Brain Shaman Michael Waite

Roland Verment is a neuropsychologist, biohacker, and the owner of Neurobics, an at-home neurofeedback service. In this interview, we discuss how to understand and change the brain via neurofeedback and nootropics.

We talk about brain waves (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) and how they correspond to various brain states, regions, neurochemicals, and disorders, including: OCD, ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, and visual neglect).

Learn how to manipulate these brain waves in order to increase your creativity, organization, productivity, memory, happiness, focus, flexibility, calm, balance, and overall brain health.

We also discuss: EEG, fMRI, sleep, resurrecting old childhood memories ("time traveling"), alcohol, meditation, medications, VR, emerging tech, and nootropics (including: caffeine, rhodiola, alpha GPC, Huperzine A, and  cerebrolisin).

*CONNECT & LEARN MORE*
Instagram: @neurobicsneurofeedback     or               @rolandsnap
Facebook: @Neurobics
website: neurobics.care

RESOURCES

NEUROANATOMY
- anterior cingulate cortex
- frontal lobe
- hypothalamus
- occipital lobe
- parietal lobe
- temporal lobe
- visual cortex

COMPANIES
- AppliedVR
- BrainBit
- Cleverpoint
- Divergence Neuro
- GrayMatters Health
- Headspace
- Kernel
- Muse
- Tripp

PEOPLE
- Andrew Huberman
- Cody Rall
- Jay Gunkelman
- Josh Sackman
- Kirill Krasnogir
- Tim Ferris

SUPPLEMENTS & DRUGS
- alpha-GPC
- CDP-Choline
-  Cerebrolysin
-  Huperzia serrata (Huperzine A)
-  lithium
-  Methylphenidate (brand names: Ritalin and Concerta)
-  rhodiola (active compound: salidroside)

Learn more at: neurobics.care (or on Instagram @
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Ken Middleton is the author of Bamboozled: How Alcohol Makes Fools of Us All and the editor of the publication AINYF (Alcohol is NOT Your Friend). In this episode, Ken shares helpful tools and strategies for quitting alcohol. These include: exercise, nutrition, education, sleep, hobbies, social connection, finding a supportive partner, and having a big goal.
We also discuss:
the neuroscience of alcoholaddiction and strategies for habit changeshort-term and long-term alternatives to alcoholalcohol's effects on sleep, memory, and cognitionhealth risks associated with alcohol (e.g. cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's)the costs and benefits of alcohol consumption across various life stageshow alcohol can block personal growth and impede self-improvementthe deceptive portrayal of alcohol in movies, media, and advertisingmetaphors and analogies to help illustrate the effects and dangers of alcoholthe gifts and benefits of quitting alcohol**CONNECT & LEARN MORE**
book website: thebamboozledbook.com
Dry-90 Challenge: dry90.com
Instagram: @kenmmiddleton


RESOURCES

BOOKS
- Alcohol Explained by William Porter
- Alcohol Lied to Me by Craig Beck
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Bamboozled by Ken Middleton
- This Naked Mind by Annie Grace

COMMUNITIES
- Alcohol-Free Lifestyle
- Tribe Sober

MOVIES & TV
- American Pie
- House Party (starring Kid 'n Play)
- Scandal
- SuperBad
- Sherlock Holmes

PEOPLE
- Annie Grace
- Craig Beck
- James Clear
- James Swanwick
- Janet Gourand
- Robert Downey Jr.
- William Porter

VOCABULARY
- acetaldehyde
- anhedonia
- dynorphin
- nucleus accumbens

Connect or learn more at: thebamboozledbook.com
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In this episode, we discuss strategies for managing and reducing alcohol cravings, uncovering alternative pathways to satisfy the deeper needs that fuel them. 

Today, we delve into 11 needs, exploring alternative actions to address each:
waternutritionsocial connectionsextouchmovementsleepfeeling of possibility, novelty, chaos, & adventurestimulation (light, sound, etc.)stress reduction and calmgoals/projectsListen in to discover your hidden needs and other healthier ways to satisfy them, ultimately diminishing the urge to drink and granting you greater freedom in how you choose to live.

RESOURCES:

COMMUNITIES:
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Tribe Sober

ENTERTAINMENT
- Six Flags Magic Mountain (amusement park)
- Memento (movie)

SCIENCE VOCAB:
- basal ganglia
- intercostal muscles
- mesolimbic pathway
- prefrontal cortex
- striatum
- substantia nigra
- ventral tegmentum
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In this episode, we're joined by Osinakachi Akuma Kalu, the founder of TAFFD's, dedicated to enhancing health and biological longevity for Africans through educational initiatives. He's also an author, futurist, musician, and speaker.

Our discussion centers on traditional African health practices, mindsets, and tools, covering: social connection, community, movement, nutrition, farming, medicine, music, dance, language, metaphysics, morality & ethics, biodiversity, environmental factors, holistic living, and more.

We also discuss how Westernization has negatively impacted the health and longevity of Africans, across these various dimensions. History, politics, education, and big business are a big part of this. Some ways in which Africa is degenerating include: social isolation, fracturing of family and community, poor nutrition (e.g. processed foods and added sugars), environmental toxins, loss of religion and culture, and increasing use of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. 

