Ginger Campbell Celebrates Five Years of Podcasting (BI 45)

Ginger Campbell and GretaIn December 2006 I launched 2 podcasts: Books and Ideas and the Brain Science Podcast. In Episode 45 of Books and Ideas I take a few minutes to look back on my five years in podcasting and to thank some of my many guests.

Listen to Episode 45 of Books and Ideas

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Show Notes:

The focus of this episode was to thank each of the 33 people who have been featured on Books and Ideas so far. 

• Historians: Matthew Cobb, Holly Tucker, and Jennifer Michael Hecht
• Scientists: Lee Silver, Pamela Gay, Robert Schleip, Eugenie Scott, Les Johnson, Daniel George, Sheril Kirshenbaum, and Frank Wilczek
• Philosophers: Massimo Pigliucci and Tom Clark
• Physicians: Paul Offit, Robert Martenson, Neel Varshney, and Steven Novella
• Fiction Writers: Mur Lafferty, Christiana Ellis, Scott Sigler, Tabitha Grace Smith, Skyler White, and Karen Traviss
• Psychologists: Delany Dean, Eric Maisel, Bruce Hood and Carol Tavris
• Other Writers: Dan Ariely, Sue Bailey, and Carmen Flowers 
• Special Guests: Patrick Pricken, Kirk McElhearn and Kyla Duffy

Click here for a complete list of guests (in alphabetical order).

Click here for a complete list of episodes.

Announcements:

• In addition to its Facebook Fan Page, Books and Ideas now has a page on Google+.
• The Books and Ideas app is now available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
• Sign up for my newsletter so that you don't miss any podcasts.
• Both of my podcasts are supported by listener donations.
• Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Miguel Nicolelis on Brain-Machine Interfaces (BSP 79)

Dr. Miguel NicolelisMiguel Nicolelis at Duke University is pioneering brain-machine interfaces. In his book Beyond Boundaries: The New Neuroscience of Connecting Brains with Machines---and How It Will Change Our Lives he puts his groundbreaking work into an historical context. I discussed his book briefly in BSP 78, but I have now posted an in depth interview. The focus of our conversation is on why his work challenges longstanding assumptions about the primacy of the single neuron in brain function.

Listen to Episode 79

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Karen Traviss on Writing for Gears of War (BI 44)

Karen TravissThe thing that draws me to novels by Karen Traviss is her characters and her recent series of novels based on the popular Gears of Wars videogame delivers a character-driven story of surprising depth. In fact, even though the recently released game Gears of War 3 (also written by Traviss) brings the games to an end, Traviss is still working on the 5th and final Gears of War novel, which is scheduled for release next spring.

I was fortunate to interview Traviss last month, shortly after the release of Gears of War 3. The interview is spoiler free, but even if you don't play video games this interview will give you a new insight the role of writing in this emerging genre. 

Listen to Karen Traviss (BI 44)

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References and Links:

• KarenTraviss.com
• Aspho Fields by Karen Traviss
• Dr. Campbell's mini-review of Hard Contact (Star Wars: Republic Commando, Book 1) by Karen Traviss
• "Mad World" video from YouTube (embedded below)

 More Fiction Authors: 

• BI 17: Mur Lafferty, podcasting pioneer and author of Playing for Keeps
• BI 18: Tabitha Grace Smith lead writer of Buffy Between the Lines
• BI 35: Scott Sigler, best-selling author of Contagious and Galactic Football League series
• BI 38: Christiana Ellis (Nina Kimberly the Merciless) and Skyler White (and Falling, Fly)

Announcements:

• Join the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook.
• Post comments on Goodreads.com.
• Send Dr. Campbell email at gincampbell at mac dot com.
• Meet Dr. Campbell at SCIENCEONLINE 2012  in January 2012.

 Listen to Karen Traviss (BI 44)

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Latest Brain Science Podcast looks at Brain-Machine Interfaces

In his book Beyond Boundaries: The New Neuroscience of Connecting Brains with Machines---and How It Will Change Our Lives neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis puts his recent work with brain machine interfaces into historical context and explains why this work should change the way we understand how brains work. Nicolelis challenges several long-standing assumptions including the primacy of the single neuron and strict localization, which is the idea that each area of the brain has a relatively fixed function.

Episode 78 of the Brain Science Podcast is a brief discussion of the key ideas presented in Beyond Boundaries, including a look at the implications of experiments such as the wide publicized work that culminated in demonstrating that a monkey in Nicolelis' lab at Duke (North Carolina, USA) could control a robot arm in Japan using only its brain. 

