This was a wide-ranging and exciting conversation about neuroscientist Matthias Gruber's ongoing efforts to understand curiosity's role in learning and memory. There's a lot here. You may have to listen more than once -- I know I did!

Matthias Gruber: https://profiles.cardiff.ac.uk/staff/gruberm 

Theme music by Sean Balick; “A Little Powder” by Nursery, via Blue Dot Sessions.

Ep. #293: Curiosity Becomes the Engine for Learning, with Matthias Gruber

What happens when the career you spent decades building suddenly ends before you’re ready? You’re not alone, and this episode is for you.

Dr. Bray dives into the growing phenomenon of late-career layoffs after several friends and clients have experienced a surprise layoff when they least expected it. Dr. Bray discusses what this means for your identity, finances, and future. Whether you’re in your late 40s, 50s, or 60s, staring down an unexpected layoff, or just want to prepare for what’s ahead, this is the conversation no one else is having… but everyone needs to hear.

Dr. Bray will explore:

• Why getting laid off later in life hits harder (hint: your brain chemistry and identity are involved)
• The emotional fallout no one talks about, and how to start feeling human again
• What neuroscience tells us about resilience and reinvention (yes, your brain is still wired for growth)
• Real-world transitions from full-time execs to fractional leaders, consultants, and purpose-driven career pivots
• Powerful tools you can use today to reframe your mindset and build momentum

You’ll walk away with science-backed insight, actionable strategies, and maybe even a little bit of hope. Because your best years might not be behind you, they might look different from what you expected.

This podcast isn’t about survival. It’s about reinvention. And it starts here.

QUOTES BY DR. BRAY
“Aging isn’t what stalls a career; irrelevance is.”
“You may not be ready to stop working, but for sure you are ready to work differently.”
“You’re the sum of everything over the years that you’ve learned, contributed and overcome—and really, you’re just getting started.”

Episode 587 Laid off, Not Laid Down: Reinventing Yourself After a Late-Career Layoff

Maiers’ newest book "M Is for Mattering" turns the alphabet into a journey of self-discovery and impacting others. When she ended by reading two pivotal letters, I was moved: C is for Courage and Y is for You.

Education Changemaker Angela Maiers:  "C Is for Courage" (M Is For Mattering page)

Step into nature with Episode 1 of Naturally Unplugged, featuring renowned scientist Professor Tiffany Walsh.
Filmed on location at Wappa Park – Kiamba, QLD, this wide-ranging conversation explores what happens when we reconnect with the outdoors.
From mitochondria and sunlight to the invisible compounds in fresh air, Tiffany shares how nature supports our biology — and why slowing down matters in a hyper-connected world.
We also touch on the future of science and the subtle balance between tech and the natural world.

🌿 Breathe deeper, think clearer, and join us in the stillness.

https://www.youtube.com/@NaturallyUnplugged:
https://linktr.ee/NaturallyUnplugged
Ali@naturallyunplugged.com.au 

Wappa Park
12 Wappa Park Rd, Kiamba QLD 4560
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xWB2VE3xZfdZk1NT7

TIMESTAMPS : 
00:00 - 01:02 : Benefits of Being Outdoors
01:02 - 03:31 : Brief exposure to UV radiation is essential for Vitamin D generation
03:31 - 04:54 : Infrared radiation from the sun can penetrate the skin and boost mitochondrial activity
04:54 - 06:39 : Balancing sun exposure to gain benefits while being vigilant about risks
06:39 - 08:14 : "Always-on" work culture makes it difficult to carve out time for outdoor breaks
08:14 - 09:10 : People often use weather as an excuse not to go outside
09:10 - 14:28 : Professor Walsh's research focuses on creating new materials with amazing properties, similar to those found in nature
14:28 - 16:22 : A chicken eggshell transforms into an incredibly hard, durable, and porous material
16:22 - 21:49 : "Forest bathing," or simply spending time in nature among trees and plants, offers demonstrated benefits
21:49 - 23:54 : Being in a forest means breathing in fewer harmful particulates from car exhaust and brake dust
23:54 - 25:30 : Plants release beneficial compounds like alpha-pinene (pine oil) and eucalyptus oil into the air
25:30 - 28:13 : The full experience of nature works together to reduce stress, regulate blood pressure, and improve overall health
28:13 - 31:30 : Telling people about the benefits of nature is less effective than leading by example
31:30 - 31:56 : When people see others benefiting from outdoor activities, they are more likely to emulate those actions
31:56 - 33:47 : Connecting with local groups focused on outdoor activities can help maintain and grow social connections
33:47 - 35:29 : Spending time unplugged can lead to positive reinforcement
35:29 - 38:59 : The goal is to find a balance between technology and nature

