Finding Genius Podcast

How can GI health significantly determine the general health of the rest of the body? Since so many bodily systems utilize products produced along the gastrointestinal tract, minor issues can be increased throughout the body. Listen up to learn: How the gut microbiome has the potential to make or break the body's health How the Western diet may be threatening your gut's health How "bacterial economics" governs GI systems Executive vice president and chief medical officer at Seres Therapeutics, Dr. Lisa von Moltke, discusses her work developing therapeutic techniques to treat gastrointestinal conditions and microbiomes. Through the study of how the gut microbiome and gastrointestinal health affect the operation of the rest of the body, new therapies have been developed to combat GI-targeted infections. New therapies are also being produced to prevent infection with patients undergoing transplants and grafts. Immunosuppressants are also a weak point regarding g...

"Who eats first?" Richard asks Dr. Emeran Mayer as the researcher discusses his new book about the gut-immune connection. The answer is as complex as gut health and immune system interactions, but also just as fascinating. Listen and learn: How the rapid timeline of microbiome research led to understanding connections between gut microbiota and immunity, How facial expressions from emotions are also happening, in a sense, in the gut, How your brain monitors what's happening in your gut through the gut-immune connection, and What hormones are released in your gut and how those tie to emotional reactions. Dr. Emeran Mayer's discusses his latest book, The Gut-Immune Connection: How Understanding the Connection Between Food and Immunity Can Help Us Regain Our Health. He digs deep on some of this timely book's topics, including the ties between our emotions and gut processes. The trillions of microbes producing their own chemicals, or metabolites make for qui...

Ants are perfect models for Manuela Ramalho's research interest in microbiome and host symbiosis. Ants have one of the widest global distribution and habitat diversity of any animal. She captures her enthusiasm and shares it with listeners as she discusses the ecological role of insects and her research on ants. Listen and learn What key questions and ant facts are tied to a better understanding of their microbiome, How elements of an ant's ecosystem such as an ant's habitat and may or may not impact their microbiome, and How microbiomes might differ across different ant species and roles within a colony. Ant scientist Manuela Ramalho grew up in Brazil, an ecosystem flush with insects. Her academic life brought her in touch with all the possibilities of ant research and she's turned that work into a specialization in their microbiome. Now a postdoc researcher at Cornell University, she opens up this research world to listeners, offering an understanding of what we...

Tiny microbes make a huge difference in our health. These internal ecological systems utilize communication or signaling to maintain this health, effecting immune system function. This podcast shares an important discovery in this communication that influences receptivity to cancer treatment. Listen and learn. How scientists knew the human microbiome influences cancer immunotherapy, but couldn't identify a key player in this mucosal immunology impact factor, What study Dr. McCoy put into play to identify this player in the immune system of the human body, and What steps they might now be able to take to harness the power of the microbiome and translate it to therapies. Dr. Kathy McCoy is a professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Calgary and the director of the International Microbiome Centre. Her research is focused on interactions between the microbiome and immune system and she shares an exciting just-published study that presents a k...

Science journalist and author of a revolutionary book on psychobiotics shares compelling insight on the latest research in microbiome and gut-brain connection research. Tune in to discover: In what specific ways the behavior of mice has been shown to change in response to the presence or absence of gut bacteria What role the vagus nerve may play in the gut-brain connection What types of foods lead to physical and functional changes in the brain identifiable via MRI, and how these changes may be associated with greater resilience during stressful situations How your gut microbiota could be controlling your cravings Psychobiotics are a class of microbes that help improve mood. In 2003, research on germ-free mice resulted in a shocking finding: there is a causal connection between bacteria and behavior.  Anderson explains all the details of this research and how it has served as a launching pad for additional research in the field. He discusses the production and functi...

Gavin Douglas and colleagues published a paper assessing microbiome research and assertions that the human microbiome explains missing heritability in nature. He discusses this issue and explains What are classic ways of understanding genetic variation in humans and how recently microbiome research has entered this understanding, What the holobiont model is and how it involves claims regarding the microbiome and missing heritability in nature, and How their paper views the microbiome as more of potential element in genetic variation in humans and necessitates more consideration regarding how to integrate it outside of the strict, holobiont model. Gavin Douglas is a PhD Candidate in the Langille Lab in the Deptartment of Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University. His background is in human genetics and he has just published an intriguing paper called “ Re-evaluating the relationship between missing heritability and the microbiome ” in the journal Microbiome . He help...

