Anthropologist Natasha Dow Schüll shares insights from her fifteen years of research into how slot machines are intentionally designed to encourage prolonged play. Drawing on interviews with casino designers, industry insiders, and people experiencing gambling addiction, she explains how features such as rapid game speed, immersive environments, and continuous rewards can draw players into the "machine zone"—a trancelike state where time, money, and self-awareness begin to fade. The discussion offers a compelling look at the psychology, technology, and design principles behind modern machine gambling.
Hamilton Morris explores the science and history of ketamine through conversations with artist and writer Timothy Wyllie, as well as doctors, therapists, and other experts. Travelling to India to investigate the drug's production and use, he examines ketamine's medical applications, recreational use, and emerging role in mental health treatment. By combining personal perspectives with scientific discussion, the episode offers an accessible look at one of the world's most distinctive psychoactive substances and the evolving understanding of its effects on the mind.
Recovery is rarely a straight path, even for those who dedicate their lives to helping others overcome addiction. In this candid documentary, addiction therapist Michael Pond reflects on his own struggle with alcohol use disorder, repeated relapse, and the shortcomings of traditional treatment approaches. Combining lived experience with evidence-based perspectives, this resource explores the realities of recovery, the importance of individualized care, and why compassion, science, and hope are essential to helping people build lasting change.
Cannabis is often viewed as a relatively harmless substance, but its effects on the brain and body are more complex than many people realize. In this evidence-based presentation, neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman examines how cannabis influences memory, motivation, mood, hormones, sleep, fertility, and mental health while explaining the biological mechanisms behind these changes. Drawing on current scientific research, this resource explores both the potential therapeutic applications and known health risks of cannabis, helping viewers make more informed decisions about its use.
TOPICS: Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Science & Research
What begins as one journalist's decision to stop drinking becomes a thought-provoking exploration of New Zealand's relationship with alcohol. Reflecting on his own experiences, Guyon Espiner investigates why drinking is so deeply embedded in social life while examining the cultural expectations, public health consequences, and commercial forces that shape alcohol use. Through personal reflection, expert insights, and investigative reporting, this resource encourages viewers to question long-held assumptions about alcohol and consider how culture, policy, and industry influence the choices people make.
