Mind & Matter Podcast

Nick talks to Dr. Rusty Gage, a neurobiologist at the Salk Institute whose lab studies how genes & environment interact to influence brain development, including the process of adult neurogenesis. They discuss: what neurogenesis is and how it works; lifestyle factors that influence neurogenesis, such as exercise, intermittent fasting, etc.; molecular pathways involved in neurogenesis; depression & PTSD; memory formation and the function of newly born adult neurons; and more. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/how-to-support-mind-and-matter ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nick talks with Nick Mosley, who is CEO of a cannabis testing lab called Confidence Analytics, which conducts analytical testing for legal cannabis products in Washington & California. They discuss: how analytical testing for cannabis products works; THC, CBD, and cannabinoid content; terpenes; pesticides, heavy metals, and microbial contaminants; the phenomenon of THC inflation & lab shopping in the legal marijuana industry; how consumers can discern whether cannabis products are safe & consistent. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/how-to-support-mind-and-matter ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Neuroscientist Dr. Devanand Manoli talks about the evolution of monogamy is prairie voles and other species, how pheromones like oxytocin work, and parenting behavior in monogamous species. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/how-to-support-mind-and-matter ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nick talks to psychiatrist & neuroscientist Devanand Manoli, MD, PhD, whose lab at UCSF studies the neural basis of social behavior & attachment in prairie voles. As a psychiatrist, he also treats patients with childhood psychosis. They discuss: the neural basis of pair bonding, monogamy, and parental & sexual behavior; oxytocin, vasopressin, testosterone & estrogen; evolution of behavior; menopause & multigenerational parental care; childhood psychosis; and more.

Drs. Stephen Simpson & David Raubenheimer discuss how diets that humans evolved to eat compare to other animals, and whether there is an optimal human diet, in terms of macronutrient composition, for things like longevity, body weight, or reproductive success. Are these diets more plant-based or vegan? More animal-based or carnivore? Or are they highly diverse & omnivorous? The discussion is based on their book, "Eat Like the Animals: What Nature Teaches Us About the Science of Healthy Eating." LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/how-to-support-mind-and-matter ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nick talks to Dr. Christoffer Clemmensen, who runs the Metabolism & Molecular Pharmacology group at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. His lab studies the biological basis of obesity & other metabolic disorders. They discuss: the causes of obesity; environmental and biological factors influencing predisposition to obesity; novel anti-obesity drugs; gut hormones & peptides regulating food intake; whether psychedelics like psilocybin may be useful for treating obesity and other metabolic disorders. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Academic dermatologist Dr. Richard Weller discusses the relationship between sunlight & UV radiation exposure and infectious disease (including COVID), all-cause mortality, and vitamin D production in the skin. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Academic dermatologist Dr. Richard Weller discusses the evolution of human skin. Why did we evolve hairlessness & the ability to sweat so much? Why has skin color evolved in different directions throughout history? What does this have to do with the physiological effects of sunlight? LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nick talks to academic dermatologist Dr. Richard Weller about: skin health; benefits & risks of sunlight & UV radiation exposure; nitric oxide, blood pressure & cardiovascular health; vitamin D; sun screen & tanning; the evolution of skin color & skin physiology; and more. Audio episode, show notes & transcript: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/benefits-and-risks-of-uv-radiation#details ] LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:05:33 Rochard Weller Conversation

Nick talks to biologist Dr. Christoph Thaiss, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. His lab studies how the body detects & responds to environmental stimuli, with a focus on interactions between the gut microbiome, immune & nervous systems. They discuss: sensory systems of the body & basic principles of how they work; gut microbiome & the consequences of depleting it with antibiotics; endocannabinoids & exercise; how microbiome composition influences the brain & motivation to engage in exercise; prebiotics & probiotics; circadian rhythms & eating patterns. Audio episode, show notes & transcript: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/connections-between-microbiome-exercise#details ] LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:05:12 Alex Gumpper Conversation

Nick talks to biochemist & biophysicist Dr Ryan Gumpper, a postdoc in Dr. Bryan Roth's lab at the University of North Carolina. They discuss the biochemistry, molecular biology & biophysics of serotonin receptors, including the molecular details for what happens when serotonin and tryptamines psychedelics (e.g. LSD) bind to 5HT2A receptors in the brain. They also discuss how understand these details relates to the quest to discover novel psychedelic-derived compounds with therapeutic benefits, as well as the inspiration Ryan received from reading Alexander Shulgin's famous book, PIHKAL. Audio episode, show notes & transcript: https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/biochemistry-and-molecular-biology#details LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:04:43 Alex Gumpper Conversation

