S2E08: The Neuroscience Behind Emotion, Dreams, and Engagement with Professor Moran Cerf

In this fascinating episode, I sit down with Professor Moran Cerf, a neuroscientist, Academic Director in Executive Education at Columbia University, and Alfred P. Sloan Professor at the American Film Institute. He holds a PhD in neuroscience from Caltech, an MA in Philosophy, and a BSc in Physics from Tel-Aviv University. Prof. Cerf holds multiple patents and has published five books and over 70 academic papers. His work has been featured on CNN, BBC, NPR, Time, Netflix Explained, and many other outlets.We explore his journey from hacker to neuroscientist, his groundbreaking research recording single neurons during brain surgery to study consciousness and emotion, and how he studies and influences dreams. Prof. Cerf also discusses what makes content truly engaging, the future of brain–machine interfaces, and why mastering storytelling is one of the most valuable skills to develop.