My brother Aarya is finally on the podcast!!

Recording this was SO fun; we had such an insightful conversation. We had quite the elongated verison of rapid fire - I hope you learn something as I did ✨

About Aarya

Aarya is the brother of the podcast host, Shreya (that's me :), he is also a first-year mathematics student at University in the UK. With a passion for music and a love for anime, Aarya shares his intriguing views on the intersection of math and art, and delves into his decade long interest in anime and visual novels.

Seafall Instagram Link - https://www.instagram.com/seafallofficial/

🔬 The Pharmacy of the Skin: Why Your Skincare Routine is Backwards ft. Benjamin Knight Fuchs | S3 E01

Welcome to Season 3 of Shenanigans with Shreya!

We are kicking off with a deep-dive into the biochemistry of our largest organ. Joining me for this season premiere is renowned skincare chemist and pharmacist, Benjamin Knight Fuchs, to challenge everything you think you know about skincare.

In this episode, we explore how to heal and signal the skin at a cellular level using nutrition-based strategies.

About Benjamin Knight Fuchs

Benjamin Knight Fuchs is a registered pharmacist and skincare chemist. With a background in chemistry and journalism - including pivotal years in the Blistex research facility - Ben has dedicated his career to understanding daily skin health and how to heal the skin.

He is the founder of Truth Treatment Systems™, a line defined by 100% active, functional formulations designed to work in harmony with the skin’s natural biochemistry.🔗 Explore Truth Treatment Systems:

https://truthtreatments.uk/

Key takeaways from the episode

• The Nutritional Pivot: Why skincare must be approached as a subset of internal health and systemic nutrition.

• Cellular Signaling: Moving away from products that sit on top toward formulations that actively interact with your skin cells.

• The 3-Step Logic: Practical strategies to Prepare, Signal, and Support your skin’s repair and longevity.

Skincare is not a surface-level ritual; it is a communication process. By shifting to a nutritional, cellular-focused approach, we don’t just look better, we biologically enhance the skin's ability to function.

This episode is packed with pharmacy-potent information, so keep your notes ready.

Thank you for joining me for the start of an incredible season. 💙

In this episode of the Shenanigans with Shreya podcast, I had a wonderful conversation with Iueri; We delved into the mental toll of acting, the significance of storytelling, and how narratives shape our understanding of the human experience. Join us as we explore how performance and film connect us to emotions and ideas that resonate deeply within us.

About our guest:

Iueri Prendergast is a passionate filmmaker and theatre artist who began his journey in the arts at a young age. His involvement with young Irish filmmakers and Dreamstuff Youth Theatre has shaped his understanding of storytelling and performance. With a keen interest in animated storytelling and the works of Studio Ghibli, Iueri brings a unique perspective on visual narratives as he continues to study film and bring his visions to life.

Key Takeaways

- Stories are essential for human connection and understanding of complex emotions.

- Theatre and film provide unique emotional experiences through thoughtful storytelling.

- Tropes, when used wisely, can enhance narratives and create familiarity without sacrificing creativity.

In conclusion, the exploration of storytelling through performance and film reveals its profound impact on our lives. Whether through the cathartic experience of theatre or the intricate narratives of film, stories continue to shape our understanding of the world around us.

"Is Manifestation just a fancy word for a Placebo? And if it is... how do we use it to re-write our own biology?" 🧬✨

Forget "wishful thinking." In Episode 11, we are stripping away the "woo-woo" to look at the Internal Pharmacy. If Episode 10 was about how your brain pranks you, this episode is about how you can prank it back—for your own benefit.

We are diving into the Placebo Protocol: the measurable, clinical reality of how a thought travels from your Prefrontal Cortex to your DNA.

In this episode, we’re dissecting:

• The Epigenetic Script: How repetitive beliefs trigger Signal Transduction to "Turn On" or "Silence" specific genes in your nucleus.

• The PAG Circuit: The neuroscience of how your brain manufactures its own morphine, anti-inflammatories, and antidepressants through Endogenous Pharmacology.

• The Pharmacist vs. The Mark: Moving from "wishing" for a better life to manually prescribing the neurochemistry required to achieve it.

• Spiritual Crystals & Material Science: Why holding a crystal isn't just "magic"—it’s a physical Piezoelectric Anchor that helps stabilize your internal frequency.

• Neural Coupling: Preparing the brain for the "High-Performance Mode" required to actually see the opportunities your RAS is finding for you.

You aren't waiting for the Universe to provide. You are the Pharmacist, and the lab is already open. 🧪🎙️

Stay curious, stay scientific, and remember: The "Universe" is just the space between your ears.

📚 Resources

For the skeptics and the seekers who want the data behind the "Frequency":

The Internal Pharmacy:

• The Placebo Mechanism: Neurobiological Mechanisms of Expectancy – Journal of Neuroscience.

• Endogenous Opioids: How the Brain Self-Medicates – Nature Medicine.

DNA & Epigenetic Signaling:

• Signal Transduction: How Thoughts Change Gene Expression – Frontiers in Psychology.

• The Biological Mind: The Interface Between Belief and Biology – NCBI.

