From Molecules to Meaning: A Scientist's Journey Through Neuroscience and Ancient Wisdom with Dr. José Ángel Moreno Cabezuelo - #42 - Feb 28, 2026
From Molecules to Meaning: A Scientist's Journey Through Neuroscience and Ancient Wisdom with Dr. José Ángel Moreno Cabezuelo - #42
Episode Summary
In this fascinating episode, Dr. José Ángel Moreno Cabezuelo—molecular biologist, genetic engineering lead at CyanoCapture, and author of "Heartbeats of Consciousness"—shares his unique journey from studying cyanobacteria to exploring the intersection of neuroscience, ancient philosophy, and human consciousness. This conversation bridges hardcore science with timeless wisdom, offering practical insights for living with greater presence, purpose, and meaning.
Show Notes with Timestamps
[00:00 - 10:04] Opening & Pre-show conversation (can be trimmed)
[10:04 - 01:41] Introduction to the Neurostimulation Podcast
- Welcome and podcast mission
- Information about educational purposes and medical disclaimer
[01:51 - 03:25] Introducing Dr. José Moreno
- Background in molecular biology and genetic engineering at CyanoCapture, Oxford
- Published work in Plant Physiology, Microbiology Spectrum, Current Opinion in Microbiology
- Introduction to his book "Heartbeats of Consciousness"
[03:25 - 08:11] Dr. Moreno's Scientific Journey
- Working with cyanobacteria since 2016
- The surprising fact: half of Earth's oxygen comes from ocean organisms, not forests
- Moving from Spain to the UK to develop genetic engineering toolbox
- Current work producing insulin and other compounds in cyanobacteria
[08:11 - 13:27] The Birth of "Heartbeats of Consciousness"
- The gap between knowing how life works and knowing how to live well
- Why current books force a choice between rigorous science and engaging storytelling
- Creating a hybrid: fiction with scientific rigor
- The heartbeat exercise: feeling the invisible protagonist of life
[13:27 - 16:31] The Characters: Fania and Paula
- Fania's story: trauma, resilience, and becoming "antifragile"
- Paula's journey: scientific curiosity meets emotional anxiety
- The hourglass metaphor for living in the present moment
[16:31 - 22:38] Three Transformative Scientific Ideas
- We Are Literally Light: Biophotons and brain illumination at death (University of Calgary research)
- Distributed Intelligence: The "second brain" in our gut (500 million neurons, 80-90% of body's serotonin), the heart's 40,000 neurons
- Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to change at any age
[22:38 - 26:17] Pleasure vs. Happiness
- Why having more comfort hasn't reduced anxiety and depression
- Dopamine (pleasure) vs. serotonin (happiness)
- Ancient wisdom meets modern neuroscience
- The firefly metaphor: we are meant to shine and connect
[26:17 - 31:30] The Book's Personal Journey
- Processing the loss of his father through writing
- The ten promises (decalogue)
- Being "unbreakable": protecting inner peace from external circumstances
[31:30 - 40:30] Connecting Ancient Wisdom with Modern Neuroscience
- Buddhist teachings on suffering and desire (2,500 years old)
- Stoicism and controlling our responses
- Taoist Wu-Wei: flowing with life
- How neuroscience is confirming ancient philosophical insights
- Discussion of psychedelic-assisted therapy and Ram Dass
[40:30 - 43:30] Practical Applications
- Using metaphors to make science accessible
- The importance of cold exposure and hormetic stress
- The problem with endless phone scrolling and dopamine dysregulation
- Benefits of handwriting vs. typing for brain connectivity
[43:30 - 47:40] Love, Clarity, and Connection
- Why "love" is taboo in academic/clinical settings
- Love as the unifying force in science and life
- Clarity as an act of love
- Everything is connected: from cyanobacteria to consciousness
[47:40 - 49:11] Closing Thoughts & Resources
- Final reflections on the conversation
- Where to find Dr. Moreno's work and book
- Encouragement to check out "Heartbeats of Consciousness"
Key Takeaways
- Science and ancient wisdom are converging on the same truths about human wellbeing
- We are literally beings of light (biophotons) with distributed intelligence throughout our bodies
- Neuroplasticity means we can change at any age—we're not condemned to be who we've been
- Happiness comes from giving and purpose, not from pleasure and consumption
- The present moment (the sand falling through the hourglass) is where our attention belongs
Resources
Book: "Heartbeats of Consciousness: A Bridge Between Science, Mind, and Soul"
https://www.amazon.ca/Heartbeats-Consciousness-Between-Science-Understanding/dp/1919385908
Website: drjoseangelmoreno.com
Connect: Links to Dr. Moreno's social media and content in episode description
The Neurostimulation Podcast explores the fascinating world of neuroscience, clinical neurostimulation, and evidence-based interventional mental health. Hosted by Dr. Michael Passmore.
Transcript
Welcome to the Neurostimulation Podcast.
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:I'm Dr.
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:Michael Passmore, clinical associate
professor in the Department of
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:Psychiatry at the University of
British in beautiful Vancouver, Canada.
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:The Neurostimulation podcast is all
about exploring the fascinating world
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:of neuroscience in general, clinical
neurostimulation in particular, but
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:we're also interested in other aspects
of interventional mental health, like
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:ketamine assisted psychotherapy, and
other cutting edge treatment options that
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:can help improve health and wellness.
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:We talk to researchers, clinicians,
and we try to uncover recent research
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:breakthroughs and understand how
those breakthroughs can translate
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:into real world treatments that
can improve health and wellness.
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:So whether you are a healthcare
professional, a researcher, a
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:student, or someone who's curious
about how our brains work and what
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:we can do to help those brains work
better, this podcast is for you.
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:My mission is to make the
science accessible, inspiring,
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:and relevant to your life.
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:The podcast is separate from my clinical
and academic roles, and really is part of
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:my personal effort to bring neuroscience
education to the general public.
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:So I do emphasize that the information
shared here is intended for educational
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:purposes only, and is not medical
advice or any kind of substitute
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:for professional medical guidance.
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:I would advise you to always
consult with your own healthcare
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:provider to discuss your specific
health needs and treatment options.
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:Welcome back to the
Neurostimulation Podcast everybody.
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:Today's conversation is one I've
really been looking forward to.
