The Academy Podcast

What if everything that feels like learning is actually working against you?

Dr. Mark Guadagnoli sits down with Dr. Bob Bjork and Dr. Elizabeth Bjork, the married power couple behind some of the most influential research in the science of learning. Bob is a member of the National Academy of Sciences; Elizabeth was just elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Together they’ve spent 50+ years uncovering why the easiest way to study is usually the worst way to learn.

A masterclass in how real learning happens, from two people who’ve spent their careers proving it.

Is AI ruining education or could it be the best thing to happen to it in decades?

Dr. Mark Guadagnoli talks with Dr. Chad Lane (University of Illinois, director of the $20M NSF-funded Invite Institute) about nearly 30 years working at the intersection of AI and learning. From building AI museum guides at USC to teaching astrophysics through Minecraft.

Neuroscientist Dr. Thad Polk (University of Michigan) joins Dr. Mark Guadagnoli to explain why aging isn't all decline, it's a process we have real control over.

They discuss why brains "de-differentiate" with age, the role of GABA, how exercise and diet reshape brain structure, why addiction is biology (not moral failure), a wild goose-and-volleyball study on "supernormal stimuli," AI's impact on education, and what Thad's twin studies reveal about nature vs. nurture.

A science-packed, genuinely fun conversation about getting older, thinking clearly, and understanding the brain behind our habits.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jack Feldman, a pioneer in neuroscience and how it connects to our breathing. He is the David Geffen School of Medicine Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology at UCLA, recipient of the Hodgkin–Huxley–Katz Prize, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His lab has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, including landmark 2016 and 2017 studies in Nature and Science cracking the biology of the sigh and the neuroscience of slow breathing

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Marvin Chun, one of the world's leading cognitive neuroscientist. He's the Richard M. Colgate Professor of psychology at Yale University and a former dean of Yale College. In this conversation, we explore attention, memory, context, the brain report card, and what neuroscience can teach us about seeing ourselves and the world around us.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Barbara Atkinson, founding Dean of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, about her career and the development of the medical school.

Dr. Atkinson discusses what she is most proud of, including building a medical school focused on community, diversity, and service, and educating students who want to make a difference. She talks about her early interest in science, her experience as a woman in academic medicine, and the process of starting a medical school from the ground up.

The conversation also covers public health, bioethics, changes in medical education, and how new technologies like AI may affect the future of medicine.

In this episode we chat with Entrepreneur and visionary Tristan Walker. He is the founder of Walker & Company and one of TIME’s 100 Next Leaders. Dr. Mark Guadagnoli and Tristan have a fantastic conversation about values, legacy, and stability.

Tristan opens up about his remarkable journey from growing up in Queens to Wall Street, Stanford, and Silicon Valley. He shares lessons he’s learned about faith, resilience, and creating freedom in a world that often delays it. Together, they explore how personal values can shape a business, a community, and a life of purpose.

In this episode Dr. Mark Guadagnoli connects with Amy Weiss, Founder/CEO, Weiss Public Affairs.

Amy shares stories from her time steps away from the Oval Office, advising high-profile cultural icons, and elevating safety in professional sports. We explore how she’s stayed grounded through it all, the importance of authenticity in leadership, and the thread of purpose that drives her.

In this episode Dr. Mark Guadagnoli chats with Joann Strobbe, Executive Associate Dean for Administration at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine.

They discuss physician finances, the impact of AI on healthcare, and efforts to improve the quality of care in Southern Nevada. Gain valuable insights into the future of healthcare and how innovation is shaping the region.

This week, Dr. Mark Guadagnoli sits down with the trailblazing Dr. Joe Thornton, an associate professor at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV and the first full-time colon and rectal surgeon in Nevada. 🏥✨

Discover Dr. Thornton’s inspiring journey to becoming a pioneering physician, the hurdles he faced along the way, and his invaluable advice for aspiring surgeons. Plus, dive into a conversation about the crucial roles of mentorship and leadership in the medical field.

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