Mind & Matter

Send us a textHow dietary fats and cannabinoids shape brain function and mental well-being.Episode Summary: Dr. Steven Laviolette discusses the role of lipids, particularly endocannabinoids and fatty acids, in brain signaling and mental health, discussing how dietary omega-3 and omega-6 imbalances, prenatal THC exposure, and fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) impact mood, anxiety, and neuroinflammation, while highlighting potential dietary interventions to mitigate these effects.About the guest: Steven Laviolette, PhD is a professor at the University of Western Ontario, holding a PhD, and his lab focuses on the brain's cannabinoid system and its role in mental health. He investigates how cannabinoids and fatty acids influence brain development and disorders like anxiety and schizophrenia.Discussion Points:The brain uses fats like endocannabinoids (e.g., anandamide, 2-AG) not just for structure but as signaling molecules to regulate emotional and cognitive processing.Prenatal THC exposure in rodents skews the omega-3/omega-6 balance toward pro-inflammatory omega-6, leading to cognitive and mood issues in offspring, but omega-3 supplementation can mitigate these effects.Fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs), especially FABP5, shuttle endocannabinoids like anandamide to degradation sites, and inhibiting FABP5 increases anandamide levels, reducing anxiety and depression without addictive side effects.FABP5 inhibitors show promise as safer alternatives to benzodiazepines.Both THC and CBD can induce problems during early development, challenging the notion that CBD is universally safe, especially during pregnancy.Dietary interventions, like omega-3 supplementation or antioxidants (e.g., L-theanine, N-acetylcysteine), may counteract the negative psychiatric effects of cannabinoid exposure, particularly during adolescence.The North American diet, high in omega-6, contributes to neuroinflammation and mental health issues, underscoring the need for nutritional neuroscience to address these imbalances.Related episode:M&M 165: PUFAs in Brain Health & Disease, Dietary Fats, Brain Lipids, Nutrition | Richard Bazinet*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textAre seed oils really driving chronic disease (and sunburns), or is it hype?Episode Summary: Dr. Brian Kerley talks about the health impacts of seed oils, their high omega-6 fatty acid content, and their role in chronic diseases through mechanisms like lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. They explore how these industrially processed oils may contribute to conditions like heart disease and obesity, discuss the challenges of studying their long-term effects, and highlight the cultural and political dimensions of dietary trends.About the guest: Brian Kerley, MD is a family medicine-trained hospitalist physician who gained online prominence as the "Seed Oil Disrespecter" through his meme account, raising awareness about the health risks of seed oils.Discussion Points:Seed Oils & Health Risks: Seed oils (e.g., soybean, corn, etc.) are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linked to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, producing toxic compounds like 4-HNE and acrolein that damage cells.Evolutionary Perspective: The high omega-6 levels in modern diets are evolutionarily novel, deviating from natural omega-6 to omega-3 ratios found in traditional diets, potentially exacerbating health issues across diverse populations.Challenges with RCTs: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) often fail to capture the long-term effects of seed oils due to the need for extended washout periods (up to 8 years) and the pervasive presence of omega-6 in modern food environments.Cultural & Political Coding: Dietary trends like seed oil avoidance have become politically charged, with Kerley noting the polarization between institutional health narratives and alternative health communities, complicating public health discussions.Personal Impact: Dr. Kerley's focus on seed oils stems from personal experiences, including managing his daughter's mitochondrial disorder, highlighting the personal stakes in dietary choices.Related episode:M&M 192: Seed Oils, Chronic Disease, Diet & Religious Cults, Mainstream Medicine vs. Independent Research | Tucker Goodrich*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textA critique of SSRIs and pharma's influence on medicine, including SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction, suicidality, and violence. Long Summary: Dr. David Healy critiques modern medicine, focusing on SSRIs and psychiatric medicine, including: how pharmaceutical companies manipulate clinical trial data, ghostwrite studies, and influence medical practice, often ignoring patient experiences; highlighting issues like post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD), the immediate sensory effects of SSRIs, and their potential to induce suicidal or violent behavior; challenging the reliance on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) over individual patient reports; and more.About the guest: David Healy, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist and pharmacologist, has decades of experience researching the serotonin system and SSRIs, working across Ireland, the UK, Canada, and the US. He is a professor at McMaster University and a vocal critic of pharmaceutical industry practices.Discussion Points:SSRIs cause near-immediate sensory effects, like genital numbing, in most people.Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) can persist for years or decades after stopping the drug, affecting many long-term users.Healy argues RCTs prioritize averages over individual experiences, often missing serious side effects like suicidality.Pharmaceutical companies ghostwrite studies and manipulate data, with journals like the New England Journal of Medicine publishing misleading articles.Serotonin theory of depression lacks evidence.Industry tactics include dismissing patient reports as anecdotes and using high doses in trials to mask weak efficacy.SSRIs can increase suicide risk, not just during initiation but also when adjusting doses or withdrawing, as seen in cases like the Aurora movie theater shooting.Regulatory bodies like the FDA often fail to investigate adverse effects due to bureaucratic processes and lack of follow-up.Healy emphasizes doctors' failure to prioritize patient observations, driven by industry-influenced standards of care.Related episode:M&M 88: Depression, Serotonin, SSRIs, Psychiatry & Social Media | Joanna Moncrieff*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textEpisode Summary: Dr. Andrew Chadeayne discusses the chemistry of psilocybin and other psychedelics, their potential therapeutic applications, and the challenges of commercializing them in a shifting biotech market. The conversation delves into the complexities of magic mushroom composition, debunking myths like "lemon tekking," and uncovers the booming, unregulated alternative products industry, including kratom and synthetic psilocybin analogs sold in vape shops.About the guest: Andrew Chadeayne, PhD is a chemist who also holds a law degree, specializing in patent law. He is the founder and CEO of CaaMTech, a startup specializing in the development of novel psychedelic compounds. Chadeayne collaborates with academic labs to advance psychedelic science while navigating the commercial landscape.Discussion Points:Psilocybin is a prodrug converted to psilocin, but magic mushrooms contain other psychoactive molecules like beta-carbolines, which may enhance effects by inhibiting degradation.Chadeayne's team develops psilocin prodrugs to shorten psychedelic trips, making clinical administration more manageable without altering effects.The "lemon tek" myth—that lemon juice converts psilocybin to psilocin—is false; it enhances absorption by extracting compounds, not altering chemistry.Magic mushroom bruising indicates psilocin degradation, as oxidized psilocin forms blue, inactive dimers.The multi-billion dollar alternative products industry sells kratom and synthetic psilocybin analogs, often mislabeled, in vape shops, raising safety and regulatory concerns.Kratom's minor alkaloid, 7-hydroxymitragynine, is ~40x more potent than morphine, with no reported overdoses but high habit-forming potential.Non-hallucinogenic serotonin 2A agonists, like those developed by CaaMTech's spinout, show promise for conditions like migraines without requiring a psychedelic trip.Related episode:M&M 71: Chemistry of Magic Mushrooms, DMT Analogues, Entourage Effects in Cannabis & Fungi, Novel Psychedelic Medicines, Psychedelic Startups | Andrew Chadeayne*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link SiPhox Health—Affordable at-home blood testing. Key health markers, visualized & explained. Code TRIKOMES for a 20% discount. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn & grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textEpisode Summary: Dr. Michael Wheeler talks about neuroimmune interactions, exploring how the immune system and brain communicate, particularly through the blood-brain barrier and meninges; how chronic stress and inflammation can alter brain circuits, contributing to mood disorders like depression; how drugs like psilocybin and MDMA may reduce inflammation by modulating immune cells in the meninges, offering potential therapeutic benefits.About the guest: Michael Wheeler, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. His lab studies how immune responses influence behavior, mood disorders, and addiction.Key Conversation Points:The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is not as impermeable as once thought, allowing immune signals like cytokines to influence brain function even in healthy states.Chronic stress can weaken the BBB, increasing inflammation and affecting mood-regulating circuits, potentially contributing to depression.Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, help maintain neural circuits by pruning synapses and regulating metabolism.Psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA can reduce inflammation by prompting immune cells (monocytes) to leave the meninges, potentially via vascular effects.These psychedelics may act in a context-specific “window,” requiring a dysregulated tissue state to exert anti-inflammatory effects, not as broad-spectrum anti-inflammatories.Neuroinflammation may underlie some treatment-resistant depression cases, suggesting immunotherapy could complement traditional psychiatric treatments.The brain encodes peripheral immune signals, like gut inflammation, in specific circuits, which can “remember” and recreate inflammatory responses.Aging may naturally increase blood-brain barrier leakiness, heightening the brain's susceptibility to peripheral inflammation.Future research aims to explore how psychedelics influence plasticity and their potential in treating inflammation-related diseases beyond psychiatry.Related episode:M&M 2: Psilocybin, LSD, Ketamine, Inflammation & Novel Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textEpisode Summary: New research on how dietary fats, particularly omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid, influence triple-negative breast cancer progression by activating the mTOR pathway, a key regulator of cell growth; role of the FABP5 protein in enhancing cancer cells' sensitivity to omega-6 fats; differences between breast cancer subtypes; broader implications of dietary balance for health.About the guest: John Blenis, PhD is a Professor of Pharmacology at the Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine. Nikos Koundouros, PhD is a postdoctoral fellow in Blenis' lab.