{"podcast":{"title":"Big Brains","slug":"big-brains-1022699","podcast_index_feed_id":1022699,"rss_url":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/4FF7CAnQ","website_url":"https://big-brains.simplecast.com","image_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/2e7c76ad-7ecc-479b-8749-f0cb2f4f2dc5/a6bb7391-0c19-412c-9235-27ca5edc6296/3000x3000/bigbrains-ucpn-logo-largebrain-multicolor-rgb-black-3000.jpg?aid=rss_feed","author":"University of Chicago Podcast Network","episode_count":222,"summary":"Big Brains explores the groundbreaking research and discoveries that are changing our world. In each episode, we talk to leading experts and unpack their work in straightforward terms. Interesting conversations that cover a gamut of topics from how music affects our brains to what happens after we die.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-26T00:19:41.185737+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/big-brains-1022699"},"episode":{"title":"How Microplastics Are Invading Our Bodies, with Matthew Campen","slug":"how-microplastics-are-invading-our-bodies-with-matthew-campen","published_at":"2025-08-07T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/big-brains-1022699/how-microplastics-are-invading-our-bodies-with-matthew-campen","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/big-brains-1022699","url":"https://big-brains.simplecast.com/episodes/how-microplastics-are-invading-our-bodies-with-matthew-campen-gH51OzA8","audio_url":"https://afp-920658-injected.calisto.simplecastaudio.com/b15505d2-a359-4f02-b0c3-b7602dbe79f1/episodes/5bd59a09-3b0d-4332-9589-d4d0892f814a/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=b15505d2-a359-4f02-b0c3-b7602dbe79f1&awEpisodeId=5bd59a09-3b0d-4332-9589-d4d0892f814a&feed=4FF7CAnQ","summary":"You’ve heard of plastic polluting oceans. But what if it’s polluting you—your brain, your reproductive system, even your unborn children? In this eye-opening episode, we speak with Prof. Matthew Campen, a scientist at the University of New Mexico, whose latest studies have uncovered evidence of microplastics in placentas, reproductive organs and brains of humans—particularly in the frontal cortex, where decision-making and personality live. We explore how these plastic particles are entering our bodies (hint: it’s not just your water bottle), what they might be doing to us, and why scientists are just beginning to understand the true scope of the issue. From declining sperm counts to potential links with dementia, this episode asks a critical question: Are microplastics the next big public health crisis?","meta_description":"You’ve heard of plastic polluting oceans. But what if it’s polluting you—your brain, your reproductive system, even your unborn children? In this eye-open…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1698,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/big-brains-1022699/episodes/how-microplastics-are-invading-our-bodies-with-matthew-campen/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/big-brains-1022699/how-microplastics-are-invading-our-bodies-with-matthew-campen.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}