This is brain science, the podcast that explores how recent discoveries in neuroscience are helping unravel the mystery of how our brains make us human.

I'm your host, Dr. Ginger Campbell, and this is episode 149.

I call this the show for everyone who has a brain, because my goal is to make

brain science accessible to everyone, regardless of your background. Recently, we've had some

fairly technical episodes, so I wanted to take a break with a rather unusual guest. Dr. Dean Burnett is the author of two

popular books, The Idiot Brain and Happy Brain. Hopefully, those titles give you a clue that Dr. Burnett

is not the typical neuroscientist. His hobby is actually stand-up comedy. In this month's interview, we will focus on

happy brain and explore the fascinating question of how do our brains make us happy. As always,

you will find complete show notes and episode transcripts on our website at brainsciencepodcast.com, and you can send me feedback

at brain sciencepodcast at gmail.com.

I will be back after the interview to review a few key ideas and to give you an update

on next year's trip to Australia.

And also I want to tell you about an event that I'm going to be attending in Boston this November.

Welcome to brain science, Dean.

Great to have you on the show.

Yes, thanks, I'm not on me.

I was appreciated.

Any invite is always good.

Can you start out by just telling us a little bit about yourself?

Dean Burnett, I live in Cardiff, Wales.

I did my PhD in Behaviour and Neuroscience for Cardiff Psychology School.

I finished that back in 2005.

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