Mind & Matter Podcast

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.

Nick talks to neurologist & neuroscientist Michael Fox, MD, PhD about his recent work mapping out an "addiction remission network" in the brain. They discuss addiction, brain networks involved in addiction, neurotechnologies like Deep Brain Stimulation and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Parkinson's Disease, and more. USEFUL LINKS Sign up for the free weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] DoubleBlind Magazine, a leading source of news, information, and education about psychedelics. Use code MINDMATTER for 20% site-wide. [https://www.doubleblindmag.com/mindma...] Organize your digital highlights & notes w/ Readwise (2 months free w/ sub)[https://readwise.io/nickjikomes/] 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:05 Michael Fox

Nick talks to Daniel Karlin, MD, a board-certified physician in psychiatry, addiction medicine & clinical informatics who is the Chief Medical Officer at MindMed. They discuss: psychiatry; incentives in scientific & medical research; healthcare & mental health; psychedelics; LSD for anxiety; MDMA for autism; ibogaine derivatives for addiction; patient access & care; and more. Try the Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for $50 off: [https://www.lumen.me/shop?fid=8731&ut...] 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 psychiatrist Dr. Joanna Moncrieff about depression. What causes it? How do SSRIs work? How well do antidepressants work? What are the risks & benefits of long-term antidepressant use? What is the evidence that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance (too little serotonin) in the brain? How is social media & technology influencing mental health? SUPPORT M&M: Sign up for the free weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] The Amino Co., shop science-back amino acids supplements. Use code ‘MIND’ to save 30%. [https://aminoco.com/MIND] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:06:20 Joanna Moncrieff Conversation

Anthropologist & cognitive scientist Dr. Dimitris Xygalatas discusses how the annual temple burning ritual at Burning Man spontaneously evolved and what it's psychological function is. He also discusses other aspects of religious rituals and how ritual behavior is evolving in the modern world. USEFUL LINKS Buy "Ritual" by Dimitris Xygalatas [https://linktr.ee/mindandmatter_books] Sign up for the weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] Elysium Health, a life sciences company focused on aging research. Use code MIND for 10% off first purchase of any of their supplement products. Valid until 6/22/2022. [https://www.elysiumhealth.com/discoun...] DoubleBlind Magazine, a leading source of news, information, and education about psychedelics. Use code MINDMATTER for 20% site-wide. [https://www.doubleblindmag.com/mindma...] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] Organize your digital highlights & notes w/ Readwise (2 months free w/ sub)[https://readwise.io/nickjikomes/]

Biologist Dr. Matthew Picard discusses what causes hair to turn gray at the cellular level, and whether or not graying can be reversed naturally, without human-made products (e.g. Rogaine). This is ties into the full discussion about cell biology, mitochondria, stress, and aging. USEFUL LINKS Sign up for the weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] Elysium Health, a life sciences company focused on aging research. Use code MIND for 10% off first purchase of any of their supplement products. Valid until 6/22/2022. [https://www.elysiumhealth.com/discoun...] DoubleBlind Magazine, a leading source of news, information, and education about psychedelics. Use code MINDMATTER for 20% site-wide. [https://www.doubleblindmag.com/mindmatter] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] Organize your digital highlights & notes w/ Readwise (2 months free w/ sub)[https://readwise.io/nickjikomes/] Download the podcast & follow Nick at his website [https://www.nickjikomes.com] Try Levels Health to monitor your blood sugar & optimize your diet [https://www.levelshealth.com/join?par...]

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

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 Daniel Brady, PhD a neuroscientist who studied sensory systems in the developing brain. Dr. Brady is also the co-founder and CEO of Orita.ai, a startup using machine learning & AI to solve data problems for direct-to-consumer brands. They discuss: critical periods of learning, childhood brain development, neuroplasticity, synesthesia, language acquisition, Orita.ai, machine learning & AI, customer segmentation, data science, and more. Try Everyday Dose, high-quality coffee & matcha altneratives with functional mushrooms & other supplements. Try the Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for $50 off: [https://www.lumen.me/shop?fid=8731&utm_source=influencer&utm_medium=influencer&discount=MIND] 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.

Clinical psychologist & psychedelic research Dr. Alan Davis summaries research to-date on psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in humans. How does it work? What are the major findings for things like depression?

Nick talks to neuroscientist & geneticist Dr. Kevin Mitchell about: 'Nature vs. Nurture,' the genetics of brain development, autism & schizophrenia, human brain and psychological variation, synesthesia, agency & free will, and more. USEFUL LINKS Sign up for the free weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] DoubleBlind Magazine, a leading source of news, information, and education about psychedelics. Use code MINDMATTER for 20% site-wide. [https://www.doubleblindmag.com/mindma...] Organize your digital highlights & notes w/ Readwise (2 months free w/ sub)[https://readwise.io/nickjikomes/] 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:25 Kevin Mitchell, Nature vs. Nurture 0:30:28 Genetics, Twins & Developmental Noise 0:54:51 Neurodevelopmental Genes 1:19:34 Sensory Perception & Synesthesia 1:38:03 Human Agency & Free Will

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

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 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.

