This podcast honours the NHS: its people, its purpose, its power.

The Visionary Podcast is Sponsored by Dietapplements – Your Pure, Clean-label Supplements:

https://www.dietapplements.com/

Dr Joanna Moncrieff - Psychiatrist & Professor of Critical & Social Psychiatry at University College London

Dr Joanna Moncrieff is a practising psychiatrist, author, and academic at University College London. As a founding member of the Critical Psychiatry Network, her work challenges the widely accepted "disease-centred" view of mental health, the idea that psychiatric drugs simply fix chemical imbalances. Instead, she advocates for a "drug-centred" approach to better understand how these medications actually alter the brain and behaviour. With decades of clinical experience across London, she aims to radically re-evaluate how society conceptualises and manages emotional distress.

Host/Podcaster: Hala Ali

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:53 - The Serotonin Myth

00:03:06 - Serotonin's Role and Misinformation

00:04:09 - Serotonin and Sexual Function

00:05:26 - The Assumed Evidence of Antidepressants

00:08:27 - Understanding Serotonin Levels

00:09:35 - Serotonin Measurement and Depression

00:11:45 - The Theory of Depression and Serotonin

00:12:36 - Effects of Antidepressants

00:15:38 - Experiences of Antidepressant Users

00:18:46 - The Biological Cause of Depression

00:19:53 - The Assumption of a Biological Cause

00:26:23 - The Role of Placebo in Depression Treatment

00:28:07 - The Psychoactive Effects of Antidepressants

00:30:20 - The Misinterpretation of Sedation as Recovery

Follow Joanna:

Website - https://joannamoncrieff.com/

X - https://x.com/joannamoncrieff/

Useful Links:

Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth Book link - https://lnk.to/chemicallyimbalanced

Explore the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeFXRuOQ6z8r12D9L8f0lyOYAxdOZRWzY

Music: Chopin - Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - III. Rondo – Vivace (String Quintet arr.)

Disclaimer: The Visionary Podcast features conversations with health professionals purely for educational and informational purposes. There is no financial exchange between the podcast and its guests. All views expressed are those of the health professionals and do not constitute medical advice.

This podcast honours the NHS: its people, its purpose, its power.

The Visionary Podcast is Sponsored by Dietapplements – Your Pure, Clean-label Supplements:

https://www.dietapplements.com/

Guest - Dr David Montgomery | Co-Founder & Director at PM Life Sciences Consulting

Dr David Montgomery is a medical doctor with experience across the pharmaceutical industry, the NHS, and the charity sector, with a strong interest in healthcare policy and market access. Passionate about improving how the healthcare system works and bringing people together to drive positive change, he co-founded PM Life Sciences with Dr Sheuli Porkess to support small healthcare companies, startups, and biotech organisations to commercialise innovation and overcome policy barriers to better health outcomes.

Host/Podcaster: Hala Ali

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Background

00:03:35 - Reflections on COVID Pandemic and Historical Crises

00:04:46 - Transition from Charity Sector to Pharma

00:07:15 - Comparing Pfizer and Prostate Cancer UK

00:09:20 - Moving from Medicine to Pharma

00:14:13 - Challenges in Clinical Academic Medicine

00:15:58 - Research on Breast Cancer Post-Cure Care

00:17:50 - Considering a Move to Australia

00:18:24 - Host Interjection and Request for Support

00:18:42 - Pharma Priorities and Patient Needs Alignment

00:19:40 - Responsible Innovation and Patient Centricity

00:23:51 - Innovation vs Change

00:27:27 - Transparency and Trust in Pharma

Follow :

Website - https://www.pmlifesciences.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-montgomery-ba374025/

Explore the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeFXRuOQ6z8r12D9L8f0lyOYAxdOZRWzY

Music: Chopin - Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - III. Rondo – Vivace (String Quintet arr.)

Disclaimer: The Visionary Podcast features conversations with health professionals purely for educational and informational purposes. There is no financial exchange between the podcast and its guests. All views expressed are those of the health professionals and do not constitute medical advice.

This podcast honours the NHS: its people, its purpose, its power.

The Visionary Podcast is Sponsored by Dietapplements – Your Pure, Clean-label Supplements:

https://www.dietapplements.com/

Dr Julia Jones - Founder of Holidity, Neuroscientist, Author,

Lead guitarist of Pretty Crap Band

Dr Julia Jones is a neuroscientist, former Olympic psychologist, and author with over 30 years of experience in behavior change and human performance. Driven by the personal loss of her parents, she founded Holidity, a health-tech platform that helps organizations deliver human-led wellness coaching to build lasting health habits at scale. Her groundbreaking work explores longevity, biohacking, and the role of music in emotional regulation and motivation. Having delivered wellness programs for organizations like the NHS and Goldman Sachs, she also embraces her musical side as "Dr Rock," the lead guitarist in the all-female rock band Pretty Crap.

Host/Podcaster: Hala Ali

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:44 - Dr. Julia Jones' Background

00:01:19 - The Flaw in the Health and Fitness Model

00:04:29 - The Missing Piece in the Health and Fitness Model

00:06:17 - The Role of Music in Training

00:09:23 - The Neuroscience of Music and Training

00:10:40 - The Importance of Long-Term Potentiation in Forming Habits

00:12:42 - The Impact of Understanding Brain Behaviour

00:15:20 - Understanding the Reversal Process in Brain Cells

00:15:56 - The Myth of 21 Days Habit Formation

00:17:05 - Factors Affecting Habit Formation

00:17:42 - The Role of Environment and Biology in Habit Formation

00:21:36 - The Ancient Brain in Modern Life

00:22:53 - Bridging the Gap Between Ancient Brain and Modern Life

00:23:08 - The Difficulty of Changing Habits

00:25:10 - The Role of Intrinsic Motivation and Discipline in Habit Formation

00:26:07 - The Biological Inability to Change Habits

00:26:26 - The Myth of Willpower and Motivation

00:27:03 - Strategies to Optimize Brain for Modern Life

Follow Julia:

Website - https://www.drjuliajones.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drjuliajones/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DrJuliaJones/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliajonesuk/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrJuliaJones

Useful Links:

Holidity - https://holidity.com/

Explore the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeFXRuOQ6z8r12D9L8f0lyOYAxdOZRWzY

Music: Chopin - Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - III. Rondo – Vivace (String Quintet arr.)

Disclaimer: The Visionary Podcast features conversations with health professionals purely for educational and informational purposes. There is no financial exchange between the podcast and its guests. All views expressed are those of the health professionals and do not constitute medical advice.