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:My guest today is Dr.
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:José Moreno, a molecular biologist
who's leading genetic engineering
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:at a company called CyanoCapture
in Oxford, where his team engineers
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:cyanobacteria to capture carbon dioxide.
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:A really fascinating, fascinating project.
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:He has a PhD.
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:He is published in various
academic journals Plant Physiology,
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:microbiology Spectrum, and
Current Opinion in microbiology.
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:He spent over a decade inside the
scientific system, laboratories,
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:academic journals, conferences, peer
review, technical language, and yet
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:after studying how life works for
years at that molecular level, he
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:began asking a different question,
which is super interesting to me.
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:He's really interested in why do
we know so much about how life
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:works at a molecular level, yet
really so little about how to live
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:it well and to our best potential.
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:And so if he explores that question
in his book, which is called
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:Heartbeats of Consciousness.
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:It's a fascinating book that
explores that question through
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:a story of two close friends.
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:And so it weaves together the
neuroscience, details like glial cells
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:in the brain, stress hormones, and
also incorporates really important
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:foundational ideas ancient philosophy,
cognitive science, attention presence,
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:and what he calls the Society of cells.
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:Just right off the bat really would
encourage everyone to check out Dr.
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:Moreno's book, Heartbeats
of Consciousness.
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:There are links to where you can purchase
the book in the show notes, and also
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:you can learn more about his work and
his content at drjoseangelmoreno.com.
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:That's
D-R-J-O-S-E-A-N-G-E-L-M-O-R-E-N-O.com.
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:And so today we're gonna talk
about all of that and I'm really
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:looking forward to the conversation.
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:So Dr.
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:Moreno, thanks so much for joining
us and welcome to the show.
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:Jose: Thank you, Michael, for
this opportunity and really
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:excited to carry out this podcast,
it's a very nice opportunity.
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:yes, as I mentioned, you mentioned,
I start my journey in science in
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:2016 working in a tiny organism
called cyanobacteria that are very,
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:small, tiny cells they are, for
example, in the ocean in some lake.
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:one thing, Michael, that is,
that have been seen through this
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:year is people normally think,
when we breath, we say, oh, save.
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:Or I say for example, people
say we need to save the Amazons,
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:we need to save the forest.
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:But it's it's really surprising
that half of the oxygen of the
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:planet is produced in the ocean.
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:So thinking about the
importance of this organism.
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:So I have been studying this in 2016.
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:when I did, I started with doing my
PhD in the south of Spain in Cordova.
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:And after that I was continue, okay,
what this organism can do, because I was
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:trying to understand the metabolism of
the carbon, how this molecule have, are,
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:uptake in the cell and what they can do.
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:But it's really exciting because through
the past of the year I have been there are
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:some, some of these kind of organism that
they can use to produce biofield they can
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:use to produce a anti counter component.
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:It is something that blow my mind,
because there, there is something
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:that is not there that they take
CO2 and they produce something.
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:So we are, it's a way to, helping
the planet or create a better world.
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:So in 2021, I take the decision to
move to a laboratory in Norwich, in the
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:United Kingdom, lead by one Australian
scientific, called David Smith, that
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:they was trying to develop a, a toolbox
in order to modify this, cyano bacteria.
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:So imagine that you're
a kind of, engineer.
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:Say, okay, I am going to modify this.
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:I'm going to introduce this
protein called protein component.
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:And the, and you can
produce whatever you want.
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:you, the only thing that you need to do
is putting this protein, through metabolic
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:engineer and introducing CO2 in, and you
prepare a media depend on the strain.
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:You can put fresh water, sea water,
something very, very cheap to do.
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:And after that you get a component.
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:So it was really exciting to
me and, I still, I am working
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:with this organism, but.
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:I have been, during this, journey, I
has been a lot of curiosity because
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:when I finish in this research in 2023
in this laboratory, I return, to the
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:University of Oxford as a professor.
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:But, I have, when I was, teaching
and the thing, I was feeling that
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:there was a lack of motivation,
that I can do something else.
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:And this is when I saw the, one of the,
I think this is the only company in the
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:world, called CyanoCapture in Oxford,
where they, I was seeing, I was very
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:excited because they was using this
organism in order to produce compounds.
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:So I contact with the CEO and with,
with my cv, that I was creating
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:this toolbox in order to modify.
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:I started in October 23 and, and I
am still there, continue leading the
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:genetic manipulation plan of the company.
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:And we are trying to
express a, from insulin.
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:we are having the, we are it's the
first time in the world that insulin
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:has been produced in cyano bacteria.
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:Even the, have you ever had for example,
composed that they are, that they are
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:needed in to produce artificial meat?
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:for example, FGF2.
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:It's a type of fibroblast that
they, that need to do that.
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:So it whatever you want to do,
you introduce this and you have
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:a platform in order to produce.
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:So this has been really exciting, but,
when as I mentioned to you, Michael, I
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:have a lot of curiosity and I say, okay,
what will be the next step, for me?
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:and I was a, I am a person who love
the curiosity and love the brain,
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:how the neuroscience work, how
the, the synapsis that established,
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:in the brain, what is happening.
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:I was, I, I love to do the, the evaluation
of the science, and I, and I have a
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:feeling that when people was a bit of
scared about science, because people
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:say oh, this is very technical, so think
I need to do something, to approach
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:the science to the people in order
that people can understand and see a,
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:a science, a tool in order that they,
it's a, they can, help in their lives.
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:And that's drive to me to not only,
to read about the neuroscience.
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:I was looking to philosophy and the themes
and this, when this, the idea of the book,
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:that you mentioned, begin is called, my
book is called Heartbeats of Consciousness
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:at this, will say that this is a
bridge between science, mind, and soul.
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:it's a way, a union toward
understanding the, the self.
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:I want to do something
different in the podcast.
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:Mike, I want that you close
your eyes for three seconds.
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:Mike: Awesome.
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:I love it.
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:Yeah.
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:Jose: Okay.
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:I know while you have them
closed, I want you feel something.
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:Something that's happening right
now and this very instant without
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:you having to do anything for it
to happen, your heart is beating.
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:Now you can open your eyes and that
heartbeat Mike, that you felt or imagined
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:is the invisible protagonist of the book.
