Think Neuro

Medical

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 Think Neuro’s has two co-hosts, Anthony Effinger and Dan Fost. Anthony Effinger is an award-winning journalist who is fascinated with neuroscience and the workings of the brain. Anthony spent 24 years at Bloomberg News, where he covered money and finance, with 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 piece on the changing strategies used to treat prostate cancer. These days, he is a staff writer at Willamette Week, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife and two children. 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. 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.

Location:

United States

Genres:

Medical

Science Podcasts

Description:

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 Think Neuro’s has two co-hosts, Anthony Effinger and Dan Fost. Anthony Effinger is an award-winning journalist who is fascinated with neuroscience and the workings of the brain. Anthony spent 24 years at Bloomberg News, where he covered money and finance, with 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 piece on the changing strategies used to treat prostate cancer. These days, he is a staff writer at Willamette Week, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife and two children. 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. 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.

Language:

English

Website:

https://think-neuro.simplecast.com

Episodes

Treating Spinal Deformities with Marcus Mazur, MD

2/25/2026

Spinal deformity refers to abnormal curvatures of the spine, such as scoliosis, lordosis, and kyphosis. These conditions can arise from genetic defects, injuries, diseases like osteoporosis or arthritis, neuromuscular disorders, or poor posture. Symptoms range from visible misalignment to pain, weakness, loss of sensation, and in severe cases, paralysis or organ compression. Treatment options vary from observation, bracing, medications, and physical therapy to complex surgeries, with early diagnosis offering the best outcomes. Marcus D. Mazur, MD, FAANS, is a board-certified fellowship-trained spine neurosurgeon. His clinical practice focuses on adult spinal surgery for disorders on the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. He is a recognized expert in the treatment of adult spinal deformity, complex revision surgery, spinal oncology, and minimally invasive spine surgery. He also practices general neurosurgery.

Duration:00:01:51

72. Revolutionary Robotic Surgery for Head & Neck Cancer Treatment

2/18/2026

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself needing head and neck cancer surgery and your surgeon has an unexpected assistant: a robot. But it won’t be R2D2 or C3P0 from Star Wars. Instead, the modern medical robot is a high-tech tool that surgeons use to perform sensitive tasks in hard-to-reach places. In this episode, Dr. Vivian Wu, a head and neck surgeon at Pacific Neuroscience Institute, takes us into the new world of robotic surgeries. Dr. Wu also tells us about some new tests that can show how successful someone’s cancer treatment has been, without the need for invasive biopsies. She talks about how to prevent and treat Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, which has started showing up in people’s mouths in greater numbers. Dr. Wu also emphasizes the important role a care “village” plays in a patient's treatment and recovery.

Duration:00:34:24

Treatment & Management of Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas (DAVFs) with Adi Iyer, MD, MS | A PNI Minute

2/11/2026

Dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is a rare vascular condition where abnormal connections (fistulas) form between branches of arteries and veins in the dura mater, the brain's covering. The dural arteries deliver high-pressure, oxygen-rich blood to the brain, while the dural veins return deoxygenated, low-pressure blood to the heart. DAVF causes high-pressure arterial blood to flow into veins or sinuses meant for low-pressure blood, which can lead to ruptures, brain hemorrhages, and other neurological issues. Meet Dr. Aditya (Adi) Iyer, a board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon specializing in vascular diseases of the brain and spine at Pacific Neuroscience Institute®. As one of California’s few dual-trained neurosurgeons, Dr. Iyer offers both minimally invasive open surgical techniques and incisionless catheter-based procedures to treat strokes, aneurysms, AVMs, tumors, and pain.