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.Key  Points:mTOR pathway acts as a cellular “brain,” sensing nutrients like amino acids, glucose, and fats to regulate growth. Its dysregulation can drive cancer.High dietary omega-6 fatty acids, like linoleic acid found in seed oils, can fuel triple-negative breast cancer growth by activating mTOR.FABP5, a lipid chaperone protein, is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer, making these tumors more sensitive to omega-6 fats, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.Modern diets with high omega-6 to omega-3 ratios disrupt inflammation balance, unlike historical 1:1 ratios, potentially increasing cancer risk.Genetic variations and cancer subtypes highlight the need for tailored dietary recommendations, as blanket nutrition advice may not suit all patients.While omega-6 fats exacerbate existing triple-negative breast cancer, their role in initiating cancer remains unclear, requiring further study.High omega-6 intake may influence other cancers (e.g., prostate, colon) and chronic diseases like obesity, linked to FABP5 and inflammation.Related episode:M&M 200: Dietary Fats & Seed Oils in Inflammation, Colon Cancer & Chronic Disease | Tim Yeatman & GaneSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textEpisode Summary: Dr. Gyorgy Buzsaki discusses the hippocampus's role beyond memory and spatial navigation, delving into its broader functions in cognition, action planning, and brain-body interactions; how hippocampal rhythms, like sharp wave ripples, influence memory consolidation, glucose regulation, and metabolic health, challenging conventional neuroscience assumptions; the interplay of brain rhythms, sleep, and preconfigured neural dynamics; the history and conceptual foundations of neuroscience; and more.About the guest: Gyorgy Buzsaki, MD, PhD is a professor at NYU. He leads a lab investigating how neural circuits underpin cognition, particularly through oscillations and brain-body interactions. His work has significantly advanced understanding of memory formation and spatial navigation.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.Key Conversation Points:Hippocampus isn't just for memory or navigation; it may orchestrate action planning and abstract representations of the world, shaped by evolutionary constraints.Brain rhythms, like sharp wave ripples, synchronize neural activity, enabling efficient communication and impacting bodily functions like glucose homeostasis.Sharp wave ripples, prominent during non-REM sleep and consummatory states, are critical for memory consolidation and may link sleep disruptions to metabolic disorders.Buzsaki challenges the idea of memory as fixed synaptic patterns, proposing it's more like dynamic, cloud-like sequences, endlessly reconfigurable.The brain's intrinsic dynamics prioritize action generation and learning from consequences over external representations.Related episode:M&M 16: Sleep, Dreams, Memory & the Brain | Bob Stickgold*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textThe biophysics of life, exploring how light & energy shape biology, with biophysicist Dr. Nirosha Murugan.Episode Summary: Dr. Murugan discusses the role of biophysics in biology, focusing on how light, particularly biophotons emitted by cells, influences processes like wound healing, neural activity, and cancer detection; how microtubules may act as biological fiber optics, the impact of modern light environments on health; her work inducing limb regeneration in frogs using silk hydrogels and growth factors; cancer as an energetic dysfunction; potential of non-invasive photonic diagnostics; the need for new tools to study these phenomena.About the guest: Nirosha Murugan, PhD is a biophysicist and assistant professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Her lab investigates the biophysics of life.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.Key Conversation Points:Cells emit biophotons, ultra-weak light tied to metabolism, which may carry information for processes like immune response and neural communication.Microtubules might function as biological fiber optics, potentially guiding light within cells for signaling purposes.Red and near-infrared light can accelerate wound healing and reduce inflammation, likely by modulating mitochondrial activity.Cancer cells emit distinct photonic signatures, which could enable non-invasive diagnostics by detecting light differences from healthy tissues.Modern light environments, unlike natural sunlight, may subtly affect health by altering biological responses to electromagnetic signals.Biological systems act as metamaterials, patterning energy flow in ways that constrain and shape molecular and behavioral outcomes.Related episode:M&M 221: Regenerative Energy & the Light Inside You | Jack Kruse*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Dr. Alex Kwan unpacks the latest neuroscience research on how psychedelics like ketamine & psilocybin reshape the brain.About the guest: Alex Kwan, PhD, is an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Cornell University. His lab employs advanced imaging to study how psychedelics and other drugs affect the mammalian brain.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Alex Kwan discusses how psychedelics like ketamine and psilocybin induce rapid neuroplastic changes in the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, contrasting their effects with traditional antidepressants like SSRIs, and exploring their potential for treating depression and chronic pain through structural and functional brain alterations.Key Takeaways:Ketamine & psilocybin rapidly increase dendritic spine density in the prefrontal cortex, enhancing neural connections within days, unlike SSRIs, which take weeks.These drugs show sustained neuroplastic changes in mice, lasting weeks to months after a single dose, suggesting long-term brain rewiring.Serotonin 2A receptor is critical for psilocybin's neuroplastic effects, as precise genetic knockouts in adult mice eliminate spine growth.Unlike ketamine, psilocybin activates the insula, a brain region linked to chronic pain processing, hinting at new therapeutic potential.Both drugs induce similar gene expression patterns in areas like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, but differ in specific regions like the insula.Related episode:M&M #30: Psilocybin, Ketamine, Neuroplasticity & Imaging the Brain | Alex Kwan*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription (cancel anytime) Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off Readwise: Organize and share what you read. 60 days FREE through link Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: The flaws of nutrition epidemiology with Dr. John SpeakmanAbout the guest: John Speakman, PhD is a professor at the University of Aberdeen and runs a lab in Shenzhen, China, focusing on energy balance, obesity, and aging. Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. John Speakman explores the pitfalls of nutrition epidemiology, a field that links diet to health outcomes like cancer and obesity but often produces contradictory results. They discuss flawed methods like 24-hour recalls and food frequency questionnaires, which rely on memory and are prone to bias, and introduce Speakman's new tool using doubly labeled water to screen implausible dietary data. The conversation highlights systematic biases, such as under-reporting by heavier individuals, and emerging technologies like photo diaries and AI for better dietary tracking.Key Takeaways:Nutrition epidemiology studies often contradict each other due to unreliable methods.Common techniques like 24-hour recalls & food frequency questionnaires suffer from memory issues, portion size issues, and systematic biases, often underestimating food intake.Heavier individuals (higher BMI) under-report food intake more, skewing associations between diet & obesity.Speakman's tool, based on 6,500 doubly labeled water measurements, predicts energy expenditure to flag implausible dietary survey data.Emerging technologies, like smartphone photo diaries and AI food identification, promise more accurate dietary tracking than traditional surveys.Randomized controlled trials, not surveys, provide the most reliable dietary insights; single-day intake surveys linked to outcomes years later are dubious.Speakman advises ignoring most nutrition epidemiology headlines due to their inconsistency and lack of prognostic value for behavior change.Related episode:Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Cancer's metabolic roots with Dr. Thomas Seyfried.About the guest: Thomas Seyfried, PhD is a professor of biology at Boston College. He has researched cancer metabolism, epilepsy, and lipid biochemistry for over 40 years.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Thomas Seyfried discusses the mitochondrial metabolic theory of cancer, challenging the dominant somatic mutation theory. He explores how cancer cells rely on fermentation due to defective oxidative phosphorylation, drawing on Otto Warburg's work. Seyfried explains how ketogenic diets and nutritional ketosis can starve cancer cells by limiting glucose and glutamine, while sharing evidence from nuclear transfer experiments and clinical studies. The conversation also covers environmental factors driving cancer and the importance of metabolic flexibility for prevention.Key Takeaways:Cancer is characterized by dysregulated cell growth, but Seyfried argues it stems from mitochondrial dysfunction, not just genetic mutations.Cancer cells ferment glucose & glutamine, unable to use fatty acids or ketones, making ketogenic diets a potential therapeutic tool.Nuclear transfer experiments show cancer traits reside in the cytoplasm, not the nucleus, challenging the somatic mutation theory.Environmental factors like processed foods, stress, and poor sleep disrupt mitochondrial function, increasing cancer risk.Seyfried's glucose-ketone index helps monitor metabolic states to manage cancer & chronic diseases.Cancer rates are rising in younger people, possibly due to obesity, inflammation, and environmental toxins.Metabolic flexibility, cycling between ketosis and carb-based states, may mimic ancestral patterns and reduce chronic disease risk.Related episode:M&M #215: Cancer Metabolism: Sugar, Fructose, Lipids & Fasting | Gary PattiSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Heart health and the ketogenic diet, with expert insights from a cardiologist and researcher.About the guest: Matthew Budoff, MD, is a preventive cardiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA School of Medicine.