# Why We Haven’t Solved Brain Disorders—And How To Fix It, with Nicole Rust

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/big-brains-1022699/why-we-haven-t-solved-brain-disorders-and-how-to-fix-it-with-nicole-rust
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/big-brains-1022699/why-we-haven-t-solved-brain-disorders-and-how-to-fix-it-with-nicole-rust.md
Podcast: [Big Brains](https://stenobird.com/podcast/big-brains-1022699)
Published: 2025-10-02T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://big-brains.simplecast.com/episodes/why-we-havent-solved-brain-disordersand-how-to-fix-it-with-nicole-rust-04a5bkl3
Audio file: https://afp-920658-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/b15505d2-a359-4f02-b0c3-b7602dbe79f1/episodes/65dc51a3-2b2a-40d8-95b4-d28f15936553/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=b15505d2-a359-4f02-b0c3-b7602dbe79f1&awEpisodeId=65dc51a3-2b2a-40d8-95b4-d28f15936553&feed=4FF7CAnQ
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/big-brains-1022699/episodes/why-we-haven-t-solved-brain-disorders-and-how-to-fix-it-with-nicole-rust
Duration seconds: 2178

## Resource

For decades, neuroscience has promised breakthroughs in treating conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s. Yet despite powerful technologies and billions invested, progress has been frustratingly slow. Why? On this episode of Big Brains, we talk with Nicole Rust, neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Elusive Cures. Rust argues that the traditional “domino” view of the brain—where one broken piece can simply be fixed—has held us back. Instead, she says we need to embrace the brain’s true nature: a complex, dynamic system more like the weather than a machine. We explore why treatments so often fail, what makes mood such a scientific mystery, and whether a new era of brain research—powered by models, feedback loops, and fresh ways of thinking—can finally deliver the cures that have long eluded us.

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/big-brains-1022699/episodes/why-we-haven-t-solved-brain-disorders-and-how-to-fix-it-with-nicole-rust/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/big-brains-1022699/why-we-haven-t-solved-brain-disorders-and-how-to-fix-it-with-nicole-rust.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.