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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Lorenzo Pasquini and Hannes Kettner about their groundbreaking research on the effects of psychedelics in older adults. They delve into their shared interest in exploring psychedelics as a potential avenue for improving mental health and well-being in this population, where better treatments are urgently needed. The conversation covers the research process, details about the psychedelic retreats attended by participants, and the substances used. They also share key outcomes related to participants' well-being and discuss exciting future directions for their work.
Dr. Pasquini is Assistant Professor of Neurology at UCSF whose research focuses on the brain's role in emotional states and social behavior. Using neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques, he explores how these systems change with aging, neuropsychiatric diseases, and novel interventions like psychedelics. Hannes Kettner is a researcher and PhD candidate at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College, London.
This episode is sponsored by Greco Gum, the all-natural chewing gum for your mouth and gut that is made from only ONE ingredient! Visit GrecoGum.com and use code ERIN15 to get 15% off your first order.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Australian medical herbalist Lee Carroll about Ergothioneine—what he calls "the most important nutrient you’ve probably never heard of." Found in high concentrations in mushrooms, Lee explains its properties, functions, and why some researchers have dubbed it a "longevity vitamin." While the scientific evidence is still emerging, Ergothioneine’s unique characteristics have sparked significant interest with researchers. Lee also shares the best ways to cook and eat mushrooms to maximize their health benefits.
Lee Carroll, Chief Medical Herbalist with the Science Team at Real Mushrooms, brings over 30 years of expertise in holistic health and botanical medicine. A renowned educator and mentor, he has dedicated his career to exploring the health benefits of mushrooms. Since 2013, he has run a clinical practice in Australia and founded Herba Meditari, an innovative platform for educating health professionals worldwide.
With degrees in Western Herbal Medicine and Botany, Lee seamlessly blends traditional wisdom with modern science. His prior roles at MediHerb, where he excelled in research, development, and education, further highlight his extensive expertise.
This episode is sponsored by Greco Gum, the all-natural chewing gum for your mouth and gut. Visit GrecoGum.com and use code ERIN15 to get 15% off your first order!
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks sits down with Dr. Alan Lightman to explore "spiritual materialism," the idea that we can embrace awe-inspiring, spiritual moments without turning to the supernatural for explanations. Dr. Lightman shares insights from his new book, The Miraculous From the Material: Understanding the Wonders of Nature, and delves into profound topics like consciousness, near-death experiences, the possibility of a higher power, immortality, relationships, and whether falling in love leaves space for magic. If you love pondering life’s biggest questions, this episode is a must-listen.
Dr. Lightman is a renowned physicist, author, and entrepreneur. A former Harvard faculty member and current professor at MIT, he holds a degree from Princeton University and a PhD in physics from Caltech. He’s the bestselling author of the modern classic Einstein's Dreams, The Diagnosis, The Transcendental Brain, and The Accidental Universe. Dr. Lightman also hosts the acclaimed PBS series Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science. Since 2023, he is a member of the United Nations’ Scientific Advisory Board.
This episode is sponsored by Greco Gum, the all-natural chewing gum for your mouth and gut. Visit GrecoGum.com and use code ERIN15 to get 15% off your first order!
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks welcomes Dr. Shai Efrati, a world-renowned physician from Tel Aviv specializing in internal medicine, nephrology, and hyperbaric medicine. Dr. Efrati is the director of the Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research, the largest hyperbaric center globally, treating over 350 patients daily. He is a leading researcher with over 170 scientific publications, a professor at Tel Aviv University, and co-founder of Aviv Scientific.
Dr. Efrati recently released his book, Beyond Normal, which explores how the latest advancements in enhanced medicine can boost performance and repair brain injuries. In this episode, he explains what enhanced medicine is, with a special focus on his pioneering protocols for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). They explore how HBOT can be utilized to enhance both body and mind, diving into studies on PTSD, Long COVID, fibromyalgia, and an ongoing investigation into its effects on dementia prevention. Dr. Efrati also shares insights on how professional athletes use this therapy to optimize performance and potentially slow the aging process.
