Episode 1: Grayson Brulte Interview
2017-10-063 min
I get candid with Grayson Brulte, autonomous vehicle expert, as we discuss the potential ethical issues associated with driverless cars.
Season guide
Mind Field Specials — Episodes and Where to Watch
39 episodes · first aired 2017-10-06
TMDB does not provide a season overview.
Episode guide
Episode 2: Uncut Shaman Song
2017-12-0617 min
Watch as a Peruvian Shaman performs his icaro—or healing chant—in its entirety, from my Ayahuasca ceremony.
Episode 3: A Few Personal Questions
2017-12-062 min
With just seven days until my Ayahuasca ceremony, I fill out a recommended personality survey—which becomes a little revealing.
Episode 4: Gail Thomas Interview
2017-12-066 min
I explore how psychedelics can improve mental health in my interview with cancer survivor Gail Thomas, as we discuss her experience in a study involving psilocybin--or mushrooms.
Episode 5: Digital Drugs
2017-12-063 min
Is there a way to experience the effects of psychedelic drugs without having to ingest anything? Watch as I test out a few of these unconventional audio and visual files to see if their claims are true.
Episode 6: Uncut False Confession
2017-12-0614 min
Expert Melissa Russano elicits a false confession from one of our test subjects in this fascinating, uncut session.
Episode 7: False Confession Victim
2017-12-065 min
I sit down with Jeffrey Deskovic, a real-life victim of a false confession conviction.
Episode 8: The Human Lab Rat
2017-12-066 min
Check out this extended cut of my challenging experience as a human lab rat in a giant, 60-foot real-world maze.
Episode 9: Hero in the Sky
2017-12-133 min
I interview Shirley Dygert, a first time skydiver, and her tandem skydiving instructor, Dave Hartsock, about a treacherous skydive they both miraculously survived.
Episode 10: Mr. Xtreme
2017-12-132 min
In San Diego, real-life superheroes walk the streets as part of the Xtreme Justice League. I chat with Mr. Xtreme, one of the league’s most visible members, to discuss what it means to be a hero in today’s society.
Episode 11: Thought Implant
2017-12-205 min
Check out the final stage of our power of suggestion test, where we try to convince our subjects that a brain scanner can implant a number in their minds.
Episode 12: Sham Acupuncture
2017-12-201 min
I go deeper into accessory-assisted placebos by discussing sham acupuncture—and getting stuck with a few needles in the process.
Episode 13: Unleashed
2017-12-201 min
I attempt to discuss placebos, but my furry co-star keeps stealing the scene.
Episode 14: Hearing Test
2017-12-271 min
Let’s do a little test. I’ll play two tones and you see if you’re one of the few people who can notice a difference between them.
Episode 15: The Musical Savant
2017-12-274 min
Derek Paravicini, a blind, autistic pianist and musical savant, sits down with me at the keyboard and shows off his incredible range of musical styles.
Episode 16: Dynamic Duet
2017-12-274 min
Jazz pianist Dave O’Brien and his student Derek Paravicini play an impressive piano duet for me.
Episode 17: Marcie Bockbrader Interview
2018-01-031 min
Research Physiatrist Marcie Bockbrader talks to me about a brain-computer interface project that is helping a paralyzed man move his arm.
Episode 18: Sending a Signal
2018-01-035 min
I interview principal research statistician David Friedenberg about his role in analyzing all the data collected in a project aimed at helping a paralyzed man move again.
Episode 19: The Origins of Disgust
2018-12-0513 min
With the help of Cecile Sarabian, Dr. Andrew MacIntosh and some fake poop, Michael observes levels of disgust among Japanese Macaques.
Episode 20: Rock, Paper, Scissors
2018-12-054 min
Kyoto University Ph.D. candidate Jie Gao shares her research involving Chimpanzees and the schoolyard game “Rock, Paper, Scissors.”
Episode 21: Brains and Language
2018-12-053 min
Michael and Dr. Terrence Deacon discuss the connection between language and the physical brain.
Episode 22: The Park PSA
2018-12-051 min
We edited the fake Los Angeles parks PSA from our Moral Licensing demonstration!
Episode 23: Virtual Dilemmas
2018-12-057 min
Michael wrestles with two moral dilemmas in VR, designed by researchers Dr. Erick Ramirez and Dr. Scott LaBarge.
Episode 24: Coin Toss
2018-12-123 min
Michael uses a series of coin flips and a large group of people to demonstrate the “wisdom of the crowd.”
Episode 25: Q & A
2018-12-123 min
Michael recruits local Vsauce fans for his Brain experiment, and fields questions in a Q&A setting.
Episode 26: Memory Lane
2018-12-122 min
Michael shares memories with his mom, who has saved everything from his childhood - from report cards to his space camp jacket.
Episode 27: Fast Times at Blue Valley High
2018-12-121 min
Michael takes Dr. Chris Eliasmith on a tour through his high school, including his forensics team’s wall of fame.
Episode 28: Jelly Bean Experiment
2018-12-122 min
Michael conducts his own version of the famous “jelly bean jar” experiment and reveals the statistical significance of the results.
Episode 29: A Great Performance
2018-12-193 min
Michael learns the true story behind Stanford Prison Experiment guard Dave Eshleman’s “John Wayne” moniker.
Episode 30: Personal Responsibility
2018-12-192 min
Michael learns more about Ben Blum’s cousin Alex and his personal transformation after participating in an armed bank robbery
Episode 31: A Death Positive World
2018-12-262 min
Michael meets with Caitlin Doughty and learns about a death-positive culture in Indonesia, where relatives keep their dead loved ones in their homes.
Episode 32: World Views
2018-12-263 min
Michael meets with psychologists Dr. Jeff Greenberg and Dr. Sheldon Solomon to discuss how death affects our world views.
Episode 33: A Frozen Pioneer
2018-12-262 min
Michael visits Alcor life extension and learns about the first person to ever be frozen using cryonics.
Episode 34: A Family Affair
2018-10-262 min
Michael visits Alcor life extension and learns about the family behind – and preserved by – cryonics.
Episode 35: Philosophizing About Death
2018-12-266 min
Michael discusses the philosophy of death, and its changing definition, with Dr. Max More, CEO of Alcor life extension.
Episode 36: Barnard's Star
2019-01-023 min
Michael and Dr. Douglas Vakoch discuss Barnard’s Star, the closest star to our solar system, within the context of sending messages into space.
Episode 37: The Golden Record
2019-01-023 min
Michael and Dr. Steven Vance discuss the famous “Golden Record”, which was sent aboard NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft.
Episode 38: What Is The Scariest Thing?
2019-10-2430 min
Stevens talks about fear and if there exists an innate fear of which all people are afraid.
Episode 39: I Watch 3 Episodes of Mind Field With Our Experts & Researchers
2019-10-1430 min
I asked a group of colleagues who worked with me on the series to sit down at Vsauce HQ and watch through three entire episodes. We go behind the scenes, elaborate on topics in the episodes, and dig in to what impact working on Mind Field has had on their current research.
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