Finding Genius Podcast

It's a procedure most people end up needing, and one that almost everyone dreads: wisdom tooth removal. But aside from the puffy cheeks and pain and misery that follow, there's one other drawback that accompanies the standard protocol and actually threatens lives: the use of highly addictive narcotics for surgical and post-op pain management. Dr. James Babiuk has been a practicing oral surgeon in Chicago for about 25 years now, and over time he's noticed a marked increase in the number of people who have become reliant upon heavy-duty and highly addictive narcotics for pain management. He's seen first-hand how something as benign as a shoulder injury or back pain can result in long-term use of heavy narcotics for pain management and eventual addiction. As he began digging deeper into research regarding opioid use in the medical field, he learned that most people's first exposure to narcotics is during and after wisdom tooth removal; this compelled him to take action. Dr. Babiuk set out to alter his technique in a way that would allow him to perform wisdom tooth extractions without the use of IV narcotics and without having to prescribe narcotics for post-op pain management. This might initially sound impossible, but Dr. Babiuk has made it a reality—one that's proving to be incredibly effective. Rather than follow the standard protocol which is to expect and alleviate the pain associated with wisdom tooth removal, Dr. Babiuk's approach focuses on reducing the cause of the pain, which is simply inflammation. He joins the podcast to discuss all of this and more, including the need for medical providers to receive narcotic education and the long-term goals for his practice. For more information, reach out via email at info@wisdomteethjoliet.com, visit wisdomteethjoliet.com, or call 815-254-1560.

Micah Hollingworth, co-founder and CEO of BROADWai (broadw.ai), delivers an overview of the current state of special event ticketing and the technology that drives it. Hollingworth is a seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in creating, operating, and marketing live events. His innovative entrepreneurial skills include strategic planning, fundraising, and execution. And with an intensive fascination for all things technology it was inevitable that Hollingworth would launch another great tech-oriented business such as BROADWai. Hollingworth talks about the many and varied interests that led him to launch BROADWai, along with co-founder, Jon Scott. He describes his entrepreneurial spirit as a child and the love for live theater he developed that led him to his current career. Moving to NYC about 25 years ago set the stage for his total immersion in the theater world. The technology guru discusses the many challenges that people face when trying to purchase tickets for events. He states that difficulty in purchasing or reserving tickets for live events can often discourage ticket buyers, and providers may lose them to other events when the experience is arduous. Hollingworth explains how their technology platform works, and how it provides a smooth, efficient process for ticket buyers. BROADWai's technology solutions assist customers with their total experience, helping them to navigate and effortlessly plan. The platform offers a valuable exchange between the guests and the Broadway community, a customized experience in one simple, single digital transaction that incorporates everything, from ticketing to parking, as well as preshow and postshow needs to provide real-time information regarding theater policies and so much more. Hollingworth discusses their integration with other ticketing partners, and the events that they currently support. Hollingworth expounds upon the future of ticketing. He states that voice-enabled devices will be a part of their future because the voice-enabled tech market is exploding. And he talks about their voice clients that will be launching later in the year. Regarding their platform, BROADWai's AI/ML abilities continue to evolve during each conversation and with every question asked. Their innovative platform will set the bar high for competitors as BROADWai accelerates to the edge of technology and continually integrates the latest and greatest, in order to deliver a totally frictionless experience to the user.

"In biosemiotics, we say that the human ability to interpret signs—which is the ability to think really, to think creatively and adaptively and learn new things—didn't just emerge with animals; rudimentary sign reading emerged in the simplest forms of life with single-celled organisms," says Victoria Alexander, biosemiotician, Director of Dactyl Foundation, Fulbright specialist, and author of The Biologist's Mistress: Rethinking Self-Organization in Art, Literature, and Nature. What's biosemiotics, you ask? Alexander explains biosemiotics as the study of sign use in biological systems, where signs can be almost anything in the environment—a word, a pictogram, a smell, a sound, or a chemical gradient. Signs are intelligence; we can train a computer to read signs, but can we train a computer to interpret signs that depend on the context within which they exist? Answering this question is one aspect of the investigation into the differences between biological and artificial intelligence, which is what Alexander's work is currently focused on. She explains that biological cells don't just react to the chemistry around them, but interpret and respond to it. She goes on to explain how this underlies a system of interpretation that's related to random change in a way that's changing the direction of evolution. In this way, Alexander argues that it is within the organism that evolutionary agency is found and explained, rather than in the mechanisms of randomness and competition. Alexander offers an exciting and informative conversation that touches on a variety of topics, including metabolic pathways, the association of properties and the placebo effect, the idea that dysfunctional semiotic habits are the cause of some syndromes and conditions, cell differentiation, self-organization in nature, and butterfly wing pattern development. Press play to hear the full conversation.