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:This book, is called Heartbeat of
Consciousness because every heartbeat,
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:it's a reminder, a reminder that we
are alive, that we have time, that
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:we can choose what to do with time.
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:It's like an invitation to discover the
science, what we know about our brain
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:or body or cell, and the consciousness,
that inner voice that has us.
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:Who we are and we and where we are
going, that they're not separate paths.
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:They are, they are the same path.
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:They are the heartbeats.
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:So I want to mention something a
lot of, for example, people ask
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:to me a lot why you write this
book, José, why you write the book.
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:I'm going to be honest with you, Mike,
I'm going to be honest because this
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:book, was born from a frustration
because you see when I start, to
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:look books that combine what I want
to tell, I discover in something
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:surprising and they didn't exist.
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:Because for example, you, for example,
when you go to the bookstore, there is
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:a clear division in on the one on one
side you have the nonfiction section with
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:neuroscience essay, popular science book,
psychology manuals, data status reference.
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:Very rigorous, very serious, and many
times, let's be honest, hard to finish.
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:Mike: Yeah.
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:Jose: On the other side, you have
the fiction, novel with character,
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:plot, emotion, a story that hooked
you, that make you feel that you
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:can't, put down until three morning,
but that really teach you something
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:applicably to your real life.
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:And I ask, kept asking myself,
why do I have to choose?
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:Why can't there be a book that tells you
and story that move you with character
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:that you want as a friend with a scene
that you make you cry and laugh and at the
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:same time teach you how your brain works?
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:What science about what science says
about the emotion, how you can apply that
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:knowledge more important to live better?
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:So I look for that book
and I didn't find it.
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:So I decide, Too.
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:Great.
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:So my book is a kind of hybrid, I
will call it hybrid because it's a
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:fiction and not t at the same time.
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:It's a novel, with a scientific rigor.
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:Michael,
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:the thing is, but there
was another problem.
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:I find another problem.
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:It was related with the thing
that I was telling previously.
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:I had spent studying, how the brain
work, how, was studying how the
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:brain functions, how the neurons
communicate, how the chemistry of
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:our body influences our emotions.
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:But suddenly, all of this, scientific
knowledge to me fell insufficient.
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:Because, science school explained to me
what was happening inside of my brain.
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:When, when, when you,
for example, feel pain.
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:Brain could, it could tell you,
for example, this amygdala was
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:activating, or for example, the
cortisol was, floating your system,
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:that the tears were, physiological,
respond to emotional stress.
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:But science couldn't tell
me how to keep going.
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:So, I started searching, reading,
researching, but not just a
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:scientific paper, you know, like
neuroscience papers, and these things.
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:But also I was digging in philosophy,
the Stoics, the Buddhists, the Taoists,
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:Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Lao-Tsu,
all of the different philosophy ways.
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:And I discovered something extraordinary.
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:Mike, do you know what I discovered?
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:Mike: No, no.
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:Tell us.
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:Jose: Well, science is discovering now
about the brain and emotion philosophy
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:was into it in this, 2000 years ago.
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:Mike: Yeah.
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:Jose: Because neuroplasticity, the
brain's ability to change is the
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:scientific version of what, for
example, the philosopher Heraclitus
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:say no one can bathe twice in the same
river because everything, everything
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:flows, everything change, including us.
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:Mike: Panta Rhea right.
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:That's Heraclitus, panta
rhea, everything flows.
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:Yeah.
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:Jose: And for example, another thing
that is fascinating to me is the
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:connection between the gut and the brain.
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:That, that one is the thing we
know called the gut brain axis.
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:this is, to me, this is the confirmation
of what the Eastern tradition always knew.
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:Mike: And
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:Jose: it is that the body and the mind
are not separated because we sometimes
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:we want to separate thing and no
this, everything have a connection.
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:Mike: Mm-hmm.
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:Jose: So this book, was born from a, from
that type of, search, from that attempt
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:to find a bridge between what I know as a
scientist and what I feel, and between the
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:scientists that who analyze and the human
being who suffer, who love, who hopes.
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:But to me the most, one of the very
important thing is when I decide
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:to write this book, I have to make
a very, very important decision.
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:Mike: Mm-hmm.
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:Jose: Do I write this as a
scientific essay or as a story?
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:And I choose the story.
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:Do you know why I choose the story?
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:Mike,
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:Mike: I mean, I have a few
guesses, but you tell us.
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:Yeah.
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:Jose: Because the da, the data
informs, but the story transforms.
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:Mike: Mm,
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:Jose: I can, I can tell you, for example,
that the neuroplasticity allowed the
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:brain to, for neuro connection and
NHA or, or for example, I can tell you
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:in a very complex way how this work.
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:This is a fact, it's true.
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:But, you will probably forget tomorrow.
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:I say it to you in a very complex
way and the general audience.
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:But however, if I tell you the story
of a young girl who after losing her
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:parents in a accident and surviving
the hell, of an orphanage and find
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:the strength to get up every day and
become an extraordinary person, it's
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:something that I probably, you won't
forget that, because this is Fania,
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:one of the protagonists of the book.
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:Fania was, 10 years old when a red
truck run over of her family cars.
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:The father the, the parents die instantly.
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:She was in the backseat and
she was, saw everything.
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:Mm.
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:So she spends more months in the
orphanage where the cruelty was the
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:norm, where the, when the other girl
will take, wake her at night, throw
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:cold water on her when they stole her
food, where they humiliate her in a way
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:that I'm not going to describe here.
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:And yet Fania the
protagonist didn't break.
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:Do you know what, said to her?
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:Mike: No.
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:Jose: The teacher, the teaching that her
parents who were philosopher professor
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:had passed on to her before they die.
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:This as I mentioned the Stoicism.
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:That is the idea that we cannot
control what happened to us, but
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:we can control how we respond.
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:Mike: Yeah.
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:Jose: Then so Fania, to be what?
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:I this, work.
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:There is an author called Nassim Taleb.
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:That it has, a term called antifragile.
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:Yeah.
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:That he want to mean not simply
resilient, which is enduring the blows,
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:but antifragile, someone who grows
strong, stronger, with each blow.
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:Mike: Yeah.
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:I love
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:Jose: that concept.
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:Mike: Yeah.
