Russell Foster II (Circadian Medicine, Stroke Rehabilitation and Moral Courage) - Episode 1144

Behind The Shield

James Geering

Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Fitness

4.9 • 667 Ratings

🗓️ 2 October 2025

⏱️ 90 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Russell Foster is Professor of Circadian Neuroscience, Director of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi) and Head of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford. He is also a Fellow at Brasenose College.

Russell’s research spans the neurosciences but his research is focused upon two questions: (i) How is environmental light detected and processed by vertebrate photoreceptors for the regulation of circadian rhythms? One of his key findings was the discovery of another class of photoreceptor within the vertebrate eye based upon a small number of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs). These pRGCs not only regulate circadian rhythms, but also sleep & arousal states, heart-rate and pupil constriction; (ii) How are circadian rhythms generated and what happens when these systems break-down in disease and under abnormal environmental conditions?

Russell Chairs the Royal Society Public Engagement Committee, The Cheltenham Science Festival and is a Trustee of the Science Museum Group. He contributes to radio, television and writes newspaper articles. He has co-written three popular science books, and is working on his fourth.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is sponsored by Bubbs Naturals, yet another company that I track down to bring on as a sponsor because I myself love their products.
0:08.5	They are offering you the audience of the Behind the Shield podcast a 20% discount.
0:13.1	But before we get to that, I do want to highlight a few of the products that I use myself.
0:17.5	Firstly, collagen.
0:18.8	I am about to turn 50.
0:20.7	And so my hair, my skin, my nails, not really a big concern
0:25.2	when I was younger, definitely a lot more of a concern now. However, where I've really seen the
0:30.1	impact is joint health and gut health and have been blown away that when I'm consistent using
0:35.6	collagen, bubbs collagen in this case, I see a massive
0:39.3	improvement in both. Another area, I drink coffee, love coffee, and in the morning I use the
0:45.1	halo creamer. Now, originally I used the MCT oil powder, but now they have the halo creamer, which
0:51.1	has also got grass-fed butter in it, a lot more creamy if you're not
0:55.3	trying to go for the vegan option that they have as well. Now it's important to mention as well
1:00.0	the altruistic element of Bub's naturals. The origin story involves Glenn Bub Doherty, one of the
1:06.2	two Navy SEALs killed in Benghazi and a good friend of the founders, Sean and TJ. So 10% of every single sale goes towards the Glendoity Foundation. Now, as I mentioned before, they are offering you the audience 20% off your purchase if you use the code shield. That's S-H-I-E-L-D at bubs naturals.com. And finally, if you want to hear more about
1:31.3	their products and Glenn's powerful story, listen to episode 558 with co-founder, Sean Lake.
1:40.6	Welcome to the Pioneer Shield podcast. As always, my name's James Gearing, and this week it is my
1:44.9	absolute honor to welcome back onto the show, the head of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology
1:50.6	and the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford, Professor Russell Foster.
1:58.9	Now, if you haven't heard my first conversation with Russell, it is episode 647, and I highly recommend that you listen to that. In the second conversation, we discuss a multitude of topics from the impact of the pandemic on society, gut biome, light, moral courage, some optimistic science when it comes to addressing strokes,
2:23.3	and so much more.
2:24.3	Now before we get to this incredible conversation, as I say every week, please just take a moment.
	...

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