Trent Northen studies the chemistry of microbiomes. More specifically, he studies how exogenous metabolites structure a microbial community , and, in turn, how those microbes change the metabolite pool and grow the microbial population. Because his work is primarily funded by the Department of Energy, he's focused on the microbial community in soil and on plant roots. He describes The basic cycle of plant life, metabolites, and the microbial population and how this complex system affects each of its parts; The methods of his lab's research, including studies on hydroponic plant systems that are paired with the work of colleagues in the field; and The applications for these studies, like carbon restoration in poor, less fertile soils. Trent Northen is the Interim Deputy of the EGSB Division and a Chemist Senior Scientist at the Berkeley Lab of Biosciences. He begins the podcast describing the rich and complex cycles of plant, metabolites, and microbes, noting  how plants...

Filipe Cabrerio researches how a host’s microbiome and physiology interact in the context of different conditions such as aging and metabolic syndrome while taking various medications. He shares some his lab’s research with listeners, explaining What they found when studying colorectal cancer drugs and microbial metabolism, How metformin interacts with microbial physiologies to alter metabolic syndrome, and What future studies he hopes to instigate involving the vast genetic diversity in some of these microbes, even within the same species, and medical impactions for treatment. Filipe Cabreiro holds a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship in the London Institute of Medical Sciences at the Imperial College of London. His lab works to understand how the microbiome interacts with a host’s physiology—how the microbes that one produces interact with others, especially when both are challenged by daily medications taken to deal with disease and in the conditions of aging . The lab recently ...

A microbiologist by training, Sam Minot now works as a computational biologist helping other scientists understand the data between of human microbiome and health connections. In this podcast, he explains Why the complexity of bacteria and viruses is important in how scientists might approach infectious viruses and infectious diseases , Why is it difficult to culture "all" bacteria and what that means for microbiome study approaches, and How approaches that prioritize gene-level impact on human health can lead to microbiome-based therapeutics for diseases like cancer. Offer: Magnesium is integral for 600+ biochemical processes in the human body. The common misconception is that consuming more magnesium will automatically improve health and well-being. The truth is that there are various forms of magnesium, each of which is essential for a variety of physiological processes. Most people are inadequate in all forms of magnesium, while even those considered "health...

While scientists know antibiotic resistance is linked to the widespread use of antibiotics, understanding the physiology and microbiome of guts that have never been exposed to synthetic antibiotics might offer information to help address this resistance. Researcher Sharmily Khanam designed a study to tackle this gap in knowledge. She explains How our understanding of resistance mostly comes from clinicallybrelevant bacteria that's pathogenic and our understanding is therefore incomplete; Where she found a population without any exposure to synthetic antibiotics and what her research process is; and What pattern and discovery this research has offered, namely the ubiquitous nature of the antibiotic resistant gene and additional questions this raises. Offer: Magnesium is integral for 600+ biochemical processes in the human body. The common misconception is that consuming more magnesium will automatically improve health and well-being. The truth is that there are various form...

In this episode, we discuss depression's causes and cures with Sarah Zabel, a writer who concentrates her work on this universal mental illness. Sarah retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2018 as a Major General, and since then, she has embarked on a new career as a science writer. Inspired, intrigued, and frustrated by watching someone close to her struggle with depression, Sarah has made it her mission to educate people on this illness so that they can understand it better themselves… In 2021, Sarah wrote Fighting Chance: How Unexpected Observations and Unintended Outcomes Shape the Science and Treatment of Depression , a book that looks inside the twisting search for the causes and cures for depression – the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide. Offer: Magnesium is integral for 600+ biochemical processes in the human body. The common misconception is that consuming more magnesium will automatically improve health and well-being. The truth is that there are variou...

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jonathan Sadowsky, the Theodore J. Castele Professor of Medical History at Case Western Reserve University. In addition to his work as an academic, Dr. Sadowsky has written three books, the most recent being The Empire of Depression: A New History . He also has an upcoming publication from Routledge Press entitled Electroconvulsive Therapy in America: The Anatomy of a Medical Controversy .   Dr. Sadowsky engages with a variety of interesting topics, including his primary concentration: the history of psychiatry in Africa and the United States. Although he didn’t expect to dive so deep into this research area, his background in African history paved the way for his immense fascination with mental illnesses – specifically how they are quantified and treated across time and cultures… Offer: Magnesium is integral for 600+ biochemical processes in the human body. The common misconception is that consuming more magnesium will automatically improve...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Marc Milstein, an internationally recognized speaker on optimizing brain health, lowering the risk of dementia, and boosting happiness and productivity. He joins us today to discuss the many facets of brain health, and how he’s made it his mission to educate people around the world… Starting out as a researcher at UCLA studying breast cancer, Dr. Milstein learned that the same protein involved in breast cancer is also involved in learning and memory. This sparked his interest in brain science – and how it can be used to transform and maximize productivity, energy, and longevity. Offer: Magnesium is integral for 600+ biochemical processes in the human body. The common misconception is that consuming more magnesium will automatically improve health and well-being. The truth is that there are various forms of magnesium, each of which is essential for a variety of physiological processes. Most people are inadequate in all forms of magnesium, while e...