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:Jose: And there, there is Paula
the other protagonist, but however,
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:Paula is completely different.
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:Paula hasn't, suffered, terrible trauma.
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:Paula is pure scientific curiosity.
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:She's the girl who get excited
when she sees two neurons in
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:communication under microscope.
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:It remember to me, who write neuroscience
papers for, for fun, who dream
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:discovering the secret of the human brain.
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:So Paula represent that part
of us who want to understand.
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:The belief that if we comprehend how
the things work, we can live better.
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:Mike: Yeah.
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:Jose: So, but however, Mike, Paula,
also have a weakness and she get,
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:she get carried away, by her emotion.
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:She worries too much, too
much about the future.
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:She get anxious.
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:She doesn't know how to
manage the anxiety daily.
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:This is like where Fania
becomes her teacher.
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:There is an, a sentence that I
wrote in the book that I especially
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:is Paula has received an email
from the Harvard University.
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:It could be the fellowship of
her life, or a rejection, and she
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:doesn't dare to open, honor pass.
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:She's paralyzed by fear and Fania look
at her and says, worries are balloons.
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:If we inflate, too much,
they pop, they explode.
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:Then she shows her an hourglass
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:know, the, the sand-clock she
cover the top of, of, of the
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:part with tape and explained.
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:So the top is part, is part is the future.
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:We don't know, how much sand is left.
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:The bottom part is the past, if
already fell, we can't change it.
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:But look, the sand, that's falling now.
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:At this moment, through this
tiny, through this tiny passage.
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:That's the present moment.
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:That's where you should
put your attention.
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:So that image of the, the sand glass.
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:Mike: I love that image.
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:Yeah.
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:It's great.
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:Jose: Yes, because every time
I catch myself worrying about,
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:something that hasn't happened
yet, or I think of this tiny,
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:passage on the sand failing now.
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:Mike: Yeah.
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:Jose: this book to me is full of
science, but people was worried
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:when I grow this video, oh,
José, it difficult to understand.
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:And I say, no, it's not thing
that I call, called science.
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:It's laboratory science.
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:It's it's science that, speak
to us about who we are and we
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:can become.
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:So I want to.
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:If I, for example, I would like to
share something for the audience,
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:three ideas that's transformed me.
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:Well, I was searching the, the first
one, Mike, I feel we are and it is not
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:a metaphor, it's literal because our
brains emit photons, particle of real
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:light that they are called bio photons.
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:And although science is
still investigating the,
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:exact function I have in contact
with, there is one group in the
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:University of Calgary in Canada
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:Mike: Hmm.
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:Jose: led by Parisa Zarkeshian,
that they was finding all of this.
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:I was talking to her and it
was, we have conversation.
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:They told me about the new research
on that, and it's fascinating
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:that the thing that they're doing.
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:And at the moment of death, one of
the thing that I saw is the brain
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:emission of biophoton multiplies by 100.
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:So think about that.
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:For a few instants before setting
off forever, the brain signs with an
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:intensity, it doesn't have any life.
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:So when I discovered this, I thought about
the spiritual tradition that the speed
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:of the, the alignment about the halos of
light, that surround saints in paintings
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:About the idea that we are beings of light
temporarily trapped in a physical bodies.
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:What if wasn't just poetry?
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:What if this just intuition?
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:So we are, I think that we are
alive, literally, and perhaps, or
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:joke while we are alive is to sign.
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:The second one is, when we think
about the intelligence, we think about
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:the, the brain, the skull, the mass
of the neurons inside of the skull.
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:But it turns out that the sense
that it is not only the one because
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:you see the paper and the last
research, our gut has more than,
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:around 500 million neurons
approximately, and it produce between
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:80 and 90% of our body's serotonin,
this hormone of calm and wellbeing.
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:Yeah, it has its own, nervous system
so, so complex that the scientist
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:is calling the, the second brain.
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:Mike: Right?
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:Jose: And, and then there is the heart.
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:It was fascinating when they,
paper of five years ago when they
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:say there is a 40,000 neurons and
and also they are measuring that
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:they have electromagnetic field.
356
:There is an institute called
HeartMath that they have the, there
357
:is, electromagnetic field and also
more power feed than the brain.
358
:That this is something that we don't
have a still data to publish, but I
359
:think this something exciting and with
the passage of the year, we will find
360
:more new discovery about the brain that
we, we have, we know something, but
361
:there is still a lot of thing to dig in.
362
:And also, I was reading also that this,
this was capable of sending more signs
363
:to the brain that it received from it.
364
:So this made me understand something.
365
:So for example, when sometimes we
feel things before we think them,
366
:we say, I feel, in my gut or my,
or my or my hair is, tell me yes.
367
:I think that there is not poet you
expressing, there are something that
368
:they call an anatomical description.
369
:Mike: Yeah.
370
:Jose: so with this, we know that
intelligence is isn't all in,
371
:in the head, it is distributed
throughout the entire body.
372
:Mike: Mm-hmm.
373
:Jose: And when we learn to listen to
those of other brains, we think, I
374
:think that we make a better decision.
375
:Mike: Yeah.
376
:Jose: And the third, the third
one, it will also resonate with
377
:you is for decades, science
believed that the brain was a fixed
378
:structure, that the neuron dies.
379
:We are not replaced.
380
:That after a certain age, we
couldn't, truly learn new things,
381
:but I know Mike, that they were
wrong because the brain is plastic.
382
:It can form new connections at any age.
383
:It can reorganize itself after trauma.
384
:It can learn languages at
seventies and play the piano at 80.
385
:So then, so this means something
very, very profound, that we are not
386
:condemned to be who we have been.
387
:Mike: Mm-hmm.
388
:Jose: Every, I think that every day it's
an opportunity to reconfigure our brain.
389
:Every thought which we choose to
think, every habit we decide to
390
:cultivate is literally sculpting
the physical structure of our mind.
391
:Mm-hmm.
392
:Uh, one of the, of the symbol that I put
in the, I put several, I explain, I try
393
:to explain all of the content in the book
in like with metaphor that all the people
394
:could try to, to understand this easily.
395
:Mm-hmm.
396
:So I say, for example, to put one
example that come to my mind now, like.
397
:Um, the brain is like a garden.
