Shows
TOB PodcastEP 24: Christians Need Therapy too with Tolu Faromika, M.A.In this powerful episode, we’re joined by a special guest — our friend Tolu, who’s about to begin her PhD in psychology. Together, we unpack a listener’s heartfelt dilemma: how do you reconcile your faith with the need for therapy?Tolu brings insight, compassion, and clarity to the conversation, reminding us that faith and therapy are not enemies — they can actually work hand-in-hand. We dive into why mental illness can be so hard to explain, especially in Christian spaces where struggles aren’t always visible — and aren’t always treated with the care they deserv...
2025-07-081h 01
The BrainCore Podcast28 - Let's Get Psyched! (with Dr. Sabina Pillai)How does psychedelic-assisted therapy give people perspective? How does ketamine help with diagnoses like depression and anxiety? Sabina Pillai, from Field Trip Health, enlightens Tolu and Kristina on the healing potential of psychedelics and ketamine. They discuss what a typical session looks like for clients who come to Field Trip Health. Sabina explains how psychedelics target the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of a person and may help with existential questions one may have such as “What have I been put on this earth to do?”. Kristina asks about how more individuals can get involved in creating more alternatives to c...
2022-09-1547 min
The BrainCore Podcast27 - D-N-A! What is it good for? (with Dr. Robyn Murphy & Dr. Aaron Goldman)What is it good for? Tolu and Kristina discuss how genetic testing may provide individuals with an opportunity to know more about themselves with Dr. Robyn Murphy (Scientific Advisor at DNALabs) and Dr. Aaron Goldman (Chief Science Officer at DNALabs). What is DNA? What can one do when they have risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases? How can lifestyle changes decrease one's chances of having cognitive decline? The term of the episode or TOTE is Genetic Testing. If you're interested in purchasing either the LoveMyHealth or MatchMyMeds products from DNALabs, use our code 'BRAINCORE15' for 15% off!!
DNALabs...
2022-05-1652 min
The BrainCore Podcast26 - Good Vibrations (with Chloe Duckworth)Tolu and Kristina bring back student-entrepreneur Chloe Duckworth to discuss an exciting update! How can we improve one's ability to communicate with others? What if that one is not especially good at interpreting subtle verbal or social cues? This short episode gives us insight into what Chloe and her team have been up to! The term of the episode or TOTE is Emotional Perception.
Chloe’s website: https://www.chloeduckworth.com/
Valence website: https://www.valencevibrations.com/
Email: thebraincorepodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: @thebraincorepodcast
Twitter: @thebraincorepod
Subscriber form! - h...
2022-04-1515 min
The BrainCore Podcast25 - See You in the Metaverse!Our reality is starting to look interestingly similar to that of a Black Mirror episode. In this episode, Kristina and Tolu talk about the potential benefits and drawbacks of a metaverse, particularly how virtual reality (VR) may affect mental health. Tolu brings up the research she did on Facebook, and how the metaverse is not a newly realized goal. They talk about how VR is starting to be implemented in situations other than gaming (e.g., work). The new DSM is rumored to release in March, so they discuss the rumored additions, as well as disorders that might not...
2022-01-1545 min
The BrainCore Podcast24 - The Mind's Ear (with Andrea Halpern)Tolu and Kristina are joined by Dr. Andrea Halpern, a Professor of Psychology at Bucknell University, to discuss memory and music! In their last episode of the year, they delve into how we remember non-verbal music. Dr. Halpern enlightens the two on certain myths in the field, as well as some of her interesting findings over the years. What is auditory imagery and does everyone engage in it? Is our understanding of music innate or learned? The term of the episode is Auditory Imagery.
2021-12-1538 min
The BrainCore Podcast23 - Cuffing Season: What's your Attachment Style?Kristina and Tolu investigate attachment styles as it relates to their relationships with others. In this episode, they discuss their attachment style reports and its implications on their upbringing, friendships, and romantic relationships! How does one get a secure attachment style? What does it mean to be anxiously attached to romantic partners? The term of the episode is Attachment Theory!