Ilan Morad, Ph.D., founder, and CEO of Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd. (aebi-bio.com) discusses drug discovery and development on the cellular level. Morad has been fascinated with biology most of his life and began practicing molecular biology and biochemistry in 1984. He is a noted expert in gene cloning, protein engineering, purification, and characterization, as well as drug discovery and development. Morad's company, Accelerated Evolution Biotechnologies Ltd. (AEBI) is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company primarily engaged in the discovery and development of various therapeutic peptides and has developed an innovative combinatorial biology screening platform technology. Morad discusses the origin of his company, AEBI. He details their groundbreaking screening platform and explains how it works. Their platform provides functional leads to extremely difficult targets, not merely those that best bind with the target. AEBI's novel technology that goes by the name, SoAP, allows them to develop drugs for many illnesses, among them cancer, and Morad expects to completely transform the drug discovery R&D phase by seriously reducing the attrition rate of any new drug candidates. As Morad explains, peptides are microproteins. He elaborates on these and other building blocks and where they are produced and how. He discusses how they make large numbers of synthetic peptides and how they isolate them for research and development. Further, he expounds upon the roles of various peptides within the body. He discusses drug resistance, side effects of drugs, and cancer treatment. Digging deeper, he explains the properties of cancer and how the disease reacts to certain treatment, drugs, etc. Morad relates some of his thoughts on drug successes, such as the drug cocktail that has solved the problem of HIV for many patients. And as he states, drug cocktails are a possibility for other diseases. He details how cancer cells work and explains the related probabilities. The biology expert continues his discussion of cancer and peptides. He explains how toxic peptides can be utilized to poison cells and kill them very efficiently. This strategy shows great promise for future treatment. And he explains how immune systems work and how they recognize molecules, giving special attention to how cancer cells are targeted. Wrapping up, Morad talks about the expectations for his company and the areas they are expecting to make strides in as they move into the future. Finally, Morad talks about upcoming clinical trials and his expectations for the new cocktails and peptides.

In his early twenties, Damien Blenkinsopp lived a nomadic lifestyle, rolling with life's punches and going in whatever direction it seemed to take him. But when it took him to Thailand, it presented something which would change him forever: a mysterious illness that would leave him intermittently bed-bound and battling symptom after symptom for years on end. No matter how many specialists he visited, he couldn't get an answer as to what was going on with his body. Not many of us have found ourselves in such a position, but the prospect terrifyingly begs the question: where would we turn for help? Forced to answer this question for himself, Blenkinsopp embarked on a journey filled with research, self-experimentation, and conversation with any and every scientist or layperson who might provide some insight. Along this journey, Blenkinsopp created The Quantified Body, a podcast that he used as a tool for collecting information and anecdotal evidence. Having tried countless avenues of potential relief, Blenkinsopp can attest to his personal success with two things: the ketogenic diet and the fasting diet. He has since founded Ketosource, a website dedicated to providing others with the information and insight he's learned throughout his journey, which continues to this day. Blenkinsopp has a one-of-a-kind story that is simultaneously inspiring and intriguing, informative and enlightening. Press play to hear all the details, including his advice on navigating medical systems that fail to provide diagnoses, the fasting mimicking diet, and how to take back control of your health by harnessing the power of data. For resources, check out his podcast and visit ketosource.co.