In this episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Harris, the author of What’s Wrong with My Child and America Is Infected . She sits down with us today to discuss her work as a researcher and entrepreneur – specifically her distinct take on autoimmune conditions. With more than 20 years of experience in the field of wellness, Elizabeth is a science-minded business owner that is on a mission to educate medical professionals and other parents about her discoveries. Currently working on her Master’s in Molecular Medicine, Elizabeth has dedicated her time to uncovering the strange disease that took her firstborn son’s life. Identified as a mysterious bacteria, she believes this could be the primary cause of an array of other ailments in America… Offer: Magnesium is integral for 600+ biochemical processes in the human body. The common misconception is that consuming more magnesium will automatically improve health and well-being. The truth is that there are various forms of magnesium, each ...

How do successful companies scale and create fantastic retail experiences for their customers? Kelley Thornton, the CEO of Tiege Hanley, Inc., joins us today to discuss this, and much more… Kelley describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur”, and since founding Tiege Hanley in 2015, he has focused his expertise on a distinct marketing strategy: uncomplicated skin care for men. Skincare is an important part of a healthy routine, and Tiege Hanley is on a mission to make men aware of the benefits of daily upkeep. From disease prevention to simply looking and feeling good, the advantages of healthy skin are endless – and Kelley is determined to give men the resources they need to look and feel better than ever. Tune in now to uncover: The percentage of men who are aware of the value of skincare.  How to effectively take care of your skin. The difference between morning and nighttime moisturizers. How different ingredients help skin replenish itself. Want to learn more about ...

Today, we sit down with Dr. Michelle S. Min, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at UC Irvine’s School of Medicine. As a professional that specializes in dermatology-rheumatology, Dr. Min deals with a wide range of skin disorders – from psoriatic disease to lupus… Dr. Min graduated from the Boston University School of Medicine in 2016, and since then, she has continued to refine her role as both a clinician and researcher of dermatology. Wondering how her work has developed over the years? Tune in now to see for yourself! Jump into the conversation now to learn about: What dermatology is, and how Dr. Min got interested in it. The most tricky types of skin disorders that dermatologists deal with.  How drug-triggered rashes are treated. How technological advancements make dermatological practice easier. Want to find out more about Dr. Min and her work? Click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcast:  http://apple.co/30PvU9C Check out this episode...

In this episode, we sit down with Luigi Gentile, the Chief Revenue Officer at BenchSci, a company that uses advanced biomedical artificial intelligence to empower scientists all around the world. He joins us today to discuss their preclinical R&D platform that uses patented machine learning technology to extract experiment evidence from internal and external data sources. The R&D process behind clinical experimentation is often challenging and time-consuming. BenchSci seeks to expedite this process by cutting down on trial and error procedures – and thus, empowering scientists across therapeutic areas with cutting-edge biomedical knowledge… Offer: Magnesium is integral for 600+ biochemical processes in the human body. The common misconception is that consuming more magnesium will automatically improve health and well-being. The truth is that there are various forms of magnesium, each of which is essential for a variety of physiological processes. Most people are inadequate i...

In this episode, we sit down with Colin Stuckert, the Founder and CEO of Wild Foods Co. With a mission to help their customers live their best lives, Wild Foods is a company that provides high-quality functional superfoods and Earth-sourced supplements – all directly sourced from small producers. What are the benefits of knowing your ingredients are sustainable, natural, and pure? Wild Foods Co’s products are certainly raising the bar for food and nutrition – and this is only the beginning… Offer: Magnesium is integral for 600+ biochemical processes in the human body. The common misconception is that consuming more magnesium will automatically improve health and well-being. The truth is that there are various forms of magnesium, each of which is essential for a variety of physiological processes. Most people are inadequate in all forms of magnesium, while even those considered "healthy" typically only ingest 1 or 2 kinds. Consuming all 7 of magnesium's primary forms is...

