Episode 42

full
Published on:

28th Feb 2026

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

  1. Welcome and podcast mission
  2. Information about educational purposes and medical disclaimer

[01:51 - 03:25] Introducing Dr. José Moreno

  1. Background in molecular biology and genetic engineering at CyanoCapture, Oxford
  2. Published work in Plant Physiology, Microbiology Spectrum, Current Opinion in Microbiology
  3. Introduction to his book "Heartbeats of Consciousness"

[03:25 - 08:11] Dr. Moreno's Scientific Journey

  1. Working with cyanobacteria since 2016
  2. The surprising fact: half of Earth's oxygen comes from ocean organisms, not forests
  3. Moving from Spain to the UK to develop genetic engineering toolbox
  4. Current work producing insulin and other compounds in cyanobacteria

[08:11 - 13:27] The Birth of "Heartbeats of Consciousness"

  1. The gap between knowing how life works and knowing how to live well
  2. Why current books force a choice between rigorous science and engaging storytelling
  3. Creating a hybrid: fiction with scientific rigor
  4. The heartbeat exercise: feeling the invisible protagonist of life

[13:27 - 16:31] The Characters: Fania and Paula

  1. Fania's story: trauma, resilience, and becoming "antifragile"
  2. Paula's journey: scientific curiosity meets emotional anxiety
  3. The hourglass metaphor for living in the present moment

[16:31 - 22:38] Three Transformative Scientific Ideas

  1. We Are Literally Light: Biophotons and brain illumination at death (University of Calgary research)
  2. Distributed Intelligence: The "second brain" in our gut (500 million neurons, 80-90% of body's serotonin), the heart's 40,000 neurons
  3. Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to change at any age

[22:38 - 26:17] Pleasure vs. Happiness

  1. Why having more comfort hasn't reduced anxiety and depression
  2. Dopamine (pleasure) vs. serotonin (happiness)
  3. Ancient wisdom meets modern neuroscience
  4. The firefly metaphor: we are meant to shine and connect

[26:17 - 31:30] The Book's Personal Journey

  1. Processing the loss of his father through writing
  2. The ten promises (decalogue)
  3. Being "unbreakable": protecting inner peace from external circumstances

[31:30 - 40:30] Connecting Ancient Wisdom with Modern Neuroscience

  1. Buddhist teachings on suffering and desire (2,500 years old)
  2. Stoicism and controlling our responses
  3. Taoist Wu-Wei: flowing with life
  4. How neuroscience is confirming ancient philosophical insights
  5. Discussion of psychedelic-assisted therapy and Ram Dass

[40:30 - 43:30] Practical Applications

  1. Using metaphors to make science accessible
  2. The importance of cold exposure and hormetic stress
  3. The problem with endless phone scrolling and dopamine dysregulation
  4. Benefits of handwriting vs. typing for brain connectivity

[43:30 - 47:40] Love, Clarity, and Connection

  1. Why "love" is taboo in academic/clinical settings
  2. Love as the unifying force in science and life
  3. Clarity as an act of love
  4. Everything is connected: from cyanobacteria to consciousness

[47:40 - 49:11] Closing Thoughts & Resources

  1. Final reflections on the conversation
  2. Where to find Dr. Moreno's work and book
  3. Encouragement to check out "Heartbeats of Consciousness"

Key Takeaways

  1. Science and ancient wisdom are converging on the same truths about human wellbeing
  2. We are literally beings of light (biophotons) with distributed intelligence throughout our bodies
  3. Neuroplasticity means we can change at any age—we're not condemned to be who we've been
  4. Happiness comes from giving and purpose, not from pleasure and consumption
  5. 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
Mike:

Welcome to the Neurostimulation Podcast.

2

:

I'm Dr.

3

:

Michael Passmore, clinical associate

professor in the Department of

4

:

Psychiatry at the University of

British in beautiful Vancouver, Canada.

5

:

The Neurostimulation podcast is all

about exploring the fascinating world

6

:

of neuroscience in general, clinical

neurostimulation in particular, but

7

:

we're also interested in other aspects

of interventional mental health, like

8

:

ketamine assisted psychotherapy, and

other cutting edge treatment options that

9

:

can help improve health and wellness.

