Podcasts about uc san diego

This week, host Sam Ko goes upstream from our usual clinical and business topics to sit down with Dr. Roberto Malinow, emeritus professor at UC San Diego, member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, and one of the world's leading researchers on synaptic plasticity and NMDA receptor biology. His work has been cited more than 30,000 times, and his recent perspective piece takes a very different view of what's actually happening during a ketamine infusion.The core of this conversation is his hypothesis that ketamine works by selectively weakening hyperactive brain circuits, but only the ones actively firing while the drug is on board. It's a finding that raises some genuinely uncomfortable questions about the standard set and setting approach, and points to chronic pain treatment as a practical place to start testing these ideas clinically.You'll also hear about the brain's "disappointment center," the lateral habenula, and why it may be hyperactive in depression, the Stanford anesthesia study and what it suggests about brain activity during treatment, and a wide ranging look at consciousness, optogenetics, the gut-brain connection, and what basic science still doesn't fully understand about how psychiatric drugs work.What You'll Learn in This Episode· Revolutionary ketamine mechanism - How Dr. Malinow's hypothesis suggests ketamine works by weakening hyperactive brain circuits, but only when those specific circuits are actively firing during treatment· The disappointment center concept - Understanding the lateral habenula as the brain's disappointment center that inhibits dopamine and may be hyperactive in depression, serving an evolutionary purpose in reinforcement learning· Challenge to set and setting orthodoxy - How activating negative thoughts or painful experiences could possibly enhance therapeutic outcomes· Neuroplasticity fundamentals - How synapses can be rapidly modified and why NMDA receptors are crucial for both strengthening and weakening neural pathways, forming the basis for learning and memory· Rapid vs. delayed therapeutic effects - Why ketamine can work almost immediately while traditional antidepressants take weeks, and what this reveals about different mechanisms of action· Chronic pain treatment implications - How activating pain circuits during ketamine infusions might be more effective than current protocols, and why chronic pain could be the ideal testing ground for this hypothesis· Basic science translation - How laboratory findings about synaptic plasticity and NMDA receptors connect to real-world therapeutic applications in depression, PTSD, and pain management· Optogenetics technology - How scientists can now deliver light-sensitive proteins to specific neurons, allowing precise activation or inactivation of brain circuits to study behavior and memory· Memory manipulation research - Fascinating studies showing how specific memories can be turned on and off using targeted brain stimulation, with implications for trauma and addiction treatment· Consciousness and synaptic function - Exploring the complex relationship between individual neurons and higher-order brain functions, and why bridging these levels remains challengingEpisode 59 show notes:00:00:00 Teaser: Those hyperactive circuits…00:00:24 Episode Introduction and Guest Overview00:01:12 Sam Introduces and Welcomes Dr. Roberto Malinow00:02:41 Background: From Reed College to The MD/PhD Path00:05:17 Why Basic Science Won Out Over Clinical Medicine00:06:06 The Lecture That Started It All: Professor Rodolfo Llinás and Synapses00:06:51 How Ketamine Interacts with the NMDA Receptor00:07:47 The "Disappointment Center": What the Lateral Habenula Does and Why It Matters in Depression00:09:16 The Standard Set and Setting Approach in Outpatient Ketamine Clinics00:10:12 The Three-Part Hypothesis: Neuroplasticity, Hyperactive Circuits, and Negative Thoughts00:11:49 Written Exposure Therapy and PTSD: Priming Circuits Before the Infusion00:12:53 Chronic Pain as the Easier Testing Ground for the Hypothesis00:14:20 Activating the Pain Pathways During a Ketamine Infusion00:17:23 The Anesthesia Study (Heifets/Stanford): Why the Brain Needs to Be Active00:18:48 What Would a Human Study Design Actually Look Like?00:20:41 Animal Study Evidence Supporting the Active-Stimulus Hypothesis00:21:33 Zooming Out: Synapses, Consciousness, and the Shakespeare Analogy00:23:18 Optogenetics Explained: Using Light to Control Specific Neurons00:27:31 What Don't We Understand About Depression?00:28:29 Lateral Habenula in Animal Depression Models and Dr. Malinow's Own Experiments00:29:13 The Dystopian Scenario: Using Ketamine-Like Drugs to Wipe Out Ideas00:31:31 Common Misconceptions Clinicians Have About Synapses00:32:47 What Surprised Dr. Malinow Most About Studying Synapses00:35:15 Why Ketamine Works Rapidly While SSRIs Take Weeks00:37:30 The "Party Trick": Learning Is Neuroplasticity in Real Time00:39:13 NMDA Receptors and Their Role in Learning and Memory00:39:47 Optogenetics Research: Turning Fear Memories On and Off in Animals00:42:08 Glutamate: 90% of Synaptic Transmission Explained00:43:55 Synapses in the Gut: The Enteric Nervous System00:45:58 The Gut-Brain Connection and Future Research00:46:23 Papers Worth Reading in the Ketamine Space00:47:50 The Psychedelic Renaissance: Psilocybin, the Disappointment Center, and What's Next00:50:20 Could the Activation Hypothesis Apply to Psilocybin and MDMA as Well?00:52:57 Rapid-Fire Questions Begin00:53:19 Time Travel00:54:19 Hidden Talent00:54:48 Alternate Career00:55:42 Advice to 18-Year-Old Roberto00:56:29 Final Thoughts and Call to Action for Clinicians00:57:00 Where to Find Dr. Malinow's Research (UCSD Website)00:57:40 Sam's Closing Remarks00:58:32 Episode EndingThanks for listeningConnect with Dr. Malinow:Website: https://biology.ucsd.edu/research/faculty/rmalinowEmail: rmalinow@ucsd.edu