In this episode, we connect with Dr. Jay Shah, the Chief Medical Officer at Aktiia. As a cardiologist by training and practice, Dr. Shah has developed extensive experience within the medical field – with expertise lying in the academic, clinical, and teaching environments.  After more than 10 years as a practicing medical professional, Dr. Shah was ready for something new. He was ready to impact more patients using his clinical experience in a different way. This is where Aktiia came into the picture… Aktiia is a revolutionary company that is on a mission to empower both patients and providers to improve the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of hypertension. This is a condition that affects nearly half of the American adult population, and more than 1 billion people worldwide.  Join us now to learn about: What Aktiia is, and why it was founded. The biggest problems in blood pressure management.  The importance of monitoring your blood pressure, and why people te...

In this episode, we discuss silicone and polymer chemistry with Michelle Cummings, a Senior R&D Leader at Dow Performance Silicones. With over 25 years of experience in this industry, Michelle has developed a strong technical understanding of silicone chemistry and material science.  From consumer electronics to automotive applications, silicone is used in more than one may think. By utilizing her skills in formulation and mechanical characterization, Michelle is on a mission to enhance silicone innovation in lighting, 3D printing, silicone elastomers, and more… Join in now to find out: How silicone is driving the technology market forward. The differences between rubber and silicone. The primary reasons why scientists use silicone to create different materials.  Why silicone is used in water-resistant applications. Want to learn more about Michelle and her work with Dow Performance Silicones? Click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://appl...

Joining us today is Andrea “Annie” Lynn Kritcher, a nuclear engineer and physicist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Annie has been working in fusion for over 18 years, which eventually led to her developing Hybrid-E – a capsule that enables inertial confinement fusion. Much of Annie’s postdoctoral research explored how to use X-rays to measure the properties of plasma, and how nuclei interact with it. In 2022, she was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society for her contributions to the creation of the first laboratory burning and igniting fusion plasma – a high honor for a member of her field… In this episode, you will discover: What fusion is. How researchers are creating extremely hot conditions in laboratories to create fusion. How magnetic fields can be used to squeeze plasma down.  What “inertial confinement” is.  Want to learn more about Annie and her work with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory? Click here now! Episode also avail...

Happiness is an abstract concept that can be difficult to define – but it seems like we’re all trying to find it in some way or another… What if you had the ability to uncover happiness from within yourself? Spiritual teacher Shai Tubali joins us today to discuss how you can accomplish just that through one holistic process. Shai describes himself as a “happiness history expert”. He believes that by taking advantage of tools such as meditation, psychological and emotional development, and intellectual study, spiritual fulfillment will come naturally.  So how can you start your own inner journey of mental, emotional, and spiritual transformation? Listen in to find out for yourself… In this episode, we discuss: The importance of understanding philosophy as a search for happiness.  Examples of how happiness has been described throughout history.  Practical ways to find happiness within yourself.  What mindfulness is, and how it can act as the gateway to reali...

What are the benefits of buying your meat from a local farm? In this episode, we sit down with Sebastien Bonneu to discuss his farming practices, and why farm-raised meat is generally better tasting – and better for you – than meat from a factory. Sebastien runs Countryside Farm, a farm based in Cedar Creek, Texas that raises, processes, and sells birds, rabbits, and wild hogs.  Raised on a farm outside of Bordeaux, France, Sebastien cut his teeth sustainably farming with his parents – who are both chefs. Since then, he has brought his own family to a plot of land outside of Austin to put his knowledge and skills to the test… Join us now to find out: What makes turkeys a good type of bird to raise and eat.  How long it takes to raise a duck to sell for meat. What a typical customer buys from Countryside Farm. How animals are transported from farm to consumer.  Want to learn more about Sebastien and his work with Countryside Farm? Click here now! Episode als...

In this episode, we connect once again with Alex Bäcker, an inventor, board director, technologist, author, entrepreneur, coach, and public speaker. Alex is the founder and CEO of Drisit, a company that uses real-time streaming of drone footage and automated drone missions to empower individuals to see anywhere in the world… Drisit is constantly advancing, and Alex joins the podcast today to fill us in on the company’s latest developments – specifically how they are using their drones in the context of security. What role are drones playing in the improvement of public safety? Tune in now to find out for yourself! In this episode, we discuss: What Drisit is, and what its mission is.  How drones can be used to improve the safety of college students.  The feedback that “Drisit Bodyguard” has been receiving.  Applications where drones can be used for enhanced safety. If drone footage is admissible in court. To learn more about Alex and his work with Drisit, click h...