398
:So we, we can plant new seed and make
them grow with fitness and solidity.
399
:Mm-hmm.
400
:So this question is, the question
is not whether we can change.
401
:The question is what do
we want to cultivate?
402
:Mike: Yeah.
403
:Jose: The last thing that I want to say
if, if after everything I have told you
404
:tomorrow you only remember one thing.
405
:Mm-hmm.
406
:I want it to be this: And it is
that pleasure is not happiness.
407
:Mm-hmm.
408
:Because you think about that,
Mike, we live in a society that's
409
:confused this two things constantly.
410
:We buy because it gives pleasure.
411
:We eat, because it gives us pleasure.
412
:We are scrolling our, in our phone
because gives us pleasure and then
413
:we wonder why, eh, having more
comfort than any previous generation.
414
:We are more anxious and
depressed that ever.
415
:But, neuroscience had
an explanation for that.
416
:The pleasure is meditated by dopamine.
417
:You know, it's like the hormone of, I want
more the, I want more molecule, you know?
418
:Mm-hmm.
419
:So every time we get something
pleasurable, dopamine gives
420
:us a rise, and then it drops.
421
:Um, to get the same rise
in this time we need more.
422
:So it is like something like
is, a staircase that never
423
:stop, uh, never stop climbing.
424
:Mike: Yeah.
425
:Jose: But happiness.
426
:The happiness, you know, the
genuine, like the lasting
427
:happiness is mediated by serotonin.
428
:And serotonin doesn't activate when
we take, but when we give, you know?
429
:Mm-hmm.
430
:When we connect with others, when
we do something with purpose, when
431
:we feel that our life has a meaning.
432
:Mike: Mm-hmm.
433
:Jose: Um.
434
:For example, the Buddhists
have, uh, has been saying this
435
:for two, around 2,500 years.
436
:The sufferings, uh, comes from desire.
437
:And also, Stoicism teaches, the
tranquility, come from admitting what
438
:we cannot control and acting with virtue
on the things that we can control.
439
:Mm-hmm.
440
:Also, also Taoism speaks of
the one term called Wu-Wei.
441
:Mike: Mm-hmm.
442
:Jose: That they say that with the,
they call, they try to explain like
443
:flowing with the life, you know,
instead of, uh, fighting against this.
444
:Mm-hmm.
445
:Modern neuroscience is confirming this
ancient intuition with brain scans and
446
:also with neuro transmission measurement.
447
:And the ancient wisdom and the modern
neuroscience are converging and both
448
:are telling us the same thing, that
the happiness is not, the happiness is
449
:not in the, in the next achievement,
in the next purchase, in the next,
450
:like it is, I think that it's, it is
here, you know, in this moment, in
451
:the quality of, of, of our attention.
452
:Uh, yeah, in the depth of, of
our connection in the meaning
453
:we give, give that, uh, we do.
454
:Mm-hmm.
455
:Um, eh, I want to, I don't want to
extend more, uh, I want to end with that
456
:image from the book that stay with me,
with me, and it's about the fireflies.
457
:Mm-hmm.
458
:Do you know, Mike, how, uh, the
fireflies produce the light?
459
:Mike: No.
460
:Talk about it fireflies.
461
:Yeah.
462
:That's fascinating, isn't it?
463
:The photo bioluminescence?
464
:Yeah.
465
:I love it.
466
:Jose: So.
467
:Something that I love.
468
:And when I was, you know, this
idea come to me and I tried to
469
:to, to include all of this in the
book and try to do a connection.
470
:So, so this organism, uh, they have
something, uh, something very special.
471
:They have an organ in their abdomen
called, uh, called a lantern.
472
:So inside of this, there is a,
a substance called luciferins.
473
:And this luciferin, when it's
combined with oxygen and with the
474
:help of, of another enzyme that they
have called luciferase, produce a
475
:chemical reaction that happens, that
release energy in the form of light.
476
:So it just is biology, you know,
like, uh, organic chemistry.
477
:Mm-hmm.
478
:But to me it's something
completely magical.
479
:Mm-hmm.
480
:Do you know why?
481
:Because those tiny creatures in the
darkness of the night sign, but.
482
:I think that they don't sign to
illuminate, illuminate themself.
483
:Mm-hmm.
484
:They don't need to use the, the
light to see, but to find each
485
:other, to communicate, to connect.
486
:Mike: Mm-hmm.
487
:Jose: Sometimes Mike, I think
that we are like fireflies.
488
:We carry inside of us the ability
to produce light, to shine in
489
:the darkness, to illuminate the
path for the others who are lost.
490
:But to sign that we, we have to
activate our chemical reaction.
491
:We need to find our luciferin
492
:that which we are passionate about,
and our luciferin that will be like the
493
:purpose that catalyses that passion.
494
:Mm-hmm.
495
:And we have to, to stop, uh, hiding in the
darkness, waiting for someone to find us.
496
:So, Paula and Fania, the
protagonists of this book, at the
497
:end, they found something together,
something called that I call the
498
:Neuro-Cardio Philosophical School.
499
:That is a place where the science of
the brain and the heart joins, uh,
500
:with the, with the wisdom of philosophy
to help people to live better.
501
:Mm-hmm.
502
:Mike, to be honest, I don't, I don't
know if that's, a school will never
503
:sit outside of this page, of this
book, but I know that each one of you
504
:can create your own version of it.
505
:Mike: Mm-hmm.
506
:Jose: In your family, in your work, in
your community, every time that you send
507
:knowledge that helps others, uh, every
time that you listen to someone who is
508
:suffering, every time that you choose
compassion over judgment, connection over
509
:isolation, or purpose over empty pleasure.
510
:I think that you are
turning up this light.
511
:So this book cost me, I, to be honest
with you, I started in:
512
:idea, me a lot of, uh, years of work
or research or writing of rewriting
513
:of early mornings when I doubted about
everything, but also gave me something
514
:invaluable: It helped me to process the
loss of my father, to find meaning in
515
:the pain, to turn something broken into
something that perhaps can help others.
516
:In the epilogue, I include a decalogue.
517
:It's like ten promises that
I make to myself every day.
518
:I am going to say just the first one.
519
:Mike: Sure.
520
:Yeah.
521
:Mm-hmm.