Join us as we connect with Dr. Efrati to learn about the cutting-edge world of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and its potential to reshape health and performance enhancement.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks sits down with Professor Joyce Harper to discuss her fascinating study on the effects of cold water swimming on premenstrual and perimenopausal symptoms. Prof. Harper kicks off by sharing her background and what inspired her to dive into this unique research. They explore what qualifies as cold water swimming and how the study was conducted, revealing interesting findings—like the differences in benefits between wearing bathing suits versus wetsuits and the optimal time women spent in cold water. The conversation delves into the potential physical and mental effects of cold water exposure and why it might alleviate certain symptoms. To wrap up, Prof. Harper offers insightful advice on aging gracefully and happily.
Professor Joyce Harper is an acclaimed author, researcher, and award-winning Professor of Reproductive Science at University College London's Institute for Women's Health. With nearly 40 years of experience in fertility, genetics, and women's health, she founded Reproductive Health at Work, leads the Reproductive Science and Society Group, and co-leads InTune, a UK-based menopause education and support program.
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In this bonus episode for subscribers of Causes or Cures, we uncover the strange history of a “truth serum” that began as a drug intended to ease labor pain but took an unexpected turn. First thought to compel honesty, this powerful substance soon became known for darker uses, from police interrogations to secret CIA operations. Over time, it even gave rise to modern “zombie” myths. Join us as we trace this drug's bizarre path, question its reliability, and consider the ethical dilemmas that continue to surround it. If a foolproof truth serum existed today, would it be a force for good or a Pandora’s box? Dr. Eeks shares her thoughts to that question and hopes you share yours.
In case you missed the first bonus episode, please click here: The Misinformation Massacre.
*Disclaimer: This podcast consists entirely of my own thoughts and does not reflect the views of anyone or any organization I work with or consult for.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks sits down with Dr. Hooman Allayee and James Hilser to explore their new research on the lasting impact of COVID-19 on heart health. They reveal surprising findings about how COVID—especially in those who were hospitalized—elevates the risk of severe heart issues long after recovery, even years down the road. The conversation dives into the connection between blood type and post-COVID heart risk, and the researchers share their theories on why blood type matters. Plus, they discuss the implications of these findings for public health and clinical practice, offering important recommendations for how the public health and medical community should respond.
Dr. Allayee is a professor of populations and public health sciences and biochemistry and molecular medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. His research focuses on utilizing genetics and genomics to better understand complex cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases.
James Hilser holds a masters of public health, is a bioinformatics specialist and a PhD candidate in molecular medicine in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences at Keck School of Medicine.
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Do you struggle with constipation or diarrhea? How is that linked to your overall organ health?
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Johannes P. Johnson-Martínez about his recent research on how variations in bowel movement frequency (BMF) can impact the gut microbiome, blood metabolites, and overall organ health. They discuss how abnormal BMF patterns are linked to toxins produced by gut microbes that enter the bloodstream and increase inflammation levels and how abnormal BMFs may be early warning signs of organ dysfunction. Finally, he highlights how diet and lifestyle choices can influence BMF variations and the larger health implications and "take-home" points of this research.
Dr. Johnson-Martinez is a researcher interested in the gut microbiome who conducted this research in the Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington.
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Are you afraid of clowns?
If you're like many who dread those painted smiles, you're not alone- especially as Halloween approaches and horror movies like It remind us just how unsettling they can be.
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Sophie Scorey about her research on the origins for the fear of clowns or coulrophobia. Sophie dives into the global prevalence of this bizarre phobia and explores why so many people, from kids to adults, are terrified of clowns. Whether it’s their exaggerated features or eerie unpredictability, you'll want to tune in to this first-of-its-kind investigation into what makes clowns so nightmare-worthy.
