“The brain wave is not just a scientific object—it’s a cultural one.” – Dr. Caitlin Shure

What is a brain wave? How “brain waves” became a metaphor for mind control, telepathy, and spiritual resonance. That’s the question we explore in one of the most surprising and thought-provoking episodes of the Thriving Minds podcast to date—with science journalist and technologist Dr. Caitlin Shure, whose PhD work traced the strange cultural journey of the brainwave from telepathy and spiritualism to modern neurotech and wellness wearables. Link to Episode #202: Brainwaves, Culture, and the Future of Healing.

It turns out this simple question—"What is a brain wave?"—unlocks a much deeper one:

A deceptively simple question—yet one that opens a portal into 150+ years of science, culture, and imagination.

The Rise (and Risk) of Neuroscience/Brain-Based Everything
Today, brainwaves are everywhere—from EEG sleep trackers and meditation headbands to marketing slogans and Instagram therapists. And yet:

• Most people don’t know what a brain wave is
• Many companies use “neuroscience” language without scientific rigour
• Consumers are caught between hope, hype, and helplessness

Caitlin and I discussed how this confusion reflects a crisis in our time:

👉 A loss of trust in science

👉 The exploitation of wellness culture

👉 The seductive myth that the mind can be “optimized” or “uploaded”

👉 And a growing yearning for something beyond both clinical reductionism and magical thinking

💡 Why This Matters Now
As someone who has studied the brain for three decades, I’ve seen how easily science can become siloed—or exploited. I've also seen how desperately people are searching for hope, healing, and clarity in an overwhelming world.

We’re overstimulated, overtired, and often overpromised.

But there's a way forward. And it’s not at either extreme.

🔄 The Middle Way is emerging as a necessary path. One that honours science and soul. Logic and lived experience. Data and deep feeling. This is how we build real health systems—ones that don’t just treat symptoms, but restore agency, belonging, and meaning.

🔗 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Have you ever used neurotech? Do you think science is losing (or gaining) trust in your community? What does a “Middle Way” look like in your work?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation in the comments or on LinkedIn

#Neuroscience #ThrivingMinds #ScienceCommunication #MiddleWay #EEG #BrainWaves #Healing #BrainHealth #WellnessCulture #Neuroplasticity #ScienceMeetsSoul #CaitlinShure #SelenaBartlett #TeamFlow #Syntony #Neurotech #HealthLiteracy

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com

For most of my career in neuroscience, I believed the brain alone governed who we are—shaped by genetics, evolution, and early life experiences. I trusted in the power of brain imaging and genomics to reveal the answers. But after decades spent mapping neural circuits, a deeper truth emerged:

We are not isolated minds in skulls. We are wired to connect.

In this episode, I explore the revolutionary science of interbrain synchrony—how our brains light up in rhythm with others when we’re emotionally attuned, collaborating, or solving problems together. Thanks to researchers like Dr. Joy Hirsch, we now understand our ability to thrive may not reside solely in the brain, but between us.

As AI disrupts our workplaces and rewires our attention, we’re increasingly disconnected—from ourselves, each other, and our natural states of flow. But what if we could reclaim connection? What if the edge we need in this uncertain age isn’t more speed or knowledge, but more synchrony?

Drawing parallels from nature—like how fish shoal and school to protect, move, and thrive together—I share a new vision for leadership and learning: designing environments where team flow becomes the norm, not the exception.

This episode is an invitation to rethink intelligence, leadership, and the future of work—through the lens of relational neuroscience.

🔍 Topics covered:

• The neuroscience of interbrain synchrony
• Team flow vs. solo productivity
• How evolution and environment shape intelligence
• Why social intelligence is now our greatest asset
• Practical strategies for designing synchrony in your team
• The mindset shift we need in the AI era

🎧 Tune in to learn how to turn overwhelm into alignment—and why fish don’t swim alone, and neither should we.

#TeamFlow #Neuroscience #InterbrainSynchrony #Leadership #AIandHumanity #Synchrony #MindsetShift #FutureOfWork #PodcastEpisode #SocialBrain

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com

🎧 Thriving Minds with Professor Selena Bartlett welcomes Dr. Bruce Greyson, a pioneering psychiatrist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia, for a profoundly moving and scientifically grounded conversation on near-death experiences (NDEs) and the nature of consciousness. In this episode, Dr. Greyson reflects on his 40 years of research, the development of the Greyson NDE Scale, and his acclaimed book After, which explores what NDEs reveal about the mind, death, and what might lie beyond.

Together, they delve into the profound stories from Dr. Greyson’s clinical career, including verifiable accounts of consciousness during clinical death, and how these findings challenge the long-held assumption that the brain is the sole source of awareness. Dr. Greyson also shares how studying NDEs transformed his own scientific beliefs, why materialism may not offer all the answers, and how this research can reshape mental health, medical training, and how we approach grief, dying, and healing.

This is a conversation at the frontier of science and mystery, offering hope, humility, and a glimpse at the next revolution in understanding the human mind.

📘 After by Dr. Bruce Greyson is available now.

https://www.amazon.com.au/After-Doctor-Explores-Near-Death-Experiences/dp/1250263034
🎙️ Learn more at [Thriving Minds Podcast].

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com