Today, we sit down with William Sargent, a NOVA consultant and the winner of the Boston Globe's Winship Award. He joins us in this episode to discuss his work as a renowned author and scientist covering subjects such as marine biology, fishing, diving, underwater photography, global warming, and more. William has written a whopping 27 books about science and the environment. These include World on Edge: Covid-19, Climate Change, Ukraine and Solutions, and Storm Surge: A Coastal Village Battles the Rising Atlantic . His distinct insight is informed by years of research and personal interaction with the issues he tackles… In this episode, you will learn about: What a scientific author does. How severe storms can impact beaches, and how they compare to sea level rise. Insights from journalists regarding the current war in Ukraine. The potential origins of COVID-19. William is determined to bridge the gap between science and storytelling – and the success he has achieved is f...

What will the next generation of medicine production look like? Dr. Govind Rao joins us today to discuss the importance of constructing safe and effective medications – standards that are harder to reach than one may think… Dr. Rao is a Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, and the Director of the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. His research interests are primarily focused on how to enhance the production of protein-based therapeutics from the traditional fermentation and cell culture approach – something biopharmaceuticals have been doing for over 30 years. In this episode, we discuss: Experimentation that Dr. Rao’s lab is doing.  New technology that is enabling scientists to create proteins.  The paradigm shift that may be on the horizon for therapeutic production. Drugs that are most likely to improve in the near future.  Wondering how Dr. Rao is contributing to the future of medicine and well...

Child psychologist and neuroscientist Sam Wass joins the podcast today to discuss the early human development of attention and stress. What makes Sam’s research unique is the way he analyzes not one – but two people at once. He does this to explore the interpersonal properties that exist between parents and their children. Sam is a Professor of Developmental Psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of East London’s School of Psychology. Here, he heads up the BabyDevLab and the Developmental Group . What has his psychological and neurological work uncovered? Tune in now to find out! In this episode, we talk about: Why children are considered to be less emotionally stable early on.  How parents and children coregulate physiological stress.  How children learn from adults. How to calm down children’s stress levels. To learn more about Sam and his work, click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C C...

Are polyethylene-destroying enzymes the answer to plastic pollution that we’ve been looking for? Federica Bertocchini, an expert in molecular biology, joins the podcast today to enlighten us on this fascinating research topic. Federica works with the Department of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology at Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas-Margarita Salas in Madrid, Spain. With a passion for environmental science, Federica found herself looking for plastic eating-organisms – and you’d be surprised what her research has uncovered… In this episode, we cover: How plastic affects the worms that eat it.  The enzymes that are able to break down polyethylene. What happens to plastic substances after worms digest them.  To find out more about Federica Bertocchini and her work, click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C Check out this episode!

In this episode, we connect with award-winning Functional Medicine MD Dr. Peter Kozlowski. Dr. Kozlowski’s practice centers around healing from chronic disease and maintaining long-term health by identifying underlying causes, focusing on nutrition, gut health, hormones, and toxins. Dr. Kozlowski is also the author of Best-Selling books Get the Func Out and Unfunc your Gut, works that address ​​mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health – all from a functional medicine perspective… Jump in now to hear us discuss: How Dr. Kozlowski’s past alcoholism shaped his professional future.  What functional medicine really is.  The five main areas that doctors look at with functional medicine.  How imbalances can cause health to deteriorate.  Wondering how this functional medicine expert is working towards reframing health and wellness? Join the conversation now to find out for yourself! To learn more about Dr. Kozlowski and his work, click here now! ...

Rejoining us in this episode is Dr. Bill McGraw, a boundary-pushing research scientist and the author of Aluminum Detox: An Easy Solution and Mercury: The Ultimate Truth and Chronic Disease . He sits down today to discuss Rife Machines – instruments used to treat various ailments using electromagnetic frequencies. Used as a noninvasive form of therapy, Rife Machines were invented nearly a century ago to get rid of cancer, Lyme disease, and other serious conditions. Dr. McGraw says he has been using Rife Machines for years on his patients with a 95% success rate…  How do these curious inventions work? Tune in now to see for yourself! Join us now to explore: The origins of Rife technology.  How certain frequencies have been linked to killing viruses and cancer cells. How scalar fields can identify different types of viruses. To learn more about Dr. McGraw and his work with Rife Machines, click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30...