Best Autism Science Foundation Podcasts (2025)

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The Science of Autism BrainNet 53:00

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1h ago53:00

53:00

This week’s ASF weekly science podcast features Dr. David Amaral, who directs the Autism BrainNet. The Autism BrainNet is a program that organizes the collection of post-mortem brain tissue and then distributes it to autism researchers worldwide to better understand the brains of people with autism. He discusses major scientific discoveries about t…

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562. What Do We Actually Know About Autism? | Sir Simon Baron-Cohen 1:37:18

7m ago1:37:18

1:37:18

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson speaks with psychologist and autism researcher Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen about the nature of empathy, systemizing, and the neurological basis of autism. This needed conversation explores how humans develop theory of mind, the differences between cognitive and affective empathy, and why some individuals gravitate toward systems ov…

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#356 - AMA #73: Preserving brain health, optimizing exercise programming, improving body composition, and more 17:21

9h ago17:21

17:21

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 addresses frequently requested topics, including brain health, exercise programming, and body composition. He explores the factors that influence dementia risk—including m…

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Congress Busts Carbon Budget, Climate Disruption Worsens Flood Risks, and America’s Rural Sanitation Crisis. 52:00

3d ago52:00

52:00

As the climate crisis brings ever more devastating floods, storms, heat waves and fires, the Republican-led Congress and President Trump have slashed around half a trillion dollars in clean energy tax credits that would have reduced climate pollution and helped America to better adapt to climate change. Also, catastrophic floods like the one that c…

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Neuropeptides reprogram social roles in leafcutter ants 6:50

3d ago6:50

6:50

The mechanisms that control the labor roles of ants may also be conserved in naked mole rats, a new study shows.

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561. Scott Adams and Jordan Peterson 1:15:20

4d ago1:15:20

1:15:20

In this deeply personal interview, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with Scott Adams, cartoonist and creator of Dilbert, to explore the unlikely paths that shape a life—from illustrating a nationally syndicated hit comic to fatal illness and facing the metaphysical. Adams shares stories of coincidence and perseverance, including how affirmations, s…

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Cancer Treatment Side Effects: How to Manage and Improve Survivorship 28:20

4d ago28:20

28:20

Cancer therapies can save lives, but they often come with tough side effects that aren’t always fully addressed. What side effects should you expect from cancer treatments – and how can you manage them? We sat down with Elizabeth J. Cathcart-Rake, MD, an oncologist at Mayo Clinic, to explore how these effects impact patients’ physical, emotional, a…

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Nature retracts paper on novel brain cell type against authors' wishes 4:23

5d ago4:23

4:23

A 2022 paper was retracted after an independent team of researchers reanalyzed the data and questioned its validity.

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Drosophila, like vertebrates, filter sensory information during sleep 5:06

6d ago5:06

5:06

Predictive sensory processing in sleeping Drosophila echoes vertebrate research, establishing an evolutionarily conserved neural signature of sleep.

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560. When Does Masculinity Become Toxic? | David French 1:08:09

7d ago1:08:09

1:08:09

Sparked by French’s recent New York Times article, “The Democrats’ $20 Million Man Problem,” he and Jordan Peterson discuss the societal failures contributing to male alienation—fatherlessness, loss of purpose, overmedication, and a culture that increasingly pathologizes masculinity. French shares personal insights as a father, veteran, and conserv…

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Navigating bone health: early life influences and advanced strategies for improvement and injury prevention (#214 rebroadcast) 1:31:43

7d ago1:31:43

1:31:43

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 episode from July 2022, Peter dives deep into the topic of bone health and explains why this is an important topic for everyone, from children to the elderly. He begins with an overview of bone mineral density,…

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Neuroscience's open-data revolution is just getting started 7:48

7d ago7:48

7:48

Data reuse represents an opportunity to accelerate the pace of science, reduce costs and increase the value of our collective research investments. New tools that make open data easier to use-and new pressures, including funding cuts-may increase uptake.

