Episodes

In this insightful episode, we welcome Elli Kaplan, co-founder and CEO of Neurotrack, to discuss her journey in transforming cognitive health. She shares her personal motivation driven by family history, the challenges faced in developing early detection tools for Alzheimer's disease, and the innovative work Neurotrack is doing. From validating technology to integrating effective brain health practices into healthcare systems, Elli provides a deep dive into the future of cognitive health. Tun...

Cassidy Doyle is a Doctoral Candidate in the Aging Studies at the University of South Florida. Her work focuses on cognitive aging, particularly the factors that can be modified to prevent Alzheimer's disease. We delve into her fascinating research on 'super-agers,' individuals aged 80 and above with memory capabilities comparable to much younger people. Cassidy also shares her personal journey, experiences as a teen caregiver, and the findings from her recent publication on the cognitive agi...

Join us as we delve into brain health with Dr. Madhav Thambisetty, MD, PhD, a McKnight Brain Research trustee and senior investigator at the National Institute on Aging. Learn about his distinguished career in neurology and his passion for brain health. Discover insightful findings from a recent survey on American perspectives on brain health, including common concerns about aging and memory. Dr. Thambisetty shares valuable lifestyle tips to promote a healthy brain and discusses how the...

Join us in this enlightening episode as we welcome Dr. Dean Ornish, founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute and respected Clinical Professor of Medicine. Dr. Ornish shares his groundbreaking research demonstrating that comprehensive lifestyle changes—focused on diet, exercise, stress management, and social support—can significantly improve cognition in early-stage Alzheimer's patients. Discover the science behind these findings, personal stories, and insights on the future of...

In this episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health,' award-winning executive Karin Bilich shares her personal journey of growing up with epilepsy and undergoing brain surgery at 19 due to a brain tumor. With over 20 years of experience in health communications and health tech, Karin discusses the importance of brain health, the challenges she faced, and strategies for healthy living. She highlights the significance of sleep, stress management, and emerging trends in health technology to support bette...

In this episode of Let's Talk Brain Health, we welcome Olivia (Liv) Morris, an entrepreneur, marketing consultant, high-performance coach, and the founder of Doctors Living, to discuss the key concepts of resilience and mindset. Liv shares her personal journey and the pivotal moment that shaped her understanding of resilience stemming from a crisis during her husband's career as a physician, leading to a broader discussion on the importance of resilience in the healthcare sector and beyond. Sh...

In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health podcast, Dr. Michael Rucker, Ph.D. discusses the science of fun and its impact on health and wellness. Mike shares his journey from overemphasizing happiness to exploring fun as a means to live a joyful life despite adversities, emphasizing the concept of 'positive valence' or finding pleasure in the moment. Delving into how fun can redefine one's approach to life and work, Dr. Rucker highlights research on the hedonic flexibility principle an...

In this episode of the 'Let's Talk Brain Health' podcast, Dr. Jennifer Fraser discusses her book 'The Bullied Brain', exploring the neurological effects of bullying and how it physically alters the brain. She details her interdisciplinary approach, blending neuroscience with social and psychological perspectives to address bullying. She shares case studies and research findings on the brain areas affected by abusive behaviors, emphasizing the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, corpus callosum, a...

This episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health' features an inspiring conversation with Johnny Crowder, a certified recovery peer specialist, mental health advocate, and the founder of Cope Notes. Crowder shares his personal journey from struggling with severe mental health conditions and surviving abuse to becoming a mental health advocate. He explains how art, music, and peer support played significant roles in his recovery, and how studying psychology and neuroscience helped him realize the potent...

In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health podcast, we welcome Dr. Carolyn Clevenger, DNP, a distinguished gerontology nurse practitioner and professor at Emory University, to discuss the groundbreaking Integrated Memory Care (IMC) program. Carolyn outlines the IMC's unique, nurse-led approach to dementia care, offering comprehensive services for both people living with dementia and their caregivers under one roof. She details the challenges traditional care models present, the formati...

Dr. Kaveh Vejdani, Co-founder and Chief Medical and Technology Officer at Darmiyan, discusses BrainSee, the first FDA-approved AI medical software designed to evaluate cognitive prognosis in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). With a background in nuclear medicine and expertise in medical image processing and machine learning, Dr. Vejdani's work reflects his commitment to innovation in healthcare. BrainSee aims to solve the global crisis of dementia through early detection and accu...

In this episode of the 'Let's Talk Brain Health' podcast, guest Brenda Davis RD, a distinguished expert in plant-based nutrition, discusses the profound benefits of adopting a plant-based diet for brain health. Brenda, recognized for her extensive work and publications on vegan and vegetarian nutrition, shares her personal journey to plant-based eating and insights from her research and clinical trials in the Marshall Islands and Lithuania. She emphasizes the connection between diet and cognit...

