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. New Episodes every Thursday.
What this show covers
brain healthneurosciencemental healthpsychologydementiamemorystresscoffeesleepstudyingcognitionbehavior changeexercisesmartphonesparenting
What listeners will find here
Brain myths, study habits and pets: a listener Q&A to close the season
This episode tackles listener questions on exam pressure, handwriting, doodling, lion’s mane and whether pets help your brain. Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson draw on neuroscience research to sort practical study advice from popular claims.
How much exercise does your brain actually need?
Exercise is the focus here, with an emphasis on mood, cognition and long-term brain health rather than fitness alone. Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson, joined by Brendon Stubbs, dig into what kinds of movement may help most and how much is enough to matter.
Teen mental health, smartphones and what actually helps
Teenage mental health is the focus here, with psychologist Lucy Foulkes unpacking why adolescence is such a vulnerable and longer-lasting stage than many people realise. The episode also questions smartphone panic and offers practical ways adults can better support teens.
Can vagus nerve stimulation really calm inflammation and anxiety?
The episode examines the science behind vagus nerve stimulation and the claims surrounding it. Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson speak with neurosurgeon Kevin Tracey about approved medical uses, the link to inflammation, and why many DIY techniques may be ahead of the evidence.
Why water seems to calm the mind—and how much you may need
This episode explores the science of blue spaces and why being near water can leave people feeling calmer, clearer and more creative. Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson examine effects on attention, stress, pain and long-term health, with psychologist Dr Mathew White discussing what large studies suggest about the benefits.
Episodes
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