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Mental Health · Think Neuro

Think Neuro

by Think Neuro

The Think Neuro podcast from Pacific Neuroscience Institute takes you into the clinic, operating room and laboratory with doctors and surgeons who are tackling the most challenging brain diseases and disorders. You’ll go deep into the brain and beyond, exploring the neurological processes and structures that control our health, hormones, behaviors, movements, moods, and emotions. You’ll learn about new therapies that are giving hope for sufferers of the most challenging diseases, and you’ll hear about some habits you can develop to keep your brain in good working order for years to come. We’ll show you why patients from around the world are coming to Pacific Neuroscience Institute for novel treatments that are in many instances, available at few other institutions. pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640 The Think Neuro Podcast has two co-hosts, Anthony Effinger and Dan Fost. Think Neuro host Anthony Effinger is an award-winning journalist fascinated by neuroscience and the workings of the brain. Anthony spent 24 years at Bloomberg News, where he covered finance and made deep forays into science and health. In 2006, the Association of Health Care Journalists awarded him first prize for “Playing the Odds,” an in-depth look at changing strategies for treating prostate cancer. After a stint at the World Bank, Anthony joined Willamette Week, the Pulitzer Prize-winning newsweekly in Portland, Oregon. He won the 2022 award for health care journalism from the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for his piece on the disproven Covid remedy ivermectin and the anti-vaxx Portland biologist who was its biggest booster. His 2023 examination of Oregon’s black-market psilocybin economy, “The Mushroom Underground,” won first prize in AAN Publishers’ exploratory reporting category. The Society of Professional Journalists Northwest gave him and colleague Lucas Manfield its top business award for “Junk Ambulances,” a 2023 exposé of private equity’s mismanagement of Multnomah County’s ambulance contractor. In 2026, AAN awarded him first place for health care reporting for “Operation: Merger,” his examination of Oregon Health & Science University’s failed bid to merge with rival Legacy Health. Raised in Copper Mountain, Colorado, Anthony lives in Portland with his wife, Diana Bianco. They raised two children there: one is a journalist, the other a fluids engineer. Dan Fost is a veteran journalist who has written for the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post. A former staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, he covers health, science, and technology, making complex subjects accessible to a broad audience. Dan has written extensively for the University of California, San Francisco, one of the nation’s leading health science universities, where he’s reported on leading scientists (including Nobel Prize winners), global health, and biotechnology innovations that have led to the launch of new companies. Dan is the author of “Giants Past and Present,” a book about the San Francisco baseball team. A native of New Jersey and a graduate of Boston University, Dan lives in Marin County, Calif., with his wife. They have one adult son.

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

80. Being An Empowered Care Partner for Parkinson's Disease with Sheila Moore, MSG, LCSW

When a person receives a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, the effects extend out into that person’s world. Family members often find themselves in new roles as caregiver

Oct 21
58 min

PNI & 25 Years with the Los Angeles Kings - 2026 with Chester Griffiths, MD, FACS

Celebrating 25 years with the team, Chester Griffiths, MD, FACS, has been a member of the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team medical staff since 2002 as their maxillofacia

Oct 14
1 min

Hearing Loss, Cognition, Dementia, and the CELEBRATE Protocol with Rebecca Lewis, AuD

Hearing loss is common as we age, but its effects reach far beyond the ears. Research increasingly links untreated hearing loss to a higher risk of cognitive decline and

Oct 7
2 min

Common Questions About Cochlear Implants with Rebecca Lewis, AuD

Hearing loss is one of the leading causes of overall disability worldwide, affecting approximately 466 million adults and children. In this video, Rebecca Lewis, AuD, the

Sep 30
11 min

Investigating Hormone Imbalances That Cause Irregular Cycles with Noa Tal, MD

The pituitary gland may be tiny, but it plays a significant role in a woman’s health. When functioning properly, this master gland regulates essential hormones that influ

Sep 23
2 min

79. Restoring Hearing Health with One Cochlear Implant at a Time with Courtney Voelker, MD, PhD

It sounds almost too good to be true: A simple solution to a major health issue, that’s safe, effective and covered by insurance—yet most of the people who would benefit

