Why the Brain Isn’t a Computer (and What That Means for Educators) with Dr. Michael Jacob

What if we’ve misunderstood intelligence all along? In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Ilana Nankin sits down with Dr. Michael Jacob, a neuroscientist and psychiatrist at UCSF and her cousin, to explore what it really means to be human in the age of AI.Michael has spent his career studying how the brain, heart, and body communicate and how meaning, emotion, and creativity shape our minds. Together they unpack why the brain isn’t a machine, how heart-brain coherence changes the way we experience stress and learning, and why connection and belonging are as vital to cognition as logic or memory.Along the way, you’ll learn:- Why test scores and IQ barely scratch the surface of *real* intelligence- The science behind how breathing and awareness can rewire your nervous system- What distinguishes human intelligence from artificial intelligence- How art, music, and story awaken the brain’s creative potential- Practical ways educators can nurture emotional and somatic awareness in the classroomThis is a love letter to humanity and how educators can transform their roles in their students’ lives from the inside out. Because as Michael reminds us: our brains don’t just compute… they create.