10

:

We talk to researchers, clinicians,

and we try to uncover recent research

11

:

breakthroughs and understand how

those breakthroughs can translate

12

:

into real world treatments that

can improve health and wellness.

13

:

So whether you are a healthcare

professional, a researcher, a

14

:

student, or someone who's curious

about how our brains work and what

15

:

we can do to help those brains work

better, this podcast is for you.

16

:

My mission is to make the

science accessible, inspiring,

17

:

and relevant to your life.

18

:

The podcast is separate from my clinical

and academic roles, and really is part of

19

:

my personal effort to bring neuroscience

education to the general public.

20

:

So I do emphasize that the information

shared here is intended for educational

21

:

purposes only, and is not medical

advice or any kind of substitute

22

:

for professional medical guidance.

23

:

I would advise you to always

consult with your own healthcare

24

:

provider to discuss your specific

health needs and treatment options.

25

:

Welcome back to the

Neurostimulation Podcast everybody.

26

:

Today's conversation is one I've

really been looking forward to.

27

:

My guest today is Dr.

28

:

José Moreno, a molecular biologist

who's leading genetic engineering

29

:

at a company called CyanoCapture

in Oxford, where his team engineers

30

:

cyanobacteria to capture carbon dioxide.

31

:

A really fascinating, fascinating project.

32

:

He has a PhD.

33

:

He is published in various

academic journals Plant Physiology,

34

:

microbiology Spectrum, and

Current Opinion in microbiology.

35

:

He spent over a decade inside the

scientific system, laboratories,

36

:

academic journals, conferences, peer

review, technical language, and yet

37

:

after studying how life works for

years at that molecular level, he

38

:

began asking a different question,

which is super interesting to me.

39

:

He's really interested in why do

we know so much about how life

40

:

works at a molecular level, yet

really so little about how to live

41

:

it well and to our best potential.

42

:

And so if he explores that question

in his book, which is called

43

:

Heartbeats of Consciousness.

44

:

It's a fascinating book that

explores that question through

45

:

a story of two close friends.

46

:

And so it weaves together the

neuroscience, details like glial cells

47

:

in the brain, stress hormones, and

also incorporates really important

48

:

foundational ideas ancient philosophy,

cognitive science, attention presence,

49

:

and what he calls the Society of cells.

50

:

Just right off the bat really would

encourage everyone to check out Dr.

51

:

Moreno's book, Heartbeats

of Consciousness.

52

:

There are links to where you can purchase

the book in the show notes, and also

53

:

you can learn more about his work and

his content at drjoseangelmoreno.com.

54

:

That's

D-R-J-O-S-E-A-N-G-E-L-M-O-R-E-N-O.com.

55

:

And so today we're gonna talk

about all of that and I'm really

56

:

looking forward to the conversation.

57

:

So Dr.

58

:

Moreno, thanks so much for joining

us and welcome to the show.

59

:

Jose: Thank you, Michael, for

this opportunity and really

60

:

excited to carry out this podcast,

it's a very nice opportunity.

61

:

yes, as I mentioned, you mentioned,

I start my journey in science in

62

:

2016 working in a tiny organism

called cyanobacteria that are very,

63

:

small, tiny cells they are, for

example, in the ocean in some lake.

64

:

one thing, Michael, that is,

that have been seen through this

65

:

year is people normally think,

when we breath, we say, oh, save.

66

:

Or I say for example, people

say we need to save the Amazons,

67

:

we need to save the forest.

68

:

But it's it's really surprising

that half of the oxygen of the

69

:

planet is produced in the ocean.

70

:

So thinking about the

importance of this organism.

71

:

So I have been studying this in 2016.

72

:

when I did, I started with doing my

PhD in the south of Spain in Cordova.

73

:

And after that I was continue, okay,

what this organism can do, because I was

74

:

trying to understand the metabolism of

the carbon, how this molecule have, are,

75

:

uptake in the cell and what they can do.

76

:

But it's really exciting because through

the past of the year I have been there are

77

:

some, some of these kind of organism that

they can use to produce biofield they can

78

:

use to produce a anti counter component.

79

:

It is something that blow my mind,

because there, there is something

80

:

that is not there that they take

CO2 and they produce something.

