The Gravity Doctors

Dr Lachlan Kent is joined by Dr Mats Niklasson, developmental psychologist, visiting Research Fellow at the University of Greater Manchester, and co-founder of Sensorimotor Therapy, to explore how early vestibular development shapes both physical coordination and the narrative sense of self.Drawing on nearly 40 years of clinical work with children and adults experiencing coordination and concentration difficulties, Mats explains how early reflexes—especially the Moro (startle/falling) reflex—connect infants to gravity. When these developmental processes are disrupted, the result may be delayed motor patterns, emotional dysregulation, learning challenges, and even later-life identity instability.Using the life of Kurt Cobain as a psychobiographical case study, the conversation explores how gravitational insecurity may influence creativity, mental health, and the lifelong struggle to feel “at home” in one’s own body. Check out Mat's book on the topic: "The discovery of international autoethnographical psychobiography"https://bookstore.emerald.com/the-discovery-of-international-digital-collaborative-autoethnographical-psychobiography-hb-9781837083817.html1. Sensorimotor Therapy & GravityA developmental approach grounded in movement and balanceFocuses on vestibular activation and early motor patternsLinks physiology and psychology through embodied developmentWorks by re-engaging early fetal-style movementsThe goal:Reconnect the nervous system with gravity to release arrested development Primary Reflexes & Early DevelopmentAll infants are born with survival reflexesThe Moro reflex is closely tied to the vestibular systemIf not properly integrated:Crawling patterns may be skippedWalking and speech may be delayedConcentration and coordination may sufferVestibular development sits on a continuum—not simply “normal” vs “impaired” Reconnecting to GravityTherapy works by:Recreating early fetal movement patternsEngaging attachment between child and caregiverStimulating vestibular systemsObserved outcomes include:Return of expected motor patternsImproved regulationReduction in headaches and stomach achesThis suggests a deep link between vestibular development and whole-body wellbeing From Body to BiographyMats connects early vestibular insecurity to later psychological outcomes:Development is trajectory-basedSmall early deviations may compound over timeIdentity itself may emerge from embodied stability.Kurt Cobain as Case StudyNiklasson’s analysis suggests:Possible early developmental difficultiesVerified diagnoses included scoliosis and chronic bronchitisChronic stomach pain remained unexplainedHe may have suffered from IBS—undiagnosed in his lifetimeVestibular instability may have influenced:SensitivityWithdrawalCreativitySearch for equilibriumNiklasson proposes Cobain may have been “a victim of his time,” lacking modern frameworks to understand syndrome-like conditions Creativity & InstabilityDrawing on Coleridge’s distinction between:Fancy imagination (common)Secondary imagination (rare, generative)Some creative individuals may channel instability into talent.Therapeutic balance is key:Stability may reduce sufferingBut may also alter creative expression ResourcesThe Gravity Doctors: https://thegravitydoctors.com Dr Brennan Spiegel: https://brennanspiegelmd.com Dr Lachlan Kent: https://lachlankent.au

Dr Brennan Spiegel (physician, gastroenterologist, and author of Pull) and Dr Lachlan Kent (cognitive scientist and founder of Mental Gravity) explore how seasons, sunlight, serotonin, and gravity shape mood, attraction, and human connection.Broadcasting from opposite hemispheres—Brennan in winter in Los Angeles and Lachlan in summer in Melbourne—they examine why people often feel more “down” in winter, why this is linked to reduced sunlight and serotonin, and how this helps explain the phenomenon known as “cuffing season”—the seasonal urge to pair up.They connect dating, love, posture, breath, yoga, serotonin, oxytocin, and even planetary orbits into a single biogravitational story: human connection is shaped by the same gravitational cycles that shape the seasons themselves.Seasons as Gravitational CyclesSeasons arise from Earth’s orbit around the sunNot just temperature cycles, but gravitational and light cyclesMood follows seasonal gravity:Summer = outward, expansive, lightWinter = inward, heavy, contractingBreath mirrors this cycle: in/up, out/downWinter, Serotonin, and Mental GravitySunlight boosts serotoninLow winter sunlight → lower serotonin → heavier moodSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as a gravity-related mood stateSerotonin as a “gravity management molecule” that supports:Muscle toneCirculationUpright postureMental elevationLove, Attraction, and Gravity“Falling in love” uses gravitational language Uprightness—physical, emotional, moral—is attractiveWinter dating favors depth over displaySpring favors peacocking; winter favors bondingLong-term connection as gravitational alignment of valuesWinter Practices for Gravity ResilienceMovement & PostureYoga as a winter-friendly anti-gravity practiceInversions, posture, alignment, balanceLow-intensity movement over intense trainingLight &EnvironmentMaximize sunlight exposureUse light boxes in high-latitude wintersGet outside when possibleDiet & ChemistryTryptophan-rich foods: turkey, avocado, chicken, chickpeas, kidney, beans, eggs, tofu, nutsSupport serotonin production through dietConnectionCuddling, closeness, bondingOxytocin releaseOxytocin → vagus nerve → serotoninParasympathetic “rest and digest” stateNeurochemistry of Winter BondingOxytocin primes vagus nerveVagus nerve regulates serotonin releaseCuddling + calm = anti-gravity physiologyParasympathetic tone matches seasonal slowingBiogravitational Medicine in Daily LifeHuman health reflects planetary physicsSun, moon, Earth, and orbit shape biologyMood, love, and seasons are not mystical—just naturalGravity as the hidden organizer of emotion, posture, and connectionTimecodes00:00 — Welcome & hemispheres01:15 — Seasons and gravity02:15 — What is cuffing season?03:15 — Mood, winter, and seasonal affect04:40 — Sunlight, serotonin, and heaviness06:05 — Planetary cycles and breath cycles07:15 — Love as anti-gravity08:15 — Depth vs display in dating09:20 — Uprightness and attraction10:45 — Winter activities and posture11:35 — Yoga and winter gravity13:15 — Balance, breath, and alignment15:40 — Light therapy and sunlight16:40 — Diet and serotonin foods16:55 — Cuddling, oxytocin, vagus nerve18:15 — Parasympathetic winter mode19:05 — Biogravitation and planetary life20:35 — Falling in love & falling physically21:00 — Closing reflectionsResourcesThe Gravity Doctors: https://thegravitydoctors.comDr Brennan Spiegel: https://brennanspiegelmd.comDr Lachlan Kent: https://lachlankent.auBook — Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health

Dr Lachlan Kent and Dr Brennan Spiegel are joined by Elisa R. Ferrè, professor of cognitive neuroscience at Birkbeck, University of London, and one of the world’s leading experts on graviception and the vestibular system.Together, they explore how the brain senses gravity without a single “gravity receptor,” why the vestibular system has no primary cortex, and how gravity is computed as a distributed, multisensory model integrating vestibular, visual, proprioceptive, and visceral signals. The conversation spans neuroscience, emotion, aesthetics, culture, spaceflight, and mental health—revealing gravity as the hidden scaffolding of perception, meaning, and wellbeing.1. What Is Graviception?The brain’s ability to sense and model gravityNot driven by a single receptor or cortical areaConstructed through multisensory integrationFundamental to embodiment, orientation, and survivalWhy the Vestibular System Is UniqueNo unimodal “vestibular cortex”Projects broadly across the brainDoes not produce a clear conscious sensationBecomes noticeable mainly when something goes wrong (dizziness, vertigo, nausea)The vestibular system acts as the glue binding mind and body, anchoring us in a single embodied perspective.How the Brain Computes GravityGravity is not perceived directlyThe brain integrates:Vestibular otolith signals (head tilt, linearacceleration)Visual cues (verticality, alignment)Proprioception (joints, muscles, posture)Visceral signals (internal organs)Each signal is weighted by reliability to form an internal model of terrestrial gravity.Gravity, Meaning, and CulturePreferences for verticality (upright lines, tall buildings)Vertical = power, stability, positivityDownward tilt = unease, disorderGravity shapes art, architecture, language, and metaphorUp = good, free, elevatedDown = heavy, negative, constrainedEmotion, Fear, and the Vestibular SystemVestibular pathways connect directly to:AmygdalaInsulaHypothalamusThis explains why vestibular disturbances are emotionally chargedDizziness and vertigo trigger fear, nausea, and autonomic responsesGravity sensing is deeply tied to survival systemsWeightlessness and FreedomParabolic flight (“vomit comet”) as a unique graviceptive