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PODCAST

Sentience

Dive into the mysteries of the mind with Daniel Toker, PhD (@the_brain_scientist). This podcast explores consciousness, brain disorders, artificial intelligence, and mental health, all in one place. Daniel brings together leading experts, groundbreaking research, and inspiring stories to illuminate the complexities of the human mind and brain.

science life sciences

All Episodes

00:59:36

13. Alysson Muotri, PhD on how brain organoids are...

Sentience ·

2025/10/21

In this episode of Sentience, Alysson Muotri, PhD, professor at UC San Diego, discusses how brain organoids—lab-grown neural tissues derived from stem cells—are reshaping neuroscience. He explains how organoids can model early brain development, uncover the roots of neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, and accelerate the search for new treatments. We also explore how these systems shed light on human evolution, the emergence of intelligence, and the ethical questions that come with studying

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00:58:47

12. Thomas Hartung, PhD on how lab-grown and...

Sentience ·

2025/10/08

In this episode of Sentience, we talk with Thomas Hartung, PhD, about how organoids and AI are reshaping biomedical science. Hartung explains how AI models can predict the toxicity of chemicals more accurately than animal tests and how organoids—tiny, lab-grown versions of human organs—can stand in for animals in studying disease and drug effects. We explore the concept of organoid intelligence, the ethics of creating brain-like systems, and how these technologies together could make research more

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00:37:45

11. Shaolei Ren, PhD on AI’s Hidden Environmental...

Sentience ·

2025/09/25

In this episode of Sentience, we speak with Shaolei Ren, PhD, about the hidden environmental footprint of artificial intelligence. From the enormous water and energy demands of data centers to the trade-offs between carbon emissions and cooling needs, Ren explains how his research uncovers these overlooked costs. We discuss geographical load balancing, fairness in resource allocation, brain-inspired computing, and how tech companies can improve transparency. This conversation explores how to build a

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01:33:51

10. Barbara Finlay, PhD on how brains develop and evolve

Sentience ·

2025/04/12

In this episode, I speak with evolutionary neuroscientist Barbara Finlay, PhD, whose pioneering research has reshaped our understanding of brain evolution. Barbara shares her scientific journey, from her early inspiration in vision science to her groundbreaking discoveries about how brains scale and evolve. We explore how brains self-organize to process sensory information, why humans don't have a uniquely special cortex, and what the evolutionary transition from water to land meant for brain

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01:30:29

9. Glenn Fox, PhD on the science of gratitude

Sentience ·

2025/04/02

In this episode of Sentience, neuroscientist Dr. Glenn Fox takes us on a fascinating journey through the science of gratitude. From his pioneering brain-imaging studies on Holocaust survivor testimonies to developing practical frameworks for entrepreneurs, Glenn reveals how gratitude impacts our brains, emotional health, and resilience. We discuss why gratitude is uniquely powerful, especially during difficult times, and how understanding its neural and psychological foundations can transform our

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01:05:59

8. Farah Lubin, PhD on epigenetics and the brain

Sentience ·

2024/11/12

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Farah Lubin, a neuroscientist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to explore the fascinating world of epigenetics in the brain. Dr. Lubin shares her groundbreaking research on how gene expression can influence memory formation and neurological disorders like epilepsy. We also discuss how understanding these mechanisms could lead to novel therapies, along with the transformative power of epigenetics in brain science. Follow along as Dr. Lubin walks us

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01:06:01

7. Gill Livingston, MD on preventing dementia

Sentience ·

2024/11/07

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Gill Livingston about her groundbreaking research on dementia. Dr. Livingston has played an important role in uncovering the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that contribute to our risk of developing dementia. Follow her on X @Gill_Livingston for more insights.Timestamps: (00:00) - Introduction to Dr. Gill Livingston and Her Research on Dementia(00:30) - Dr. Livingston's Career Path and Inspiration for Dementia Research(06:35) - The Lancet Commission

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01:12:49

6. Athina Demertzi, PhD on the neuroscience of...

Sentience ·

2024/09/25

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Athina Demertzi, PhD, a neuroscientist at the University of Liège who studies human consciousness, especially in patients with severe brain injuries. We discussed her fascinating work on disorders of consciousness like the vegetative and minimally conscious states, and how brain imaging techniques have advanced our understanding of these conditions. We also talked about some treatments people have proposed for these conditions, including

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01:14:16

5. Stephen Coombes, Ph.D on neural field theory

Sentience ·

2024/08/30

In this episode, I talk with Stephen Coombes, Ph.D. about neural field theory, or the theory of brainwaves. Dr. Coombes is Professor of Applied Mathematics in the School of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Nottingham. We explore the foundations of neural field theory, how it models large-scale brain activity, and its relevance to understanding states of consciousness, visual hallucinations, and working memory. Dr. Coombes shares insights from his journey from theoretical physics to

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01:10:03

4. Jay Skelton, Ph.D. and Andrew Leker on AI for...

Sentience ·

2024/06/14

In this episode I talk with clinical psychologist Jay Skelton, Ph.D. and software engineer Andrew Leker about Willow. Willow is a new, empathetic AI specifically designed to be a mental health tool (and not a replacement for a licensed therapist). We take a deep dive into how Willow was trained, how strict safety guardrails were put in place, how Willow is already being used in mental health clinics, its privacy, and the future of AI for mental health. This podcast came out of a partnership with

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01:10:32

3. Michael Treanor, PhD on the science of...

Sentience ·

2024/05/31

In this episode, I talk with Michael Treanor, PhD about the science of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and its foundations in the psychology and neuroscience of learning and memory.You can find out more about Dr. Treanor's clinical practice at https://www.cacenterforanxietytrauma.com/.

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01:02:29

2. Grace Lindsay, Ph.D. on neuroscience and...

Sentience ·

2024/05/20

In this podcast, Grace Lindsay, Ph.D. and I discuss some of the many fascinating intersections between neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

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00:44:28

1. Minimally conscious patient meets scientist who...

Sentience ·

2024/03/05

Bradley Crehan wasn't regaining consciousness after his brain injury, but then he became the first person in the world to receive an experimental treatment developed at UCLA by Martin Monti, PhD and his colleagues. You can support our research here: https://thebrainscientist.com/donate/

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13 results

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