STEIN Fireside Podcast

What does it take to build a successful career in neuroscience? In this episode of STEIN Fireside Chats, Drs. Kai Miller and Bryan Klassen sits down with Dr. Dora Hermes (Mayo Clinic) and Dr. Michael Breakspear (University of Newcastle, Australia) for a wide-ranging conversation about the culture of neuroscience beyond the science itself. They discuss their unconventional journeys into neuroscienc...

STEIN Fireside Podcast: The Shocking History of Psychosurgery: From Lobotomy to Deep Brain Stimulation, S1-Ep18 How did psychiatric neurosurgery evolve from ancient trepanation and controversial lobotomies to modern deep brain stimulation (DBS)? In this fascinating presentation, Dr. Erik Blomstedt explores the complete history of psychosurgery, tracing its origins from prehistoric skull procedures...

How do you restore movement to a child whose body has become trapped by dystonia? In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Chat Podcast, Dr. Bryan Klassen and Dr. Kai Miller sit down with Dr. Keith Coffman, pediatric neurologist and movement disorders specialist at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Coffman shares his journey from childhood fascination with psychology and neuroscience to becoming a leading expert in p...

STEIN Fireside Podcast: Dr. Jeffery Raskin on Neuromodulation for Chronic Pain in Children, S1-Ep16 In this episode of the Stein Fireside Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Raskin, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Northwestern University and Lurie Children's Hospital, discusses the emerging role of neuromodulation for chronic pain in pediatric patients. He explores why chronic pain in children is often un...

STEIN Fireside Podcast: Dr. Jeffrey Raskin on Advancing Pediatric Pain Surgery and Neuromodulation, S1-Ep15 In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast,   Drs. Klassen and Miller sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Raskin, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and pediatric neurosurgeon at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.   Dr....

STEIN Fireside Podcast: Nick Ramsey on Brain-Computer Interfaces, ALS, and Restoring Communication, S1-Ep14 How do you give a voice back to someone who can no longer speak? In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller and Bryan Klassen sits down with Dr. Nick Ramsey, pioneer of brain-computer interface (BCI) research from Utrecht University and Radboud University in the Netherland...

In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, we sit down with Prof. Alim-Louis Benabid, the pioneer behind Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)—a breakthrough that transformed the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. Prof. Benabid shares the story behind his groundbreaking discovery, the evolution of neurosurgery, and how innovation emerges at the intersection of curiosity...

STEIN Fireside Podcast: S1-Ep11  In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller talks with Dr. Douglas Kondziolka, Editor-in-Chief of Neurosurgery and a global leader in radiosurgery while at the AANS 2026 conference in San Antonio. He shares insights on innovation, technology, and the evolution of neurosurgical care. From his early career in Toronto to pioneering work in radiosurge...

In this special on-location episode, the Stein Fireside team takes listeners to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) meeting in San Antonio, capturing the energy of a live “Stein evening” on the Riverwalk. Throughout the episode, leading neurosurgeons share insights into their work, innovations, and practical surgical tips. This episode blends clinical expertise, innovation, an...

In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, hosts Bryan Klassen and Kai Miller sit down with Dr. Cameron McIntyre, a pioneer in deep brain stimulation (DBS) modeling and neural engineering. Dr. McIntyre reflects on his path from fundamental electric field physics to becoming a leader in clinically relevant DBS modeling, including the development of patient‑specific stimulation models and the wi...

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is far more than activating a wire in the brain—it’s a sophisticated, highly customizable therapy that relies on precise electrical modulation of neural tissue. In this in‑depth episode, Dr. Bryan Klassen breaks down exactly how DBS programming works, what clinicians are actually adjusting, and how modern technology is transforming neuromodulation. Whether you’re a neu...

In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller and Bryan Klassen sits down with world‑renowned neuroscientist, psychiatrist, mathematician — and lifelong surfer — Dr. Michael Breakspear. They dive into Breakspear’s unconventional path through math, medicine, physics, and psychiatry, and how those experiences shaped his groundbreaking work on neural field theory, brain oscillations,...

In this episode, Dr. Kai Miller (Neurosurgery) and Dr. Bryan Klassen (Neurology) from Mayo Clinic dive into the fundamentals of microelectrode recording (MER) and its role in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. They break down: Why Microelectrode Recording Still Matters The ongoing debate of awake vs. asleep DBS Whether MER is “outdated” or still essential in the era of advanced imaging Their ph...

Join us for an in‑depth fireside conversation with Dr. Sean Pittock, Chair of Neurology at Mayo Clinic and pioneer in neuroimmunology, and Dr. Nathan Staff, neuromuscular neurologist and Chair of the Mayo Neurology Research Committee. Hosted by Dr. Bryan Klassen and Dr. Kai Miller, this episode dives into the real stories, scientific breakthroughs, and future‑shaping ideas transforming neurology t...

In this episode of the STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller and Dr. Bryan Klassen have the tables flipped and are interviewed by Dr. Chris Honey to explore how innovation really spreads within neurology and neurosurgery. From informal conversations over conference coffee to industry‑driven breakthroughs and peer‑to‑peer mentorship, they unpack the three major channels that shape modern clinical...

In this episode of STEIN Fireside Podcast, Dr. Kai Miller takes us inside the complex world of epilepsy surgery and explains how doctors decide the best treatment for patients with drug-resistant seizures. You’ll learn:• How patients move from initial consultation to surgery• The role of multidisciplinary teams in planning treatment• Key diagnostic steps like EEG, MRI, and semiology• Surgical opti...

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Stein Fireside Podcast! Join Dr. Kai Miller and Dr. Bryan Klassen from Mayo Clinic as they sit down with Dr. Chris Honey, a leading expert in cognitive neuroscience, for a fascinating conversation on how the brain stitches together reality across time. In this episode, we explore: • The science behind short-term memory and distributed brain networks • How intracranial r...