Two Brad For You

Two major breakthroughs in gene editing recently occurred and show how our ability to edit the human genome is rapidly increasing. This episode we dive into how these technologies work and how they were able to treat two diseases. One a rather mundane sounding cholesterol problem and the other an exteremely painful and potentially deadly condition known as sickle cell disease. Both stories invovle a combination of new technologies, mRNA techniques and gene editing either using or inspired by CRISPER. These stories highlight how all of these technologies are combining to open new possibilities, that gene editing may become just a regular treatment as we age, and the less talked about downsides or hidden trade-offs that come with these treatments.

Sources

Base editing, a new form of gene therapy, sharply lowers bad cholesterol in a clincal trial - Science

A Closer Look at the Approval of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease - MedPage Today

New gene therapies confront many sickle cell patients with an impossible choice: a cure or fertility - STAT

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Some recent episodes have really got me thinking about science communication and our responsibility as citizens to be informed. Also, about the challenges of being informed and of informing people about issues, discoveries and topics that will not only change our lives but could end them too. Contemplating these things led me to look back at the pandemic as a lens through which many of the issues facing science communication and public discourse become more clear. This episode is my attempt to talk through and honestly remember some of the moments and ways that shaped how we talked about and dealt with the pandemic. My hope is that we can find areas to improve because as I've said a few times now, the world is getting weirder and it behooves all of us to get a grip on the fast pace of change headed our way. I hope you find it helpful.

Responsible members of society should have some understanding of science. Hot take? I don’t think so. Decisions on personal and public health require some knowledge and look no further than debates surrounding the application and use of things like AI and gene editing technology. Citizens should have and use their voice to speak on these topics. And this is why science communication exists as a volunteer activity for many academics and as a career for people like me. Unfortunately, the very people who have the scientific expertise for this work, scientists etc., don’t have the training or data needed to improve their communication efforts. Social sciences and communications research has established tools to ask questions about effective communication strategies and how audiences are reacting. What are their beliefs, motivations, ideas and morals when it comes to science and controversial science topics like gene editing and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). I would argue, and I’m sure my guests today would agree, that science communicators need to use these tools more to investigate the science of science communication.

On this episode I speak with professional science communicator Cristina Fonseca and genetics professor Jonathan Pettitt. Both were members of a team that published two papers that surveyed British audiences about their attitudes and trust toward science pre and post pandemic and explored the relationships between people’s knowledge of science, their confidence in their knowledge and their views on controversial science topics. This is a fascinating look at how researchers can apply the scientific method to their communication efforts and the results of the two papers raised excellent questions about who needs and wants to hear from scientists and what sorts of things influence their views on science.

Sources

People with more extreme attitudes towards science have self-confidence in their understanding of science, even if this is not justified

Both trust in, and polarization of trust in, relevant sciences have increased through the COVID-19 pandemic

The Genetics Society

Why Peter Hotez Should Not Debate RFK Jr. On The Joe Rogan Experience

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Head to www.twobradforyou.wordpress.com to subscribe to, donate to and follow the show on social media. You can also leave a comment, send an email or voice message. We read/listen to them all and will put them on air. This is your show too so get involved and don't let Brad have all the fun.

Psychedelics receive a lot of positive press regarding their potential as tools for introspection, therapy, and lifestyle or health improvements. And rightfully so, there is compelling evidence for their benefit in treating some mental health issues and a ton of anecdotal evidence and writings about the positive benefits both mentally and physically from tripping. But just below the surface of positive headlines there is a sea of unknowns. We really don’t know how these compounds work physically in the brain and why some people seem to benefit from the experience. This also leads to a huge gray area in terms of the systems of therapy and access different jurisdictions are experimenting with. On this episode we talk with Grace Browne, staff writer at Wired UK, about her reporting on the less illuminated corners of the psychedelic renaissance and why it’s important to have these conversations.

We talk about everything from the influx of VC money to the dark side of psychedelic cults and the under reporting of negative experiences. Quick disclaimer though. We both believe this research is important and that we should explore psychedelic uses and reconsider the laws surrounding prohibition, but maybe let’s acknowledge just a wee bit more that we really don’t know much about the good, the bad and the strangeness of psychedelics. You can follow Grace Browne on Twitter and check out all of her writing for Wired here.

