With April hopefully bringing warmer, drier weather than the wet and windy Spring so far, Southern Californians will likely start heading outdoors and out of town for pre-summer adventures.
Rather than shuffling through your top two Spotify playlists for the hundredth time, consider filling the silence with the sound of science instead by checking out one of these three playlists:
• Huberman Lab – Hosted by the eponymous Dr. Andrew Huberman, Stanford School of Medicine tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology, the Huberman Lab podcast covers primarily neurobiology-based topics. The podcast doesn’t require a medical degree – or even a biology one, for that matter – to understand, though. The Huberman Lab breaks down the science behind subjects like meditation methods, headaches, and the link behind gastrointestinal and brain health in ways that don’t shy away from the use of technical terms, but rather employs them in well-explained, accessible vernacular.
The Huberman Lab podcast emphasizes delivering information backed by evidence and peer-reviewed studies, even going so far as to provide updates and edits on earlier topics as new information or a clearer way of explaining is available. The only subjective critique of an otherwise very objective podcast is that in addition to delivering a hefty dose of science, the podcast does promote sponsors and brands rigorously as well.
Aside from the intermittent verbal advertisements, the podcast is otherwise a wealth of information on some of the most brain-tickling topics out there. To find out more about the Huberman Lab and its podcast, visit: hubermanlab.com
• Aquadocs – Hosted by the soon-to-be Doctor Michelle Greenfield, Aquadocs is an auditory treasure trove of information for coastal residents. The podcast features episodes ranging from “Sustainable Aquaculture to End World Hunger” to “Brain Scans for Sea Lions.” Aquadocs guests have included aquatic animal veterinarians and other zoological health professionals at the top of their fields from all over the world.
A bonus for listeners who may be novices to the field is Michelle’s ability to bring the dual background of teacher and learner to the topics from their unique stage n the veterinary process. To learn more about the Aquadocs community, go to: www.aquadocspodcast.com
• Queer As Fact – While not strictly a science-related podcast, this Melbourne-based group of queer academics with backgrounds in history and media brings a refreshingly data-based, analytical approach to historical queer figures and societies. Their interrogation of queer individuals and cultures throughout time and across the world pairs sensitivity with curiosity and critical thinking – as well as with humor and a charismatic cast. The podcast covers people like the mother of science fiction, Mary Shelley; the semi-scandalous researcher, Samuel Steward; and the famous military surgeon, Dr. James Barry. To delve into the world of Queer As Fact, check out: www.queerasfact.com
Byte by Byte Column
By Dr. Miceala Shocklee