What if your brain doesn't produce consciousness any more than a radio produces the music? My guest today is Dr. Arnaud Delorme, a computational neuroscientist at UC San Diego and the Institute of Noetic Sciences. He wires up Tibetan monks and mediums to see what actually happens in their brains. When a medium connects with a loved one on the other side, he expected brain activity to spike. Instead, it went almost silent. The more accurate they were, the more their working memory shut down. As if the information wasn't coming from inside them at all. Arnaud started asking "why am I here?" at 11 years old. He has spent decades risking his career to challenge the idea that your thoughts and choices mean nothing. This conversation is about data, non-local consciousness, and what happens when science finally looks beyond the skull. 00:00 The 11-Year-Old Who Asked "Why Am I Here?" 03:09 Welcome Arnaud Delorme 04:12 From Firefighter to Neuroscientist 07:00 The Reductionist Pyramid (And Its Limits) 12:36 Quantum Mechanics: Shut Up and Calculate 16:27 How Science Finally Opened Up to Consciousness 18:33 EEGLAB and Studying Mediums 22:45 Split-Brain Patients and the "Real Illusion" 25:54 The Alternative Hypothesis: You Are More Than Your Brain 30:27 Why Most Scientists Still Need More Data 35:21 The EEG Finding: Accurate Readings Shut Down Working Memory 38:30 Mind Wandering vs. Daydreaming (And a Button in Your Hand) 43:24 Can Meditation Decrease Mind Wandering? Yes. 48:39 Is AI Conscious? (No. But Could It Be? Yes.) 53:33 Arnaud's Fiction Book "The Noetic Particle" + Where to Find Him 55:39 Closing LEARN MORE ABOUT GUEST:· Website: arnauddelorme.com· Institute: noetic.org· Academic Book: (on mind wandering / EEG)· Fiction Book: The Noetic Particle (hard science fiction about AI and consciousness)· Software: EEGLAB (open-source EEG analysis tool) JOIN MY COMMUNITY In The Space Between membership, you'll get access to LIVE quarterly Ask Amy Anything meetings (not offered anywhere else!), discounts on courses, special giveaways, and a place to connect with Amy and other like-minded people. You'll also get exclusive access to other behind-the-scenes goodness when you join! Click here to find out more --> https://shorturl.at/vVrwR Stay Connected: - Instagram - https://tinyurl.com/ysvafdwc- Facebook - https://tinyurl.com/yc3z48v9- YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/ywdsc9vt- Website - https://tinyurl.com/ydj949kt Life, Death & the Space Between Dr. Amy RobbinsExploring life, death, consciousness and what it all means. Put your preconceived notions aside as we explore life, death, consciousness and what it all means on Life, Death & the Space Between.**Brought to you by:Dr. Amy Robbins | Host, Executive ProducerPodcastize.net | Audio & Video Production | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recently, Professor Avi Loeb was tasked by the White House, AARO, ODNI, and the FBI with assembling and leading a new UAP Science Advisory Council — comprising astrophysicists, AI experts, and psychologists — to advise the intelligence community on unidentified anomalous phenomena. It was announced the same week the government released its third batch of declassified UAP files. Now he joins us live to talk about what that actually means — and what it doesn't. This is not a "the aliens are here" stream. It's the harder conversation. I study the cosmic microwave background, and when we find an anomaly, we exhaust every instrument artifact and foreground before anyone whispers "new physics." I want to know why UAP science should run on a different evidentiary standard — and Loeb is exactly the right person to push on it, because he's already attributing much of the released footage to cosmic rays, balloons, and possibly Chinese drones, while holding the door open for the small fraction that stays unexplained. WHAT WE GET INTO: - The council, its mandate, and the question nobody's asking: does "advisory" mean anyone has to listen? - The orbs — Chinese surveillance drones, classified US tech, or something else — and the prior you'd need before you say "non-human" - Whether "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" gets applied selectively - AI in the Galileo Project's detection pipeline, and the false-positive problem: what's the training comparison class for "non-human technology"? - The critique that a council built to study the object ignores where the data actually comes from — human witnesses GUEST: Professor Avi Loeb — Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard, former chair of the Astronomy department, head of the Galileo Project, author of "Extraterrestrial" and "Interstellar." Avi on X: https://x.com/ProfAviLoeb Avi's Medium: https://avi-loeb.medium.com Galileo Project: https://galileoproject.org HOST: Brian Keating — experimental cosmologist, UC San Diego. Brian on X: https://x.com/briankeating Brian's Medium: https://drbriankeating.medium.com/ Loeb's essay "Keeping Our Eyes on the Orbs, Not the Audience": https://avi-loeb.medium.com CHAPTERS: 00:00 — "Chinese drones, or the biggest discovery in history?" 00:10 — Avi Loeb, live 00:40 — The White House just put him in charge of UAPs 10:00 — Legitimacy, or a gilded cage? 13:00 — The orbs: Chinese drones or something else? 24:00 — The prior: what's your base rate for "non-human"? 28:00 — The CMB standard: how a cosmologist kills an anomaly 33:00 — AI, SETI, and the false-positive problem 44:00 — Two cosmologists, one Nobel, one council 47:00 — Lightning round 50:00 — The Impossible Question #uap #AviLoeb #UFO #Astrophysics #GalileoProject #SETI #IntoTheImpossible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, in today's episode we'll tell you what changed or stayed in regards to funding for the city of San Diego's police and fire departments in the upcoming fiscal year budget. Then, UC San Diego researchers are looking into whether popular medicines for weight loss could also help to slow the impacts of aging. Also, a new solar panel project in Imperial Beach. And, we'll tell you why the San Diego City Council recently put its support behind a package of state bills aimed at reforming utility companies like SDG&E.

In this episode, Andrew sits down with Naya to discuss her volleyball journey from a young athlete in Hawai‘i to competing at the Division I level. Naya shares how she first discovered volleyball after trying several sports as a child, the impact of club volleyball and travel tournaments on her development, and how competing alongside and against high-level athletes helped her realize that playing collegiate volleyball was possible. She also reflects on growing up in Hawai‘i's year-round volleyball culture and the lessons learned through training, competition, and pursuing goals at increasingly higher levels.The conversation explores the recruiting process, her commitment to the University of Utah, and the excitement surrounding her high school career as she continued to develop as both an athlete and person. However, her journey was far from straightforward. Naya shares the challenges of sustaining an ACL injury and surgery during her sophomore year of high school, only to later suffer an ACL injury to her opposite knee during her senior season. She discusses the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of rehabilitation, staying connected to her team, communicating with college coaches throughout the recruiting process, and learning to focus on what she could control each day.Throughout the episode, Naya provides an honest look at resilience, patience, and perseverance during some of the most difficult moments of her athletic career. She discusses returning to the court, rebuilding confidence in her body, continuing to pursue her goals, and eventually competing at both the University of Utah and UC San Diego. These experiences not only shaped her as an athlete but also inspired her passion for helping others, ultimately leading her toward a career in physical therapy. Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or healthcare professional, this episode offers valuable lessons on overcoming adversity, pursuing long-term goals, and finding growth through life's challenges. Enjoy the episode!

If your mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, you may already be wondering, “Am I next?” But if your dad, husband, brother, or partner is the one you're worried about, this episode is for you too.Amy breaks down the differences in Alzheimer's risk in women and men, including why women carry more modifiable risk factors, why certain risk factors may hit women's cognition harder, and why Alzheimer's may show up in men in ways that can blindside you.What to Listen For[00:00] Why this episode is for women and the men they love [02:00] Why “early is everything” in Alzheimer's prevention [05:00] Why women's Alzheimer's risk is not just about longevity [07:00] The UC San Diego study findings that surprised researchers [10:00] The 13 modifiable dementia risk factors studied [12:00] Who carries more risk factors versus who is more affected by them[15:00] How BMI affects cognitive performance differently in women vs men [18:00] What you need to know about the effects of cholesterol management [22:00] How heart health affects Alzheimer's risk in men[27:00] What behavioral symptoms show up more often in men with Alzheimer'sOver 7.2 million adults in the U.S. have clinical Alzheimer's, and 2 out of 3 are women. But men are not immune, and there are significant differences. Knowing what they are and which modifiable risk factors to pay attention to means more effective prevention as well as treatment. Listen to the full episode, subscribe to Happy and Healthy with Amy, and download Amy's free RESTORED Protocol guide so you can start building an Alzheimer's-resistant brain—one habit at a time.RESOURCES:Book a FREE Discovery Call with AmyDownload After Mom's Alzheimer's Diagnosis: The First 8 Things to Know and learn how to support her with more calm, clarity, and confidence.Download the RESTORED Protocol: Eight Essential Protective Factors to Build an Alzheimer's-Resistant BrainSchedule your Breakthrough Roadmap session with AmyFollow Amy on Instagram @amylangcoaching  and on Facebook @amylangcoachingSubscribe to Amy's YouTube channel @happyandhealthywithamy

A practicing astrophysicist who doesn't believe in the tunnel of light, the hovering soul, or the wailing relatives — but believes in one near-death experience that changed science forever. By the end you'll believe in it too. Today on Into the Impossible: the strangest, darkest, most personal origin story behind the world's most famous prize — and what it should make you do with the time you have left.

Health data affects artificial intelligence in important ways. Camille Nebeker, Ed.D., M.S., UC San Diego, explains why ethically sourced data is foundational to building trustworthy, AI-ready health data repositories. Nebeker examines how ethical sourcing applies across the full data lifecycle, including consent, governance, transparency, data quality, privacy, stewardship, and community engagement. She also shows how ideas from supply chain management and value sensitive design help teams identify ethical tensions and improve decision-making. This work helps explain why ethics cannot be added at the end of AI development and points toward more accountable data practices that support public trust and stronger downstream performance. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Science] [Show ID: 41368]

Erik Johnson is the head coach of the University of Denver women's basketball program, returning to lead the Pioneers in 2026 after previously serving as head coach from 2008 to 2012. During his first stint, he guided Denver to a 72-52 record, four consecutive winning seasons, and the program's first WNIT appearance.Johnson brings more than 30 years of collegiate coaching experience, including head coaching stops at Boston College and assistant coaching roles at Fairfield, Boston College, San Diego, and Rhode Island. Most recently, he helped Fairfield win three MAAC Championships and earn three NCAA Tournament appearances.Known for building winning cultures and developing student-athletes on and off the court, Johnson holds a degree in psychology from UC San Diego and a master's degree in adult education from Rhode Island.His wife Laura was a former volleyball player at Ohio State and was an alternate for the 2000 Olympic Team. The Johnsons have two daughters, Daly and Avery. The couple's son Davis tragically passed away at the age of four in May of 2010. The Johnson family is thrilled to be back at DU, a place that Davis loved, and his memory is cherished.

