“We need to be very curious about the information we receive, especially before we adopt it.” ~ Dr. Ben Rein
Today’s conversation is a Choose to Be Curious trifecta: a neuroscientist, who studies empathy, has devoted himself to science communication, and willingly stands in the chaotic swirl where curiosity can go weirdly very awry.
Ben Rein, PhD is a postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Robert Malenka’s lab at Stanford University and a science communicator on social media.
You might know him as Dr.Brein on TikTok or Doctor.Brein on Instagram. He’s the one summarizing research papers, teaching neuroscience basics, and debunking viral videos that promote scientific misinformation.
Somehow, Ben has managed to combine curiosity, empathy and social media and have genuine good come of it. At some point in our conversation I declared his work a “special kind of alchemy.” I stand by that.
My thought — and my theory — is that, if we can take a moment to appreciate and interrogate that cognitive empathy, we can sort of will ourselves into emotional empathy.
Listen to Choose to Be Curious #225: A Special Alchemy: Curiosity, Empathy & Social Media, with Dr. Ben Rein
Find Ben Rein, PhD on line at: www.benrein.com and follow him on social media: Instagram: @doctor.brein TikTok: @dr.brein
I recommend Ben’s talk at the Center for Brain Health: Mythbusting: How a Brain Scientist Uses Social Media for Good with Ben Rein, PhD.
Dr. Julie Fratantoni interviewed Ben for the talk that caught my attention. You can hear my conversation with her here: Curiosity & Brain Health, with Dr. Julie Fratantoni.
Empathy comes up a lot here. If you’d like to hear more, try these C2BC Classics: Empathy, with Brandon Charles; Building Bridges, with Vivek Patil; Cultivating Cultural Intelligence, with Asma Ahmad; Sounds of Caring, with Yoko Sen & Tammy Beaulieu; Compassionate Curiosity & Death, with Valoria Walker; Michael Tennant is Actually Empathic.
Theme music by Sean Balick; “Perspiration” by The Ballonist, via Blue Dot Sessions.
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