In this episode of the Smooth Brain Society, Sahir and Amer engage with Dr. Cicilia Larasati Rembulan, Associate Professor from Universitas Ciputra, Indonesia, to discuss her recently published research on subjective well-being. The conversation explores the definitions of well-being, the measurement of happiness, and the role of social comparison and financial well-being in shaping life satisfaction among an Indonesian population sample. Dr. Rembulan shares her…
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#73. Life With And Without Pain – Arnas Tamasauskas
https://youtu.be/Vvi4EE7r7Xg?si=nBZxWfhuQsOuqVUA Dive into the fascinating world of pain research with Arnas Tamasauskas, a PhD student at the University of Liverpool. Explore the mysteries of neuropathic pain, genetic quirks which lead to some people feeling no pain, and the use of MRI and interviews in understanding chronic pain and invisible disabilities. Join us for an enlightening conversation on the Smooth Brain Society podcast. Support the show…
EJOP #2. Emotional Regulation via Attentional Deployment – Dr. Daniel Rojas Libano
https://youtu.be/Mwssp8pTbKY Join us in this insightful episode as we dive into the world of emotion regulation and attentional deployment with Dr. Daniel Rojas Líbano of Universidad Diego Portales. Santiago, Chile. Discover how shifting focus can influence emotional responses and explore the implications of these findings in real-world applications. Perfect for psychology enthusiasts and anyone curious about the science behind our emotions. Don't miss out on…
#72. Touching a Nerve – Adarsh Makdani
https://youtu.be/wghENojuBaw In this fascinating episode we dive into the world of somatosensation with Adarsh Makdani, a researcher at Liverpool John Moores University. Discover the intricacies of mechanosensory receptors, the science behind pain and itch, and the groundbreaking techniques used to study these sensations. Adarsh shares insights into his research journey, the importance of collaboration, and the ethical considerations in experimental pain research. Whether you're a…
#71. A Child’s Rights: Politics, Law & Sex Crimes – Dr. Pantea Javidan
https://youtu.be/PoDViXeKvfw Content warning: This episode discusses child sexual exploitation, trafficking, and trauma. What does the law really say about protecting children — and who does it leave behind? This week on Smooth Brain Society, Dr. Pantea Javidan of Stanford University joins host Sahir and co-host Sabrina Page (Founder of the Gender Violence Research and Collaboration Network) to expose the hidden history of child trafficking laws,…
#70. Autism, Deception, and the Justice System – Tiegan Blackhurst
https://youtu.be/GVwNLDe9ZOQ Can autistic adults lie—and detect lies—like everyone else? And what happens when the justice system misreads autism traits as deception? In this episode, we sit down with Tiegan Blackhurst, a doctoral researcher at Lancaster University, to dive into her research on autism and deceptive communication. Tiegan breaks down how autistic adults navigate truth and lies, and how misunderstanding these behaviors in legal settings can…
#69. How Creativity Really Works – Dr. Keith Sawyer
https://youtu.be/gySrrD3p84s What is creativity, really? In this episode of the Smooth Brain Society, we dive deep with Dr. Keith Sawyer—MIT-trained computer scientist, jazz pianist, and leading creativity researcher and Professor in Educational Innovations at the University of North Carolina—to unravel the psychology of creative thinking. From the neuroscience of flow states to the myth of the lone genius, Dr. Sawyer breaks down how creativity happens…
#68. Why Adults Struggle to Learn Languages (and Kids Don’t) – Dr. Kate Messenger
https://youtu.be/GarU6U0pl-M?si=yB3J9VDBJUDeZ12n In this in-studio episode of Smooth Brain Society, Sahir and Neil are joined by Dr. Kate Messenger as they explore the fascinating world of language acquisition. They discuss why children seem to pick up languages effortlessly, the challenges adults face when learning new languages, and even how bilingual brains store and mix languages. Expect a lively discussion about the theories behind language learning, including…
#67. Motivations Behind The Protein Transition – Dr. Chris Bryant
https://youtu.be/C5WQDmmYKvI In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Chris Bryant—executive director of Bryant Research and an expert in alternative proteins—to unpack the science, psychology, and politics behind the future of food. From lab-grown meat and plant-based alternatives to the social and environmental challenges of industrial farming, we explore Dr. Bryant's research on how the “protein transition” is reshaping everything from policy to plate. Expect sharp…
#66. Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations – Prof. Dr. Christopher J. Hopwood
https://youtu.be/luZYFQaBMz4 What factors underpin how we treat animals? In this episode, Prof. Dr. Christopher J. Hopwood of the University of Zurich and the Editor-in-Chief of Psychology of Human-Animal Intergroup Relations. Talks about his research related to how people perceive, treat, and interact with animals. Join us as we go through some fascinating studies which have been published in his journal and what the future looks…
