Super Brain

Super Brain host Dr Sabina Brennan chats to Dr Mary McGill author of The Visibility Trap about gender-based online abuse, the need to ethical checks, surveillance, self-monitoring, visibility and exposure.

Check out the Super Brain blog for full transcripts, links and videos.

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Continuing on from the themes of identity and motherhood discussed in Monday's interview with Melissa Hogenboom, Dr Sabina Brennan looks for silver linings and explains how the identity challenges faced by women and mothers more particularly can actually bestow an advantage because they make us more resilient in times of change and transition such as those we have faced throughout the pandemic and our return to life after lockdown.

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Dr Sabina Brennan chats to award-winning BBC science journalist Melissa Hogenboom about her new book The Motherhood Complex and the science behind mothering.

Melissa and Sabina chat openly and honestly about how challenged they felt as mothers of two young children. There's a good dose of science and myth busting too - as Melissa says - becoming a mother may be an everyday occurrence but it is an extra-ordinary experience.

If you are a mum, have a mum, or plan to be a mum then this episode is for you. Melissa Hogenboom explains how the changes we experience during pregnancy and motherhood shifts our sense of self, and changes how others see us. From the way our brain changes during pregnancy and the psychological impact of our changing body, to the true cost of the motherhood workplace penalty and the intrusion of technology on family life,

#mother #mum #mothering #motherhood #motherhoodcomplex #pregnancy #parent #parenting #parenthood #mentalhealth #brain #neuroscience #thepill #psychologist #neuroscientist #science #sciencejournalist

The Super Brain blog has the full transcript, links to Melissa's website and book as well as some video clips from the podcast recoding

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Building on Monday's fascinating episode on psychosomatic illness with Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan, Dr Sabina Brennan shares her own experiences and more of Suzanne's insights about the physical manifestations of psychological factors.

#psychosomaticillness #hypochondria #malingering #mentalhealth #neurology #neuroscience #psychology #psychologicalillness #psychological #brain #brainhealth

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Dr Sabina Brennan chats to neurologist Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan in this fascinating episode about psychosomatic illness, psychogenic disorders and mass hysteria.

My favourite books, films and TV shows are mysteries, detective stories and psychological thrillers. As a psychologist I’ve learned not to let the psychological inaccuracies spoil my fiction fun. But I had to do no such thing with Suzanne O’Sullivan’s new book The Sleeping Beauties. Although Suzanne writes non-fiction her books are equally, if not more fascinating and thrilling than any fiction book I’ve ever read.

Suzanne is a detective of sorts who unravels real life mysteries by delving deep into the brain and the social, cultural and psychological factors that can bring about physical symptoms and illness. Suzanne is a neurologist who drew on her 20 year career seeing 1000s of patients to write her first two books - the first 'It’s all in your Head' won the Wellcome prize in 2016, her second 'Brainstorm' explores the intricacies of the human brain through epilepsy and other seizures. 

Suzanne has a rare gift for insightful storytelling which makes her third book The Sleeping Beauties, a wonderful journey of discovery both physically and metaphorically to explore incredible mysterious psychosomatic illness and mass hysteria - from children in Sweden who fall a sleep for years, high school students in NY with contagious seizures and several embassy officials with headache and memory loss following assault by non-existent sonic weapons. The stories are fascinating but what sets this book apart is the ease with which Suzanne lets the reader inside her own brain as she solves these mysteries and wrestles with her own prejudices and the failings of her chosen profession.

Check out the Super Brain blog for this episode for more.

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Season 4 of Super Brain kicks off Monday September 6th,

I chat to an impressive group of inspiring and fascinating guests this season

This trailer gives you a little taster of whats in store with short clips from:

S4E1 - The Brain Detective with Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan

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S4E2 - Happy Mum - Happy Baby with Melissa Hogenboom

🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱🤱

S4E3 - The Visibility Trap Dr Mary McGill

😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

@melissasuzanneh

@newislandbooks

@picadorbooks

@acastpodcasts

#superbrain #brainfog #brainhealth #mentalhealth #wellness #psychosomatic #chronicpain #allinyourhead #psychological #malingering #mum #mothering #parenthood #pregnancy #baby #socialmedia #selfie #cancelculture #sex #surveillance #neurology #neuroscience #Irishpsychologist #irishneurologist

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National Rescue Dog Day which aims to encourage people to adopt dogs from shelters and rescues, as well as educating children about animals and their benefits. As mother to 4 rescue dogs Dr Sabina Brennan shares her personal positive experience and presents some of the science that backs up what we already instinctively feel about the benefits of being around dogs.

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Dr Sabina Brennan talks to comedian, actor and broadcaster PJ Gallagher about loving motorbiking racing and his weekly courtship with death, hating standup and embracing honesty.

For bonus materials, transcripts and more check out the Super Brain podcast blog.

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This week is Mental Health Week and the theme for 2021 is nature, Dr Sabina Brennan explores the neuroscience underlying the mental health benefits of nature

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Dr Sabina Brennan chats to Anna Geary about her career choices, her goals, her hopes for the future and body image, particularly the importance of looking after your body for functionality rather than for aesthetics, Watch out for Anna's upcoming RTE documentary which explores the reasons teenage girls drop out of sport.

For bonus materials, transcripts and more check out the Super Brain podcast blog

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.

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