{"podcast":{"title":"Change Your Mind with New Scientist","slug":"change-your-mind-with-new-scientist-7861716","podcast_index_feed_id":7861716,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/ARML7523345494","website_url":null,"image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8b33ae98-4a58-11f1-948a-fb3d0bf5c0ea/image/aec6ee05301bbfee693dd8a3cebc92f9.jpeg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"New Scientist","episode_count":18,"summary":"Change Your Mind from New Scientist brings you the brain health advice you really need to know. Every week, award‑winning science journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson cut through wellness hype to find out what actually keeps your mind sharp, your mood steady and your memory strong. As friends, they’ve spent decades swapping stories, testing trends and exploring the latest neuroscience, and thought it was about time to share the tips and tricks that have genuinely changed their own lives. From cold plunges to coffee, supplements to sleep, Ozempic and AI they speak to leading experts and ask: does this really work? Expect smart conversations, clear answers, and practical takeaways - with plenty of laughs along the way. Because when you understand your brain, you really can change your mind - for the better. New Episodes every Thursday.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-03T14:20:08.714868+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/change-your-mind-with-new-scientist-7861716"},"episode":{"title":"Cold-Water Swimming and Sauna - Can hot and cold therapies boost mental health?","slug":"cold-water-swimming-and-sauna-can-hot-and-cold-therapies-boost-mental-health","published_at":"2026-05-28T05:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/change-your-mind-with-new-scientist-7861716/cold-water-swimming-and-sauna-can-hot-and-cold-therapies-boost-mental-health","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/change-your-mind-with-new-scientist-7861716","url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/ARML2470739281.mp3","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/ARML2470739281.mp3","summary":"If you’ve ever wondered whether the cold‑water swimming craze is a genuine brain booster or just a very chilly fad, this episode is for you. New Scientist journalists Cat de Lange and Helen Thomson plunge into the science behind cold dips, ice baths and saunas, asking whether they really can lift mood, protect the brain and build resilience, or if a warm pool and a chat with friends would do just as much. Along the way, Cat and Helen explore why so many people feel transformed by getting into very cold water, and what might really be driving those post‑swim highs. Is it something special happening inside the brain and body or the simple magic of nature, community and ritual?  They’re joined by Professor Mike Tipton, a world‑leading expert in how our bodies respond to extreme environments. Together, they ask: in an age of central heating and air conditioning, have we made ourselves too comfortable for our brains and bodies’ own good?  We want to hear your thoughts, leave a comment or send in your ideas for future episodes to changeyourmind@newscientist.com Learn more about Cold-water swimming:https://www.newscientist.com/article/2506082-cold-water-swimming-has-benefits-for-the-brain-as-well-as-the-body/  Learn more about our sponsor Alzheimer’s Society: ⁠⁠https://www.newscientist.com/alzheimers-society/⁠⁠ Produced by Emily Bird","meta_description":"If you’ve ever wondered whether the cold‑water swimming craze is a genuine brain booster or just a very chilly fad, this episode is for you. New Scientist…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2839,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/change-your-mind-with-new-scientist-7861716/episodes/cold-water-swimming-and-sauna-can-hot-and-cold-therapies-boost-mental-health/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/change-your-mind-with-new-scientist-7861716/cold-water-swimming-and-sauna-can-hot-and-cold-therapies-boost-mental-health.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}