Author: This Is Your Brain producer
Guest bio : https://us.macmillan.com/author/drcharlesknowles Why do we sometimes drink too much, even when we know the risks? In this episode, surgeon, author, and recovering alcoholic Dr. Charles Knowles joins us to explore the neuroscience of alcohol use and addiction. Drawing from his book Why We Drink Too Much and his own lived experience, Dr. Knowles describes how alcohol alters the brain’s reward pathways, and how drinking problems exist on a spectrum. Through neuroscience and deeply personal insight, he speaks to alcohol’s impact on mental and physical health and gives inspiration to others through sharing his own journey to recovery. Phil Stieg Alcohol is one…
Bio / Website – https://dilipjestemd.com/ Although memories fade, hearing declines and our bodies suffer aches and pains, there is one benefit to aging that we can actually gain with each passing year. It’s called wisdom. But just because someone is older, it doesn’t mean they are wiser. It takes a certain type of person to learn important lessons from their life experiences. Dr. Dillip Jeste reveals what he has discovered after studying wisdom for decades, including the neuroscience of the wise brain, emphasizing how cultivating wisdom enhances brain health as well as offering some insights on how to develop and…
Episode 019 – Tell-Tale Signs That You Are in a Cult – Janja Lalich Release Date 6 March 2026 Website: www.lalichcenter.org Cults and high-control groups influence beliefs and fundamentally reshape identity, decision-making, and autonomy. In this episode, Dr. Phil Stieg sits down with sociologist and cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, Professor and author of Take Back Your Life, to explore the psychology behind cults. Drawing from decades of research as well as her own personal experience of spending a decade in a political cult, she discusses how indoctrination alters a person’s sense of self, why anyone can become vulnerable under the right…
Narcissism is a term that gets used constantly – but what does it actually mean in psychological terms, and how is it shaping our society? In this episode, Dr. Phil Stieg speaks with leading expert Dr. Keith Campbell to separate myth from science. Drawing from his book The New Science of Narcissism, Dr. Campbell explains the difference between everyday self-focused traits and the far rarer personality disorder, unpacks the two distinct expressions of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, and explores how these patterns influence our relationships, leadership, parenting, and culture. Plus, let’s spend some time with the “O.G.” narcissist Phil Stieg Narcissism is a…
Release date Feb 6, 2026 Guest Website : https://musicandhealing.net Whether it’s rock and roll, classical, hip hop, or rap, most people enjoy music in one form or another. (Even newborn babies respond to it.) But why? What is going on in our brains when we hear our favorite tunes? Dr. Barbara Minton, a psychotherapist and neuroscientist, studies exactly how our brains react to various types of music, to provide targeted music therapy. And she goes one step further. As a musician herself, she is also creating the music, specifically designed for our brains, blending art and science to better…
https://www.jacobward.com/ Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we think, live, and make choices, but are our brains ready for it? Award-winning tech journalist Jacob Ward joins Dr. Phil Stieg to discuss how AI exploits our ancient decision-making systems, why we’re so easily manipulated, and what it means for our future. Drawing from behavioral science and decades of reporting, Ward explains just how predictable we are, the pitfalls of falling into “the loop”, and how to stay human in an AI-driven world. Phil Stieg Artificial intelligence is transforming every part of our lives, from how we work and communicate to how we…