is an overview and introduction into the topics and feelings associated with this topic. I want to discuss next looking at the chemical combinations of love & loneliness. Then happy & sad and finishing with creativity & flow. Lets dive into this with a creative mind and a curious self. Enjoy the ride and leave comments if it makes you happy. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This episode is a very fun episode where I discuss our human capacity to ask questions. We always think that a person's ability to answer a question is our greatest gift, but I think that our most epic ability is our asking brain. All great break throughs, wonders, and discoveries began with a person forming a question. Let me teach you how and why you should ask a new question each and every day. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Kepler recently discover 1,285 new exoplanets (planets around distant stars) which has moved us closer to stating that planets are more common than stars. The Kepler telescope has opened our minds, data, and imagination about planets, even rocky planets, being very common out there in the Milky Way. Pondering the concepts of goldi-locks conditions made my brain ponder just how many special/perfect facets of life make us up. This expanding existence, when pondered, shows us that we are circles upon circles of awesomeness. Click to view: show page on Awesound

The Overview Effect is a new term coined by Frank White and others. This effect personifies the ideas and feelings brought back inside the courageous astronauts who have seen the whole Earth at a glance. Each of them verbally describe a blissful feeling of awe, connectedness, and wonder regarding our Earth. This episode attempts to convey their emotions through direct quotes from these astronauts. These are some of the bravest and wonderful educated daredevils. Listen to their words and get a glimpse of this feeling. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This episode will get you to go outside, look up at the Moon and give it an air five. The Moon that formed from an epic collision 4.5 Billion Years Ago has wonderful effects on our Earth and the ecosystems we know and love. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This week I took a chance and submitted my voice to PRX - The Radiotopia Competition. I enjoyed writing and trying to compress my podcast's mission into a two minute audio clip. Give it a listen and let me know what you think. @The_ScienceBro and BeautifulDustSpecks.com. Click to view: show page on Awesound

Take the time to appreciate the wonderful clear liquid that pours from the tap and rains down on you in the shower each morning. Take a second to appreciate the only substance on the planet that exists as a liquid, solid, and gas. In this episode I will teach you why you should scream with joy every time an ice cube floats to the surface of your glass at dinner. Water is epic, you are epic, lets love this hydrated existence we call life. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This episode dives into why we should appreciate water as the primary medium of life. Each week we discuss the connections of nature and the substance that play a role in all is water. Where there is water, there is life. Why you ask? This holds true because water has seven wonderful properties. Properties that allow this amazing wet rock to harbor all the weird, wild, & wonderful life forms present in today's biosphere. Part 1 of 2. Click to view: show page on Awesound

This episode dives into two more of the elemental components of our lives, N and P. I try to bring you a passionate description about two sweet sweet elements: Nitrogen and Phosphorus. These two elements are vital for life, but life needs to work together to keep the cycles going. You bring the curiosity, I'll bring the passionate science rants. Click to view: show page on Awesound

A Carbon-Based SciFulNess to Make You Carbon-Based Smile... A new science and mindfulness episode. Let's break down why you should feel happy and healthy by describing the what, how, and why being a Carbon-Based life should fill you will gratitude. Click to view: show page on Awesound

I want you guys to use this episode in a mindful way. First, listen to the episode and enjoy the information. Second, turn it off and close your eyes (when you can) and let the information fill you up with a mindful wonder. Third, open your eyes and enjoy all the things you and today can bring to our world. Enjoy the ride you Beautiful Dust Specks. Click to view: show page on Awesound

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vistawide.com/languages/language_statistics.htmyoutube.com/watch?v=-XGds2GAvGQClick to view: show page on Awesound

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