This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg

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The Mercurial Genius of Candace Pert

July 10, 2026

Candace Pert discovered the opioid receptor, created a drug to stop AIDS in the brain, and identified stress as a cause of disease.  She also inadvertently unleashed the overdose epidemic, got kicked out of the NIH, and was denied credit for much of her work.  Largely forgotten, Pert was a trailblazing yet mercurial neuroscientist. Emmy award winning writer and producer Pamela Ryckman shines a light on Pert's breakthroughs and her fascinating legacy on the podcast.   For a transcript and more...

Coming Next Friday - The Mercurial Genius of Candace Pert

July 04, 2026

Candace Pert discovered the opioid receptor, created a drug to stop AIDS in the brain, and identified stress as a cause of disease.  She also inadvertently unleashed the overdose epidemic, got kicked out of the NIH, and was denied credit for much of her work.   Largely forgotten, Pert was a trailblazing yet mercurial neuroscientist. Emmy award winning writer and producer Pamela Ryckman shines a light on Pert's breakthroughs and her fascinating legacy.     https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/con...

The Mother of all Brain Changes - Chelsea Conaboy

June 26, 2026

New parents - especially moms - experience profound changes in the brain when they are expecting and welcoming a new baby. Health journalist Chelsea Conaboy explains how the caricature of "mommy brain" and its cognitive fog has it all wrong - parenthood actually has a neuroprotective effect, as the brain adapts to meeting the needs of children. It happens to all parents, not just mothers, but it's most dramatic in gestating parents. Plus... how it takes a troop to raise a monkey. For a transc...