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Trump Faces Youth Climate Lawsuit, Tempered Hope for COP30, EPA Employees Speak Out and more 52:21

10d ago52:21

52:21

19-year-old Eva Lighthiser has experienced climate anxiety for most of her life, as her home state of Montana faces worsening floods, wildfires, and extreme heat. Now she and 20 other young people are suing the Trump administration over its efforts to boost fossil fuels while suppressing climate science and renewable energy. Also, ten years since n…

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559. How to Stop Europe’s Collapse: What We Can Learn from Germany's Mistakes | Christine Anderson 1:33:54

11d ago1:33:54

1:33:54

Member of European Parliament Christine Anderson joins Jordan Peterson to explain the cultural, political, and economic unraveling of Germany and the EU. Mass immigration, rising crime, deindustrialization and elite-driven climate policies—Anderson argues that Europe is collapsing under the weight of its own ideological delusions. She shares her pe…

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The Mouth-Body Connection: How Oral Health Impacts Your Whole Body 27:03

12d ago27:03

27:03

How does oral health affect your entire body? What is the oral microbiome, and how can oral bacteria trigger inflammation beyond your mouth? In this episode, we spoke to Nammy Patel, DDS, holistic dentist and leader of Green Dentistry, to dive into how gum disease impacts chronic conditions and autoimmune health. We also explore myths about oral he…

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Machine learning spots neural progenitors in adult human brains 6:31

12d ago6:31

6:31

But the finding has not settled the long-standing debate over the existence and extent of neurogenesis during adulthood, says Yale University neuroscientist Juan Arellano.

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558. The Snow White Disney Doesn’t Want You To Know 1:20:47

14d ago1:20:47

1:20:47

Dr. Jordan Peterson offers a psychological and cultural analysis of the Grimm Brothers' Snow White, using it as a lens to explore evolutionary biology, female status hierarchies, fertility suppression, and the pathology of the “evil queen” archetype. Drawing on research in primatology and cultural commentary, Peterson connects ancient folklore to m…

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#355 – Skincare strategies, the science of facial aging, and cosmetic-intervention guidance | Tanuj Nakra, M.D. & Suzan Obagi, M.D. 2:57:05

14d ago2:57:05

2:57:05

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter Tanuj Nakra and Suzan Obagi, two leading experts in aesthetic medicine, join Peter to explore the science of facial aging and skin health as well as the responsibilities physicians face in the world of cosmetic procedu…

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Helping science tell a story 54:59

16d ago54:59

54:59

This week’s podcast includes Storyform Science founders H. Adam Steinberg and Holly Kerby, both scientists who now help other scientists use storytelling to convey the importance of their findings to a broad community. Anyone can do it, and it is so important to help communicate to the public, convince policymakers to listen and granters to fund re…

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EPA Ignores Climate Dangers, From Plastic Trash to Art, and Just Earth: How a Fairer World Will Save the Planet. 52:29

17d ago52:29

52:29

This June the US Environmental Protection Agency proposed eliminating regulations that limit climate changing gases from power plants, about a quarter of US emissions. Harvard Law Professor Richard Lazarus speaks about the perils of the broader Trump administration effort to weaken federal environmental protections. Also, the ugly truth of plastic …

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Astrocytes sense neuromodulators to orchestrate neuronal activity and shape behavior 9:29

17d ago9:29

9:29

Astrocytes serve as crucial mediators of neuromodulatory processes previously attributed to direct communication between neurons, four new studies show.