Health data affects artificial intelligence in important ways. Camille Nebeker, Ed.D., M.S., UC San Diego, explains why ethically sourced data is foundational to building trustworthy, AI-ready health data repositories. Nebeker examines how ethical sourcing applies across the full data lifecycle, including consent, governance, transparency, data quality, privacy, stewardship, and community engagement. She also shows how ideas from supply chain management and value sensitive design help teams identify ethical tensions and improve decision-making. This work helps explain why ethics cannot be added at the end of AI development and points toward more accountable data practices that support public trust and stronger downstream performance. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Science] [Show ID: 41368]

Health data affects artificial intelligence in important ways. Camille Nebeker, Ed.D., M.S., UC San Diego, explains why ethically sourced data is foundational to building trustworthy, AI-ready health data repositories. Nebeker examines how ethical sourcing applies across the full data lifecycle, including consent, governance, transparency, data quality, privacy, stewardship, and community engagement. She also shows how ideas from supply chain management and value sensitive design help teams identify ethical tensions and improve decision-making. This work helps explain why ethics cannot be added at the end of AI development and points toward more accountable data practices that support public trust and stronger downstream performance. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Science] [Show ID: 41368]

Health data affects artificial intelligence in important ways. Camille Nebeker, Ed.D., M.S., UC San Diego, explains why ethically sourced data is foundational to building trustworthy, AI-ready health data repositories. Nebeker examines how ethical sourcing applies across the full data lifecycle, including consent, governance, transparency, data quality, privacy, stewardship, and community engagement. She also shows how ideas from supply chain management and value sensitive design help teams identify ethical tensions and improve decision-making. This work helps explain why ethics cannot be added at the end of AI development and points toward more accountable data practices that support public trust and stronger downstream performance. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Science] [Show ID: 41368]

Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric illness, yet effective biological treatments remain limited. For many people living with the condition, even after successful weight normalization, persistent psychological symptoms, including obsessive thoughts about food, shape, and weight, continue to drive relapse.In this conversation, Dr. Bret Scher sits down with Dr. Guido Frank, Professor of Psychiatry at UC San Diego with over 25 years of experience in eating disorder treatment, to discuss results from the first-ever clinical trial of ketogenic therapy in anorexia nervosa.This 14-week supervised feasibility trial enrolled 22 individuals with weight-normalized anorexia nervosa. Among the 18 study completers:✅ 72% scored in the recovered range on eating disorder assessments, no longer meeting the criteria for an anorexia nervosa diagnosis✅ 100% of study completers saw improvements in depression symptoms, with 72% scoring within the normal range.✅ Participants did not experience significant weight change throughout the studyIn this conversation, Dr. Frank also discusses:What led a self-described skeptic to investigate ketogenic therapy for anorexia nervosaHow the study was structured, who it enrolled, and what the weekly supervision looked likeWhat participants experienced as symptoms improved, including reports of mental clarity and reliefHow weight remained stable throughout the ketogenic interventionThe pushback from colleagues and how to engage with the skepticismWhat comes next, including ongoing brain imaging research and plans for a randomized controlled trialEarly observations in bulimia nervosa and what they may suggest about metabolic factors in eating disordersThis trial demonstrated that ketogenic therapy is well tolerated by this population. Larger, controlled studies are needed to better evaluate efficacy.This intervention was conducted under close supervision by a licensed eating disorder specialist, with weekly check-ins, ketone monitoring, and regular psychiatric assessments. Anyone interested in exploring this approach should do so under close medical supervision and in partnership with their care team. If you or someone you care for is living with anorexia nervosa, please speak with your healthcare provider before making any changes.

Pre-cancer and cancer can begin when stressed blood-forming stem cells lose their normal controls. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how inflammation-linked editing enzymes, repetitive elements in the genome, and stem cell stress shape the progression from myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia. Jamison examines how spaceflight accelerates stem cell aging, how some astronauts mobilize a resilient regenerative stem cell population, and how tumor organoids in space help reveal drug responses by activating the enzyme ADAR1. This work helps explain how cancer starts, why it can return, and how space-based research may speed the development of therapies that stop malignant stem cells before disease advances. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41473]

Pre-cancer and cancer can begin when stressed blood-forming stem cells lose their normal controls. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how inflammation-linked editing enzymes, repetitive elements in the genome, and stem cell stress shape the progression from myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia. Jamison examines how spaceflight accelerates stem cell aging, how some astronauts mobilize a resilient regenerative stem cell population, and how tumor organoids in space help reveal drug responses by activating the enzyme ADAR1. This work helps explain how cancer starts, why it can return, and how space-based research may speed the development of therapies that stop malignant stem cells before disease advances. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41473]

Pre-cancer and cancer can begin when stressed blood-forming stem cells lose their normal controls. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how inflammation-linked editing enzymes, repetitive elements in the genome, and stem cell stress shape the progression from myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia. Jamison examines how spaceflight accelerates stem cell aging, how some astronauts mobilize a resilient regenerative stem cell population, and how tumor organoids in space help reveal drug responses by activating the enzyme ADAR1. This work helps explain how cancer starts, why it can return, and how space-based research may speed the development of therapies that stop malignant stem cells before disease advances. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41473]

Pre-cancer and cancer can begin when stressed blood-forming stem cells lose their normal controls. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how inflammation-linked editing enzymes, repetitive elements in the genome, and stem cell stress shape the progression from myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia. Jamison examines how spaceflight accelerates stem cell aging, how some astronauts mobilize a resilient regenerative stem cell population, and how tumor organoids in space help reveal drug responses by activating the enzyme ADAR1. This work helps explain how cancer starts, why it can return, and how space-based research may speed the development of therapies that stop malignant stem cells before disease advances. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41473]

Pre-cancer and cancer can begin when stressed blood-forming stem cells lose their normal controls. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how inflammation-linked editing enzymes, repetitive elements in the genome, and stem cell stress shape the progression from myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia. Jamison examines how spaceflight accelerates stem cell aging, how some astronauts mobilize a resilient regenerative stem cell population, and how tumor organoids in space help reveal drug responses by activating the enzyme ADAR1. This work helps explain how cancer starts, why it can return, and how space-based research may speed the development of therapies that stop malignant stem cells before disease advances. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41473]

Pre-cancer and cancer can begin when stressed blood-forming stem cells lose their normal controls. Catriona Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how inflammation-linked editing enzymes, repetitive elements in the genome, and stem cell stress shape the progression from myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia. Jamison examines how spaceflight accelerates stem cell aging, how some astronauts mobilize a resilient regenerative stem cell population, and how tumor organoids in space help reveal drug responses by activating the enzyme ADAR1. This work helps explain how cancer starts, why it can return, and how space-based research may speed the development of therapies that stop malignant stem cells before disease advances. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41473]