#65. Mainstreaming of the Far-Right – Dr. Aaron Winter
https://youtu.be/qKH2UcDo73s In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Winter, senior lecturer in sociology at Lancaster University and Director of the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI), to unpack the complex rise and normalization of far-right ideologies. From his personal roots in anti-racist activism to his research on racism, terrorism, and structural inequality, Dr. Winter explores how mainstream institutions, media,…
#64. Funding the Future: Women’s Sport in New Zealand – Erin Roxburgh
https://youtu.be/e5e0ug8ox_o What does it take to elevate women's sport? We dive into the unique landscape of women's sports in New Zealand with special guest Erin Roxburgh, Deputy Chair of Women in Sport NZ. Erin, is a current squad member of the New Zealand Women's Indoor and Beach Handball teams and is currently a lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington and future director at Sport NZ,…
#63. Sex Disclosures in Romantic Relationships – Katie Knowles
https://youtu.be/QMrxoicl_3E?si=uUmH72lR5kVssmND How much do we really talk about sex in our relationships — and when should we? In this episode, Sahir and Olivia sit down with relationships researcher Katie Knowles to unpack the psychology of sex disclosure, why most people in relationships hover around a “3.5 out of 5,” and how attachment styles can shape what we share (and what we don’t). We go on…
#62. Epilepsy Explained – Professor Tony Marson
https://youtu.be/PbCvvu67WHM?si=FvVJPgWgJozIWLoa Professor Tony Marson of the University of Liverpool talks to Beth and Sahir about Epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, which are sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain. We discuss the types of epilepsy, what are its causes and how it manifests across time, what the current treatments for epilepsy are and what the future of epilepsy research looks like. This…
#61. Memory and Healthy Ageing – Dr. Dorothy Tse
https://youtu.be/lw0vjHjsWOw?si=FguddvKnLNfIHBXe In the build to the International Festival of Neuroscience being held in Liverpool from the 27th to 30th of April, 2025. We spoke to Dr. Dorothy Tse of Edge Hill University about her incredible research aimed at understanding memory, preventing dementia and promoting healthy ageing. We speak about the Tse Lab's work in understanding how prior knowledge can help in developing new memories and…
#60. Psychopathy, Relationship Satisfaction and Career Success – Aaron Hissey
Individuals' psychopathic personality traits can have negative effects on the people around them. Aaron Hissey of Victoria University of Wellington discusses his research on whether the negativity of someone's psychopathic personality crosses over to their partner and then spills over into their partner's workplace. We discuss some of the incredible associations he found including some potential benefits of dating a psychopath. Read the article here:…
#59. Understanding Autism – Dr. Calum Hartley
https://youtu.be/U4TWgGue4nw?si=JKdxBpY57yLlV2x3 Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. Dr. Calum Hartley of Lancaster University talks us through ASD and come of the misconceptions people have about it. We cover Dr. Hartley's research on language development in children with autism and cover some other research with regards to…
#58. SAFE: Supporting BlAck Families AffEcted by psychosis – Angela Kibia
https://youtu.be/z0rYLe_7aXM?si=Tx_5CIWX5qTPwhBq Angela Kibia, Researcher at King's College London, talks about the work being carried out by the SAFE project aimed towards developing education and group support for Black families and carers supporting a relative with psychosis. Highlighting the importance of all those who care for someone with a mental health condition and what we can do to better support them. Experiences from participants from the…
#57. I Am But More Than A Refugee – Behrouz Boochani and Abdul Samad Haidari
https://youtu.be/1FFNLbqnLnI?si=X6AYUhtejD6LBse9 Behrouz Boochani and Abdul Samad Haidari speak about their journeys as refugees, the systems which demonize asylum seekers as criminals, Manus Prison Theory and structural oppression, and the role of art, literature and storytelling in resistance an healing. Guest Profiles: Behrouz Boochani is a Kurdish-Iranian journalist, human rights defender, writer, film producer and research fellow at Canterbury University. He, along with Omid Tofighian, developed…
#56. D-CYPHR: The Power of Spit – Dr. Anna Moore and Elizabeth Mordey
https://youtu.be/0O2s8LD45fI?si=CBjLfFRsPG9XPLaK “You’re a hero. It’s in your DNA.” The NHS and NIHR BioResource has started a nationwide movement for ages 0 – 15 to help health research. Dr. Anna Moore, University of Cambridge, and Elizabeth Mordey of the DNA, Children + Young People's Health Resource (D-CYPHR) talk about the project and how it has the potential to revolutionize healthcare in the UK and around the…