The Physics of the Anchor:

• Piezoelectric Biology: Electromechanical Properties of Biological Tissues – NCBI. (Why pressure and frequency matter).

"Is your life a series of choices, or just one long April Fool’s joke played by your own nervous system?" 🧠🃏

Happy April 1st. Today, we aren't pulling pranks; we’re pulling back the curtain on the Neuroscience of Belief. In this episode, we dive into the cold, hard chemistry behind manifestation, the placebo effect, and why you’re so easily fooled by your own memories.

In this episode, we’re dissecting:

• The Predictive Coding Glitch: Why your brain doesn't see the world as it is, but as it expects it to be.

• The Internal Pharmacy: How the Periaqueductal Gray (PAG) manufactures real morphine when you believe in a "placebo."

• Signal Transduction: The molecular bridge where a thought actually talks to your DNA and triggers Epigenetic changes.

• The Crystal Logic: Moving past the "vibe" to the Piezoelectric reality of how physical anchors stabilize your neural frequency.

• The Nocebo Effect: Why "expecting the worst" is a literal chemical prescription for stress and failure.

For those who want to verify the "magic," here is the peer-reviewed data on how your thoughts become things.

The Biology of Expectancy:

• The Predictive Brain: Predictive Coding in the Visual Cortex – Nature Neuroscience. (How your brain "guesses" reality).

• The Placebo Mechanism: Neurobiological Mechanisms of the Placebo Effect – Journal of Neuroscience.

• Epigenetics & Mind: The Influence of Mental States on Gene Expression – Frontiers in Psychology.

The Physics of the "Anchor":

• Piezoelectricity in Biology: Electromechanical Properties of Biological Tissues – NCBI. (The science of pressure-to-electrical charge).

• Stochastic Resonance: The Role of Noise in the Nervous System – Nature Reviews Neuroscience.

April Fool's & Cognitive Glitches:

• Confabulation: The Psychology of False Memories – ScienceDirect.

Beyond the headlines.

Why does the world feel like it's stuck in a Bronze Age loop?🌍⛓️

In this episode, we strip away the political noise to look at the evolutionary hardware driving global conflict. We live in 2026 - we have AI, we have space travel - yet our brains are still running on 50,000-year-old survival software.

In this episode, we’re dissecting:

• The Amygdala Glitch: How the "Us vs. Them" circuit is physically triggered by modern algorithms.

• Muting the Mirror Neurons: The neuroscience of dehumanization and how "Moral Buffers" stop us from feeling empathy.

• The Narcissism of Small Differences: Why we obsess over tiny disagreements while ignoring our shared humanity.

• The "Long Peace" Data: Why the world isn't all doom and gloom (and the statistics that prove violence is on a long-term decline).

• The Individualistic "Peace-Patch": 3 concrete, biological steps you can take today to re-wire your brain for compassion and regulate your nervous system.

You have the hardware for conflict, but you have the software for compassion. It’s time for a software update. 🧬🎙️

Stay curious, stay scientific, and stay human.

📚 The Resource List:

The Science of Conflict:

• The Biology of Our Best & Worst: Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst – Robert Sapolsky. (The definitive guide to the "Us vs. Them" brain).

• The Decline of Violence: The Better Angels of Our Nature – Steven Pinker. (The data-driven proof that peace is winning).

• Neurobiology of Empathy: Mirror Neurons and the Evolution of Language – ScienceDirect.

The Strategy for Peace:

• Overcoming Bias: The Psychology of Intergroup Conflict – American Psychological Association.

• Nervous System Regulation: Polyvagal Theory and the Social Engagement System – NCBI. (Why "touching grass" actually helps you stay empathetic).

Is your brain actually 'self-eating' when you're hungry? (Spoiler: Yes, and it’s a good thing.)" 🧠✨

In this intensive deep-dive, we’re looking past the stomach growls and into the Prefrontal Cortex. Whether you’re observing Ramadan 2026 or experimenting with intermittent fasting for productivity, your brain is undergoing a massive biological "software update."

In this episode, we break down:

• The Metabolic Switch: How your brain transitions from "dirty" glucose to high-octane Ketones.

• Autophagy 101: Why fasting acts as an Internal Janitor, recycling damaged cells and clearing out brain fog.

• The BDNF Spike: Why scientists call fasting "Miracle-Gro" for your neurons and how it boosts neuroplasticity.

• The Safe Protocol: How to test the waters of fasting without the "Brain-Lag" (Electrolytes, hydration, and the art of the "Break-Fast").

• The Willpower Muscle: How delaying gratification physically strengthens the self-control centers of your brain.

From cellular detox to the 4 PM clarity hit, learn why a hungry brain is often a smarter brain.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes. Fasting is a powerful tool—please consult a medical professional before making significant changes to your diet, especially if you have underlying health conditions.

Stay curious, stay scientific. 🧬🎙️

📚 The Episode's Reference List

The "Big Three" Biological Mechanisms:

• Fasting and Brain Resilience: Fasting as a Strategy to Improve Brain Function and Resilience – Nature Reviews Neuroscience. (This is the "bible" for this topic).