Sep 16
54 min

Rapid Stroke Treatment at Comprehensive Stroke Centers with Jason Tarpley, MD, PhD

With four Comprehensive Stroke Centers at Providence hospitals in the greater Los Angeles region, Pacific Neuroscience Institutes specialists have expert teams to treat s

Sep 9
3 min

What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus? | With Garni Barkhoudarian, MD

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) can cause symptoms of dementia, but these are reversible. NPH is a neurological condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Sep 2
3 min

Multiple Sclerosis: 6 Lifestyle Pillars for Brain Health | Dr. Barbara Giesser

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. MS is managed by di

Aug 26
9 min

78. Revolutionizing Brain Tumor Surgery with Minimally Invasive Techniques with Daniel Kelly, MD

The world of brain surgery has changed dramatically over the past generation. Surgeons are able to remove many tumors and other problems from the brain, often using new a

Aug 19
52 min

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS): The All-Important Pre-Operative Phase

Walavan Sivakumar, MD, explains how Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is used at PNI to help patients with brain tumors through the neurosurgical process. ERAS unfol

Aug 12
5 min

Dopamine Neuron Cell Replacement Therapy for Parkinson's Disease with Melita Petrossian, MD

Parkinson's disease begins with the quiet loss of the brain cells that make dopamine, and dopamine is what carries your movement, your mood and the drive that gets you th

Aug 5
5 min

77. The Little Gland with a Very Big Job with Garni Barkhoudarian, MD

For a tiny organ, the pituitary gland carries outsized responsibilities in the human body. The size of a pea, the so-called “master gland” produces vital hormones that re

Jul 15
58 min

Spotlight Replay - Episode 23: Scanning the Eye for Signs of Multiple Sclerosis | Dr. Barbara Giesser and Dr. Howard Krauss

July is Healthy Vision Month, and the National Eye Institute—part of the National Institutes of Health—reminds us to take care of our eyes, by eating a healthy diet and e

Jul 1
39 min

76. Getting the Right Diagnosis for Facial Paralysis with Dr. Amit Kochhar

Every medical treatment needs to start with a diagnosis, but sometimes that diagnosis proves elusive. Sometimes it may appear that a person has one thing needing treatmen

Jun 17
33 min

Spotlight Replay - Episode 56: Dr. Michael Yong on Seasonal Allergies

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you probably kept a close eye on the pollen count this spring—and you may have felt those all-too-familiar symptoms that affect one

Jun 10
39 min

Chronic Subdural Hematoma with Ashkan Mowla, MD

When blood collects in the skull outside the brain and below the outermost layer of tissue surrounding the brain (dura), a subdural hematoma results. This may occur due t

May 27
1 min

75. Finding Relief and Healing with Back Pain and Spinal Issues with Dr. Marcus Mazur

If you have back pain, you are not alone. According to Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute, nearly 65 million Americans report a recent episode of back pain,

May 20
59 min

Spotlight Replay: Episode 44. Preventing Stroke and Getting the Best Treatment if One Occurs with Dr. Sandra Narayanan

National Stroke Awareness Month is observed in May to promote public awareness about stroke symptoms and prevention. While 800,000 Americans have a stroke every year, man

May 13
39 min

Spotlight Replay: Episode 06. Meet Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery’s Pathfinder: Dr. Chester Griffiths

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month, which the National Brain Tumor Society calls “a time dedicated to supporting, empowering, and amplifying the voice of the brain tumor

May 6
52 min

Chart trend

Position in the Mental Health chart (US), last 90 days.

#127
all-time peak
50
days in the top 200 since Sep 2025

Chart positions

Where Think Neuro ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 23, 2026).

#187 NEW Mental Health US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I’ve listened to two episodes and really enjoyed both. The tone is casual and conversational, but both episodes were densely packed with fascinating information. A great pick for people who are passionate about neuroscience and for those just getting started.

ttkmgc · Sep 2020

I love how they have indepth episodes I really like this podcast a lot. It is facinating how complex the brain actually is. I love the shorter bonus episodes too. Highly recomment this podcast for everyone

BingBong82 · Jul 2020

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

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About Think Neuro on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Think Neuro, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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