stateWeightlessness described as profound freedomAlso physiologically challengingPost-flight “down” feelings mirror return to gravityFreedom comes with a cost: sensory conflict and adaptation demands.Space Adaptation & NeuroplasticityAstronauts experience space motion sicknessSymptoms: nausea, disorientation, brain fogThe brain can adapt through neuroplasticityAdaptation takes time, energy, and trainingImplicationsfor long-term space travel and Mars exploration.Gravity, Mental Health, and Everyday LifeAnxiety as mis-tuned gravity anticipationDepression as altered temporal and bodily groundingMental fitness as trainable gravity resilienceTools discussed:Yoga and postureBreath awarenessGrounding through the feetWeighted blanketsMusic, rest, and multisensory regulationPractical Graviceptive TipStand still and feel the pressure through the soles of your feetNotice the security of 1GUse grounding as a way to reduce anxiety and reset expectationsTimecodes00:00 — Introduction & guest welcome02:00 — What makes the vestibular system unique05:00 — Why gravity is mostly unconscious06:30 — How the brain computes gravity09:30 — Homunculus vs gravity computation11:30 — Gravity as a prior for perception14:00 — Semantics, aesthetics & verticality17:00 — Architecture, art & meaning20:00 — Vestibular system & emotion22:00 — Parabolic flight & weightlessness24:00 — Freedom, addiction & the cost of zero-G28:30 — Space adaptation syndrome31:00 — Can humans adapt to Mars?35:30 — Everyday graviception & grounding38:00 — Closing reflectionsResourcesThe Gravity Doctors: https://thegravitydoctors.comDr Brennan Spiegel: https://brennanspiegelmd.comDr Lachlan Kent: https://lachlankent.au

Dr Brennan Spiegel (physician, gastroenterologist, and author of Pull) and Dr Lachlan Kent (cognitive scientist and founder of Mental Gravity) drop an emergency episode to unpack one of the most extreme acts of gravity defiance ever witnessed: Alex Honnold climbing a 100-plus-storey skyscraper without ropes.Using Honnold as an “extreme phenotype,” they explore what his remarkable calm reveals about fear, anxiety, graviception, and mental gravity. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience, they examine how Honnold’s quiet amygdala, finely tuned salience network, and relentless present-momentfocus allow him to operate where most humans would be paralysed by fear.The episode bridges elite performance and everyday mental health, asking: what can the rest of us learn—safely—from someone who literally does not fear falling?1. Why Alex Honnold MattersA real-world example of ultimate gravity resilienceFree-solo climbing as the most literal test of mental gravityAnxiety, fear of falling, and bodily panic stripped awayA window into the far edge of human psychological capacityFear, Falling, and the Brain AmygdalaHonnold’s amygdala shows minimal activation to fear-inducing stimuliContrast with anxiety, chronic pain, IBS, and fibromyalgia, where the amygdala is hyper-vigilantSalience Network & Anterior InsulaDetects what matters in the body and environmentSimulates graviceptive cues without triggering panicAnchors awareness in the present momentBeing in the Moment—Taken SeriouslyHonnold’s survival depends on microsecond-level presenceNo anticipatory anxiety, no future projectionFinger placement, balance, and movement solved in real timePresence as an adaptive skill—not a sloganGravity Sensitivity as a ContinuumHumans vary widely in tolerance for heights, G-forces, and riskToo much fear → paralysisToo little fear → dangerHealthy functioning lies in the middle of the curveMental Gravity, Anxiety, and DepressionAnxiety = anticipation of fallingDepression = being stuck or weighed down in the presentHonnold represents the opposite extreme: calm within gravityInsights help reframe everyday anxiety as mis-tuned gravity perceptionTraining vs TalentHonnold combines rare inborn traits with years of intense trainingPhysical: extreme strength, precision, enduranceMental: emotional regulation, present-moment focusFear is not absent—it is managed and containedWhat Can We Learn (Safely)?Not to climb skyscrapers—but to train mental fitness:Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as mentaltrainingMeditation as present-moment conditioningBreathwork, yoga, and grounding practicesSocial connection and rest as recoveryBalancing effort and recovery (noovertraining)Mental fitness = something you work on, not something you either have or don’t have.One Percent RuleYou don’t need to be Alex HonnoldChanneling 1% of his