brainSTEM Podcast

02/11/2025

Exciting news! The brainSTEM podcast was recently featured by Wayne State University! Huge thanks to our amazing team and listeners who’ve supported us through three seasons. Check out the feature here and give us a listen on Spotify and Apple podcasts!

🗞️ Feature: https://shorturl.at/V8fP6

🎧 Give us a listen!
📌 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ghuS9hNq
📌 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/gFtZ4brq

https://today.wayne.edu/news/2025/02/07/brainstem-podcast-doesnt-just-inform-it-empowers-65450?utm_source=link&utm_medium=email-67aa3c46cf9ae&utm_campaign=February+10%2C+2025+-+Visual%40Wayne+-+Wayne+State+University&utm_content=%27BrainSTEM%27+podcast+informs%2C+empowers&utm_term=

Dr. Marusak interviewed Dr. Arash Javanbakht, a psychiatrist and director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic at Wayne State University about fear and his new book, “Afraid”. ...

02/10/2025

‼️ New episode dropped! ‼️

Is va**ng really safer than smoking? 🤔 This week on the brainSTEM podcast, we sit down with addiction expert Dr. David Ledgerwood to break down the science behind va**ng: how it affects the body, the risks for young people, and what the latest research reveals.

Don’t miss this deep dive into one of today’s most pressing public health debates! Listen now on Spotify (link below)! 🧠 🎧

🔗 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5L8eireYKYDtATgwpPcMj0?si=y9PwcGlLRtC9i0_-VJc9yw

02/03/2025

🚨 New episode alert! 🚨

Dr. Eric Woodcock joins brainSTEM to break down the link between neuroinflammation and addiction. From opioid and ni****ne use disorders to PTSD and depression, we explore how brain inflammation shapes addiction — and how it could be the key to new treatments. Don’t miss this fascinating deep dive into the future of addiction science 🎧🧠 Link in bio!

01/27/2025

🌟 Episode 22 is LIVE! 🌟

Gut health and mental health… what’s the connection?

🧠➡️🦠 In this episode of the brainSTEM podcast, we’re joined by the brilliant Dr. Annelise Madison, a clinical psychologist and expert in psycho-neuro-immunology. Together, we explore:

✨ The gut-brain axis and how it influences mood, stress, and thoughts
✨ The role of the gut microbiome in mental health
✨ How diet, stress, and the environment impact this connection
✨ Practical tips for improving your gut-brain health

🎧 Tune in to learn how the gut and brain communicate, why probiotics are trending, and the future of gut-brain research!

01/25/2025

🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🚨

In this special episode of BrainSTEM, co-producer Aman takes the mic to interview host Dr. Hilary Marusak, neuroscientist and avid runner, about the fascinating connection between exercise and brain health.

What exactly is a runner’s high, and how does it work? How do the brain’s endocannabinoids contribute to this euphoric state, and how does exercise impact mental health, neuron growth, and longevity? Hilary dives into these topics and shares insights from her research, including a groundbreaking study on the effects of exercise on anxiety in adolescents.

Whether you’re a seasoned runner, a fitness enthusiast, or just curious about how movement impacts your brain, this episode will leave you inspired to lace up your shoes and hit the ground running!

🔗 Tap the link in bio to listen now!

                                                         

01/20/2025

New episode dropped!
Curious about cannabis and its impact on the brain? 🌿🧠

In the latest episode of BrainSTEM, Dr. Hilary Marusak sits down with cannabis expert Dr. Matthew Hill to unpack the science behind cannabis use. From THC and CBD to its potential benefits and risks, this balanced conversation dives into:

✔️ How cannabis interacts with the brain
✔️ Short-term and long-term effects
✔️ Cannabis and mental health, including PTSD and psychosis
✔️ Myths vs. facts

Whether you’re exploring its therapeutic potential or looking to separate science from misconceptions, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. 🎙️

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YP4yooEnj33F2DkfvoCpk?si=ab9chmL3QairPkYusOflLQ

01/06/2025

Season 3 of BrainSTEM is here! 🎉 Episode 1 just dropped, and we’re kicking things off with a powerful conversation about mental health advocacy and resilience. Join Dr. Hilary Marusak and Jon Nelson as they tackle the stigma around mental illness and share actionable steps for change. 🌟 New episodes every Monday—don’t miss out!

Episode Description:
In this inspiring episode, Jon Nelson, a mental health advocate and member of the One Mind Lived Experiences Council, shares his journey through depression and recovery. From shaping mental health narratives to addressing misconceptions, this conversation is a call to action for awareness, advocacy, and community. 💙

12/24/2024

What a year it’s been for brainSTEM! ✨ Thanks to YOU, our community has grown, and we’re reaching more curious minds than ever. 🎉 Here’s to new followers, more episodes, and continuing to explore the wonders of the brain together in 2025. Let’s keep growing! 🙌 🧠

11/13/2024

Hey you! We want to know any and all of your questions about the gut-brain axis, gut microbiome, and immunology for a future episode of the brainSTEM podcast. What do you want to know? Leave a comment, send us a message, or send us an email ([email protected])! 🧠

10/04/2024

In episode 10 of the brainSTEM podcast, we interviewed Vara, a young cancer survivor with PTSD symptoms, and Dr. Ryan Herringa, a child psychiatrist and neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin! Hear the full episode to learn more about Vara’s personal experience and Dr. Herringa’s research and treatment of childhood PTSD. 🧠
               

08/22/2024

This special episode features an interview with Dr. Clara Zundel, Ph.D., about recent research on the impact of air pollution on the brain and mental health. Dr. Zundel is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University’s School of Medicine. Her work focuses on how environmental toxins, such as air pollution, impact brain and behavior and increase risk for psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.

This special episode features an interview with Dr. Clara Zundel, Ph.D., about recent research on the impact of air pollution on the brain and mental health....

08/15/2024

Hey you! We want to know any and all of your questions about VA**NG for a future episode of the brainSTEM podcast. What do you want to know? Leave a comment, send us a message, or send us an email ([email protected])! 🧠
**e **ng                              

08/14/2024

Hello world!
The brainSTEM podcast finally has a page! 🧠🎉