Article discussed:
Simpson, J. A., & Rholes, W. S. (2017). Adult attachment, stress, and romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 19-24.
Quiz: https://quiz.attachmentproject.com/
Email: thebraincorepodcast@gmail.com
Instagram...
2021-11-1544 min
The BrainCore Podcast22 - Neuroscience in Nigeria (with Ibukun Akinrinade & Mahmoud Maina)Congratulations to Rishik and Ashmita for winning the Brainstorm Jeopardy game! In this episode, Kristina and Tolu are joined by Nigerian Neuroscience researchers Dr. Ibukun Akinrinade and Dr. Mahmoud Maina. They discuss the issues that create barriers for neuroscience research in Nigeria. The issues include funding, lack of internal collaboration, outdated equipment, lack of graduate school opportunities, and more. They also talk about their involvement with TReND in Africa, an organization which helps to support African researchers and students. The term of the episode is Brain Drain.
BC Trivia Question: What was one of the findings from...
2021-10-1555 min
The BrainCore Podcast21 - A New ChapterTolu and Kristina are in two different countries!! They talk about the new chapters they're starting in their lives, new updates for the podcast, and what they see themselves doing in the future. They also briefly talk about elections, the water supply in Cyprus, and language barriers! The concept discussed is one of new beginnings. Don't forget to fill out our subscriber form!!
Email: thebraincorepodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: @thebraincorepodcast
Twitter: @thebraincorepod
Subscriber form! - http://eepurl.com/hHVqWf
2021-09-1543 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Twenty: Religion on the Brain (with Andrew Newberg)What does your brain look like when you're praying? Meditating? Conducting a ritual? These are the questions Dr. Andrew Newberg investigates with his research. On this episode, Kristina and Tolu discuss the field of Neurotheology and the implications of it. They talk about the difficulties that may arise from mixing the two, very different disciplines together (i.e., neuroscience and theology) and how to embrace the bidirectional relationship between them. Andrew's dog gives some wise insight at the beginning of the episode as well!. The term of the episode or TOTE is Neurotheology.
Dr. Newberg's Books (and...
2021-08-1552 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Nineteen: The Ghost as the Machine (with Peter Hampson)Perhaps the majority of those embedded in philosophy have heard of the "Ghost in the Machine" analogy, introduced initially by Gilbert Ryle. It is one piece of the puzzle that is the conversation on consciousness. In this episode, Tolu and Kristina are joined by Peter Hampson from Blackfriars in Oxford, UK. Peter has a unique take on the subject because he has acquired degrees in both psychology and theology. They discuss what a monist perspective looks like from a psychological and theological perspective. They also discuss how both disciplines can inform one another on a topic as complex as...
2021-07-121h 05
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Eighteen: The Lost Population (with Adrian Owen)To continue their conversations on consciousness, Tolu and Kristina are joined by Dr. Adrian Owen, a world-renowned neuroscientist, and Professor at the Brain and Mind Institute in London, Ontario. Back in 2006, Adrian's work showed that some individuals who were in a vegetative state could respond to questions with their brain activation - brain activation that could be viewed with an fMRI. In this episode, they discuss how this research informs the conversation on consciousness in disciplines such as philosophy and psychology. They also talk about the implications of the research on the legalities surrounding medical care and end-of-life care...
2021-06-2854 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Seventeen: The Brain and the Brain Alone! (with Patricia Churchland)First off, Tolu apologizes for the sound quality on her end - but what is podcasting without mic issues?
In this exciting episode, Tolu and Kristina start their two-month focus on the topic of Consciousness. They are joined by the knowledgable Patricia Churchland to discuss consciousness from a neurophilosophical point of view. Pat is one of the founders of Neurophilosophy and is a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of California, San Diego. The trio discusses the possible re-definition of a soul, how the consciousness conversation differs from discipline to discipline, how one can revel in t...