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557. Balancing Pregnancy, Motherhood and Work | Riley Gaines 1:23:53

18d ago1:23:53

1:23:53

Riley Gaines returns to speak with Dr. Jordan Peterson about marriage, pregnancy, and what it means to pursue both motherhood and mission in a culture that tells women they must choose. Riley shares how her decision to keep fighting for women’s sports and biological reality has only deepened since becoming pregnant with a daughter—and why she refus…

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The 4-Hour Sleepers Redefining Human Limits with Ying-Hui Fu of UCSF 33:11

18d ago33:11

33:11

Matias and Greg interview Ying-Hui Fu, PhD, is a Professor of Neurology at UCSF and a world leader in the genetics of sleep. Her lab has discovered the first-known genes behind “natural short sleepers”. Her work bridges human genetics and neuroscience to uncover how to modulate sleep for brain health, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this …

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Aging in America: Improving the Care of Older Adults with the John A. Hartford Foundation 33:10

19d ago33:10

33:10

What does it mean to age with dignity in today’s healthcare system? What will it take to truly transform how we care for older adults in America? In this episode, the first of a six-part series, we explored the documentary Aging in America: Survive or Thrive, created by the John A. Hartford Foundation. We spoke with Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, pre…

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Spatial learning circuitry fluctuates in step with estrous cycle in mice 5:41

19d ago5:41

5:41

Cyclic shifts in estradiol levels coincide with changes in dendritic spine density and the activity of place cells in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, a new study shows.

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Expanded view of hippocampal function comes into focus 11:14

20d ago11:14

11:14

After decades of debate, the region's role is being rewritten. Rather than using sensory input to simply log key points in time and space, the hippocampus may serve to contextualize our experiences and memories-and ultimately make predictions about the future.

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Jordan Peterson Live on Tour: There Are Still Dreams Worth Chasing 58:40

21d ago58:40

58:40

In this live lecture from Omaha, Nebraska, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson weaves through biblical narratives and cultural critique—from Tolstoy’s suicidal despair to Moses’ encounter with the burning bush, from Cain’s failed sacrifice to James Bond as the symbol of romantic adventure. What do these stories have in common? What happens when we replace trans…

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#354 – What the dying can teach us about living well: lessons on life and reflections on mortality | BJ Miller, M.D. and Bridget Sumser, L.C.S.W. 2:16:00

21d ago2:16:00

2:16:00

View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter’s Weekly Newsletter BJ Miller, a hospice and palliative care physician, and Bridget Sumser, a licensed social worker specializing in serious illness and end-of-life care, join Peter to share insights from their decades of work supporting …

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Many students want to learn to use artificial intelligence responsibly. But their professors are struggling to meet that need. 8:23

21d ago8:23

8:23

Effectively teaching students how to employ AI in their writing assignments requires clear guidelines-and detailed, case-specific examples.

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Juneteenth and Striving for Ecological Justice 52:23

24d ago52:23

52:23

Just as the enslavement of people was driven by commercial interests, today the enslavement of nature for profit violates a morality that sees value in all living things, according to the Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, pastor of New Roots AME Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts and former Chief of Environment, Energy and Open Spaces for the City of Bo…

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The big idea with Diego Bohórquez 13:42

24d ago13:42

13:42

His theories around the neuropod have challenged the boundaries of classic ideas regarding gut-brain communication.

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556. How Social Media Is Wrecking Kids' Lives and Stealing Their Childhood | Jonathan Haidt 1:35:08

25d ago1:35:08

1:35:08

In this urgent conversation, Jonathan Haidt and Jordan Peterson dissect the silent catastrophe facing Gen Z—spiraling anxiety, attention collapse, and social isolation—all amplified by addictive tech. They explore the psychological and spiritual fallout of algorithm-optimized platforms, the gendered impact on boys and girls, and what it means to ra…

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Rethinking Obesity: A Chronic Condition, Not a Choice 32:13

26d ago32:13

32:13

Obesity is far more complex than willpower. In this episode, we spoke with Robert F. Kushner, MD, renowned weight management expert, to explore how the medical community’s understanding of obesity has shifted – from a perceived lifestyle choice to a recognized chronic condition shaped by biology, genetics, and environment. Our guest expert breaks d…

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Genetic background steers PTEN syndrome traits 5:21

25d ago5:21

5:21

People with the syndrome, caused by variants in the gene PTEN, often have autism or cancer, or both, but it depends on the genetic diversity encoded in the components of distinct cell signaling pathways, according to a new study.

