Your Brain On... Eating Meat
Your Brain On
Carnivorous diets have been woven into our history for millennia, but, with nutrition science advancing at an unprecedented pace over the past century... do we really still need to be eating meat? We live in a time of rising chronic disease, new longevity research, and a growing awareness of how our food choices shape our brain and our planet. We’re also constantly exposed to ‘nutrition tribalism’: social media communicators and influencers building identities (and livelihoods) around polarizing dietary debates. It’s a lot to navigate. So, we’re cutting straight to the data in this...
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Your Brain On... Nutrition (with Dr. Walter Willett)
Your Brain On
Everyone eats. It’s the one thing we all have in common. And yet, nutrition has become one of the most confusing, divisive, and misunderstood sciences in modern life. Low-fat. High-fat. Keto. Vegan. Paleo. Superfoods. For every study, there’s a headline that seems to say the opposite. In this episode, we turn to one of the most trusted voices in nutrition research to cut through the noise: Dr. Walter Willett, MD, DrPH. Dr. Willett, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, has spent more than four decades studying how what we eat affects our...
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Your Brain On... Autism
Your Brain On
Autism isn’t new, but our understanding of it has changed dramatically. It’s now recognized as a broad neurodevelopmental spectrum that shapes how millions of people perceive, process, and interact with the world. In this episode, we explore what autism is AND isn’t, from its earliest signs in infancy to its deep genetic roots, and why misinformation about it continues to spread. We speak with three remarkable experts leading the field in early detection, genetics, and public education: DR. AMI KLIN, PhD, Director of the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University and a pioneer in early...
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Your Brain On... Diabetes
Your Brain On
Behind the staggering statistics on global diabetes prevalence are millions of individuals with different stories, struggles, and solutions. In this episode, we explore how diabetes affects your brain, body, and cognition, and how it can be prevented, managed, and (in many cases) reversed. We share some powerful personal stories from the clinic, bust some persistent food myths, and learn why diabetes is as much a neurological emergency as a metabolic one. Plus, we speak to three leading experts who are changing the way we treat diabetes: BRENDA DAVIS, RD: renowned dietitian and global...
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Your Brain On... Alzheimer’s (Mythbusting Special)
Your Brain On
Alzheimer’s disease is constantly surrounded by myths and misinformation. Let’s set the record straight. In this episode, we bust through the most persistent Alzheimer’s myths, with facts based on decades of clinical experience and cutting-edge research. Myths include: • “Alzheimer’s is inevitable in old age” • “It’s all genetic, and there’s nothing you can do” • “There’s no cure, so diagnosis is useless” • “Supplements and vitamins can prevent or cure Alzheimer’s” • “Statins and vaccines cause Alzheimer’s” Plus many others. We also share our...
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Your Brain On... Purpose (Sherzai Family Special)
Your Brain On
With big changes happening in the Sherzai family household, we sat down for a roundtable discussion about the concept that will shape what we’re all doing next: our purpose. In this ‘unplugged’ mid-season chat, we’re joined by our kids — Sophia and Alex! — for a wide-ranging conversation about our values and goals. How they form, how they falter, and how they evolve, in an increasingly noisy world. Together, we discuss: • The neurological and evolutionary importance of purpose • How a firm sense of purpose can help us develop better habits • The difference between...
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Your Brain On... Creatine
Your Brain On
Creatine for Alzheimer’s — let’s separate the hype from the hope. A new study has caused a stir in June 2025, but lead researcher Matthew K. Taylor told us: “ I don’t think I can recommend it to a patient that this is going to ultimately have some sort of cognitive influence.” We speak to Dr. Taylor and Dr. Russell Swerdlow in this episode, discussing: • Role of creatine in your brain, and why it matters for energy metabolism • What the 2025 study found (and why it wasn’t designed to prove effectiveness) • How scientific nuance gets lost in supplement hype • Why even...
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Your Brain On... Stress
Your Brain On
Stress isn’t just a threat to your brain. It’s also one of its best tools for growth. We often hear that stress is bad for your brain. And it can be. Chronic, unpredictable, and uncontrollable stress can damage cognition, harm memory, and accelerate aging. But we don’t talk enough about how the right kind of stress can actually improve brain function, grow your hippocampus, and help you feel happier and more purposeful. In this episode of Your Brain On..., we explore the science of stress with two brilliant guests: Dr. Sharon Bergquist, Yale- and Harvard-trained internal medicine...
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Your Brain On... Stroke
Your Brain On
Stroke is one of the biggest causes of death in the world — but also one of the most preventable. Up to 80–90% of strokes could be avoided with more awareness, resources, and a firmer focus on prevention over intervention. In this episode, we’re joined by renowned stroke neurologist and public health pioneer Dr. Olajide Williams, MD, MS, whose ‘Hip-Hop Stroke’ movement is a shining example of enacting culturally-sensitive community-wide healthcare change. In this episode, we discuss: • What actually causes a stroke (and how to spot one in seconds using the ‘act FAST’ acronym)...
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Your Brain On... The Food Industry
Your Brain On
How can we eat better when we’re constantly marketed to in a way that hijacks our attention and habits? To complement the incredible discussions we regularly have about brain-healthy nutrition, in this episode, we’ve having a very important conversation about how the food industry works against our best intentions, and how we can break through the psychological barriers they use to hold us back. We’re joined by Marion Nestle, Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University, whose name is practically synonymous with food policy: a pioneering...
info_outlineThe digital age has made it easier than ever to access health information, but how can we know which sources to trust?
Social media is saturated with misinformation. Some of it is inadvertent — many bold pseudoscientific claims seem very convincing, and anyone could be forgiven for sharing it with the best intentions.
But, a more deliberate manipulation of scientific information has become commonplace, often used to push certain narratives or turn a profit.
Combating this misinformation machine can feel impossible. So, we assembled five experts from different corners of the science communication community to help equip you for the fight:
Dr. David L. Katz, MD, MPH, a renowned figure in the field of preventive medicine, public health, and nutrition. (Website: https://davidkatzmd.com/)
Steven Novella MD, clinical neurologist and associate professor at Yale University School of Medicine, a host of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, and a founder of the New England Skeptical Society. (Website: https://theness.com/neurologicablog/)
Dr. Jessica Steier PhD, public health scientist and host of the wildly popular Unbiased Science podcast. (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unbiasedscipod)
Dr. Jonathan Stea PhD, clinical psychologist and author of the book ‘Mind the Science’. (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_jonathan_stea/ / Website: https://www.jonathanstea.com/)
Dr. Idrees Mughal, AKA ‘Dr. Idz’, one of the most popular online misinformation-debunking social media icons. (TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr_idz / Website: https://www.schoolofdridz.com/)
Together, we discuss:
• The telltale signs of pseudoscientific messaging.
• Where misinformation comes from, and why it often spreads faster than evidence-based facts.
• Why we can be so susceptible to believing misinformation.
• Who profits by poisoning the science communication space.
• How we can improve our scientific literacy and avoid echo chambers.
• Ways academics can improve their public health communication.
• ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neurologists, scientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.
‘Your Brain On... Misinformation’ • SEASON 3 • EPISODE 9