522
:Jose: Promise yourself to be unbreakable.
523
:Do not allow external circumstances
to disturb your inner peace.
524
:To be honest, Mike, I
don't always manage it.
525
:Some days I go read too
much, uh, like Paula.
526
:Mike: Mm-hmm.
527
:Jose: Other days, the parent returns and
I, and I have to remind myself of Fania's
528
:teaching, but, you know, every day I try
and that's the only thing that we can do.
529
:Try and try and try again until be, until,
you know, until it becomes habit, until
530
:the neural connections consolidate until
the person that we want to become, uh,
531
:want to be becomes the person that we are.
532
:So that's the main thing
that I want to say.
533
:Thank you to, to explain all that and
you want to have any question or anything
534
:that is the main idea I want to say.
535
:Mike: Yeah.
536
:That's amazing.
537
:Thank you so much for that detailed
and fascinating explanation.
538
:It's just so, so many different directions
that we could go in and I was just
539
:thinking so many different, ideas that
and, and interests that we have in common.
540
:I think it's so amazing.
541
:So just before.
542
:I get into any of that.
543
:The book, of course, is Heartbeats
of Consciousness, and so I would
544
:encourage viewers and listeners to
definitely check out, José's book and
545
:there'll be links in the show notes.
546
:So please do check those out.
547
:as well as to links to, other
aspects of José's content.
548
:And it's just so interesting because,
yeah, one of the first things that
549
:I chuckled with was when you talked
about how the nonfiction section
550
:of the bookstore, it's filled with
books that nobody finishes, and
551
:I know I have a bookshelf that's
full of those books at home.
552
:So, so I really, I really appreciate
the purpose and the vision of the book
553
:in terms of uniting the nonfiction
and the fiction worlds to make it
554
:accessible and, bringing it into how
people can get an understanding of
555
:science in a way that helps them to
improve their own lives and wellbeing.
556
:One of the things that it struck me, is
when you were talking a bit about the
557
:ideas from Eastern philosophy and how
modern neuroscience is really kind of
558
:reminding us of what, people knew about,
559
:2,500 years ago, as you say, people
are already talking about these,
560
:these issues in ways that, now we're
just coming to understand again.
561
:And it also makes me think about, 'cause
one of the things increasingly with mental
562
:health that's becoming, more evident is
the idea of psychedelic assisted therapy
563
:and how perhaps these plant medicines can
also be a way of, of understanding ancient
564
:wisdom and bringing it into contemporary
life and, and helping us to kind of
565
:reframe how we consider mental illness.
566
:And one of the people that I've been,
really interested in, of course is,
567
:with the history of psychedelics is Ram
Dass, previously Richard Alpert, and
568
:his, one of the things you mentioned
just struck me around one of the
569
:things he says is that we're, we're
spiritual beings, we're, we're luminous
570
:beings visiting humanity temporarily.
571
:Right.
572
:And then this, this idea, I
love the metaphor with the
573
:fireflies that you mentioned.
574
:I really appreciate your description
of the metaphors that you use in the
575
:book as, as far as making the concepts
accessible and bridging the science
576
:and the philosophy through metaphor.
577
:I think that's so valuable.
578
:So thank you for that.
579
:Jose: Thank you for this opportunity.
580
:Yeah.
581
:I explain everything with metaphor
because, at the beginning, to
582
:be honest, I was trying to explain how
the brain works, but I was thinking if I,
583
:If I would, if I would be another person,
I will enjoy reading this book and I
584
:will say, no, I will probably stop that.
585
:and I want to, so to present something the
people enjoy, I mentioned, written a story
586
:and introduce a of this, everything with
metaphor to explain everything in detail.
587
:And this has been very, very
good, very good satisfaction.
588
:Mike: Yeah.
589
:And I also appreciate, and my condolences
on the loss of your father, and I
590
:also appreciated your story of how you
took that loss and that pain, and you
591
:transformed that into, something that
can be helpful for others in terms of
592
:learning and growing through, challenge
and adversity and loss and yeah, for sure.
593
:This idea of anti-fragility, I
think it's really interesting.
594
:I had, not only with Nassim Taleb,
who kind of coined the term, and then
595
:there's another book recently with, I
know I had mentioned in a recent episode.
596
:the book that I really appreciated is,
Brett Weinstein and Heather Heying's
597
:book, A Hunter-Gatherer's Survival Guide
to the 21st Century, something like that.
598
:They talk a lot about anti fragility
and it's just so fascinating how,
599
:Jose: you
600
:Mike: biology in general, human
physiology is designed around
601
:this concept of anti-fragility.
602
:For sure.
603
:Jose: Really exciting.
604
:Yeah.
605
:When I was, even, when I was, finding this
information and also, writing the book,
606
:there is a moment that I promise that
I was crying, even putting all of this
607
:it's crazy and yeah, it's really exciting
and also to share these concepts and
608
:people, I am receiving a lot of very good
feedback, people are having this comfort,
609
:something that fills your soul, you know?
610
:Mike: Yeah.
611
:Yeah, for sure.
612
:Definitely.
613
:I mean, I think that's, that's what's
exciting too, because I think, and even,
614
:what I really appreciated even was in
the first few minutes of the podcast when
615
:you encouraged me, and I hope viewers
and listeners participated in that.
616
:If you didn't go back and just do the
little exercise that we did at the
617
:beginning, closing your eyes, being
attentive to your heartbeat, being
618
:attentive to your breathing even for a
few seconds, because it's fascinating.
619
:I have a Vipassana meditation practice,
and so part of it is exactly using your
620
:awareness in the moment, as you say,
when you're focused in on the sand going
621
:through the threshold of the hourglass,
and you can take kind of notice of
622
:these unconscious things that are very
miraculous when you think about it.
623
:I mean, it's, isn't it miraculous how,
how many times our heartbeats in a single
624
:day, not to mention in a lifetime that
we don't have any sort of sense of that
625
:unless we pay attention to it, and how
the breath can be the gateway between
626
:the conscious and the unconscious.
627
:Similarly, we're unconscious of
breathing 99% of the time, maybe 99.9%
628
:of the time.
629
:But then when we focus in on it, then
oh yes, now I can control my breath.
630
:Right.
631
:So, so that's fascinating as
well for me, that, that aspect
632
:of what you were discussing.
