Finding Genius Podcast

Turn on the TV or flip through the latest celebrity magazine and you're almost guaranteed to find a blurb or picture of the latest botched plastic surgery or rumors about a celebrity's suddenly changed look. Why are these stories so commonplace—particularly the plastic-surgery-gone-wrong stories? Wouldn't these millionaire celebrities be able to afford the best out there? Dr. Howard David Stupak joins the podcast to provide his answer to these questions, discuss the ironic reality and misconceptions surrounding plastic surgery, and touch on a range of topics in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. He specializes exclusively in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face, head, and neck is board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is known for his delicate technique and natural-appearing results. To get in touch and find out more, contact Dr. Stupak's Connecticut-based private practice at 203-227-1826.

The Stoppel Lab at the University of Florida opened its doors and accepted its first Ph.D. student just a few months ago, but they're already knee-deep in an exciting endeavor which could aid in the repair of injured or diseased tissues in patients: designing natural material that has the same characteristics and structure of natural tissue and is constructed to match the wound healing rate of different patients with different injuries or illnesses. While other scientists may be working on similar projects, the Stoppel Lab is going about this in a unique way, by using a natural biopolymer extracted from the cocoon of silkworms. When these cocoons are washed, broken down into viscous solutions, and made insoluble, they can be used to create fully formed scaffolds which will be used in different tissue structures. The acellular platform being created has many beneficial characteristics that make it convenient for use in the surgery room. For example, it's easy to sterilize and easy to store, which means it doesn't have to be made on demand. Whitney Stoppel, Ph.D. runs the Stoppel Lab and joins the podcast to discuss all the ins and outs of the chemistry and physiology behind the work being done and the greatest challenges faced so far. Press play for the full conversation and visit www.stoppellab.com to learn more.

"Poor sleep is pervasive in our culture and is thought of as being…dispensable, and this has consequences that range from motor vehicle accidents to cancer," says Michael Howell, MD, and co-founder of Sleep Performance Institute. He's been practicing sleep medicine for years now and realizes all too well how many people don't consider their sleep challenges serious enough to seek help when in most cases all they need is a bit of knowledge and understanding in order to identify and fix their sleep issues. He also realizes the widespread impact of poor sleep on performance in general, and the Sleep Performance Institute focuses on helping organizations achieve their best performance by helping their employees achieve the best sleep. Dr. Howell offers an impressive amount of information on everything sleep, including natural circadian rhythms and how they vary from individual to individual, the circumstances under which overnight work schedules can be detrimental, the process of lymphatic clearance during sleep, what happens during REM versus non-REM sleep, circadian realignment strategies, why many people don't enjoy or aren't hungry for breakfast in the morning, and tips on achieving just the perfect nap. The team at Sleep Performance Institute is developing a web-based application that will help people better understand their natural circadian rhythm, which is the first step to achieving better sleep that's more aligned with the needs of individual bodies. Tune in for all the details and visit sleepperformanceinstitute.com for more.

Dr. Charles Samuels, M.D., CCFP, DABSM, is devoted to a good night's sleep—for everyone. He has committed many years to the study of sleep and recovery and in this podcast, he outlines the importance of sleep and what to do when our sleep is suffering. Dr. Samuels is a board certified sleep medicine expert, certified with the American Board of Sleep Medicine, as well as the medical director of the Centre for Sleep & Human Performance in Calgary. As a top researcher he has been a primary player in multiple clinical trials from Phase II to Phase IV, and he has worked with some of Canada's extraordinary athletes on their sleep and recovery. Dr. Samuels talks about his motivation for getting into the sleep research area, and he recalls a particular night in which he was driving on a low amount of sleep and nearly drove into a lake. From that brush with danger, he was alerted to the true power of sleep and the dangers of inadequate sleep in regard to performance. He decided to dig deeper and began to research more, which led to his development of a passion for sleep science. Dr. Samuels' lab, The Centre for Sleep & Human Performance, offers study and consultation for sleep apnea, sleepwalking, insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep phases, movement disorders, sports performance, etc. The sleep guru provides an overview of occupational medicine, and makes a point about workweeks, stating that companies should limit employees' workweeks to the 40 to 48 hours per week range to ensure their greatest chance for safety and good health. Dr. Samuels outlines proper training and recovery for professional athletes, and great options to help them recover, and maintain better overall health and extend their professional careers in their chosen sport or competition. As president of the Canadian Sleep Society, Dr. Samuels has a responsibility to public health and he works tirelessly to provide the general public with valuable information on sleep and recovery to help them help themselves—and achieve the best health possible.