Duration:00:01:59

12. Alzheimer’s: Too Common, and So Mysterious | Dr. Verna Porter

2/4/2026

One in ten Americans who are 65 and older suffer from Alzheimer’s dementia. It’s the 6th leading cause of death in the country, and it is a scourge worldwide. But little is known about what causes Alzheimer’s, and cures have been elusive. Dr. Verna Porter specializes in treating people with Alzheimer’s, and she remains optimistic. Until we have a remedy, she advises people to eat well and get plenty of sleep. Patients with Alzheimer’s often have abnormal levels of a gummy plaque called amyloid protein crowded around the neurons of the brain. No one knows for sure what causes it to accumulate. What we know for sure is that sleep clears toxins from the brain, amyloid protein among them. Yet, so few of us get enough of it. Eating a diet that’s low in sugar, and intermittent fasting, also may clear toxins. Even when we do invent a cure for Alzheimer’s, prevention will still be the best medicine, Dr. Porter says. Listen now for more on the mysterious origins of Alzheimer’s and what you can do to live with it if it strikes you or a relative. For more information: pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640

Duration:00:50:12

Meet Dr. Ashkan Mowla

1/28/2026

Ashkan Mowla, MD, FAHA, FAAN, is neuro-interventional surgeon at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute® (PNI). He specializes in minimally invasive endovascular procedures to treat conditions and diseases of the brain and spine, including stroke, brain aneurysm, brain and spine arteriovenous malformation and fistula and carotid and intracranial disease. He is triple board-certified neurologist with fellowship training in stroke and cerebrovascular diseases and also interventional neuroradiology. Prior to joining PNI, he was an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA for 5 years.

Duration:00:01:59

71. Combining Exercise and Gaming for Better Brain Health

1/21/2026

Ryan Glatt turned his recovery from a traumatic brain injury into a passion for helping others restore and preserve the health of their brains. He now runs the Fit Brain Program at PNI, where he oversees a marvelous room, the Brain Gym. He leads people through workouts in which they move their bodies while exercising their minds, and where specialized brain-body exercise machines flash and beep. In addition to being the Fit Brain director, Ryan is also a brain health coach, which means that, he works as a specialized personal trainer for people who want to stave off cognitive decline. Ryan works in tandem with doctors at the institute, helping people manage their conditions, recover from surgeries, and maybe even preventing the need for future treatment. In today’s episode, Ryan Glatt takes us through his journey and tells us what brain health coaching entails. He also tells us the six vital things you can work on to help keep your brain (and body!) healthy, now and in the future.

Duration:00:54:01

Treating Spinal Deformities with Marcus Mazur, MD

1/14/2026

Duration:00:01:51

Understanding Pseudotumor Cerebri with Dr. Alexander Solomon | A PNI Minute

12/24/2025

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, is a condition caused by elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure in the brain. The symptoms of this condition mimic those of a brain tumor, giving it the name pseudotumor cerebri, meaning "false brain tumor." The increased pressure can cause swelling of the optic nerve and can result in loss of vision. Medications can often reduce the pressure and headache, but surgery is necessary in some cases. Alexander M. Solomon, MD, is a neuro-ophthalmologist and strabismus surgeon at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica and Torrance, CA. Dr. Solomon’s personal philosophy is that each patient is individual and that diagnosis and optimal management of any disease is best carried out in conjunction with patient and family education, and understanding. His skillset includes visual field analysis and optical coherence tomography interpretation, as well as advanced adult strabismus diagnosis and treatment including thyroid eye disease, cranial nerve palsies, and orbital disease.

Duration:00:02:24

Meet Marcus D. Mazur, MD

12/10/2025

Marcus D. Mazur, MD, FAANS, is a board-certified fellowship-trained spine neurosurgeon. His clinical practice focuses on adult spinal surgery for disorders on the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. He is a recognized expert in the treatment of adult spinal deformity, complex revision surgery, spinal oncology, and minimally invasive spine surgery. He also practices general neurosurgery. Dr. Mazur completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Utah and a postgraduate spine fellowship at the University of Virginia. Prior to joining PNI, he was a tenured faculty member at the University of Utah, where he was the program director of the neurosurgery residency and the director of the neurosurgery spine fellowship.

