Advertise on podcast: This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg

Whether we play music to relax, to dance, to recharge, or perhaps to evoke happy memories, it's clear that music affects our mood -- or more specifically, our brains But what exactly is happening in our brains when we hear music? Do the various elements like tempo and rhythm affect different parts of the brain? And how do our brains react to a symphony versus rock music, a lullaby, or a love song?   Dr. Barbara Minton, a neuroscientist, therapist, and musician, explores these questions in her groundbreaking work – while in the process creating a new type of music that is both informed by and created specifically for the brain. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com    For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how we think, live, and make choices, but are our brains ready for it? Award-winning tech journalist Jacob Ward joins Dr. Phil Stieg to discuss how AI exploits our ancient decision-making systems, why we're so easily manipulated, and what it means for our future. Drawing from behavioral science and decades of reporting, Ward explains just how predictable we are, the pitfalls of falling into "the loop", and how to stay human in an AI-driven world. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

If someone asks you what you are doing to prepare for your retirement, you might mention a 401K or an IRA, but what you might not realize is that you also need to prepare your mind for this major change in your life as well.   Dr. Ross Andel, a gerontologist, who has been studying what happens to our brains when we retire, reveals how it can have serious consequences for our mental health, including cognitive decline and depression.  But he will also offer some easy steps and tips to avoid this "retirement trap" and keep our brains active and healthy so that we can fully enjoy that hard-earned nest egg in our golden years.   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

We all know the importance of a good diet, sufficient exercise and a good night's sleep, but there's one more essential thing we all need to be healthy. Social connection.  Simply put, our brains need friends.  Neuroscientist Dr. Ben Rein reveals exactly what is happening in our brains when we interact with friends, family, even strangers, and how exactly this affects our physical and mental health… the many benefits of a good social life and the real risks of isolation and loneliness .   He also offers simple tips on how we can be more social and to make better use of one of the most powerful, easiest, and cheapest ways to a healthy, happy life.  (Hint: Next time you think you are too busy to call or text that friend…pick up the phone and connect).  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

Touch is the first sense we develop, and one of the most powerful tools we have for connection, healing, and communication. In this episode,  social neuroscientist Dr. Michael Banissy explains how everyday gestures like hugs, handshakes, and high-fives influence our health and emotional well-being. From the biological complexity of our touch receptors to surprising studies on immune response, stress, and sleep, Dr. Banissy reveals why touch matters more than we think, and what happens when we don't get enough of it.  Plus - the dangers of a pain-free life.   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

Whether it's our shopping habits, Google searches, or Facebook friends, we are all aware that our personal information is being collected and often sold online.  But what about our thoughts, what's going on in our minds?     With all the advances in consumer Neurotechnology and AI, stealing data from our brains is no longer science fiction and at least for now, it can collected and used without our consent.    Can anything be done to stop this intrusion into our most personal information? Dr. Sean Pauzauski, Medical Director at the Neurorights Foundation, discusses how companies collect our brain data, and whether or not your mind has any right to privacy. Plus - The art of "Mentalists" who make you believe they can read your mind!  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

Why do you exercise?  It might be to lose weight, maintain or improve your health, reduce stress, or perhaps a combination of all of these.  But what is actually motivating you is simpler than that.  As Dr. Gary Wenk reveals in his book "Your Brian on Exercise",  you exercise because your brain needs you to move, and it will do everything it can to motivate you to do it. He provides fascinating insights into exactly what is happening to our brains when we go jogging, lift weights, swim laps, or take a walk, as well as what happens when we don't.   He'll also answer questions we all have about exercise vs diet to lose weight and perhaps, most importantly, how much exercise is enough.   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

Until the death of actor Matthew Perry many people had never even heard of Ketamine.   As a recreational drug, known as "Special K", it can be extremely addictive and dangerous.  But, when used under supervision, this powerful drug can help people with depression and various other mental health issues. Dr. John Krystal,  a leading expert on the neurobiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders, offers insights into why and how a drug once used as a horse tranquilizer and anesthetic has become a lifeline for those suffering from clinical depression.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

