97. How Your Light Choices Make or Break Sleep, Hormones and Mental Health | Prof. Sean Cain

Sunlight or fake light? We explore how light timing and intensity shape the circadian clock, mood, hormones, fertility, and sleep—and why amplitude is the missing key. Sean Kane shares new research on individual light sensitivity, depression and bipolar patterns, and practical fixes that work.Sean Cain, PhD is a Matthew Flinders professor of circadian biology at Flinders University, Australia. He has more than 25 year of research into human circadian system and how light affects health.Join Dr Cain's Adelaide Research project: http://theilluminatestudy.com/(see below for more study links).PODCAST SPONSORS🧡 HARDBLOCK Australia's Longest Running Bitcoin-only (₿) ExchangeUse code REGENPOD for AUD 10 of bitcoin post verification  https://www.hardblock.com.au/join/REGENPODSUPPORT MY WORKCONSULT Lifestyle consulting with circadian / mitochondrial & metabolic perspective - https://www.drmaxgulhane.com/offers/5jfDvLyH/checkout🚨 DAYLIGHT COMPUTER. Blue-light free computer that doesn't wreck your circadian rhythm. Now shipping around the world. Code DRMAX for $25 off.   https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/DRMAX🥩 WOLKI FARM - Regenerative beef shipped around AUS. Highest quality fully grassfed & pastured pork, beef, lamb & eggs raised with holistic principles. Code DRMAX for 10% off. https://wolkifarm.com.au/DRMAX🚨 VIVA RAYS. Premium blue light blocking glasses with the most useful 3 in 1 clip on frame sets. Code DRMAX for 15% off. https://vivarays.com/dr-maxgulhane🚨 GEMBA RED. Highest quality photobiomodulation / redlight therapy devices, shipping within the USA. Code DRMAX for 10% off. https://gembared.com🚨 CHROMA. Advanced photobiomodulation devices including D-light (Vitamin D-generating) & Lux vital with OPN3-5 stimulation, cold pillow for the ultimate night's sleep. Use code DRMAX for 11% off. https://getchroma.co/?ref=i6p39fn0🚨 MIDWEST RED LIGHT THERAPY. Blue blockers, photobiomodulation devices, shipping to USA. Code DRMAX for 10% offhttps://midwestredlighttherapy.com/affiliate/DRMAX🚨 BON CHARGE. Blue blockers, EMF laptop pads, circadian friendly lighting, and more. Code DRMAX for 15% off. https://boncharge.com/?rfsn=7170569.687e6d🎤 PRIVATE MEMBERS GROUP on Skool platform - weekly Q&A, my 52-page eBook, PDF resource downloads & more. USD20/month, cancel anytime.  https://www.skool.com/dr-maxs-circadian-resetTIMESTAMPS2:00 How The Circadian Clock Works6:30 Ancestral Light Versus Modern Lighting12:30 Amplitude: The Clock’s Strength Signal18:00 The Retina’s Hidden Light Sensor24:30 Melatonin, Blue Light, And Sleep Timing31:30 Individual Sensitivity To Light38:30 Light And Mood: Depression And Bipolar46:00 Risk Taking, Habenula, And Blue Light53:30 Cortisol, Melatonin, And Rhythms1:00:00 Skin Light Myths And Real Pathways1:07:00 Moonlight, Menstrual Cycles, And Fertility1:15:00 Early Puberty, Seasonality, And Hormones1:22:00 Longevity, Regularity, And Stable DaysFollow SEAN CAINJoin Dr Cain's Adelaide Research project: http://theilluminatestudy.com/Circadian Health Innovations (mi-eye): https://circadianhealthinnovations.com/mieyeX: https://x.com/circadian247Selected papersDaylight and depression/insomnia:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.056Antidepressant increases light sensitivity:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-018-5019-0Blue light and gambling:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97370-z Individual differences in light sensitivity:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1901824116Light suppresses the human amygdala:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252350Follow DR MAXWebsite: https://drmaxgulhane.com/Private Group: https://www.skool.com/dr-maxs-circadian-resetCourses: https://drmaxgulhane.com/collections/courSend us Fan Mail🧡 HARDBLOCK Australia's Longest Running Bitcoin-only (₿) ExchangeUse code REGENPOD for AUD 10 of bitcoin post account verification Support the show