Duration:00:01:51

Inside the Mind of a Top Neurosurgeon: Dr. Dan Kelly on Risk and Resilience | Guest Podcast

12/3/2025

Dr. Daniel Kelly joins Dr. Stephen Sideroff this week on the Quantum Leadership Podcast. In this powerful episode of the Quantum Leadership Podcast, Dr. Stephen Sideroff sits down with Dr. Dan Kelly, one of the nation’s leading neurosurgeons and co-founder and director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, for an illuminating look at the inner work, vision, and steady courage behind his remarkable leadership journey. From leaving a secure tenured role at UCLA to create an entirely new model of neuroscience care, to performing high-stakes brain tumor surgeries where a millimeter can change a life, Dan shares what it truly takes to lead with clarity, presence, and heart. He reveals how risk-taking, disciplined innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration helped him grow PNI from a small three-person nucleus into a nationally recognized institute with more than a dozen centers of excellence. Dan also opens up about the personal side of leadership: coping with emotionally heavy diagnoses, maintaining balance through meditation and exercise, fostering trust in the operating room, and navigating the enormous pressures of a healthcare system while protecting what matters most: patient outcomes, team wellbeing, and integrity. His story offers profound lessons for leaders facing uncertainty, complexity, or the need to build something groundbreaking from the ground up.

Duration:01:05:15

What Are Meningiomas? with Dr. Nouzhan Sehati

11/26/2025

A meningioma is a type of tumor that arises from the meninges, which are the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It is typically a slow-growing, usually benign tumor, derived from the cells of the arachnoid cap cells or the meningeal cells themselves. Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumor. Fortunately, most are benign and slow-growing although up to 10% can grow rapidly. They are more common in women than men and can occur in all ages but are typically seen in middle-aged and older adults. Most meningiomas needing surgery can be removed through one of several minimally invasive keyhole approaches.

Duration:00:04:06

The Indomitable Dr. Howard Krauss | Guest Podcast

11/19/2025

The Indomitable Dr. Howard Krauss Guest podcast: Out of the Blindspot with Dr. Ore-ofe Adesina Originally aired in 2 parts March 10 & April 21, 2025 Dr. Howard Krauss is a pioneering surgical Neuro-ophthalmologist specializing in minimally invasive orbital and oculoplastic surgery and adult strabismus. A leader in ophthalmology and medicine, he has blazed the trail for many who followed his footsteps into this specialty as surgeons. We’ll learn about his formative years including his journey from rocket scientist to neuro-ophthalmologist. We continue our conversation, learning about his experience training to become a surgical neuro-ophthalmologist, his experience as a co-founder of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, and Dr. Krauss offers some of his thoughts on the current state of our healthcare system, and sage advice to the next generation of aspiring physicians and neuro-ophthalmologists.

Duration:00:53:29

How to Identify and Treat Thyroid Nodules with Vivian Wu, MD

11/12/2025

Thyroid nodules are growths on your thyroid. They are usually benign (not cancer). They may become overactive and make too much of the thyroid hormone. All types of hyperthyroidism are due to an overproduction of thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) causes your thyroid to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs. Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your body functions such as your metabolism (can cause unintentional weight loss) or a rapid or irregular heart rate.

Duration:00:02:36

Multiple Sclerosis and Wellness with Dr. Barbara Giesser

11/5/2025

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. In multiple sclerosis, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers, called myelin, in the central nervous system. This immune-mediated damage disrupts the normal flow of electrical impulses along the nerves, leading to a wide range of neurological symptoms. For people with MS, exercise and physical activity can be variously challenging. However, being physically active is one of the most beneficial adaptations to a lifestyle with MS. The six pillars of brain health are nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, social connection and avoidance of risky substances. Advice and educational resources in these areas are part of our neurologic treatment plan.

Duration:00:02:13

Chris' Story - Hemifacial Spasm

10/29/2025

Hemifacial Spasm is a potentially debilitating condition where the facial muscles of expression spasm uncontrollably. Botulinum toxin can control the spasm, but in severe cases, minimally invasive surgery for microvascular decompression of the facial nerve is more efficacious. Listen to Chris B's story as he dealt with this issue and sought definitive care at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute with Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian and Dr. Melita Petrossian.

