Cognitive & brain science episodes
Hosted by: Kim Hellemans, Jim Davies and Mike Contos
Airs: Every Tuesday from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Coming up at 3:00 PM on September 15th, 2026:
Jim interviews Carole Hooven, Harvard evolutionary biologist and author of the book T: The Story of Testosterone. Jim and Carole discuss the role of testosterone in physical sex differences, how an evolutionary framework explains sex differences in aggression and much more.

Minding The Brain

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Date	Host	Highlight	On Demand
Dec. 29, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Concussions	available
Dec. 22, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Social Networks	available
Dec. 15, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Cannabis	available
Dec. 8, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Imagining the Future	available
Dec. 1, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	The Neuroscience of Emotion	available
Nov. 24, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Animal Consciousness	available
Nov. 17, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Schizophrenia	available
Nov. 10, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Theories of Consciousness	available
Nov. 3, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Concussions	available
Oct. 27, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Alien Abduction	available
Oct. 20, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Time	available
Oct. 13, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Goals	available
Oct. 6, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Theories of Consciousness	available
Sep. 29, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	The Psychology of Soundtracks with Joe Kraemer	available
Sep. 22, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Morning People & Night People	available
Sep. 15, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Testosterone	available
Sep. 8, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Handedness	available
Sep. 1, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	AI & Existential Risk	available
Aug. 25, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Morning People & Night People	available
Aug. 18, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Conspiracy Theories	available
Aug. 11, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Time	available
Aug. 4, 2026	Kim Hellemans & Jim Davies	Aloneliness and the Value of Solitude	available

https://mindingthebrainpodcast.com/

Coming up on Minding The Brain

Sep. 22nd, 2026 3:00 PM
Kim and Jim discuss the apparent phenomenon of morning people and night people. Is there a biological difference between “morning people” and “night people”? Why do people tend to get foggy in the afternoon? Why do children and the elderly both tend to favor early mornings?

Sep. 29th, 2026 3:00 PM
Jim interviews Hollywood composer Joe Kraemer about the psychology of soundtracks. In addition to discussing his own work on films like Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Joe breaks down classic soundtracks for movies like Star Wars, Jaws and Indiana Jones.

Oct. 6th, 2026 3:00 PM
Jim and Kim explore various theories of consciousness. What are the most popular theories of consciousness? What is the quantum theory of consciousness? What evidence has been found to support the various claims about how consciousness works?

Oct. 13th, 2026 3:00 PM
Why are goals important? Why are we successful in the pursuit of certain goals, but not others? Jim Davies interviews Marina Milyavskaya about how science can help all of us set and achieve our goals.

Oct. 20th, 2026 3:00 PM
Why does time seem to pass slowly when you’re a child and more quickly when you’re an adult? How does the brain measure time? Join Jim and Kim for an exploration of the psychology of time, on this episode of Minding the Brain!

Oct. 27th, 2026 3:00 PM
Is there a scientific explanation for the alien abduction phenomenon? Is there a link between nocturnal alien visitations and the many similar stories that have been passed down by various cultures throughout history. What is it about the appearance of those grey, teardrop headed aliens that people find so compelling?

Nov. 3rd, 2026 3:00 PM
Dr. Jim Davies and Dr. Kim Hellemans interview two experts on the topic of concussions, Andree-Anne Ledoux, a Research Associate at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Dr. Matt Holahan, a neuroscience professor at Carleton University. We also hear the story of Nina Nesdoly, someone who has personally experienced the potentially life-changing impact of suffering a concussion.

Nov. 10th, 2026 3:00 PM
Jim and Kim explore various theories of consciousness. What are the most popular theories of consciousness? What is the quantum theory of consciousness? What evidence has been found to support the various claims about how consciousness works?

Nov. 17th, 2026 3:00 PM
What does it feel like to have schizophrenia? What is the history of the schizophrenia diagnosis and are there effective treatments for the condition?

Nov. 24th, 2026 3:00 PM
Are other animals conscious? Why is animal consciousness important to understand? What function does consciousness serve?

Dec. 1st, 2026 3:00 PM
Which regions of the brain process emotions? What is the relationship between substance withdrawal and our natural stress responses? How do hormones influence these responses?

Dec. 8th, 2026 3:00 PM
How does the way we imagine the future impact our lives? What is temporal discounting and how can it sabotage our goals and aspirations? What do Dr. Hellemans and Dr. Davies think about ketchup flavored chips??

Dec. 15th, 2026 3:00 PM
Is marijuana addictive? Is it an effective method for reducing anxiety? What does the legalization of marijuana mean for further research?

Dec. 22nd, 2026 3:00 PM
Does social media make us happy? How does it compare with face-to-face interaction or a phone call? Can we learn to use social media in a way that enriches our lives?

Dec. 29th, 2026 3:00 PM
Dr. Jim Davies and Dr. Kim Hellemans interview two experts on the topic of concussions, Andree-Anne Ledoux, a Research Associate at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Dr. Matt Holahan, a neuroscience professor at Carleton University. We also hear the story of Nina Nesdoly, someone who has personally experienced the potentially life-changing impact of suffering a concussion.