Just like human activity has resulted in pollution on Earth, it's resulted in the pollution of the space around Earth, leaving large volumes of space debris in orbit—debris ranging in size from a few millimeters to dead satellites weighing thousands of pounds. While even the smallest sizes of debris pose the threat of colliding with active satellites and causing damage—indeed, a piece of debris measuring just 0.7 mm recently caused a European spacecraft to lose power—the larger items of debris pose the additional threat of what's called the Kessler effect, which occurs when the collision of objects in space results in a chain reaction that can eventually render an orbit nonoperational. Head of the European Space Agency (ESA) Clean Space Office, Luisa Innocenti, joins the podcast to discuss all the details of the problem with space pollution, catastrophic collisions, preventative measures that are currently being taken in order to avoid collisions, and two possible ways to clean up the orbits we so heavily rely upon one that involves a net, and one that involves the use of a robotic arm moving in synchronicity with space debris. Press play for the full conversation on these important topics and visit https://www.esa.int/ESA for more information on the ESA's current projects.

Author of Evolution 2.0: Breaking the Deadlock Between Darwin and Design, creator of the Evolution 2.0 podcast, and electrical engineer Perry Marshall joins the podcast today for a compelling and exciting conversation about everything life and evolution, offering his opinion on questions concerning the origin of new species and the origin of life. He discusses a variety of topics along the way, including plant versus animal hybridization, symbiotic mergers, the cognition and intelligence of cells, Donald Williamson's theory about metamorphosis, CRISPR gene editing, epigenetics, and emergent properties. The overarching and perhaps most surprising message of all is that the theory of evolution is in the process of being completely re-worked…leaving us to question nearly everything we've held true for decades. This isn't one to miss, so tune in and learn more at https://evo2.org/evolution/.

Zach Supalla, founder and CEO of Particle (particle.io), provides a detailed overview of how technology is improving the ways we can interact with and control our devices and products. Supalla's company, Particle, is the dominant IoT platform on the market that simplifies building, connecting and managing internet-connected hardware products rolled out on a large scale. IoT, as it is typically referred to stands for 'the Internet of things' and is the comprehensive network of devices such as home appliances, vehicles, etc. that contain electronics, software, actuators, and of course connectivity which allows them to connect, interact directly, and exchange their data. Particle's innovation has truly taken business by the hand and is leading the industry toward a more connected world. And their numbers are astounding as Particle is used by more than 150,000 developers in over 100 countries and, impressively, by 50% of Fortune 500 companies. Suppalla discusses the way his company works. Particle is the technology partner that provides the software and hardware to connect products to the internet, which allows for collection of data from the physical device and thus control it remotely. As mentioned, building an IoT product begins with getting a device online, Particle has simplified the process because all their hardware is specifically designed to get devices connected in minutes via Wi-Fi, cellular (2G/3G/LTE), or even mesh (MCL), a technology that allows a computer's user to easily connect to an advanced wireless mesh network that utilizes Wi-Fi or WiMax. Suppalla talks about some of the companies that they have worked with that bring real world problems to the table, problems that Particle can help to manage. He discusses one particularly interesting company called Opti that provides a truly effective and incredibly efficient solution to address stormwater runoff and protect valuable water resources. Opti's stormwater management system is in place all over the world. Opti, as Suppalla explains, has a system that can 'connect' to a city's pumps and valves to dynamically move water, so as a storm is approaching the system can move water around as needed. Opti allows for reservoirs to be controlled, to prevent flooding. Suppalla talks about some of the industrial uses of the technology such as controlling fans for crop protection during a frost. While these niche industries may seem like they are too small to be concerned with in terms of the technology, they are actually very big, and technology can provide many solutions to these niche industry real world problems. Further, Suppalla talks about the importance of reliable connectivity. He gives examples of how important and critical messages can be missed when connectivity is lost, even if only for a few minutes, or even seconds. Discussing the IoT world, he states that there are many and various different problems that exist and Particle seeks to intercept problems, find solutions, and improve our lives through the use of technology. Suppalla is a recognized authority on the Internet of Things and is a sought-after speaker for many technology events such as Web Summit, OSCON, Solid, GMIC, and Launch. Suppalla holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a master's in engineering management from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern.

