Dr Karan Explores

“The last 55 years of banning psychedelics is the worst censorship of research in the history of the world.” -Professor David Nutt Professor David Nutt is THE go-to expert on psychedelics. His charity Drug Science is on a mission to break the stigma around hallucinogenic drugs, and inform the public on the real science behind their effects. In this episode I ask David how drugs like magic mushrooms, MDMA, cannabis and Ketamine are able to treat brain disorders, like depression, so effectively - and why we’ve been led to fear these drugs. Stay tuned to find out: The truth about why psychedelics were banned in the first place How safe these drugs are in both a medical and recreational setting Whether human evolution was driven, in-part, by psilocybin mushrooms About the most recent science and trials Myths and misinformation surrounding their use How soon we might see the legalisation of psychedelics Highlights (1:41) 50 years of censorship (7:12) Emerging research (10:24) Safety of psychedelics (12:47) The stoned ape theory (19:12) How psychedelics treat depression (22:48) When will they be legal? (25:38) Physiological changes in the brain during use (29:54) Psychedelics versus conventional methods (32:47) Recreational use (35:47) Microdosing (39:06) Enduring benefits of psychedelics (42:26) Misinformation (44:05) Treating addiction (47:13) Future legalisation Connect with me: TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/drkaranrajan Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.karanr For more useful science for your everyday life, grab my best selling book “This Book May Save Your Life”: https://geni.us/DrKaranBook An OG Podcasts production.

“It’s not that we’ve lost some microbes, it’s actually that we’ve gained others. And the ones that we’ve gained are causing us harm.” Professor James Kinross is a world-leading microbiome expert and bowel cancer surgeon at Imperial College London. He’s also the author of Dark Matter: The New Science of the Microbiome. In this episode I ask James about the impact of gut health on all aspects of our bodies, from growth to immune function to brain health and even personality. He also shares advice on the food you should be eating to get your gut health in check - science backed and BS-free. Stay tuned to find out: How the microbiome is modifiable - you’re not doomed to have poor gut health How to figure out whether you have a healthy gut, and what that actually looks like Whether probiotics are more hype than health The important role of fibre in gut health - and how to get more of it Why cooking your own food is so important How ultra-processed food changes the microbiome The environmental factors you can alter to improve gut health Highlights (1:35) What is the microbiome? (4:05) What impacts the development of the microbiome? (9:44) Combating “bad” gut health (15:17) Are probiotics any good? (22:39) De-Westernising your diet (26:46) Problem of ultra-processed food (32:48) Impact of the modern environment on gut health (42:43) Fibre’s role in gut health (49:39) Are artificial sweeteners ok? (51:56) Intermittent fasting Connect with me: TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/drkaranrajan Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.karanr For more useful science for your everyday life, grab my best selling book “This Book May Save Your Life”: https://geni.us/DrKaranBook An OG Podcasts production.

“Instead of taking a coffee break, take a nap break!” -Professor Gina Poe Professor Gina Poe is a world renowned neuroscientist who runs Poe Lab at UCLA, which investigates the role of sleep in learning and memory consolidation. In this episode I ask Gina about the latest science on how to improve and optimise our sleep - with lots of actionable advice. Stay tuned to find out: How to sleep longer and better Why naps are good for you - with strategies on how to nap better How a lack of sleep can tank your memory How long it should take you to fall asleep Whether you should be getting a sleep divorce If sleep trackers and wearables help, or hurt - and much more Highlights (2:49) How sleep impacts memory (4:51) Why naps are good for you (11:49) Optimal napping strategies (14:10) The stages of sleep (18:01) How deep sleep affects hormones and memory (23:09) The glymphatic system explained (27:01) How to tell you’re getting enough sleep (29:19) How well do wearables measure sleep? (32:35) Should you sleep with your pets? (35:46) The sleep divorce (37:31) How long should you sleep? (39:34) Can you sleep too much? (45:32) Strategies for getting more sleep (48:09) How quickly should you fall asleep? (49:34) Cutting edge sleep research and actionable tips Connect with me: TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/drkaranrajan Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.karanr For more useful science for your everyday life, grab my best selling book “This Book May Save Your Life”: https://geni.us/DrKaranBook An OG Podcasts production.