Exploring Brain and Mind

Episode Summary What exactly is the DSM, and why does it play such a significant role in modern mental health care? In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind, we take a deep dive into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) – the classification system used by mental health professionals to diagnose and study mental health conditions. From its origins in the mid-20th centu...

Episode Summary Most people associate grief with the death of a loved one, but grief can arise from many forms of loss. The end of a relationship, redundancy, financial hardship, illness, infertility, retirement, disability, and the loss of a hoped-for future can all trigger powerful grief responses. In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind, we explore the neuroscience behind grief and discover...

Episode Summary In Episode 57 of Exploring Brain and Mind , we examine the psychology behind the colonialist mindset—not simply as a feature of modern European imperialism, but as a recurring pattern throughout human history. This episode explores the evolutionary and psychological roots of domination, status-seeking, and tribalism, and how cultures across time have justified conquest through “civ...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind , we look beyond "adding" supplements and focus on what we must "remove" to protect our neurological health. With over 80,000 synthetic chemicals registered in the US alone, our brains are under a constant barrage of substances that can bypass the blood-brain barrier. We count down the top 10 most prevalent neurotoxins –...

Episode Summary In this episode, we explore the science and lived experience of intergenerational trauma — how extreme stress and displacement can echo across generations. Drawing on epigenetics research and psychological studies on Holocaust survivors and their descendants, we examine how trauma may shape stress biology, family narratives, and identity formation. Using the 1945–1946 expulsion of...

Episode Summary: How did we go from "balancing humors" to a $400 billion global pharmaceutical “mental health industry”? In this episode, we trace the long evolution of mental illness – from ancient Mesopotamia and Greek medical theory to the birth of modern psychology. We explore how the "Medical Model" created a Western standard for the mind and ask a critical question: Has this...

Episode Summary: The episode offers a reflective review of the podcast’s first year that includes some observations and personal opinions. It also offers a glimpse into what’s to come in Year 2 – with the possibility of a six-month hiatus due to time commitments but a preferred alternative of monthly episodes replacing the current weekly ones (at least for the first six months). YouTube listeners...

Episode Summary In the final episode of the “What the World Can Learn From…” series, which is Episode 52 of the Exploring Brain and Mind Podcast, I explore the profound wisdom of African and Middle Eastern cultures – traditions rooted in community, spirituality, unity and ancestral connection. Through teachings such as Ubuntu (“I am because we are”), Vital Force , ancestral memory , Tawheed (onene...

Episode Summary In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind , I explore the rich philosophical and spiritual wisdom of Indigenous Australian cultures -- some of the oldest continuous knowledge systems in the world. Through teachings on Country (the land as a living being), the Dreaming, kinship, deep time, and the importance of listening , this episode reveals how Indigenous worldviews understand...

Episode Summary In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind , I explore India’s ancient wisdom traditions – including Yoga, the Vedas, Hindu philosophy, and Buddhist insights – and how they illuminate purpose, consciousness, wellbeing and the nature of the mind. From the grounding principles of Dharma (purpose and moral alignment) and Ahimsa (non-violence) to the energetic teachings of Prana and t...

Episode Summary In this week’s Episode 49 of Exploring Brain and Mind , I explore the wisdom of Indigenous Northern Europe’s teachings and wisdom – including Norse, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Sámi worldviews. These teachings, often overshadowed by myth or folklore, carry profound insights into connection, resilience, nature, community and the human mind. From the Norse concept of Wyrd , the great web...

Episode Summary In Episode 48 of Exploring Brain and Mind , I delve into the timeless wisdom of Polynesian and Hawaiian teachings – traditions grounded in connection, integrity and harmony with life itself. Through principles such as Aloha (love and compassion), Mana (spiritual energy), Pono (balance and righteousness), Kuleana (responsibility), Lōkahi (unity and harmony), Ohana (family and belong...