Sophie is a psychologist and researcher working towards her PhD at the School of Psychology and Therapeutic Studies, University of South Wales.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with snake expert Bob Ashley on his fascinating new book, A Photographic History of Snakebite Treatments: Bad Medicine Snake Oils, Potions, Elixirs and Kits. From ancient remedies described in Hebrew Scriptures to modern day antivenom, he discusses the intriguing, sometimes shocking history of snake bite treatments throughout the centuries. He advises what everyone should do if they get bit by a venomous snake, and rest assured, it's not to use a snakebite kit from your local store.
Bob Ashley is a herpetologist, entrepreneur and museum director. He is founder of the Chiricahua Desert Museum in New Mexico and has a lifelong passion for reptiles and amphibians.
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In this bonus episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks dives into the "War on Misinformation" and unravels its complexities.
Is misinformation truly an "infodemic," like a virus infecting our brains? Is the militaristic approach to misinformation missing the mark?
Here we explore how misinformation is policed online, the rise of fact-checkers, and some of the biggest misinformation scandals of our time, including the opioid epidemic and the tobacco industry's attempts to define "sound science" while squelching the truth about second-hand smoke as a carcinogen.Could our obsession with debunking and banning misinformation be a costly, unwinnable war? If we cannot agree on a definition of "misinformation," is this a wise public health battle to pursue, especially given the historical shortage of funding and staff? What roles should fact-checkers, tech companies, and governments play in policing knowledge, particularly in America, a country that deeply values personal liberties? Dr. Eeks also shares her views from working in the field of public health and a few personal anecdotes, including her perspective on how mainstream religious information compares to misinformation.
We also highlight the blurred lines between truth and deception in health and geopolitics. From covert anti-vaccine propaganda campaigns to the false statistics that fueled the opioid crisis, Dr. Eeks asks: Can any one entity be trusted to define what’s true?
Additionally, we will review expert insights from a previous podcast guest to better understand what’s truly at stake in this ongoing battle.Subscribe for just 3$/month (less than a coffee!) and tune in for a deep dive into how misinformation has become a defining issue of our time and what it means for the future of public health and freedom of thought. Your freedom of thought, to be exact!
*Disclaimer: This podcast consists entirely of my own thoughts and does not reflect the views of anyone or any organization I work with or consult for.
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Discovering new hope for hair loss!
In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Sheila MacNeil and Dr. Muhammad Yar about their accidental discovery that a simple sugar compound may stimulate hair regrowth and help end male-pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia—a condition affecting many people. They dive into how an unexpected finding in a study on wound healing sparked their current study on hair loss, which they break down in the episode. The researchers walk us through how the study was conducted, results, how their findings compare to current prescription treatments for hair loss, and what’s next in their research.Dr. MacNeil is an Emeritus Professor of Tissue Engineering at the University of Sheffield, UK, with over 550 peer-reviewed publications in soft tissue engineering. You can learn more about Dr. MacNeil here. Dr. Yar is an Associate Professor at the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Biomedical Materials at COMSATS University in Islamabad, Pakistan. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at King Fahd University in Saudi Arabia. You can learn more about his work here.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Andrea Casanova about his new research on how psilocybin impacts learning. This study is the first to explore how psilocybin (commonly known as "magic mushrooms") influences reinforcement learning, a type of learning driven by rewards and cues. Dr. Casanova breaks down how psilocybin affects the brain, the methods he and his team used to conduct the study, their key findings, and the potential future implications. He also shares a psychiatric perspective on how psychedelics could be used to treat common mental disorders that are often resistant to current medications. Lastly, Dr. Casanova touches on the current state of psychedelic treatment and research in his home country of Switzerland.
Dr. Casanova is a Swiss medical doctor specializing in psychiatry and training in Jungian analytical psychotherapy.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Simon Gadbois and Dr. Laura Kiiroja about how scent-detection dogs can detect stress in breath samples from individuals with traumatic histories when exposed to trauma cues. They discuss the current use of dogs in detecting diseases, explaining what exactly these dogs are smelling and how they were recruited and trained for this unique study. The conversation also covers the role of human participants, key findings, and the next steps, including the future practical implications of their work.
