Mayim Bialik's Breakdown Podcast By Mayim Bialik cover art

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

By: Mayim Bialik
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Consciousness. Spontaneous healing. UAPs. Near Death Experiences. Manifestation. Psychic phenomena. Angels. Nothing is off limits if it can be approached with curiosity and rigor. MBB started as a conversation about mental health — and quickly became something much bigger. Because the deeper you go into what it means to be human, the faster you run into questions science hasn’t fully answered yet. Hosted by neuroscientist and cultural icon Mayim Bialik and spiritual explorer Jonathan Cohen, MBB is a multi-award-winning podcast where science and spirituality meet. Together they break down the assumptions, the misperceptions, and the boundaries between disciplines — and every breakdown is a breakthrough. This is where the biggest questions get taken seriously — and where you realize you’ve never been alone in asking them. Can the mind actually heal the body? Can quantum physics explain psychic phenomena? What do Near Death Experiences reveal about the nature of consciousness and the seat of the human soul? What if the only thing separating you from your own intuition - or even God - is the assumption that it’s out of reach? And if governments are publicly acknowledging the existence of UFOs, what does that mean for the future of humanity? These are the questions Mayim Bialik's Breakdown asks every week. Subscribe on Substack for ad-free episodes and bonus content, and check us out on YouTube (@MayimBialik) for video versions of our episodes! Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Re-Air: Danny Trejo: I Was As Sick As My Secrets

    Re-Air: Danny Trejo: I Was As Sick As My Secrets
    Apr 10 2026
    In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, we’re revisiting a very special episode from 2023 with the one-and-only Danny Trejo. Danny Trejo (actor, restaurauteur, & author) joins us in-studio to discuss how the culture he was raised in contributed to his early drug and alcohol use, the evolution of his relationship with a higher power from one of fear to one of love, and his transition from convict to actor/author/restaurateur. He opens up about being conditioned as a child to use rage and violence to survive, what early sobriety taught him, and why he feels like he can reach troubled youth better than other adults. Danny explains what it was like to be incarcerated for the first time, his role as an “Inmate Social Catalyst” in prison, and why his parole board actually suggested he murder someone. Mayim and Danny consider the weaknesses of our prison system and the inhumanity of solitary confinement after Danny shares his heartbreaking experience being locked up “in the hole.” Danny reveals how his drug counseling skills led him to land acting roles, his experiences training movie stars in the art of prison boxing, his love of good food and the fascinating story of how he got into the restaurant business. He also considers the negative effects of toxic masculinity, his complex relationships with women, why his children are his vulnerable spot, his favorites of his iconic acting roles, and his status as a Los Angeles icon. Follow us on Substack for Exclusive Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Part Two: Searching for Alien Life, the UFO Disclosure Era, the Great Filter & How Much Time Earth Has Left | Dr. David Kipping

    Part Two: Searching for Alien Life, the UFO Disclosure Era, the Great Filter & How Much Time Earth Has Left | Dr. David Kipping
    Apr 8 2026
    Are We ALONE…or Already Being WATCHED? The Truth Might Be Stranger Than Sci-Fi What if aliens could already find Earth, but we still can’t find them? What if the reason we haven’t detected nonhuman intelligence is actually more disturbing than proof that they exist? Is the universe teaming with life, or are we screaming into a void? In this episode of Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, Dr. David Kipping (Columbia University professor and Director of the Cool Worlds Lab) discusses why the ‘proof’ of alien life might be hidden in plain sight—and why our human brains struggle to accept it. From the Fermi Paradox to the terrifying reality of the Great Filter, we’re breaking down the science of the stars and the psychology of solitude. From controversial Mars discoveries to theories about communicating with aliens through time, not space, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about our place in the universe. ARE WE ON THE VERGE OF PROVING ALIEN LIFE? - Latest on possible biosignatures & microbial evidence on Mars - Why we still don’t have definitive proof of life beyond Earth - Emotional “heartbreak” scientists experience when alien signals turn out to be false alarms WHY EARTH MIGHT NOT MATTER AS MUCH AS WE THINK - Could humans be the most primitive intelligence in the universe? - Why we’re likely either far ahead, or dangerously behind alien civilizations - How proving the multiverse could completely erase our sense of uniqueness THE UNSETTLING TRUTH ABOUT ALIENS FINDING US - Why it would actually be easy for aliens to locate Earth - Eerie idea that not finding aliens might make you believe in God - Why aliens might be interested in something as specific as…our DNA WE’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALIENS ALL WRONG - Why it’s “intellectually lazy” to assume aliens explain unknown phenomena - Nonhuman intelligence might be so different, they may not even recognize us as conscious - Are aliens just a reflection of our own hopes, fears, and imagination? TALKING TO ALIENS THROUGH TIME - Why communication across time could be easier than across space - Paradox of UAP sightings: visible one moment, undetectable the next - What kind of scientific evidence would actually prove alien encounters HOW LIFE REALLY BEGAN (AND WHY IT TOOK SO LONG) - Biggest mysteries behind the origin of life on Earth - How understanding our beginnings could help us discover life elsewhere - Why Earth could become uninhabitable in under 1 billion years BLACK HOLES, WORMHOLES, & BREAKING REALITY - What actually happens when something falls into a black hole - Black hole information paradox & why it could unlock the universe - Lab-created “mini” black holes - Wormholes, negative energy, & what might exist on the other side - How the Holographic Principle is shaking the foundations of physics AI, BABY UNIVERSES & THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE - How AI is accelerating discovery, but also creating new risks - Why the public is starting to feel misled by science - What baby universes mean for reality FROM OUR GALAXY TO THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING - How recent tech advancements have transformed our understanding of the cosmos - Why exoplanets could have been discovered much earlier - What makes Earth scientifically special…and why it might not be that special at all If you’re curious about aliens, the origin of life, black holes, or the ultimate fate of humanity, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss! Don’t forget to vote for us for this year’s Webby Awards: ⁠https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/health-wellness-fitness⁠ Learn more about Dr. David Kipping’s work with Cool Labs: ⁠https://www.coolworldslab.com/⁠ Cool Labs on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@CoolWorldsLab⁠ Follow us on Substack for Exclusive Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Searching for Alien Life, the UFO Disclosure Era, the Great Filter & How Much Time Earth Has Left | Dr. David Kipping