Episode Summary In this week’s Episode 47 of Exploring Brain and Mind , I take listeners on a journey through Japanese teachings and cultural mindsets – but first revisits an important element of China’s worldview: its education system. By comparing East Asian and Western education practices, this episode reveals how cultural values shape not only academic outcomes but also identity, purpose, resp...

Episode Summary In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind , I explore what modern Western societies can learn from traditional Chinese mindsets and teachings – shaped over millennia by Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. These philosophies emphasise harmony, balance, and the interconnection of all things – concepts that stand in contrast to the Western tendency towards dualism, speed and control....

Episode Summary: In this opening episode of the “What the World Can Learn From...” series, \ explore the mindset and worldview of Indigenous cultures — a way of thinking rooted in connection, balance and reciprocity. I explain how Indigenous wisdom sees humans as part of nature, not separate from it, and how this worldview fosters emotional wellbeing, environmental respect and social harmony. Thro...

Episode Summary This episode dives into the crucial difference between the investigative tool of criminal profiling and the scientific discipline of forensic psychology. Using the infamous DC Sniper case (Muhammad and Malvo) as a stark example, I expose the limitations and potential dangers of relying on speculative profiles. I explore the high-stakes world of forensic psychologists who, unlike fi...

Episode Summary In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind , I delve into the fascinating relationship between energy, the brain and the mind – a topic that bridges neuroscience, psychology and ancient wisdom traditions. I explain how the brain consumes and manages energy on a physical level, how emotions and thoughts influence our energetic state and how cultural concepts like Qi , Prana , and M...

Episode Summary In Western science, the mind and the brain are often separated from the concept of a non-physical spirit. But does this dualistic view limit our understanding of consciousness, vitality and well-being? Join me on a journey across the globe to explore three profound cultural models where spirit is not separate, but an integral part of mental and physical function. We examine the eco...

Episode Summary In this thought-provoking episode of Exploring Brain and Mind , I step into new territory by asking: Where does spirit fit in with brain and mind? We often view the brain as the physical organ, the mind as the realm of thoughts and consciousness, but spirit is harder to define. Is it energy, meaning, connection or something more mysterious? Drawing on psychology, neuroscience and h...

Episode Summary In part two of this special on mind manipulation, I explore how psychological control takes hold in families, workplaces and intimate relationships. Drawing on insights from clinical psychology and research into coercive control, this episode explains the conditions that enable mind control, the everyday tactics manipulators use and the damaging patterns of coercive control in rela...

Episode Summary In this first part of a two-part special on mind manipulation, I explore the ways our thoughts and behaviours can be influenced – sometimes in subtle, helpful ways and sometimes through harmful, coercive tactics. I contrast nudging , a behavioural economics tool designed to guide decision-making, with the manipulative techniques used by cults. I also unpack Noam Chomsky’s ten strat...

Episode Summary In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind , I take a deep dive into the psychology and neuroscience of cults. Why are people drawn to these groups, even when the dangers seem obvious from the outside? The answers lie in our basic human needs for belonging, meaning, certainty, and leadership. I explain how cults exploit these vulnerabilities, triggering powerful brain systems rela...

Episode Summary In this episode of Exploring Brain and Mind , I unpacks the often-confused terms “sect” and “cult.” While both can be groups that branch away from mainstream religious or spiritual traditions, their origins, beliefs, leadership and relationships with society differ in significant ways. Listeners will learn how sects typically emerge as reform movements within established religions...

Episode Summary In this follow-up episode, I take listeners beyond Eastern traditions to discover how mindfulness and meditation resonate with indigenous wisdom worldwide. From Native American vision quests to Hawaiian Hoʻoponopono, from African drumming ceremonies to Aboriginal Dadirri, we see striking parallels in practices that emphasise presence, connection and holistic well-being. These tradi...

Episode Summary In this episode, I explore the foundations of meditation and mindfulness. From their Eastern roots in Hinduism and Buddhism to their spread into modern Western culture, you’ll learn how these practices evolved into powerful tools for well-being. I break down different meditation techniques and explains what mindfulness really means, hinting at how science has validated these age-ol...