Did you know about 80% of taste comes from smell, and your eyes can nudge your brain toward “sweet” or “salty” before you even bite?

I sit down with Dr. Riccardo Acolla, a world famous neuroscientist who has spent his career decoding how our brains make sense of flavor. From mapping how sweetness lights up the brain to advising companies that shape the taste of everything from chocolate to plant-based burgers, Riccardo’s journey shows how deeply food connects to who we are.

Here are some snackable truths woven through the episode:

• Chip crunch is engineered to signal “fresh” and “flavor,” so sound literally seasons your food.​
• Change plate color and you can make dessert taste sweeter without adding sugar.​
• Hold your nose and apple juice becomes “orange”—your brain fills in flavor from aroma.​
• Chili heat and mint cool rely heavily on nerve sparks on the trigeminal nerve system that rewrite perception of taste.​
• Push sodium down in a food recipe, and sweetness or fat often creeps up, nutrients act like a seesaw unless you design around it.​
• Kids eat more vegetables when they help prep; participation flips curiosity into liking.​
• In the GLP‑1 Ozempic era, brain reward signals from food dim down, protein and fiber carry the day, and taste has to work smarter, not louder.

Listen in, and you may never taste the same way again.

http://www.thimus.com/

#FlavorScience​#SensoryNeuroscience​#FoodDesign​#ConsumerBehavior​#TasteAndSmell​#FoodInnovation​#BehaviorChange​#GLP1​#PublicHealth​#FoodTech​#NutritionScience

I am excited to share my latest episode featuring the incredible Louise Agersnap, Head of the World Health Organization{s Innovation Hub.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of social innovation, design thinking, and the future of health. Here are some highlights:

1. Journey of Innovation: Louise talks about her fascinating career path from the Danish government to the UN and now at WHO. Her work focuses on systems change and human behavior, leveraging design thinking to drive impactful solutions.
2. Collaborative Ecosystems: Discover how the WHO Innovation Hub is transforming the landscape by fostering collaborative learning and building a global ecosystem for health innovation. Louise emphasizes the importance of engaging diverse stakeholders to create sustainable and equitable health outcomes.
3. The Power of Design Thinking: Louise shares insights on how design thinking can revolutionize health policies and practices. She discusses practical examples like the WHO's NCD labs, promoting physical activity and health literacy in schools, and innovative approaches like the Human Library.
4. Innovation in Action: From global programs like WHO's internal entrepreneurship challenge to the innovative Eureka space, Louise reveals how WHO is empowering its workforce to think creatively and solve complex health challenges.
5. Creating Impact: The conversation touches on the importance of community engagement, multidisciplinary approaches, and the need for public sector leadership to ensure innovations serve the public good and promote equity.

https://www.who.int/teams/digital-health-and-innovation/who-innovation-hub

https://humanlibrary.org/

#Innovation #DesignThinking #GlobalHealth #WHO #SocialInnovation #HealthEquity #Collaboration #CommunityEngagement

In the latest episode of The Rodcast Podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Carmen Alvarez, a distinguished leader at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School. Carmen has spent her career at the forefront of healthcare innovation, combining mindfulness and integrative medicine to improve lives. Her journey from personal grief to professional purpose is nothing short of inspiring.

Here’s what we discussed:

1. Purpose Born from Loss Carmen shared how losing her brother, a heroic first responder, reshaped her outlook on life and sparked her mission to help others navigate challenges like grief and burnout.
2. Breathwork and the Nervous System She explained how something as simple as intentional breathing can activate the parasympathetic nervous system—reducing stress and improving resilience.
3. Reiki in Top-Tier Healthcare At one of the world’s leading hospitals, Carmen integrates Reiki to help patients manage pain, anxiety, and chronic conditions. Her work bridges traditional and holistic medicine.
4. Happiness by Choice Drawing from her chapter in the book Happiness by Choice, Carmen emphasized the power of self-compassion and curiosity in transforming life’s toughest moments.

A Thought to Leave You With:

"Healing isn’t about pretending you’re okay. It’s about feeling everything and letting it guide your transformation."

Carmen’s approach proves that blending science with mindfulness can lead to profound changes—both for individuals and organizations. If you’re curious about practical ways to bring well-being into your life or workplace, this episode is for you.

More about Carmen:

Contact:

X: @CarmenTAlvarez | @CAYAWellness

IG: @CarmenAlvarezWellness

Fostering a Culture of Well-Being in Healthcare Organizations: https://medium.com/@CarmenAlvarezWellness/fostering-a-culture-of-wellbeing-in-healthcare-organizations-d03ebdd61b7e

The Integration of Wellness Practices in Medicine and Impact on Patient Outcomes: https://medium.com/@CarmenAlvarezWellness/the-integration-of-wellness-practices-in-medicine-impact-on-patient-outcomes-4537b0ab4f72