The TMS Podcast

In the last of this inspirational three-part series, we’ll hear Dr Downar discuss the future of TMS, the device industry, and more.

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In part 2 we continue our conversation with the always-enlightening Dr Jonathan Downar. In this episode we hear more about Ampa, the engineering principles behind the device, and a new unit of measurement: the Borlaug.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetmspodcast.substack.com

In the this first installment of the updated version of The TMS Podcast, hear Jonathan Downard MD PhD tell us about his path toward being a leading TMS researcher. In the following parts, we’ll learn more about the future of TMS, and the history of Ampa.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetmspodcast.substack.com

In this episode, Dr Harvey breaks down the upcoming changes: upcoming guests, vibe recalibration, release schedule, and more.

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Dr. Harvey and Dr. Malzberg break down the operational blunders that turn patients away and drag psychiatric practices down. They look at how overloading prospective patients with paperwork, like requiring old medical records or obscure documents just to get an intake, effectively creates a "sales prevention team." They also cover the chaos of bad EHR systems designed without clinician input, plus the confusing, constantly shifting referral paths that leave patients and doctors in the dark.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetmspodcast.substack.com

Even though TMS is a solid option for treatment-resistant depression, it remains hugely underused across psychiatry. Dr. Harvey and Dr. Malzberg unpack why this gap exists, starting with public skepticism about "magnets" and outdated confusion with higher-risk procedures. They explain how busy doctors often default to routine med adjustments out of habit or lack of time, while deeper issues like professional inertia and thin residency training keep many patients from ever getting offered the treatment.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetmspodcast.substack.com

Dr. Harvey and Dr. Malzberg take a weird detour to look at Persinger’s infamous "God Helmet," a snowmobile helmet wired with weak magnetic coils that supposedly triggered spiritual visions in 80% of wearers. They walk through how 1990s media hype turned it into a pop-science sensation, and how a proper double-blind study in 2005 completely debunked it as pure placebo and suggestibility. They also address why some people still confuse it with real TMS, wrapping up with a look at the bizarre ethics of using brain stimulation to tweak religious beliefs.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetmspodcast.substack.com

In this episode Drs Malzberg and Harvey discuss the recent acceleration of progress in psychiatry, and ponder the future. A bright and sunny future? Or, a dystopian hellscape? Could go either way…

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetmspodcast.substack.com

Dr. Harvey and Dr. Malzberg dive into Part 3 of their guide to running a terrible TMS practice. This episode looks at the major mistakes practices make with referring clinicians, from alienating local colleagues through petty behavior to cutting them completely out of the loop once treatment starts. They also laugh through examples of bad communication, including fake science in update letters, long rambling updates, and basic grammar mistakes like misusing reflexive pronouns.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetmspodcast.substack.com

In this episode, Dr. Harvey and Dr. Malzberg dive into the key takeaways from the Annual Meeting of the Clinical TMS Society in Boston. While the conference was packed with groundbreaking research—covering new brain targets like the posterior parietal area, accelerated protocols, d-cycloserine, and expanding TMS applications for conditions like Alzheimer's and schizophrenia—the hosts shift their focus to the ultimate test of conference networking: the hors d'oeuvres. Tune in as Dr. Harvey takes a roaming mic around the conference floor to get attendees' unfiltered opinions on the snack budget and puts top TMS experts to the test to see if anyone can actually spell "hors d'oeuvres" (with a special shout-out to Dr. Alvin Lau!).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psychofarm.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thetmspodcast.substack.com