81

:

So we are, it's a way to, helping

the planet or create a better world.

82

:

So in 2021, I take the decision to

move to a laboratory in Norwich, in the

83

:

United Kingdom, lead by one Australian

scientific, called David Smith, that

84

:

they was trying to develop a, a toolbox

in order to modify this, cyano bacteria.

85

:

So imagine that you're

a kind of, engineer.

86

:

Say, okay, I am going to modify this.

87

:

I'm going to introduce this

protein called protein component.

88

:

And the, and you can

produce whatever you want.

89

:

you, the only thing that you need to do

is putting this protein, through metabolic

90

:

engineer and introducing CO2 in, and you

prepare a media depend on the strain.

91

:

You can put fresh water, sea water,

something very, very cheap to do.

92

:

And after that you get a component.

93

:

So it was really exciting to

me and, I still, I am working

94

:

with this organism, but.

95

:

I have been, during this, journey, I

has been a lot of curiosity because

96

:

when I finish in this research in 2023

in this laboratory, I return, to the

97

:

University of Oxford as a professor.

98

:

But, I have, when I was, teaching

and the thing, I was feeling that

99

:

there was a lack of motivation,

that I can do something else.

100

:

And this is when I saw the, one of the,

I think this is the only company in the

101

:

world, called CyanoCapture in Oxford,

where they, I was seeing, I was very

102

:

excited because they was using this

organism in order to produce compounds.

103

:

So I contact with the CEO and with,

with my cv, that I was creating

104

:

this toolbox in order to modify.

105

:

I started in October 23 and, and I

am still there, continue leading the

106

:

genetic manipulation plan of the company.

107

:

And we are trying to

express a, from insulin.

108

:

we are having the, we are it's the

first time in the world that insulin

109

:

has been produced in cyano bacteria.

110

:

Even the, have you ever had for example,

composed that they are, that they are

111

:

needed in to produce artificial meat?

112

:

for example, FGF2.

113

:

It's a type of fibroblast that

they, that need to do that.

114

:

So it whatever you want to do,

you introduce this and you have

115

:

a platform in order to produce.

116

:

So this has been really exciting, but,

when as I mentioned to you, Michael, I

117

:

have a lot of curiosity and I say, okay,

what will be the next step, for me?

118

:

and I was a, I am a person who love

the curiosity and love the brain,

119

:

how the neuroscience work, how

the, the synapsis that established,

120

:

in the brain, what is happening.

121

:

I was, I, I love to do the, the evaluation

of the science, and I, and I have a

122

:

feeling that when people was a bit of

scared about science, because people

123

:

say oh, this is very technical, so think

I need to do something, to approach

124

:

the science to the people in order

that people can understand and see a,

125

:

a science, a tool in order that they,

it's a, they can, help in their lives.

126

:

And that's drive to me to not only,

to read about the neuroscience.

127

:

I was looking to philosophy and the themes

and this, when this, the idea of the book,

128

:

that you mentioned, begin is called, my

book is called Heartbeats of Consciousness

129

:

at this, will say that this is a

bridge between science, mind, and soul.

130

:

it's a way, a union toward

understanding the, the self.

131

:

I want to do something

different in the podcast.

132

:

Mike, I want that you close

your eyes for three seconds.

133

:

Mike: Awesome.

134

:

I love it.

135

:

Yeah.

136

:

Jose: Okay.

137

:

I know while you have them

closed, I want you feel something.

138

:

Something that's happening right

now and this very instant without

139

:

you having to do anything for it

to happen, your heart is beating.

140

:

Now you can open your eyes and that

heartbeat Mike, that you felt or imagined

141

:

is the invisible protagonist of the book.

142

:

This book, is called Heartbeat of

Consciousness because every heartbeat,

143

:

it's a reminder, a reminder that we

are alive, that we have time, that

144

:

we can choose what to do with time.

145

:

It's like an invitation to discover the

science, what we know about our brain

146

:

or body or cell, and the consciousness,

that inner voice that has us.

147

:

Who we are and we and where we are

going, that they're not separate paths.

148

:

They are, they are the same path.

149

:

They are the heartbeats.

150

:

So I want to mention something a

lot of, for example, people ask

151

:

to me a lot why you write this

book, José, why you write the book.