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Matthew Budoff discusses cholesterol, heart disease, and his study on the ketogenic diet's impact on lean, metabolically healthy individuals with high LDL cholesterol. He explains LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, debunking myths about their direct link to heart disease, and emphasizes the importance of coronary calcium scans to assess plaque buildup. Budoff also covers statins, dietary cholesterol, and personalized heart health strategies.Key Takeaways:LDL cholesterol is not a definitive predictor of heart disease; plaque buildup, assessed via coronary calcium scans, is a better indicator.Lean metabolically healthy people on a ketogenic diet may have high LDL without increased plaque progression after one year.Coronary calcium scans, costing ~$100, are recommended for men around age 40 and women around 45-50 to evaluate heart disease risk.Statins effectively lower LDL and can reverse soft plaque, but may be overprescribed for those without plaque buildup.Dietary cholesterol has minimal impact on blood cholesterol, as the liver produces ~85% of it.Ketogenic diet can aid weight loss & diabetes control but may cause high LDL in some lean individuals, known as lean mass hyper-responders.Plaque progression depends more on existing plaque than LDL levels in metabolically healthy ketogenic diet followers.Heart health varies widely due to genetics and other unknown factors, underscoring the need for personalized assessments.Related episode:M&M #158: Ketosis & Ketogenic Diet: Brain & Mental Health, Metabolism, Diet & Exercise, Cancer, Diabetes | Dominic D'AgoSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: The science of obesity and appetite regulation, blending genetics and neurobiology with practical insightsAbout the guest: Giles Yeo, PhD is a professor of molecular neuroendocrinology at the University of Cambridge. He leads a lab studying obesity and appetite regulation.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Nick interviews Dr. Giles Yeo about the genetics and neurobiology of obesity, starting with the discovery of leptin in the obese mouse model, detailing its role in appetite regulation via the hypothalamus, and discussing GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for weight loss. It delves into how genetic factors, like the leptin-melanocortin pathway, influence hunger, the heritability of body weight, and societal factors driving the obesity epidemic, emphasizing the interplay of biology and environment.Key Takeaways:Leptin, discovered through the obese mouse, signals fat levels to the brain, but its absence causes severe obesity and infertility, as seen in rare human mutations.The hypothalamus, a key brain region, senses hormones like leptin and GLP-1, balancing hunger and satiety through POMC (anorexigenic) and AgRP (orexigenic) neurons.Body weight heritability is 40-70% at the population level, but this does not mean that 40-70% of someone's body fat composition is due to genetic factors outside human control. Dr. Yeo unpacks how to think about it.GLP-1 drugs (e.g., Ozempic) mimic gut hormones to reduce appetite, offering some people 15-25% weight loss, but require long-term safety monitoring.According to Dr. Yeo, obesity reflects energy imbalance, but nutritional density matters more than calorie counting for health, and societal changes are needed to prevent it.Related episode:M&M #132: Obesity Epidemic, Diet, Metabolism, Saturated Fat vs. PUFAs, Energy Expenditure, Weight Gain & FeediSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: A mind-bending dive into evolutionary biology and health through a biophysicist's lens, with Dr. Jack Kruse delivering provocative insights about biology, medicine, and health.About the guest: Jack Kruse, MD, is a neurosurgeon known for integrating biophysics into medicine. He challenges conventional biochemistry with his “leptin prescription” and decentralized health approach.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Jack Kruse joins host Nick Jikomes to explore the Great Oxygenation Event's role in shaping life, linking it to modern health via biophysics over biochemistry. They discuss oxygen's impact on metabolism, the significance of deuterium-depleted water, and sunlight's influence on the leptin-melanocortin pathway. Kruse shares his dramatic weight loss journey using sunlight and cold therapy, critiques modern tech-driven obesity, and unveils a controversial history of SV40 in vaccines, tying it to cancer spikes.Key Takeaways:The Great Oxygenation Event (2.1-2.4 billion years ago) drove life's shift to oxygen-based metabolism, with cyanobacteria as key players.Kruse argues biophysics, not biochemistry, explains evolution, spotlighting light as life's fundamental driver.Deuterium-depleted water is important for enabling our cells and mitochondria to use energy from the TCA cycle without “shocking” the body.Sunlight exposure boosts nitric oxide, reducing food needs via the leptin pathway, challenging diet norms.Kruse lost 133 pounds in 11 months using sunlight and cold therapy, inspiring his “leptin prescription.”He links obesity to indoor tech lifestyles, disrupting heme proteins and mitochondrial function.SV40, a virus in 1950s polio vaccines, may connect to cancer rises, a story Kruse says was buried by centralized science.Related episode:M&M #196: Vaccine Contamination & Fiat Science Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: A deep dive into the science of oxidative stress, antioxidants, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.About the guest: Pamela Maher, PhD is a professor at the Salk Institute in San Diego, California, with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases, oxidative stress, and antioxidants.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Pamela Maher discusses her research on cell death mechanisms, including apoptosis and ferroptosis, and their roles in health and disease. They discuss how oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species can damage cells, the body's antioxidant defenses like glutathione and studies on natural compounds—fisetin, curcumin, and cannabinol (CBN)—that may protect against brain cell loss. The conversation covers CBN's mitochondrial benefits in aging mouse models and broader risk factors for dementia, like obesity and hearing loss, emphasizing early intervention.Key Takeaways:Apoptosis is a controlled cell death process vital for development, while ferroptosis, linked to oxidative stress and iron, causes cells to burst and is tied to diseases like Alzheimer's.Oxidative stress arises when reactive oxygen species overwhelm antioxidants, damaging DNA, proteins, and cell membranes, especially polyunsaturated fats.Glutathione, a key antioxidant, relies on cysteine and declines with age, but supplements like N-acetylcysteine might help, though tolerability varies.Cannabinol (CBN), a THC byproduct, protects mitochondria and improves memory in aging mice, hinting at therapeutic potential beyond cannabinoid receptors.Middle-age risk factors like visceral obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hearing loss significantly increase dementia risk, but hearing aids can reduce it.Related episode:M&M #165: PUFAs in Brain Health & Disease, Dietary Fats, Brain Lipids, Nutrition | Richard Bazinet*Not medical aSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: A detailed examination of shamanism with anthropologist Manvir Singh, blending evolutionary theory and vivid storytelling.About the guest: Manvir Singh, PhD is an anthropologist at the University of California, Davis. His new book, "Shamanism: The Timeless Religion," comes out on May 25, 2025.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Manvir Singh discusses shamanism's role as a universal human practice, exploring its roots in cultural evolution, cognitive tendencies, and persistence across history and modern society. They discuss how shamans use altered states to address uncertainty—like healing or divination—while examining shamanism's interplay with centralized religion, its psychological benefits, and parallels in today's world, from tech gurus to medical placebos.Key Takeaways:Shamanism is a widespread cultural practice involving specialists who enter altered states to engage with unseen forces, often for healing or managing uncertainty.It's not an archaic precursor to modern religion but a recurring expression of spiritual beliefs & practices, competing with other forms.Techniques vary widely—dance, music, psychedelics—but only about half of shamans historically used psychoactive substances.Modern parallels include tech CEOs and money managers who project exceptionalism to influence others, echoing shamanic charisma without trance.Open-label placebos (where patients know it's fake) still work, suggesting rituals alone can trigger healing, much like shamanic practices.Singh sees shamanism as a cognitive technology, not inherently good or bad, shaping how we cope with chaos across cultures and time.Related episode:M&M #86: Shamanism, Psychedelics, Social Behavior, Religion & Evolution of Human Culture | Michael Winkelman*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: How environmental chemical exposures affect neurodegenerative disease and health.About the guest: Gary Miller, PhD is a Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University. His research bridges pharmacology, toxicology, and neuroscience to explore neurodegeneration, particularly Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Gary Miller talks about neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, exploring their age-driven nature, early detection challenges, and environmental risk factors such as pesticide exposure and head trauma. They discuss the emerging field of exposomics—studying lifetime chemical exposures—and its potential to uncover links between pollutants, diet, and disease, while highlighting protective factors like caffeine and nicotine, and the role of technology in advancing prevention and treatment.Key Takeaways:Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's & Alzheimer's worsen with age, but early intervention could slow progression & improve quality of life.Parkinson's symptoms often appear after significant dopamine neuron loss, but subtle signs like handwriting changes or gait issues might be detectable earlier.Environmental factors, including pesticides & air pollution, increase neurodegeneration risk, while caffeine and nicotine surprisingly lower Parkinson's incidence.The exposome—total lifetime exposure to chemicals—offers a new lens to study health, revealing how pollutants & diet interact with our biology.Ultra-processed foods & common chemicals like PFAS (in packaging) raise exposure levels, but simple steps like air filters or less processed diets can help reduce risks.Related episode:M&M #145: Epigenetics, Hormones, Endocrine Disruptors, Microplastics, Xenoestrogens, Obesogens & Obesity, Inheritance of ASupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Do elephants and other animals have language-like abilities, such as the ability to use individual names to refer to themselves and others?About the guest: Michael Pardo, PhD studies animal behavior at Cornell University, where he focused on animal communication and cognition. His work includes extensive field research with African elephants in Kenya.