The Scientist Trying To Upload The Human Brain, With Dr. Randal Koene

At 13, Randal read a science fiction novel and set out to upload a human brain. The surprising part is how far he's gotten. Dr. Randal Koene is a computational neuroscientist and the founder of the Carbon Copies Foundation, a nonprofit working to preserve and one day emulate the human brain. Not long ago, the idea of keeping someone's memory and identity alive past death sat squarely in the realm of science fiction. Randal is one of the people trying to drag it into the lab. Chris asks him how any of this would work, and Randal explains it in plain terms. Does who you are come down to the brain alone? What can split-brain studies tell us about consciousness being something we narrate to ourselves? And would an uploaded mind still need to sleep? Find out in this episode. "What we experience as consciousness is to a large degree a narrative, a story that we tell ourselves." ~ Dr. Randal Koene Support the show and get 50% off Olive oil with free shipping—just leave us a review on iTunes and Spotify and let us know! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-beyond-the-norms/id1714886566 In This Episode: 00:00 Introduction 02:21 Growing up between nuclear reactors and CERN 05:02 The Arthur C. Clarke novel that started it all 11:33 Why he studied physics and AI before neuroscience 14:04 Founding the Carbon Copies Foundation 17:22 How AI changed the conversation around brain emulation 22:34 Randal’s position on consciousness 27:17 What split-brain patients reveal about the self 32:58 Working with animals on brain emulation 39:57 Creating a virtual brain of a fruit fly 44:53 Would an uploaded brain still need sleep? 52:08 The Matrix problem with transferring memories 54:54 Parallels between Neuralink and Carbon Copies 1:00:48 Wrap up questions Resources Mentioned  The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke: https://www.amazon.com/City-Stars-Millennium-SF-Masterworks/dp/1857987632  The Brain Emulation Challenge: https://carboncopies.org/Research/BrainGenix/Challenge/Overview/  About Randal Koene Dr. Randal Koene earned his PhD in Computational Neuroscience from McGill University and later became a research professor at Boston University's Center for Memory and Brain. He proposed the term "whole brain emulation" back in 2000 and helped shape the first scientific roadmap toward it. He went on to found the Carbon Copies Foundation, where he leads the research effort to build tools and methods that could one day allow a mind to continue beyond the body it began in. Connect with Randal Koene Website: https://carboncopies.org/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randalkoene/  Connect with Chris Burres  Website: https://www.myvitalc.com/  Website: http://www.livebeyondthenorms.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisburres/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@myvitalc  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisburres Disclaimer The content shared in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice of any kind, nor does it include any specific claims or guarantees. The views expressed are based on personal experiences, research, and individual perspectives, and are meant to inspire and inform listeners on topics related to wellness, lifestyle, and personal development. We strongly encourage all listeners to consult with a qualified professional or licensed expert before making any decisions related to health, finances, or other sensitive areas of life. Thank you for tuning in—and for taking proactive steps toward a more informed, intentional life.