Listen to Episode 78 

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Neurobiology of Placebos with Fabrizio Benedetti (BSP 77)

Fabrizio Benedetti, MD (click for audio)Dr. Fabrizio Benedetti is one of the world's leading researchers of the neurobiology of placebos. In a recent interview (BSP 77) he explained to me that he believes that "today we are in a very good position to describe, from a biological and from an evolutionary approach, the doctor-patient relationship, and the placebo effect, itself."

To appreciate Dr. Benedetti's work one must first realize that his approach differs from that of the typical clinical trial. As he observed, "To the clinical trialist, a placebo effect means any improvement which may take place after placebo administration.  To the neurobiologist, a placebo response, or placebo effect means only something active in the brain happening after placebo administration: learning, anxiety reduction, activation of reward mechanisms."

In contrast, he explains "The real placebo response, the real placebo effect is a psychobiological phenomenon.  It is something active happening in the brain after placebo administration: like learning, like anxiety reduction, and such like." Brain Science Podcast 77 provides an introduction to this complex, but fascinating topic.

Listen to Episode 77

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How to Avoid Choking with Sian Beilock (BSP 76)

Sian Beilock, PhDIn her book Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To, University of Chicago psychologist Sian Beilock explores the dreaded phenomena of choking (ie. the failure to perform as expected under pressure). More importantly she provides practical suggestions for preventing poor performance.

In the latest episode of the Brain Science Podcast (BSP 76) I talk with her about the different types of choking; it turns out that the failure mechanisms between blowing the big test and missing the key shot in sports are significantly different. Understanding both how they differ and what they have in common is the key to better performance.

Learn more by listening to BSP 76 (right click to download)

Click here for full show notes and episode transcript

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David Eagleman talks about "the secret lives of the brain" (BSP 75)

In his new book Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain neuroscientist David Eagleman describes consciousness as "the smallest player in the operations of the brain" (page 5) because most of what the brain does is outside conscious awareness (and control). In a recent interview (BSP 75) Dr. Eagleman reviews some of the evidence for this startling position as well as the implications both for the average person and for social policy.

Listen to BSP 75

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Why Neuroscience Matters (Books and Ideas #42)

On May 11, 2011 Ginger Campbell, MD gave a talk entitled "Why Neuroscience Matters" at the London Skeptics in the Pub. Episode 42 of Books and Ideas is an edited version of that talk, including the lively Q and A with the audience.

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References 

• Bayes, A., Grant, S., et al. "Characterization of the proteome, diseases and evolution of the human postsynaptic density." Nature Neuroscience 14, 19–21 (2011) (Published online 12/23/2010).
• Libet, B. "Do We Have Free Will?" Journal of Consciousness Studies, 6. No. 8-9, 1999, pp. 47-57.
• On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not (2008) by Robert Burton; p 127.
• Philosophy in the Flesh : The Embodied Mind and Its Challenge to Western Thought (1999) by George Lakoff, Mark Johnson; p 4.
• Brain Waves Module 2: Report on Education and Neuroscience from the Royal Society (2011). 

From the Brain Science Podcast

• BSP 25: Rolf Pfeifer, PhD, author How the Body Shapes the Mind.
• BSP 26: Norman Doidge, MD, author of The Brain That Changes Itself
• BSP 42: On Being Certain and BSP 43: Interview with Robert Burton, MD
• BSP 51: Evolution of the Synapse with Seth Grant, PhD
• BSP 59: Use of C. Elegans in Neuroscience with Guy Caldwell, PhD
• BSP 65: Subcortical Origins of Basic Emotions with Jaak Panksepp, PhD

Announcements:

• Dr. Campbell will be a speaker at The Amazing Meeting 9, which is coming up in Las Vegas, Nevada July 14-17.

Please send your feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbel at mac dot com, or post a comment on the Facebook Fan Page.

Don't forget to sign up for Ginger Campbell's Newsletter so you can get show notes for every podcast.

Brain Networks with Olaf Sporns (BSP 74)

Olaf Sporns, PhDNetworks of the Brain by Olaf Sporns is an excellent comprehensive introduction to the use of Network Theory to study both the brain and the nervous systems of invertebrates. In Episode 74 of the Brain Science Podcast I interviewed Dr. Sporns (Indiana University) about some of the key ideas in his book. Network Theory is becoming increasingly important as a tool for dealing with the massive amaounts of data being generated by current techniques, such as brain imaging. It is also a valuable tool with dealing with the fact that nervous systems consist of multiple scales (from the molecular level up to billions of neurons), which can not be reduced to a single scale.

While Networks of the Brain will be of greatest interest to those working in neuroscience and to those with a background in fields like engineering, mathematics, and computer science, this interview provides an introduction for listeners of all backgrounds.

