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Smooth Brain Society

Smooth Brain Society

83 episodes

6 days ago

Dr. Jonathan Howard, neurologist and psychiatrist at NYU Langone and chief of the neurology service at Bellevue Hospital, discusses his dual origin stories. The first as a medical professional and his experiences treating multiple sclerosis and other neuro-immune diseases. The second, understanding the dangers of misinformation in medicine, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic which he doccuments across two books "We want them infected" and "Everyone Else is Lying to you". Dr. Howard ref...

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Society & Culture,

Health & Fitness

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Dr. Jonathan Howard, neurologist and psychiatrist at NYU Langone and chief of the neurology service at Bellevue Hospital, discusses his dual origin stories. The first as a medical professional and his experiences treating multiple sclerosis and other neuro-immune diseases. The second, understanding the dangers of misinformation in medicine, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic which he doccuments across two books "We want them infected" and "Everyone Else is Lying to you". Dr. Howard ref...

Show more...

Society & Culture,

Health & Fitness

Episodes (20/83)

Smooth Brain Society

#75. From Neurology to Pandemic Misinformation - Dr. Jonathan Howard

Dr. Jonathan Howard, neurologist and psychiatrist at NYU Langone and chief of the neurology service at Bellevue Hospital, discusses his dual origin stories. The first as a medical professional and his experiences treating multiple sclerosis and other neuro-immune diseases. The second, understanding the dangers of misinformation in medicine, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic which he doccuments across two books "We want them infected" and "Everyone Else is Lying to you". Dr. Howard ref...

6 days ago

1 hour 23 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#74. From the Cochlea to Comedy - Dr. Kate Slade

Dr. Kate Slade, Lecturer and Researcher at Lancaster University, discusses her research on the intersection of hearing loss, aging, and cognition. She explores how hearing loss affects mental health and wellbeing, particularly in older adults, and the implications of health inequalities on hearing outcomes. The conversation also delves into the impact of COVID-19 on hearing and cognition, as well as common misconceptions about hearing loss and its relationship to cognitive decline. We delve i...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 10 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

EJOP #3. The Impact of Financial Well-Being on Happiness - Dr. Cicilia Larasati Rembulan

In this episode of the Smooth Brain Society, Sahir and Amer engage with Dr. Cicilia Larasati Rembulan, Associate Professor from Universitas Ciputra, Indonesia, to discuss her recently published research on subjective well-being. The conversation explores the definitions of well-being, the measurement of happiness, and the role of social comparison and financial well-being in shaping life satisfaction among an Indonesian population sample. Dr. Rembulan shares her findings that social compariso...

1 month ago

52 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#73. Life With And Without Pain - Arnas Tamasauskas

Dive into the fascinating world of pain research with Arnas Tamasauskas, a PhD student at the University of Liverpool. Explore the mysteries of neuropathic pain, genetic quirks which lead to some people feeling no pain, and the use of MRI and interviews in understanding chronic pain and invisible disabilities. Join us for an enlightening conversation on the Smooth Brain Society podcast. Support the show Support us and reach out! https://smoothbrainsociety.com https://www.patreon.com/SmoothBra...

1 month ago

1 hour 8 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

EJOP #2. Emotion Regulation via Attentional Deployment - Dr. Daniel Rojas Libano

Join us in this insightful episode as we dive into the world of emotion regulation and attentional deployment with Dr. Daniel Rojas Líbano of Universidad Diego Portales. Santiago, Chile. Discover how shifting focus can influence emotional responses and explore the implications of these findings in real-world applications. Perfect for psychology enthusiasts and anyone curious about the science behind our emotions. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation! Read the entire research pap...

2 months ago

1 hour

Smooth Brain Society

#72. Touching a Nerve - Adarsh Makdani

In this fascinating episode we dive into the world of somatosensation with Adarsh Makdani, a researcher at Liverpool John Moores University. Discover the intricacies of mechanosensory receptors, the science behind pain and itch, and the groundbreaking techniques used to study these sensations. Adarsh shares insights into his research journey, the importance of collaboration, and the ethical considerations in experimental pain research. Whether you're a science enthusiast or just curious about...

2 months ago

1 hour 17 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#71. A Child’s Rights: Politics, Law & Sex Crimes - Dr. Pantea Javidan

⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses child sexual exploitation, trafficking, and trauma. What does the law really say about protecting children — and who does it leave behind? 🚨 This week on Smooth Brain Society, Dr. Pantea Javidan of Stanford University joins host Sahir and co-host Sabrina Page (Founder of the Gender Violence Research and Collaboration Network) to expose the hidden history of child trafficking laws, the shocking contradictions in how minors are criminalized, and why ca...

3 months ago

1 hour 16 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#70. Autism, Deception, and the Justice System - Tiegan Blackhurst

Can autistic adults lie—and detect lies—like everyone else? And what happens when the justice system misreads autism traits as deception? In this episode, we sit down with Teagan Blackhurst, a doctoral researcher at Lancaster University, to dive into her research on autism and deceptive communication. Teagan breaks down how autistic adults navigate truth and lies, and how misunderstanding these behaviors in legal settings can lead to serious consequences. 💡 Topics covered: Can autistic people...

