How to use your muscles — or risk losing them w/ Bonnie Tsui | from How to Be a Better Human

Neuroscientist Jennifer Pfeifer digs into the fascinating brain changes driving young people’s behavior during the critical years of adolescence. She debunks some of the biggest misunderstandings about teens — including puberty, hormones and the impact of social media on mental health — and shows how to support kids during this period of growth and possibility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly fifteen percent of the world's population lives with a disability, yet this massive chunk of humanity is still routinely excluded from opportunities. Sharing her experience growing up with an autistic sister, disability inclusion advocate Meghan Hussey illuminates the path towards an inclusive future in four steps, and it starts with an attitude check on assumptions and stereotypes. Designing a world built for everyone is not a "nice to have," Hussey says -- it's critical to the fabric of society. After, tune in an episode from Shoshana's podcast, Before We Go, featuring BJ Miller on how he sees the world differently. Join @beforewegopodcast on Instagram for more stories, behind-the-scenes moments, and reflections on living and dying. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To spark action on climate change, the conventional wisdom says that awareness must precede action — but neuroscientist Kris De Meyer suggests the opposite is true: actions drive beliefs. He digs into the science behind decision-making and shows how you can rewire your brain to get unstuck on big challenges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just a few lines, cartoons can say so much with so little. In a moving talk, cartoonist Navied Mahdavian shares his process for distilling huge concepts into drawings on the page — and shows how his work helped him grieve the death of his beloved grandmother, flaws and all. After the talk, Shoshana interviews Nathan Gray on the use of comics and art to educate and explore the ironies of the medical world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re featuring an episode from NPR’s science podcast Short Wave. In it, host Regina G. Barber talks to NPR brain correspondent Jon Hamilton about MENTAL EXERCISES.  Scientists have found the first compelling evidence that cognitive training can boost levels of a chemical that typically declines as people age. And previous studies of people have suggested that cognitive training can improve thinking and memory. So how does it all work? And by how much does it all work? Find out with this episode of Short Wave. Follow NPR's Short Wave podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify for more episodes like this, featuring new discoveries, everyday mysteries and the science behind the headlines. Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.