Jack Rubinstein, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Cincinnati discusses his medical thriller, The Perfect Dose, and how it relates to real-world problems in the healthcare industry. Dr. Rubinstein is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the greater Cincinnati area, including Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Dr. Rubinstein talks about his book, The Perfect Dose, which is a medical thriller that highlights corruption within the healthcare system, and those who threaten scientific progress. He outlines his reasons for writing the book, specifically mentioning that he thought a fictional thriller with interesting characters and story would establish a stage for societal dialogue regarding the very real, demonstrable problems within the American healthcare system. He discusses the case of Martin Shkreli, the much-maligned, now imprisoned American businessman and former hedge fund manager who sent shockwaves across the country when he raised drug prices thousands of percent. He uses Shkreli as an example of the constant battle in the industry—helping the most people possible versus helping shareholders of pharmaceutical companies make large profits. Dr. Rubinstein points out that many drugs are funded by the government agency, National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds academia that conducts much of the research that leads to new drug development. Then drugs are often licensed to pharmaceutical companies who may charge a very high price for the drug as they sell it back to taxpayers, the very people who funded the drugs in the first place. Dr. Rubinstein discusses many of the drugs and medical issues in his spectrum of study. He studies select drugs that have had success in specific areas of medicine and through his research has repurposed some of them for cardiovascular issues such as heart failure. He delves further into the off-label uses of many prescription drugs. Further, he expounds upon how his book highlights many issues in the American system versus other countries outside of the US. Dr. Rubinstein talks about his experiences caring for other doctors and their family members. He speaks extensively about what makes a doctor a good doctor, and the systems and standardized treatments that play a part in reputation.

Dr. Alan Christianson is one of America's revered naturopathic physicians and the bestselling author of several books, including The Metabolism Reset Diet, the celebrated book that teaches its readers how to repair the liver, stop storing fat and lose weight naturally. Dr. Christianson, or Dr. C as many of his patients call him, provides an interesting overview of the many factors that influence good health. Dr. Christianson is a naturopathic medical doctor, a specialist in natural endocrinology who focuses on thyroid disorders. He is extremely passionate about bringing life-changing medical information to his patients and the general public alike. Specifically, he discusses the power of diet and how it can absolutely affect your body's hormones. An understanding of these issues provides insight into the many interrelated issues of diet, weight, and hormone balance. The naturopathic physician talks about the personal journey that led him to his career path. Afflicted with cerebral palsy and seizures, abysmal coordination, and the onset of obesity, Dr. Christianson had many medical and physical struggles as a child. His struggles pushed him to learn more and shift his lifestyle, which led to a new physical life and career path as well. He talks about eating well, and being active, and discusses the studies in medical school that he found particularly intriguing, such as thyroid and adrenal problems. Hormones, endocrinology, and the connection points between lifestyle and health are the basis of his intensive study. Dr. Christianson goes deep into an analysis of thyroid issues and explains the many problems that people can and do experience regularly. He talks about compounded thyroid medicines, and Dr. C discusses T3 in detail. As he states, T3 is a thyroid hormone that is often overlooked in basic lab work. And measuring T3 is critically important for understanding the complete functionality of the thyroid. He talks about the many medical issues that patients struggle with and how his doctors diagnose and treat the myriad of complex thyroid issues. Dr. C underscores the importance of optimizing blood levels and taking a serious look at everything that patients are putting in their bodies, even down to the vitamins that they are taking, some of which could even block thyroid function for those being treated. From circadian rhythms to diet, hormones, and the importance of iodine, there are many impacting factors that will definitely influence health, and Dr. Christianson seeks to spread this important knowledge to everyone, to improve lives and health.

The power of gene editing is putting nutritious, convenient produce in the hands of people who otherwise might not have access to it. Ryan Rapp is the head of product discovery at Pairwise, a company whose mission is to utilize gene editing technology to explore collaborations focused on gene editing in the production of real crops, such as cotton, corn, and soybeans, as well as the accessibility of healthy produce options for consumers. Still, in the exploratory phase, the team at Pairwise is looking into how to help plants make the transition to the lab, which tools in the gene editing process are most efficient and effective for their goals, and how to overcome the challenges presented. Rather than trying to breed new crops, the team at Pairwise has been focused on improving those that already exist in order to bring spectacular options to consumers. There are many products out there that hold great potential but suffer from one or more hang-ups—perhaps it's the taste, the convenience, or the production system. Regardless of what it is, the team at Pairwise is dedicated to fixing it and maximizing consumer satisfaction. Rapp provides a few examples of real-world results of the type of work they're aiming to accomplish, discusses how the production of 'baby' carrots has significantly increased the general consumption of carrots, explains what drives their work, and what makes a plant a good food source for human food production. Interested in hearing more? Press play and check out their website at pairwise.com.

