Big Brains
Big Brains explores the groundbreaking research and discoveries that are changing our world. In each episode, we talk to leading experts and unpack their work in straightforward terms.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 4
- Latest publication
- Aug 20, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 9, 2026
Latest episodes
Why The Key to Treating Cancer May Be In Your Gut, with Thomas Gajewski (opens the original)
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For decades, traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation have targeted tumors directly—often with severe side effects and mixed results. But what if the key to treating cancer was already inside our bodies? Prof. Thomas Gajewski, a renowned oncologist at the University of Chicago, is leading a revolution by using the body’s gut microbiome to fight cancer. His pioneering work in cancer immunotherapy focuses on why some patients with melanoma responded dramatically to immune-base
The Little-Known Secrets To A Good Life, with Shigehiro Oishi (opens the original)
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What makes a good life? For decades, psychologists have debated whether true fulfillment comes from happiness—a life of comfort and joy—or meaning—a life of purpose and impact. But what if there's a third way? University of Chicago psychology professor Shigehiro Oishi has spent his career studying happiness, meaning, and what truly brings people deep satisfaction. His new research suggests that some of the most fulfilled people don’t prioritize either—they live psychologically rich lives, full o
How to Use Nature to Restore Your Focus, with Marc Berman (opens the original)
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What if the secret to restoring your focus, improving your mental health, and even reducing crime rates wasn’t found in an app or a pill, but in a tree? In this episode, we speak with University of Chicago psychologist Marc Berman, whose research on “soft fascination” and nature’s cognitive effects is reshaping how we think about everything from urban planning to depression treatment. From groundbreaking hospital studies to surprising results with plastic plants, Berman’s work uncovers the deep—
How to Raise Kids in the Age of AI, with Dana Suskind (opens the original)
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As AI rapidly changes how we work, learn, and communicate, it also raises an urgent question: What does it mean to grow up in a world dominated by smart technology? From smart-baby monitors to stuffed animals embedded with LLMs, kids and parents are increasingly bombarded with AI everywhere they turn. According to Prof. Dana Suskind, a renowned surgeon and pediatrician at the University of Chicago, AI might be able to mimic language, logic, and creativity, but it cannot replace the deeply relati
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