Episode 51 of Books and Ideas is actually a followup of Dr. Jaak Panksepp's recent interview on the Brain Science Podcast. There we talked in depth about the scientific evidence that humans share basic emotional circuitry with other mammals. In this interview we talk about the implications of this discovery. We focus on how it should impact the treatment of laboratory animals. We also consider our relationships with pets and other domestic species.

For detailed show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com.

Send email to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 50 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Ted Meisner, host of The Secular Buddhist podcast. We talk a little about the basics of Buddhism with a focus on the core teachings. The goal of The Secular Buddhist podcast is to highlight the practical teachings of Buddhism, while acknowledging that many of us would like to leave myths like reincarnation behind. Ted also interviews scientists who are trying to discover what happens in the brain when people meditate.

For detailed show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com.

Episode 49 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Emily Reese from Minnesota Public Radio. Reese is the host of two podcasts that I enjoy: Top Score and Learning to Listen. In this interview we focus on Top Score, which is a podcast about video game music. Reese interviews the composers and gives listeners an inside look at the challenges that face composers in this new, but growing field. You don't need to be a muscian or a gamer to enjoy Emily's podcasts.

For complete show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://books and ideas.com.

This episode contains a number of short music clips. All are within the 30 second limit allowed by fair use. I am including the times and sources below for listeners who want to hear more.

00: Elder Scrolls: Oblivion from The Greatest Video Game Music recorded by the London Philharmonic and Andrew Skeet.

1:42 [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion]

14:31 Opening Suite from Halo: The Soundtrack by Martin O’Donnell and MIchael Salvatori

16:40 [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion]

18:49 “An End, Once and For All-Extended Cut” from Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut by Sam Huliick

23:16 Somewhere In Time (Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini-Var. No. 18) from Classics at the Movies

24:43 The Makers Theme from Darksiders II Original Soundtrack by Jasper Kyd

25:32 Ethan Mars' Main Theme from Heavy Rain (Original Soundtrack from the Video Game) by Normand Corbeil

26:14 "Welcome to the Sprawl" from Dead Space 2 (EA Games Soundtrack) by Jason Graves 

26:47 "Nascence" from Journey™ (Original Soundtrack from the Video Game) by Austin Wintory

27:43 "In Case of Trouble" from Bastion Original Soundtrack by Darren Korb available at Visit http://supergiantgames.bandcamp.com

28:06 "Bynn the Breaker" from Bastion Original Soundtrack by Darren Korb available at Visit http://supergiantgames.bandcamp.com

39:16  [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion]

41:23 "I Am Alive And I Am Not Alone" from Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut by Sam Hulick

Episode 48 of Books and Ideas is interview with Jonathan Gottschall, author of "The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human."

Show notes and free episode transcripts are available at http://booksandideas.com

Send feedback to Dr. Campbell at gincampbell at mac dot com. Follow her on Twitter as @docartemis.

Episode 47 of Books and Ideas is being released simultaneously in the Brain Science Podcast feed. It is an interview with Terrence Deacon, PhD., author of "Incomplete Nature: How Mind Emerged from Matter." We talk about the ongoing quest to explain the emergence of life, mind, and purpose using the known laws of physics (with out the need for any supernatural extras).

For complete show notes and free episode transcripts please visit http://booksandideas.com/.

You can send Dr. Campbell feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com or post feed on the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook.

I have just published my first eBook: Are You Sure? The Unconscious Origins of Certainty. It is currently available only in the Kindle format at Amazon.com, but I will send you the PDF version if you email me a copy of your Amazon receipt.

The next episode of Books and Ideas will come out in July 2012.

My email is gincampbell at mac.com.

This episode is an interview with Roger Reid, writer and producer for the Emmy Award winning public TV show Discovering Alabama with Dr. Doug Phillips and author of several novels for young adult readers. His novels combine science and mystery in an original way. In this interview we explore some surprising secrets about Alabama's natural history and learn how Reid's travels around the state have inspired his novels.

For complete show notes and episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com/.

Episode 45 of Books and Ideas is a look back at the first five years of this podcast. I take the opportunity to thank each of my 33 guests and let you know what's coming in 2012. For detailed show notes and episode transcripts please visit http://booksandideas.com/.

Send me feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com.

Episode 44 of Books and Ideas is an interview with science fiction author Karen Traviss. She has written 4 novels based on the popular video game Gears of War. She also wrote the story for the recently released game Gears of War 3 and will be releasing a 5th novel next spring. In this fascinating interview she talks about how her early careers in journalism, television, and public relations prepared her to write fiction. She also describes what it is like to write in the emerging video game genre. (Note: This interview is SPOILER FREE!)

For full show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://booksandideas.com/.

Send Dr. Campbell feedback at gincampbell at mac dot com or post on the Books and Ideas Fan Page on Facebook.

Episode 43 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Carol Tavris, PhD, co-author (with Eliot Aronson) of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. For detailed show notes, including references and episode transcripts go to http://virginiacampbellmd.com.