Mind Matter: A Podcast Series About the Human Brain
The most complex thing in the universe — so it has been called. And the human brain is a remarkable organ indeed: a few pounds of wrinkly stuff that gives rise to all of our life’s feelings and meanings.
So what has decades of brain science told us about ourselves?
In this series, you will hear from five experts who offer their take on the human brain.
We will begin by examining the big picture: how unique is the human brain? Two evolutionary scientists will disagree.
The next two episodes dive straight into the workings of our brains. In episode 3, we will travel through the halls and the songs of the brain, learning about the structures and electrical wave patterns that underlie all our experiences. Episode 4 turns to brain chemistry, exploring the meaning behind often-heard but rarely understood terms like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins.
The final episode asks if the brain can understand itself, by telling the both glorious and frustrating story of neuroscience.
How to Listen
You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube (audio), or wherever you get your podcasts. Below are links to each episode on Spotify.
Prefer reading? I have also published a longer essay on the first episode and short highlights on the final episode.
I: The (Very) Simple Story of the Human Brain
II: Not So Simple After All? Apes, Einstein, and the Many Mysteries of the Human Brain
III: Inside the Brain: A Journey Through the Halls and the Songs of Consciousness
IV: From Alcohol to Antidepressants: What Drugs Teach Us About Brain Chemistry?
V: Can the Brain Understand Itself? The Glories and the Limits of Neuroscience
Dig Deeper
For other episodes on neuroscience, see also: