Student Sparks

About Student Sparks

Welcome to the Student Sparks Podcast with your hosts Parker Milev, physiology student and future naturopathic doctor, and Emma Johnson, neuroscience student and future animal behavioral ecologist. Learn alongside us as we grow in our professions and take a deeper look into today’s health trends with the goal of bridging the gaps between holistic health and scientific research.

Publisher

A Naturopath and a Neuroscientist

Category

science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Jan 2024

Latest episode

3 Feb 2025

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Feb 2025

   Ep 14 - Ethics and Research: Psychedelics

   What are psychedelics? How do they impact your brain? Are they safe? Parker and Emma unpack the current research and legality of psychedelics and discuss the ethical implications of psychoactive drugs. Sources: Cheung, K., Earp, B. D., Patch, K., & Yaden, D. B. (2025). Distinctive But Not Exceptional: The Risks of Psychedelic Ethical Exceptionalism. The American Journal of Bioethics, 25(1), 16–28. Tiwari, P., Davoudian, P. A., Kapri, D., Vuruputuri, R. M., Karaba, L. A., Sharma, M., … Vaidya, V. A. (2024). Ventral hippocampal parvalbumin interneurons gate the acute anxiolytic action of the serotonergic psychedelic DOI. Neuron, 112(22), 3697-3714. Wang, E., Mathai, D. S., Gukasyan, N., Nayak, S., & Garcia-Romeu, A. (2024). Knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about psilocybin and MDMA as novel therapies among U.S. Healthcare Professionals. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 28022. Davis, A. K., Bates, M., Lund, E. M., Sepeda, N. D., Levin, A. W., Armstrong, S. B., … Yehuda, R. (2024). The Epidemiology of Psychedelic Use Among United States Military Veterans. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 1–14. Published Online. September 12, 2024. Ehrenkranz, R., Agrawal, M., Nayak, S. M., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Adverse events should not be surprising in psychedelic research. Psychedelic Medicine. Published Online. September 4, 2024. Hinkle, J. T., Graziosi, M., Nayak, S. M., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Adverse events in studies of classic psychedelics. JAMA Psychiatry, 81(12), 1225-1235. Yaden, D. B., Goldy, S. P., Weiss, B., & Griffiths, R. R. (2024). Clinically relevant acute subjective effects of psychedelics beyond mystical experience. Nature Reviews Psychology, 3(9), 606–621. Goldy, S. P., Hendricks, P. S., Keltner, D., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Considering distinct positive emotions in psychedelic science. International Review of Psychiatry, 1–12. Published Online. September 2, 2024. Heller, N. H. & Barrett, F. S. (2024). Teaching a new dog old tricks: bringing rigor, grounding, and specificity to psychedelic neuropsychopharmacology. Neuropsychopharmacology. Published Online. August 26, 2024. Yaden, D. B., Mathai, D., Bogenschutz, M., & Nichols, D. E. (2024). The pharmacology of hallucinogens. In: Miller et al. (Eds.). Principles of Addiction Medicine. American Society of Addiction Medicine. Yaden, D. B., Nayak, S. M., Griffiths, R. R. (2024). Belief change and agnostic frames in psychedelic research and clinical contexts. In: C. Letheby (Ed.). Philosophy and the psychedelic renaissance. Oxford University Press, New York. DiRenzo, D., Barrett, F. S., Perin, J., Darrah, E., Christopher-Stine, L., & Griffiths, R. R. (2024). Impact of psilocybin on peripheral cytokine production. Psychedelic Medicine, 2(2). Cheung, K., Propes, C., Jacobs, E., Earp, B. D., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Psychedelic group-based integration: Ethical assessment and initial recommendations. International Review of Psychiatry, 1–11. Tiwari, P., Ehrenkranz, R., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Psychiatric Applications of Psychedelics: Neurobiological Foundations for Treatments of Depression, Anxiety, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Advances in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. McGuire, A. L., Cohen, I. G., Sisti, D., Baggott, M., Celidwen, Y., Devenot, N., Gracias, S., Grob, C., Harvey, I., Kious, B., Marks, M., Mithoefer, M., Nielson, E., Öngür, D., Pallas, A., Peterson, A., Schenberg, E. E., Summergrad, P., Waters, B., Williams, M. T., & Yaden, D. B. (2024). Developing an Ethics and Policy Framework for Psychedelic Clinical Care: A Consensus Statement. JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2414650.

2. 

   11 Nov 2024

   Ep. 13 - Mistreatment of Students; why is more than a degree needed to succeed?