Listen to Episode 74

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Exploring 17th Century Medicine with Holly Tucker

This month’s Books and Ideas podcast (#41) is an interview with Holly Tucker, author of Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution.  Dr. Tucker’s book is about the first blood transfusions—which, surprisingly, occurred way back in the 1660’s; 150 years before the first successful human-to-human transfusions.

The thing that makes Blood Work compelling is that Dr. Tucker puts these early efforts into the context of their time, and she helps us to consider how these events could be relevant to the medical controversies of our own time.  And, as we will allude to during our conversation, the story includes a fascinating murder mystery.

Listen to Episode 41 of Books and Ideas

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 Links of Interest:

• Holly Tucker: author website
• History of Science and Medicine group on GoodReads.com
• For links to the people discussed in the interview, download the episode transcript.

References:

• Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution by Holly Tucker
• Blood and Guts: A Short History of Medicine by Roy Porter
• The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity by Roy Porter
• Transcript of 2006 State of the Union Address by George W Bush

Announcements:

• Use the coupon code GINGER to order books at http://scottsigler.com, including pre-order of the upcoming book The All Pro, which is the 3rd book in his Galactic Football League series.
• Sign up for the Newsletter to receive show notes for each episode
• The Books and Ideas podcast application is now available for iPhone and Android devices.
• Dr. Campbell will be speaking live in London, UK on May 11, 2011. Click here for details.
• Dr. Campbell will also be appearing at The Amazing Meeting 9 July 14-17, 2011
• Join the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook or follow Ginger on Twitter.

Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voice mail at 205-202-0663. 

BSP 73: Lawrence Shapiro on Embodied Cognition

In his new book Embodied Cognition, Dr. Lawrence Shapiro provides a balanced introduction to an approach which attempts to challenge standard cognitive science. His interview in Episode 73 of the Brain Science Podcast is a discussion of a few of his book's key ideas. It also continues our ongoing exploration of the role of embodiment.

 Listen to Episode 73

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How the Anti-vaccine Movement Threatens Us All

Paul Offit, MDIn his new book Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All pediatrican Dr Paul A. Offit traces the history of the anti-vaccine movement from opposition to the small pox vaccine in the 19th century up through recent events. Unfortunately, the results are predictable. Reducing vaccination rates lead to reemergence of dangerous preventable infectious diseases. That is why the decision not to vaccinate is not a personal decision. It is one that involves the whole community.

This is the focus of the conversation I had with Dr. Offit in Episode 40 of Books and Ideas. This is a follow-up to Dr. Offit's first interview here in Episode 25.

Because I think this issue is literally a matter of life and death, I encourage you to share this podcast with others.

Listen to Dr. Offit's interview (Books and Ideas #40)

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Links and References

• Paul Offit, MD: Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and the Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

• Vaccines and Your Child: Separating Fact from Fiction by Paul A. Offit MD, Charlotte A. Moser
• Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All by Paul A. Offit M.D.
• Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure by Paul A. Offit

• Books and Ideas Episode 25: In this 2008 interview we talked about Offit's book Autism's False Prophets and our shared fears about the consequences of falling vaccination rates.

• van den Hof S, Conyn-van Spaendonck MA, van Steenbergen JE. Measles epidemic in the Netherlands, 1999-2000.  J Infect Dis. 2002 Nov 15;186(10):1483-6. Epub 2002 Oct 29. During a measles outbreak that occurred in the Netherlands between 1990 and 2000 researchers found that fully vaccinated children living in communities with low rates of vaccination were at greater risk than unvaccinated children living in highly vaccinated communities.
• Brian Deer on Andrew Wakefield's conflicts of interest: "MMR:The Truth Behind the Crisis," Sunday Times (London), February 24, 2004.
• I mentioned two important court decisions made in 2009 and 2010 by the Omnibus Autism Proceedings. In 2009 the court ruled that there is no evidence that thimrosal-containing vaccines cause autism and in 2010 it ruled that there is no evidence that thimirosal alone causes autism. The complete docket of the Omnibus Autism Proceedings are available at http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/node/2718.
• All of Dr. Offits books (listed above) contain extensive references for those wishing to do more research.
• Jenny McCarthy Body Count: there were at least 662 deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases between June 3, 2007 and February 19, 2011.