633
:Jose: Yeah.
634
:Yeah.
635
:I think it's fascinating.
636
:And also I think that nowadays, most
of the people that you think you to
637
:practice meditation or something that,
people say, oh, I, I don't have time.
638
:I am, and I was explaining
with the rate of, people with
639
:depression, it's very, very high.
640
:And I was trying to know that even, for
example, at the beginning of the day and
641
:also at night, just try to, the same thing
that I say, put my attention on my body.
642
:Or for example, another thing that
helps me a lot is in the morning doing
643
:a cold shower, cold shower because
there is a moment, because we are
644
:always like overthinking, overthinking.
645
:But I really think when you are, when you
are under the cold shower, your brain, you
646
:are not thinking about what are you going
to do tomorrow or what do you need to do?
647
:You are in the present moment.
648
:This to me is something
that helped me a lot.
649
:I encourage the people to do it.
650
:Mike: For sure.
651
:I'm a big fan of cold exposure.
652
:I do.
653
:I've been doing cold showers and cold
plunges for at least a couple of years
654
:now, and it's been transformational.
655
:Really, it has.
656
:I would also echo your
encouragement for others to try.
657
:It's very straightforward.
658
:Even just people who are reluctant.
659
:I would really encourage you just
rinse with cold in the shower
660
:for literally five seconds.
661
:Try it, and then build it up.
662
:Gradually your tolerance
builds up quickly.
663
:And then as you say, it's not only
the mindfulness, but it's just getting
664
:yourself used to some discomfort.
665
:There's really a lot of research as you
know, José, in this idea of hormetic
666
:stress as being something that can help
with, anxiety, depression, producing,
667
:some sort of mild temporary controllable
suffering as a way of just building
668
:up our resilience, anti fragility.
669
:Right.
670
:It's what we're talking about.
671
:Jose: Absolutely.
672
:Absolutely.
673
:And this is fascinating because also I
know several people that ha are suffering,
674
:depression, this kind of thing, and
they don't even, for example, they don't
675
:practice any sport, and this is when
you practice, for example, a sport.
676
:You have this, your body release, a
cocktail of hormones that feel, you
677
:feel better and the thing, and and
you, for example, analyze the time
678
:that the norm, the average of the
people I spend on the phone, doing an
679
:a scroll and a scroll and a scroll.
680
:What is, do you think, what is,
what is this doing to your brain?
681
:It's
682
:Your, the chemical, the chemical, all of
this chemical deregulating and the thing,
683
:for the reason I encourage all of the
people, to live in the present moment.
684
:Even for example, everything that helped
me a lot, I have a diary, but instead of,
685
:for example, writing, with the computer,
there is some interesting paper that you
686
:say when you do with handwriting, there
is established a new, new connection.
687
:There is something.
688
:Exciting.
689
:And yeah.
690
:Mike: Yeah.
691
:It's amazing, this, this so that.
692
:I love when you talked about the way
that it's important to help people
693
:understand that neuroplasticity is not
a kind of scary, sort of complicated.
694
:Well it is to a certain extent,
but it doesn't have to be some
695
:kind of complicated topic.
696
:And it's also something very personal
in that people need to understand
697
:that, that as you say, neurons
that fire together wire together.
698
:And so people can take advantage of that.
699
:And just by doing, trying to build
little habits into their daily routine
700
:and being intentional about it that
way, they actually are changing the
701
:physiological neurochemical changes
in the brain that brings those
702
:lasting, hopefully improvements
in health and wellness as you say.
703
:Right.
704
:Jose: Absolutely.
705
:I 100% agree with you on that.
706
:Mike: It's a very positive
and inspiring message.
707
:it makes me think a lot of what you talked
about makes me think about, what Dr.
708
:Paul Conti writes about in terms of,
overcoming trauma and thriving by virtue
709
:of emphasis on meaning, but also agency.
710
:And so the agency piece is, to me it's
yeah, understanding how we can harness
711
:neuroplasticity in our own lives and
just try and take advantage of that and
712
:think about, okay, well yes, I'm taking
agency over how my own brain is being
713
:wired by just trying to do these small,
little healthy habits one thing at a time.
714
:Jose: Absolutely.
715
:Yeah.
716
:I think that.
717
:I agree with that.
718
:Mike: And the other thing that's
interesting as well, I mean, I think
719
:it's, so maybe you can explain a little
bit more about, one of the things that
720
:resonated for me from your work and from
the book is this idea of clarity as love.
721
:Because, in science and medicine,
there's almost a taboo against
722
:talking about love, right?
723
:Because we're sort of well, you have to
be detached from patients and you have
724
:to be detached from research subjects.
725
:Yeah.
726
:I get, I get the boundaries issue.
727
:I understand that
that's, that's important.
728
:But ultimately, whether it's,
you're, you're a researcher, you're
729
:passionate about what you're studying
or you're, and, or you're a clinician,
730
:you're passionate about what you're
doing in terms of helping others.
731
:Inevitably, there has to be
love at the center of that.
732
:And I think it's the elephant in
the room that, that on the academic
733
:and clinical side, people are
afraid to even say the word love.
734
:Right.
735
:But help us understand what your
idea of clarity as love is all about.
736
:Jose: Love to me is the, the force
who, who moves the universe, because
737
:everything we do, we put love in it.
738
:For example, everything that you do,
for example, love in order, you perform
739
:an activity, I try to do in the best
way that is, it's not something in
740
:order to explain this in a proper
way is, I would say love, passion is
741
:something that you do with purpose,
742
:you know, that you put your, the
thing that it resonates with you.
743
:And I think that when you do, this you,
with not the thing is going better.
744
:And also when you love, there is a
lot of hormones that are released,
745
:and it's something that is in, love is
the main force of the universe and is
746
:something that moves us very deeply.
747
:Mike: Yeah, absolutely.
748
:And maybe that is, yeah, it makes
sense that that's the, the unifying
749
:principle that's tying together the
hardcore science with the ancient wisdom.
750
:Yeah.
751
:It's fascinating when you think about,
the way you described it at the very
752
:beginning, your career in terms of
looking at the cyano bacteria as these
753
:potential tiny little factories for
whatever, we might think that they would
754
:be useful for helping us to produce or
how to understand nature better and,
755
:and helping, helping to, reverse things
like climate change, this and that.
