University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio)

Sarah Banks, Ph.D. explores why Alzheimer's disease affects women differently than men, emphasizing distinct patterns in tau pathology, cognitive testing bias, and treatment response. She explains how women tend to show a rapid buildup of tau during early cognitive decline, which may contribute to their higher prevalence of Alzheimer's. Banks also highlights how common diagnostic tools may overlook symptoms in women and how approved treatments may offer less benefit for them. Her research at UC San Diego investigates key sex-based differences in risk factors, including sleep apnea, diabetes, and exercise. One study reveals that over 70% of participating women had undiagnosed sleep apnea. Another focuses on Black women, using blood biomarkers to identify overlooked risks and improve care. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40768]

Nature's fury can be devastating on Earth. Typhoon Nepartak over the South China Sea in 2016 caused severe damage and deaths in China, Taiwan and the Phillipines. Yet seen from the International Space Station, the typhoon looks surprisingly serene. These artfully photographed images from astronauts aboard ISS 48 are set to the music of Catherine Brisset and her cristal Baschet, a unique glass keyboard with fanciful metal shapes to help the mysterious sounds resonate. Brisset plays a variation on Bach's Sonata #2, the Grave movement, with such subtle and emotive touch. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40977]

Legal scholar Annabel Brett explores the idea of “moral possibility”—the boundary between what laws demand and what people can realistically or ethically be expected to do. Drawing from early modern thinkers like Aquinas, Suarez, and Hobbes, Brett shows how moral impossibility has long shaped debates about legal obligation, resistance, and political agency. Commentators Melissa Lane and David Dyzenhaus join the discussion, examining how this concept applies to everything from climate action and military conscription to unjust regimes and democratic norms. Together, they highlight how institutions, customs, and time shape the space between legal duty and human capacity—and why recognizing this gap is vital to both justice and legitimacy. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 40431]

UCSF researchers June Chan and Stacey Kenfield share evidence-based strategies for improving prostate cancer outcomes through exercise and diet. They highlight studies showing that physical activity—including resistance and high-intensity interval training—is linked to lower risk of prostate cancer progression and death. They discuss plant-based diets, dietary indices, and specific foods like tomatoes, fish, and nuts, along with the benefits of substituting plant oils for butter. Their analysis includes findings on racial disparities and underscores the need for inclusive research. They also describe current clinical trials exploring lifestyle tools and offer guidance on navigating diet and exercise choices during cancer survivorship. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40808]

Political theorist Annabel Brett of Cambridge University explores how the concept of “moral possibility” shapes law, politics, and public obligation. She explains that laws must be realistic for people to follow—what is morally possible varies by individual, culture, time, and circumstance. Drawing on early modern Catholic legal theory, Brett discusses how extreme demands (like enduring war or plague) may justify higher expectations, but only temporarily. She examines how colonial Spanish officials misused this framework to justify forced labor in Peru, wrongly claiming it aligned with indigenous customs. Brett contrasts this with more democratic approaches to law, like Domingo de Soto's defense of beggars' rights, which take individuals' real conditions seriously. Ultimately, she shows how moral possibility is deeply tied to time, virtue, and justice. Commentary is provided by David Dyzenhaus of the University of Toronto. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 40430]

Dr. Robert Baron reviews best practices in lipid management for preventing cardiovascular disease, with a focus on statin use. He outlines the strong evidence for statins in reducing heart attack and stroke risk by 25–33%, particularly in patients with clinical atherosclerotic disease, diabetes, or high LDL. He explains why shared decision-making is key in primary prevention, where guidelines vary and risk thresholds are debated. Baron discusses the shift to the newer PREVENT risk calculator, which offers improved accuracy and removes race as a factor. He also explains when additional lipid-lowering medications may be appropriate and clarifies the impact of risk-enhancing factors like family history, coronary artery calcium, and LP(a). [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40755]

Rivers shape the Earth, and music shapes our soul. In this lovely, serene flight aboard the ISS, we trace the sinuous paths of inter-playing rivers, from inland North America to the Gulf of Mexico. Sit back and enjoy the journey, with music by Nathan Gunn. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40973]