3 months ago

1 hour

Smooth Brain Society

#69. How Creativity Really Works - Dr. Keith Sawyer

What is creativity, really? In this episode of the Smooth Brain Society, we dive deep with Dr. Keith Sawyer—MIT-trained computer scientist, jazz pianist, and leading creativity researcher and Professor in Educational Innovations at the University of North Carolina—to unravel the psychology of creative thinking. From the neuroscience of flow states to the myth of the lone genius, Dr. Sawyer breaks down how creativity happens in the mind, in collaboration, and in the classroom. We explore his m...

3 months ago

1 hour 7 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#68. Why Adults Struggle to Learn Languages (and Kids Don’t) - Dr. Kate Messenger

In this in-studio episode of Smooth Brain Society, Sahir and Neil are joined by Dr. Kate Messenger as they explore the fascinating world of language acquisition. They discuss why children seem to pick up languages effortlessly, the challenges adults face when learning new languages, and even how bilingual brains store and mix languages. Expect a lively discussion about the theories behind language learning, including the critical period hypothesis and the role of environmental input, along wi...

4 months ago

1 hour 6 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#67. Motivations Behind The Protein Transition - Dr. Chris Bryant

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Chris Bryant—executive director of Bryant Research and an expert in alternative proteins—to unpack the science, psychology, and politics behind the future of food. From lab-grown meat and plant-based alternatives to the social and environmental challenges of industrial farming, we explore Dr. Bryant's research on how the “protein transition” is reshaping everything from policy to plate. Expect sharp insights, dumpster-diving research methods, and a few sau...

4 months ago

1 hour 5 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#66. Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations - Prof. Dr. Christopher J. Hopwood

What factors underpin how we treat animals? In this episode, Prof. Dr. Christopher J. Hopwood of the University of Zurich and the Editor-in-Chief of Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations. Talks about his research related to how people perceive, treat, and interact with animals. Join us as we go through some fascinating studies which have been published in his journal and what the future looks like for things like veganism, animal treatment and upcoming food like cultured meat. htt...

5 months ago

57 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#65. Mainstreaming of the Far-Right - Dr. Aaron Winter

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Winter, senior lecturer in sociology at Lancaster University and Director of the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI), to unpack the complex rise and normalization of far-right ideologies. From his personal roots in anti-racist activism to his research on racism, terrorism, and structural inequality, Dr. Winter explores how mainstream institutions, media, and political parties have helped legitimize far-right ...

5 months ago

1 hour 16 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#64. Funding the Future: Women’s Sport in New Zealand - Erin Roxburgh

What does it take to elevate women's sport? We dive into the unique landscape of women's sports in New Zealand with special guest Erin Roxburgh, Deputy Chair of Women in Sport NZ. Erin, is a current squad member of the New Zealand Women's Indoor and Beach Handball teams and is currently a lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington and future director at Sport NZ, shares her personal journey and expert insights into the funding and governance structures that shape the sporting world down un...

6 months ago

1 hour 9 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#63. Sex Disclosures in Romantic Relationships - Katie Knowles

How much do we really talk about sex in our relationships — and when should we? In this episode, Sahir and Olivia sit down with relationships researcher Katie Knowles to unpack the psychology of sex disclosure, why most people in relationships hover around a "3.5 out of 5," and how attachment styles can shape what we share (and what we don’t). We go on to discuss some surprisingly relatable results from Katie's current research and where the future of intimacy and relationships is headed. Kat...

6 months ago

1 hour 2 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#62. Epilepsy Explained - Professor Tony Marson

Professor Tony Marson of the University of Liverpool talks to Beth and Sahir about Epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which are sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. We discuss the types of epilepsy, what are its causes and how it manifests across time, what the current treatments for epilepsy are and what the future of epilepsy research looks like. This episode is part of our ongoing collaboration with the British Neuroscience Associatio...

7 months ago

50 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#61. Memory and Healthy Ageing - Dr. Dorothy Tse

In the build to the International Festival of Neuroscience being held in Liverpool from the 27th to 30th of April, 2025. We spoke to Dr. Dorothy Tse of Edge Hill University about her incredible research aimed at understanding memory, preventing dementia and promoting healthy ageing. We speak about the Tse Lab's work in understanding how prior knowledge can help in developing new memories and the importance of public input in all their research activities. Episode in collaboration with the Bri...

7 months ago

52 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#60. Psychopathy, Relationship Satisfaction and Career Success - Aaron Hissey

Individuals' psychopathic personality traits can have negative effects on the people around them. Aaron Hissey of Victoria University of Wellington discusses his research on whether the negativity of someone's psychopathic personality crosses over to their partner and then spills over into their partner's workplace. We discuss some of the incredible associations he found including some potential benefits of dating a psychopath. Read the article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39928490/ ...

7 months ago

59 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#59. Understanding Autism - Dr. Calum Hartley

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. Dr. Calum Hartley of Lancaster University talks us through ASD and come of the misconceptions people have about it. We cover Dr. Hartley's research on language development in children with autism and cover some other research with regards to the negative interactions people with autism often face in the crimi...

7 months ago

1 hour 2 minutes

Smooth Brain Society

#58. SAFE: Supporting BlAck Families AffEcted by psychosis - Angela Kibia

Angela Kibia, Researcher at King's College London, talks about the work being carried out by the SAFE project aimed towards developing education and group support for Black families and carers supporting a relative with psychosis. Highlighting the importance of all those who care for someone with a mental health condition and what we can do to better support them. Experiences from participants from the SAFE project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4DcFShrLLE https://www.kcl.ac.uk/explori...

8 months ago

41 minutes