It's Not Just Your Genes: How Experience Shapes Gene Expression

This episode breaks down the difference between genetics and epigenetics — the genes you're born with versus the environmental and experiential factors that switch those genes on or off. The conversation explores how stress, trauma, and lifestyle can alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence itself, and what that means for understanding mental health and behavior. It's a foundational look at why "nature vs. nurture" is really a false choice, and how the two are constantly interacting.