As part of the 2025 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Dr. Mary Dubon of Harvard Medical School talk about adaptive and para sports for youth with physical and developmental disabilities. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40617]

Jennifer Anger, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. investigates interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as painful bladder syndrome, with a focus on improving care through research on sex, gender, and health disparities. Using Veterans Affairs (VA) data, Anger challenges the outdated belief that IC predominantly affects women. She explores how comorbidities such as PTSD and depression, common among veterans, influence bladder pain, and examines how factors like exercisJennifer Anger, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. uses VA data to study interstitial cystitis.. She examines links between bladder pain, PTSD, depression, diet, and disparities to improve care across all gender identities.e, diet, and neighborhood deprivation impact symptoms. By including both cis and trans women as well as men, Anger seeks to advance more inclusive, data-driven understanding and treatment of IC across all populations. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40675]

Science communication expert Lisa Warshaw and scientist Rob Signer, Ph.D., offer a practical guide to turning complex research into clear, memorable stories. They explain why strong openings, simple messages, vivid analogies, and visual storytelling are essential to making science resonate. The talk includes tips on avoiding jargon, using soundbites effectively, and preparing for high-stakes moments like media interviews and conference Q&As. Warshaw draws on her experience in global biotech and healthcare communications, while Signer shares real-world lessons from academic science and public engagement. Together, they highlight how clarity and creativity can elevate a researcher's voice, build trust with diverse audiences, and drive impact across fields. The session is filled with actionable insights for scientists aiming to connect their work with the world. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40460]

Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, M.D. outlines the comprehensive maternal care services at UC San Diego, emphasizing clinical excellence, innovation, and community impact. She highlights programs in diabetes and pregnancy, high-risk obstetrics, postpartum and HIV care, and maternal mental health. Ramos describes cutting-edge capabilities in fetal and placental imaging, including expertise in placenta accreta and genetic counseling. A fetal surgery program is launching soon, expanding access to specialized care and research. The department's patient population closely reflects San Diego County's demographics, which informs both clinical care and research priorities. Ramos also details a collaborative structure with multidisciplinary conferences and welcomes partnerships in research related to maternal, placental, and fetal health. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40669]

Is sacred space protective space? This question lies at the heart of the Sanctuary Movement. From the 1980s to the present, this practice has protected undocumented immigrants at risk of deportation by offering them refuge in churches, where federal immigration agents to this day still fear to tread. In this lecture, Lloyd Barba, Assistant Professor of Religion and Core Faculty in Latinx and Latin American Studies at Amherst College, asks how these houses of worship in the 1980s protected migrants from immigration enforcement authorities. What histories and testimonies rendered such spaces sacred and lent houses of worship qualities of safe refuge? And what is the applicability of these practices today? Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 40877]

UCLA's Avishek Adhikari, PhD, presents new research on the role of GABAergic neurons in the brain's periaqueductal gray (PAG) region. Previously studied for their involvement in fear and defensive behaviors, these neurons were found to promote food-seeking behavior when activated—even in fully fed mice. Using calcium imaging and optogenetics, Adhikari's team discovered that these neurons are active during food approach but suppressed during eating. The effect is stronger for high-value foods like chocolate or crickets and depends on the mouse's prior experience with that food. A key finding is that these neurons influence behavior through a specific projection to the zona incerta, a subthalamic region. Rather than signaling hunger, this pathway appears to drive food seeking based on reward value, highlighting a new motivational circuit in the brain. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 40444]

Take a stunning journey across Earth as seen from space, captured by the astronauts of ISS 69 on July 30, 2023. This film soars over the Greek islands, Turkey's rolling mountains, cloud-covered Ukraine, the Volga River flowing into the Caspian Sea, and a glowing sunset over Mongolia. The breathtaking visuals are set to music by Steve Thomas Guitar, featuring tracks adapted from his Folktales and Fusions album, with performances by Chris Cheek (alto sax), Rosie Caine (harp), Josh Metz (bass), and Claire Arenius (percussion). Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40957]

