Health technologist and science communicator Caitlin Shure (NextSense) joins me to unpack brainwave-measuring earbuds that can both read and change your mental state—starting with sleep.
We dive into why “Gen-1” wearables overwhelm you with charts but don’t help you in the moment, how earbud-EEG works (yes, with just three electrodes), the messy truth on EMF fears, and why women—especially moms—need “do-it-for-me” tools, not just dashboards.
This episode is for women—especially busy moms and high-achievers—who want better sleep, calmer days, and science-backed wearables that actually help (not just track).
We talk about:
05:00 - Caitlin’s origin story: From “not a science person” to neuroscience and science communication
06:20 - Making complex brain science click for everyday life (and why wearables help)
09:55 - Why “one new idea at a time” beats info overload in health education
10:20 - Early neurotech (Muse), then Apple Watch, Oura, CGM—what worked and what didn’t
13:20 - Why “wearable must be wearable”: Rings, watches, now earbuds near your brain
14:30 - Starting with sleep: The lowest-hanging lever for memory, mood, and cognition
19:40 - Neurons, synchrony, and how three earbud electrodes capture EEG
24:50 - Women’s health use-cases: Pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause
29:05 - “Numbers, not judgments”: Why NextSense won’t label your sleep ‘good’ or ‘bad’
34:30 - What’s next: Adaptive Focus and Relaxation sessions (neurofeedback-like audio)
36:30 - Binaural beats: Mixed evidence, likely responders vs non-responders
Questions answered in this episode:
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What makes earbud-EEG different from headbands—and precise enough for daily insight?
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Why are sleep features the first launch target for brain-sensing earbuds?
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How can audio improve sleep stages (slow-wave enhancement) instead of just tracking them?
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What’s the realistic EMF/Bluetooth story for wireless sleep tech?
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Can we reduce orthosomnia (sleep-score obsession) by removing “good/bad” labels?
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How do women’s social constraints (night wakings, caregiving) change wearable design?
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What would a midday brain check add to last night’s sleep data?
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Are earbuds accurate with just three electrodes? How do synchronized neurons create a readable signal?
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Do binaural beats work? What does the evidence—and user variability—actually say?
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Why is “wearability” the #1 rule—and why earbuds might win the long game?
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How do NextSense’s pre-orders and shipping windows look?
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What’s missing in Gen-1 wearables—and how closed-loop audio can finally help you in the moment?
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Resources:
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- NextSense website and Instagram
- Caitlin Shure’s website
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