   In today's world, a college degree isn't what gets you a job despite it being required, its the internships and the volunteering. Both are often unpaid and cause students to lose time and money in the sake of being successful in their careers despite having significantly low amounts of TIME and MONEY. Join us and our EMS friend Sarah to talk about how students are often mistreated in the name of making it in the career world! References Internship Statistics: https://flair.hr/en/blog/internship-statistics/#:~:text=39.2%25%20of%20internships%20in%20the,%2C%20while%2060.8%25%20are%20paid.&text=Former%20interns%20are%2015%25%20less,than%20those%20without%20internship%20experience.&text=Paid%20internships%20are%2032%25%20more,time%20job%20than%20unpaid%20ones.&text=The%20national%20average%20hourly%20wage%20for%20paid%20interns%20is%20%2420.76 (https://flair.hr/en/blog/internship-statistics/#:~:text=39.2%25%20of%20internships%20in%20the,%2C%20while%2060.8%25%20are%20paid.&text=Former%20interns%20are%2015%25%20less,than%20those%20without%20internship%20experience.&text=Paid%20internships%20are%2032%25%20more,time%20job%20than%20unpaid%20ones.&text=The%20national%20average%20hourly%20wage%20for%20paid%20interns%20is%20%2420.76). Article: https://dc.swosu.edu/aij/vol10/iss2/5/ (https://dc.swosu.edu/aij/vol10/iss2/5/) Article, paid vs unpaid: https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/762177/summary (https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/762177/summary) Article paid vs unpaid: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053482219300178 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053482219300178)

3. 

   16 Sept 2024

   Ep 12 - Interview with Dr. Airin Avery

   Parker and I had such an amazing time interviewing Dr. Airin Avery, head coach at SheLifts Academy. We talked about everything academics, lifting, chemistry, and more!

4. 

   15 Jul 2024

   Ep 11 - Cultural Medicine: The Story of Lia Lee

   We often think of medicine in a very Western way. We give people medication, we do surgeries, and the patients listen to the doctors. But this isn't always the case! In this episode, Parker and Emma dive into a story of a Hmong child, Lia Lee, who's parents are struggling to combine their cultural beliefs and modern, Western medicine.

5. 

   6 May 2024

   Ep. 10 - Husband vs Boyfriend, Who Knows their Partner Better?

   Join us today as we ask our men questions to test their knowledge of what were studying (plus a little extra). This one gets a little chaotic at times so...enjoy!

6. 

   22 Apr 2024

   Ep. 9 - Foraging, Homesteading, and Herbal Remedies

   Let's talk about foraging today!!! We both love the concept of foraging so much and it translates directly into our dreams to have a self-sufficient homestead lifestyle in the future. We also talk a little about how to prepare herbal remedies and tinctures :) Hope you enjoy! Resources Foraging 101 - https://health.clevelandclinic.org/foraging-101-what-to-eat-and-avoid Foraging rules, ethics, and safety - https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/wnrmag/2021/Spring/Forage Born to eat wild - https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/10/1299 A diet with wild plants - 56cf069608ae85c823439a63.pdf (researchgate.net) (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nacim_Zouari/publication/295860594_Eating_Wild_Edible_Plants_Can_Be_A_Good_Alternative/links/56cf069608ae85c823439a63.pdf)

7. 

   8 Apr 2024

   Ep. 8 - Evolution and Natural Medicine (Allergies, Nutrition, Toxins, Cancer, and More)

   Whether you believe in evolution or not, it is undeniable that human physiology is governed by feedback loops and made to adapt. Today we go into some basics of how evolution is linked to medicine, nutrition, allergies, toxins, cancer, which includes a few little tangents along the way. Research Articles: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5279977/#:~:text=Food%20allergy%20reactions%20are%20regulated,in%20the%20formation%20of%20allergies https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00239-019-09895-3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9460423/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3660034/#:~:text=Species%20evolve%20by%20mutation%20and,from%20tumor%20genesis%20to%20metastasis https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3181/00379727-217-44228 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7546135/ DISCLAIMER: We are not medical professionals and are in no way claiming to heal or treat any medical condition. We are not a source for the treatment of medical conditions, only an outlet for research and learning. ADDITIONALLY, our podcast is discussion-based and many opinions and examples shared are not premeditated (although we try our best to have good references) and require listeners to look into the information shared for themselves. Links to referenced research can be found below and on our instagram.

8. 