presence, calm, and training can meaningfully improve everyday resilienceTimecodes00:00 — Emergency episode & skyscraper climb01:10 — Free Solo and gravity defiance02:15 — Watching the footage & bodily reactions02:45 — Fear, falling & butterflies03:30 — Amygdala findings04:20 — Anxiety, pain & hyper-vigilance05:10 — Salience network & graviception06:20 — Courage vs fearlessness06:50 — Gravity sensitivity across populations07:50 — Mental gravity & anxiety08:50 — Training, not recklessness10:00 — Being truly in the moment11:10 — Depression, anxiety & time orientation12:05 — Learning from extreme phenotypes13:20 — Mental health in a steeper world14:20 — Training for modern life15:20 — Mental fitness beyond CBT16:10 — Meditation, breath & balance17:35 — One percent of Honnold18:30 — Closing reflectionsResourcesThe Gravity Doctors: https://thegravitydoctors.comDr Brennan Spiegel: https://brennanspiegelmd.comDr Lachlan Kent: https://lachlankent.auBook — Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health

How do elite athletes use body, mind, joy, and meaning to push beyond physical limits? Dr Brennan Spiegel (physician, gastroenterologist, and author of Pull) and Dr Lachlan Kent (cognitive scientist and founder of Mental Gravity) explore theOlympics as humanity’s greatest laboratory for defying gravity.With the Winter Olympics approaching, they examine elite athletes as “physics-fighting engines”—bodies and minds trained to resist, redirect, and sometimes seemingly escape gravity. Through stories of Cathy Freeman, Quincy Hall, Alex Honnold, and modern superstars like Steph Curry and Luka Dončić, they show how peak performance is not just physical—it is mental gravity management.They introduce Olympic training as a real-world expression of biogravitational medicine, where strength, balance, imagery, joy, poise, team culture, and meaning all shape how far humans can push their relationship with gravity.1. Why the Olympics Matter to Mental GravityThe Olympics showcase humanity at the edge of physical limitsElite sport = everyday gravity management taken to extremesAthletes model what it means to fight gravity physically and mentallyPeak performance = synchronization of body, brain, and meaningAthletes as Anti-Gravity PrototypesCathy Freeman (Sydney 2000)“Floating” to gold in the 400mHome crowd as acceleration, not pressureUp, light, fast = opposite of depressionQuincy Hall (Paris 400m Final)Turning failure into flightLast-minute mental reversal → physical transcendenceBasketball, Ski Jumping, SkatingLeaping, flying, spinning, managing G-forcesAngular momentum and rotational control as gravity masteryMental Gravity in Elite PerformancePerformance depends on mental poise, not just muscleStillness before actionPressure as fuel, not burdenCrowds as acceleration, not oppressionJoy as a performance amplifierExamples:Steph Curry — joy + precisionLuka Dončić — playfulness under pressureAsh Barty — recovery from “the yips” through joyImagery, Rehearsal, and GravityMental imagery as bodily rehearsalKyrie Irving visualizing free throwsAlex Honnold mentally climbing El Capitan before climbing itMental gravity = using body as template for thought and emotionUp = energizedDown = heavyCalm = balancedFear, Falling, and MasteryFear of falling = gravitational anxietyElite athletes train to feel secure within gravityButterflies in the belly = falling sensationsGreat athletes use fear to prime—not paralyze—the nervous systemTimecodes00:00 — Welcome & why the Olympics matter01:00 — Peak athleticism as defying gravity02:00 — Cathy Freeman & floating to gold03:30 — Winter sports & G-forces04:30 — Quincy Hall’s last-minute flight06:00 — Mental vs physical performance07:30 — Stillness, pressure & acceleration09:00 — Joy as a performance tool10:30 — The yips, anxiety & recovery12:00 — Mental imagery in sport13:30 — Kyrie Irving & visualization14:45 — Alex Honnold & fear mastery16:15 — Fear, falling & butterflies17:45 — Biogravitational training stacks19:00 — Team culture & social gravity20:30 — VR, the Proteus Effect & training22:00 — Dead hangs & gravity endurance24:00 — Olympics as humanity’s gravity experiment25:00 — Closing reflectionsResourcesThe Gravity Doctors: https://thegravitydoctors.comDr Brennan Spiegel: https://brennanspiegelmd.comDr Lachlan Kent: https://lachlankent.auBook — Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health