• BDNF & Neuroplasticity: Intermittent fasting confers protection in CNS autoimmunity by altering the gut microbiota – NCBI. (Explains how fasting acts as "Miracle-Gro").

• The Autophagy Process: Autophagy: A Lysosomal Degradation Pathway with a Central Role in Health and Disease – Cell Press.

Metabolism & Ketones:

• The Metabolic Switch: Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Health, Aging, and Disease – The New England Journal of Medicine. (Covers the shift from glucose to ketones).

Safety & Protocols:

• Fasting Safety Guidelines: Clinical Management of Intermittent Fasting – American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (Great for the "How-To" segment).

Exploring the mindset of Olympians, focusing on mental mastery, visualization, and the psychological aspects of high performance. Learn how athletes like Eileen Gu and Alyssa Liu harness neuroscience and discipline to excel and how these lessons can be applied to everyday life.

Thanks for listening 💙

In this episode, I discuss my experiences and cultural shocks after moving from Ireland to the UK. We explores various aspects such as differences in measurement systems, transport costs, language and accents, diversity, weather, university life, and shopping experiences. I also share my insights on how these changes have impacted my daily life and perceptions, highlighting the nuances of adapting to a new culture.

Shenanigans Dictionary:

• Numpty: A lovable idiot.

• Dog and Bone: Your phone (Cockney Rhyming Slang).

• Sick to the back teeth: Beyond frustrated (usually with train prices).

  
  

📚 References & Resources:

The Neuroscience of Cultural Adaptation & "Brain-Lag"

• [1] Error-Related Negativity (ERN) and the Anterior Cingulate Cortex – Nature Reviews Neuroscience. This explains the "ping" your brain gets when it sees a "mismatch" (like a yellow license plate or a pint of milk instead of a litre).

• [2] Cognitive Friction: Why New Systems Exhaust the Brain – Interaction Design Foundation. Supporting your segment on why converting Miles to Kilometers causes metabolic "translation" fatigue.

• [3] The Neurobiology of Cultural Transition – Frontiers in Psychology. Research on how the brain builds new "World Models" when moving countries.

Linguistics, Accents, & Social Identity

• [4] The Neuroscience of Accent Perception and Adaptation – Cortex. Explaining how your brain "tunes in" to the Sheffield accent and picks up local slang like "Numpty."

• [5] Ethnic Diversity and Social Cohesion in the UK – Office for National Statistics (ONS). Data backing up your observation about the UK’s ethnic diversity and the "International Food" sections.

The Psychology of Transport & Urban Design

• [6] Navigational Anxiety and the Amygdala – National Library of Medicine. Why inconsistent systems (like Peak/Off-Peak train pricing) trigger a low-level stress response.

• [7] The Impact of CCTV on Public Psychology – British Psychological Society. Understanding why the abundance of cameras in the UK feels jarring to those from less-monitored regions.

Meteorology & Mood

• [8] Rainfall vs. Wind Patterns: UK vs. Ireland Comparative Study – Met Office. Validating your "controversial" opinion that the UK weather is slightly more "polite" than the Irish wind-rain combo.

In this engaging conversation, we have a guest: Yashika, a qualified psychotherapist and counselor. We explore her journey of becoming a therapist, the significance of "to be loved is to be seen", and how childhood experiences shape adult relationships. The discussion delves into attachment styles, the dynamics of desire in long-term relationships, and the importance of maintaining connection and novelty. We also emphasize the value of community and relationships in enhancing well-being and happiness, highlighting that asking for help is essential in navigating life's challenges.

Thanks for listening 💙

📚 References & Resources:

The Neuroscience of Therapy & Resilience

• [1] Neural Correlates of Psychotherapy: How the Brain Changes – Translational Psychiatry.

• [2] The Amygdala and Emotional Memory – Nature Reviews Neuroscience. Science behind the "alarm system" enlargement during chronic stress.

Burnout & The Nervous System

• [3] The Neurobiology of Burnout: White Matter Changes – Frontiers in Psychiatry.

• [4] The Window of Tolerance: Capacity for Affect Regulation – GoodTherapy / Pat Ogden.

Attachment Theory & Brain Mapping

• [5] Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment – Dr. Amir Levine & Rachel Heller.

• [6] Neural Correlates of Adult Attachment Style – Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. The study linking Anxious attachment to high Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) activity (processing rejection as physical pain).

• [7] The Neurobiology of Attachment – Nature Reviews Neuroscience. Covering the reward system (Ventral Striatum) differences in Avoidant individuals.

The Biology of Love & Connection

• [8] Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence – Esther Perel. The source for the "Desire Paradox" (closeness vs. distance).

• [9] Dopamine and Oxytocin in the Formation of Social Bonds – Personality and Individual Differences. Supporting the "battle" between novelty and security.

Mindfulness & The Vagus Nerve

• [10] Vagus Nerve Stimulation & Emotional Regulation – Scientific American. The biological proof that diaphragmatic breathing acts as a "physical override" for the brainstem.

Books Mentioned:

• Attached – Dr. Amir Levine & Rachel Heller.

• Mating in Captivity – Esther Perel

• The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk

  Maybe You Should Talk to Someone – Lori Gottlieb