Mind & Matter – Details, episodes & analysis

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Short Summary: A detailed examination of shamanism with anthropologist Manvir Singh, blending evolutionary theory and vivid storytelling.

About the guest: Manvir Singh, PhD is an anthropologist at the University of California, Davis. His new book, "Shamanism: The Timeless Religion," comes out on May 25, 2025.

Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.

Episode Summary: Dr. Manvir Singh discusses shamanism’s role as a universal human practice, exploring its roots in cultural evolution, cognitive tendencies, and persistence across history and modern society. They discuss how shamans use altered states to address uncertainty—like healing or divination—while examining shamanism’s interplay with centralized religion, its psychological benefits, and parallels in today’s world, from tech gurus to medical placebos.

Key Takeaways:

• Shamanism is a widespread cultural practice involving specialists who enter altered states to engage with unseen forces, often for healing or managing uncertainty.
• It’s not an archaic precursor to modern religion but a recurring expression of spiritual beliefs & practices, competing with other forms.
• Techniques vary widely—dance, music, psychedelics—but only about half of shamans historically used psychoactive substances.
• Modern parallels include tech CEOs and money managers who project exceptionalism to influence others, echoing shamanic charisma without trance.
• Open-label placebos (where patients know it’s fake) still work, suggesting rituals alone can trigger healing, much like shamanic practices.
• Singh sees shamanism as a cognitive technology, not inherently good or bad, shaping how we cope with chaos across cultures and time.

Related episode:

• M&M #86: Shamanism, Psychedelics, Social Behavior, Religion & Evolution of Human Culture | Michael Winkelman

*Not medical advice.

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Short Summary: How environmental chemical exposures affect neurodegenerative disease and health.

About the guest: Gary Miller, PhD is a Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University. His research bridges pharmacology, toxicology, and neuroscience to explore neurodegeneration, particularly Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.

Episode Summary: Dr. Gary Miller talks about neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, exploring their age-driven nature, early detection challenges, and environmental risk factors such as pesticide exposure and head trauma. They discuss the emerging field of exposomics—studying lifetime chemical exposures—and its potential to uncover links between pollutants, diet, and disease, while highlighting protective factors like caffeine and nicotine, and the role of technology in advancing prevention and treatment.

Key Takeaways:

• Neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s worsen with age, but early intervention could slow progression & improve quality of life.
• Parkinson’s symptoms often appear after significant dopamine neuron loss, but subtle signs like handwriting changes or gait issues might be detectable earlier.
• Environmental factors, including pesticides & air pollution, increase neurodegeneration risk, while caffeine and nicotine surprisingly lower Parkinson’s incidence.
• The exposome—total lifetime exposure to chemicals—offers a new lens to study health, revealing how pollutants & diet interact with our biology.
• Ultra-processed foods & common chemicals like PFAS (in packaging) raise exposure levels, but simple steps like air filters or less processed diets can help reduce risks.

Related episode:

• M&M #145: Epigenetics, Hormones, Endocrine Disruptors, Microplastics, Xenoestrogens, Obesogens & Obesity, Inheritance of A

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Short Summary: Thyroid biology, offering insights into its role in metabolism, development, and longevity, making it a fascinating listen for those interested in how our bodies manage energy and health across the lifespan.

Guest: Diana van Heemst, PhD is a biologist at Leiden University Medical Center, specializing in gerontology and geriatrics. Her research focuses on the neuroendocrine biology of aging and longevity in humans, particularly involving thyroid functions.

Note: Podcast episodes are fully available to paid subscribers on the M&M Substack and to everyone on YouTube. Partial versions are available elsewhere. Full transcript and other information on Substack.

Full Summary: Dr. Diana van Heemst explores the thyroid's critical role in metabolism, growth, development, and transitions across life stages. It discusses the thyroid's evolutionary history, its location in the neck, and how it functions through hormone secretion, specifically T3 and T4. The conversation covers the importance of nutrients like iodine and selenium, the impact of thyroid hormone on various bodily functions, and the implications for health conditions like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. It also touches on how thyroid activity might relate to longevity.

Key Takeaways:

• Thyroid Hormones: T3 and T4 are crucial, with T3 being the active form that regulates metabolism, heart rate, and cognitive functions.
• Iodine and Selenium: Essential for thyroid hormone synthesis; iodine is unique to thyroid hormones, while selenium is vital for the enzymes that regulate hormone availability.
• Hypothyroidism vs. Hyperthyroidism: Hypothyroidism is more common, especially in older age due to autoimmune issues, leading to symptoms like fatigue and cold sensitivity. Hyperthyroidism can result from iodine excess or autoimmune conditions like Graves' disease.
• Developmental Role: Thyroid hormones are vital for major developmental transitions, from birth to puberty, impacting brain development and metabolic adaptation.

