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Incredible Mind

Michelle Cross Smith 8 Episodes Sep 17, 2026

In this podcast, host Michelle Cross Smith interviews neuroscientists, psychologists, doctors, artists, and others to explore the workings of the brain. Each episode offers insights into how you can tap into your unique intelligence and engage your natural brilliance. The conversations focus on simple, practical ways to understand and improve mental function. It is a show for anyone curious about the science behind the mind and how to apply it to daily life.

Episodes

Made of Clay: Simon van der Ven Sep 17, 2026 00:33:13 What does it mean to be an artist in today’s world? How do you practice your art and survive? This episode features Simon van der Ven, ceramicist and owner of van der Ven Studios. Siem walks us through the life of an artist-craftsman, the ceramic process, and what it means to follow a deep calling to create. If you know an aspiring artist, you’ll want to share this with them!Episode Guide0:00 Intr

The Invisible Art: Product Design with Cathy Bergstrom Sep 10, 2026 00:35:28 You interact with the human-made world every day, from apps and login accounts to furniture and supermarket checkouts. Behind all these things is a designer, crafting the product with your experience in mind. In this episode we hear from Cathy Bergstrom, a Director of Product Design with deep knowledge of the process. If you want to learn how products are born, this episode is for you!Episode Guid

Leap of Faith: Second Chance Dance with Alyssa Bowser Sep 3, 2026 00:35:26 Alyssa Bowser’s Second Chance Dance offers true dance education to adults, providing both novices and experienced dancers the opportunity to learn and move in community with others. In this episode, Alyssa shares the unexpected way Second Chance Dance (SCD) came to be, why dance matters, and how people travel across state lines to fulfill their heart’s desire to practice ballet, modern, tap and ot

You Can Create: Zorana Ivcevic Pringle Aug 27, 2026 00:46:38 What would you like to create? Creative ideas come in many forms, from a screenplay to a new cookie recipe. While emotions can keep us from getting started or completing our work, we can harness our emotions to overcome a variety of creative challenges. In this episode, we hear from Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, author and Senior Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Zorana’s

The Neuroscience of Musical Narratives: Itamar Jalon Aug 20, 2026 00:34:40 How are music and imagination linked? Is it possible to transmit images and even stories using music? In this episode, post-doc researcher Itamar Jalon shares the mind-expanding research happening at the Music Cognition Lab, part of Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute. Whether you like neuroscience, music, or simply letting your mind wander, you’re going to love this conversation.Link to

Meet a Neurologist: Johnathan Reiner Aug 13, 2026 00:32:06 Today’s episode explores neurology, Parkinsons’s Disease, brain science and creativity with Dr. Jonathan Reiner, a neurologist who is also an artist. Johnathan specializes in Parkinson’s Disease, so our conversation explores neurology and brain science through the Parkinson’s lens, while also delving into movement and creativity as critical to brain health. Episode Guide0:00 Intro1:42 What is a

You Need to Act, Now: Thalia Goldstein Aug 6, 2026 00:44:38 From improv classes and stage acting to cosplay conventions, renaissance fairs, and sharing skits on social media, many of us love to act. In Episode 4 of Incredible Mind, Thalia Goldstein shares fascinating and widely applicable insights from her work on the 8 Acting Habits of Mind. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in psychology and its application in the real world. To check o

Neuroaesthetics: Soma Chaudhuri & Vasiliki Meletaki Jul 30, 2026 00:36:27 What is neuroaesthetics? Is it simply the study of aesthetic beauty, or can neuroaesthetics help shape a more positive experience of the world around us? This special episode takes place at the Neuroaesthetics Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where researchers Soma Chaudhuri and Vasiliki Meletaki share their knowledge and work on this intriguing topic. Due to some technical issues, the audio

Experiencing Art: Katherine Cotter Jul 23, 2026 00:32:49 Art is a widely accessible mood-booster, if we take the time to really look and reflect on an artist’s work. In this episode of Incredible Mind, Katherine Cotter, Associate Director of Research at the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at U Penn’s Positive Psychology Center, explains what happens in our brains when we look at art, what is meant by everyday creativity, and how experiencing ar

Your Brain on Music: Anna Palumbo Jul 13, 2026 00:35:23 What's happening in your brain when you listen to music? How about when you play music? Can music heal? In this inaugural episode of Incredible Mind, host Michelle Cross Smith gets you answers from Anna Palumbo, Research Manager at NYU's Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy.Episode Guide0:00 Podcast Intro and Episode Intro1:38 Anna introduces Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy3:54 Playin

Incredible Mind

Episodes

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