   25 Mar 2024

   Ep 8: Catching Up/Spring Break Update

   We've been busy! Parker has gotten her phlebotomy license and Emma has been in Puerto Rico on spring break. It's been wild. Today we just chatted about classes, hobbies, and our career paths. Not a lot of research went into this episode because it was just chatting, but for those interested in bees like Parker mentioned or wild flowers and clover lawns like Emma mentioned (and is working on implementing at her school), check the links below. https://www.xerces.org/blog/want-to-save-bees-focus-on-habitat-not-honey-bees https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-grow-a-better-lawn-for-wildlife.html

9. 

   11 Mar 2024

   Ep 7 - Intervewing an MD: Science, Business, and Life Advice

   Ever wondered what it's like to be a doctor? And a CEO? And a mother of 4? Well Dr. LaBonte has done it all. As the founder and CEO of Inspire Family medicine, she works to create a friendly and welcoming environment for her patients by working with them one-on-one, giving them her time and attention, and making sure that her office is a safe space for people of all walks of life. If you're interested in going to medical school, or any sort of STEM field, make sure to tune in to hear what it's truly like to make science an opening community.

10. 

    26 Feb 2024

    Ep. 5: Weeds Aren't Bad, Just Misunderstood... (The Benefits of Dandelion)

    Can you become a weed-eater (not THAT kind of weed) and become healthier? MAYBE!! Today's episode is an overview of the basic information available on the health benefits of consuming dandelions. DISCLAIMER: We are not medical professionals and are in no way claiming to heal or treat any medical condition. We are not a source for the treatment of medical conditions, only an outlet for research and learning. ADDITIONALLY, our podcast is discussion-based and many opinions and examples shared are not premeditated (although we try our best to have good references) and require listeners to look into the information shared for themselves. Links to referenced research can be found below and on our Instagram. REFERENCES: Nutrition Review's Article on Dandelion Research - Diverse biological activities of dandelion | Nutrition Reviews | Oxford Academic (oup.com) (https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/70/9/534/1835513?searchresult=1) Chicoric Acid - Chicoric acid | C22H18O12 | CID 5281764 - PubChem (nih.gov) (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Chicoric-acid) Caffeic Acid - Caffeic Acid | C9H8O4 | CID 689043 - PubChem (nih.gov) (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Caffeic-acid) Dandelions and Bile Production - The potential of dandelion in the fight against gastrointestinal diseases: A review - ScienceDirect (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874122003117) Dandelion Drug Information (Mt. Siani) - Dandelion Information | Mount Sinai - New York (https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/dandelion) Dandelion Drug Information (drugs.com) - Dandelion Uses, Side Effects & Warnings (drugs.com) (https://www.drugs.com/mtm/dandelion.html) Frontier Co-Op - Amazon.com : Frontier Co-op Cut & Sifted Dandelion Root 1lb : Dandelion Root Herbal Supplements : Grocery & Gourmet Food (https://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Bulk-Dandelion-Sifted-package/dp/B00016XJUG?ref_=ast_sto_dp)

11. 

    12 Feb 2024

    Ep. 4 - Alternative Medicine: Is It Valid?

    Hey guys...I am absolutely in favor of Alternative medicine (and it is my preferred method of practice) but forming a proper argument as to why it is important is essential to making sure it continues to build validity within the scientific community. That's why today's episode is important. I'll be going into the most common reasons why people say they like and don't like alt med and determining whether those arguments are valid or not! Hope you enjoy! DISCLAIMER: We are not medical professionals and are in no way claiming to heal or treat any medical condition. We are not a source for the treatment of medical conditions, only an outlet for research and learning. ADDITIONALLY, our podcast is discussion-based and many opinions and examples shared are not premeditated (although we try our best to have good references) and require listeners to look into the information shared for themselves. Links to referenced research can be found below and on our Instagram. Episode References: Hawthorn and Blood Pressure - The effect of hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) on blood pressure: A systematic review - ScienceDirect (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212958817301106) MD Definition of Medicine - https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complementary-alternative-medicine/about/pac-20393581#:~:text=Complementary%20and%20alternative%20medicine%20 (https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/complementary-alternative-medicine/about/pac-20393581#:~:text=Complementary%20and%20alternative%20medicine%20) AANMC's info on Naturopathic Doctors - What is Naturopathic Medicine? Learn more Now with AANMC (https://aanmc.org/naturopathic-medicine/) Drug Recalls - https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/drug-recalls-are-common-202303292907#:~:text=It%20might%20make%20you%20wonder,better%20regulation%20of%20the%20industry (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/drug-recalls-are-common-202303292907#:~:text=It%20might%20make%20you%20wonder,better%20regulation%20of%20the%20industry)

12. 

