We know that singing, painting and other creative outlets can boost our mental health. But how do we harness the therapeutic power of the arts? Alisha speaks with UK researcher Professor Daisy Fancourt, whose work is helping to establish the arts as a key ingredient in conversations about mental wellbeing, alongside diet and exercise. She also meets Vanessa, a mother in the UK who took part in a singing-based trial to reduce the effects of postpartum depression, and Kunle Adewale, an arts practitioner in Nigeria, whose own healing journey led him to empower others through arts engagement. It’s a powerful look at how creativity can shape healthier futures, backed by science and lived experience. This episode features Breathe Melodies for Mums, a programme by Breathe Arts Health Research. Learn more at breatheahr.org/programmes/melodies-for-mums Video footage of the Melodies sessions was kindly provided by Breathe Arts Health Research.
--------
41:05
--------
41:05
Season 3 trailer: the science podcast that tells the human story
When Science Finds a Way is back! Join botanist-turned-Hollywood actor Alisha Wainright as she meets the scientists and communities turning bold ideas into real world impact. This season, you’ll hear about how new medical imaging tools are helping us see our bodies in ways we never could before, meet the team using climate data to predict and prevent disease outbreaks, and learn about how engaging with the arts can help improve our mental health.
--------
0:30
--------
0:30
Now try... Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast
We’re going to be back with new episodes of When Science Finds a Way in the not too distant future so stay subscribed so you’re the first to hear them. In the meantime, we've got another show to fill your time with. Outrage and Optimism is a climate podcast for anyone who is not ready to give up on creating a better world. They speak to the crucial decision makers at the intersection of climate science, policy and business to make sense of the latest headlines in one of the most urgent stories of our times. We recommend you check out their episode on the urgent connection between climate and health, in conversation with Julia Gillard, former Australian Prime Minister and Chair of Wellcome. Follow the podcast on wherever you get your podcasts and learn more about it at: Climate Change Podcast | Outrage + Optimism
--------
7:29
--------
7:29
Now try... Our Big Shot
Thanks for enjoying season two of When Science Finds a Way. While we're off the air, we recommend getting stuck into this series all about the history of vaccination and disease control. You can find the rest of the series by searching for Our Big Shot wherever you're reading this. Tuberculosis is often assumed to be a disease of the past, but it kills over 1 million people a year - a higher rate than malaria and HIV combined. In this episode we visit a forgotten and critical turning point in vaccine development. 'The Black Angels' were a group of black nurses who faced almost certain death to perform the world’s very first clinical trials using the drug that would become the gold standard for TB treatment today. They helped cure tuberculosis in New York City's Sea View Hospital during the mid-20th century. We talk to New Yorker Maria Smilios about how she happened upon the tale of this incredible group of nurses in 2016. Astounded by the story from the City’s Sea View Hospital, and the incredible pioneers that changed the trajectory of the fight against tuberculosis, she knew she had to tell it to the world. When the pandemic hit half way through writing her book, Maria realised that many of the themes in her book around inequity and disease were alive and well in present day New York. She decided she needed to write a book about it before it was too late. Maria tells us the story of these incredible pioneers who faced racial adversity, braving almost certain death to perform the world’s very first clinical trials using the drug that would become the gold standard for TB treatment today. Seema and Maria discuss the future, the challenges of distributing and treating TB worldwide and the hope there is for the future with gains already made in campaigning and the triumphant power of people working together. Feature guest: - Maria Smilios - Science writer and author on her book ‘The Black Angels’ revisiting a forgotten passage in the fight against TB and what this story can teach us today. https://www.mariasmilios.com/
--------
29:54
--------
29:54
AVATAR Therapy: digital dialogues for mental health
Hearing voices is a challenging symptom of psychosis that treatments have often failed to address effectively - until now. Introducing AVATAR therapy, a remarkable approach using digital technology to help patients engage with distressing voices and regain control. Alisha meets Dr Vaughan Bell to explore the therapy's potential, talk about findings from the latest clinical trial and hear a personal story of transformation. When Science Finds a Way is brought to you by Wellcome, an independent global foundation that supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. For more information and podcast transcripts visit wellcome.org/podcast
When Science Finds a Way is the science podcast that tells the human story. Join botanist-turned-Hollywood actor Alisha Wainright as she meets the scientists and communities turning bold ideas into real world impact.
This season, you’ll hear about how new medical imaging tools are helping us see our bodies in ways we never could before, meet the team using climate data to predict and prevent disease outbreaks, and learn about how engaging with the arts can help improve our mental health.
-
Brought to you by Wellcome, an independent global foundation that supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. Please visit wellcome.org for more information.
USA