The Lucas Rockwood Show Lucas Rockwood

One of the biggest challenges that comes with aging is cognitive decline. You lose your keys, you can’t remember the neighbor’s name, and your brain seems to putter along instead of humming like it used to. From conversations with listeners over the past year, concerns over brain health are top of the list, so I’ve invited a neuroscientist onto the podcast to share his insights.
Listen to learn:
About the challenges of social media The connection between isolation and brain health   Whether crossword puzzles really do prevent cognitive decline Autism misinformation debunked Links
Ben’s site
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Ben Rein, PhD is a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University and a science communicator on social media.
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Bob Ross was a popular PBS painting instructor in the 80s and 90s, but little did he know that decades later, he’d develop a cult following of people who simply wanted to hear his voice. Why? Because it triggers an autonomous sensory meridian response, known as ASMR. ASMR is a well-studied phenomenon that creates a pleasant tingling sensation on the skin, relieves stress and helps you sleep. My guest on this week’s podcast is an academic, author, and expert on the subject.
Listen and learn:
About paresthesia “brain tingles” from soothing voices and sounds Misophonia triggers that can be confusing The history of ASMR Potential self-care and soothing benefits  Links
ASMR University 
Calm History
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Craig Richard, PhD, is a leading expert in Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), a phenomenon characterized by tingling sensations in the brain and scalp. His research focuses on the neurological mechanisms behind ASMR. He’s the author of the book, Brain Tingles.
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Kane Tanaka of Japan died in 2022 at the age of 119. Lucile Randon of France died in 2023 at 118. Jiroemon Kimura of Japan died in 2023 at 116, the oldest male ever. What did these people have in common? Were they biohackers? Did they do CrossFit? Did they take NAD supplements or run marathons? Nope. Like almost all centenarians they lived exceptionally long lives most-likely due to genetics, combined with a moderately healthy or even average healthy lifestyle. Despite the overwhelming abundance of evidence that we’re all going die sooner rather than later, the quest for longevity never stops. My guest on this week’s podcast has developed a unique way to measure biological age and his work is playing a key role in longevity research and biohacker communities.
Listen and learn:
The overlooked role of epigenetics in your health and lifespan Biohackers, science fiction, and the reality of living a long time How methylation patterns can be predictive of lifespan The significance of GrimAge for reducing early mortality  Links
Steve on X
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Steve Horvath is a German-American researcher, geneticist, and biostatistician. He is a professor at UCLA and the principal investigator at Altos Labs, specializing in epigenetic biomarkers of aging, genomics, and comparative biology. 
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Finland has been dubbed the happiest country in the world, but in reality Finns are content, not overwhelmed with joy. They have a high GDP per capita, good healthcare, low corruption, and a decent amount of personal freedom - all great things, but not necessarily a recipe for joy and happiness.
Most people claim their biggest aspiration in life is to find happiness. This is a beautiful sentiment, and while we all love positive emotions like joy, laughter, celebration, adventure, and curiosity; these only exist because they are juxtaposed with negative and challenging experiences.
My guest on this week’s podcast suggests that rather than look toward happiness for a more fulfilled life, we should focus more on wonder.  
Listen and learn:
How nature promotes wonder The difference between superficial vs. epistemic curiosity The tyrannical pursuit of happiness Trait openness and its role in wonder Links
Monica’s site
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Monica Parker is a speaker, writer, and authority on the future of work. She is the author of the book, The Power of Wonder, and founder of HATCH, an organization that helps companies with culture change and workplace strategy.
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If you’re struggling with chronic pain and trying to find help, you’ve probably noticed that the pain management industry is a big minefield with hardcore drugs on one end of the spectrum and questionable potions and placebos on the other. In an ideal world, pain is adaptive and part of our body’s defense mechanisms, but all too often it can become untethered to the original insult and begin to attack your quality of life.  
Listen and learn:
The purpose of pain in our bodies  When to medicate and when to ignore The confusing connection between pain and healing Why some people are prone to opioid abuse more than others Links
Amy’s Site
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Amy Baxter is a medical doctor and entrepreneur known for her research on pain. She is the inventor of Buzzy, a simple device to help kids get injections.
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In the 1980s, Nancy Reagan coined the term, “Just say no!” and spearheaded the social aspect of the so-called war on drugs. It didn’t work, nor have any of the dozens of public, private, and international efforts to curb the disease of despair. Things have become so much worse that today, almost every single person listening has a friend or family member affected by addiction. My guest on this week’s podcast is a recovered addict herself and uses yoga as part of an integrated 12-step program to support others.
Listen and learn:
The importance of support for addiction recovery The benefits of talk therapy vs. movement based therapy How trauma can feel like it’s stuck physically The integration of past, present and future self Links
Y12
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Nikki is the founder of Yoga of 12-Step Recovery (Y12SR). Her approach is based on her personal journey through addiction and recovery, leading her to blend the somatic aspect of yoga with the cognitive approach of 12-step programs.
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