Sheng Zhong, Ph.D. pioneers technologies that advance women's reproductive health. Zhong develops a minimally invasive method to analyze extracellular RNA secreted by embryos during IVF. By sequencing tiny samples of spent culture media, they generate comprehensive RNA profiles and use machine learning to identify biomarkers that predict embryo quality with accuracy comparable to traditional imaging. This breakthrough offers a gentler, data-driven alternative for assessing embryo viability, with the potential to improve live birth rates and support families navigating infertility. Zhong's research highlights the power of molecular innovation to transform fertility care and address critical challenges in women's health. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40676]

The land we now call Scripps Oceanography has been home to the Kumeyaay people for thousands of years. A history of encroachment, colonization and displacement from coastal lands has challenged Kumeyaay ocean traditions and practices. Today, Kumeyaay-Iipay-Tipay people are actively revitalizing Indigenous ocean culture. As part of Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series, Stan Rodriguez and Priscilla Ortiz Sawah of the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, and Andrew James Pittman of the Los Coyotes Band and Cupeño Indians, talk about the history of the Kumeyaay culture in the region. Through community efforts, they are rebuilding traditional ha kwaiyo (tule boats), harvesting ha shupill (grunion) and teaching language about the ocean (ha silowik). These intergenerational practices embody Indigenous resilience, resistance and revival — nurturing and evolving Indigenous ocean knowledge, culture and traditions. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 40596]

Andrea Z. LaCroix, Ph.D. presents major public health trends affecting women across the lifespan, from rising maternal mortality and chronic disease risks linked to pregnancy complications to the ongoing need for improved menopause care. She highlights innovative research, including digital tools for menopause education, studies on cancer survivorship, and efforts to predict healthy aging using epigenetic clocks and physical activity data. LaCroix shows how decades of research continue to shape strategies for aging with preserved cognitive and physical function, aiming to help more women thrive into their 90s and beyond. Series: "Motherhood Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40766]

Join Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D. for a guided meditation. Follow along as he teaches simple breathing techniques and short practices designed to build focus and calm the nervous system. Series: "Stein Institute for Research on Aging" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40783]

As part of the 2025 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Dr. Diane Cullinane talks about the spectrum of therapeutic approaches for working with people with autism. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40615]

In their 2020 documentary series Move, French filmmakers Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai take viewers on a tour of the world of dance, shining a spotlight on the artists that shape the art of movement. In this program, UCSB's Stephanie Batiste talks with Jon Boogz and Lil Buck, who have shown throughout their careers that street dance is a form of high art - with artistry and originality. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40738]

UCSF's Dr. Cornelia Ding demystifies the prostate cancer pathology report and explains how to read and understand it. The report contains five key sections: patient information, diagnosis and comments, gross description, and any addendums or amendments. It serves multiple purposes—as a medical, legal, and clinical communication tool—and often contains technical language not written for patients. Dr. Ding walks through important terminology such as Gleason score, Grade Groups, and specific diagnostic patterns like intraductal carcinoma, emphasizing how each affects risk assessment and treatment planning. Patients are encouraged to focus on the diagnosis and comment sections and to discuss any unclear details with their doctors. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40797]

Enjoy the beautiful and meditative music of Johann Sebastian Bach's Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende (“Who knows how near to me is my end”). The music is conducted by Rudolf Lutz with the Chor & Orchester der J. S. Bach-Stiftung, and is set to images from various astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40952]

Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of cancer death among men in the U.S., with evolving screening and treatment practices reshaping care in 2025. UCSF's Dr. Matthew Cooperberg highlights a shift away from overdiagnosis and overtreatment of low-risk cancers, focusing instead on identifying aggressive disease through tools like MRI and advanced biomarker tests. A new “smarter screening” model now guides primary care, recommending long testing intervals for men with low PSA levels. While active surveillance has increased nationally, significant variation in care remains, and racial disparities—especially for Black men—persist. Patients are encouraged to take time in making treatment decisions, as prostate cancer often progresses slowly and allows for thoughtful, personalized care. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40796]

