151. Francis Crick: From DNA to the Brain with Prof Matthew Cobb

In this episode, we speak to Prof Matthew Cobb, professor of zoology at the University of Manchester and author of Crick: A Mind in Motion, which profiles Francis Crick. Matthew shares insights into his own academic background in neurobiology and evolution, explaining the motivation behind his latest book. He delves into the collaborative approaches that fueled Crick's work and explains the complex dynamics between Crick, James Watson, and Rosalind Franklin during their pursuit of the double helix structure. Finally, Matthew touches on Crick’s cannabis and psychedelic use. Links●      Prof Matt Cob●      Crick: A Mind in Motion●      What and how do maggots smell?●      The Double Helix●      Beatles Letter●      Mescaline Poem ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us in this episode of the Drug Science Podcast as Prof Jo Neill speaks with David Orren, CEO of GABA Labs, which has pioneered functional drinks with SENTIA Spirits. David recounts his initial communication with David Nutt and emphasises their shared mission to speak to younger generations’ desires for less harmful alternatives to alcohol. He touches on the neurological underpinnings of the drink and explores the future for the company as it expands and partners with other drink producers.GABA Labs SENTIA Spirits Alcohol Background on GABA Scientific Overview of Functional Drinks  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we speak to Dr Lauren Macdonald, a psychiatrist, psychedelic therapist, and group retreat facilitator. She details her path to psychedelics, in particular her cancer diagnosis that left her with existential dread that she felt fully dissipate only after a psychedelic experience. She goes on to discuss her interest in group retreats and treating existential distress. Before closing, she explains problems with the current medical model in the UK and where psychedelics fit. LINK TO THE 2026 RETURNING TO WHOLENESS RETREAT Links Psilocybin Imperial Centre for Psychedelic Research Essence Medicine Psilocybin and Cancer-Related Distress  ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us in this episode as Prof Nutt speaks to Prof Mark Solms, a leading expert on Freud and author of the new book The Only Cure. Mark details his early fascination with neuropsychology that led him to study the neurological underpinnings of sleep and dreams. He explains how some of his own research lent more credence to Freud’s claims and deepened his interest in psychoanalysis. Mark concludes by discussing what the only cure symbolizes: talking therapies that address the root causes of psychopathology, as opposed to treatments that mask the symptoms. Links●      Prof Mark Solms●      The Only Cure●      PET Sleep Scan●      Dreaming Study●      MDMA ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us in this episode as we speak to Dr Harriet de Witt, professor of psychiatry and neuropharmacology at the University of Chicago. She shares how she fell in love with the field, studying the animal model of self-administration, and how that work fed into her later research with human participants. As a leading expert on the pharmacology of MDMA, she explores the subtle differences between amphetamine and MDMA, before talking about the results from both her MDMA and LSD studies. Links●      UChicago Profile●      Amphetamine●      MDMA●      LSD●      MDMA/Amphetamine/Alcohol Sociality Study●      LSD Microdosing & Emotionality Study ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us in this episode as we speak to Dr. Rachel Andrews, an addiction and harm reduction researcher at the University of Bath, and Hannah Dawes, a PSHE teacher and the creator of the podcast The Exchange. The conversation focuses on the prevalence of vaping in schools, particularly exploring the ways in which vapes have been marketed to children and the patterns of use in schools. Rachel provides data from her team’s analysis of that shows what’s really in the vapes students are using, while Hannah lends her perspective within schools, explaining how a supportive approach to students using vapes is more successful than punitive measures.  LinksNicotineDrug Science BlogSpiceCannabisTeaching About Nicotine and VapingDaniel Spargo-Mabbs FoundationThe ExchangeSpice Comic  ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, Prof Nutt speaks with Erica Rex, author of the book Seeing What is There, which explores the complex history of psychedelic therapy. She shares her own experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapy, while providing context on the guardrails that are necessary for these treatments to maximize benefits and minimize harms. Viewing psychedelics as therapeutic accelerants, Erica speaks on the current state of mental health treatments and explores how complex trauma and other mental health problems could be better treated.Erica Instagram Erica Substack  Links●      Seeing What is There●      The Culture Is the Poison: Why Psychedelics Are Dangerous Medicine in a Neoliberal Society●      Psilocybin●      MDMA●      5-MeO-DMT●      More From Erica ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we’re joined by Justin Smith-Ruiu, a philosopher at Université Paris Cité and the author of On Drugs. He discusses his motivations behind the book, rooted in his early experiences with psychedelics and the many cultural roles he has seen them play across different contexts. As the conversation unfolds, Smith-Ruiu reflects on his decision to quit drinking in favor of psychedelics and the profound positive changes that choice has brought to his life. LinksJustin Smith-RuiuOn DrugsPsilocybin ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us in this episode as we talk to Robert Schoevers, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Groningen and one of the pioneers of psychedelic-assisted therapy. He explains why human complexity led him to psychiatry, begoring discussing how his early psychedelic research into esketamine aimed to meet the unmet needs of treatment-resistant patients. Schoevers goes on to explore the ways in which his approach to ketamine-assisted therapy has transitioned over time and has led him to lead bigger projects, like the EU-funded palliative care project, PsyPal. LinksProfileKetamineCompass PaperPsyPal ★ Support this podcast ★

Join us in this episode as we speak with Emma Robinson, a professor of psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol with extensive experience in animal research. She unpacks the regulations surrounding animal research, offering a scientist’s view on animal rights activism, ethical tension, and why this work remains essential. Robinson also delves into the emerging intersection of psychedelics and animal research, describing how these substances are studied and how they might help reshape mental illness. Professor Emma RobinsonUK Government’s Roadmap to Ending Animal TestingPETA ConfrontationCognitive and affective models of psychedelics in rodentsPsilocybinKetamineBritish Neuroscience lecture with Prof Robinson and Prof NuttThe 3Hs Initiative ★ Support this podcast ★