Dr. Gadbois leads the Canine and Reptile Behaviour and Olfaction Research Lab in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Kiiroja, who recently earned her PhD from Dalhousie University in biomedical scent-detection dogs, has also worked extensively with wolves for animal welfare purposes and contributes to official Estonian national animal websites with her writings on wolves.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with America's Happiness Doctor, Dr. Elia Gourgouris, about practical steps people can take to achieve lasting happiness. Dr. Gourgouris breaks down the definition of happiness and shares how we can leverage it in our daily lives, at work, in relationships, and even during times of crisis. He also explores its connections to positive psychology, fear, and forgiveness.
Dr. Elia Gourgouris, PhD, is a best-selling author of 7 Paths to Lasting Happiness and 7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters. He is the President of The Happiness Center and a Founding Partner at The Global Institute of Thought Leadership. Known for his motto “Happiness is a choice!”, Dr. Gourgouris has become a leading authority on happiness and corporate wellness, offering coaching and keynotes around the world for the past 25 years. Through his work, he’s helped thousands find happiness and fulfillment, both personally and professionally.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks sits down with Dr. Naaheed Mukadam to explore her latest findings on dementia. Dr. Mukadam sheds light on her recent research, delving into the changes in incidence and prevalence of dementia globally. They discuss the most current, evidence-based risk factors associated with the disease, identify populations and countries with the highest rates, and uncover practical, cost-effective strategies for reducing dementia risk. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the science of dementia and learn actionable steps to safeguard your brain health.
Dr. Mukadam is a clinical specialist in psychiatry of older people, professor, and researcher at the University College London, UK who focuses on using inter-ethnic epidemiology to find new ways to prevent and treat dementia.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with filmmaker David Krissman about his groundbreaking grassroots initiative aimed at revolutionizing live kidney donations. David, a repeat guest (Episode 154) who previously discussed "The Great Social Experiment" and America's trial with universal healthcare for kidney disease, now shares how he's leveraging his filmmaking expertise and deep understanding of kidney disease, dialysis, and transplants to connect individuals in desperate need of a kidney with living donors. He explains how anyone can become an "angel advocate" and make a life-saving impact simply by sharing someone's filmed story. This episode highlights how spreading kindness can lead to finding a kidney and ultimately saving a life.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jason Block about his research on weight gain caused by antidepressants. He compares weight gain across different antidepressants and explains what those taking these medications should expect. Dr. Block also discusses other medications his team is evaluating for weight gain, explores why these medications cause weight gain, and shares the practical implications of his findings in relation to the obesity epidemic.
Dr. Jason Block, MD, MPH, is a physician, researcher, and associate professor in population health medicine at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on social and environmental determinants of weight gain and obesity, as well as innovative strategies to improve diet quality.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Leonardo Tozzi about his research on identifying six unique biotypes for depression. He explains the current problem with the "one size fits all" diagnostic approach to depression, the development of personalized brain circuit scores, and how they led to the discovery of six distinct biotypes. He explains how the identification of unique biotypes for depression may prove to be a gamechanger for how depression is diagnosed and treated in the future, as well as the broader impact and benefits of precision psychiatry.
Dr. Tozzi, MD, PhD is a neuroscientist and researcher who leads the Computational Neuroscience and Neuroimaging Program at the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness.
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In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Geoff Cole about his research on trypophobia, an aversion to clusters of small holes or bumps. If you’re a fan of American Horror Story, you might have come across trypophobia there. Dr. Cole delves into the details of this phenomenon, exploring what causes it, theories on its origins, and strategies for overcoming it.
Dr. Cole is a researcher and professor at the Center for Brain Science, University of Essex. You can learn more about his work here. You can read his recent publication on trypophobia here.
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