Osinakachi aims to reconnect Africans to their ancestral roots, returning to a time marked by robust health, longevity, strong social bonds, community, safety, trust, empathy, vulnerability, natural exercise, biodiversity, nutritious food, and a mindset that values such.  We must redefine wealth, prioritizing health and social cohesion over money, comfort, and convenience. While traditional practices like farming and open dwellings may be disappearing, education and hard work can help revive some of the positive aspects of Africa's heritage.

The principles, practices, and mindsets discussed in this episode can be applied to your individual life, relationship, family, or community, regardless of your location in the world.

*Connect with Osinakachi*
LinkedIn: /osinakachi-akuma-kalu
Facebook: /authorOsinakachi
website: taffds.org
RESOURCES

MUSIC IN AFRICA
- African Traditional Music (ATM)
- Afrobeats
- Amapiano
- Bongo Flava
- Highlife


PEOPLE
- Aristotle
- Feta Kuti
- Izu Marcel Onyeocha
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Martin Buber
- Plato
- R.L. Stine

VOCABULARY
- assimilation
- association
- Berlin Conference
- Igbo
- Ohafia War Dance
- Omenala
- palm wine
- Scramble for Africa
-
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Josh Sackman, cofounder and president of AppliedVR, joins us today to talk about pain management using virtual reality (VR). We discuss the bio-psycho-social dimensions of pain, and how to manage and reduce it accordingly.

Some of the evidence-based tools and features discussed include: breath (e.g. box, 4-7-8, Wim Hof, diaphragmatic breathing, etc.), visualization, social connection, mindfulness & meditation, distraction & attention control, movement & interactivity, presence & immersion, sleep, biofeedback, interoception-building practices, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), pain education, grit & resilience, voice, and various other self-regulatory techniques.

Although VR has proven benefits for the reduction and management of both acute and chronic pain, the goal of today's episode is to teach you principles, practices, and skills that you can use anywhere and anytime, with or without the headset.

We discuss the various benefits of VR, how it compares with opioids and other existing therapies and technologies, common hurdles that VR helps overcome (e.g. accessibility, availability, affordability, complexity, enjoyability), pain's connection and interference with other facets of life (e.g. sleep, social interaction, mood, etc.), and how to find more peace, stability, and calm amidst your pain.

**CONNECT & LEARN MORE**
Josh's LinkedIn: /joshsackman
company (AppliedVR) website: appliedvr.io
product (RelieVRx) website: relievrx.com
Instagram: @appliedvr
LinkedIn: /appliedvr

RESOURCES

BOOKS
 - Breath by James Nestor

COMPANIES, SCHOOLS, & ORGANIZATIONS
- ByteDance
- International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
- Stanford University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of Washington
- USC
- Virtual Human Interaction Lab (@Stanford)

PEOPLE
- Albert "Skip" Rizzo
- Andrew Weil
- Beth Darnall
- Bob Jester
- Hunter Hoffman
- James Nestor
- Jeremy Bailenson
- Matt Walker
- Sean Mackey
- Wim Hof

PODCASTS
- Huberman Lab
      -  Dr. Sean Mackey: Tools to Reduce & Manage Pain (1/15/2024)
      - 6-part sleep series with Matt Walker (4/3/2024 ~)
- The Matt Walker Podcast
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In this episode, our guest is Jan Kounen, French film director and producer, VR creator, author, comic book artist, and Ayahuasca expert explorer.

The conversation focuses on various aspects of the Ayahuasca experience, such as: vision, sound (the chants/songs known as "icaros"), embodiment, fear, thinking, cognition, surrender, fragility, reality, perception, self-discovery, pain, beauty, interconnection, and death. This thereby aims to help us gain a deeper understanding and experience of ourselves and our lives.

Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey, Jan's VR simulation of the experience (now available on Quest 2 and 3) serves as a template for our discussion. Other mind-opening tools we talk about, that can be used as alternatives to (or, as preparation for) Ayayhuasca include: meditation (e.g. Dzogchen), yoga, various plants, psychedelics, light technology (e.g.  roXiva lamp), binaural & monaural sounds, float tanks, music, art, eyes, chants, nature walks, and more. 
We also discuss filmmaking, VR/AR, comics, and Jan's continuing evolution as a human and creator. This is a conversation that traverses various technologies, both natural and man-made. It is a journey beyond your standard human experience, diving into the deeper realities of what you are. As with Ayahuasca and VR, you will never look at life the same. 


BOOKS
- Doctor Ayahuasca by Jan Kounen
- Visionary Ayahuasca by Jan Kounen
- Why Materialism Is Baloney by Bernardo Kastrup

FILMS
- 8
- 99 Francs
- Baraka
- Blade Runner
- Blueberry
- Captain X
- Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
- Darshan: The Embrace
- Dobermann
- Koyaanisqatsi
- Other Worlds
- The Story of Panshin Beka
- Vibroboy

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
- Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey (VR experience *available on Quest 2 and 3)
- Shamanic Visions (exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly -  in Paris, France)

ORGANIZATIONS
- Essentia Foundation

PEOPLE
- Alex Grey
- Bernardo Kastrup
- Erasure (band)
- Godfrey Reggio
- Ron Fricke
-
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