It's time for a new narrative for the ocean, one that reflects current scientific knowledge and acknowledges innovative new partnerships and solutions that center the ocean in our future. In this program, Jane Lubchenco, Professor of Marine Biology at Oregon State University and with expertise in the ocean, climate change, and interactions between the environment and human well-being, talks about the two current dominant narratives for the ocean are anchored in the past. The older one considers the ocean to be so vast, bountiful, and resilient that it is simply too big to fail. This first narrative drives pollution and over-exploitation of resources. A second, more recent narrative is that the ocean is now so depleted, polluted, and disrupted, and the drivers of those outcomes are so powerful and complex, that the ocean is simply too big to fix. A third, new narrative is emerging, based on scientific findings, existing solutions, and innovative partnerships and policies. This new narrative acknowledges that the ocean is central to a safe, clean, healthy, just, and prosperous future. This new narrative tells us that the ocean is neither too big to fail, nor is it too big to fix. But it is too important and too central to our future to ignore. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 40427]

As part of the 2025 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Yao Du from the Keck School of Medicine at USC, talk about the risks and benefits of technology and generative AI. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40624]

As part of the 2025 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Edlyn Peña, Professor of Educational Leadership Doctoral Program at California Lutheran University, Emma Cladis, a Vanguard University student, talk about college for people with autism. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40612]

In this Osher lecture, Kuiyi Shen, Professor or Art History, Theory and Criticism at UC San Diego, gives a historical overview of Japanese art during the zenith of court culture. Series: "Osher UC San Diego Distinguished Lecture Series" [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40870]

As part of the 2025 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Dr. Eric London talks about understanding autism. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40618]

As part of the Earth Serenade series, enjoy Johannes Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem (Opus 45). This powerful music is performed by the Orchester & Chor of J. S. Bach-Stiftung in Switzerland. The music is set to images of Earth taken from the International Space Station, sending messages of mortality, hope and redemption. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40881]

Three major global challenges – climate change, loss of biodiversity and its benefits, and inequality and inequity among people – are typically tackled within three separate silos. However, scientific knowledge tells us that the three are inextricably linked. If the problems are not considered together, solutions to one may undermine solutions to the others. Moreover, more holistic, integrated solutions can deliver multiple co-benefits. Success requires integrated solutions. Jane Lubchenco, Professor of Marine Biology at Oregon State University, talks about the historically ambitious, innovative policies implemented by the Biden-Harris Administration to achieve this integration. Lubchenco is a marine ecologist with expertise in the ocean, climate change, and interactions between the environment and human well-being. From 2021-2025, she served as Deputy Director for Climate and Environment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 40426]

Dr. Hao Nguyen presents focal therapy as a promising treatment option for carefully selected prostate cancer patients, especially those with intermediate-risk, localized disease. Unlike whole-gland treatments, focal therapy targets only the tumor while preserving healthy tissue, reducing the risk of side effects like urinary or sexual dysfunction. UCSF offers multiple approaches—high-intensity focused ultrasound, cryotherapy, and irreversible electroporation—selected based on tumor location and anatomy. Dr. Nguyen emphasizes the importance of precise imaging, MRI fusion biopsy, and genomic testing for patient selection and treatment planning. Early outcomes show encouraging results, with most patients avoiding surgery or radiation within two years and maintaining quality of life. While not yet standard first-line care, focal therapy is gaining traction through research and expert consensus. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40804]

As part of the 2025 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Marta E. Wosińska from the Center on Health Policyat The Brookings Institution talks about medication shortages. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40616]

The human body has traits that evolved at different times, from 1.5 billion to 2 million years ago, each bringing health benefits and risks. Multicellularity enabled organs and cancer. The immune system defends us but can cause inflammation. Breastfeeding supports infant health but relates to breast cancer risk. Menstruation and invasive placentas improved reproduction but led to pain and cancer risks. Human-specific traits like bipedalism and aging brought new issues like back pain and childbirth problems. Hair loss and sweat glands helped us stay cool but increased skin cancer risk. Our hunter-gatherer past shaped our microbiome and health, but also made us prone to modern diseases from lifestyle changes. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40702]

There's a powerful idea in the history of European legal and political thought: that laws must be possible for people to follow. Annabel Brett, professor of Political Thought and History at Cambridge University, describes how from ancient times through the Renaissance, thinkers believed that demanding the impossible—whether physically or psychologically—was a hallmark of tyranny. A classic example is Pharaoh in the Book of Exodus, who ordered the Israelites to make bricks without straw. Brett analyzes how legal thinkers balanced the need for law to be both realistic and aspirational, and how these ideas shaped the development of modern legal systems. Brett is joined by Princeton University's Melissa Lane for commentary. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 40429]

