Minding the Brain

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

Are the brains of transgender people different than the brains of cisgender people? Can experiencing racism cause lasting neurological damage? Can a deeper understanding of <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/02/17/transgender-brain-differences-the-impact-of-racism-on-the-brain-and-more-83/" title="Q&A: Transgender Brain Differences, the Impact of Racism on the Brain and More #83">[...]</a>

Dr. Argel Aguilar-Valles joins Kim to discuss psychedelics. Does microdosing work? Are psychedelics effective for treating depression? How do these substances interact with the brain? <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/02/01/psychedelics-82/" title="Psychedelics #82">[...]</a>

Is dopamine addiction real? What about dopamine detoxes? Is it safe to use cannabis after the age of 25? Can psychedelic drugs cause schizophrenia? Does <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/01/21/qa-is-dopamine-addiction-real-81/" title="Q&A: Is Dopamine Addiction Real? #81">[...]</a>

Rebecca Merkley joins Jim to discuss the math abilities of babies. How early do children begin to understand math? What kind of mistakes do children <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2025/01/01/do-babies-understand-math-80/" title="Do Babies Understand Math? #80">[...]</a>

Kim and Jim discuss the neuroscience of emotion: Which regions of the brain process emotions? What is the relationship between substance withdrawal and our natural <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/12/01/the-neuroscience-of-emotion-79/" title="The Neuroscience of Emotion – #79">[...]</a>

Daniel Schacter joins Minding the Brain to talk about memory errors. How and why is memory prone to failure? Do people repress traumatic memories? Does <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/11/01/memory-errors-with-daniel-schacter-78/" title="Memory Errors with Daniel Schacter – #78">[...]</a>

Jim interviews Matt Coleman of Giving Multiplier, a website that provides evidence-based recommendations to help people give to the most effective charities. They discuss the <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/10/01/moral-goodness-psychology-with-matt-coleman-77/" title="Moral Goodness Psychology with Matt Coleman – #77">[...]</a>

Kim interviews Dr. Jodi Pawluski about mommy brain and the mental load of motherhood. How is society failing mothers? Is it okay to take anti-depressants <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/09/01/mommy-brain-and-the-mental-load-of-motherhood/" title="Mommy Brain and the Mental Load of Motherhood – #76">[...]</a>

Dr. Kim Hellemans interviews Dr. Pete Kelly about personality disorders. What are personality disorders and what are some common symptoms? What does therapy look like for <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/08/01/personality-disorders-with-dr-pete-kelly/" title="Personality Disorders with Dr. Pete Kelly">[...]</a>

Jim talks to Dr. Doug Oman, a scientist and scholar with a special interest in spirituality and health. They discuss the practice of mantra meditation, <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/07/01/mantra-meditation-75/" title="Mantra Meditation – #75">[...]</a>

Jim and Kim explore the role of cultural evolution in shaping human behavior and survival. What has enabled humans to dominate the globe more successfully <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/06/01/cultural-evolution-74/" title="Cultural Evolution – #74">[...]</a>

Jim and Kim answer student questions about magic mushrooms, Chat GPT in academia, ice baths, caffeine, the impact of listening to music, self-efficacy and reducing <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/05/01/qa-magic-mushrooms-chat-gpt-in-academia-ice-baths-caffeine-more-73/" title="Q&A: Magic Mushrooms, Chat GPT in Academia, Ice Baths, Caffeine & More – #73">[...]</a>

Jim interviews Gordon Pennycook about the phenomenon of fake news. What types of misinformation tend to spread? What role will generative AI play in the <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/04/01/fake-news-with-gordon-pennycook-72/" title="Fake News with Gordon Pennycook – #72">[...]</a>

Kim interviews Orsha Magyar about the emerging field of nutritional neuroscience. How can we combat nutritional pseudoscience on social media? Are there such things as <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/03/01/71-nutritional-neuroscience/" title="#71 Nutritional Neuroscience">[...]</a>

Kim interviews Dr. Robert Coplan about aloneliness and the value of solitude. What are the benefits of solitude? How should we balance solitude and social <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/02/01/70-aloneliness-and-the-value-of-solitude/" title="#70 Aloneliness and the Value of Solitude">[...]</a>

Jim interviews Darren McKee, author of Uncontrollable: The Threat of Artificial Superintelligence and the Race to Save the World. What are the long-term dangers of <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2024/01/01/69-ai-existential-risk/" title="#69 AI & Existential Risk">[...]</a>

Jim interviews Kim about the topic of eating disorders. They discuss clinical and behavioral symptoms of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and the <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/12/01/68-eating-disorders/" title="#68 Eating Disorders">[...]</a>

Jim interviews Hollywood composer Joe Kraemer about the psychology of soundtracks. Joe is responsible for the music in films such as The Way of the <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/11/01/67-the-psychology-of-soundtracks-with-joe-kraemer/" title="#67 The Psychology of Soundtracks with Joe Kraemer">[...]</a>

Jim interviews Johanna Peetz about money and spending. Why does money cause so many problems in relationships? What does the research say about how best <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/10/01/66-money-and-spending/" title="#66 Money and Spending">[...]</a>

How are false memories created? Do children believe their imaginary friends really exist? Why aren’t we always mistaking our imaginings for reality? Join Jim and <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/09/01/65-distinguishing-fantasy-from-reality/" title="#65 Distinguishing Fantasy From Reality">[...]</a>

Are other animals conscious? Why is animal consciousness important to understand? What function does consciousness serve? Take a deep dive into the fascinating world of <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/08/01/64-animal-consciousness/" title="#64 Animal Consciousness">[...]</a>

Kim and Jim discuss the scientific evidence surrounding multitasking. Does multitasking make you more or less efficient? When should you multitask? Is it safe to <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/07/01/multitasking/" title="Multitasking">[...]</a>

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/2023/06/01/63-schizophrenia/" title="#63 Schizophrenia">[...]</a>

In this episode of Minding the Brain, Jim and Kim explore various theories of consciousness. What are the most popular theories of consciousness? What is <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/05/01/62-theories-of-consciousness/" title="#62 Theories of Consciousness">[...]</a>

Some people are left handed and some people are right handed, why? Join Kim and Jim as they explore the science behind the phenomenon of <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/04/01/61-handedness/" title="#61 Handedness">[...]</a>

Do brain training apps work? Is reading fiction a waste of time? How dangerous is artificial intelligence? Join Kim and Jim for a special Q&A <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/03/01/60-20-more-questions-with-kim-jim/" title="#60 20 More Questions with Kim & Jim">[...]</a>

Why does time seem to pass slowly when you’re a child and more quickly when you’re an adult? How does the brain measure time? What <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/02/01/59-time/" title="#59 Time">[...]</a>

Why are goals important? Why are we successful in the pursuit of certain goals, but not others? Jim Davies interviews Marina Milyavskaya about how science <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2023/01/01/58-goals/" title="#58 Goals">[...]</a>

Can someone get addicted to video games? Join Kim and Jim as they talk about the science of addiction as applied to video games. Featuring <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2022/12/01/57-video-game-addiction/" title="#57 Video Game Addiction">[...]</a>

Do video games increase aggression? Are they addictive? Can video games make you smarter? Jim and Kim discuss the research on video games in this <a class="mh-excerpt-more" href="https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/2022/11/01/56-video-games/" title="#56 Video Games">[...]</a>