Announcements

• Please feel free to share this podcast with others. Please contact me if you would like to use the interview-only in another podcast or for patient education.
• I have moved the Brain Science Podcast Discussion Forum to Goodreads.com and I have started a thread for discussing Deadly Decisions and Episode 40.
• I will be speaking to the London Skepticis in the Pub on May 11, 2010. Visit http://london.skepticsinthepub.org/ to learn more.
• Don't forget to join the Books and Ideas Facebook Fan Page.
• Leave reviews of Books and Ideas on iTunes® or wherever you get the podcast.
• Join me next month for a new episode of the Brain Science Podcast. The next episode of Books and Ideas will be posted in April, 2011.

Send email feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voicemail at 205-202-0663.

Magic and the Brain (BSP 72)

Neuroscientists Dr. Stephen Macknik and Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde have an unusual hobby: Magic! Actually, it is more than a hobby since for the last several years they have been working with leading magicians from around the world to create a new field: the neuroscience of magic. In Episode 72 of the Brain Science Podcast I talked with them about their new book Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals about Our Everyday Deceptions, which is the first book to explore the neuroscience of magic.

With the help of their co-author Sandra Blakeslee, Macknik and Martinez-Conde provide an excellent overview of this new and exciting field. Their book also provides an excellent review of many of the principles that I have introduced in the last 4 years.

Listen to Episode 72 (Right Click to download)

Click here for detailed show notes and episode transcripts.

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Eric Maisel talks about Productive Obsessions (Books and Ideas #39)

Eric Maisel, PhDEric Maisel, PhD is a prolific author and his latest book Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions challenges the assumption that all obsessions are bad. In Episode 39 of the Books and Ideas podcast we talk about how to cultivate what Maisel calls "productive obsessions." We also talk about the relationship between creativity and meaning. Dr. Maisel emphasizes the "necessary paradigm shift from seeking meaning to making meaning." Such a shift offers the possibility of making meaning out of any life circumstance.

Listen to Episode 39

Episode Transcript (Download PDF)

Links and References:

• Eric Maisel, PhD: author and creativity coach

• Brainstorm: Harnessing the Power of Productive Obsessions by Eric Maisel and Ann Maisel

• The Atheist's Way: Living Well Without Gods by Eric Maisel

• This month's pick from Audible.com: The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values by Sam Harris 

Announcements:

• The Books and Ideas podcast application is now available for Android

• The Books and Ideas website is now hosted at /. Be sure to update your book marks.

• This marks the 4th Anniversary of the Books and Ideas podcast. I intend to continue the show in 2011 on a reduced schedule. It will be on an alternate month schedule with the Brain Science Podcast. If you want to be notified about new episodes sign up for my newsletter.

• The Brain Science Podcast was nominated as Best Science Podcast in the 2010 People's Choice Podcast Awards. The Winner was The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. SGU's host Dr. Steven Novella was interviewed on Books and Ideas back in episode 16.

• Don't forget to join the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook.

Send your feedback to gincampbell at mac dot com or leave voicemail at 205-202-0663.

Novelists Christiana Ellis and Skyler White (B&I 38)

Books and Ideas Episode 38 was recorded live at Dragon*Con 2010, and it is an interview with novelists Skyler White (and Falling, Fly) and Christiana Ellis (Nina Kimberly the Merciless). Ellis and White talk about their work, and share lessons they have learned. This episode will be of particular interest to aspiring writers.

 Listen to Episode 38 of Books and Ideas

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Show Notes and Links:

• Christiana Ellis
• Skyler White

Books by Skyler White and Christiana Ellis:

• Nina Kimberly the Merciless by Christiana Ellis (Kindle link) [Free AudioBook]
• Space Casey by Christiana Ellis [Free AudioBook]
• and Falling, Fly by Skyler White (Kindle link)
• In Dreams Begin by Skyler White (Kindle link)

Other Books and Resources:

• Inspiring Stories about Pugs is available from Happy Tails Books.
• Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Cory Doctorow
• The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption by Jim Gorant
• Podcasting For Dummies by Tee Morris, Chuck Tomasi, and Evo Terra
• The Myth of Free Will: Revised & Expanded Edition (2010) by Cris Evatt (originally reviewed in Episode 12)
• In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind (2006) by Eric R. Kandel (BSP 3)
• The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self by Thomas Metzinger (BSP 67)
• yWriter: free novel-writing software
• Celtx: a tool for writing scripts and novels 

Special Thanks To:

• Michael Stackpole
• Swoopy from Skepticality
• Kinsey Swartz
• Grant Baciocco
• Sam Chupp

 Announcements:

• Get a discount on Scott Sigler's new book The Starter by using the code GINGER
• I have an essay in the revised and expanded edition of The Myth of Free Will by Chris Evatt
• Books and Ideas is moving to a bi-monthly schedule, so the next episode should be out in mid-December.

Please send your comments and feedback to gincampbell at mac dot com.