756
:Right.
757
:But then all the way
from, yeah, the miracle.
758
:I love the idea of this is a miraculous,
magical kind of thing that's happening
759
:there, whether it's the fireflies or
the cyanobacteria, how that's affecting
760
:us and, and, and the universe in
general, but what holds it together?
761
:It's surely something like love, right?
762
:Like what you're saying.
763
:Jose: Say again.
764
:Say that with your question please.
765
:Mike: Well, I guess it's
what's holding it together.
766
:I mean, these are big picture kinds of
questions would we say God or love or
767
:some universal sort of I'm not sure.
768
:that's where you get into the intersection
between spirituality, religion,
769
:these kinds of big picture questions.
770
:So I guess I, I guess I'm just rambling
a little bit, but talking about how
771
:this idea about love as a unifying
force, regardless if it's a person
772
:is religious or if they have some
sort of atheistic worldview, I think
773
:everyone can agree that there's a
unifying force of love out there, right?
774
:Yeah,
775
:Jose: absolutely.
776
:The love, some people call, that kind
of God or they'll call the universe,
777
:but I think there is a big force,
every, everything is connected.
778
:For example, if I put on an example
with myself, I do a lot of metabolic
779
:engineering, you know, like produce the
thing and I receive, another offer, a
780
:job offer to do with another organism
that has no relevance, to do, you
781
:know, like this cyanobacteria that
you can help with the climate change.
782
:It's something I am a scientist because
I love, I have another skill and
783
:everything, but it's this intersection,
that everything is connecting.
784
:I think there's something
that is moving us.
785
:Mike: Yeah.
786
:Jose: These ethical questions.
787
:Mike: Definitely.
788
:Yeah.
789
:It's, it's, it's really cool.
790
:It's been such a great,
fascinating, wide ranging,
791
:interesting, inspiring conversation.
792
:José, I'm just so happy to have met
you and to talk to you, and it would
793
:be great to have you back on the
podcast at some point in the future.
794
:I just, I think we could continue this
kind of conversation for hours, honestly.
795
:Jose: Absolutely.
796
:Yeah.
797
:I very grateful for that because
yeah, it's something related
798
:with science and also with the,
everything with the consciousness.
799
:And I am so, every, every month there
are releasing new papers in neuroscience
800
:and I am reading what is going to
happen, what is going to the next step?
801
:And, and yeah.
802
:And continue a lot of doing a lot of
research in producing new components.
803
:I know materialize, probably in
some months I will have something
804
:interesting to talk about.
805
:Mike: Yeah, for sure.
806
:Well, that's fantastic.
807
:José, Dr.
808
:Moreno, thanks so much once again.
809
:I mean, this has really been a powerful,
inspiring conversation and what I really
810
:appreciate most is that, you're, you're
taking science and you're celebrating
811
:science, but you're also protecting
its heart, the heart of science, right.
812
:And the love that's behind it all.
813
:And you're reminding us that complexity is
not necessarily, something to be, afraid
814
:of, or something to be intimidated by.
815
:Right.
816
:Or other things you're describing the
difference between pleasure and happiness.
817
:Also for that matter, things like
status is not necessarily wisdom.
818
:and the clarity and the love, you
know, being clear about that may be
819
:one of the most kinds of generous
things that we can offer one another.
820
:Right.
821
:In terms of that, as you say, when the
happiness comes from giving as opposed
822
:to the pleasure coming from receiving.
823
:Right?
824
:Jose: Yeah.
825
:Mike: Yeah.
826
:So for viewers and listeners,
really, I would highly, highly
827
:encourage you to check out Dr.
828
:Moreno's book, Heartbeats
of Consciousness.
829
:The links are in the show notes and you
can learn more about his content at Dr.
830
:José Angel, how do you pronounce?
831
:My Spanish is terrible.
832
:Yeah.
833
:Jose: Yeah.
834
:You're doing very well.
835
:Yeah.
836
:Mike: José moreno.com.
837
:Yep.
838
:Yeah, so just that's the way it sounds.
839
:D-R-J-O-S-E-A-N-G-E-L-M-O-R-E-N-O.com
840
:For listeners who can't, see what
we've got going on the captions here.
841
:Again, José, thank you so much.
842
:Really appreciate your work, your
wisdom, your experience, your story.
843
:Thank you so much, for building
bridges in this very ambitious tour
844
:de force of a book that you have
with bringing science together with
845
:philosophy, ancient wisdom in order
to help people live their best lives.
846
:Thank you so much.
847
:Jose: Thank you for this opportunity.
848
:I'm very grateful for that.
849
:Mike: Great.
850
:Thanks again.
851
:All the best.
852
:Take care.
853
:Jose: Thank you.
854
:Take care.
855
:Bye.
856
:Mike: Okay, thanks.
857
:Bye-bye.
858
:Thanks so much again for joining me
today on the Neurostimulation Podcast.
859
:I hope that you enjoyed this fascinating
conversation as much as I did.
860
:If you found today's episode
interesting, don't forget to like
861
:and subscribe to the podcast.
862
:It really is the best way to make
sure that you never miss a future
863
:episode, and it also helps us to
reach more curious minds like yours.
864
:Also, if you think that this
particular episode might resonate with
865
:a friend, a colleague, or a family
member, please share it with them.
866
:This kind of knowledge is better when
it's shared and you never know who might
867
:be inspired or motivated or educated by
watching or listening to today's episode.
868
:For more details about the content
that we discussed, please do check
869
:out the links in the show notes
and join in the conversation.
870
:Please ask questions, leave
comments, and give suggestions
871
:for future topics that you'd be
interested in finding out more about.
872
:Then we can try to incorporate those
suggestions into future episodes.
873
:Finally, don't forget to
tune into the next episode.
874
:It's gonna be another exciting journey
into the cutting edge of neuroscience,
875
:clinical neurostimulation, evidence-based
interventional mental health, and
876
:interesting discussions with leaders
in the health and wellness field.
877
:So again, take care, stay curious.
878
:Thanks for listening.
879
:I really appreciate your time, interest,
and your attention, and I'll see you next
880
:time on the Neurostimulation Podcast.