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Michael Pardo, PhD talks about his research on animal communication, focusing on whether African savanna elephants use vocal "names" to address each other. They explore the broader context of vocal communication across species like dolphins, parrots, and marmosets, discussing how these systems compare to human language and what they reveal about its evolution. Dr. Pardo shares details of his fieldwork in Kenya, elephant social structures, and their behaviors like mourning the dead, while also touching on the challenges and joys of studying animals in their natural habitats.Key Takeaways:Elephants may use unique vocal rumbles to address specific individuals.Dolphins use signature whistles as "calling cards," sometimes imitating others' whistles to get their attention, hinting at a form of naming.Elephant society features female-led family groups and dispersing males.Elephants show intriguing behaviors like visiting carcasses and covering them with dirt, suggesting an awareness of death uncommon in most animals.Human language evolution may have evolved gradually from simpler communication systems, as seen in various species, rather than emerging suddenly.Studying less charismatic animals like chickens could uncover surprisingly complex communication, broadening our understanding of cognition in nature.Related episode:M&M #20: Language, Symbolic Cognition, Evolution, Origins of the Human Mind Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: The science of cancer and immunity with Dr. Roychoudhuri, blending cutting-edge research with everyday implications like aspirin's role in fighting tumor metastasis.About the guest: Rahul Roychoudhuri, PhD is a Professor of Cancer Immunology at the University of Cambridge. His research bridges basic science and clinical applications, focusing on immune responses to cancer development and spread.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: The immune system's role in detecting and fighting cancer, particularly how cancer cells evade immunity through selection pressures and microenvironment manipulation. They explore cancer initiation via mutations and inflammation, metastasis mechanics, and a surprising link between low-dose aspirin and reduced cancer spread, spotlighting new research on T cells and thromboxane. The discussion ties in dietary fats, aspirin's anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting effects, and the potential for new therapies to prevent metastasis.Key Takeaways:The immune system constantly surveils and eliminates early cancer cells, but surviving cancers evolve to dodge detection.Inflammation can both spark cancer growth and be exploited by tumors to suppress helpful immune responses.Cancer metastasis, responsible for ~90% of cancer deaths, involves cells breaking off, traveling, and adapting to new sites.New research shows aspirin may curb metastasis by lowering thromboxane, a lipid-derived blood clotting factor.Human data hints aspirin reduces metastasis risk in cancers like breast and colorectal, but trials are ongoing.Daily low-dose aspirin (75-100 mg) is used for heart health, yet its cancer benefits need more study. 600 mg per day has been observed to reduce metastasis rates in colon cancer patients, but chronic use of that dose carries some risk (ulcers, bleeding).*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: How dietary fructose affects the growth rate of cancer.About the guest: Gary Patti, PhD is a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, holding appointments in chemistry, medicine, and geneticsNote: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Nick Jikomes talks to Dr. Patti, exploring how cancer cells metabolize sugars like glucose and fructose, focusing on a recent study showing fructose indirectly boosts tumor growth in mice via liver-produced lipids called LPCs. The discussion covers cancer biology basics, Warburg effect, tumor microenvironments, and systemic metabolic impacts of cancer, while also touching on dietary implications, fasting, and the complexities of nutrient use in cancer progression.Key Takeaways:Cancer cells often rely heavily on glucose, excreting it as lactate even when oxygen is available (Warburg effect), but take up more than their mitochondria can handle.In a study, high fructose diets accelerated tumor growth in mice by 4x, not because cancer cells use fructose directly, but because the liver converts it to LPCs, which tumors use to build membranes.Tumors are not just cancer cells; they recruit healthy cells in their microenvironment, and their metabolic effects ripple across the entire body, altering distant tissues.Excessive fructose consumption may worsen tumor growth, but cutting it poses little risk and could benefit cancer patients, pending human studies.Fasting may reduce cancer initiation risk in animals, but its effect on existing tumors is less clear and could worsen wasting (cachexia) in late stages.The body tightly regulates blood glucose via the liver, so simply cutting dietary glucose won't starve tumors, highlighting cancer's metabolic adaptability.Related episode:M&M #200: Dietary Fats & Seed Oils in Inflammation, Colon CancerSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: How diet shapes the gut microbiome and impacts health, with microbiologist Dr. Peter Turnbaugh breaking down the complex science.About the guest: Peter Turnbaugh, PhD is a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of California, San Francisco, where he leads a lab studying the gut microbiome's role in nutrition and drug response.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Nick talks to Peter Turnbaugh discuss the pitfalls of oversimplified diet labels in research, Turnbaugh's studies comparing plant-based and animal-based diets in humans, and how these shifts rapidly alter gut microbes and short-chain fatty acid profiles. Key Takeaways:The term “high-fat diet” in research is often misleading, as it can include high carbs and vary widely, complicating study comparisons.In a 2014 study, switching humans to a plant-based (high-fiber) or animal-based (ketogenic, no-fiber) diet changed their gut microbiome within one day, showing its remarkable adaptability.Ketogenic diets reduce Bifidobacterium in the gut, which may lower inflammation-linked immune cells (Th17), potentially aiding conditions like multiple sclerosis.Short-chain fatty acids (e.g., butyrate) don't just come from fiber; they persist even on zero-fiber ketogenic diets, hinting at alternative microbial pathways.Gut microbes can activate or deactivate drugs, like antibiotics or digoxin, suggesting microbiomes may explain why drugs work differently across individuals.Ketone bodies like BHB alone can mimic some ketogenic diet effects on the microbiome and immunity, simplifying research and hinting at therapeutic potential.Related episode:M&M #203: Metagenomics, Microbiome Transmission, Gut Microbiome in Health & Disease | Nicola Segata*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: The science of diabetes with Dr. Scott Soleimanpour, blending personal insights and cutting-edge research that gets into mitochondrial biology and more.About the guest: Scott Soleimanpour, MD, is a physician-scientist at the University of Michigan, where he runs a lab studying pancreatic beta cell biology and mitochondrial quality control in diabetes.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Nick Jikomes interviews Dr. Scott Soleimanpour about the biology of diabetes, exploring the pancreas's dual role in digestion and blood sugar regulation via beta cells, which produce insulin. They discuss type 1 diabetes as an autoimmune condition with rising incidence and complex beta cell issues, and type 2 as a progressive disease tied to beta cell failure, not just obesity. The conversation covers mitochondrial function in beta cells, lifestyle factors like diet, and the limits of current treatments, offering practical advice for prevention and management.Key Takeaways:The pancreas has two parts: the exocrine (98%) makes digestive enzymes, while the endocrine (1-2%) regulates blood sugar with hormones like insulin from beta cells.Type 1 diabetes involves autoimmunity and intrinsic beta cell defects, with rates increasing due to environmental factors, not just genetics.Type 2 diabetes hinges on beta cell dysfunction, not obesity alone—only 1 in 5 overweight people develop it, showing other factors matter.Beta cells are energy-intensive and long-lived, relying on mitochondria; stress from overwork (e.g., excess insulin demand) can lead to failure.Current diabetes drugs don't rejuvenate beta cells; only TZDs (rarely used) preserve function, highlighting a gap in treatment.Related episode:M&M #140: Obesogens, Oxidative Stress, Dietary Sugars & Fats, Statins, Diabetes & the True Causes of Metabolic DysfSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: A rare, insider's look at the messy realities of scientific research with Stanford's Dr. John Ioannidis. The good, the bad, and the ugly about how scientific research actually works.About the guest: John Ioannidis, MD, PhD is a professor at Stanford University in medicine, epidemiology, population health, and biomedical data science, with an MD from the University of Athens and a PhD from Harvard in biostatistics. He directs the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), focusing on improving research methods and practices. Renowned for his paper “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False,” he's among the most cited scientists globally, tackling biases and reproducibility in science.