Everyone seems to have some experience with Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), whether that’s through regular yoga practice, daily meditations, or even just deep breathing exercises. It’s become a standard part of western culture, with heavy presences in social media and among certain demographics. But what exactly is this medicine, and what is the extent of its use? How is the western commodification of CAM harmful and problematic? And what are the implications of the expansion of CAM usage to more researched biomedical practices? Listen to our episode to learn all about these topics and gain a better understanding of the enormous breadth of areas that holistic medicine, or CAM, can be applied to.
Produced by Amanda Ng, Charlotte Aspinwall, and Micah Sher.
505: Dreaming of Better Sleep
Dec 02, 2022
Show notes
Have you ever wondered what happens when you sleep and how dreams come to be? Join us as we explore the science behind sleep, an activity that consumes ⅓ of the average person’s life. Learn about global habits that impact sleep, explore different theories about dreams, and (sleep!) walk away with a better understanding of the concept of sleep hygiene as we talk with Dr. Daniel Barone of the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Sleep Medicine. It would be a nightmare to miss this episode.
By Evelyn Goldwasser, Gargi Rao, Carlin Reyen, and Isabel Walter
Editor: Isabel Walter
Art By: Savannah Flores
Citations:
Conte, Francesca, et al. “The Effects of Sleep Quality on Dream and Waking Emotions.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 7 Jan. 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7827529/.
Health, Skorton Center at Cornell. “Sleep and Academic Performance.” Vimeo, 1 Dec. 2022, https://vimeo.com/429631754.
MacMillan, Amanda. “Why Rem Sleep and Dreams Are Important for Health.” Time, 27 Oct. 2017, https://time.com/4970767/rem-sleep-dreams-health/.
Patel, Aakash. “Physiology, Sleep Stages.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 7 Sept. 2022, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526132/.
“Stages of Sleep: Rem and Non-REM Sleep Cycles.” WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/sleep-101.
Andre, Chloe J., et al. “The Effects of Bed Sharing on Sleep: From Partners to Pets.” Sleep Health, vol. 7, no. 3, 2021, pp. 314–323., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2020.11.011.
Bell, Katherine. “Kids and Nightmares with Dr. Isaac Taitz.” KSQD Community Radio, 11 Jan. 2021, https://ksqd.org/kids-and-nightmares-with-dr-isaac-taitz/.
Braff, Danielle. “Meet Me at 3 A.m. for a Cup of Coffee.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Feb. 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/12/style/segmented-sleep.html.
Deshpande, Abhijit, et al. “A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Study to Evaluate the Effects of Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) Extract on Sleep Quality in Healthy Adults.” Sleep Medicine, vol. 72, 2020, pp. 28–36., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.03.012.
Duan, Virginia. “11 Tips to Sleep Soundly from around the World.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 28 Feb. 2022, https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/sleep-hacks-from-around-the-world#multicultural.
Ekirch, A. Roger. “Segmented Sleep in Preindustrial Societies.” Sleep, vol. 39, no. 3, 2016, pp. 715–716., https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.5558.
Hussain, Joy N., et al. “A Hot Topic for Health: Results of the Global Sauna Survey.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 44, 2019, pp. 223–234., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2019.03.012.
Kluger, Jeffrey. “Scientists Are Learning to Read-and Change-Your Nightmares.” Time, Time, 6 Aug. 2020, https://time.com/5874444/science-of-nightmares/.
Krahn, Lois E., et al. “Are Pets in the Bedroom a Problem?” Mayo Clinic Proceedings, vol. 90, no. 12, 2015, pp. 1663–1665., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.08.012.
Ohayon, Maurice M. “Nocturnal Awakenings and Difficulty Resuming Sleep: Their Burden in the European General Population.” Journal of Psychosomatic Research, vol. 69, no. 6, 2010, pp. 565–571., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.03.010.
Taitz, Isaac. “Learning Lucid Dreaming and Its Effect on Depression in Undergraduates.” ECommons | Open Scholarship at Cornell, Cornell University Library, 1 May 2011, https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/23118.
“TV Static 01.” TV Static Sound Effects, SoundJay, https://www.soundjay.com/tv-static-sound-effect.html.
“Twelve Simple Tips to Improve Your Sleep.” Healthy Sleep, Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, 18 Dec. 2007, https://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips.
Zhao H, Li D, Li X. Relationship between Dreaming and Memory Reconsolidation. Brain Science Advances. 2018;4(2):118-130. doi:10.26599/BSA.2018.9050005
504: Psyched on Psychedelics
Dec 02, 2022
Show notes
Psychedelics: once viewed as emblematic of the countercultural revolution, these drugs may now be crucial to fighting rising mental illness rates. Take a trip with us to learn about both the controversy, and promise, of the growing field of psychedelics research.