What if the same brain states people spend years chasing through psychedelics could be accessed through meditation alone, and in as little as seven days? In this fascinating solo episode, Darin Olien explores groundbreaking new research from University of California San Diego, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and University of Montreal suggesting that meditation may produce brain patterns remarkably similar to those observed during psychedelic experiences. From the suppression of the default mode network and increases in neural complexity to neuroplasticity, endogenous opioids, and measurable biological changes in the bloodstream, Darin unpacks the science behind one of the most powerful, and completely free tools available to human beings. He also walks listeners through a practical seven-day protocol combining focused-attention meditation, Vipassana, breathwork, walking meditation, and loving-kindness practices designed to help cultivate greater awareness, emotional resilience, cognitive flexibility, and inner peace. What You'll Learn The groundbreaking UC San Diego meditation study and its surprising findings Why meditation may create brain states similar to psilocybin What the default mode network is and how it shapes everyday thinking How meditation may reduce rumination, anxiety, and self-referential thought The concept of brain criticality and cognitive flexibility Why post-meditation blood samples stimulated neuronal growth How meditation influences neuroplasticity and whole-body biology The differences between Samatha and Vipassana meditation What advanced monks are teaching scientists about consciousness The limitations and caveats of current meditation research A practical seven-day meditation protocol anyone can begin Why meditation may be one of the most powerful health interventions available today Chapters 00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife 00:00:33 – Sponsor: Alkemis and the hidden toxicity of indoor air 00:00:57 – Conventional paints, petrochemicals, and endocrine disruptors 00:01:24 – Why VOCs and PFAS may be affecting your home environment 00:01:55 – Fire-resistant mineral paints and healthier living spaces 00:02:27 – Cradle to Cradle certification and sustainable design 00:03:23 – The meditation study Darin can't stop thinking about 00:03:33 – Scanning the brains and blood of meditators 00:03:44 – Brain activity resembling psilocybin experiences 00:04:09 – The promise of a seven-day meditation protocol 00:04:22 – Psychedelics, consciousness, and dissolving the sense of self 00:04:47 – Ancient practices and modern scientific validation 00:05:23 – Why meditation research is entering a renaissance 00:05:41 – Harvard, Massachusetts General Hospital, and advanced consciousness mapping 00:06:00 – University of Montreal's study of monks with 15,000+ hours of practice 00:06:16 – Why psychedelics and meditation are converging scientifically 00:06:37 – What listeners will learn in today's episode 00:06:54 – Breaking down the UC San Diego retreat study 00:07:18 – Thirty-three hours of meditation, breathwork, and group practice 00:07:42 – EEG scans, blood draws, and laboratory neuron testing 00:08:05 – Reduced activity in the default mode network 00:08:24 – The science of mental chatter and rumination 00:08:50 – Blood plasma stimulating new neuronal growth 00:09:02 – Neuroplasticity and new neural connections 00:09:29 – Increased cellular metabolism and endogenous opioids 00:10:13 – Samatha vs Vipassana meditation explained 00:10:42 – How different meditation styles reshape the brain 00:10:50 – Harvard's advanced meditation consciousness studies 00:11:18 – Mapping concentration states and consciousness cessation 00:11:46 – Ancient contemplative traditions meeting modern neuroscience 00:11:50 – Important limitations of the research 00:12:05 – Why advanced monks aren't average practitioners 00:12:20 – Correlation versus causation in psychedelic comparisons 00:12:48 – What may actually be happening inside the brain 00:13:03 – Understanding the default mode network 00:13:26 – Anxiety, depression, addiction, and overactive self-talk 00:13:53 – Why meditation and psilocybin share common neurological effects 00:14:10 – Beginner studies showing measurable brain changes 00:14:28 – Brain criticality and cognitive adaptability 00:14:48 – The most surprising finding: meditation changes the blood 00:15:05 – Meditation as a whole-body signaling event 00:15:18 – Better sleep, digestion, hormone balance, and recovery 00:15:39 – Neuroplasticity, immune function, metabolism, and pain regulation 00:15:56 – Why meditation may be the ultimate free medicine 00:16:10 – Introducing the seven-day meditation protocol 00:16:34 – Sponsor break: Alkemis Paint 00:19:02 – Building a research-backed at-home meditation practice 00:19:24 – Why consistency matters more than total hours 00:19:41 – Combining focused attention and open monitoring 00:19:53 – Days 1–3: Stabilizing attention 00:20:02 – Morning focused-attention meditation instructions 00:20:34 – Evening body scan practice 00:21:04 – Preparing the brain for deeper awareness 00:21:08 – Days 4–5: Opening awareness through Vipassana 00:21:31 – Letting thoughts, sensations, and sounds pass freely 00:21:39 – Evening box breathing for nervous system regulation 00:22:01 – Why days four and five often feel more challenging 00:22:11 – Days 6–7: Deepening and integrating the practice 00:22:27 – Walking meditation and embodied awareness 00:22:52 – Loving-kindness meditation and compassion training 00:23:02 – Vagal tone, heart rate regulation, and inflammation reduction 00:23:18 – Three rules that determine success 00:23:26 – Eliminating distractions and protecting attention 00:23:36 – Why you should never judge your meditation sessions 00:24:00 – Extending the practice beyond seven days 00:24:19 – Psychedelics, meditation, and the search for transformation 00:24:51 – What the medicine always teaches: sit with yourself 00:25:03 – The wellness industry's tendency to monetize stillness 00:25:20 – Why you don't need expensive tools to transform 00:25:36 – Meditation as radical self-reclamation 00:26:02 – Meeting yourself without distraction 00:26:17 – Final reflections and closing thoughts 00:26:29 – Outro and farewell Thank You to Our Sponsors Alkemis: Go to https://alkemispaint.com/ and use code DARIN10 for 10% off your order. Manna Vitality: Go to mannavitality.com/ and use code DARIN12 for 12% off your order. Join the SuperLife Patreon: This is where Darin now shares the deeper work: - weekly voice notes - ingredient trackers - wellness challenges - extended conversations - community accountability - sovereignty practices Join now for only $7.49/month at https://patreon.com/darinolien Find More from Darin Olien: Website: darinolien.com Instagram: @darinolien Book: Fatal Conveniences Platform & Products: superlife.com New Show: Roadmap to Happiness Key Takeaway "Perhaps one of the most profound discoveries emerging from modern neuroscience is that many of the states of awareness humans have sought through substances, rituals, and external interventions may already be available within us. Meditation is not simply a relaxation practice—it appears to be a biological, neurological, and consciousness-altering intervention capable of reshaping the brain, changing the body, and transforming how we experience reality. The question is not whether the door exists. The question is whether we are willing to sit still long enough to walk through it." Bibliography/Sources: Here is the fully formatted bibliography for the "Seven Days to a New Brain" episode. It is organized by category, formatted in strict APA Style (7th Edition), and includes a direct link for every single source : Primary Studies Brewer, J. A., Worhunsky, P. D., Gray, J. R., Tang, Y. Y., Weber, J., & Kober, H. (2011). Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(50), 20254–20259 . https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1112029108 Lieberman, J. M., Rahrig, H., Britton, W. B., et al. (2025). Toward a neuroscience of consciousness using advanced meditation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews . https://meditation.mgh.harvard.edu/files/Lieberman_25_NeuroscienceAndBiobehavioralReviews.pdf Pascarella, A., Jerbi, K., et al. (2026). Meditation induces shifts in neural oscillations, brain complexity, and critical dynamics: Novel insights from MEG. Neuroscience of Consciousness . https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41287816/ Patel, H., et al. (2025). Intensive meditation retreat induces rapid changes in brain activity, blood-based biomarkers, and neurotrophic signaling. Communications Biology . https://today.ucsd.edu/story/meditation-retreat-rapidly-reprograms-body-and-mind Shinozuka, K., et al. (2025). Neuroelectrophysiological correlates of extended cessation of consciousness in advanced meditation [Preprint]. bioRxiv . https://meditation.mgh.harvard.edu/files/Shinozuka_25_bioRxiv.pdf Van Lutterveld, R., et al. (2025). An intensively sampled electroencephalography case study of advanced concentration absorption meditation (jhana) [Preprint]. SSRN . https://meditation.mgh.harvard.edu/files/VanLutterveld_25_SSRN.pdf Supporting Press Coverage & Explainers Harvard Gazette. (2026, January). Your brain on advanced meditation . https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/01/your-brain-on-advanced-meditation/ Medical Xpress. (2026, February). Study of 12 monks finds meditation heightens brain activity, reshaping neural dynamics . https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-monks-meditation-heightens-brain-reshaping.html PsyPost. (2026). Brain scans of Buddhist monks reveal how different meditation styles alter consciousness . https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-of-buddhist-monks-reveal-how-different-meditation-styles-alter-consciousness/ ScienceDaily. (2026, April 6). Scientists say 7 days of meditation can rewire your brain . https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260406192913.htm UC San Diego Today. (2026). Meditation retreat rapidly reprograms body and mind. UC San Diego News Center . https://today.ucsd.edu/story/meditation-retreat-rapidly-reprograms-body-and-mind Université de Montréal. (2026, January 5). Meditation doesn't rest the brain, it reshapes it. UdeMNouvelles . https://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/en/article/2026/01/05/meditation-doesn-t-rest-the-brain-it-reshapes-it  

