Show overview
Minding the Brain has been publishing since 2018, and across the 8 years since has built a catalogue of 107 episodes. That works out to roughly 65 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 31 min and 45 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Education show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 6 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 18 episodes published. Published by Jim Davies & Kim Hellemans.
From the publisher
Cognitive & brain science episodes from Jim Davies & Kim Hellemans
Latest Episodes
View all 107 episodesGlioblastoma with Dr. Kyle Malone #101
Sound Meaning in Language with Dr. Ida Toivonen #100
Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System With Dr. Matt Hill #99
Dr. Matt Hill joins Dr. Kim Hellemans to talk about his research on cannabis and the endocannabinoid system. Is there a difference between sativa and <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2026/04/01/cannabis-and-the-endocannabinoid-system-with-dr-matt-hill-99/" title="Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System With Dr. Matt Hill #99">[...]</a>
Ep 98Using Chatbots for Therapy and Companionship #98
Why are people increasingly turning to AI for therapy and romantic relationships? Kim and Jim break down the pros and cons of our increasing reliance <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2026/03/01/using-chatbots-for-therapy-and-companionship-98/" title="Using Chatbots for Therapy and Companionship #98">[...]</a>
Ep 97Seeking Closure in Uncertain Times #97
How do our brains respond to prolonged uncertainty? Is our era unprecedented? Why do we find the unknown simultaneously compelling and frightening? Why do conspiracies <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2026/02/01/seeking-closure-in-uncertain-times-97/" title="Seeking Closure in Uncertain Times #97">[...]</a>
Ep 96Metacognition With Brendan Conway-Smith – #96
Brendan Conway-Smith joins Minding the Brain to discuss metacognition. What is metacognition and why is it important? Can understanding metacognition help with depression and anxiety? <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2026/01/01/metacognition-with-brendan-conway-smith-96/" title="Metacognition With Brendan Conway-Smith – #96">[...]</a>
Ep 95Sound Meaning in Language with David M. Sidhu – #95
Have you ever wondered how J.R.R. Tolkien invented such evocative names? David M. Sidhu joins Jim Davies to discuss language processing, sound symbolism, and iconicity. <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/12/01/sound-meaning-in-language-95/" title="Sound Meaning in Language with David M. Sidhu – #95">[...]</a>
Behavioral Addiction
Kim and Jim take a deep dive into the topic of behavioral addiction. What is behavioral addiction? Can you be addicted to food? What about <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/11/04/behavioral-addiction/" title="Behavioral Addiction">[...]</a>
Ep 94Experiencing Nature with John M. Zelenski & Dan Rubinstein – #94
We’ve all heard that being in nature is good for mental and physical health, but just how good is it? John M. Zelenski and Dan <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/10/01/experiencing-nature-with-john-m-zelenski-dan-rubinstein-94/" title="Experiencing Nature with John M. Zelenski & Dan Rubinstein – #94">[...]</a>
Ep 93AI Rights – #93
Jim and Kim take a deep dive into the world of AI and ethics. Are LLMs sentient? Why should we worry about AI rights? Is <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/09/01/ai-rights-93/" title="AI Rights – #93">[...]</a>
Schizophrenia
What does it feel like to have schizophrenia? What is the history of the schizophrenia diagnosis and are there effective treatments for the condition? Find <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/08/01/schizophrenia/" title="Schizophrenia">[...]</a>
Ep 92Social Media & Mental Health with Dr. Andrea Howard, Part 2 – #92
Dr. Jim Davies, Dr. Kim Hellemans, and Dr. Andrea Howard continue their discussion on what research reveals about social media’s impact on youth mental health. <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/07/01/social-media-mental-health-with-dr-andrea-howard-part-2-92/" title="Social Media & Mental Health with Dr. Andrea Howard, Part 2 – #92">[...]</a>
Ep 91Brain Fog, Neurodivergence in STEM & Improving Brain Function – Q&A – #91
What is brain fog and what can you do about it? What’s Jim’s #1 recommendation for improving brain function? Do brains compensate for cognitive decline? <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/06/16/brain-fog-neurodivergence-in-stem-improving-brain-function-qa-91/" title="Brain Fog, Neurodivergence in STEM & Improving Brain Function – Q&A – #91">[...]</a>
Ep 90Social Media & Mental Health with Dr. Andrea Howard, Part 1 – #90
Dr. Jim Davies, Dr. Kim Hellemans, and Dr. Andrea Howard explore what research really says about social media’s impact on youth mental health. This episode <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/06/01/social-media-mental-health-with-dr-andrea-howard-part-1-90/" title="Social Media & Mental Health with Dr. Andrea Howard, Part 1 – #90">[...]</a>
Ep 89Cannabis Induced Anxiety, Healing After Alcoholism & Brain Training – Q&A – #89
Why does cannabis give some people anxiety? Can your brain heal after alcoholism? Does brain training work? Join Kim and Jim as they answer listener <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/05/15/cannabis-induced-anxiety-healing-after-alcoholism-brain-training-qa-89/" title="Cannabis Induced Anxiety, Healing After Alcoholism & Brain Training – Q&A – #89">[...]</a>
Delusions with Dr. Ian Gold – #88
Dr. Ian Gold joins Minding the Brain to talk about his research on delusions. What are delusions? Is there a link between delusions and conspiracy <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/05/01/delusions-with-dr-ian-gold-88/" title="Delusions with Dr. Ian Gold – #88">[...]</a>
Near Death Experiences, Brain Implants & Lucid Dreaming – Q&A – #87
Are near-death experiences real? Given the uniqueness of every brain, are brain implants a plausible future technology? Can people teach themselves to lucid dream? Join <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/04/15/near-death-experiences-brain-implants-lucid-dreaming-qa-87/" title="Near Death Experiences, Brain Implants & Lucid Dreaming – Q&A – #87">[...]</a>
Cultural Effects on the Brain and Mental Disorders #86
How does culture impact our brains and the way that mental disorders manifest? How does schizophrenia look different across cultures? What about eating disorders? Can <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/04/01/cultural-effects-on-the-brain-and-mental-disorders/" title="Cultural Effects on the Brain and Mental Disorders #86">[...]</a>
Ep 85Ape Brains, Evo Psych and AGI – Q&A – #85
Could LLMs like ChatGPT ever lead to AGI? Could we ever erase traumatic memories? Why do some people hate evolutionary psychology? What has neuroscience learned <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/03/15/ape-brains-evo-psych-and-agi-qa-85/" title="Ape Brains, Evo Psych and AGI – Q&A – #85">[...]</a>
Ep 84The Evolution of Women with Cat Bohannon #84
Cat Bohannon joins Minding the Brain to talk about the evolution of women. Get ready to learn about prehistoric gynecology, sexual dimorphism in humans, why <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/03/01/the-evolution-of-women-with-cat-bohannon-84/" title="The Evolution of Women with Cat Bohannon #84">[...]</a>