    29 Jan 2024

    Ep. 3: Getting Into Undergraduate Research

    Interested in undergraduate research? Learn about what it's like to be in on campus and off campus labs and hear 5 tips on how to apply on this episode! Our podcast is discussion-based and many opinions and examples shared are not premeditated (although we try our best to have good references) and require listeners to look into the information shared for themselves. Links to referenced research can be found below and on our instagram. Benefits of undergraduate research: https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.1140384 (https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.1140384) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4739295/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4739295/) https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1261757 (https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1261757) https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp (https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp)

13. 

    15 Jan 2024

    Ep. 2: 5 Do's and Don'ts of New Years Resolutions

    Today we dive into a some of the ways to create better resolutions this January! Some you may have heard, some you may have not. Lets try to build some new perspectives on health that are based on us as individuals...without selling a meal plan or product. DISCLAIMER: We are not medical professionals and are in no way claiming to heal or treat any medical condition. We are not a source for the treatment of medical conditions, only an outlet for research and learning. ADDITIONALLY, our podcast is discussion-based and many opinions and examples shared are not premeditated (although we try our best to have good references) and require listeners to look into the information shared for themselves. Links to referenced research can be found below and on our instagram. Episode Links: Gradual Vs Abrupt: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M14-2805?articleid=2501853 (https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M14-2805?articleid=2501853) Small Changes, Big Impact: https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/11/1/19 (https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/11/1/19) https://go-gale-com.silk.library.umass.edu/ps/i.do?p=GRNR&u=mlin_w_umassamh&id=GALE%7CA755697211&v=2.1&it=r&sid=ebsco&aty=ip (https://go-gale-com.silk.library.umass.edu/ps/i.do?p=GRNR&u=mlin_w_umassamh&id=GALE%7CA755697211&v=2.1&it=r&sid=ebsco&aty=ip) Macronutrient Balance: https://www.bjd-abcd.com/index.php/bjd/article/view/537/781 (https://www.bjd-abcd.com/index.php/bjd/article/view/537/781) Link between cortisol and serotonin uptake: https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/CABN.1.1.96 (https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/CABN.1.1.96) Commentary on serotonin uptake and cortisol: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/cortisol-receptors#:~:text=My%20own%20small%20contribution%20to,%2C%20anxiety%2C%20and%20violence27 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/cortisol-receptors#:~:text=My%20own%20small%20contribution%20to,%2C%20anxiety%2C%20and%20violence27). Cortisol-awakening Response: https://sci-hub.live/https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2017-0740 (https://sci-hub.live/https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2017-0740) Women's Exercise Levels: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/393937 (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/393937) Benefits of various exercise methods: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9877502/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9877502/) https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/150931 (https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/150931) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/155982761036877 (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1559827610368771) Mobility: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40520-019-01155-0 (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40520-019-01155-0)https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2018/12000/starting_at_the_ground_up__range_of_motion.9.aspx (https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/fulltext/2018/12000/starting_at_the_ground_up__range_of_motion.9.aspx) Running/Cardio: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033062017300488 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033062017300488) Olive Oil: https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/25/12/1299/231681 (https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/25/12/1299/231681) and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9003415/ (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9003415/)

14. 

    1 Jan 2024

    Ep. 1: Chat with the Students

    DISCLAIMER: We are not medical professionals and are in no way claiming to heal or treat any medical condition. We are not a source for the treatment of medical conditions, only an outlet for research and learning. ADDITIONALLY, our podcast is discussion-based and many opinions and examples shared are not premeditated (although we try our best to have good references) and require listeners to look into the information shared for themselves. Links to referenced research can be found below and on our instagram. Research links from today's episode: Depression and Diet (SMILEs): https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y (https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-017-0791-y) Professor Felice Jacka, PhD:https://www.deakin.edu.au/research/researcher-stories/professor-felice-jacka#:~:text=Professor%20Jacka%20is%20Director%20of,at%20the%20School%20of%20Medicine (https://www.deakin.edu.au/research/researcher-stories/professor-felice-jacka#:~:text=Professor%20Jacka%20is%20Director%20of,at%20the%20School%20of%20Medicine). The Genius Life Podcast interview with Felice Jacka, PhD: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3MB0hTX1paX4MMbbMA7PB8?si=AY2HF8y2TMaNLt3O1iz3eQ (https://open.spotify.com/episode/3MB0hTX1paX4MMbbMA7PB8?si=AY2HF8y2TMaNLt3O1iz3eQ) Roman Birth Control Herb (Silphium): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silphium (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silphium)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

46,479

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

26

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

60

Contact Student Sparks

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.