Humans have long been exposed to three main types of smoke: from early domestic fires, modern wildfires, and more recently, tobacco and fossil fuel pollution. All release tiny particles from partly burned plants, containing harmful chemicals like nitrogen oxides and carcinogens. These particles raise risks for lung cancer, dementia, and even childhood obesity. Studies show that air pollution can disrupt brain chemistry, increase Alzheimer's-related proteins, and activate stress-related genes (NFkB, Nrf2). A new drug (GSM-15606) shows promise in reducing brain damage from pollution in mice. People with the ApoE4 gene may be more vulnerable, while the ApoE3 gene, possibly evolved 200,000 years ago, may offer some protection. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40700]

Earth Serenade presents some July 4th fireworks with exuberant and playful dance between violinist Angie Shyr and alto saxphonist Chris Cheek as we fly over the deep browns and reds of Sahara followed by night views of the Mediterranean. The images are from ISS 67. Enjoy this wonderful collection of Earth and music. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40880]

As part of the 2025 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Dr. Whitney Deal, an emergency physician at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, talks about using the least restrictive approach when dealing with an agitated autistic patient. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40614]

UCSF oncologist Dr. Jonathan Chou discusses how genetics and genomics are transforming the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. He explains how inherited and acquired mutations—especially in DNA repair genes like BRCA2—can impact both cancer risk and treatment decisions. Dr. Chou outlines how UCSF researchers use tumor and blood-based biopsies to identify key mutations and genomic features that help tailor care for each patient. Examples include how genomic scores can predict response to radiation and how targeted therapies like PARP inhibitors benefit patients with specific mutations. The talk highlights the growing role of precision medicine in guiding individualized treatment plans based on the unique genetic profile of each patient's cancer. Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40798]

In this excerpt, Dr. Natalie Marshall shares tips on starting exercise routines. Dr. Marshall emphasizes how doing something, exercise-wise, is significantly better than doing nothing. Series: "Osher WISE: Well-being and Integrative Science for Everyone" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 40687]

What paradoxes arise when victims of related persecution tell their stories next to, and after, each other? This question is at the heart of Ari Joskowicz's highly acclaimed book “Rain of Ash,” which examines the unlikely entanglement of the histories of Jews and Romani people—the only two racialized groups the Nazis targeted for wholesale extermination. Joskowicz, professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University, explores the encounters between Jews and Romani people on the killing fields of Europe and seeks to understand how survivors and historians have discussed Romani and Jewish suffering during World War II in relational terms. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 40533]

The human gut microbiome is tightly linked our health. Our analyses of diverse human populations from around the globe, ranging from hunter-gatherer to industrialized, show that the gut microbiome is profoundly influenced by lifestyle. With a large collaborative team, we conducted deep metagenomic sequencing of the gut microbiomes of Tsimane horticulturalists from Bolivia and compared them to those of Hadza hunter-gatherers from Tanzania. We are also investigating whether diet and microbial therapies can address deficiencies in the industrialized gut community. Molecular mechanisms of host-microbial interaction are pursued using an array of technologies and experimental approaches including gnotobiotic and conventional mouse models, quantitative imaging, and a metabolomics pipeline focused on investigating microbiota-dependent metabolites. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40698]

The human gut microbiome is tightly linked our health. Our analyses of diverse human populations from around the globe, ranging from hunter-gatherer to industrialized, show that the gut microbiome is profoundly influenced by lifestyle. With a large collaborative team, we conducted deep metagenomic sequencing of the gut microbiomes of Tsimane horticulturalists from Bolivia and compared them to those of Hadza hunter-gatherers from Tanzania. We are also investigating whether diet and microbial therapies can address deficiencies in the industrialized gut community. Molecular mechanisms of host-microbial interaction are pursued using an array of technologies and experimental approaches including gnotobiotic and conventional mouse models, quantitative imaging, and a metabolomics pipeline focused on investigating microbiota-dependent metabolites. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 40698]