Nick talks to chemist & patent attorney Dr. Andrew Chadeayne, who is the CEO of the psychedelic startup CaaMTech. They discussed: the chemistry of magic mushrooms, including compounds beyond psilocybin, found in many species of psilocybin-containing mushrooms; the so-called entourage effect, the idea that multiple compounds found in plants and fungi might work together in a synergistic fashion to produce specific psychoactive or therapeutic effects; Cannabis and magic mushrooms; DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and novel DMT analogues; how we went from academia, to patent law, to founding CaaMTech; the prospect of developing novel psychedelic drugs, non-hallucinogenic psychedelic drug analogues, and some of the details on how these various drugs differ in terms of their chemical structure. USEFUL LINKS Sign up for the weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?sort=top] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] Elysium Health, a life sciences company focused on aging research. Use code MIND for 10% off first purchase of any of their supplement products. Valid until 6/22/2022. [https://www.elysiumhealth.com/discount/MIND] DoubleBlind Magazine, a leading source of news, information, and education about psychedelics. Use code MINDMATTER for 20% site-wide. [https://www.doubleblindmag.com/mindmatter] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindandmatter] Organize your digital highlights & notes w/ Readwise (2 months free w/ sub)[https://readwise.io/nickjikomes/] Download the podcast & follow Nick at his website [https://www.nickjikomes.com] Try Levels Health to monitor your blood sugar & optimize your diet [https://www.levelshealth.com/join?partner=MINDANDMATTER]

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.

Nick talks to neuroscientist Dr. David Anderson, a professor at Caltech whose lab studies the neurobiological basis of animal behavior and emotion. They discuss: technologies for understanding cause-and-effect in the brain; neurobiological basis of animal behavior, including aggression/fighting, mating, feeding, and social behavior; how hormones such as estrogen regulate behavior; emotions, feelings, and consciousness; and David's new book, "The Nature of the Beast." SUPPORT M&M: Sign up for the free weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] The Amino Co., shop science-back amino acids supplements. Use code ‘MIND’ to save 30%. [https://aminoco.com/MIND] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:05:58 David Anderson Conversation

Neurologist & neuroscientist Dr. Christian Luscher describes the latest research from his lab looking at ketamine. How does to work within the brain's "reward circuitry" and what is its addiction liability (in rodents)?

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 neuroscientist & clinical researcher Dr. Rachel Yehuda, who is a professor of psychiatry & neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York. They discuss the biology and neuroscience of stress, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), why people can be sensitive or resilient to stress, epigenetics, intergenerational trauma, and how MDMA and psychedelics are being explored for their ability to treat stress-related mental health conditions. USEFUL LINKS Sign up for the weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] Elysium Health, a life sciences company focused on aging research. Use code MIND for 10% off first purchase of any of their supplement products. Valid until 6/22/2022. [https://www.elysiumhealth.com/discount/MIND] Buy books from M&M guests [https://linktr.ee/mindandmatter_books] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] Organize your digital highlights & notes w/ Readwise (2 months free w/ sub)[https://readwise.io/nickjikomes/] Download the podcast & follow Nick at his website [https://www.nickjikomes.com] Try Levels Health to monitor your blood sugar & optimize your diet [https://www.levelshealth.com/join?par...]

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.

Neuroscientist Dr. Gul Dolen discusses the subjective effects of psychedelics, whether they may have therapeutic value, the importance of context in their effects on metaplasticity & the brain, and whether non-hallucinogenic psychedelic drug derivatives will be effective therapeutics. 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. Shruti Naik, assistant professor of pathology & medicine at the NYU Langone. Her lab studies the interactions between immune cells, epithelial cells, and microbes in barrier tissues that interface with the environment (e.g. skin, lungs & gut). They discuss: inflammatory memory; how cells store memories of inflammation epigenetically; how skin cell regenerate and repair tissue damage; stem cell biology; cancer, and more. SUPPORT M&M: Sign up for the free weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes] Organize your digital highlights & notes w/ Readwise (2 months free w/ sub)[https://readwise.io/nickjikomes/] 0:00:00 Episode Intro 0:04:54 Shruti Naik 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

Anthropologist Dr. Michael Winkelman the role that psychedelics (e.g. psilocybin mushrooms) have had on the origins and evolution of symbolic cognition, group ritual behavior, mimesis, and shamanism. SUPPORT M&M: Sign up for the free weekly Mind & Matter newsletter [https://mindandmatter.substack.com/?s...] The Amino Co., shop science-back amino acids supplements. Use code ‘MIND’ to save 30%. [https://aminoco.com/MIND] Athletic Greens, comprehensive daily nutrition (Free 1-year supply Vitamin D w/ purchase) [https://www.athleticgreens.com/mindan...] Follow Nick's work through Linktree: [https://linktr.ee/trikomes]