2021-06-1248 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Sixteen: The (Psycho)Drama of It All! (with Nikos Takis)Tolu and Kristina go all the way to Greece (virtually) to discuss psychodrama therapy with Dr. Nikos Takis. This month they aim to put the focus on their respective countries of origin: Greece for Kristina and Nigeria for Tolu. Together, they discuss the history of psychodrama, what a psychodrama therapy session is like and how certain concepts like myth can be incorporated into group sessions. The term of the episode or TOTE is Psychodrama!
Dr. Takis’ Article
Takis, N. (2018). Psychodrama and mythology in the service of addictions’ treatment: a case study. Zeitschrift Für Psychodrama Und S...
2021-05-1236 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Fifteen: A Walk Down Memory LaneIn this episode, Kristina and Tolu discuss their previous episodes and highlight their favourites so far. They also talk about how they felt at the start of their podcasting journey and how they feel now. Towards the end, they also talk about what the future may hold for the Braincore name! This is just a short episode to wrap up the school year and so there's no term of the episode.
Email: thebraincorepodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: @thebraincorepodcast
Twitter: @thebraincorepod
2021-04-2648 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Fourteen: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway! (with Brooke Vick, Nick Rule and Linda Tropp)How do you begin to feel like you belong in a certain environment? A specific position? A new job? How can you start to internalize your successes when they occur? In this episode, Tolu and Kristina tackle the Imposter Phenomenon, better known as Imposter Syndrome. They are joined by Brooke Vick (Associate Provost at Muhlenberg College), Nick Rule (Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto), and Linda Tropp (Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Massasuchetts Amherst). They all discuss the origins of their imposter feelings, how they have learned to work through them, and how we...
2021-03-221h 02
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Thirteen: The Fool Doth Think He is Wise (with Richard Addante)This March, Tolu and Kristina take a deeper dive into psychological phenomena. To start the dive, they are joined by Professor of Psychology at the Florida Institute of Technology, Dr. Richard Addante. In this episode, Rick explains the Dunning-Kruger Effect or DKE. He also briefly explains his role in NASA's largest psychology for space travel. Have you ever underestimated or overestimated your abilities to do something? How do you find your personal balance between confidence and humility? The term of the episode or TOTE is the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
Article Discussed:
Muller, A., Sirianni, L. A., & A...
2021-03-1252 min
The BrainCore PodcastBonus Episode Three: No Impact Too Small (with Chloe Duckworth)A haptic wristband that can convert emotions into vibrations, an app that tracks important data from dementia patients, and a group distributing medical and sanitary supply kits in the Bay Area. All of these initiatives have been co-founded by student entrepreneur Chloe Duckworth. To finish up our month's focus on neurotechnology, we invited Chloe, a sophomore (second-year student) at the University of South California, to discuss her involvement and interest in neurotechnology. We want to express to students that there truly is no impact that is too small and that you can start your own projects now. The term...
2021-02-2829 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Twelve: A Dive into Neurotech (with Adam Molnar)Neurable is a company that is trying to improve our ability to focus on tasks and get things done. They're doing this with the help of neurotechnology! In this episode, Tolu and Kristina are joined by a co-founder of Neurable, Adam Molnar to discuss what Neurable is up to. They talk briefly about the technologies used in the company's upcoming product, the future of work, and what we can expect to see from the company soon. The term of the episode is brain-computer interface or BCIs.
Neurable's website:
https://neurable.com/
Email: thebraincorepodcast...
2021-02-2226 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Eleven: The Rise of the CyborgBionic eyes, Neural dust, Neuralink...Tolu and Kristina ease into February by taking an overview of the neurotechnology field. What is artificial intelligence being used for? Could AI benefit mental health professionals in the future? What can we expect from Elon Musk's Neuralink product? Neurotechnology is a relatively new field, one which is a combination of many other disciplines - should we expect the rise of intersecting post-secondary programs (e.g., Neuroscience and Engineering)? Who is investing in the neurotech field and what might be their motivations? The term of the episode is Neurotechnology.
Neurotech Paper
Müller, O., & Rotter, S...
