Finding Genius Podcast

How do microplastics impact aquatic ecosystems? What can happen if an entire food web of aquatic organisms is exposed to microplastic contaminants?  Garth Covernton, a researcher who studies the interactions between microplastic pollution and aquatic ecology, joins the podcast today to enlighten us on these critical questions… Garth is a University of Toronto Arts and Sciences Postdoctoral Fellow working in the Rochman lab and the McMeans lab as part of the pELAstics project . Through his work, Garth is on a mission to “provide conservation managers and policymakers with the simplified frameworks required to protect aquatic ecosystems”. Join us now to learn about: The types of freshwater that Garth is conducting his research in.  What food webs are, and what they can tell us about microplastic contamination.  The most commonly used and produced polymers that contaminate aquatic systems. The mechanisms of analysis used to determine how microplastics move through di...

In this episode, we connect with Judy Grisel, an internationally recognized behavioral neuroscientist, and professor of psychology at Bucknell University. She joins us today to discuss her work researching the root causes of drug addiction. Judy has a history of her own with addiction, and she uses her past to fuel her mission to understand the neuroscience of addiction. In 2019, she published Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction , a book that explores “how drugs work, the dangerous hold they can take on the brain, and the surprising way to combat today's epidemic of addiction”. Jump into the conversation now to discover: The three main streams of influence that increase or decrease the risk for addiction. The difference between the brains of addicts before and after they start using.  Why addiction is considered a “form of learning”. Why people who use opiates regularly feel “normal” over time when they’re on them. The more we understand about add...

How do you become a top 1% communicator in your industry? Brenden Kumarasamy, the Founder of MasterTalk joins the podcast today to discuss how he has been helping professionals around the world master their communication skills and share their messages with confidence.  After college, Brenden found himself coaching others for debates and case competitions – through which he “accidentally” developed a gift as an educator. Since then, he has used this newfound skill to educate others through MasterTalk, and the results have been significant…  Tune in now to learn about: How Brenden practiced and improved his communication skills. The main reason why Brenden started doing case competitions.  The key aspects that are missing from executives’ and entrepreneurs’ communication. How to practice communication in a structured way.  To find out more about Brenden and his work with MasterTalk, click here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/3...

Pain is a complicated and subjective experience that varies greatly from person to person. Arguably one of the most significant human health problems, pain is a signal from your nervous system indicating something isn’t right – and as we all know, it is a deeply unpleasant feeling.  In this episode, we sit down with Jeffrey Mogil, the E. P. Taylor Chair in Pain Studies at McGill University’s Department of Psychology. As someone who has always been fascinated by the science of pain, Jeffrey focuses his research on the nervous system mechanisms that mediate the perception and inhibition of pain. What fascinating discoveries has Jeffrey made in the field of pain science? Jump in now to find out… In this conversation, we cover: Statistics related to chronic pain.  The main reasons why people have chronic pain.  How to characterize different types of pain.  The scales that researchers use to quantify pain. How various pain drugs work.  To learn more about ...

What does it mean to be a man in today’s society? How can God’s vision for men come to fruition?  Life and marriage expert Jerry Jacobs Jr. joins the podcast today to talk about his role in reconnecting men with their God-given mission – and how it helps them protect, defend, and serve their families more effectively… In this episode, we cover: What Christ expects from a man.  Why God’s natural order means something.  What the purpose of a man is. Threats that a man must protect his family from.  What the legacy of a man is.  Jerry started Catholic Alpha to serve as a resource for men around the world. Wondering how his work has shaped his audience for the better? Jump in now to find out!  To learn more about Jerry and his work, click here and here now! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C Check out this episode!

In this episode, we discuss pollution from tire particles with Dr. Kelly D. Moran, a Senior Scientist at the San Francisco Estuary Institute. With over 18 years of experience in her field, Dr. Moran has worked in both environmental science and public policy – and has played a major role in assisting government agencies with water pollution management from consumer products… Join us now to discover: How pollutants infiltrate waterways. How tire particles can impact marine wildlife. Solutions to mitigate the harmful effects of storm runoff.  The chemicals that are distributed through tire particles, and how they can potentially cause harm. Dr. Moran is an environmental professional that is passionate about translating complex scientific information into plain language. How has her research benefited our environment? Click play to find out now! To learn more about Dr. Moran and her work, visit https://www.sfei.org ! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/...

How do the microorganisms that live in us, on us, and around us influence our biology? Joseph Bruckner joins us today to discuss the gut-brain connection, and how social development is affected by the microbes that reside in our bodies… Joseph is a Senior Scientist at InVivo Biosystems, a company that strives to help pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, biotechnology companies, and academic research institutions advance their research and drug development endeavors.  With extensive experience in immunology, virology, microbiology, neurobiology, and more, Joseph is on a mission to develop solutions to “accelerate discovery and address underserved conditions”. In this episode, we cover: The mechanisms that are responsible for microbial interactions with the brain.  The experimentation that is done to investigate how microbes influence social behavior.  How bacteria evolve to survive in specific microenvironments.  The importance of fine-tuning the interactions betwee...