Best Autism Science Foundation Podcasts (2025)

1
Why science? 0:55

4d ago0:55

0:55

With the International Society for Autism Research underway and a new wave of misunderstanding about scientific evidence in autism, it’s time to think about what is science, how is it conducted, and why does it take so long? Who benefits from science and how? This is just the start, but gives a quick overview of why science matters to families affe…

1
#346 - Scaling biotech and improving global health: lessons from an extraordinary career in medicine | Susan Desmond-Hellmann, M.D., M.P.H. 2:05:50

4d ago2:05:50

2:05:50

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Susan Desmond-Hellmann is a physician and scientist whose remarkable career has spanned clinical medicine, oncology, biotech innovation, and global health leadership. In this episode, Susan shares insights from her jou…

1
#345 ‒ Chronic pain: pathways, treatment, and the path to physical and psychological recovery | Sean Mackey, M.D., Ph.D. 2:47:06

11d ago2:47:06

2:47:06

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Sean Mackey is a professor of pain medicine at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Systems Neuroscience and Pain Lab, where his research explores the neural mechanisms of pain and the development of no…

1
What's wrong with US healthcare and how startups can fix it, with Justin Mares 37:39

15d ago37:39

37:39

Matias and Greg interview Justin Mares, co-founder of TrueMed and Kettle & Fire on current US healthcare and how startups have the opportunity to change the system. In this episode, we discuss: How the US system profits from chronic illness Fixing the food system, environmental toxins, pharma incentives & more Opportunities for founders building in…

1
#344 - AMA #70: Nicotine: impact on cognitive function, performance, and mood, health risks, delivery modalities, and smoking cessation strategies 21:47

18d ago21:47

21:47

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter dives deep into nicotine—a topic increasingly debated both scientifically and publicly. He clarifies the critical differences between nicotine and tobacco, highlighting wh…

1
Microglia as a target for new interventions 36:06

19d ago36:06

36:06

There is a cell in the brain called the microglia which has been traditionally overlooked as a target for therapies. New research supported by ASF and @FraxAresearch suggests that altering the function of microglia in the brain may help support the development of healthy and functional connections in the brain that may be impaired in autism, making…

1
#343 – The evolving role of radiation: advancements in cancer treatment, emerging low-dose treatments for arthritis, tendonitis, and injuries, and addressing misconceptions | Sanjay Mehta, M.D. 2:12:12

28d ago2:12:12

2:12:12

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Sanjay Mehta is a radiation oncologist with over 25 years of experience, and is currently the president of Century Cancer Centers in Houston, Texas (drsanjaymehta.com). In this episode, Sanjay explores the rapidly evol…

1
Let’s talk about catatonia 45:40

1M ago45:40

45:40

Catatonia is a syndrome which includes immobility, stupor, and sometimes regression in psychiatric wellness or even ability to feed or take care of ones self. This syndrome is seen in autism about 10% of the time but is is often overlooked or misdiagnosed. This may be because the symptoms are relatively rare or because catatonia is harder to detect…

1
#342 ‒ Aging well: Peter shares strategies for improving longevity with residents at a senior living center 43:33

1M ago43:33

43:33

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this special episode of The Drive, Peter joins a unique conversation inspired by his daughter’s volunteer experience at a senior care center, where she formed meaningful relationships with residents curious about he…

1
#341 - Overcoming insomnia: improving sleep hygiene and treating disordered sleep with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia | Ashley Mason, Ph.D. 2:05:16

1M ago2:05:16

2:05:16

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Ashley Mason is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor at UCSF, where she leads the Sleep, Eating, and Affect (SEA) Laboratory. In this episode, Ashley provides a masterclass on cognitive behavioral therapy…

1
#340 - AMA #69: Scrutinizing supplements: creatine, fish oil, vitamin D, and more—a framework for understanding effectiveness, quality, and individual need 24:36

2M ago24:36

24:36

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) episode, Peter explores the complex world of supplements by introducing a practical framework for evaluating their effectiveness and relevance to individual health needs. Rather than pro…

1
Contextual Factors in Autism: What took us so long? 26:25

2M ago26:25

26:25

Contextual factors, or external factors, are environmental influences and can impact not just a diagnosis but the life course of a person with autism and their families. A recent commentary by autism researchers around the world highlights the importance of these factors and provides resources on how they can be collected in a rigorous, but accessi…

1
#339 - Unpacking trauma: How early wounds shape behavior and the path toward healing | Jeff English 2:02:11

2M ago2:02:11

2:02:11

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Jeff English is a trauma-focused clinical counselor with extensive experience working with adults, teens, families, and groups across various settings, including career counseling, life coaching, addiction recovery, pr…

1
#338 ‒ Peter’s takeaways on aerobic exercise and VO2 max, insulin resistance, rising healthcare costs, treating children with autism and ADHD, and strength training | Quarterly Podcast Summary #4 27:41

2M ago27:41

27:41

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this quarterly podcast summary (QPS) episode, Peter summarizes his biggest takeaways from the last three months of guest interviews on the podcast. Peter shares key insights from his discussions on diverse topics su…

1
Frontier investable areas in brain health with PsyMed Ventures 49:38

2M ago49:38

49:38

Matias and Greg sit down with Brooks Leitner, the newest venture partner at PsyMed Ventures, to explore the future of brain and mental health investing. Brooks, an MD/PhD with deep experience from Yale and the NIH, shares his insights on how a human-first approach is reshaping neuroscience innovation and venture investing. In this episode, we discu…

1
#337 - Insulin resistance masterclass: The full body impact of metabolic dysfunction and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment | Ralph DeFronzo, M.D. 2:26:40

2M ago2:26:40

2:26:40

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Ralph DeFronzo is a distinguished diabetes researcher and clinician whose groundbreaking work on insulin resistance has reshaped the understanding and treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this episode, Ralph shares insight…

