Episode #202. What is a BRAINWAVE? Why Science, Medicine and Healing Modalities Are Coming Together, Dr Caitlin Shure, PhD, NY-based technologist and science communicator.

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“The brain wave is not just a scientific object—it’s a cultural one.” – Dr. Caitlin Shure

What is a brain wave? How “brain waves” became a metaphor for mind control, telepathy, and spiritual resonance. That’s the question we explore in one of the most surprising and thought-provoking episodes of the Thriving Minds podcast to date—with science journalist and technologist Dr. Caitlin Shure, whose PhD work traced the strange cultural journey of the brainwave from telepathy and spiritualism to modern neurotech and wellness wearables. Link to Episode #202: Brainwaves, Culture, and the Future of Healing.

It turns out this simple question—"What is a brain wave?"—unlocks a much deeper one:

What do we really believe about the brain, the body, and our capacity to heal?

A deceptively simple question—yet one that opens a portal into 150+ years of science, culture, and imagination.

The Rise (and Risk) of Neuroscience/Brain-Based Everything
Today, brainwaves are everywhere—from EEG sleep trackers and meditation headbands to marketing slogans and Instagram therapists. And yet:

Most people don’t know what a brain wave is
Many companies use “neuroscience” language without scientific rigour
Consumers are caught between hope, hype, and helplessness

Caitlin and I discussed how this confusion reflects a crisis in our time:

👉 A loss of trust in science

👉 The exploitation of wellness culture

👉 The seductive myth that the mind can be “optimized” or “uploaded”

👉 And a growing yearning for something beyond both clinical reductionism and magical thinking

💡 Why This Matters Now
As someone who has studied the brain for three decades, I’ve seen how easily science can become siloed—or exploited. I've also seen how desperately people are searching for hope, healing, and clarity in an overwhelming world.

We’re overstimulated, overtired, and often overpromised.

But there's a way forward. And it’s not at either extreme.

🔄 The Middle Way is emerging as a necessary path. One that honours science and soul. Logic and lived experience. Data and deep feeling. This is how we build real health systems—ones that don’t just treat symptoms, but restore agency, belonging, and meaning.

🔗 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Have you ever used neurotech? Do you think science is losing (or gaining) trust in your community? What does a “Middle Way” look like in your work?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation in the comments or on LinkedIn

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