Brave New World

On today’s show Evgeny Lebedev is in conversation with the Oscar-winning actor, Dame Helen Mirren.

They discuss everything from the evolution of fashion to the contemporary media landscape.

“It’s so sad that Kurt Cobain died when he did, because he never got to see GPS”

Also in this episode:

• The evolution of technology and why Helen is grateful to have been around in a world without it
• How young people rediscover previously forgotten tech and bring it back to life
• Helen reflects on spirituality, the power of belief and how it shapes our lives, but why she doesn't believe in God.
• Russian heritage and the complexities of her identity
• How Helen stays youthful, both in body and mind

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Evgeny Lebedev is joined by Jim Poole, chairman, president and chief executive of neuroscience company Solace Life Sciences.

The company owns NuCalm, a technology designed to reduce stress and improve sleep without recourse to drugs.

You may have even spotted the Duchess of Sussex wearing one of their stress relief patches.

In this episode, Evgeny and Jim explore the evolution of the human brain, anxiety and how to deregulate the amygdala, a small, almond-shaped part of the brain that plays a central role, which Jim says ‘feeds on fear’.

In this episode:

• The current state of brain understanding
• Brain psychology and its evolution
• The autonomic nervous system and how it shapes everything from stress to relaxation
• Ho to control anxious thoughts
• How to downregulate the amygdala, the part of the brain that triggers intense fear responses
• Different frequencies in the brain and how they influence mental states
• Why “the Western world may be leading the cause” of anxiety

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We’re joined by one of the most famous faces of alternative medicine on the planet, Deepak Chopra. 

The world-renowned author, health and wellness expert has been at the intersection of science and spirituality for nearly 50 years.

Deepak sits down with host Evgeny Lebedev to mark the release of his 95th book ‘Digital Dharma’. He explains why artificial intelligence is the key to unlocking both personal and spiritual growth, and why humanity is at a crucial crossroads with technology. One of those roads, he says, "leads to the extinction of humanity."

Other topics discussed in this episode: 

• Ideas for a preventative health service in the UK & beyond
• How VR is going to lead the future of therapeutics 
• Why 'living our best life' needs to be more than just a soundbite 
• How technology can change our biology 
• What is consciousness, and why science alone doesn’t have the answer
• Digital Deepak, his new AI twin dispensing medical and spiritual advice
• Mortality and longevity 

Get in touch with us at [email protected] 

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Is there such a thing as perfect sleep? Leading expert in circadian neuroscience from Oxford University, Professor Russell Foster, joins host Evgeny Lebedev, to explain the science behind nighttime slumber and why it's crucial to living our best lives awake. 

The pair discuss everything from sleep hygiene, our circadian rhythm and body clocks, the impact of technology before bed and whether it actually affects us, the myths, and even some tips to improve longevity. This episode also includes excerpts from Eight Sleep founder Matteo Franceschetti, the pop star Rita Ora, and the author and actress Davinia Taylor.

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Is sleep an indulgence?
• How a bad culture of sleep was heightened in the 1980s
• Can poor sleep link to dementia?
• The different types of sleep: Deep and Rem
• The science of our dreams
• Understanding how circadian rhythms work and how they relate to our genetic makeup
• The perfect recipe for a nap
• Sleeping pills and memory loss
• Are sleep apps worth the hype?
• The critical role of body temperature
• Sleep myths: Cheese and dreams, sipping Horlicks and counting sheep
• Rita Ora’s sleep routine

Get in touch with us at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Brave New World, we’re turning our attention to nootropics and neuroscience. 

Nootropics are drugs and supplements which proponents say can boost alertness, increase focus, and improve memory. 

Today, Evgeny Lebedev meets Nootopia founder Mark Effinger, AKA Mr Noots. Since launching in 2004, Nootopia has helped 300,000 people- including doctors, biohackers, and fitness instructors- unlock their potential. 