This episode of the 'Let's Talk Brain Health' podcast features Dr. Kyra Bobinet, a physician, public health leader, and behavioral science innovator, who discusses her extensive journey and insights into behavior change. Dr. Bobinet, with an MD from UCSF School of Medicine and a Master's in Public Health from Harvard University, shares her discoveries in the neuroscience of habit formation, particularly the role of the habenula in regulating motivation and behavior change. She introduces the ...

In this episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health,' Robert 'Rob' Liebreich, President and CEO of Goodwin Living, discusses the Stronger Memory program, an initiative focused on enhancing brain health in senior living communities. Rob shares personal stories that fueled his passion for memory care, including his experience with his mother. The Stronger Memory program consists of three key activities: reading aloud, handwriting, and tackling simple math problems, all designed to engage the prefrontal...

This episode explores the important work of the Brain Exercise Initiative with Essene GumustekinIn this episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health', Essene Gumustekin, an MDJD candidate at UCLA Medical School and Harvard Law School, founder of the Brain Exercise Initiative discusses her inspiration and commitment to improving brain health. The Brain Exercise Initiative is a non-profit organization that conducts brain exercise sessions for seniors across the US and Canada. The program, based on the wo...

In this episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health', guest Dr. Jacqueline Thies, an accomplished neuro optometrist, discusses the intricate connections between eye health, neurology, and overall health. She advises regular eye exams for early detection of health problems, as the eyes can often reveal signs of systemic or neurological diseases. Dr. Thies emphasizes the value of optometric evaluations beyond just prescribing glasses or contacts, and advocates for a multidisciplinary approach, including...

In this episode of 'Let's Talk Brain Health', Dr. Melissa Sunderman, a double board-certified physician in internal medicine and lifestyle medicine, discusses the importance of lifestyle choices on brain health. She shares her journey into lifestyle medicine, detailing her pursuit of true healing and advocating for healthier lifestyles through the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: nutrition, exercise, sleep, social connection stress management, and avoi...

In this episode of Let's Talk Brain Health, expert and culinary-trained dietician Maggie Moon shares her insights into the role of nutrition in supporting brain health. Maggie, who is also an author and a strategic consultant for health-centered brands, emphasizes the power of the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet in bolstering brain health across all life stages. She discusses the research behind the MIND diet's potential to cut Alzheimer's risk and...

In this enlightening conversation with Dr. Ami Bhatt, a physician and Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, we delve into the world of heart and brain health. As Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Bhatt is leading healthcare innovation initiatives and pioneering personalized virtual cardiovascular care models. With extensive experience in outpatient and telecardiology, she shares interesting insights on the prevention and management of heart and brain ...

In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health Podcast, we speak with Lauren Waldman, a learning scientist and founder of Learning Pirate Inc. Lauren discusses the fascinating intersection of neuroscience + learning and shares her journey from being a teacher to delving into cognitive neuroscience and its application in learning design. She emphasizes the importance of focus in learning and explains how our brain's neural mechanisms work when acquiring new information. Lauren highlights that un...

In this captivating conversation on the Let's Talk Brain Health podcast, Dr. Linda Sasser, an expert in educational psychology and brain health, shares her insights and practical strategies to keep our minds sharp and engaged. Dr. Sasser discusses the importance of socialization, exercise, nutrition, sleep, and education (SENSE) for maintaining brain health. She busts common misconceptions about brain health and highlights the power of neuroplasticity and the ability of our brains to adapt and ...

In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health podcast, Dr. Kirti Ranchod, a neurologist, joins as a guest to discuss the concept of cultural capital and its impact on brain health. Dr. Ranchod emphasizes the importance of cultural practices and traditions in maintaining a healthy brain and shares her insights on how specific cultures contribute to brain health. She highlights different examples of cultural capital that support brain health, including intergenerational interactions and commun...

In this episode of the "Let's Talk Brain Health" podcast, Dr. Ian Robertson, Ph.D., a renowned clinical psychologist and brain health expert, delves into the intricacies of the human mind and its capacity for resilience and adaptation. With over four decades of experience in neuropsychology and brain rehabilitation, Dr. Robertson shares his insights on how attention systems in the brain can be harnessed for emotional and cognitive control. Dr. Robertson emphasizes the often-underestimated ...

In this powerful episode, we welcome Debbie Hampton, an inspirational writer who overcame a suicide attempt and a resulting brain injury. Debbie shares her remarkable journey, revealing how she leveraged neuroplasticity to reshape her brain and life after facing traumatic experiences to become a well-known voice in the mental health space. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's own power in shaping their brain health and mental well-being. Debbie sheds light on innovative thera...