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Star-responsive neurons steer moths' long-distance migration 5:15

26d ago5:15

5:15

Cells in the bogong moth brain respond to astral landmarks to orient the insects in the direction they need to go.

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This paper changed my life: Bradley Dickerson on how a 1940s fly neuroanatomy paper influences his research to this day 5:25

27d ago5:25

5:25

This classic paper by zoologist John Pringle describes the haltere—a small structure in flies that plays a crucial role in flight control. It taught me to think about circuits and behavior as greater than the sum of their parts.

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Jordan Peterson Live on Tour: The Hidden Key to a Fulfilling Life 1:22:11

28d ago1:22:11

1:22:11

In this powerful lecture from the We Who Wrestle With God tour, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson explores why stories aren't just entertainment—but the essential structure through which we perceive reality, aim toward meaning, and shape our lives. From biblical archetypes to everyday struggles, Peterson weaves a compelling argument that our suffering, identi…

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Genetic therapies in store for neurodevelopmental disorders 44:38

28d ago44:38

44:38

Gene therapies have been in the news lately. They are being used to help individuals who have a genetic variant linked to a disorder or disease, including but not limited to: spinal muscular atrophy, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency, diabetes and some types of cancers. What is the promise in rare genetic forms of neurodevelopmenta…

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#353 - AMA #72: Fasting: benefits for body composition and disease prevention, potential risks, and Peter’s updated practical framework 19:51

28d ago19:51

19:51

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 revisits the topic of fasting, sharing how his thinking has evolved over time. The episode explores fasting-related terminology and common types of fasting, as well as the…

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US Disrupts African Food Tech; Pumping the Earth Dry; Saving a Sacred Mountain in Mongolia and more. 52:44

1M ago52:44

52:44

One of the development initiatives affected by the Trump Administration’s shutdown of USAID is the Soybean Innovation Lab, which works to improve soybean yields and production in Africa to help boost farmers’ income. Our guest discusses her work with the Soybean Innovation Lab and why helping improve farmers’ yields is so fulfilling. Also, a recent…

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Gazing at a location from afar activates place cells in chickadees 5:53

1M ago5:53

5:53

The results help explain how the hippocampus can recall information about a place without an animal physically revisiting it.

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555. How the Internet Is Breaking Our Brains | Sam Harris 1:35:49

1M ago1:35:49

1:35:49

Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris explore the breakdown of institutions in the digital age, and how difficult it’s become to identify what’s true and what’s not. Harris voices deep concern over the role independent media and social platforms play in amplifying misinformation, especially post-October 7th. They discuss the addictive, fragmenting nature …

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Exploring Xenotransplantation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Inside the Future of Organ Transplants 28:42

1M ago28:42

28:42

Over 100,000 Americans are waiting for life-saving kidney transplants, with 17 dying each day. Why isn’t universal donation enough? Could xenotransplantation – transplanting gene-edited organs from other species into humans – be the answer? We sat down with Sanjay Gupta, MD, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, to unpack his documentary Animal Pharm …

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Some dopamine neurons signal default behaviors to reinforce habits 4:54

1M ago4:54

4:54

Movement-sensing neurons that target the striatum influence a mouse’s choice of action by favoring routine.

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554. What One Billionaire Knows About Outlasting a Dollar Collapse | Michael Saylor 1:24:36

1M ago1:24:36

1:24:36

In this exclusive Sessions interview, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson and Michael Saylor explore the evolving relationship between the U.S. government and Bitcoin, Donald Trump’s growing recognition of cryptocurrency as a strategic commodity, the visionary impact of Bitcoin’s founder Satoshi Nakamoto, and the looming convergence of digital currency with our…