Dr Brennan Spiegel (physician, gastroenterologist, and author of Pull) and Dr Lachlan Kent (cognitive scientist and founder of Mental Gravity) explore serotonin as a gravity-management molecule, reframing it not simply as a “happiness chemical,” but as a fundamental biological system that allows life to stand up, move fluids, regulate balance, and remain psychologically buoyant in a gravitational field.Together, Brennan and Lachlan unpack new research on serotonin’s role across the gut, cardiovascular system, lymphatics, vestibular system, reproduction, and mood—showing how 95% of serotonin is produced in the gut, in symbiosis with the microbiome. They trace serotonin’s evolutionary origins from ocean life to land, altitude, and even space, and discuss practical implications for diet, exercise, sunlight, microbiome care, and mental health.1. What Is Serotonin?A whole-body gravity resilience molecule, not just a brainneurotransmitter Exists in two largely separate compartments: brain and gutCentral to movement, circulation, balance, mood, and vitalityEvolutionarily conserved across plants, animals, and humansSerotonin as a Gravity-Management SystemGut & DigestionMotility against gravity in any body orientationPumps & TubesBlood pressure regulation, cardiac contractility, lymphatic returnBalance& OrientationVestibular function; dizziness during SSRI withdrawalReproductionRetrograde uterine contractions that move sperm upward against gravityMood &EnergyMental elevation, vitality, resilience, and time perceptionThe Microbiome–Serotonin AllianceTrillionsof microbes are required to trigger serotonin productionThe gut as a “dark, sulfurous, hydrothermal” evolutionary nicheA symbiotic bargain: microbes get mobility; humans get serotoninChanges in altitude, microgravity, and spaceflight rapidly alter serotoninbiologySTACK TEN: The Anti-Gravity Diet (introduced)A practical framework from Pull for supporting serotonin production via tryptophan-rich foods.Core principles:Tryptophan as substrateMicrobiome diversityDietary balance rather than supplementation aloneTherapeutic & Self-Care ImplicationsDietary modification (tryptophan-rich foods, microbiome-supportive diets)Exercise and movementSunlight and time outdoorsWorking with dietitians for GI and mood conditions (e.g., low-FODMAP when indicated)Understanding limits and side effects of SSRIsNaturally supporting serotonin across body and mindMetaphor & MeaningThe gutmicrobiome as the “spice factory” of human biologySerotonin as the true “spice of life”—powerful, regulating, and double-edgedGravity as the organizing principle linking biology, psychology, and medicineTimecodes00:00 —Welcome & why serotonin matters01:10 — Serotonin beyond the “happiness chemical”02:20 — Gut vs brain serotonin compartments03:20 — Pumps, tubes & whole-body effects04:25 — Lymphatics, reproduction & balance06:20 — Evolutionary origins & gravitation08:10 — Microbiome symbiosis metaphor10:15 — Altitude, spaceflight & serotonin disruption11:30 — STACK TEN diet introduced12:45 — Diet, microbiome & mood disorders13:50 — Dune, spice & serotonin metaphor15:45 — SSRIs: benefits, limits & side effects17:00 — Natural serotonin support & integration17:45 — Closing reflections & next stepsResourcesThe Gravity Doctors website: https://thegravitydoctors.comDr Brennan Spiegel: https://brennanspiegelmd.comDr Lachlan Kent: https://lachlankent.auBook — Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health 

Dr Brennan Spiegel (physician, gastroenterologist, and author of Pull) and Dr Lachlan Kent (cognitive scientist and founder of Mental Gravity) explore how diet, microbiome diversity, and serotonin production shape your capacity to stand up to gravity—physically and mentally.They introduce the Anti-Gravity Diet and Brennan’s STACK TEN framework, a simple, evidence-informed way to support the gut’s serotonin “factories” and improve whole-body gravity resilience. Along the way, they unpack how food, fibre, omega-3s, polyphenols, vagus-nerve activation, and mindful rest all participate in the body–mind system that keeps us upright and energised.Together, Brennan and Lachlan discuss babies as “gravity novices,” leaky gut, the gut–brain axis, evolutionary embodiment, time dilation in depression, and why serotonin—serum tone—is essential for managing the constant downward pull of Earth’s gravity.A holistic framework for supporting natural serotonin production—the body’s anti-gravity molecule.Grounded in gastrointestinal physiology, microbiome science, and biogravitational medicine. Not a restrictive diet — a practical, everyday toolkit for gravity resilience.A memory device for foods that supply the raw material (tryptophan) for serotonin production:SalmonTurkeyAvocadoChickpeasKidney beansTofu/TempehEggsNutsPaired with:Fibre → feeds microbes that create short-chain fatty acidsOmega-3s → shift the microbiome toward serotonin-supporting speciesPolyphenols → found in berries, cocoa, turmeric, and green tea00:00 — Welcome & overview of the Anti-Gravity Diet01:20 — Serotonin as the body’s anti-gravity molecule04:20 — Microbiome diversity & the gut barrier06:30 — Babies, serotonin & early gravity resilience09:40 — Tryptophan, fibre & short-chain fatty acids11:00 — Leaky gut, inflammation & decoherence13:00 — Food–mood science & depression16:40 — What to eat: introducing STACK TEN17:00 — The ten tryptophan-rich foods18:50 — Polyphenols, omega-3s & microbiome tuning19:50 — Beyond diet: exercise, nature, sunlight21:20 — Balancing sympathetic vs parasympathetic tone23:00 — Vagus-nerve stimulation & rest-and-digest24:30 — Gravity as the integrator across biological levels26:00 — Life as a system for managing gravity27:20 — Closing reflections & future topicsThe Gravity Doctors website: ⁠https://thegravitydoctors.com⁠Gravitype Quiz: virtualmedicine.org/pullDr Brennan Spiegel: brennanspiegelmd.comDr Lachlan Kent: lachlankent.auBook — Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health

In this episode, Dr Brennan Spiegel (physician, gastroenterologist, and author of Pull) and Dr Lachlan Kent (cognitive scientist and founder of Mental Gravity) dive deep into gravity resilience and introduce listeners to the new Gravitype Quiz—a wellness tool that blends biomechanics, neuroscience, and psychology to help people understand their personal relationship with gravity.Together, Brennan and Lachlan take the quiz live on the show and compare results, unpacking the three pillars of biogravitational health: gravity fortitude, gravity sensing, and mental gravity. Along the way, they explore back pain, dizziness, cold exposure, resilience, interoception, emotional balance, and how experiences like roller coasters or elevators reveal something about your gravitational tendencies.You can try the full interactive quiz here:brennanspiegelmd.comvirtualmedicine.org/pullthegravitydoctors.com1. What Is a Gravitype?A personalised profile of gravity resilienceBased on the framework in Pull and grounded in emerging concepts in biogravitational medicineNot a diagnostic tool — currently evidence-informed and intended for education/wellnessGravity FortitudeMuscles, bones, pumps, and tubesCardiovascular and postural strengthBack pain, leg swelling, stair climbing, grip strengthGravity SensingInner ear, proprioception, vestibular functionBalance tests (like one-leg standing)Cold sensitivity, interoception, dizziness/vertigoMental GravityWeighted-down vs upliftedStress tolerance, emotional recovery, “flow” statesDual-continuum model of mental healthGrip strength as a predictor of longevityBMI and physical load on the spineOrthostatic light-headedness and blood pressure regulationInner-ear disorders (e.g., BPPV) and sensory hypersensitivityThe anterior insula as the “gravity conductor” of the body–mind symphonyThey answer questions on:Opening a jarClimbing stairsBack painLight-headednessBalanceCold toleranceEmotional reactivity and resilienceRoller coaster sensitivityPositive emotional absorption (flow)Each reflects personally on past injuries, thyroid health, yoga, meditation, diet, travel, and evolving gravitational resilience across their lives.Durable fortitudeNormosensitive sensingLifted mental gravityNotes how training (cold exposure, yoga, flying) reshaped Lachlan's sensitivity over time.Reflections on vertigo, cold intolerance, and emotional uplift as part of Brennan's profile.Both discuss how gravitypes can change with training, awareness, and targeted practices.Examples include:Down-regulating sensory overload (slow nasal breathing, longer exhales, box breathing)Strengthening the gravity fortitude system (movement, posture, reducing sitting time)Noticing “watch-outs” such as back pain, dizziness, or emotional ruminationLinks included in the show notes.00:00 — Welcome, origins of the gravitype01:30 — Gravity resilience basics03:00 — Gravity fortitude (muscles, tubes, pumps)06:45 — Mental gravity explained08:00 — Starting the quiz09:00 — Grip strength & longevity11:00 — Stair climbing & cardiovascular load12:00 — Back pain & evolution15:00 — Orthostatic dizziness & fainting18:00 — BMI, weight, and gravitational load20:00 — Leg swelling, pumps & tubes23:30 — Gravity sensing & vertigo25:00 — Balance tests (one-leg stance)26:30 — Cold sensitivity & nervous-system tuning29:30 — Interoception & the anterior insula33:00 — Stress, heaviness & mental gravity36:00 — Roller coasters, turbulence & fear responses38:00 — Emotional resilience and bouncing back41:00 — Flow states and uplift43:00 — Revealing their gravitypes46:30 — What their results mean48:00 — Final reflections & where to take the quizThe Gravity Doctors website: https://thegravitydoctors.comGravitype Quiz: available on BrennanSpeigelMD.com & virtualmedicine.orgDr Brennan Spiegel: brennanspiegelmd.comDr Lachlan Kent: lachlankent.auBook — Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health