152

:

I'm going to be honest with you, Mike,

I'm going to be honest because this

153

:

book, was born from a frustration

because you see when I start, to

154

:

look books that combine what I want

to tell, I discover in something

155

:

surprising and they didn't exist.

156

:

Because for example, you, for example,

when you go to the bookstore, there is

157

:

a clear division in on the one on one

side you have the nonfiction section with

158

:

neuroscience essay, popular science book,

psychology manuals, data status reference.

159

:

Very rigorous, very serious, and many

times, let's be honest, hard to finish.

160

:

Mike: Yeah.

161

:

Jose: On the other side, you have

the fiction, novel with character,

162

:

plot, emotion, a story that hooked

you, that make you feel that you

163

:

can't, put down until three morning,

but that really teach you something

164

:

applicably to your real life.

165

:

And I ask, kept asking myself,

why do I have to choose?

166

:

Why can't there be a book that tells you

and story that move you with character

167

:

that you want as a friend with a scene

that you make you cry and laugh and at the

168

:

same time teach you how your brain works?

169

:

What science about what science says

about the emotion, how you can apply that

170

:

knowledge more important to live better?

171

:

So I look for that book

and I didn't find it.

172

:

So I decide, Too.

173

:

Great.

174

:

So my book is a kind of hybrid, I

will call it hybrid because it's a

175

:

fiction and not t at the same time.

176

:

It's a novel, with a scientific rigor.

177

:

Michael,

178

:

the thing is, but there

was another problem.

179

:

I find another problem.

180

:

It was related with the thing

that I was telling previously.

181

:

I had spent studying, how the brain

work, how, was studying how the

182

:

brain functions, how the neurons

communicate, how the chemistry of

183

:

our body influences our emotions.

184

:

But suddenly, all of this, scientific

knowledge to me fell insufficient.

185

:

Because, science school explained to me

what was happening inside of my brain.

186

:

When, when, when you,

for example, feel pain.

187

:

Brain could, it could tell you,

for example, this amygdala was

188

:

activating, or for example, the

cortisol was, floating your system,

189

:

that the tears were, physiological,

respond to emotional stress.

190

:

But science couldn't tell

me how to keep going.

191

:

So, I started searching, reading,

researching, but not just a

192

:

scientific paper, you know, like

neuroscience papers, and these things.

193

:

But also I was digging in philosophy,

the Stoics, the Buddhists, the Taoists,

194

:

Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Lao-Tsu,

all of the different philosophy ways.

195

:

And I discovered something extraordinary.

196

:

Mike, do you know what I discovered?

197

:

Mike: No, no.

198

:

Tell us.

199

:

Jose: Well, science is discovering now

about the brain and emotion philosophy

200

:

was into it in this, 2000 years ago.

201

:

Mike: Yeah.

202

:

Jose: Because neuroplasticity, the

brain's ability to change is the

203

:

scientific version of what, for

example, the philosopher Heraclitus

204

:

say no one can bathe twice in the same

river because everything, everything

205

:

flows, everything change, including us.

206

:

Mike: Panta Rhea right.

207

:

That's Heraclitus, panta

rhea, everything flows.

208

:

Yeah.

209

:

Jose: And for example, another thing

that is fascinating to me is the

210

:

connection between the gut and the brain.

211

:

That, that one is the thing we

know called the gut brain axis.

212

:

this is, to me, this is the confirmation

of what the Eastern tradition always knew.

213

:

Mike: And

214

:

Jose: it is that the body and the mind

are not separated because we sometimes

215

:

we want to separate thing and no

this, everything have a connection.

216

:

Mike: Mm-hmm.

217

:

Jose: So this book, was born from a, from

that type of, search, from that attempt

218

:

to find a bridge between what I know as a

scientist and what I feel, and between the

219

:

scientists that who analyze and the human

being who suffer, who love, who hopes.

220

:

But to me the most, one of the very

important thing is when I decide

221

:

to write this book, I have to make

a very, very important decision.

222

:

Mike: Mm-hmm.

223

:

Jose: Do I write this as a

scientific essay or as a story?

224

:

And I choose the story.

225

:

Do you know why I choose the story?