The two discuss:

- The Nootopia lab and its research methods 

- Mark’s journey from child prodigy to entrepreneur 

- How the loss of his wife was the catalyst for Mark to start Nootopia

- Why everyone has an ‘inherent Achilles heel’

-The complexities of ADHD treatment

-Natural ways to rebuild neural pathways 

Plus more… 

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and rating. The next episode will drop on 22 Aug.

Drop us a line at [email protected]

Disclaimer: you should always seek own medical advice.

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In this episode of Brave New World, billionaire entrepreneur Christian Angermayer and Olympic athlete James Magnussen – who's been offered $1 million if he wins the competition's 100m freestyle swimming race – talk to Evgeny about taking part in the most radical sports event ever conceived; where doping is not just allowed but encouraged. 

Christian talks about: 

• Dropping out of university and becoming an entrepreneur 
• Why he believes medical psychedelics will be available to prescribe within a couple of years
• How psychedelics can help us cope with change, AI panic and our fear of the "new reality"
• How Ozempic has changed the game for pharmaceutical companies 
• Why alcohol is "the worse drug of all" 
• How the Enhanced Games will actually improve drug testing at the Olympics 
• How most athletes struggle to make ends meet – and how the competition will help them earn proper money 

James talks about:

• How the Enhanced Games have given him fresh purpose
• Why he isn’t worried about using testosterone to “juice to the gills” – safe for the impact on his fertility 
• Why stigma persists around performance enhancing drugs
• Why this could become one of the biggest industries in the world 

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow, leave us a review and vote in the poll below. The next episode will drop on 8 August.

Get in touch with us at [email protected]

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In this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny talks to bestselling author and brain coach Jim Kwik. Kwik suffered a traumatic brain injury aged 5 and is now a world authority on brain optimisation. He shares his top tips on how to boost cognitive function. The two discuss:

• Why adding Omega 3s to your diet – and cutting out sugar – are vital to brain health.
• What to do with negative thoughts
• Why we need to keep moving throughout the day – and how
• Why a tidy work environment can help with clarity of thought
• How to deal with information fatigue and create boundaries between us and our devices
• Why we need to stop delegating organisational tasks to our phones

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and rating. The next episode will drop on 25 July. 

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In this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny talks to physician and longevity expert Mark Hyman. The two discuss the rise of functional medicine and what lifestyle changes we can make to enhance our healthspan. They cover: 

• The paradigm shift happening in medicine today 
• The underlying mechanisms that drive dysfunction and disease
• How nutrition and exercise impact the pathways of ageing 
• Insulin resistance and the effect of UPFs 
• Why we should be eating animal protein and fat for breakfast, and fasting overnight
• Why we need to pay more attention to mitochondria 
• The benefits of strength training, saunas and cold plunges 
• Why it's never too late to start making lifestyle changes to enhance longevity

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and rating. The next episode will drop on 11 July. 

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In this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny talks to author and podcaster Ryan Holiday about the modern media landscape, echo chambers and the value of Stoic leadership. The two discuss: 

• The common misunderstanding of stoicism as apathy
• Why we need stoicism now more than ever
• Why it's so hard to be stoic in the information age
• Why we ought to be more cautious about live news 
• What other world leaders can learn from President Kennedy during the 1962 Missile

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and follow. The next episode will drop on 27 June. 

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In this episode of Brave New World, Evgeny talks to researcher and podcaster Rhonda Patrick.

The two discuss anti-ageing, with Patrick sharing her unique insights.

Together they cover: 

• How experiments on genetic pathways in worms got Patrick interested in the science of anti-ageing in humans
• The impact of nutrition on our wellbeing
• Which brands they trust most for supplements 
• How to maintain adequate micronutrient levels
• Why nothing will ever be more effective than vigorous exercise 
• The benefits of intermittent fasting 
• The benefits of saunas and why we should use them more often. (With bonus guest Tamsin Lewis of Sunlighten.)

If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a review and follow.

The next episode will drop on 13 June. 

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