A new study demonstrates that ketogenic therapy could be an option for individuals living with weight-normalized anorexia nervosa.One of the primary goals of anorexia nervosa treatment is restoring weight, and while this is an important milestone, many individuals continue to experience psychological symptoms.Dr. Guido Frank, Professor of Psychiatry at UC San Diego, has spent more than 25 years researching and treating eating disorders. For much of his career, the lack of effective biological treatments for anorexia nervosa has been one of his greatest frustrations.That changed when he began investigating ketogenic therapy.In this video, Dr. Frank shares results from the first-ever clinical trial of ketogenic therapy in anorexia nervosa, published in Communications Medicine.This 14-week outpatient feasibility trial enrolled adults living with weight-normalized anorexia nervosa who, despite weight restoration, continued to struggle with persistent eating disorder symptoms.Of the 22 individuals enrolled in the study, 82% completed the trial. Among those who completed, 40% experienced mild early side effects, all of which resolved by study end, providing early evidence that ketogenic therapy may be a well-tolerated option in this weight-normalized population.Among the study completers:✅ 72% no longer met the criteria for an anorexia nervosa diagnosis✅ All showed improvement in depression scores, with 72% reaching the normal range✅ Participants also showed improvements in self-esteem, anxiety, and clinical impairmentOne of the most common concerns about keto in this population is whether it will cause weight loss.For this reason, weight was closely monitored and participants did not experience significant weight change during the study. These findings suggest that under clinical supervision, ketogenic therapy can be implemented in a way that supports weight maintenance, while also delivering far-reaching effects on brain function and psychiatric symptoms.These results are encouraging early evidence of feasibility, but larger, controlled studies are needed to further evaluate efficacy.The outcomes should not be generalized to severely underweight patients, who were not included in this trial. Dr. Frank's team is now actively studying whether ketogenic therapy can be applied at lower weights.This intervention was conducted under close supervision by a licensed eating disorder specialist, with weekly check-ins, ketone monitoring, and regular psychiatric assessments. Anyone interested in exploring this approach should only do so under close medical supervision and in partnership with their care team. If you or someone you care for is living with anorexia nervosa, please speak with your healthcare provider before making any changes.

The FIFA World Cup is a little over a week away, and millions of people are expected to travel into the United States over the next two months.But as the excitement grows, so are public health concerns amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.Monday on Midday Edition, we hear from an infectious diseases expert about why he believes the possibility of an outbreak is low and the state of public health policy today.Guest:Dr. Davey Smith, infectious diseases doctor, virologist, professor, UC San Diego

Could artificial intelligence identify Peripheral Artery Disease before patients face limb loss? Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a machine-learning model that analyzes a simple light-based signal from the toe to detect PAD with remarkable accuracy. This breakthrough has the potential to make PAD screening faster, more accessible, and eventually available on your smartphone. Kym McNicholas and Dr. John Phillips sit down with vascular surgeon Dr. Elsie Ross, cardiologist Dr. Mattheus Ramsis, and engineering PhD student Ava Faccetti to break down how artificial intelligence is transforming vascular health and what this could mean for millions living with undiagnosed disease. FULL RESEARCH DISCUSSION: Altmetric: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-026-02655-w/metrics DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-026-02655-w   People who think they have PAD can call the Global PAD Associaton's Leg Saver Hotline at 1-833-PAD-LEGS to learn more and get assistance finding a testing site or treatment.   #peripheralarterydisease #padsupport #legpain #legcramps #ABItest #vasculardiseasediagnosis #paddiagnosis #ucsandiego #newpadresearch #globalpadassociation

Understanding the causes of autism matters for families, public health, and public trust in science. Jonathan Sebat, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains what research actually shows about the causes of autism and how scientists separate strong evidence from misleading correlations. Sebat examines genetics, de novo mutations, twin studies, developmental regression, and the interplay of genes and environment, helping clarify why autism cannot be reduced to a single trigger. He also addresses why rising diagnoses do not necessarily reflect a simple rise in symptoms and why better research design is essential when studying environmental influences. This work helps explain what science does and does not support and points toward a more rigorous understanding of autism. Series: "Autism Tree Project Annual Neuroscience Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41177]

Understanding the causes of autism matters for families, public health, and public trust in science. Jonathan Sebat, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains what research actually shows about the causes of autism and how scientists separate strong evidence from misleading correlations. Sebat examines genetics, de novo mutations, twin studies, developmental regression, and the interplay of genes and environment, helping clarify why autism cannot be reduced to a single trigger. He also addresses why rising diagnoses do not necessarily reflect a simple rise in symptoms and why better research design is essential when studying environmental influences. This work helps explain what science does and does not support and points toward a more rigorous understanding of autism. Series: "Autism Tree Project Annual Neuroscience Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41177]

Understanding the causes of autism matters for families, public health, and public trust in science. Jonathan Sebat, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains what research actually shows about the causes of autism and how scientists separate strong evidence from misleading correlations. Sebat examines genetics, de novo mutations, twin studies, developmental regression, and the interplay of genes and environment, helping clarify why autism cannot be reduced to a single trigger. He also addresses why rising diagnoses do not necessarily reflect a simple rise in symptoms and why better research design is essential when studying environmental influences. This work helps explain what science does and does not support and points toward a more rigorous understanding of autism. Series: "Autism Tree Project Annual Neuroscience Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 41177]

An experimental cosmologist with 35 years of CMB research breaks down the curvature tension — and why the viral claim that "everything we know about cosmology is wrong" doesn't survive contact with the actual data. Subscribe if you want science with evidence, not speculation. Dr. Brian Keating is Chancellor's Distinguished Professor of Physics at UC San Diego and one of the leading experimental cosmologists working on the cosmic microwave background. He has spent three decades on experiments including BICEP, BICEP2, the Simons Array, and the Simons Observatory — the same data ecosystem at the center of this debate. We cover: why a statistical preference in one dataset is not the same as a discovery, what Planck actually measured and what its curvature signal does and doesn't mean, why combining CMB data with baryon acoustic oscillations changes the picture, the difference between geometry and topology that most explainers skip, and why science communicators who sensationalize real tensions do more damage than they realize. A clickable title and a photogenic host are not the same thing as a careful inference from the data. Key Takeaways: 00:00 A flat universe means the angles of any triangle in space sum to exactly 180° 02:10 Zero curvature is a unique number — it demands explanation, which is part of why inflation matters 04:45 Geometry describes how space behaves at scale; topology is a separate question most explainers conflate 07:30 Planck's curvature preference appears in some analyses — it is real, but it is also model-sensitive 10:00 A statistical preference within one dataset is not a confirmed result 12:20 Parameter degeneracy means changing one cosmological knob shifts others — results are not isolated 14:40 When Planck data is combined with baryon acoustic oscillation data, the case for curvature weakens 17:00 The honest summary: the curvature tension is worth watching, but nowhere near decisive 18:30 Sensationalizing legitimate tensions trains the public to think science only matters when it's exploding ———

After taking a much needed week off the Coaches' Panel of Nickie Sanlin of McKendree, Jay Hosack of George Mason, Brad Rosstratter of UC San Diego, Theo Edwards of CSUN and Dan Friend of Lewis (for a brief moment) jump into this mega-closeout episode to talk about the NCAA Championship match crowing the University of Hawaii as the 2026 National Champions. Along with that a lot of news of top names turning pro before the completion of their collegiate careers as well as athletes changing teams. With that, we move into the effects of "The Portal." As always, we end with a fan favorite, "Jay's Hot Takes!" NOTE: A special thank you to all of you who have followed the podcast during the 2026 NCAA Men's Volleyball season. We truly and deeply appreciate all your support, comments, messages and friendly conversations with those of you who have contacted us or said, "Hello," to us! We may do some special topics over the summer, or even track our USA Men's teams!