#WellbeingJourney
#SelfCareTips
#NatureHeals
#DigitalDetox
#MindBodySoul
#GetOutside
#ScienceOfWellbeing
#EcoFriendlyLiving
#OutdoorTherapy
#HealthyHabits

The Invisible Benefits of Being Outside — with Professor Tiffany Walsh

You never know who might cross your path and reveal a life story full of surprises, discovery, success, pain, love and courage! That was the case when we met Irina at a local Lowe's Home Improvement Store. We sat down with Irina, a neuroscientist who has traveled the world spanning continents and career pivots. 

Together we explore identify, resilience, control, transitions, and the evolving field of neuroscience, all in the context of global and personal uncertainty. You'll enjoy hearing how Irina has maintained a sense of community within herself despite moving through very different cultures. And you'll discover what have been the invisible threads that tie her past in Russia to her present and future ambitions. It's a story worth telling and sharing. 

And dear ones...drop us a note at: info@boomtalkmedia.com and let us know how you enjoyed the podcast and Irina's story. We'd love to hear from you!

A Life Across Borders with Irina Sinakevich

Join Dr. Abbasi, Amanda, and their special guest as they explore the fascinating connection between mindless activities and creativity. Discover how simple actions like walking or showering can spark innovative thoughts and enhance cognitive performance.

How Mindless Movements Boost Creativity - Essence of Life

Hey there, pickers and dreamers! We're thrilled to share "Your Brain's Alive," a bluegrass barnburner inspired by a groundbreaking neuroscience study that mapped a mouse's brain at single-cell resolution. This song's got the high-lonesome twang of mandolin, violin, and guitar, weaving a tale of neurons firing and decisions sparking across the mind's vast frontier. With foot-stomping rhythms and soaring harmonies, it celebrates the wonder of choice and the global quest to unlock the brain's secrets. Crank it up, let the strings sing, and feel your own brain light up! Recorded with love for fans of bluegrass, Americana, and the mysteries of the mind.

Your Brain's Alive

What happens when you hand the mic to artificial intelligence and ask it to run a journal club? Can it replace us, scientific podcasters, in our efforts to make scientific papers more accessible? In this episode, we explore how AI breaks down a neuroscience paper. We’ll see how it summarizes the research, points out the big takeaways, and even tries to critique the study. Can a computer really capture the curiosity, skepticism, and creativity of human researchers or do scientists still do it better? Tune in to find out what AI gets right, what it misses, and what this experiment says about the future of science communication.

Authors: Nick Preenan, Eve Racette, Golnar Taheri

Email: thinktwicepodcast@outlook.com 
Instagram: @thinktwice_podcast
LinkedIN: Think Twice Podcast
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ThinkTwicePodcast 

Disclaimer: Think Twice is a podcast for general information and entertainment purposes only. The content discussed in the episodes does not reflect the views of the podcast committee members or any institution they are affiliated with. The use of the information presented in this podcast is at the user’s own risk and is not intended to replace professional healthcare services. 

45: Can AI Replace Scientific Podcasters?