226

:

Mike,

227

:

Mike: I mean, I have a few

guesses, but you tell us.

228

:

Yeah.

229

:

Jose: Because the da, the data

informs, but the story transforms.

230

:

Mike: Mm,

231

:

Jose: I can, I can tell you, for example,

that the neuroplasticity allowed the

232

:

brain to, for neuro connection and

NHA or, or for example, I can tell you

233

:

in a very complex way how this work.

234

:

This is a fact, it's true.

235

:

But, you will probably forget tomorrow.

236

:

I say it to you in a very complex

way and the general audience.

237

:

But however, if I tell you the story

of a young girl who after losing her

238

:

parents in a accident and surviving

the hell, of an orphanage and find

239

:

the strength to get up every day and

become an extraordinary person, it's

240

:

something that I probably, you won't

forget that, because this is Fania,

241

:

one of the protagonists of the book.

242

:

Fania was, 10 years old when a red

truck run over of her family cars.

243

:

The father the, the parents die instantly.

244

:

She was in the backseat and

she was, saw everything.

245

:

Mm.

246

:

So she spends more months in the

orphanage where the cruelty was the

247

:

norm, where the, when the other girl

will take, wake her at night, throw

248

:

cold water on her when they stole her

food, where they humiliate her in a way

249

:

that I'm not going to describe here.

250

:

And yet Fania the

protagonist didn't break.

251

:

Do you know what, said to her?

252

:

Mike: No.

253

:

Jose: The teacher, the teaching that her

parents who were philosopher professor

254

:

had passed on to her before they die.

255

:

This as I mentioned the Stoicism.

256

:

That is the idea that we cannot

control what happened to us, but

257

:

we can control how we respond.

258

:

Mike: Yeah.

259

:

Jose: Then so Fania, to be what?

260

:

I this, work.

261

:

There is an author called Nassim Taleb.

262

:

That it has, a term called antifragile.

263

:

Yeah.

264

:

That he want to mean not simply

resilient, which is enduring the blows,

265

:

but antifragile, someone who grows

strong, stronger, with each blow.

266

:

Mike: Yeah.

267

:

I love

268

:

Jose: that concept.

269

:

Mike: Yeah.

270

:

Jose: And there, there is Paula

the other protagonist, but however,

271

:

Paula is completely different.

272

:

Paula hasn't, suffered, terrible trauma.

273

:

Paula is pure scientific curiosity.

274

:

She's the girl who get excited

when she sees two neurons in

275

:

communication under microscope.

276

:

It remember to me, who write neuroscience

papers for, for fun, who dream

277

:

discovering the secret of the human brain.

278

:

So Paula represent that part

of us who want to understand.

279

:

The belief that if we comprehend how

the things work, we can live better.

280

:

Mike: Yeah.

281

:

Jose: So, but however, Mike, Paula,

also have a weakness and she get,

282

:

she get carried away, by her emotion.

283

:

She worries too much, too

much about the future.

284

:

She get anxious.

285

:

She doesn't know how to

manage the anxiety daily.

286

:

This is like where Fania

becomes her teacher.

287

:

There is an, a sentence that I

wrote in the book that I especially

288

:

is Paula has received an email

from the Harvard University.

289

:

It could be the fellowship of

her life, or a rejection, and she

290

:

doesn't dare to open, honor pass.

291

:

She's paralyzed by fear and Fania look

at her and says, worries are balloons.

292

:

If we inflate, too much,

they pop, they explode.

293

:

Then she shows her an hourglass

294

:

know, the, the sand-clock she

cover the top of, of, of the

295

:

part with tape and explained.

296

:

So the top is part, is part is the future.

297

:

We don't know, how much sand is left.

298

:

The bottom part is the past, if

already fell, we can't change it.

299

:

But look, the sand, that's falling now.

300

:

At this moment, through this

tiny, through this tiny passage.

301

:

That's the present moment.

302

:

That's where you should

put your attention.

303

:

So that image of the, the sand glass.

304

:

Mike: I love that image.

305

:

Yeah.

306

:

It's great.

307

:

Jose: Yes, because every time

I catch myself worrying about,

308

:

something that hasn't happened

yet, or I think of this tiny,

309

:

passage on the sand failing now.