We'll introduce you to new women's volleyball head coach Spencer McLachlin on Episode 128 of Tritoncast. He takes us inside building a program from the ground up. From evaluating talent to hiring a coaching staff, from recruiting to scheduling, we'll learn how this first-time head coach is using a process-driven approach to building a sustainable winner. The Hawai‘i native also reflects on his playing career and winning a national championship at Stanford. As always, host Jeff Tourial takes us around campus for the latest in Triton Athletics. UC San Diego baseball plays for a conference championship, softball left fielder Sam Womack nets an academic honor, and the 2026 women's soccer schedule has been announced. If you enjoy this week's show, please subscribe, rate, and write a brief review on your favorite podcast platform. Listen to past episodes anytime on-demand at ucsdtritons.com/podcasts. For show updates, follow @Tritoncast on X. Go Tritons!

This month, KPBS Midday Edition is featuring conversations with important San Diego voices to commemorate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.First, we dive into the experience of AANHPI communities in navigating mental health care and how cultural values, traditions and intergenerational dynamics can impact treatment.Then, political science professor Tom Wong has spent the last decade and a half exploring how immigration has shaped the U.S. KPBS Midday Edition host Jade Hindmon sits down with Wong to speak about his work.Guests:Nellie Tran, community psychologist, professor, San Diego State University Department of Counseling and School PsychologyTom Wong, political science professor, UC San Diego; founder and director, U.S. Immigration Policy Center Resources:SDSU Center for Community Counseling and EngagementSDSU Counseling and Psychological ServicesNational Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Diego

Brain aging and disease research can gain new insights from space. Aline M.A. Martins, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how neuroscience studies in space use brain organoids, proteomics, and single-cell analysis to understand cognition decline, space-induced neurosenescence, and disease-related changes. Martins examines molecular markers of senescence, mitochondrial impairment, and neuroinflammation in organoid models, including Rett syndrome, while also comparing how space affects organoids of different ages. She shows that space can accelerate aging-related changes and affect cell types differently, helping clarify how space biology may speed drug discovery and reveal biomarkers for disease. This work helps explain how space research can inform treatments on Earth and points toward faster preclinical testing and broader understanding of brain disease. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41478]

Brain aging and disease research can gain new insights from space. Aline M.A. Martins, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how neuroscience studies in space use brain organoids, proteomics, and single-cell analysis to understand cognition decline, space-induced neurosenescence, and disease-related changes. Martins examines molecular markers of senescence, mitochondrial impairment, and neuroinflammation in organoid models, including Rett syndrome, while also comparing how space affects organoids of different ages. She shows that space can accelerate aging-related changes and affect cell types differently, helping clarify how space biology may speed drug discovery and reveal biomarkers for disease. This work helps explain how space research can inform treatments on Earth and points toward faster preclinical testing and broader understanding of brain disease. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41478]

Brain aging and disease research can gain new insights from space. Aline M.A. Martins, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how neuroscience studies in space use brain organoids, proteomics, and single-cell analysis to understand cognition decline, space-induced neurosenescence, and disease-related changes. Martins examines molecular markers of senescence, mitochondrial impairment, and neuroinflammation in organoid models, including Rett syndrome, while also comparing how space affects organoids of different ages. She shows that space can accelerate aging-related changes and affect cell types differently, helping clarify how space biology may speed drug discovery and reveal biomarkers for disease. This work helps explain how space research can inform treatments on Earth and points toward faster preclinical testing and broader understanding of brain disease. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41478]

Brain aging and disease research can gain new insights from space. Aline M.A. Martins, Ph.D., UC San Diego, explains how neuroscience studies in space use brain organoids, proteomics, and single-cell analysis to understand cognition decline, space-induced neurosenescence, and disease-related changes. Martins examines molecular markers of senescence, mitochondrial impairment, and neuroinflammation in organoid models, including Rett syndrome, while also comparing how space affects organoids of different ages. She shows that space can accelerate aging-related changes and affect cell types differently, helping clarify how space biology may speed drug discovery and reveal biomarkers for disease. This work helps explain how space research can inform treatments on Earth and points toward faster preclinical testing and broader understanding of brain disease. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 41478]

Environmentalist and author Bill McKibben has helped shape how the world understands climate change. In this conversation with Marco Werman, host of The World, McKibben offers a clear-eyed look at the climate crisis and the solutions that could help reduce the damage of a warming planet. As part of the Burke Lectureship at UC San Diego, McKibben also explores the moral and spiritual questions at the heart of climate change. More than three decades after The End of Nature brought climate change to a broad audience, his work continues to connect science, ethics, and grassroots action, including the global climate campaign 350.org and the fossil fuel divestment movement. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 41265]

Environmentalist and author Bill McKibben has helped shape how the world understands climate change. In this conversation with Marco Werman, host of The World, McKibben offers a clear-eyed look at the climate crisis and the solutions that could help reduce the damage of a warming planet. As part of the Burke Lectureship at UC San Diego, McKibben also explores the moral and spiritual questions at the heart of climate change. More than three decades after The End of Nature brought climate change to a broad audience, his work continues to connect science, ethics, and grassroots action, including the global climate campaign 350.org and the fossil fuel divestment movement. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 41265]

Environmentalist and author Bill McKibben has helped shape how the world understands climate change. In this conversation with Marco Werman, host of The World, McKibben offers a clear-eyed look at the climate crisis and the solutions that could help reduce the damage of a warming planet. As part of the Burke Lectureship at UC San Diego, McKibben also explores the moral and spiritual questions at the heart of climate change. More than three decades after The End of Nature brought climate change to a broad audience, his work continues to connect science, ethics, and grassroots action, including the global climate campaign 350.org and the fossil fuel divestment movement. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 41265]

Environmentalist and author Bill McKibben has helped shape how the world understands climate change. In this conversation with Marco Werman, host of The World, McKibben offers a clear-eyed look at the climate crisis and the solutions that could help reduce the damage of a warming planet. As part of the Burke Lectureship at UC San Diego, McKibben also explores the moral and spiritual questions at the heart of climate change. More than three decades after The End of Nature brought climate change to a broad audience, his work continues to connect science, ethics, and grassroots action, including the global climate campaign 350.org and the fossil fuel divestment movement. Series: "Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 41265]

California's $20 fast-food minimum wage cut employment by roughly 18,000 jobs and pushed up restaurant prices. Cato's Ryan Bourne talks to UC San Diego economist Jeff Clemens about California's wage-floor experiment—and the broader lessons for state and federal minimum wage policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deepak Chopra's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is being scrutinized through newly released Epstein files showing extensive email and text exchanges between the two men beginning in 2016, years after Epstein was already a registered sex offender. The messages suggest the relationship was warmer and more personal than a limited professional connection, with Chopra thanking Epstein for his hospitality, discussing consciousness and reality, exchanging private remarks, and visiting or being invited into Epstein's social orbit. The most damaging material centers on repeated references to Epstein's “girls,” including invitations where Chopra suggested Epstein bring them to retreats or trips, and another exchange where he joked about “cute girls” in a grotesque philosophical conversation with Epstein. There is no evidence in the files that Chopra participated in Epstein's crimes or knew the full scope of his abuse, but the emails are ugly because they show a celebrity wellness figure engaging casually and affectionately with a convicted sex offender while referring to the young women around him in ways that now read as deeply disturbing.The larger issue is not just Chopra's personal embarrassment, but what his Epstein connection says about the celebrity wellness and guru economy around power, access, money, and moral branding. Chopra has said his contact with Epstein was limited and unrelated to abusive activity, and he has described some of the surfaced exchanges as reflecting poor judgment in tone, but the emails raise obvious questions about why a globally famous physician and spiritual adviser would maintain that kind of rapport with Epstein after his conviction. Critics quoted in the piece argue that the scandal exposes a darker weakness inside parts of the wellness world: charismatic figures build public brands around healing, enlightenment, compassion, and higher consciousness, while the actual structures around them often lack accountability. In Chopra's case, the fallout has already included reputational damage, criticism from former admirers, and UC San Diego confirming that his unpaid appointment at its medical school will end in June.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Deepak Chopra, Jeffrey Epstein and those "cute girls" emails - Salon.com

