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Change Your Mind with New Scientist

New Scientist

25 episodes

Change Your Mind from New Scientist brings you the brain health advice you really need to know. Every week, award‑winning science journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson cut through wellness hype to find out what actually keeps your mind sharp, your mood steady and your memory strong. As friends, they’ve spent decades swapping stories, testing trends and exploring the latest neuroscience, and thought it was about time to share the tips and tricks that have genuinely changed their own lives. From cold plunges to coffee, supplements to sleep, Ozempic and AI they speak to leading experts and ask: does this really work? Expect smart conversations, clear answers, and practical takeaways - with plenty of laughs along the way. Because when you understand your brain, you really can change your mind - for the better.

More about the show

New Episodes every Thursday.

Episodes

  1. Does using AI deprive your brain of dopamine?

    · 12 min · Bonus

    Series 3 of Change Your Mind with New Scientist is on it's way! But we couldn't leave you with nothing whilst we put together our next batch of myth-busting interviews with top brain experts. Cat de Lange and Helen…

  2. Has social media left you desensitised?

    · 15 min · Bonus

    Bonus Brain Tips! Series 3 of Change Your Mind with New Scientist is on it's way! But we couldn't leave you with nothing whilst we put together our next batch of myth-busting interviews with top brain experts. Cat de…

  3. Your Brain Questions Answered: Lion’s Mane, Pets and Doodling

    · 38 min · S2 E10

    Can a growth mindset help you cope with exam pressure? Does writing by hand help you remember more? And what does the science really say about lion’s mane and pets? In this special listener Q&A, Cat de Lange and Helen…

  4. Exercise - What’s the right dose for your brain?

    · 42 min · S2 E9

    Exercise is often framed as a way to get fit, but what if its biggest benefits are happening in your brain? In this episode of Change Your Mind, Health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson explore why movement…

  5. Adolescence - What's going on with teenage mental health?

    · 39 min · S2 E8

    Is now really the worst time in history to be a teenager? This week, health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson take on a topic that worries many parents: teenage mental health. Helping them wade through the…

  6. The Vagus Nerve - Could this be the key to reducing your inflammation?

    · 41 min · S2 E17

    Feeling tempted by social media tips to “reset” your vagus nerve, fix your anxiety and banish inflammation? In this episode, Health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson dig into the science behind vagus nerve…

  7. Blue Spaces - How spending time near water can boost your mental health

    · 46 min · S2 E6

    Why do so many of us feel calmer, clearer and more creative by the sea, a river or a lake? In this episode, Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson dive into the science of blue spaces. Picking apart the theories behind why…

  8. Eco-anxiety - How to Cope with your Stress about Climate Change

    · 50 min · S2 E5

    If after a record-breaking summer of heatwaves our warming planet is weighing heavily on your mind, you are not alone. Climate anxiety is on the rise, especially among young people, but what makes it different from…

  9. Cognitive Reserve - How to Future-Proof your Brain

    · 41 min · S2 E4

    In this episode of Change Your Mind, Health Journalists Helen Thomson and Cat de Lange explore the science of cognitive reserve, the brain’s hidden resilience that can help delay the symptoms of dementia. They talk to…

  10. Ozempic: Could Weight-Loss Drugs have Surprising Brain Benefits?

    · 48 min · S2 E3

    In this episode of Change Your Mind with New Scientist, Health Journalists Helen Thomson and Cat de Lange dive into the headline grabbing class of drugs behind the Ozempic boom to ask what these medications are really…

  11. Rest - How Taking a Break Can Boost Your Brain

    · 43 min · S2 E2

    Are you getting enough rest? In this episode of Change Your Mind, health journalists Helen Thomson and Cat de Lange dive into the psychology and neuroscience of rest to find out how we can make the most of our…

  12. Caffeine - Could Your Morning Coffee be Protecting Your Brain?

    · 37 min · S2 E1

    Can your daily coffee actually be good for your brain, or should we be listening to the influencers who claim we need to cut it out? In this episode of Change Your Mind, Health Journalists Helen Thomson and Cat de…

  13. Bonus Brain Tips - How to Maintain your Friendships and how to use Sunlight to get Better Sleep.

    · 11 min · Bonus

    Series 2 of Change Your Mind with New Scientist is on it's way! But we couldn't leave you with nothing whilst we put together our next batch of myth-busting interviews with top brain experts. Cat de Lange and Helen…

  14. Bonus Brain Tips - How To Hack Your Nap and How to Beat Chronic Stress

    · 11 min · Bonus

    Series 2 of Change Your Mind with New Scientist is on it's way! But we couldn't leave you with nothing whilst we put together our next batch of myth-busting interviews with top brain experts. Cat de Lange and Helen…

  15. Q&A special: When do you really become an adult? Plus booze, bad sleep and more

    · 34 min · S1 E10

    Does your brain really stop developing at 25? How much damage does a bad night's sleep actually do? And if you stop drinking alcohol, can your brain recover? In this special listener Q&A, Cat de Lange and Helen…

  16. Smell - The Surprising Link Between Olfaction and Dementia

    · 41 min · S1 E9

    Our sense of smell is often dismissed as our less important than sight and hearing, but what if it’s quietly shaping our memories, mood and long‑term brain health? In this episode, Health Journalists Helen Thomson and…

  17. Solitude - How Time Alone Can Strengthen Your Mental Resilience

    · 44 min · S1 E8

    Health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson just want some time to themselves... but not everyone feels that way, for others moments alone can be deeply uncomfortable. Research shows that solitude could be…

  18. Microplastics - Are Tiny Plastics Harming Our Brains?

    · 46 min · S1 E7

    Microplastics can be found everywhere from freshly falling Antarctic snow to the bottom of the Mariana Trench and our brains are no exception. In this episode of Change Your Mind with New Scientist, Health Journalists…

  19. Brain Training - Can a Game really Protect You from Dementia?

    · 41 min · S1 E6

    In this episode of Change Your Mind, Science Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson ask whether brain training is finally shaking off its flaky reputation and if a simple computer game could really cut your risk of…

  20. Microbiome - Explaining how your Gut affects your Mood

    · 45 min · S1 E5

    What if the key to a healthier brain isn't in your head at all? This week on Change Your Mind, Health Journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson dive into the fascinating world of the gut microbiota, to ask whether…

  21. Manifesting - Is there any Neuroscience behind the Mood-Board?

    · 43 min · S1 E4

    Manifestation has gone mainstream. From vision boards and affirmations to TikTok trends promising abundance and success, millions of people believe they can turn their thoughts into reality. But is there any science…

  22. Cold-Water Swimming and Sauna - Can hot and cold therapies boost mental health?

    · 47 min · S1 E3

    If you’ve ever wondered whether the cold‑water swimming craze is a genuine brain booster or just a very chilly fad, this episode is for you. New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson plunge into the…

  23. Supplements - The Surprising Pill that Actually Helps your Brain

    · 43 min · S1 E2

    If the wellness industry has you wondering whether your daily supplements are helping your brain, or just draining your bank account, this episode is for you. New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson…

  24. Rethinking Anxiety - The Simple Shift that Changed my Life

    · 40 min · S1 E1

    In the very first episode of Change Your Mind, New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson tackle one of the most common, and misunderstood, mental health challenges: anxiety. Why do some people bounce…

  25. Welcome to Change your Mind with New Scientist

    · 3:21 · Trailer

    Change Your Mind from New Scientist brings you the brain health advice you really need to know. Every week, award‑winning science journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson cut through wellness hype to find out what…

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