What if burnout isn’t a personal failure—but a signal that something deeper is asking to be heard? In this powerful episode, Dr. Charles Raison sits down with Rachel Druckenmiller, a nationally recognized keynote speaker, and workplace wellness expert, for a raw and energizing conversation about what it means to unmute yourself—learning to speak up, show up, and live more fully aligned with who you really are.

Rachel shares her deeply personal story of going from a shy, rule-following child to becoming a dynamic speaker helping others find their voice. Along the way, she opens up about the irony of burning out while leading wellness initiatives—and the inner excavation that helped her reimagine success, purpose, and worth.

Together, Charles and Rachel unpack the deeper roots of workplace burnout, why so many wellness programs fall short, and how small but meaningful conversations can create psychological safety and re-humanize the workplace. Rachel also introduces actionable tools—from the “rose reflection” to the “immunity to change” process—that help people challenge perfectionism, rewire limiting beliefs, and step more fully into their potential.

Whether you're a leader, a people-helper, or simply someone trying to balance purpose and pressure, this episode is full of insight, empathy, and inspiration. Get ready to rethink burnout—not just as something to fix, but as something that, when listened to, can lead to a more honest, fulfilling way of living and working.

Featuring:

Rachel Druckenmiller: keynote speaker and wellness expert on "unmuting yourself" to speak up and live authentically.

Host:

Charles Raison, Psychiatrist, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University

About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:

The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health.

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Blog: Exploring Health
Facebook: @EmoryCSHH
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Twitter: @EmoryCSHH

What happens when the worlds of technology, medicine, and spirituality collide? In this fascinating episode, Dr. Charles Raison sits down with Fayzan Rab, a former Silicon Valley tech professional turned medical student and researcher, to explore how psychedelics are reshaping mental health as well as our understanding of the role of spiritual experience in mental health more generally. Fayzan shares his personal journey from being a Google product manager to becoming a key member of Emory University's Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality.

The conversation dives deep into groundbreaking research on how psychedelics can transform not only the mental health care of individuals but entire models of care. We discuss a recent paper written by Fayzan that uses advanced health economics strategies to show that many millions of Americans with major depression might be able to benefit from psychedelic-based treatments, should such treatments be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. We then discuss studies involving cancer patients and group therapy dynamics, during which Fayzan offers insights into what these models may tell us about creating scalable, accessible treatments. He also reveals his passion project: understanding how psychedelics are perceived in the Muslim community—an area previously untouched by research—and how these experiences are prompting deep questions about faith and identity.

We then tackle the growing trend of CEOs and entrepreneurs using psychedelics for personal and professional breakthroughs. Is it all hype, or is there genuine potential for innovation and healing? Fayzan hints at upcoming studies to get real answers, bringing scientific rigor to a space often dominated by anecdotes and media buzz.

If you're curious about how psychedelics are poised to influence medicine, spirituality, and even the business world, this conversation is not one to miss. Expect surprising insights, heartfelt stories, and a fresh look at how ancient practices are finding new relevance today.

Featuring:

Fayzan Rab, a former Silicon Valley tech professional turned medical student and researcher

Host:

Charles Raison, Psychiatrist, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University

About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:

The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health.

Follow Us:

Blog: Exploring Health
Facebook: @EmoryCSHH
Instagram: @EmoryCSHH
Twitter: @EmoryCSHH

In this thought-provoking podcast, Christof Koch, Chief Scientist at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation and former President of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, delves into one of humanity's most profound questions: What is consciousness, and where does it come from? With decades of experience studying the brain's mysteries, Koch offers insights into why consciousness is central to our existence and why understanding it is so challenging.

Koch explains that consciousness encompasses everything we feel, think, and perceive—it’s the very essence of being. Yet, science struggles to explain how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experiences. He discusses historical and modern theories, including Integrated Information Theory (IIT), which posits that consciousness emerges from the brain's complex connectivity and its ability to process information holistically.

The conversation also touches on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. As machines become more intelligent and capable of mimicking human behavior, Koch cautions that they lack consciousness—the ability to "feel" or "be." This raises concerns about how we interact with increasingly human-like AI and the moral dilemmas of attributing consciousness to machines.

Koch reflects on his collaborations with prominent scientists, including Francis Crick, co-discoverer of DNA's structure, to pioneer the search for the neural correlates of consciousness. He describes groundbreaking experiments and the ongoing quest to map how specific brain regions generate conscious experiences.

The podcast concludes with a discussion of the future—whether AI could ever achieve consciousness and how our understanding of the brain might evolve. Koch’s message is clear: while consciousness remains a mystery, exploring it brings us closer to understanding what it means to be truly human.

Featuring:

Christof Koch, Chief Scientist at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation and former President of the Allen Institute for Brain Science

Host:

Charles Raison, Psychiatrist, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University

About Emory University's Center for the Study of Human Health:

The Emory Center for the Study of Human Health was developed to expand health knowledge and translate this knowledge to all aspects of life – for the individual and populations as a whole. The Center assembles the extraordinary faculty, researchers and thought leaders from across disciplines, departments, schools and institutions to bring this knowledge to Emory University students and inspire them to become leaders for the next generation in meeting challenges facing human health.

Follow Us:

Blog: Exploring Health
Facebook: @EmoryCSHH
Instagram: @EmoryCSHH
Twitter: @EmoryCSHH