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Key Takeaways:Science's “replication crisis” isn't new—it's baked into how tough and bias-prone research is, hitting all fields, not just “soft” ones like psychology.Ioannidis's famous claim, “most published findings are false,” holds up: stats show many “significant” results are flukes due to weak studies or bias.Peer review's a mixed bag—only a third of papers improve, and unpaid, tired reviewers miss a lot, letting shaky stuff slip through.Publishing's a $30 billion game with 50,000+ journals; big players like Elsevier rake in huge profits from subscriptions and fees, often over $10,000 per paper.Researchers game the system—think fake co-authorships or citation cartels—boosting metrics like the H-index, which tracks papers with matching citation counts.Ioannidis's early COVID-19 fatality rate (0.2-0.3%) was spot-on but sparked a firestorm as politics warped science into “clan warfare.”NIH funding's clogged by red tape and favors older researchers, starving young innovators and risky ideas that could shake things up.He's building tools like a public database of scientist stats (4 million downloads!) to spotlight gaming and push for transparent, fair research.*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Personalized health monitoring with Professor Michael Snyder, blending cutting-edge science with practical tips and actionable insights.About the guest: Michael Snyder, PhD is a Professor of Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine. He directs the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, which focuses on big data and health innovation. Snyder holds a PhD from Caltech and completed postdoctoral work at Stanford. His career has spanned yeast genomics to human health profiling. Currently, he leads research on advanced molecular and wearable technologies while spinning off companies like Q Bio to translate findings into real-world health solutions.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Nick talks to Dr. Michael Snyder about transforming medicine through personalized health monitoring, leveraging tools like wearables, continuous glucose monitors, and deep molecular profiling. They explore how diet, microbiome, and genetics shape metabolic health, delving into Snyder's research on diabetes subtypes, short-chain fatty acids, and aging patterns. The conversation also covers practical technologies available today, like smartwatches and home blood tests, and their potential to catch diseases early and extend healthy lifespans.Key Takeaways:Medicine is shifting from sick care to proactive health care using comprehensive data from wearables and molecular profiling.Diabetes has many subtypes, not just type 1 or 2, and treatments like drugs or diet should match an individual's specific profile.Dietary fiber boosts gut health by producing short-chain fatty acids, which influence gene expression and may reduce leaky gut risks.Aging isn't linear—big changes spike in the 40s and 60s, varying by person (e.g., heart, kidneys, metabolism), offering chances to adjust lifestyles early.Wearables like fitness watches can detect illnesses (e.g., COVID, Lyme) days before symptoms by tracking heart rate shifts.Continuous glucose monitSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Insider's look at the COVID-19 pandemic response from a seasoned epidemiologist, unraveling myths and lessons with straightforward science.About the guest: Martin Kulldorff, PhD is an epidemiologist and biostatistician with decades of experience in infectious disease monitoring and vaccine safety. He was formerly a professor at Harvard Medical School. Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Martin Kulldorff discusses the COVID pandemic response, reflecting on the controversial Great Barrington Declaration, which opposed lockdowns in favor of protecting the vulnerable. They explore the virus's fatality rates, asymptomatic spread, and vaccine efficacy, contrasting textbook epidemiology with real-world decisions. He critiques institutional failures, like the CDC's misleading claims. He shares optimism for future pandemics with better leadership and public awareness.Key Takeaways:Lockdowns ignored basic public health principles, causing collateral damage like missed cancer screenings, while Sweden's focused protection approach led to lower excess mortality.Early data showed COVID's risk was 1000x higher for older people, yet lockdowns didn't prioritize them, unlike textbook strategies.Asymptomatic spread made containment impossible, unlike Ebola, where isolation works due to clear symptoms.Natural immunity was downplayed despite 2500 years of evidence, leading to wasted vaccines on those already immune.CDC falsely claimed vaccines stopped transmission, eroding trust when people got sick anyway, fueling vaccine skepticism.mRNA vaccine boosters lack proper trials, and their long-term effects need rigorous study, not assumptions.Kulldorff's new Journal of the Academy of Public Health pushes open peer review to rebuild trust in science.Related episode:M&M #100: Infectious Disease, Epidemiology, Pandemics, Health Policy, COVID, Politicization Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Thyroid biology, offering insights into its role in metabolism, development, and longevity, making it a fascinating listen for those interested in how our bodies manage energy and health across the lifespan.Guest: Diana van Heemst, PhD is a biologist at Leiden University Medical Center, specializing in gerontology and geriatrics. Her research focuses on the neuroendocrine biology of aging and longevity in humans, particularly involving thyroid functions.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and to everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Full Summary: Dr. Diana van Heemst explores the thyroid's critical role in metabolism, growth, development, and transitions across life stages. It discusses the thyroid's evolutionary history, its location in the neck, and how it functions through hormone secretion, specifically T3 and T4. The conversation covers the importance of nutrients like iodine and selenium, the impact of thyroid hormone on various bodily functions, and the implications for health conditions like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. It also touches on how thyroid activity might relate to longevity.Key Takeaways:Thyroid Hormones: T3 and T4 are crucial, with T3 being the active form that regulates metabolism, heart rate, and cognitive functions.Iodine and Selenium: Essential for thyroid hormone synthesis; iodine is unique to thyroid hormones, while selenium is vital for the enzymes that regulate hormone availability.Hypothyroidism vs. Hyperthyroidism: Hypothyroidism is more common, especially in older age due to autoimmune issues, leading to symptoms like fatigue and cold sensitivity. Hyperthyroidism can result from iodine excess or autoimmune conditions like Graves' disease.Developmental Role: Thyroid hormones are vital for major developmental transitions, from birth to puberty, impacting brain development and metabolic adaptation.*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Use your phone's link. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: The complexities of neurodegenerative disease, particularly Alzheimer's, environmental influences like glyphosate, and the crucial role of nutrients like choline, with actionable insights into brain health management.About the guest: Dr. Ramon Valazquez is an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University, leading a research lab at the Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center. His work focuses on environmental factors related to Alzheimer's and other dementias, alongside developing therapeutic strategies.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and to everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.Episode Summary: Dr. Ramon Velazquez explores neurodegenerative disease, with a deep dive into Alzheimer's, its pathophysiology including amyloid beta plaques and tau pathology. It examines the controversy around these proteins' roles in disease progression, the influence of environmental toxins like glyphosate on brain health, and the preventive potential of nutritional interventions, particularly choline.Key Takeaways:Neurodegenerative Disease Basics: Alzheimer's disease involves both amyloid beta plaques and tau tangles, with tau pathology more closely linked to clinical symptoms.Environmental Impact: Glyphosate, a common herbicide, can cross into the brain, potentially exacerbating neurodegenerative pathways through inflammation.Choline: Essential for brain function and fat metabolism, it's often deficient in diets, particularly plant-based ones. Adequate intake might prevent or mitigate cognitive decline and related diseases.Preventive Measures: Early nutritional intervention, like maintaining choline levels, could be vital for preventing neurodegenerative diseases. However, once symptoms are present, such interventions might not reverse existing pathology.Related episode:M&M #145: Epigenetics, HormonesSupport the showAll episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Readwise: Organize and share what you read. Use your phone's link. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. For all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: The science of glycosylation, its impact on health, and potential treatments for congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs).About the guest: Dr. Eva Morava is a pediatric geneticist originally from Hungary, who has specialized in inborn errors of metabolism, particularly CDGs. She has a background in pediatrics and genetics from training in Hungary and the U.S., and currently leads the genetics and genomics department at Mount Sinai.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and to everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.Episode Summary: Dr. Eva Morava discusses the critical role of glycosylation in biology, where sugars are not just used for energy but in modifying proteins to perform their functions. She explains how defects in this process lead to CDGs, a group of rare genetic disorders. The conversation covers the mechanics of glycosylation, clinical presentations of CDGs, current research on treatments including dietary interventions and gene therapy, and the broader implications of glycosylation in health, such as in liver disease and cancer.Key Takeaways:Glycosylation Basics: Sugars are attached to proteins (glycosylation) to modify their structure and function, influencing everything from clotting to immune response.CDGs: These disorders are caused by genetic defects in the glycosylation process, leading to a wide array of symptoms because many proteins require glycosylation to function correctly.Clinical Variability: CDGs can range from severe, multi-systemic presentations to relatively mild cases, affecting life expectancy and quality of life variably.Therapeutic Approaches: Current research includes drug repurposing for enzyme activity enhancement, dietary interventions with special sugars like mannose, and gene therapy, with some trials underway.Liver Connection: A significant portion of glycosylation occurs in the liver; thus, liver diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can impact glycosylation.