Dr. Martin Scharf, Ph.D., FABSM, sub-investigator, research, and development consultant at Cleveland Sleep Research Center, delivers an overview of sleep research, and drugs for treatment of various illnesses including fibromyalgia. Dr. Scharf has a passion for sleep, and don't we all! A good night's sleep is one of the best experiences you could hope for, and unfortunately… something that many of us don't get consistently. Dr. Scharf's passion for sleep goes beyond simply wanting a great night's sleep however, as he has devoted his life to the study of sleep and works tirelessly to treat people at his clinic to help them achieve better health through quality sleep. Dr. Scharf began his sleep research at UCLA, where he worked under the direction of Dr. Anthony Kales, a true pioneer in sleep medicine. Dr. Scharf continued his education and received a Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University in Hershey. Throughout his long career, Dr. Scharf has had a hand in the development and testing of almost every significant pharmaceutical used in treating disorders of sleep and wakefulness. He has published over 250 scientific papers. Additionally, Dr. Scharf was the creator and director of a freestanding sleep disorders clinic in the US (Tristate Sleep Disorders Center), the first of its kind. Dr. Scharf discusses the many issues regarding fibromyalgia, its common symptoms and why the condition is misunderstood. Fibromyalgia syndrome may cause chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain that can often be associated with fatigue or other symptoms. The pain fibromyalgia sufferers feel often includes increased sensitivity in areas called tender points. Dr. Scharf provides details on the connection between fibromyalgia and the binding of Gamma. Gamma hydroxybutyrate, as it is called in its more formal name, abbreviated simply as GHB is a known chemical found in the brain as well as some other areas of the body. Gamma can also be made in a laboratory setting. It is used for depression, weight loss, and relief of several troublesome fibromyalgia symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. Dr. Scharf recounts his long extensive drug testing studies working with patients that led to a drug treatment for narcolepsy. But Dr. Scharf knew that GHB had further uses and he continued his studies. He recounts how he discovered that it increased deep stages of sleep and the release of growth hormone. Armed with this knowledge he began to look for medical conditions or disorders that would be a match and he made the connection to fibromyalgia. He talks about some of the amazing improvements that patients began to see in regard to better sleep and reduced or nearly eliminated pain. Further, the sleep research expert talks about his other studies and clinical trials that led to new developments and treatments. He recounts the moving stories of some of the patients that testified during FDA hearings regarding GHB. Many of those who testified stated that they never wanted to return to their life the way it was before treatment with the compound. He relates a wealth of information about the controversy surrounding the drug and why date rape concerns kept the drug from being welcomed into the legitimate medical industry for much longer than it should have been, given the fact that it showed profound and dramatic improvements in those who suffer from fibromyalgia.