As shown by many studies, a major commonality among chronic insomniacs is nighttime temperature dysregulation, preventing them from falling asleep. After beginning to explore additional research on the relationship between body temperature and sleep, it didn't take Nicolas Roux too long to realize that temperature plays a key role in the ability to obtain quality sleep and to realize that this is a seriously underrated consideration in the area of sleep health. He's now the head of marketing at Moona, a company established in 2016 with the goal of developing a solution for poor sleep—something which is reported by over a third of the global population—by manipulating people's experience with temperature before, during, and while waking from sleep. So, how are they doing it? The team at Moona has created a pillow insert that rests in the space between a pillow and pillow case that's designed to change temperature based on the needs of the user. The insert is connected to a bedside device that provides a constant, quiet flow of water at just the right temperature and at just the right time for an individual user. For example, cooler temperatures might be provided as someone tries to fall asleep because cooler temperatures facilitate the ability to fall asleep, and warmer temperatures might be provided before someone wants to wake up since they facilitate the ability to wake from sleep gradually and naturally, rather than jarringly from a loud alarm clock. The device is backed by AI-driven software that will provide temperature suggestions based on an individual's sleep history data, and this is something which will only improve with an increasing amount of user data. This product is still in the beginning stages and there are currently only a limited number of prototypes, but feedback from user testing has been very positive, with almost everyone reporting the ability to fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer. Roux joins the podcast to discuss all the details, including his own experience with the insert. Interested in learning more? Press play and check out the website at en.getmoona.com.

Andrew Koutnik, biomedical researcher, discusses cancer cachexia, wasting in general, the impact of inflammation within the body, and various other issues. Koutnik is a seasoned researcher. His notable and extensive work studying nutrition and metabolism and their combined impact on health, disease, and even performance has generated much interest in the scientific medical community. He is actively involved in biomedical research with the Metabolic Medicine Lab at University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Koutnik provides an overview of cancer cachexia, which he describes as a multi-factorial, dynamic, systemic wasting syndrome. And surprisingly, Koutnik states that in spite of its long history, the condition currently has no standard of care. Cancer cachexia is often characterized by a loss of skeletal muscle mass, sometimes with fat loss, that cannot be completely reversed by conventional and standard nutritional support and can result in progressive and significant functional impairment. Koutnik explains anabolic signals and synthetic responses as well as inflammatory responses. As he states, inflammatory signals may be inhibiting the synthesis response in the muscle. Koutnik explains, by citing specific examples, the ways in which atrophy is initiated, and why it occurs. And with up to 20% of cancer patients dying of this disease, it's clear that advanced research is needed ongoing. The biomedical research expert discusses the process of fasting and how it affects the body. And he provides information on past research and recorded studies on ketone bodies. Koutnik explains why adipose tissue is not always used first as an energy source during fasting. He states that in a normal, healthy response to a fasting scenario or carbohydrate restriction, adipose tissue, over time, becomes a preferential fuel. He explains that while fat is a very important fuel that we also need to use intermediary metabolites. Simply defined, metabolites are the intermediate products of specific metabolic reactions that are catalyzed by select enzymes that naturally occur within the cells. Koutnik goes into detail on inflammation issues that relate to atrophy, as it is an underlying current in many of these cases though it may not always be rapid. He talks about his theories on how the body sees and understands subtle information it is receiving regarding atrophy issues. And ultimately, he states that from a physiological perspective the body will always do whatever it can to survive. Koutnik continues his discussion on ketones. He cites various studies that provided new and significant information on ketones and specifically, exogenous esters. He explains how antioxidant responses are related to ketone presence. He states that much of the work in this area has been implemented in rodent-based studies, and now the desire is to try to translate these studies to the human scenario, and more research is needed to understand the compatibility with previous studies.