*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: How human culture and psychology have evolved, particularly exploring the unique psychological traits of "WEIRD" (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) societies, providing insights into why our minds and societies are the way they are today.About the Guest: Joe Henrich, PhD is a professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University. His research focuses on applying evolutionary theory to understand the human mind and culture, particularly how cultural evolution has led to the emergence of WEIRD psychology.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and to everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.Key Takeaways:WEIRD Psychology: WEIRD stands for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, highlighting unique psychological traits like individualism and analytic thinking which are not universal but specific to Western societies.Marriage & Kinship: The Western Church's marriage policies, promoting monogamy and the nuclear family, contributed to the dissolution of extended kinship networks, fostering individualism in Western societies.Institutional Influence: Institutions in WEIRD societies, like universities and legal systems, focus on individual rights and mental states, contrasting with other cultures emphasizing group or kin loyalty.Modern Challenges: Henrich touches on current issues like the impact of dating apps on mating markets, potentially leading to social instability due to increased male-female inequality in mating success.Future of Religion and Culture: The conversation speculates on the future evolution of religion and cultural practices, suggesting that religions fostering high fertility and communal support might gain prominence.Related episode:M&M #129: Biological Sex, Sexual Selection, Sex Behavior, Mating Strategies, Sexual Orientation, Monogamy & Polygyny | David Puts*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Deep dive into systems biology and personalized medicine, exploring how technology and data can revolutionize health care, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and the future of medicine.About the Guest: Dr. Lee Hood is a pioneering scientist with a 60-year career in biology, notably at Caltech and the University of Washington. He co-founded the Institute for Systems Biology and has significantly contributed to molecular immunology and the Human Genome Project, holding a PhD in biology.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and to everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.Key Takeaways:Systems Biology: Understanding complex biological systems by analyzing how individual components interact.Data-Driven Health: Use of genomic and phenomic data can lead to personalized health strategies, enhancing wellness and preventing chronic diseases before they manifest.AI in Medicine: AI can augment human capabilities in medicine, acting as a vast knowledge base to assist physicians in diagnosis and treatment, potentially leading to a partnership model between AI and human doctors.Chronic Disease: Much of the chronic disease burden could potentially be mitigated through lifestyle changes rather than solely through pharmaceutical interventions.Future Drug Development: The traditional focus on single-target drugs might shift towards multi-modal strategies, recognizing diseases like Alzheimer's might be a metabolic disorder.Peptides and New Therapies: Small peptide drugs are emerging as potential new treatments due to their ability to interact with a range of biological molecules, offering new possibilities beyond traditional small molecule drugs.Environmental Impact on Health: While personal behavior significantly influences health outcomes, environmental factors like exposure to toxins can also play critical roles in disease development.Related episodes:M&M #204: Preventive Medicine, Personalized Nutrition & Changing Your Microbiome | Momo VuyisichSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: Deep dive into preventive medicine, personalized nutrition, and systems biology, providing listeners with actionable insights on optimizing health through diet & microbiome management.About the guest: Momo Vuyisich is a biologist with a background in government science, focusing on drug development before shifting to preventive medicine. He holds a PhD in biochemistry and is currently Chief Science Officer of Viome, a startup company dedicated to personalized health through microbiome analysis.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and for free on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.Episode Summary: Dr. Vuyisich discusses the transformative potential of preventive medicine by drawing parallels between human health and systems biology, particularly through the lens of the gut microbiome. He explains how Viome uses comprehensive testing (stool, blood, saliva), providing personalized dietary and supplement recommendations based on individual physiological data. Covers the complexity of diseases like IBD, the impact of modern lifestyle on our microbiome, and more.Key Takeaways:Disconnection from Nature: Modern lifestyles have disrupted our symbiotic relationship with nature, leading to microbiome degradation through factors like antibiotics, preservatives, and hygiene practices.Personalized Nutrition: Viome's approach involves tailoring food recommendations & supplements to an individual's unique microbiome and physiological needs, highlighting that food impacts can vary greatly between individuals.Testing for Prevention: Regular testing with tools like Viome's full body intelligence test can help in making informed dietary changes to prevent diseases before they manifest.Lifestyle Over Medication: Many chronic conditions can potentially be managed or prevented through lifestyle adjustments rather than lifelong medication, emphasizing the need for a preventive rather than reactive strategy.Related episodes:M&M #178: Microbiome & Gut-Immune InteractionsSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: A deep dive into the enigmatic world of sleep, exploring its biological functions, evolutionary origins, and diverse manifestations across different species.About the Guest: Nicola Segata, PhD is a professor at the University of Trento in Italy.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.Episode Summary: Dr. Segata explains metagenomics, the study of genetic material from multiple species, and how it has revolutionized microbiome research; microbiome transmission from mother to child; stability and plasticity of the microbiome throughout life stages; obesity and cancer; influence of diet, lifestyle, and medications like antibiotics on microbiome composition.Key Takeaways:Microbiome Variability: The human microbiome varies significantly between individuals and is influenced by genetics, environment, diet, and lifestyle. Thus, personalized approaches to microbiome health may be necessary.Transmission and Acquisition: Microbes are transmitted vertically from mother to child at birth and horizontally through personal interactions. This transmission can influence health outcomes over one's lifetime.Impact of Diet and Drugs: Diet, particularly coffee consumption, can significantly shape the microbiome, with some bacteria growing in response to specific dietary components. Medications like antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors can also markedly alter microbial communities.Health Implications: The microbiome is linked to various health conditions, from metabolic diseases to cancer, with some treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation showing promise in altering microbiome composition for health benefits.Ancient vs. Modern Microbiomes: Studies on ancient microbiomes, like the Iceman's, suggest that modern urban microbiomes differ from those of our ancestors, potentially impacting modern health issues.Related episodes:M&M #178: Microbiome & Gut-Immune Interactions in Obesity & Metabolic Health | June RSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textShort Summary: A deep dive into the enigmatic world of sleep, exploring its biological functions, evolutionary origins, and diverse manifestations across different species.About the Guest: Nicola Segata, PhD is a professor at the University of Trento in Italy.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.Episode Summary: Dr. Segata explains metagenomics, the study of genetic material from multiple species, and how it has revolutionized microbiome research; microbiome transmission from mother to child; stability and plasticity of the microbiome throughout life stages; obesity and cancer; influence of diet, lifestyle, and medications like antibiotics on microbiome composition.Key Takeaways:Microbiome Variability: The human microbiome varies significantly between individuals and is influenced by genetics, environment, diet, and lifestyle. Thus, personalized approaches to microbiome health may be necessary.Transmission and Acquisition: Microbes are transmitted vertically from mother to child at birth and horizontally through personal interactions. This transmission can influence health outcomes over one's lifetime.Impact of Diet and Drugs: Diet, particularly coffee consumption, can significantly shape the microbiome, with some bacteria growing in response to specific dietary components. Medications like antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors can also markedly alter microbial communities.Health Implications: The microbiome is linked to various health conditions, from metabolic diseases to cancer, with some treatments like fecal microbiota transplantation showing promise in altering microbiome composition for health benefits.Ancient vs. Modern Microbiomes: Studies on ancient microbiomes, like the Iceman's, suggest that modern urban microbiomes differ from those of our ancestors, potentially impacting modern health issues.Related episodes:M&M #178: Microbiome & Gut-Immune Interactions in Obesity & Metabolic Health | June Round*Not medAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textShort Summary: A deep dive into the enigmatic world of sleep, exploring its biological functions, evolutionary origins, and the diverse manifestations across different species.