Dr. Bruce Damer, scientist, designer, author, as well as founder and CEO of DigitalSpace (digitalspace.com), provides a thorough overview and analysis of the origin of life as well as his vast experimentation in the area of physics-based simulations for space research. Dr. Damer is a distinguished computer scientist and active associate researcher in the Department of Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Dr. Damer's work with Prof. David Deamer led to the publishing of "Coupled Phases and Combinatorial Selection in Fluctuating Hydrothermal Pools: A Scenario to Guide Experimental Approaches to the Origin of Cellular Life" and, an article in the journal, Life, "A Field Trip to the Archaean in Search of Darwin's Warm Little Pond." Their collaborative research, work, and publishing has created a surge of new interest in the subject of life's origin and kept the scientific community buzzing. Dr. Damer talks about the origin of life and his theories. He discusses Darwin's "warm little pond" theory, which Dr. Damer and Prof. Deamer have updated. As he explains, when you have a situation in which warm water is filling up an area, then draining, in a cyclical way, this creates an opportunity for life, an opportunity to make all sorts of biopolymers in a primordial soup as he refers to it. He discusses his research and experimentation that was able to create RNA, which is a necessary polymer of life. Dr. Damer's company, DigitalSpace is an innovative international corporation with a focus on the creation of virtual worlds for industrial design engineering, education as well as public outreach. In fact, it was DigitalSpace that produced notable first rounds of internet-based 3D avatar applications. From virtual events and tradeshows to advanced learning spaces for K-12 and college, complex corporate information sharing spaces for efficiency, and of course virtual worlds for artists, DigitalSpace is innovating in multiple industries. The science expert states that the barriers to creating lifeforms in a lab are time and the amount of experiments that would be necessary. He theorizes that life often tried to start then failed over historical time periods. He details random selection and mutation, and the power of a network. He describes in detail the network effect, and elaborates on progenotes, which are the last universal common ancestors, also called the last universal ancestor. Thus, as he theorizes our common ancestor was actually a network. Dr. Damer recounts many and various experiments that he has been involved with in regard to life and its origin. He provides a detailed overview of experimentation that has occurred regarding 3D modeling and physics-based simulations for a wide range of space missions, and he talks about their upcoming work with cubesats, which are miniaturized satellites for space research. Since the beginning of the 21st century, DigitalSpace has been an important player in key contracts with Adobe, NASA and other federal agencies, as well as prime contractors to produce a myriad of advanced virtual environments for space mission design and training, and so much more.

John O'Connor, founder of Gene Food (mygenefood.com), discusses the importance of diet and explains how our genetic composition is literally a road map that takes us to the diet destination our body prefers. John O'Connor is very passionate about nutrition, genetics, and startups. O'Connor discusses the idea behind his company, Gene Food—which is bio-individuality. As he explains, people are unique individuals and as such respond in their own specific way to different inputs. He talks about the current debate in the public discourse on diets, specifically paleo and vegan diets. O'Connor states that we have genetic differences as individuals, and thus there is a code that we can discover that will inform us about which type of diet will perform best, based on our unique composition. O'Connor discusses his company's custom algorithm that can parse someone's genetic data and assign them to one of about 20 different foundational diet categories. As an individual tailors their diet and lifestyle to their specific genetic makeup, they have a greater chance to look their best and perform their best, not to mention feeling better than perhaps they ever have. The Gene Food custom nutrition plan utilizes raw data from popular genetic information providers such as 23andme and Ancestry.com to design a custom nutrition report tailored to one's particular genetics. O'Connor discusses genetic variants and how diet plays an important role for everyone, specifically those who have increased risk for certain diseases, such as Alzheimer's and others. He discusses inflammatory response in regard to diet, and how certain diets affect those who are at increased risk for select diseases and conditions. He details the importance of being cautious about the types of fats that people consume, especially if they are genetically predisposed to have a higher risk of a type of disease. Many of these people should consider Omega 3s and polyunsaturated fats he concludes. The diet and nutrition expert provides and overview of SNPs which are single nucleotide polymorphisms, commonly pronounced as 'snips' in the scientific community. SNPs are the most typical type of genetic variation in people. Each individual SNP represents a difference in a specific single DNA building block, known as a nucleotide. Further, he delves into the many kinds of diets that they assign to their subscribers, and how their custom report provides a wealth of information on foods to avoid as well as foods to seek out, all based on one's internal genetics. O'Connor talks about the vision he has for his company and his future plans to roll out more health coaching, as the appetite for it is great based on the extraordinary volume of questions they receive on their blog daily. And O'Connor discusses physical environments and their impact on how one might react to food, discussing histamine intolerance and more. Interestingly, even one's selection of their social drink of choice could make a difference based on their histamine intolerance. So whether you order a beer, a gin and tonic, or a glass of red wine, your genetic report can inform you about which one is okay, and which is not. O'Connor's team seeks to end dietary dysfunction and find ways for every individual to eat better, in line with their genetic makeup, and feel better overall.