2021-02-121h 09
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Ten: You Know the Vibes! (with Keith Kirkland)Tolu and Kristina talk about haptic technology with co-founder of WearWorks, Keith Kirkland. Visually, the colour red signals 'stop' or 'danger', but what is the haptic equivalent of red? Does it exist? What can a multisensory experience look like with haptics as the lead, and visual and auditory technology as the enhancers? How does psychology inform the engineering process of a product like the Wayband, a product which helps the visually-impaired navigate the world with vibrations? Toward the end of the episode, they touch on why failure is the best opportunity to learn and improve. The term of the...
2021-01-2258 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Nine: The Traumatized Brain (with Dr. Matthew J. Friedman & Dr. Matthew J. Girgenti)PTSD! What is it and how can analyzing brain tissue inform future treatments for it? Tolu and Kristina are joined by PTSD expert, Dr. Matthew J. Friedman and Dr. Matthew J. Girgenti, an Associate Research Scientist from the Yale School of Medicine. In this episode, they talk about transcriptomics, proteomics, PTSD treatments, and immunology. They also talk about the sex differences found in PTSD brains. Kristina's movie recommendations are: Leave No Trace, American Sniper, and The Flags of Our Fathers. The term of the episode (TOTE) is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, otherwise known as PTSD.
Matt & Matt’s Art...
2021-01-121h 02
The BrainCore PodcastBonus Episode Two: Tara's Story - Living with Depression (with Tara Goodale)A bonus episode to end the year! Tara Goodale joins Tolu and Kristina to talk about her experience living with depression, and her experience with anorexia and bulimia. It is likely that all of our listeners know someone who has or is suffering from depression. In this episode, Tara shares with us how she has managed it over the years with therapy, medication, and social support. What can you do for a friend with depression? What role does social media play in helping or destabilizing one's mental wellbeing? How accessible are resources? How can we overcome the self-made barriers...
2020-12-2846 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Eight: Something's Missing...Exploring Schizophrenia’s Negative Symptoms (with Isabelle Butcher)In this episode, Tolu and Kristina take the conversation all the way to the UK to discuss the negative symptoms of schizophrenia with Isabelle Butcher, a Ph.D. student at the University of Manchester. What are negative symptoms? How can one feel...but also not feel? How do these symptoms differ from person to person? How do patients with schizophrenia think their symptoms came to be? All of this is discussed in this short but sweet episode. Tolu's movie/book suggestion is 'A Beautiful Mind' and the term of the episode or TOTE is Schizophrenia. We hope you are...
2020-12-2239 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Seven: An Inside Look - The Waves of Therapy (with Christine Knox)In this episode, Tolu and Kristina talk with Christine Knox, a professional in the field of both social work and psychotherapy at the Toronto Neurofeedback and Psychotherapy Centre. They talk about about how therapy has been impacted by the pandemic, what the future of therapeutic treatments may look like and what a holistic approach looks like in therapy. What is neurofeedback therapy? Why can you control objects on a screen with your brainwaves? How can neurofeedback help with anxiety, ADHD, and more? The term of the episode or TOTE is Neurofeedback.
Check out the TNPC website to l...
2020-12-1231 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Six: These Damn Flashbacks! (with Dr. Myra Fernandes & Ryan C. Yeung)Tolu and Kristina take a deeper dive into the topic of memory with Dr. Myra Fernandes and her PhD student, Ryan C. Yeung from the University of Waterloo. How many different kinds of memory are there? What are Proustian memories? Are there better ways to analyze qualitative data? Does a specific form of memory give insight into mental health...say recurrent involuntary autobiographical memories (IAMs)? Recurrent IAMs are the term of the episode or TOTE! This was a fun and enlightening conversation - which actually ends with advice for students who aren't sure what they would like to do...
2020-11-221h 08
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Five: To Misname or be Misnamed (with Dr. Samantha Deffler)As the U.S. election results pile in, Tolu and Kristina take a break from the news to have a chat with York College of Pennsylvania psychology professor, Dr. Samantha Deffler. They have decided to dedicate November to Cognitive Psychology! Have you ever been misnamed by someone familiar to you? Have you ever been the misnamer? Why is it more likely to mix up the dog's name with other family members than the cat's name? The term of the episode (TOTE) is semantic memory.