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.About the Guest: Vlad Vyazovskiy, PhD is a Professor of Sleep Physiology at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics at Oxford University.Key Takeaways:Sleep as a Mystery: Despite extensive research, the fundamental reason why animals sleep remains elusive, with no comprehensive theory yet agreed upon.Local Sleep Phenomenon: Sleep might not be a whole-brain event; even within a sleeping brain, different areas can be in different states of activity or rest.Sleep in Animals: Sleep varies widely among species, from micro-sleeps in penguins to unihemispheric sleep in dolphins, suggesting sleep could serve multiple, context-dependent functions.Synaptic Homeostasis: The hypothesis suggests that sleep could be crucial for renormalizing synaptic connections formed during wakefulness, although this idea is still under scrutiny.Hibernation & Torpor: These states relate to sleep but involve significant metabolic changes, possibly acting as survival mechanisms by conserving energy and reducing detectability by predators.Psychedelics & Sleep: Research shows psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT can induce states where animals show signs of sleep in their brain activity while physically active, hinting at complex interactions between brain states and consciousness.Related episodes:M&M #43: Sleep, Dreaming, Deep Neural Networks, Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence, Overfitted Brain Hypothesis, Evolution of Fiction & Art | Erik HoelM&M #16: Sleep, Dreams, Memory & the Brain | Bob Stickgold*Not medical advice.All episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textShort Summary: A deep dive into the enigmatic world of sleep, exploring its biological functions, evolutionary origins, and the diverse manifestations across different species.Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.About the Guest: Vlad Vyazovskiy, PhD is a Professor of Sleep Physiology at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics at Oxford University.Key Takeaways:Sleep as a Mystery: Despite extensive research, the fundamental reason why animals sleep remains elusive, with no comprehensive theory yet agreed upon.Local Sleep Phenomenon: Sleep might not be a whole-brain event; even within a sleeping brain, different areas can be in different states of activity or rest.Sleep in Animals: Sleep varies widely among species, from micro-sleeps in penguins to unihemispheric sleep in dolphins, suggesting sleep could serve multiple, context-dependent functions.Synaptic Homeostasis: The hypothesis suggests that sleep could be crucial for renormalizing synaptic connections formed during wakefulness, although this idea is still under scrutiny.Hibernation & Torpor: These states relate to sleep but involve significant metabolic changes, possibly acting as survival mechanisms by conserving energy and reducing detectability by predators.Psychedelics & Sleep: Research shows psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT can induce states where animals show signs of sleep in their brain activity while physically active, hinting at complex interactions between brain states and consciousness.Related episodes:M&M #43: Sleep, Dreaming, Deep Neural Networks, Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence, Overfitted Brain Hypothesis, Evolution of Fiction & Art | Erik HoelM&M #16: Sleep, Dreams, Memory & the Brain | Bob Stickgold*Not medical advice.Support the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textPodcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.About the guest: Alex Wiltschko, PhD is the founder and CEO of Osmo, a startup using AI, neuroscience, and chemistry to digitize the sense of smell.Episode summary: Nick talks to Dr. Wiltschko about: the sense of smell & olfactory perception; aroma and why certain molecules are smelled but not others; how the brain encodes odors; using AI and machine learning to create “odor maps”; designing novel scents for the fragrance industry; Osmo and its goal of digitizing the sense of smell.Related episodes:M&M #114: Marijuana, Plant Chemistry, Terpenes, Volatile Sulfur Compounds, Cannabis Industry, What Pungent Weed Smells Like & Why | Iain OswaldM&M #22: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Animal Behavior & Giving Computers a Sense of Smell | Alex Wiltschko*Not medical adviceAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textPodcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.About the guest: Alex Wiltschko, PhD is the founder and CEO of Osmo, a startup using AI, neuroscience, and chemistry to digitize the sense of smell.Episode summary: Nick talks to Dr. Wiltschko about: the sense of smell & olfactory perception; aroma and why certain molecules are smelled but not others; how the brain encodes odors; using AI and machine learning to create “odor maps”; designing novel scents for the fragrance industry; Osmo and its goal of digitizing the sense of smell.Related episodes:M&M #114: Marijuana, Plant Chemistry, Terpenes, Volatile Sulfur Compounds, Cannabis Industry, What Pungent Weed Smells Like & Why | Iain OswaldM&M #22: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Animal Behavior & Giving Computers a Sense of Smell | Alex WiltschkoSpecial offer: Use MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 for a free 1-year premium subscription to Consensus, an AI-powered research tool that helps you find the best science, faster. ($150 value, limited-time offer).*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 (exp 12.23.24) MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textPodcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.About the guest: Tim Yeatman, MD is a Professor at the University of South Florida and ACD for Translational Research and Innovation at the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute. Ganesh Halade, PhD is an Associate Professor at the USF Health Heart Institute.Episode summary: Nick talks to Dr. Yeatman & Dr. Halade about: cancer & wound healing; inflammation; lipid (fat) biology; dietary fats, seed oils, omega-6 & omega-3 fatty acids; recent colon cancer lipidomics study; and more.Related episodes:M&M #134: Omega-6-9 Fats, Vegetable & Seed Oils, Sugar, Processed Food, Metabolic Health & Dietary Origins of Chronic Inflammatory Disease | Artemis SimopoulosM&M #136: Seed Oils, Omega-6 PUFAs, Inflammation, Obesity, Diabetes, Chronic Disease & Metabolic Dysfunction | Chris Knobbe Special offer: Use MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 for a free 1-year premium subscription to Consensus, an AI-powered research tool that helps you find the best science, faster. ($150 value, limited-time offer).*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 (exp 12.23.24) MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textPodcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere.About the guest: Ben Potter, PhD is an archaeologist & Professor of Anthropology at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. James Chatter, PhD is a retired archaeologist and paleontologist. They recently published a paper on the diet of the Clovis people of North America at the end of the last Ice Age.Episode summary: Nick talks to Dr. Potter & Dr. Chatters about: the Clovis culture and initial human colonization of the Americas; human diet since the last Ice Age; ancient human diets; hunting of Mammoths and other large herbivores; Clovis technology & culture, including projectile weapons; and more.Related episodes:M&M #160: Diet, Hunting, Culture and Evolution of Paleolithic Humans & Hunter Gatherers | Eugene MorinM&M #154: Evolution & Genetics of Human Diet, Metabolism, Disease Risk, Skin Color and Origins of Modern Europeans | Eske WillerslevSpecial offer: Use MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 for a free 1-year premium subscription to Consensus, an AI-powered research tool that helps you find the best science, faster. ($150 value, limited-time offer).*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB with potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 (exp 12.23.24) Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textPodcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and full video versions are free on YouTube. This episode will not be posted on YouTube due to the controversial nature of the content.About the guest: Jessica Rose, PhD is a computational biologist who has been studying and analyzing data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Responding System (VAERS) related to COVID. Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Rose discuss: Vaccine Adverse Event Responding System (VAERS); analysis of VAERS data for COVID; mRNA technology; spike protein persistence & lipid nanoparticles; common adverse events reported for the Pfizer & Moderna shots; myocarditis & menstrual irregularities; IgG4 antibodies, molecular mimicry & autoimmunity; and more.Related episodes:M&M #196: Vaccine Contamination & Fiat Science | Kevin McKernanM&M #100: Infectious Disease, Epidemiology, Pandemics, Health Policy, COVID, Politicization of Science | Jay BhattacharyaSpecial offer: Use MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 for a free 1-year premium subscription to Consensus, an AI-powered research tool that helps you find the best science, faster. ($150 value, limited-time offer).*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB with potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL (exp 12.10.24) Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textFull episodes are available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and free on YouTube. This is a free, partial version.About the guest: Andrew Cutler, PhD is a machine learning engineer who has studied natural language processing, psychometrics & personality using quantitative methods. He writes about the origins of consciousness on his Substack, "Vectors of Mind"Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Cutler discuss: language & recursion; human evolution & the origins of "higher" consciousness; symbolic cognition, social intelligence & metacognition; creation myths & ritual cults throughout history; snake cults in human history; the intentional ingestion of snake venom in the present-day; the "Stone Ape Theory" of consciousness; the origins of civilization; and more.Related episodes:M&M #141: Evolution, Language, Domestication, Symbolic Cognition, AI & Large Language Models | Terrence DeaconM&M #1: Psychedelics, Civilization, Religion, Death & Plant Medicine | Brian MurareskuSpecial offer: Use MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 to get a free 1-year premium subscription to Consensus, a new AI-powered research tool to help you find the best science, faster ($150 value, limited time offer).*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB with potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL (exp 12.10.24) Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textAbout the guest: Rosemary Bagot, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at McGill University and the Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neurogenomics. Her lab studies the neurobiology of stress at the molecular, circuit, and behavioral levels.