*Not medical advice.

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Nick talks to Dr. Alan Davis, a clinical psychologist and Director of the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research & Education at Ohio State University. They discuss: the effectiveness of mainstream forms of psychotherapy and antidepressant medications (SSRIs) for depression; psychedelic medicine & psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy; the relevance of the subjective effects of psychedelics for their therapeutic effects; FDA approval for MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the coming years; and more.

*Not medical advice.

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All episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack

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• Readwise: Organize and share what you read.
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Nick talks to Bryan Roth, MD, PhD, a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Roth has been studying the molecular mechanisms of psychedelics since the 1980s. They discuss: serotonin 2A receptors in the mammalian brain; psychedelics & neuroplasticity; classic psychedelics (e.g. LSD, psilocybin, DMT) compared to drugs like ketamine & MDMA; TrkB receptors & BDNF; engineering novel drugs & psychiatric treatment methods; latest findings in psychedelic science.

More psychedelic science content: https://substack.com/search/psychedelics?searching=focused_posts&focusedPublicationId=513528

*Not medical advice.

Support the show

All episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack

Affiliates:

• Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off.
• Readwise: Organize and share what you read.
• Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.
• KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription.
• MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off.

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Nick talks to ethnopharmacologist Dr. Dennis McKenna, who is the brother of psychonaut Terence McKenna and author of the book, "The Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss." They discuss: the lives and psychedelic adventures of Dennis & Terence McKenna; experiences with psilocybin mushrooms & DMT; Carl Jung & psychology; the medical relevance of subjective psychedelic experiences; drugs, culture & society; and more.

*Not medical advice

Support the show

All episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack

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• Readwise: Organize and share what you read.
• Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.
• KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription.
• MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off.

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Nick talks to Daniel Karlin, MD, a board-certified physician in psychiatry, addiction medicine & clinical informatics who is the Chief Medical Officer at MindMed. They discuss: psychiatry; incentives in scientific & medical research; healthcare & mental health; psychedelics; LSD for anxiety; MDMA for autism; ibogaine derivatives for addiction; patient access & care; and more.

*This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.

Support the show

All episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack

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• Readwise: Organize and share what you read.
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Nick talks to chemist & food scientist Dr. Selina Wang about: food quality & purity; cooking oils (avocado, olive, vegetable, etc.); fruits & vegetables; oxidation & purity of cooking oils; how to identify high quality, pure foods to purchase; and more.

*Not medical advice.

Support the show

All episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack

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• Readwise: Organize and share what you read.
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Nick talks to Dr. Luc van Loon, Professor of Exercise Physiology & Nutrition at Maastricht University, about topics in exercise science, health & nutrition. They discuss: macronutrients & energy; protein quality & digestibility; endurance & resistance training; plant vs. animal protein; muscle conditioning & muscle fibers; sleep & aging; muscle physiology & metabolism; and more.

To learn more about diet & metabolism, check out this content.

*Not medical advice.

Support the show

All episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack

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• Readwise: Organize and share what you read.
• Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.
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Nick talks to Dr. Iain Oswald, who has a PhD in chemistry from the University of Texas-Dallas and is principal scientist Abstrax Tech, a cannabis research and product development company. He is an expert in using cutting edge analytical chemistry techniques to study plant chemistry and has done a lot of work to decipher the chemistry of commercial cannabis, including lesser-known compounds found in the essential oils of marijuana plants and how these relate the sensory qualities of marijuana.

They discuss: the aroma of cannabis & the chemical compounds that dictate different aspects of its aroma; consumer preferences when it comes to marijuana aroma; terpenes, which are volatile compounds abundant in the plant world; his research on volatile sulfur compounds, which are found in nature in things like garlic and the aerosols produced by skunks, and how lesser-known cannabis compounds in this chemical family relate to some of the pungent, gassy/skunky odors commonly associated with marijuana; his journey from academia into the private sector, and what’s on the horizon for cannabis research.

More content about cannabinoids & marijuana

*Not medical advice.

Support the show

All episodes, show notes, transcripts, etc. at the M&M Substack

Affiliates:

• Lumen device to optimize your metabolism for weight loss or athletic performance. Use code MIND for 10% off.
• Readwise: Organize and share what you read.
• Athletic Greens: Comprehensive & convenient daily nutrition. Free 1-year supply of vitamin D with purchase.
• KetoCitra—Ketone body BHB + potassium, calcium & magnesium, formulated with kidney health in mind. Use code MIND20 for 20% off any subscription.
• MASA Chips—delicious tortilla chips made from organic corn and grass-fed beef tallow. No seed oils or artificial ingredients. Use code MIND for 20% off.

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