Links to other pieces discussed in the episode:

The Therapy Part of Psychedelic Therapy Is a Mess – Grace Browne for Wired

Psychedelic Therapy Is Here. Just Don’t Call It Therapy – Grace Browne for Wired

Dark loops: contagion effects, consistency and chemosocial matrices in psychedelic-assisted therapy trials – Tehseen Noorani, et al.

As psychedelics near approval, there’s no consensus on how they work – Olivia Goldhill for STAT

Peter Gasser: Psychedelic Psychotherapy in Switzerland – Psychedelic Science Sweden YouTube Channel

Lower-dose psycholytic therapy – A neglected approach – Torsten Passie, et al.

Do people who experienced long-term difficulties after tripping still think psychedelics are worth the risks? – Jules Evans on Medium

On philosophy, theology and ‘psychedelic integration’ – Jules Evans on Medium

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Head to www.twobradforyou.wordpress.com to subscribe to, donate to and follow the show on social media. You can also leave a comment, send an email or voice message. We read/listen to them all and will put them on air. This is your show too so get involved and don't let Brad have all the fun.

How does one go from believing in every conspiracy under the fake moon to being an atheist activist dedicated to critical thinking and reason? Read the Bible. At least that’s what did it for this episode’s guest Calvin Smith.

Calvin is podcaster, Tik Tok’er (check below for all his links and handles) and the social media manager for the Secular Alliance of Michigan. In this episode we talk about his path from self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist to self-proclaimed atheist activist. We discuss the encroachment of religion into US politics and policy and how the Secular Alliance of Michigan pushes back. We also chat about using social media and conversation to reach those lost in the conspiracy rabbit hole and as you’ll see this leads to more than a few yet to be answered questions. When and if public debates are needed or useful? How to deal with alternative sources and how to harness the negativity of social media.

You can find Calvin Smith and the Secular Alliance of Michigan below:

Tiktok: @UnquestionableCalvin

YouTube: @UnquestionableCalvin

Twitter: @UWCSPodcast

SecularAlliance.org

MichiganAtheists.com

YouTube for SAM: @SecularMichigan

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Head to www.twobradforyou.wordpress.com to subscribe to, donate to and follow the show on social media. You can also leave a comment, send an email or voice message. We read/listen to them all and will put them on air. This is your show too so get involved and don't let Brad have all the fun.

Every other month it seems there is some news coming out regarding psychedelic assisted therapy. Just recently the FDA posted some draft guidelines for clinical trials. But the topic of today’s episode concerns psychedelics outside of a clinical setting. As some places move to decriminalize or even legalize the use of LSD, psylocibin and other psychedelics there is a looming question. How can a society with very little context or experience with these substances and states of mind incorporate them? If we agree there is the potential for positive outcomes from there use how best to achieve it? These are strange and powerful experiences and not easily explained or put into context especially when society as a whole has demonized them for a long time.

One group I’ve seen who is talking about these questions and attempting to offer answers with their Beyond Experience Workshop is the MIND Foundation. I’ve reported on and interviewed members of MIND before and was granted access to this workshop to see what it was all about and how it might help with the so-called integration or enculturation of psychedelics into a naïve society. Surprisingly this story turned out to be more difficult and personal to tell….

Music in the episode by Freak Motif, Brad van Paridon and Michael

Bandac

Extra Reading

On philosophy, theology and ‘psychedelic integration’ – Jules Evans

Psychedelic integration: An analysis of the concept and its practice – Bathje, et al.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – Psychology Today

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Head to www.twobradforyou.wordpress.com to subscribe to, donate to and follow the show on social media. You can also leave a comment, send an email or voice message. We read/listen to them all and will put them on air. This is your show too so get involved and don't let Brad have all the fun.

How can AI improve upon the design of mRNA vaccines? How much is too much when it comes to sperm donations? Turns out the Netherlands has a problem with serial donators. And a quick note on some interesting patterns in data associating smartphone usage with adolescent depression, anxiety, self harm, and suicide. Plus, a special debut of an excellent new track by friends of the show The Dust Collectors.

This episode is a mix of stories and were chosen for different reasons. The first is a more positive look at AI rather than a lot of the doom and gloom stuff that has dominated the conversation recently. It also offers an interesting perspective on the complexity and beauty of biology. The story of one Dutch man fathering upwards of 500 children via sperm donations is troubling and reminds us of the ethical challenges involved with medicine and biotech. Finally, an interesting look at some international data regarding adolescent mental health and smartphones hints that the problem isn’t as clear cut as we might think. It also gives a nice example of how data is used to generate new questions and challenge assumptions.