310

:

Mike: Yeah.

311

:

Jose: this book to me is full of

science, but people was worried

312

:

when I grow this video, oh,

José, it difficult to understand.

313

:

And I say, no, it's not thing

that I call, called science.

314

:

It's laboratory science.

315

:

It's it's science that, speak

to us about who we are and we

316

:

can become.

317

:

So I want to.

318

:

If I, for example, I would like to

share something for the audience,

319

:

three ideas that's transformed me.

320

:

Well, I was searching the, the first

one, Mike, I feel we are and it is not

321

:

a metaphor, it's literal because our

brains emit photons, particle of real

322

:

light that they are called bio photons.

323

:

And although science is

still investigating the,

324

:

exact function I have in contact

with, there is one group in the

325

:

University of Calgary in Canada

326

:

Mike: Hmm.

327

:

Jose: led by Parisa Zarkeshian,

that they was finding all of this.

328

:

I was talking to her and it

was, we have conversation.

329

:

They told me about the new research

on that, and it's fascinating

330

:

that the thing that they're doing.

331

:

And at the moment of death, one of

the thing that I saw is the brain

332

:

emission of biophoton multiplies by 100.

333

:

So think about that.

334

:

For a few instants before setting

off forever, the brain signs with an

335

:

intensity, it doesn't have any life.

336

:

So when I discovered this, I thought about

the spiritual tradition that the speed

337

:

of the, the alignment about the halos of

light, that surround saints in paintings

338

:

About the idea that we are beings of light

temporarily trapped in a physical bodies.

339

:

What if wasn't just poetry?

340

:

What if this just intuition?

341

:

So we are, I think that we are

alive, literally, and perhaps, or

342

:

joke while we are alive is to sign.

343

:

The second one is, when we think

about the intelligence, we think about

344

:

the, the brain, the skull, the mass

of the neurons inside of the skull.

345

:

But it turns out that the sense

that it is not only the one because

346

:

you see the paper and the last

research, our gut has more than,

347

:

around 500 million neurons

approximately, and it produce between

348

:

80 and 90% of our body's serotonin,

this hormone of calm and wellbeing.

349

:

Yeah, it has its own, nervous system

so, so complex that the scientist

350

:

is calling the, the second brain.

351

:

Mike: Right?

352

:

Jose: And, and then there is the heart.

353

:

It was fascinating when they,

paper of five years ago when they

354

:

say there is a 40,000 neurons and

and also they are measuring that

355

:

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.

Show artwork for The Neurostimulation Podcast

About the Podcast

The Neurostimulation Podcast
Exploring the frontier of interventional mental health.
Welcome to The Neurostimulation Podcast — a deep dive into the expanding frontier of interventional mental health.

Hosted by Dr. Michael Passmore, a psychiatrist specializing in neurostimulation and geriatric mental health, this show explores how cutting-edge interventions — from non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS, tDCS, and beyond) to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy — are reshaping the landscape of modern psychiatry and neuroscience.

Each episode bridges science, clinical experience, and human insight, featuring thought leaders and innovators who are redefining how we understand and treat the mind.

Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, student, or simply fascinated by the brain, you’ll discover practical knowledge, fresh ideas, and inspiring conversations that illuminate the evolving art and science of mental health care.

Subscribe for episodes that stimulate your mind, deepen your understanding, and connect you to the future of brain-based healing.

podscan_YIPb4jA8fBJ5ino2RSuBo3BdjrOmPM6c

About your host

Profile picture for Michael Passmore

Michael Passmore

Dr. Michael Passmore is a psychiatrist based in Vancouver, BC, with expertise in non-invasive neurostimulation therapies, geriatric mental health and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. Having completed specialized training in multiple neurostimulation modalities, including electroconvulsive therapy at Duke University and transcranial magnetic stimulation at Harvard University, Dr. Passmore brings a robust clinical and academic background to his practice. Formerly the head of the neurostimulation program in the department of Psychiatry at Providence Health Care, Dr. Passmore now serves as a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia’s Department of Psychiatry. At Sea to Sky NeuroClinic (seatoskyneuro.clinic), Dr. Passmore offers interventional mental health treatments tailored to clients across Canada.​