At age 70, after a long career as a neurosurgeon and best-selling author, the tables were turned on Dr. Henry Marsh. Diagnosed with cancer, and facing his own mortality, Marsh offers a humble and honest look at what it was like when a prominent doctor becomes a patient; just as scared and dependent as anyone of us would be dealing with a terrible diagnosis, with regrets, fears, and feelings of helplessness.   In his latest book chronicling his experience, Marsh shares some valuable lessons that he learned from both sides of the Doctor/Patient relationship.  For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

Have you ever felt the type of grief where it seemed like you would never recover, like your heart was actually broken? Whether it's a member of your family, a friend or a beloved pet, all of us will experience the loss of a loved one, and the deep and difficult emotions that follow.    One of the reasons grief can be so difficult is actually more about our brains than our hearts.  Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor has been studying grief for decades, and she has learned its profound effects on our brains and our bodies. She will reveal some surprising insights about why our minds struggle to understand and process when someone is gone. She'll also provide some very practical ways to help us cope with one of the most difficult experiences of our lives. Plus, how some animals grieve on land and sea. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

When was the last time you actually took time to play, to  simply have fun?   For most adults, the answer is usually not often enough. The benefits of play for adults, like children, has been shown to have many benefits to both physical and mental health. In fact, it can play a vital role in whether someone is happy or depressed, fulfilled or empty.  In this podcast we will hear from a Play Expert whose career actually began by studying a mass murderer.   He will help you discover what type of play personality you have as well as how important and easy it is to add play to your life.  To hear special bonus content from this episode, please go to our website:  https://thisisyourbrain.com/2025/09/bonus-segment-play-is-not-just-kids-stuff/    For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

Women obviously go through many changes to their bodies and their minds when they become mothers.  But what about fathers?  Although moms have been studied extensively, few people have paid any attention to what happens to men when they become dads.   Do they go through any physical changes at all?  Do they also experience hormone surges and shrinking brains like women do (yes mom and dads, your brains got smaller). Do they also suffer from depression and anxiety?   Dr. Darby Saxbe has dedicated her career to studying fathers, and in her new book, Dad Brain, the New Science of Fatherhood, she reveals things about fathers that are as surprising as they are dramatic, discoveries which could have enormous impact on how society views dear old dads, and their role in raising children. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

Dr. Fred Luskin, director of the Stanford Forgiveness Projects, explains how releasing resentment can transform both mind and body. Drawing on decades of research and work with people in war-torn regions around the world, Luskin explains why forgiveness is a powerful act of healing for the forgiver. He shares compelling stories and practical steps to help keep past hurts from stealing your peace today. Plus, the Zulu concept of Ubuntu and how South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission used Ubuntu to help guide a nation's journey towards healing. For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com   For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org  

What are your dreams really telling you? Renowned sleep researcher Dr. Robert Stickgold joins Dr. Stieg to unravel the mysteries of dreaming. From the bizarre to the brilliant, dreams are a window into how the brain processes memory, emotion, and problem-solving. Learn why your brain needs to dream, how dreams shape your waking life, and what science says about interpreting them. Whether you're a vivid dreamer or rarely remember a thing, this episode will change the way you think about what your brain is doing when you go to sleep at night.     For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org 

What happens when your hands refuse to listen to your brain? For Alexandra Lebenthal, essential tremor was more than a neurological disorder, it was a lifelong challenge that affected everything from drinking water in meetings to giving public speeches. In this deeply personal episode, Alexandra shares her journey from a childhood marked by frustration and embarrassment to becoming one of the first patients in the U.S. to undergo focused ultrasound, a groundbreaking, non-invasive treatment that changed her life.   For more information, transcripts, and all episodes, please visit https://thisisyourbrain.com  For more about Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery, please visit https://neurosurgery.weillcornell.org