1
Is folate an evidence-based treatment for autism? 19:00

2M ago19:00

19:00

Today’s #ASFpodcast explains the potential and the unknowns behind folate, known as leucovorin when prescribe, for treating autism. CBSNews reported on a “miraculous” study using leucovorin that will need further research before it lives up to the type. However, it is an example of how different biological markers may direct what treatments work be…

1
#336 - AMA #68: Fasting, well-balanced diets, alcohol, exercise for busy people, wearables, emotional health, assessing cardiovascular health, and more 27:29

2M ago27:29

27:29

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter tackles a diverse set of listener-submitted questions, covering a wide range of health and performance topics. He dives into assessing cardiovascular health, discussing ke…

1
#335 ‒ The science of resistance training, building muscle, and anabolic steroid use in bodybuilding | Mike Israetel, Ph.D. 2:51:18

3M ago2:51:18

2:51:18

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Mike Israetel is a sports physiologist, competitive bodybuilder, and co-founder of Renaissance Periodization, where he coaches athletes and professionals in diet and weight training. In this episode, Mike shares his jo…

1
An Explanation of Some of the Recent Scientific Research Announcements 18:14

3M ago18:14

18:14

The past couple of weeks have been a flurry of decisions involving government funding for research and health and wellness services. It’s been difficult to understand their impact without understanding the process in which science is evaluated for funding and policies around support of universities where the research takes place. In this podcast, w…

1
#334 - Cardiovascular disease, the number one killer: development, biomarkers, apoB, cholesterol, brain health, and more | Tom Dayspring, M.D. 2:17:37

3M ago2:17:37

2:17:37

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Tom Dayspring is a world-renowned expert in clinical lipidology and a previous guest on The Drive. In this episode, Tom explores the foundations of atherosclerosis and why atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)…

1
Ep. 19: Stimulating the brain with Damien Fair 1:07:53

3M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

The MacArthur Foundation "genius" discusses his return to his home state of Minnesota and why it's important to protect the developing brain.

1
Temporal Interference: The Future of Brain Stimulation with Nir Grossman 22:07

3M ago22:07

22:07

Matias and Greg interview Dr. Nir Grossman, one of the world’s leading researchers in neurotechnology. Nir is a lecturer in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London and a founding fellow of the UK Dementia Research Institute. In this episode, we discuss: What is temporal interference (TI), a non-invasive stimulation method A comp…

1
#333 ‒ Longevity roundtable — the science of aging, geroprotective molecules, lifestyle interventions, challenges in research, and more | Steven Austad, Matt Kaeberlein, Richard Miller 2:41:39

3M ago2:41:39

2:41:39

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this special episode of The Drive, Peter introduces a brand-new roundtable format. Joined by three renowned experts in longevity science—Steven Austad, Richard Miller, and Matt Kaeberlein—the group explores the rapi…

1
How IQ impacts the “will do” of skills: adaptive behaviors 32:10

3M ago32:10

32:10

On this week’s podcast, Dr. Elaine Clarke from @RutgersU discusses the role of adaptive behavior. This refers to the wide range of skills that a person with autism can exhibit. Can they hold a conversation? Dress themselves? Prepare a meal? These sets of skills are strongly influenced by cognitive ability. Dr. Clarke will talk about the link betwee…

1
#332 - AMA #67: Microplastics, PFAS, and phthalates: understanding health risks and a framework for minimizing exposure and mitigating risk 25:21

3M ago25:21

25:21

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter In this “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) episode, Peter tackles a topic that's been dominating headlines and sparking widespread concern: microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals, including BPA, PFAS, and phthalates. Pete…

1
Age-related brain changes in mice strike hypothalamus 'hot spot' 5:43

4M ago5:43

5:43

Neuronal and non-neuronal cells throughout the brain also express genes—particularly those related to neuronal structure and immune function—differently in aged mice, according to a new atlas.

1
Do Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Direct Current Stimulation help people with autism? The latest science here. 12:17

4M ago12:17

12:17

Two therapies that are meant to alter brainwave activity, called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation are receiving a lot of attention for potential efficacy in treating autism. They are non-invasive, which means treatment is provided on the scalp. While results vary, the overall evidence does not support th…

1
#331 ‒ Optimizing endurance performance: metrics, nutrition, lactate, and more insights from elite performers | Olav Aleksander Bu (Pt. 2) 2:16:12

4M ago2:16:12

2:16:12

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Olav Aleksander Bu is an internationally renowned sports scientist acclaimed for his coaching prowess with elite athletes spanning a diverse range of sports disciplines. In this episode, Olav returns to dive deeper int…

1
#330 – Autism, ADHD, and Anxiety: Understanding the rise in autism and a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment of each condition in children | Trenna Sutcliffe, M.D. 1:57:14

4M ago1:57:14

1:57:14

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Trenna Sutcliffe is a developmental behavioral pediatrician and the founder and medical director of the Sutcliffe Clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she partners with families to provide care for children faci…

1
We missed one for the 2024 year end summary: Proof of the importance of genetic testing in autism 27:41

4M ago27:41

27:41

It happens every year – this one belonged in the 2024 year end highlights but was published late in the year. Researchers at UCSD, UCLA and CHLA followed families with autism whose genetic test revealed a rare variant. Did it make a difference in care? Understanding? Referrals? If you are in need of a genetic test, here are some things to know: htt…

1
Building & Changing Habits | James Clear (#183 rebroadcast) 2:19:56

4M ago2:19:56

2:19:56

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter James Clear is the author of the New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits. His extensive research into human behavior has helped him identify key components of habit formation and develop the “Four Laws of Behavioral Ch…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Autism Science Foundation Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen