In this episode, Avery and Yassine catch up with Val, one of the original hosts of educated but confused who co-founded the show with them before leaving last year after completing his Master’s in Neuroscience at the University of Iowa. Val is now teaching at Southern Oregon University, and we dive into his journey and all the new directions he’s taken in life and work since stepping away from academia.

We start off strong with Yassine's thought-provoking question: What are Val’s views on the gut microbiome, and how does it impact brain function, free will, and determinism? Val shares his insights, bridging science with philosophy in a discussion that’s both mind-expanding and full of practical implications.

Next, we explore: How has Val’s sleep research from grad school influenced his teaching? Val tells us ...