Deepak Chopra's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is being scrutinized through newly released Epstein files showing extensive email and text exchanges between the two men beginning in 2016, years after Epstein was already a registered sex offender. The messages suggest the relationship was warmer and more personal than a limited professional connection, with Chopra thanking Epstein for his hospitality, discussing consciousness and reality, exchanging private remarks, and visiting or being invited into Epstein's social orbit. The most damaging material centers on repeated references to Epstein's “girls,” including invitations where Chopra suggested Epstein bring them to retreats or trips, and another exchange where he joked about “cute girls” in a grotesque philosophical conversation with Epstein. There is no evidence in the files that Chopra participated in Epstein's crimes or knew the full scope of his abuse, but the emails are ugly because they show a celebrity wellness figure engaging casually and affectionately with a convicted sex offender while referring to the young women around him in ways that now read as deeply disturbing.The larger issue is not just Chopra's personal embarrassment, but what his Epstein connection says about the celebrity wellness and guru economy around power, access, money, and moral branding. Chopra has said his contact with Epstein was limited and unrelated to abusive activity, and he has described some of the surfaced exchanges as reflecting poor judgment in tone, but the emails raise obvious questions about why a globally famous physician and spiritual adviser would maintain that kind of rapport with Epstein after his conviction. Critics quoted in the piece argue that the scandal exposes a darker weakness inside parts of the wellness world: charismatic figures build public brands around healing, enlightenment, compassion, and higher consciousness, while the actual structures around them often lack accountability. In Chopra's case, the fallout has already included reputational damage, criticism from former admirers, and UC San Diego confirming that his unpaid appointment at its medical school will end in June.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Deepak Chopra, Jeffrey Epstein and those "cute girls" emails - Salon.com

Deepak Chopra's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is being scrutinized through newly released Epstein files showing extensive email and text exchanges between the two men beginning in 2016, years after Epstein was already a registered sex offender. The messages suggest the relationship was warmer and more personal than a limited professional connection, with Chopra thanking Epstein for his hospitality, discussing consciousness and reality, exchanging private remarks, and visiting or being invited into Epstein's social orbit. The most damaging material centers on repeated references to Epstein's “girls,” including invitations where Chopra suggested Epstein bring them to retreats or trips, and another exchange where he joked about “cute girls” in a grotesque philosophical conversation with Epstein. There is no evidence in the files that Chopra participated in Epstein's crimes or knew the full scope of his abuse, but the emails are ugly because they show a celebrity wellness figure engaging casually and affectionately with a convicted sex offender while referring to the young women around him in ways that now read as deeply disturbing.The larger issue is not just Chopra's personal embarrassment, but what his Epstein connection says about the celebrity wellness and guru economy around power, access, money, and moral branding. Chopra has said his contact with Epstein was limited and unrelated to abusive activity, and he has described some of the surfaced exchanges as reflecting poor judgment in tone, but the emails raise obvious questions about why a globally famous physician and spiritual adviser would maintain that kind of rapport with Epstein after his conviction. Critics quoted in the piece argue that the scandal exposes a darker weakness inside parts of the wellness world: charismatic figures build public brands around healing, enlightenment, compassion, and higher consciousness, while the actual structures around them often lack accountability. In Chopra's case, the fallout has already included reputational damage, criticism from former admirers, and UC San Diego confirming that his unpaid appointment at its medical school will end in June.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Deepak Chopra, Jeffrey Epstein and those "cute girls" emails - Salon.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Deepak Chopra's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is being scrutinized through newly released Epstein files showing extensive email and text exchanges between the two men beginning in 2016, years after Epstein was already a registered sex offender. The messages suggest the relationship was warmer and more personal than a limited professional connection, with Chopra thanking Epstein for his hospitality, discussing consciousness and reality, exchanging private remarks, and visiting or being invited into Epstein's social orbit. The most damaging material centers on repeated references to Epstein's “girls,” including invitations where Chopra suggested Epstein bring them to retreats or trips, and another exchange where he joked about “cute girls” in a grotesque philosophical conversation with Epstein. There is no evidence in the files that Chopra participated in Epstein's crimes or knew the full scope of his abuse, but the emails are ugly because they show a celebrity wellness figure engaging casually and affectionately with a convicted sex offender while referring to the young women around him in ways that now read as deeply disturbing.The larger issue is not just Chopra's personal embarrassment, but what his Epstein connection says about the celebrity wellness and guru economy around power, access, money, and moral branding. Chopra has said his contact with Epstein was limited and unrelated to abusive activity, and he has described some of the surfaced exchanges as reflecting poor judgment in tone, but the emails raise obvious questions about why a globally famous physician and spiritual adviser would maintain that kind of rapport with Epstein after his conviction. Critics quoted in the piece argue that the scandal exposes a darker weakness inside parts of the wellness world: charismatic figures build public brands around healing, enlightenment, compassion, and higher consciousness, while the actual structures around them often lack accountability. In Chopra's case, the fallout has already included reputational damage, criticism from former admirers, and UC San Diego confirming that his unpaid appointment at its medical school will end in June.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Deepak Chopra, Jeffrey Epstein and those "cute girls" emails - Salon.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

What if people are not resisting change because they are stubborn… but because their brains literally cannot see the change as relevant yet? Episode Summary In this episode of the Joyosity™ Podcast, Jenn Whitmer talks with Jacqueline Kerr about how workplace change actually happens—inside teams, organizations, and systems. They explore why people often do not respond to new ideas, not because change is bad or hard, but because those ideas do not match their current priorities, pressures, incentives, or mental filters. Jacqueline shares how leaders can create the enabling conditions for change by starting small, reducing friction, building trust, and demonstrating results instead of forcing buy-in. This episode is especially helpful for leaders, managers, culture builders, HR professionals, and change agents who want to improve team habits, workplace culture, employee engagement, burnout prevention, leadership communication, and organizational change adoption. If you have ever wondered, "Why won't they just do the obvious, better thing?", this conversation will help you understand resistance to change, behavior change at work, and how to build momentum without unnecessary frustration. In this episode, you'll learn: 01:57 Enabling Conditions for Change 10:40 How to Win Over Resistant Leaders 21:50 Stealth Interventions That Work 24:00 Why Reminders Beat Information 28:21 Readiness for Change Is Contextual Key takeaway: Real change happens when leaders make new behaviors easier, safer, and more relevant to people's real priorities instead of just asking them to buy in. Why You Should Listen Learn why people resist change less out of stubbornness and more because of competing priorities, pressure, and mental filters. Hear a practical framework for creating the conditions that make change easier to adopt and sustain. Get ideas for leading culture change without forcing buy-in or creating unnecessary friction. Understand how small experiments and early wins can build real momentum across a team. Pick up better ways to bring skeptical or resistant leaders along without dismissing the past. Discover how reminders, environment design, and trust often matter more than more information. Walk away with useful insight for improving team habits, reducing burnout, and leading change more effectively. About Dr. Jacqueline KerrDr. Kerr is a behavior change expert, keynote speaker, grant-writing strategist, and former public health professor who helps leaders create meaningful change without burning out in the process. A former UC San Diego professor and internationally recognized researcher, she has secured more than $56 million in grant funding, published more than 220 scholarly works, and was named among the world's most influential scientific minds. Today, through her work as CEO of The Grant Doctor and Head of Behavior Science at The Huuman Group, Jacqueline combines science, strategy, and real-world leadership experience to help organizations improve burnout prevention, behavior change, and long-term impact. Her work spans academia, healthcare, corporate leadership, and community advocacy, all driven by a clear mission: empowering leaders to keep changing the world.drjacquelinekerr.com/leading-real-change.com/ Dr. Kerr's Social:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-jacqueline-kerr-a62581173/ About the Host: Jenn Whitmer Jenn is an international keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and the founder of Joyosity™, helping leaders create positive, profitable cultures through connection, curiosity, and joy. With a background in communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics, Jenn helps leaders and organizations navigate complex people challenges, reduce burnout, and build flourishing workplaces. Her insights have resonated with audiences worldwide, blending real-world leadership expertise, engaging storytelling, and a dash of humor to make the hard stuff easier. Whether on stage, in workshops, or with coaching clients, Jenn equips leaders with the tools they need to solve conflict, cultivate communication, and lead with purpose. Her book Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbooks offer leaders a fresh approach to joy at work that builds real results. jennwhitmer.com Jenn's Socials: Instagraminstagram.com/jenn_whitmer Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/jennwhitmer Podcast edited by Katey Perkins, Midsouth Story Co Resources & Links: Ready to stop over-functioning and start leading with more clarity, intention, and joy? There is a program for you. Join the waitlist here: jennwhitmer.com/waitlist Get Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbook Joyosity: How to Cultivate Intense Happiness in Work & Life (Even If Things Are What They Are) Joy isn't extra. Joy is how you thrive. This book gives leaders the tools to turn exhaustion into resilience and build cultures where work is a joy, people are whole, and organizations flourish. Joyosity Works Playbook: Practical Plays and Strategies for Joy at Work and Beyond is the official companion workbook to Joyosity to help you practice joy every day. Find direct links to purchase at your favorite booksellers at https://jennwhitmer.com/books. Free 99: Joyosity Explorer Map → This map will guide you to understanding the deeper purpose and story you tell yourself about your work. Joy is linked to purpose and productivity increases by 20% or more when you directly link your purpose to your work. Ready to Make a Plan: Joyosity™ Jumpstart → Get crystal clear on what you want, what's in the way, and how to move forward with traction. Starting the Journey: Enneagram Navigator → Stop guessing your type. In this 1:1 session, get clarity on your motivations and blind spots. Ready to Dive In: Joyosity™ Intensive → A one-day transformative experience to realign with your values and build a practical plan for joyful leadership. A Party for More: Bring Jenn & the Joy to Speak → Bring the spark (not just the spark notes!) to your whole team with contagious joy, practical tools, and plenty of laughter. Loved this episode? Rate, review, and share with a fellow leader who's ready to ditch the drama and lead with more joy, curiosity, and clarity.