Dr. Samantha Deffler’s article:
Deffler, S. A., Fox, C., Ogle, C...
2020-11-1233 min
The BrainCore PodcastBONUS Episode One: Are You WEIRD? (with Dr. Sawa Senzaki)Tolu and Kristina, joined by the knowledgeable Dr. Sawa Senzaki from the University of Wisconsin, Green-Bay, delve into the discussion of WEIRD cultures. Why is it so important for psychological research to expand beyond WEIRD populations? What tips can help further the research in new communities? Tolu, Kristina, and Sawa also provide insight into their respective Nigerian, Greek and Japanese cultures in this very enlightening episode. The term of the episode (TOTE) is the acronym WERID.
Dr. Sawa Senzaki’s Article:
Masuda, T., Batdorj, B., & Senzaki, S. (2020). Culture and Attention: Future Directions to Expand Research Bey...
2020-10-3153 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Four: The Evolving BrainTolu and Kristina discuss the case of the Romanian orphanages. Is it possible that childhood deprivation can impact brain volume? Further, can enrichment and movement to another environment improve delayed development? They talk siblings, growing up and how one's tendency to emulate others decreases as time goes on. The term of the episode (TOTE) is neuroplasticity.
Journal Article Discussed:
Mackes, N. K., Golm, D., Sarkar, S., Kumsta, R., Rutter, M., Fairchild, G., ... & Sonuga-Barke, E. J. (2020). Early childhood deprivation is associated with alterations in adult brain structure despite subsequent environmental enrichment. Proceedings of the National Academy o...
2020-10-2230 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Three: Chamber of Isolation (with Dr. Carissa Cascio)Tolu and Kristina are joined by Dr. Carissa Cascio who teaches at Vanderbilt University to discuss the importance of social touch on human development. What is social touch? How does it influence our daily activities? How has the pandemic impacted our ability to engage in social touch? Two, chilling experiments are also described at the start of the episode to complement the month of October. The Term of the Episode (TOTE) is social touch.
Dr. Cascio's Article:
Cascio, C. J., Moore, D., & McGlone, F. (2019). Social touch and human development. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 35, 5-11. https://doi.o...
2020-10-1235 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Two: Isn't It Ironic? (with Dr. Michael Inzlicht)Tolu and Kristina discuss the possible ironic effects of anti-prejudice interventions with Dr. Michael Inzlicht, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Is it possible these interventions may actually end up increasing prejudice? They also talk briefly about the Implicit Association Test. Does the test actually produce reliable and valid results? The terms of the Episode (TOTEs) are Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation.
Dr. Inzlicht's Journal Article:
Legault, L., Gutsell, J. N., & Inzlicht, M. (2011). Ironic effects of antiprejudice messages: How motivational interventions can reduce (but also increase) prejudice. Psychological Science, 22(12), 1472-1477. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0...
2020-09-2242 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode One: Breaking Down Layers of Bias (with Dr. Regan Gurung)In this episode, Tolu and Kristina discuss the interplay between the perception of others through clothing and racism. Why do certain outfits on others instil a feeling of warmth or danger in us? How can we become aware of our own internal biases? What should we all be wary of in shows like the Money Heist? All of this is discussed with special guest and professor of Psychological Science at Oregon State University, Dr. Regan Gurung. Term of the Episode (TOTE): Implicit Bias
Dr. Gurung's Journal Article:
Gurung, R. A., Stoa, R., Livingston, N., & Mather, H...
2020-09-1239 min
The BrainCore PodcastEpisode Zero: The GenesisTolu and Kristina talk about who they are, why BrainCore exists, and what they hope to achieve with this new platform. Why is research a little hard to get into? How can BrainCore make things a little easier to understand? The term of the episode (TOTE) is Heuristics - referring to mental shortcuts or rules of thumb.
Email - thebraincorepodcast@gmail.com
Instagram - @thebraincorepodcast
Twitter - @thebraincorepod
2020-08-2117 min