The CBMS Podcast

Brian Silston
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Biweekly

The Center for Brain, Mind and Society, AKA the CBMS, is a Columbia University affiliated research center comprised of PhD researchers seeking to study and understand relationships between modern society and mental health and well-being. The center conducts research, develops programs and interventions, and provides educational resources to the public through its website and podcast. For more information visit our website: www.brainmindsociety.org

Episodes

  1. 08/25/2025

    Can Reading Improve our Well-Being and Make Us Better Equipped for Life?

    Reading for pleasure has dramatically declined over the last few decades, mostly in favor of image and video based mediums. Learn why this matters for memory, social cognition and behavior, well-being and mental health. In this episode we explore how the medium of communication shapes how we think and how we pay attention, among other critical psychological processes. In turn, these actions and processes shape our discourse and how we relate to each other. Generously supported by the APS Fund for Teaching and Public Understanding of Psychological Science.

  2. 01/21/2025

    The Psychology of Short Form Content and Why We Should Diversify Our Information Diet

    Modern society is fast paced, especially our information environments. From social media to our text exchanges, we interact in short bursts and increasingly spend a disproportionate amount of time consuming short form content. Short videos, articles, summaries have come to dominate our information diets. Spoiler - it's not all good. Leaning on research and our own work, we examine the implications and consequences of surrendering to short form, and why it's a good idea once and a while to put down your device and pick up a book. Generously supported by the APS Fund for Teaching and Public Understanding of Psychological Science.

  3. 05/18/2024

    Social Media. Screen Time. Well-Being. Psychology. All in One Episode

    Is social media the scourge so many people think it is? Is it just like a drug, characterized by a clear and predictable dose-response relationship? Is there a consensus among researchers regarding the effects of screen time and social media on our well-being and mental health? We explore these questions and what we can do to improve our satisfaction with life. Generously supported by the APS Fund for Teaching and Public Understanding of Psychological Science.

  4. 04/02/2024

    The Shackles of Uncertainty: What Makes us Susceptible and Resilient?

    Uncertainty is a pervasive and inescapable feature of life that can cause anxiety, but also provides the experience required to build resilience. Are modern societies going too far in attempts to minimize uncertainty during childhood? Is the world more uncertain today? Is there a difference between online and offline experiences of uncertainty? We explore these questions and more. The CBMS is a Columbia University affiliated research center comprised of PhD researchers seeking to study and understand relationships between modern society and mental health and well-being. The center conducts research, develops programs and interventions, and provides educational resources to the public through its website and podcast episodes like this one. Generously supported by the APS Fund for Teaching and Public Understanding of Psychological Science.

  5. 01/28/2024

    Come Undone - Reinforcing the Glue that Ties Us Together

    Social norms evolve over time, but some phenomena appear to persist generation after generation. Despite the widespread belief that morality has been declining, data does not support this assertion. However, one aspect of how we relate to each other has changed, evidenced by shifting behavior and perceptions. This capacity has been cited as critical for functioning democracies, healthy social relationships and support, and strong, interdependent relationships. This factor is trust. Trust has been declining for decades - we'll explore some reasons why and the implications for well-being and mental health. Generously supported by the APS Fund for Teaching and Public Understanding of Psychological Science.

  6. 10/04/2023

    Growing up in Modern Society, or Does Modern Society Need to Grow Up

    Childhood has dramatically changed over the course of centuries, but perhaps never more so than in the past few decades. We examine the implications of trends in how society views and treats children and adolescents, how parenting and growing up has changed alongside these trends, and how interfacing with digital technology affects our collective ability, children and adults alike, to satisfy psychological needs. We reflect on the mental health crisis and how failure to develop and refine certain psychological capacities and abilities, and our increasing dependence on technology may be preventing us from depending and relying upon each other.

  7. 09/14/2023

    Human (in) Nature

    While humans increasingly spend time "inline" (indoors and online), it means we are also spending less time outdoors, and as urbanization continues, more and more outdoor time is spent among human creation. What are the consequences of spending less time outdoors? Are there benefits to mental health and well-being associated with spending time in nature? We examine these questions and more on Episode 5, Human (in) Nature.

  8. 09/07/2023

    A Landscape of Mental Health in America

    Mental Health, especially for children and adolescents, has been on the decline for more than a decade. In A Landscape of Mental Health in America we explore and contextualize the trends, review some of the characteristics of modern society, such as digital technology and its effects, and changes in parenting, the workplace and education, among other factors, that may be contributing to the decline, and identify some of the aspects of psychology and psychological mechanisms that are likely to play a role in mental health. For general audiences.

  9. 09/06/2023

    AI and Our Information Environment, Part 2

    As society dives deeper into an ocean of technology, we reflect on the ways in which digital technology - the internet, devices, the proliferation of applications, the domination by large companies - has forever changed our relationship with information, the effects this evolution has had on our lives as individuals and on society, and the implications for psychology, mental health, and well-being. Part 2 examines core differences between the information environment that existed before the internet and our current, internet dominated world; how we use popular technologies and platforms, like Google, and how our psychological tendencies interact with and are exploited by platform design, and the implications and consequences that ensue. We'll cover the possible trajectories of chatbot powered AI, including effects on the workplace; benefits and of risks of using AI for various tasks or purposes and reflect upon how to approach navigating our evolving reality.

  10. 08/28/2023

    AI and Our Information Environment, Part 1

    As society dives deeper into an ocean of technology, we reflect on the ways in which digital technology - the internet, devices, the proliferation of applications, the domination by large companies - has forever changed our relationship with information, the effects this evolution has had on our lives as individuals and on society, and the implications for psychology, mental health, and well-being. Part 1 examines how our information environment is evolving, including the effects advances in AI may have on our environment. We'll describe these advances and where they came from; why it is important to learn about these programs; compare AI with human intelligence; how they might affect social interactions and other important questions we should be thinking about as we launch ourselves day after day into the digital ether. We conclude by asking our listeners to take measures to gain better control over our attention, and by extension, our lives.

  11. 08/24/2023

    Enter Sandman

    As the nation struggles with mental health, especially children and adolescents, there are a few low risk paths we can traverse to improve the likelihood that we can effectively cope with challenges, from those that directly impact us to perceived existential threats. In Enter Sandman we identify one such path: sleep. We describe the trends over the past 15-20 years and the effects of an every increasing amount of "short sleep" and what it means for children, teens and adults. We offer practical guidance on improving sleep. For general audiences.

  • 11 Episodes

About

The Center for Brain, Mind and Society, AKA the CBMS, is a Columbia University affiliated research center comprised of PhD researchers seeking to study and understand relationships between modern society and mental health and well-being. The center conducts research, develops programs and interventions, and provides educational resources to the public through its website and podcast. For more information visit our website: www.brainmindsociety.org

Information

  • Creator
    Brian Silston
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brian Silston
  • Show Website
    The CBMS Podcast