The Huberman Lab Podcast: A Must-Listen for All

Nov 20

By: Emily Orscheln

About a year and a half ago a cousin of mine told me about this new podcast he’d listened to called The Huberman Lab. My cousin professed that this podcast had brought on a multitude of successes, he said it had helped him learn skills faster, improve memory, and sleep for optimal energy, just after listening. As the polite cousin I am, I simply smiled and nodded while he rambled on, attributing his improved lifestyle as merely r placebo. Yet for some reason I decided to take my cousin’s advice and listen to an episode. Safe to say I’m obsessed.

The Huberman Lab podcast is run by…you guessed it…Andrew Huberman, a renowned neuroscientist and tenured professor of neurobiology at Stanford School of Medicine. Despite his impressive achievements in the world of neuroscience, Professor Huberman discusses his expertise and knowledge in an incredibly digestible manner, making it easy to understand for the average individual.

I don’t consider myself a science person, and yet this podcast has catapulted me into a newfound fascination with the brain. The podcast covers many topics, both broad and specific, and I truly believe that there’s an episode of relevance and interest for most everyone. Check out some of my favorite episodes below!

How Your Brain Works & Changes: This episode is the best one to start with; it introduces the brain and how your nervous system works. Whether you’ve never taken a science class or have a PhD in neuroscience, this episode will allow you to understand and appreciate all the necessary science and foundational knowledge more heavily discussed in future episodes.
How To Increase Motivation & Drive: This episode dives into the science behind why you feel impelled to get out of bed, workout, eat, and more. It gives a general overview of dopamine, the key component of motivation.
Optimize Your Brain with Science-based Tools This episode was the game changer for me - in terms of my fascination with the brain. It’s filled with research-backed tools for each part of the day and will teach you how to properly wake up, hydrate, feed yourself, optimize your work schedule, and eventually wind down for bed.
How To Build Endurance In Your Brain & Body: Did you know endurance isn’t just about how far you can run? Or that the benefits of endurance extend far beyond athletic performance? In fact, your body’s endurance is connected to endurance in your brain, leading to more resilience in all parts of life. Check out this episode to learn more!
What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain, & Health: Everyone who drinks alcohol should listen to this episode. My mind was blown away from even just the first two minutes. Did you know alcohol is poison? As a woman in my 20s, it’s quite important to be educated on a common substance that most people actually know little about.
How to Enhance Your Gut Microbiome for Brain & Overall Health: Gut health has been all the rage in mainstream media, and this episode separates performative marketing from actual science. The gut-brain connection is real, and there’s a lot more to be learned - it goes far beyond merely purchasing overpriced probiotics.
Focus Toolkit: Tools to Improve Your Focus & Concentration: This episode is great for anyone looking to improve their ability to concentrate and function cognitively. I’ve utilized numerous of the tools outlined and have been able to study much more efficiently.
Tools for Mastering Stress & Anxiety: Stress, especially chronic stress, is one of the biggest concerns facing our population. . This episode delves into the science behind stress, providing useful tools to help mitigate it.
Sleep Toolkit: Tools for Optimizing Sleep & Sleep-Wake Timing: From a young age we’ve been told that sleep is important, yet this episode drills into the neuroscience of exactly why humans need sleep. Personally, I was shocked to learn about how much sleep impacts your daily life. This episode truly opened my eyes to better understand the importance of “shut eye”.