Welcome to "AI with Shaily," your go-to podcast for the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and the fascinating crossroads where machine intelligence meets the enigma of human consciousness. Hosted by Shailendra Kumar, affectionately known as Shaily, this show dives deep into cutting-edge science with a curious and thoughtful approach. 🎙️🤖🧠

In a recent episode, Shaily shares an intriguing conversation with a neuroscientist friend that sparked a mind-bending idea: what if consciousness isn't just a product of biology but also deeply rooted in quantum physics? This concept, once sounding like science fiction, is gaining traction thanks to recent scientific discoveries. 🌌🧬✨

One of the headline topics is the role of **quantum entanglement** — a strange quantum phenomenon where particles remain connected regardless of distance — as a potential foundation for conscious experience. Researchers at Shanghai University have uncovered that the **myelin sheath**, the fatty layer insulating nerve fibers, contains tiny cylindrical cavities that might emit pairs of entangled photons. This quantum connection could synchronize millions of neurons firing together, creating the seamless "movie" of our conscious awareness. Imagine the brain as a quantum orchestra, perfectly tuning every instrument at once! 🎻🔗⚛️

Adding to this, Hartmut Neven from Google’s Quantum AI Lab is exploring how quantum entanglement among quantum bits (qubits) in the brain might solve the “binding problem” — the mystery of how all our sensory inputs merge into a unified conscious moment. His daring hypothesis even links consciousness to quantum branches of the multiverse, pushing the boundaries of AI, physics, and philosophy into uncharted territory. 🌐🧩🌀

Shaily also revisits the controversial Orch OR theory by Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff, which proposes that microtubules inside neurons act as quantum information channels. New evidence suggests these tiny structures could maintain entangled quantum states, potentially connecting individual consciousness to a universal quantum network — a cosmic perspective on the mind that challenges even the most imaginative philosophers. 🌠🧩🌌

Mathematicians contribute to this evolving picture by developing new equations that connect neuron firing patterns with quantum Schrödinger dynamics. This suggests quantum effects might persist at brain-relevant scales, offering explanations for phenomena like anesthesia and variations in brain oscillations linked to health and disease. These advances could soon allow experimental verification of quantum consciousness theories. 📊🔬🧠

All these insights paint a tantalizing vision: if consciousness emerges from quantum entanglement, it could revolutionize our understanding of the mind and artificial intelligence alike. Shaily poses a profound question — could AI one day develop its own form of quantum consciousness? 🤔💡🤖

For those eager to explore this captivating frontier, Shaily offers a *Bonus Tip*: dive into interdisciplinary research that blends quantum physics, neuroscience, and computer science. Engaging with papers and talks on quantum biology can ignite new ideas because breakthroughs often happen at the intersection of fields. 📚🔍🧪

To close, Shaily quotes Niels Bohr, the father of quantum physics: *“If quantum mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet.”* This encapsulates the thrilling collision course between consciousness and quantum physics that lies ahead. ⚡️🌌

Stay connected with Shaily on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium for more updates. If this quantum mind journey sparked your curiosity, subscribe and share your thoughts — together, we can unravel the mysteries of intelligence, both artificial and human. 🌟📲💬

This is Shailendra Kumar on "AI with Shaily," reminding you to stay curious, stay inspired, and keep exploring the infinite possibilities of intelligence! 🚀🧠🤖

Quantum Consciousness: Unraveling the Mind’s Quantum Secrets with AI and Neuroscience

You’re tuning into "AI with Shaily," hosted by Shailendra Kumar, a passionate male presenter who brings the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and science to his audience. 🎙️✨

In this fascinating episode, Shailendra takes us on a deep dive into the cutting-edge intersection of quantum physics and consciousness—a truly mind-bending topic! 🧠⚛️ He shares groundbreaking research from 2025 that suggests quantum entanglement, the mysterious "spooky action" that even Einstein doubted, might actually be happening inside our brains. This means that neurons might not just be firing electrically but could be entangled in a quantum "dance," influencing whether we’re awake or asleep. 🌌🔗

New MRI studies have detected signals in specific brain regions resembling entangled quantum states, closely linked to conscious awareness and memory. Adding to this, scientists at Shanghai University have identified the myelin sheath—the insulating layer around nerve fibers—as a possible facilitator of photon entanglement, helping neurons synchronize during conscious thought. 🧬💡