Dr. Brennan Spiegel (Cedars-Sinai) and Dr. Lachlan Kent explore how gravity shapes not only our bodies but our minds. Through the lens of Cathy Freeman’s gold-medal run, they discuss mental gravity — the feeling of emotional “weight” and lightness that defines human experience.From Einstein’s relativity to embodied cognition and Cedars-Sinai’s virtual-reality therapy, they connect physics, psychology, and physiology to show how alignment with gravity may be the key to wellbeing. Topics include depression as a “mental gravity well,” glucose and perception, VR and levity, and how mindfulness, diet, and physical balance can help us stay buoyant in heavy times.Key themes:Mental Gravity: The experience of emotional and cognitive “weight,” shaped by our alignment with the physical world’s gravitational pull.Embodied Cognition: How bodily states and forces (like gravity, glucose, or posture) shape perception and thought.Gravity Intolerance: A unifying framework for disorders where physical and mental balance are disrupted.Mind over Matter: Using imagery, mindfulness, and movement to generate upward momentum and emotional lightness.Timecodes:00:00 – 01:30 | Welcome to The Gravity DoctorsIntroducing Brennan and Lachlan; overview of physical and mental gravity.01:30 – 03:50 | The Cathy Freeman StoryHow Cathy transcended the “weight of expectation” to run with joy and lightness — an example of mental gravity at its best.03:50 – 06:00 | The Weight of EmotionExploring why positive emotions feel light and negative emotions feel heavy — from embodied metaphors to physical postures of depression.06:00 – 08:10 | Embodied Cognition and Glucose StudiesBrennan cites research showing blood-glucose levels alter perception of hill steepness — a literal bridge between physiology and perception.08:10 – 11:00 | The Birth of the Theory of Mental GravityLachlan recalls his “aha” moment linking Einstein’s general relativity lecture on black holes to psychological depression — both described using the same language of heaviness, collapse, and isolation.11:00 – 12:40 | Gravity Wells, Black Holes, and RecoveryComparing mental “gravity wells” to depression — but unlike black holes, people can pull themselves out.12:40 – 16:20 | Champagne, Joy, and the Physics of EmotionWhy celebration rituals mirror gravitational metaphors — bubbles rising, buoyancy, and the inevitable “come-down.”16:20 – 19:30 | Virtual Reality as a Gravity-Hacking ToolCedars-Sinai research: VR experiences that simulate floating or flying reduce pain, anxiety, and inflammation — measurable physiological effects of simulated levity.19:30 – 22:00 | Mindfulness and Mental ImageryUsing mental imagery and meditation to reshape the brain-body landscape and foster feelings of lightness and alignment.22:00 – 25:50 | The Continuum of Mind and BodyWhy mind and body aren’t separate but part of one continuous system — like a cross-country landscape shifting seamlessly from desert to sea.25:50 – 28:30 | Gravity Intolerance and Health ResilienceReframing conditions like IBS, POTS, and anxiety as variations of gravity intolerance; maintaining physical and mental balance as the essence of wellbeing.28:30 – 30:00 | Everyday Applications & Closing ReflectionsFrom mindfulness to serotonin-rich diets and time in nature — practical tools to stay buoyant.Final reflections on finding balance between empowerment and medical treatment.Want to discover your 'Gravitype'? Visit The Gravity Doctors website:https://thegravitydoctors.com/Order Brennan's book "Pull" to learn more about how gravity shapes your health in both body and mind via his personal ⁠⁠personal website⁠⁠: https://www.brennanspiegelmd.com/pullVisit ⁠⁠Lachlan's website ⁠⁠to learn more about his work in mental gravity: https://lachlankent.au/Music by ⁠ALLIRA⁠ and Visceral Sound - https://www.youtube.com/@ALLIRAmusicRecording at ⁠JTB Studio⁠ by David Iskandaryan.