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Bagot discuss the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) Axis, cortisol and hormonal responses to stress; neural circuits related to the perception of threats & stressors; resilience & early life stress; sex differences & individual variability in stress response; epigenetics & transgenerational effects of stress; and more.Related episodes:M&M #183: Calorie Restriction & Fasting: Aging, Immunity, Health Biomarkers, Stress, Genetics | Gary ChurchillM&M #156: Psychology of Stress, Resilience, Emotion & Child Development | Stephen SideroffSpecial offer: Use MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 to get a free 1-year premium subscription to Consensus, a new AI-powered research tool to help you find the best science, faster ($150 value, limited time offer).*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork. Comprehensive set of key health markers. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL (expires 12.10.24) Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textAbout the guest: Jibran Khokhar, PhD is Associate Professor of Anatomy & Cell Biology at Western University in Ontario. His lab studies the neurobiology of the co-occurrence of psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia with substance use disorders.Episode summary: Nick and Kevin discuss high comorbidity among mental illness, the dopamine reward system, antipsychotics & other psychiatric drugs; the relationship between THC (marijuana) and psychosis; sex differences in the brain; nicotine e-cigarettes (vaping) compared to smoking; and more.Related episodes:M&M #113: Alcohol Toxicity, Vaping vs. Smoking, Tobacco, Nicotine, Marijuana, Cannabis Terpenes, THC, Toxicology, Health Effects of Vaping | Echo RuferM&M #93: Marijuana, Cognition, Psychosis, Addiction, Cannabinoids, THC, CBD, THCV | Amir EnglundSpecial offer: Use MINDMATTERSPECIAL2 to get a free 1-year premium subscription to Consensus, a new AI-powered research tool to help you find the best science, faster ($150 value, limited time offer).*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork. Comprehensive set of key health markers. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL (expires 12.10.24) Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textAbout the guest: Kevin McKernan is the founder and Chief Science Officer of Medicinal Genomics. He has worked in biotechnology since the early 1990s, when he was involved in the Human Genome Project.Episode summary: Nick and Kevin discuss: components of the COVID vaccines, including modified mRNA & lipid nanoparticles; DNA contamination in COVID vaccines; vaccine adverse events & IgG4 immune modulation; concerns with COVID PCR testing; origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus; Fiat Science from the AIDS epidemic to today; how Big Pharma works with government regulators; decentralized medicine; and more.Related episodes:M&M #149: DNA & RNA Biology, mRNA Vaccines, Vax Contamination & Side Effects, Spike Protein, Ivermectin, Hop Latent Viroid | Kevin McKernanM&M #97: How Did the SARS-CoV-2 Virus Originate? | Alex WashburneSpecial offer: Use code MINDMATTERSPECIAL for a limited time to get a free 1-year premium subscription to Consensus, a new AI-powered research tool to help you find the best science, faster.*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork. Comprehensive set of key health markers. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL (expires 12.10.24) Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textAbout the guest: Andrzej Slominski, MD, PhD is a dermapathologist and skin biologist who has spent decades studying skin biology, especially regarding endocrinology (hormones), stress response, photobiology, and more.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Slominski discuss: hormone production in the skin; vitamin D photobiology; risks and benefits of UVB light; skin cancer & sunscreen; protective effects of melatonin production in the skin; and more.Related episodes:M&M #104: Benefits & Risks of UV Radiation & Sunlight, Skin Health, Vitamin D, Nitric Oxide, Evolution of Skin Color | Richard WellerM&M #146: Photobiology, Sunlight, Firelight, Incandescent Bulbs vs. LEDs, Mitochondria, Melatonin, Sunscreen & the Optics of the Body | Scott Zimmerman*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork. Comprehensive set of key health markers. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL (expires 12.10.24) Learn all the ways you can support my efforts...

Send us a textAbout the guest: Joshua Siegel, MD, PhD is a psychiatrist & systems neuroscience at New York University. He uses functional imaging to study the effects of psychedelics and other drugs on the human brain.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Siegel discuss: fMRI and how it works; relationship between neural activity and blood flow; functional connectivity & the default mode network of the human brain; the functional effects of psilocybin on the brain; the role that subjective & expectancy effects in psychedelics medicine; and more.Related episodes:M&M #173: Psychedelics, Consciousness, Psychiatry, Psychology, Mental Health & the Entropic Brain HypothesisM&M #163: Anesthesia, Placebo Effects, Consciousness, Subjectivity, MDMA, Ketamine, Opioids, Psychedelics*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils, artificial ingredients, etc. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Consensus: AI-powered academic research tool. Find & understand the best science, faster. Free 1-year premium sub with code MINDMATTERSPECIAL Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textAbout the guest: Richard Cytowic is a neurologist, poplar science writer and professor at the George Washington University. Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Cytowic discuss: the effects of smart phones and social media on the developing and adult brain; artificial blue light vs. broad spectrum natural light; attention & addiction to technology; sensory overstimulation & “virtual autism”; synesthesia and multimodal sensory perception; and more.Related episodes:M&M 78: Nature vs. Nurture, Neurogenetics, Personality, Autism, Schizophrenia, Synesthesia, Perception, Agency & Free Will | Kevin Mitchell*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils, artificial ingredients, etc. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textAbout the guest: Thomas Weimbs, PhD is a biologist at UC-Santa Barbara whose lab studies kidney function in health and disease.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Weimbs discuss: basic kidney biology; kidney stones and their causes, including dietary oxalates and fructose; the kidney damaging effects of common pharmaceuticals like Ibuprofen; the beneficial effects of BHB and ketosis for kidney health; the myth that high protein intake is bad for the kidney; kidney diseases and their causes; and more.Full version available on Substack and YouTube.Related episodes:M&M 158: Ketosis & Ketogenic Diet: Brain & Mental Health, Metabolism, Diet & Exercise, Cancer, Diabetes | Dominic D'AgostinoM&M #139: Metabolic Switching, Fasting, Ketosis, Neuroplasticity, Diet & Neurodegenerative Disease | Mark Mattson*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils, artificial ingredients, etc. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textFull version available on Substack and YouTube.About the guest: Nick Norwitz, PhD received his PhD in Physiology at Oxford University and is finishing his MD degree at Harvard Medical School. He is also an independent content creator focused on making metabolic health mainstream.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Norwitz discuss: blood lipids & cholesterol; high cholesterol levels and what they can mean for different people; the “lean mass hyper-responder” phenotype to carb restriction; ketogenic & carnivore diets; public trust in medical & science institutions; n=1 (“n of one”) science experiments; and more.Related episodes:M&M 158: Ketosis & Ketogenic Diet: Brain & Mental Health, Metabolism, Diet & Exercise, Cancer, Diabetes | Dominic D'AgostinoIS #1: Seed Oils, Chronic Disease, Diet & Religious Cults, Mainstream Medicine vs. Independent Research | Tucker Goodrich*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils, artificial ingredients, etc. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textAbout the guest: Nicole Avena, PhD is a neuroscientist at Mount Sinai. She studies the effects of sugar and diet on animal behavior and the brain. She is also the author of, “Sugarless.”Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Avena discuss: drug addiction vs. food addiction; glucose, fructose & artificial sweeteners; the extent to which sugar consumption can drive dependency & withdrawal; fructose metabolism & live health; sweetness & palatability; ultra-processed foods; and more.Related episodes:M&M 140: Obesogens, Oxidative Stress, Dietary Sugars & Fats, Statins, Diabetes & the True Causes of Metabolic Dysfunction & Chronic Disease | Robert LustigM&M #134: Omega-6-9 Fats, Vegetable & Seed Oils, Sugar, Processed Food, Metabolic Health & Dietary Origins of Chronic Inflammatory Disease | Artemis Simopoulos | #134*This content is never meant to serve as medical adviceSupport the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils, artificial ingredients, etc. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts

Send us a textAbout the guest: Angel Nadal, PhD is a biologist in Spain whose lab studies endocrine disruptors (e.g. microplastics), hormones (estrogen, insulin), and the endocrine functions of the pancreas in health & disease.Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Nadal discuss: endocrine biology of the pancreas; insulin and estrogen signaling in the pancreas; BPA, microplastics, and other xenoestrogens; pregnancy & fetal development; effects of hormone disruptors in males vs. females; and more.Related episodes:M&M 145: Epigenetics, Hormones, Endocrine Disruptors, Microplastics, Xenoestrogens, Obesogens & Obesity, Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics | Bruce BlumbergM&M #124: Hormonal Contraception, Sex Hormones, Menstruation, Pregnancy, Puberty, Estrogens, Androgens, Effects of Birth Control on Cognition | Adriene Beltz*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.Support the showAll episodes (audio & video), show notes, transcripts, and more at the M&M Substack Affiliates: MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils, artificial ingredients, etc. Use code MIND for 20% off. SiPhox Health—Affordable, at-home bloodwork w/ a comprehensive set of key health marker. Use code TRIKOMES for a 10% discount. Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off. Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase. Learn all the ways you can support my efforts