Shailendra also highlights insights from Google’s Hartmut Neven, who proposes that entanglement might be the "glue" that unifies sensory inputs into a single conscious experience—a long-standing puzzle in neuroscience. The mathematics describing neuronal activity might even mirror quantum mechanics, hinting that entanglement could persist on a scale previously unimaginable. 🧩🔍

The episode revisits the bold Orch OR theory by Penrose and Hameroff, which is gaining new experimental support. This theory suggests that microtubules inside neurons host rapid quantum events, potentially linking individual consciousness to the very fabric of the universe. 🌌🕸️

Shailendra recalls a personal conversation with a physicist friend who was skeptical but open to the idea that consciousness might be explained through quantum mechanics. These fresh findings seem to push that debate toward possibility, blending science with philosophy in a thrilling frontier. 🤔💭

He offers a thoughtful reminder: while these quantum effects in the warm, noisy environment of the brain are promising, they remain debated. Staying curious but critical is key, and future quantum computing advancements may provide the tools needed to rigorously test these fascinating hypotheses. 💻🔬

Shailendra invites listeners to imagine that their very sense of self might depend on hidden quantum threads weaving through the brain’s microstructures, potentially revolutionizing AI, neuroscience, and our understanding of reality itself. 🌐🧠

Quoting Erwin Schrödinger, he emphasizes the fundamental mystery of consciousness: “Consciousness cannot be accounted for in physical terms. For consciousness is absolutely fundamental.” 🌀✨

Shailendra Kumar encourages his audience to stay connected with him on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Medium, where he breaks down the latest AI and quantum science news. He invites listeners to subscribe, share their thoughts, and join him in unraveling the mysteries of mind and machine. 🤝📲

Closing warmly, Shailendra thanks his listeners and urges them to keep their curiosity alive until the next episode of "AI with Shaily." 🌟🔍

Quantum Minds: Unlocking Consciousness Through Entanglement and AI

Welcome to Essence Of! Here you will learn about medicine, science, history, and life, all by our favorite neurosurgeon, Dr. Hamid Abbasi.

Get your critical thinking caps on! ‘Think Twice’ discusses controversial topics in the field of neuroscience with the goal of bringing more nuance and rigor to mainstream media. We’ll take you past the headlines by breaking down relevant neuroscience topics, interviewing experts in the field and overcoming misinformation/disinformation with evidence-based content. This podcast is run by a small group of graduate students at the Centre for Neuroscience Studies at Queen’s University. We hope to bring down barriers to the dissemination of scientific information, give early-career neuroscientists a voice, and foster a culture of entertaining and accessible science communication.

Unlock the secrets of data mastery with Shailendra, a 27-year veteran in AI, ML, and Data Science, driving AU$ 6 Billion in transformative value. As the author of 'Making Money out of Data,' their strategies redefine digital success. With expertise honed at IBM and Accenture, they drive innovation and data monetization. Explore how loyalty programs like Flybuys and Everyday Rewards revolutionize business—connect with Shaily today.

Musician | Musicologist | Composer/Producer | Music Teacher

Choose to be Curious is a show all about curiosity. We talk about research and theory, but mostly it's conversations about how curiosity shows up in work and life.  

Now syndicated and available via Pacifica RadioNetwork.

We offer psychology-based relief, wisdom + tools for everyday living: books, eBooks, podcasts, original poetry + photos. Our podcasts provide a safe learning environment for sharing stories and ideas that impact and transform our lives.

The Dr. CK Bray Show is a 20-minute science and research-based podcast that aims to provide the information you need to create a better life and career. Dr. Bray shares the latest research findings in the areas of business, personal excellence and achievement, resilience and thriving, career, learning, leadership, change, and health.  He also provides a one-stop resource for actionable advice and tools to cover every aspect of your life. Be prepared to be simultaneously educated and entertained.

New tracks tagged #neuroscience