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Struggling with sleep, focus, or relaxation? Discover Brain.fm—an app that uses scientifically designed functional music to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and boost productivity. Dr. Kevin Woods, Brain.fm’s Director of Science, explains how their unique audio technology influences brain activity for optimal performance. In addition, their patented technology supports focus for those with ADHD. Learn how music powered by science can help you unlock your best self—on demand!
Guest
Joining me today is Brain.fm’s Director of Science, Dr. Kevin JP Woods. Kevin has degrees from New York University and Harvard. He is passionate about harnessing the power of sound as an accessible tool to help people around the world.
Notes
We discuss:
- Mindy’s personal connection with today’s topic.
- Brain.fm’s tagline is Music Powered By Science. Get more done with less effort, and unlock your best self on demand.
- What IS Brain.fm?
- The disconnect between why music is created and why it is listened to.
- Art music vs. Functional music.
- How is Brain.fm’s music different from other music (eg, a Spotify playlist) or other app music that claims to help with focus, or even something like white noise?
- The science behind Brain.fm’s music.
- How does Brain.fm help users get better quantity AND quality sleep?
- Brain.fm’s special application for helping those with ADHD focus in a nonpharmacological way.
- Sneak peek at what’s new and coming soon from Brain.fm!
Connect/Other Resources
- Brain.fm website
- Kevin’s website
- Recent paper referenced by Kevin in Nature Communications Biology: Rapid modulation in music supports attention in listeners with attentional difficulties
- Kevin has offered Enhance Life with Music listeners a FREE 30-day trial at brain.fm/enhance!
Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:
- Ep. 188: Soothing sleep with music for older adults – a peek behind the research curtain; with Darina Petrovsky, PhD, RN
- Ep. 170: Unraveling the Enigma of Musical Anhedonia: The Brain, Predictions, and the Missing Joy of Music; with Psyche Loui, PhD
- Ep. 162: Unlocking productivity with the power of music; with Erik Fisher, Host of Beyond The To-Do List Podcast
- Ep. 137: What makes a lullaby a lullaby, and what difference does it make? with Laurel Trainor, PhD
- Ep. 23: Enhance Athletic Performance by up to 15% with the Legal Doping of MUSIC, with Power Music’s Dan Hubbert
- View all episodes related to Science & Health
In-Episode Promo
SHEET MUSIC DIRECT: One of my favorite ways to enhance my life with music is to play just-for-fun songs on the piano at the end of the day. My current favorites are ABBA songs and songs from the 80s, like We Are The World. With Sheet Music Direct, I can explore new music, track my favorites, play and download scores any time, from any device. This online treasure trove of digital sheet music is powered by music publisher Hal Leonard and has over a million arrangements—ready to view, listen to, and download instantly. Prices start at just $0.99 and include selections for every instrument, genre, and skill level. My family has relied on Sheet Music Direct for years for musical joy and convenience. For an entire musical library at your fingertips, visit SheetMusicDirect.com.
Coda
Kevin discusses the concept of “the charitable machine” in the age of AI. He describes the false choice of thinking we need to choose between the conservatory and the computer. In reality, there is a “vast middle ground where technology can supplement expression without supplanting it.”
Closing Words
Thank you so much to Kevin for joining us today and for his research and work with Brain.fm that enables the power of music to more directly improve our sleep, focus, and relaxation. I have continued to use Brain.fm in the month that it’s been since Kevin and I recorded our conversation, and I have to say that I am a huge fan! I use it every night before bed and just have it playing in the background as I read and unwind before bed. I am thrilled with how well I’ve been sleeping and plan to continue using it. I haven’t used the Focus feature much just because I personally don’t have a problem with Focus. I think my house could be burning down around me and I wouldn’t notice if I’m focused on a task! But I definitely will be utilizing that feature when the occasion calls for it, like on road trips with my husband where he’s driving and listening to the radio while I’m working on my laptop in the passenger seat.
There is a free 3-day trial available to anyone on Brain.fm website; but Kevin has made a special offer available to Enhance Life with Music listeners – you can get a FREE 30-day trial by going to brain.fm/enhance. There is a link in the episode notes. No credit card is needed for the trial, so be sure to check it out and let me know what you think! And if you know of someone who would enjoy this episode and Brain.fm, please share the episode with them! It’s easy to do right in your podcast listening app; just look for the Share feature.
If there’s a topic or guest that you would like to hear featured on this show, or if you have a question for me that you’d like to hear answered on the show, please let me know. You can always connect with me on email (mindy@mpetersonmusic.com), Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.
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