Year: 2026
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Micro 57: Why Those Forced Piano Lessons Changed His Life Forever

He hated being forced by his parents to take piano lessons. But after a life-altering tragedy left him without fingers, those same lessons became the pathway to hope, creativity, and discovering what was still possible. This story will challenge you to rethink adversity – and see how curiosity and resilience can open doors where none…
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Ep. 231: Why the Music of Your Youth Never Leaves You – The Latest Research on The Musical Reminiscence Bump; with Nicholas Kathios

What is it about the songs from your teenage years that still give you chills decades later? In this episode, we explore the fascinating science behind the “musical reminiscence bump” and why music from adolescence becomes so deeply tied to memory, identity, and emotion. Researcher Nicholas Kathios unpacks how the teenage brain, social experiences, and…
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Micro 56: Why Musical Hobbies Make You Better at Your Job

Can a musical hobby actually make you better at your job? Drawing on insights from “The Good Enough Job,” this episode explores how music helps diversify your identity, boost resilience, and even improve productivity.
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Ep. 230: What Makes Humans Irreplaceable? The Power of Creativity in the AI Era; with Susan Riley

As AI grows more powerful, the skills that set humans apart are coming into sharper focus. Author Susan Riley shares what research reveals about creativity, how it works in the brain, and why cultivating it may be the key to thriving in the future of work and learning.
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Micro 55: Press Play on Spring – The Music of St. Patrick’s Day

Winter dragging on? This St. Patrick’s Day, let Irish music lift your spirits. Discover how reels, jigs, and centuries-old traditions don’t just energize a celebration – they preserve immigration stories, faith, national identity, and intergenerational connection. Press play on an Irish soundtrack and brighten your March in minutes.
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Ep. 229: Age-Proof Your Brain – How Music Can Help Prevent Alzheimer’s and Keep You Sharp for Life; with Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD

What if Alzheimer’s isn’t inevitable – and your brain is far more changeable than you’ve been led to believe? World-renowned neurologist Dr. Majid Fotuhi shares groundbreaking research from his new book showing that cognitive decline can often be delayed, prevented, and even reversed – and how music uniquely strengthens the brain’s memory, attention, and emotional…