Very big thanks to The Dust Collectors for providing their new track ‘Waiting Game’ as the outro music. Check out live show dates and the debut album release on their website or by following them on Instagram and/or Spotify.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Head to www.twobradforyou.wordpress.com to subscribe to, donate to and follow the show on social media. You can also leave a comment, send an email or voice message. We read/listen to them all and will put them on air. This is your show too so get involved and don't let Brad have all the fun.

Links

‘Remarkable’ AI tool designs mRNA vaccines that are more potent and stable https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-01487-y#ref-CR1

Algorithm for Optimized mRNA Design Improves Stability and Immunogenicity https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06127-z

Dutch court orders sperm donor to stop after 550 children https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/28/dutch-court-orders-sperm-donor-to-stop-after-550-children

Dutch serial sperm donor case raises questions in Belgium https://www.brusselstimes.com/487914/dutch-serial-sperm-donor-case-raises-questions-in-belgium

Suicide rates for girls are rising. Are smartphones to blame? https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2023/05/03/suicide-rates-for-girls-are-rising-are-smartphones-to-blame

Whether or not you think bugs (including spiders) are gross or awesome you probably have some bias about these animals. This episode we talk with Dr. Catherine Scott (@Cataranea) about black widows specifically and how our biases influence the way we think about and research species like spiders and bugs more generally. Catherine studies black widow mating strategies and was featured in an upcoming CBC The Nature of Things documentary titled Bug Sex: It's Complicated (@bugsexthedoc). She talks about overcoming a fear of spiders and becoming a araneaologist, i.e., a spider scientist, the amazing ways widow spiders find mates, how environment shapes the evolution and behavior of animals, and the many ways spider misinformation spreads online. Check out Catherine's blog spiderbytes.org and look for Bug Sex the movie March 10 on CBC.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Head to www.twobradforyou.wordpress.com to subscribe to, donate to and follow the show on social media. You can also leave a comment, send an email or voice message. We read/listen to them all and will put them on air. This is your show too so get involved and don't let Brad have all the fun.

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We’ve all seen The Last of Us right? The hit franchise is based on the real life Cordyceps fungus, but did you know the fungus doesn’t take over the brain? The true mechanism behind the zombie fungus is perhaps more terrifying. Also, there is actually a more compelling example of zombie parasites that receives shockingly little attention. In response to listener messages about The Last of Us, Brad puts his Ph.D. studying zombie parasites to work and explains the stories behind Cordyceps, Dicrocoelium and why Toxoplasma might not be all it’s cracked up to be.

Relevant reading

Adaptive host manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii: fact or fiction?

You Know Those Parasites That Control Our Brains?

Don't forget to check out www.newsly.me and download the Newsly app to make the Internet listenable. Stop scrolling and start listening. Use promo code TwoBrad for a 1-month free premium subscription.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Head to www.twobradforyou.wordpress.com to subscribe to, donate to and follow the show on social media. You can also leave a comment, send an email or voice message. We read/listen to them all and will put them on air. This is your show too so get involved and don't let Brad have all the fun.

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Patent law is not front of mind for most people with an interest in psychedelics it is an important story to follow. Just like cannabis before it or pharmaceuticals like painkillers and insulin, companies are looking to patent not only psychedelic molecules but peripheral technologies like delivery methods and in some extreme cases therapy protocols too. Graham Pechenik is a registered patent attorney and founder of Calyx Law, a firm specializing in patents in the cannabis and now psychedelic field. He explains how the patent process works, why it's in place, and how the world of pharmaceutical patenting resembles the psychedelic one. He also points out some of the potential abuses of the process and the ways some are pushing back. Follow Graham on Twitter @calyxlaw to keep up with this quick moving and important area of the psychedelic movement.

A great overview of the topic can be found here by former guest and premier reporter on the psychedelic beat Shayla Love - Psychedelic Patents are Broken Because the Patent System Is Broken

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Head to www.twobradforyou.wordpress.com to subscribe to, donate to and follow the show on social media. You can also leave a comment, send an email or voice message. We read/listen to them all and will put them on air. This is your show too so get involved and don't let Brad have all the fun.

Don't forget to check out www.newsly.me and download the Newsly app to make the Internet listenable. Stop scrolling and start listening. Use promo code TwoBrad for a 1-month free premium subscription.