Deepak Chopra's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is being scrutinized through newly released Epstein files showing extensive email and text exchanges between the two men beginning in 2016, years after Epstein was already a registered sex offender. The messages suggest the relationship was warmer and more personal than a limited professional connection, with Chopra thanking Epstein for his hospitality, discussing consciousness and reality, exchanging private remarks, and visiting or being invited into Epstein's social orbit. The most damaging material centers on repeated references to Epstein's “girls,” including invitations where Chopra suggested Epstein bring them to retreats or trips, and another exchange where he joked about “cute girls” in a grotesque philosophical conversation with Epstein. There is no evidence in the files that Chopra participated in Epstein's crimes or knew the full scope of his abuse, but the emails are ugly because they show a celebrity wellness figure engaging casually and affectionately with a convicted sex offender while referring to the young women around him in ways that now read as deeply disturbing.The larger issue is not just Chopra's personal embarrassment, but what his Epstein connection says about the celebrity wellness and guru economy around power, access, money, and moral branding. Chopra has said his contact with Epstein was limited and unrelated to abusive activity, and he has described some of the surfaced exchanges as reflecting poor judgment in tone, but the emails raise obvious questions about why a globally famous physician and spiritual adviser would maintain that kind of rapport with Epstein after his conviction. Critics quoted in the piece argue that the scandal exposes a darker weakness inside parts of the wellness world: charismatic figures build public brands around healing, enlightenment, compassion, and higher consciousness, while the actual structures around them often lack accountability. In Chopra's case, the fallout has already included reputational damage, criticism from former admirers, and UC San Diego confirming that his unpaid appointment at its medical school will end in June.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Deepak Chopra, Jeffrey Epstein and those "cute girls" emails - Salon.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Deepak Chopra's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is being scrutinized through newly released Epstein files showing extensive email and text exchanges between the two men beginning in 2016, years after Epstein was already a registered sex offender. The messages suggest the relationship was warmer and more personal than a limited professional connection, with Chopra thanking Epstein for his hospitality, discussing consciousness and reality, exchanging private remarks, and visiting or being invited into Epstein's social orbit. The most damaging material centers on repeated references to Epstein's “girls,” including invitations where Chopra suggested Epstein bring them to retreats or trips, and another exchange where he joked about “cute girls” in a grotesque philosophical conversation with Epstein. There is no evidence in the files that Chopra participated in Epstein's crimes or knew the full scope of his abuse, but the emails are ugly because they show a celebrity wellness figure engaging casually and affectionately with a convicted sex offender while referring to the young women around him in ways that now read as deeply disturbing.The larger issue is not just Chopra's personal embarrassment, but what his Epstein connection says about the celebrity wellness and guru economy around power, access, money, and moral branding. Chopra has said his contact with Epstein was limited and unrelated to abusive activity, and he has described some of the surfaced exchanges as reflecting poor judgment in tone, but the emails raise obvious questions about why a globally famous physician and spiritual adviser would maintain that kind of rapport with Epstein after his conviction. Critics quoted in the piece argue that the scandal exposes a darker weakness inside parts of the wellness world: charismatic figures build public brands around healing, enlightenment, compassion, and higher consciousness, while the actual structures around them often lack accountability. In Chopra's case, the fallout has already included reputational damage, criticism from former admirers, and UC San Diego confirming that his unpaid appointment at its medical school will end in June.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Deepak Chopra, Jeffrey Epstein and those "cute girls" emails - Salon.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Last year, an investigation by student journalists at University of Southern California (USC) found the university had sold donors' bodies to the Navy, which then sold the cadavers to the Israeli military for medical training use.Many of the bodies provided were first donated to UC San Diego then moved to USC, according to reports from student outlets Annenberg Media and the UCSD Guardian.The AJ+ documentary series, "Direct From With Dena Takruri" dives deeper into the investigation, working in collaboration with the student reporters who uncovered the donor contracts and tracked down the families.KPBS Midday Edition host Jade Hindmon talks with two of the student journalists about the details of the donation program, their experience reporting on the families directly impacted and collaborating with AJ+ on the investigation.Guests:Thomas Murphy, student reporter, UCSD GuardianJennifer Nehrer, former investigative reporter, USC Annenberg MediaLinks:Families left in the dark: UCSD, USC quietly sell donors' bodies to Navy for Israeli military training — Annenberg Media and the UCSD Guardian

Professor Alysson R. Muotri (geneticist and developmental biologist at UC San Diego) joins for a far out conversation about sending brain organoids to the International Space Station and what they're teaching us about aging, neurological disease, and a new kind of AI. One month in orbit ages an organoid the equivalent of 10 years on Earth, and Alysson's lab has already used that compressed timeline to unlock an FDA-approved clinical trial for a drug developed in space.In this episode, we discuss:Why space accelerates brain agingThe surprising role of "junk DNA" and endogenous retroviruses in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerationWhy HIV antiretroviral drugs may be the key to treating neurological conditions What the decommissioning of the ISS and the rise of commercial space stations mean for biomedical researchHow brain organoids learn, remember, and inspire a new generation of AI algorithms beyond transformersThe bioethics frontier: when do organoids become conscious and how would we even know?Credits:Created by Greg Kubin and Matias SerebrinskyHost: Matias and GregProduced by Nico V. Rey Find us at businesstrip.fm and psymed.venturesFollow us on Instagram and Twitter!Theme music by Dorian LoveAdditional Music: Distant Daze by Zack Frank

Triton swimmer Chloe Braun is in the Triton Spotlight on episode 126 of Tritoncast. She'll tell us what it was like to become the first Triton to score a team point at the NCAA Division I championship. We'll learn what it was like for Chloé to move thousands of miles from her home in southern France to swim in Southern California. Now that her collegiate career is over, could an appearance in the Summer Olympics be on the horizon? Plus, you asked for it: we'll put Chloé through the ringer as this week marks the return of our popular Quick Picks segment. As always, we will go around campus for the latest in Triton Athletics. A pair of UC San Diego golfers earned postseason awards and The Big West track & field championship gets underway this weekend. If you enjoy this week's show, please subscribe, rate, and write a brief review on your favroite podcast platform. Listen to past episodes anytime on-demand at ucsdtritons.com/podcasts. For show updates, follow @Tritoncast on X. Go Tritons!

First, we looked into some of the ways that you could try to find a fair deal on homeowners insurance. Then, supporters of a county sales tax increase say they have enough signatures but are unclear on where exactly the money would go. Also, following complaints from residents, the city has now presented updates to its street improvement plan. Plus, scientists and musicians at UC San Diego are collaborating on a unique composition. And to close out today's pod, we remember a late icon of the San Diego Civil Rights Movement.