Produced/Edited by Mike Solazzo, Ananda Kalukin, and Campbell Key.
In recent years, an app called TikTok, intended for sharing 15-second dance videos, has diversified considerably. This episode delves into the new development on TikTok that is involved with mental health and self-diagnosis. Videos like “Put a finger down ADHD edition” present viewers with example symptoms of mental health conditions, and the number of symptoms the viewer relates to dictates the likelihood that the viewer has that mental illness. While this may prove a useful diagnostic tool, it has also led to surges of physical and verbal tics in teenage children, which is a symptom of Tourette, after popular influencers started posting videos showcasing their tics to raise awareness. Luckily the symptoms in the teens subsided after taking a break from the app, but it still begs the question: Does TikTok do more harm than help when it comes to mental health? Find out on this episode!
502: Mean Media, Mean World, Mean People
Dec 02, 2022
Show notes
Media conglomerates play a crucial role in shaping how we view, interpret, and navigate the world we live in. So, what happens when these depictions are violent or negative? We bring you an episode on Mean World Syndrome, which describes a cognitive bias in which the media leads people to perceive the world as more dangerous than it is in reality. Further, we take a look at the intersection of this bias and the largely inaccurate depiction of minorities in media which influences how we treat one another.
Brought to you by your hosts Irisa Dong (writer), Rma Polce (producer), and Sasha Smalls (executive producer and editor).
Art By: Savannah Flores
Music from Wave Saver, FLYIN, From Now On @ Epidemic Sound, and Creative Commons
Special thanks to Banseok Heo, the Milstein Program, and the Investigative Biology lab at Cornell for our recording equipment and software!
501: ASMR, A Modern Sensation
Nov 29, 2022
Show notes
Has someone ever whispered in your ear, and it sent chills down your back? Did you like it? This sensation is known as ASMR, the snazzy new phenomenon that has swept over contemporary media platforms. In this episode, State of the Pod explores the breadth and depth of this emerging field as well as its intersections with society, the global economy, science, and the history of the internet as we know it today.
The healthcare industry has evolved immensely over the years, and much of that change has been driven by technology and future technological innovations are going to keep transforming healthcare.
Specifically, wearable fitness technology has weaved itself into society so much so that FitBits and smartwatches are seen as mainstream now; and the future of wearable devices shows no sign of slowing down. However, there are concerns with the data these devices collect and what companies do with this data.
Produced by Shiveen Kumar, Isabel O’Connell, and Yubin Cho.
Executive Produced by Tina Yu and Adele Williams.
Special thanks to the Milstein Program and the Investigative Biology Lab at Cornell for supporting our podcast!
407: Investigating Work From Home
May 04, 2022
Show notes
This episode features Jeffrey Li and Chad Rubin discussing the concept of working from home. In this podcast, Jeffrey and Chad hear thoughts from professor Dave Roberts at Cornell University and discuss the implications and effects of working from home.
Produced by Jeffrey Li and Chad Rubin.
Executive Produced by Adele Williams.
Special thanks to the Milstein Program and the Investigative Biology Lab at Cornell for supporting our podcast!
406: The Healthy Food Fallacy
May 04, 2022
Show notes
In today’s food market, we are offered more options than ever. However, not all foods are created equal. When faced with the choice of a bag of potato chips or carrots, which one would you choose? And is the choice really yours? Marketing, varying prices, our household eating habits, and more all inform the snacks and foods we consume. In this episode, we explore why food policy, advertising, and production processes have made eating right so difficult and how systemic inequalities have led to nutritional inequality.
Produced by Catherine Paik and Alec Purcell.
Written by Priscilla Liu.
Edited by Catherine Paik and Adele Williams.
Executive Produced by Adele Williams.
Special thanks to the Milstein Program and the Investigative Biology Lab at Cornell for supporting our podcast!
405: Pheromones: Our Sixth Sense?
May 04, 2022
Show notes
Have you ever heard someone talk about this secret potion to love, called a “pheromone perfume”? Such a crazy claim is bound to illicit doubt and confusion, so we created our episode to help answer any questions you may have. Do human pheromones exist? Can they be bottled and then used to seek love and attraction? Listen to our episode to find out.
Produced & Edited by Isa Ciocca, Alice Lidman, and Mahalia Donaldson.
Executive Produced by Adele Williams.
Special thanks to the Milstein Program and the Investigative Biology Lab at Cornell for supporting our podcast!
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