In this uplifting and deeply human episode of The Gravity Doctors, Dr. Brennan Spiegel (Cedars-Sinai gastroenterologist and author of PULL) and Dr. Lachlan Kent (cognitive scientist and theorist of Mental Gravity) sit down with Harmon Clarke, a patient-turned-researcher whose remarkable recovery story illuminates the future of biogravitational medicine.From septic shock and 200 days in hospital to yoga teacher, breathwork practitioner, and health researcher, Harmon’s journey embodies resilience, creativity, and the healing power of re-engaging with gravity. Together, they explore how movement, inversions, virtual reality, and breathwork can transform pain and depression into buoyancy and balance — culminating in a spontaneous “Gravity Rap” that captures the spirit of the show.Core ThemesGravity as a unifying metaphor for physical and mental healthMovement and inversion therapy for resilience and recoveryVirtual reality and embodied cognitionTensegrity, balance, and the biomechanics of wellbeingPatient empowerment and the hero’s journey in healingBiogravitational medicine as a synthesis of East–West paradigms00:00 – Welcome and Introductions01:00 – Facing the Grave03:00 – Virtual Reality and the Mind–Body Connection06:00 – Yoga, Breathwork, and Natural Recovery08:00 – The Science of Inversion and Tensegrity14:00 – Hospitals and Gravity Intolerance18:00 – Depression as a Gravitational Condition24:00 – Cathy Freeman and Gravitational Flow25:45 – East Meets West30:00 – Rebalancing Medicine33:00 – The Simple Tools of Healing35:00 – Designing the Future of Biogravitational Medicine38:00 – Generational Health and Modern Comfort41:00 – The Gravity Rap Finale Order Brennan's book "Pull" to learn more about how gravity shapes your health in both body and mind via his personal ⁠⁠personal website⁠⁠.Visit ⁠⁠Lachlan's website ⁠⁠to learn more about his work in mental gravity. Music by ⁠ALLIRA⁠ and Visceral SoundRecording at JTB Studio by David Iskandaryan. Editing by Dr Karisma Suchak.

Biogravitational Medicine is a holistic approach to maintaining health in both body and mind. It's like a toolkit where you can find what works for you and your particular situation. Here are our top ten that work for most people most of the time. (As always, consult a doctor for personalised medical advice before attempting anything that might pose a risk to your physical or mental health, or for treatment of acute or chronic conditions. The information here is for educational and information purposes only.) Order Brennan's book "Pull" to learn more about how gravity shapes your health in both body and mind via his personal ⁠personal website⁠.Visit ⁠Lachlan's website ⁠to learn more about his work in mental gravity.Music by ALLIRA and Visceral SoundThis episode was recorded at ⁠Myst Music⁠.Audio engineering by Jeremy Roberts.Audio and video editing by Dr Karisma Suchak.

Dr Spiegel has written a book about gravitational health called 'Pull' on the wide ranging themes underpinning this podcast - gut health, mental gravity, serotonin, the inner ear, the body's pumps and tubes, the gravitostat, and many more. The hosts take a tour through the world of biogravitational medicine by telling the story of what inspired the book, where the science is heading, and how people can apply the principles in their daily lives.Order Brennan's book "Pull" to learn more about how gravity shapes your health in both body and mind via his personal personal website.Visit Lachlan's website to learn more about his work in mental gravity.Music by ALLIRA and Visceral Sound.This episode was recorded at Myst Music.Thanks to Jeremy Roberts for audio engineering and Dr Karisma Suchak for editing.

You know the feeling you get in your belly when falling on a rollercoaster? Ever wondered why we get similar gut feelings when we're "falling" in love?  In this episode, Brennan (a gastroenterologist) and Lachlan (a cognitive scientist) talk about how gravity shapes gastrointestinal function and what relation gut feelings have to physical and mental health. They discuss Brennan's viral scientific paper, "Gravity and the Gut: A Hypothesis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome" and Lachlan's breakthrough theory of the mind called "Mental Gravity", and the connections between their shared ideas. Conditions like IBS often lead to anxiety and depression, which are the mental equivalent of "falling" and having "fallen", and so they draw a connection between gut health, gut feelings, and mental health. Strap yourself in for a rollercoaster ride through the topsy-turvy world of gut feelings in both body and mind.Order Brennan's book "Pull" to learn more about how gravity shapes your health in both body and mind via his personal personal website.Visit Lachlan's website to learn more about his work in mental gravity.Music by ALLIRA and Visceral Sound.This episode was recorded at ⁠Myst Music⁠.Thanks to Jeremy Roberts for audio engineering.