The People's Scientist

Come celebrate with me in this special episode where I reflect on the last 5 years and the most important lessons this podcast has taught me. The lessons didn't come from a study or a classroom. They came from life experience. These lessons have had a really big impact on my life and I hope that they may spark something positive in you too. I am looking forward to the next years to come with you!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As I gaze out my window, captivated by the raindrops, the thought struck me – what makes the sound of rain so incredibly calming? Thus, the inspiration for episode 157 was born. In today's installment, I delve into the effects that environmental sounds can exert on our stress management, sleep patterns, hormonal balance, and neurobiology. It's my belief that these impacts are often subtle, operating on a subconscious level, unbeknownst to many. The discussion spans the soothing tones of rain, the calming cadence of ocean waves, the melodic symphony of birds, and the bustling sounds of the city. I've included some sound clips, practical tips, and insights on how we can leverage this knowledge to enhance our well-being. Tune in for details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wow what a year! 2023 was filled with a lot of wonderful changes to my scientific career. Thank you for coming along this ride with me. Come hang out with me as I countdown the top 3 most listened to episodes on the People's Scientist podcast of 2023. Which episode was your favorite?Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am so excited to be back producing episode 155 of The People's Scientist podcast. Thank you for allowing me to take a few months off from the show as I transitioned into my new role. Today I am excited to share a recent study with you in which scientists investigated a simple strategy we can all start using today that may enhance our memory and cognition. It has to do with one of our five senses that we seldom use purposefully, our sense of smell. Tune in for details! Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 154 of The People's Scientist podcast, I discuss how consuming food, sugar, alcohol, nicotine, opioids, cocaine, are all consummatory behaviors; we are consuming substances with reinforcing and potentially addictive qualities. As such, there is much neurobiological overlap in eating and drug addiction. This nutritional perspective on drug addiction can open the door for novel treatments to aid in drug addiction recovery like GLP-1 and T2R agonists. Lately the medication (Ozempic) semaglutide, used to treat type-2 diabetes has garnered interest as a potential new strategy to investigate for drug addiction recovery. Tune in for details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today in Episode 153, I share with you a recent study published by Amin and colleagues in JAMA Psychiatry this year. This study includes over 125,000 people to correlate the plasma metabolome containing 249 metabolites to the diagnosis of major depressive disorder. I share additional clinical trials to take these findings and give us all some actionable information. Tune in for details!Main Reference: Amin et al. JAMA Psychiatry. 2023;80(6):597-609Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 152, I was inspired by the song lyrics I danced to for this episode and chose to dive into the Neuroscience of Perseverance. Perseverance is distinct from resilience but the two are still very much interconnected. Resilience is an umbrella term, representing our ability to bounce back from adversity, our ability to adapt to change, and maintain a positive outlook. On the other hand, perseverance specifically refers to the act of persisting in the face of obstacles, staying focused on a goal, and maintaining effort over an extended period. I talk about the Science of Resilience back in episode 39 with the expert, Dennis Charney himself, so feel free to go back and give that one a listen if it interests you. In today's episode I share a quiz for us to assess our own level of persistence, I provide relatable examples, ways to improve our perseverance, and some neurobiology to help us understand what is going on in our brain when we persevere. Tune in for details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 151, I discuss neuroplasticity as an adaptive process of the brain that can either be detrimental or beneficial. I discuss drug addiction, mental health, hormones, psychedelics, exercise, meditation, and more. I also discuss how I think the concept of neuroplasticity can support the notion of the freedom for change as opposed to determinism. Neuroplasticity can empower us to change our current situation. Tune in for details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the 150th Episode of the People Scientist podcast, I want to share with you, from my 17 years of experience in this field, some top evidenced based nutrition strategies that I think are easy to incorporate and likely to have a significant impact on our brain health and mental well-being. Any guesses as to what my top three suggestions are? Tune in to find out!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 149 of The People's Scientist podcast I share brain imaging studies that provide insight into what brain regions are involved in lying. Lying may require more cognitive demand and as such there might be certain signs of a lie. Why do we lie? Common lying is associated with lower self-esteem and quality of life. As such, perhaps lying is meant to inflate a sense of self or to create a better, albeit false, sense of reality. I talk about anti-social personality disorder, factitious disorder, and more. Tune in for details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 148, I go through the details of two recent studies investigating the impact of fasting on hunger and craving circuits within the brain. After one bout of fasting, persistent amplification of excitatory activity was noted onto agouti-related protein neurons of the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. I believe these studies provide an understanding as to why we may binge and re-gain weight after weight loss. Can we use this information to our advantage? Yes. I give some neuroscience based strategies to help us prevent weight re-gain. Tune in for details. References: Grzelka et al., 2023, Cell Metabolism 35, 1–16Kerem et al., 2020, Physiological Reports 28(4).e14369.Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today in Episode 147, I have the great joy of interviewing Naval Officer, LTJG Joseph Gills, who led his team to achieving the award Thor's Hammer by obtaining the top scores in the Pacific Fleet competition of 2022. LTJG Gills goes through personal examples and suggestions to achieve good leadership and how to work with bad leadership. For example, he mentions how being a leader is a gift, an opportunity to serve people, not an opportunity for personal glory. If we can lead a great team, the personal accolades with follow. Tune in for more details! Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 146 I share some recent scientific evidence on the Neuroscience of Itch. We have yet to fully grasp this relatively new area of science but we appreciate that sensory fibers in the skin send signals along our spinal cord to the thalamus of our brain. But did you know that scratching can be contagious? If we see someone scratch, we may feel inclined to unconsciously scratch as well. This is related to mirror neurons. I get into the neuroscience behind different types of itch, the causes, and how we understand the science behind itch today. Tune in for details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 145 I share some scientific evidence on intestinal barrier dysfunction AKA: leaky gut. I use analogies to explain what leaky gut is, how this can contribute to brain inflammation, dementia, major depressive disorder, and scientific evidence on how to promote the health of our intestines and brain. Tune in for details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 144 is a special episode as a recent conversation with my sister sparked this topic! My sister and I were talking about how the attitude toward food has changed drastically over the last several decades. We talk about our personal experiences in the context of diets, how hormones may be involved, intuitive eating, how nutrition clinical trials should focus on mental health and efficacy, and how the condition of bulimia nervosa may be far more prevalent than what we realize. Tune in for all the details.Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo, Patreon, or Buy Me a Coffee below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 143, I continue with the theme of love for February but approach it from the opposite direction and share the Neuroscience of Heartbreak. Heartbreak is an intense emotional pain arising from the loss of a valuable relationship. In this episode I share Neuroimaging studies that indicate emotional pain recruits the same brain regions as physical pain. How scientists speculate that chronic pain disorders may actually arise from chronic emotional pain. I also talk about broken heart syndrome called takotsubo cardiomyopathy. I discuss some suggestions on how to reduce emotional pain using this neurobiological understanding. Tune in for all the details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo, Patreon, or Buy Me a Coffee below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 142, I share some neuroscience on trust and vulnerability. To trust, we make ourselves vulnerable by relying on another individual to fulfill their role. The main reason why employees leave their job and why marriages end in divorce is because of a lack of trust, communication and appreciation. So clearly, trust is central to the success of strong relationships. In this episode I give several practical strategies on how to build trust and being aware that small things may chip away and weaken the trust in a relationship. Tune in for details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 141 of The People's Scientist podcast, I propose a theory; are we addicted to our rises in blood insulin? Back in the 1940s, injections of insulin were given to treat anxiety and neurosis. They noted that injections of insulin induced a calming effect, sedation, and enhanced motivation to obtain food. In more recent studies we see that insulin may act on brain reward regions. Higher insulin responses after eating leaves one feeling less satisfied and craving more food. I go into some evidenced based strategies on how we may be able to influence our insulin levels and therefore perhaps our food cravings. As always, please seek the advice of your physician or dietitian. Tune in for the interesting details!Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At many points in our life, we are likely to need to start over; in relationships, careers, school, etc. Here in Episode 140 of The People's Scientist podcast, I share clinical studies that provide some insight on how we can enhance our success in starting over. I highlight three key components: 1) Overcoming our fear of rejection/failure 2) Increasing self-confidence 3) Creating goals and instilling new habits. Tune in for all of the scientific details. Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode 139, as the year 2022 comes to a close, I reflect on the episodes of 2022. I covered topics from the benefits of indoor plants, how horror movies may make us more resilient, the neuroscience of greed, rejection, social anxiety, embarrassment, intuitive eating, a new exercise metabolite lac-phe, the neuroscience behind the pursuit of happiness and so much more. In today's episode I go through some of my favorite topics and the top 5 most listened to episodes. Sending you all love and happiness at the close of 2022. I cannot wait to see what 2023 holds for us. Want to buy me a coffee to say thanks for the episode? You can do so via Venmo or Patreon below.Venmo ID: Steph-CalPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/DrSCaligiurihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/drscaligiuriFollow me on social media to see the papers I cite in this week's episode:IG: Dr.SCaligiuriFB: ThePeoplesScientistTwitter: DrSCaligiuriLinkedin: Stephanie CaligiuriTikTok: Dr.SCaligiuri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.