    Searching for Alien Life, the UFO Disclosure Era, the Great Filter & How Much Time Earth Has Left | Dr. David Kipping
    Apr 7 2026
    Are We ALONE…or Already Being WATCHED? The Truth Might Be Stranger Than Sci-Fi What if aliens could already find Earth, but we still can’t find them? What if the reason we haven’t detected nonhuman intelligence is actually more disturbing than proof that they exist? Is the universe teaming with life, or are we screaming into a void? In this episode of Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, Dr. David Kipping (Columbia University professor and Director of the Cool Worlds Lab) discusses why the ‘proof’ of alien life might be hidden in plain sight—and why our human brains struggle to accept it. From the Fermi Paradox to the terrifying reality of the Great Filter, we’re breaking down the science of the stars and the psychology of solitude. From controversial Mars discoveries to theories about communicating with aliens through time, not space, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about our place in the universe. ARE WE ON THE VERGE OF PROVING ALIEN LIFE? - Latest on possible biosignatures & microbial evidence on Mars - Why we still don’t have definitive proof of life beyond Earth - Emotional “heartbreak” scientists experience when alien signals turn out to be false alarms WHY EARTH MIGHT NOT MATTER AS MUCH AS WE THINK - Could humans be the most primitive intelligence in the universe? - Why we’re likely either far ahead, or dangerously behind alien civilizations - How proving the multiverse could completely erase our sense of uniqueness THE UNSETTLING TRUTH ABOUT ALIENS FINDING US - Why it would actually be easy for aliens to locate Earth - Eerie idea that not finding aliens might make you believe in God - Why aliens might be interested in something as specific as…our DNA WE’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALIENS ALL WRONG - Why it’s “intellectually lazy” to assume aliens explain unknown phenomena - Nonhuman intelligence might be so different, they may not even recognize us as conscious - Are aliens just a reflection of our own hopes, fears, and imagination? TALKING TO ALIENS THROUGH TIME - Why communication across time could be easier than across space - Paradox of UAP sightings: visible one moment, undetectable the next - What kind of scientific evidence would actually prove alien encounters HOW LIFE REALLY BEGAN (AND WHY IT TOOK SO LONG) - Biggest mysteries behind the origin of life on Earth - How understanding our beginnings could help us discover life elsewhere - Why Earth could become uninhabitable in under 1 billion years BLACK HOLES, WORMHOLES, & BREAKING REALITY - What actually happens when something falls into a black hole - Black hole information paradox & why it could unlock the universe - Lab-created “mini” black holes - Wormholes, negative energy, & what might exist on the other side - How the Holographic Principle is shaking the foundations of physics AI, BABY UNIVERSES & THE FUTURE OF SCIENCE - How AI is accelerating discovery, but also creating new risks - Why the public is starting to feel misled by science - What baby universes mean for reality FROM OUR GALAXY TO THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING - How recent tech advancements have transformed our understanding of the cosmos - Why exoplanets could have been discovered much earlier - What makes Earth scientifically special…and why it might not be that special at all If you’re curious about aliens, the origin of life, black holes, or the ultimate fate of humanity, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss! Don’t forget to vote for us for this year’s Webby Awards: https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2026/podcasts/shows/health-wellness-fitness Get 20% off all IQ Bar products - plus free shipping by texting BREAKDOWN to 64000. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/breakdown Let this Mother’s Day be a reminder that she deserves care, too — discover how Cozy Earth turns everyday routines into moments of softness and ease. Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code BREAK for an exclusive 20% off Learn more about Dr. David Kipping’s work with Cool Labs: https://www.coolworldslab.com/ Cool Labs on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoolWorldsLab Follow us on Substack for Exclusive Bonus Content: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bialikbreakdown.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BialikBreakdown.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.com/mayimbialik⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
All stars
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Since I first started listening, I have learned so much not just about myself, but others as well!!

Love this a podcast

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Absolutely loved the break down style and authentic humble conversations. It's all about delivery in being received, and this is truly on point!

So impressed!

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I HAD to take notes. I can not tell you how many times I have listened to it. Honestly I take notes on alot of your episodes. However, with that one I pulled over to take notes.

Love the episode with Kunal.

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This episode had me weeping. Thank you Mayim and Leslie for sharing his life story, struggle with addiction, depression, coming out as gay and living his life on his terms in a homophobic society. He lived it all with such grace and love for others that Leslie is truly an inspiration. I only wish he had more time on this planet. <3

Fantastic episode. Thank you Mayim and Leslie!

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I love that these episodes are well articulated and intelligent. I have a “wow moment” in nearly every episode and it has opened up many new subjects that I can relate to and research. The episodes contain so much information from many voices and points of view but are easily communicated with humor and empathy. Love it

Such an amazing concept

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