Duration:00:04:16

Neurosurgical Fellowship Training at Pacific Neuroscience Institute

10/22/2025

The Pacific Brain Tumor Center and Pacific Pituitary Disorders Center offers a 1-year neurosurgery fellowship in minimally invasive surgery for brain, pituitary and skull base tumors. Our clinical training program is focused on endoscopic endonasal and keyhole surgical approaches, neuro-endoscopy, pituitary tumor management and multimodality neuro-oncology treatments. The fellowship emphasizes operative and peri-operative patient management, outpatient evaluation of new patients and follow-up patients as well as clinical and anatomical laboratory research projects. The fellowship is integrated into the Saint John's Cancer Institute Surgical Oncology Fellowship. Qualified applicants must have completed training in an ACGME-accredited neurosurgical residency program and be eligible for a California medical license.

Duration:00:02:40

70. The Lifestyle Roadmap to Improving Your Memory and Brain Health

10/15/2025

Our memory isn't just a passive function. Just like our muscles, it's something that can be trained, optimized, and protected. Subtle changes in our memory can signal the earliest stages of cognitive decline, but preventative interventions can make a huge difference. That's exactly what Dr. Karen Miller, Senior Director of the Brain Wellness and Lifestyle Program at PNI, helps her patients achieve. Dr. Miller specializes in personalized approaches to improve brain health. One technique is the "memory palace," a method that links information to familiar places and strengthens one's ability to recall information. In this episode, learn how Dr. Miller combines cognitive training with lifestyle factors like exercise, nutrition, and social engagement to help patients preserve and improve their brain health.

Duration:00:33:54

Our Philosophical Approach to Spine Care with Jean-Philippe Langevin, MD

10/8/2025

Spinal disorders may be caused by spine trauma, genetic components or disease including cancer. As the backbone is made of bone, a misconception is that all spine issues are taken care of by orthopedic surgeons. In reality, neurosurgeons are integrally involved in spinal surgery due to the delicate nature and proximity of major nerves in these regions. To meet the need for a specialty spine center in the South Bay area, in 2019, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance opened its state-of-the-art Spine Institute, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of surgical experts of neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons, and capitalized on the hospital’s already nationally recognized rehabilitation centers. The Spine Institute at Providence Little Company of Mary is now the only comprehensive spinal treatment center in the South Bay. The institute cares for all emergency and conventional neuro-spinal disorders, focusing on advanced minimally invasive spinal procedures.

Duration:00:02:03

Cochlear Implants Crash Course with Mathilde Tranberg, Cochlear Implant Ambassador

10/1/2025

A cochlear implant for hearing loss is an electronic device that is implanted into the inner ear (the cochlea) and is used to restore hearing in patients who no longer benefit from traditional hearing aids or have hearing loss in just one ear. While a cochlear implant does not re-create normal hearing, it allows individuals to understand speech and perceive sounds in a way that improves communication and quality of life. Mathilde Tranberg is the dedicated Cochlear Implant Outreach Ambassador at Pacific Head & Neck, Pacific Neuroscience Institute. Mathilde was born profoundly deaf and received Cochlear Implants when she was 2 and 6 years old. As a bilateral cochlear implant (CI) user and the 84th recipient of a CI in Denmark, she knows firsthand the transformative power of this technology. Her goal is to share her personal journey and empower others with the knowledge and confidence to embrace improved quality of life through better hearing. Mathilde has always been very active and loves playing all kind of sports.

Duration:00:05:00

Malia's Grateful Patient Story | AVM Treatment at PNI

9/24/2025

While traveling with her family, 17-year-old Malia experienced a grand mal seizure while she was sleeping. Her parents immediately brought her back to Los Angeles to the care of Dr. Walavan Sivakumar at Pacific Neuroscience Institute South Bay, in Torrance, Ca. An MRI showed that Malia had an Arteriovenous Malformation which likely had been growing for a few years. Learn more about the life-saving surgery and treatment that Dr. Sivakumar and the multi-specialty team at PNI-South Bay and Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance performed to put Malia back on course to live a long and full life.

Duration:00:03:01