Nick talks to anesthesiologist & neuroscientist Dr. Alex Proekt, who runs a lab at the University of Pennsylvania, about altered states of consciousness. They discuss: NREM & REM sleep, anesthesia & anesthetic drugs like propofol; coma & vegetative states; sleeping pills like Ambien; the relationship between consciousness & the underlying brain dynamics; how ketamine differs from other anesthetics & what it does to brain activity; AI & ChatGPT. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD discusses his experience with Elon Musk at Twitter HQ after it was revealed that his account was previously suppressed on Twitter. Full audio & video versions of this episode: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nick talks to Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, who is a professor of medicine & economics at Stanford University. They discuss various aspects of the COVID pandemic, such as: how infectious, transmissible, and deadly SARS-CoV-2 is; mRNA vaccines, how well they stop transmission vs. severed COVID, and whether they can induce negative side effects such as myocarditis; how well masks actually work; Jay's inclusion in the "TwitterFiles" and the suppression of speech on social media; what he thinks of Elon Musk after meeting him; his thoughts on the future of public health governance in the US. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nick talks to Dr. Sergiu Pasca, a developmental neuroscientist and professor at Stanford University. They discuss topics related to human brain development, the origins of neuropsychiatric disease like autism & schizophrenia, new technologies for studying brain development, stem cells, and recent experiments from Dr. Pasca'a lab utilizing brain "organoids," "assembloids," and human-animal transplantations. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:50 Sergiu Pasca Conversation

Nick talks to computational neuroscientist Dr. Zach Mainen, a neuroscientist and director of the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme at the Centre of the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal. His lab studies the neuroscience of decision making, neuromodulation & behavior using both experimental and computational approaches. They discuss: what kinds of things animal brains are actually computing, and to what extent we can think about brains like computers; the difference between neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the brain, including some discussion of what specific neuromodulators like dopamine and serotonin do in the brain; and we also discussed some of the research his lab is starting to do on serotonergic psychedelics, including how he thinks about whether the subjective effects of psychedelics are likely to be important for the therapeutic and neuroplastic effects. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:03:40 Zach Mainen Conversation

Nick talks to mathematical biologist Dr. Alex Washburne about the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Audio version and more information here: https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/how-did-the-sars-cov-2-virus-originate#details

Nick talks to experimental psychologist Dr. Harriet de Wit, a professor at the University of Chicago whose lab studies the behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs on humans. They discuss: the effects of MDMA on emotional perception and touch sensation; the effects of microdosing LSD; THC's impact on memory. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:35 Harriet de Wit Conversation

Nick talks to biological anthropologist & neuroscientist Dr. Terrence Deacon, who is a professor of biological anthropologist at UC-Berkeley and a leading thinker on the evolution of language, consciousness and human cognition. They discuss: how end-directed systems, such as life, can emerge from non-life; how complexity evolves once life originates; the origins of sentience and a sense of self; the evolution of the nervous system and consciousness; information, value, and "aboutness" in the universe; and more. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:55 Terrence Deacon Conversation

Biological anthropologist & neuroscientist Dr. Terrence Deacon discusses the concept of emergence? What is it, and how do emergent transitions occur? What kind of emergent process is responsbile for the origins of life, as well how is becomes more and more complex as evolution proceeds? Full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln-q-Wxjjqw LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Martin Kulldorff, PhD is an epidemiologist & biostatistician who has been studying infectious diseases for over two decades. He was a professor at Harvard Medical School for many years, a member of the FDA’s Drug Safety & Risk Management Advisory Committee, and a former consultant for the Centers for Disease Control. In 2020, Dr. Kulldorff co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration, a document criticizing the use of society-wide lockdowns for COVID-19 and advocating for a strategy of focused protection for high-risk people. Nick and Dr. Kulldorff discussed a variety of topics related to the COVID pandemic, including the nature of how the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads compared to other pathogens, how our public health strategy was implemented & his thoughts on how we could have handled the pandemic better, vaccine-induced immunity vs. natural immunity, vaccine efficacy, how and why various countries differed in their approach to COVID, and the health of our scientific & public health institutions in the US.

Nick talks to biological anthropologist & neuroscientist Dr. Terrence Deacon about his ideas related to the origins of life in the universe, the difference between matter and information, and how "aboutness" comes into being. Full conversation here: LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nick talks to neuroscientist Dr. Kent Berridge, a professor of psychology & neuroscience at the University of Michigan. They discuss: the neurobiology of the brain processes rewards and generates pleasure & motivation; the difference between "liking" and wanting"; hunger and whether food addiction is similar to drug addiction; emotion and consciousness; and more. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/... ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:00 Kent Berridge Conversation

Nick talks to Dr. Amir Englund, a psychopharmacologist at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College, London. Dr. Englund's research focuses on the effects of cannabis, medical marijuana and specific cannabinoids (e.g. THC, CBD, THCV) on human cognitive function. They discuss topics including: what is the addiction liability of marijuana? What are the acute & chronic cognitive effects of THC, including how it impacts memory & executive function; how the effects of THC can be modulated by cannabinoids like CBD & THCV; the relationship between marijuana & THC and psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia); and more. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/how-to-support-mind-and-matter ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:34 Amir Englund Conversation

Nick talks to molecular physiologist Dr. Dudley Lamming, a professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison whose lab studies how the body responds to the nutrient and calorie content of food. We discuss: how the protein and amino acid composition of food impacts metabolic health & aging; branched chain amino acids & disease; sex differences between males & females in how diet affects health; fasting, calorie restriction & fasting; and more. LEARN MORE & SUPPURT M&M: All M&M content, including podcast episodes & written content, is available on Substack. I mainly respond to questions & comments on that channel: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com ] If you enjoy M&M content and want to provide further support, read this: [ https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/how-to-support-mind-and-matter ] ABOUT Nick Jikomes: Nick is a neuroscientist and podcast host. He is currently Director of Science & Innovation at a technology startup in the legal cannabis industry. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University and a B.S. in Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:20 Dudley Lamming Conversation