Jackson Hole’s Brainiac

As you well know, we don’t normally publish episodes that are “smart” or “important” but this one fell into our lap, so here we are. Dr. Paul Alan Cox is a world-renowned ethnobotanist who has dedicated his life to understanding and curing the most mystifying brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, ALS, and Parkinsons.

Dr. Cox’s nonprofit Brain Chemistry Labs is an unassuming building across from Whole Foods in Jackson Hole (WY) but it is staffed by a dazzling array of scientific rock stars performing research that may allow all of us to live longer, and will lead to decreases in the occurrence and severity of cognitive disorders. 

Right? We are well aware that we are idiots who have no business covering this story. 

Dr Cox has conducted research all over the place – Harvard, Guam, Samoa, BYU, Ogimi – but kinda likes the Rocky Mountains, so that’s where he set up shop. This one doesn’t let you take a breath as we go from the blue zones of Okinawa to saving Sean Connery’s jungle movie to figuring out why dolphins are beaching themselves near cyanobacteria blooms. 

Learn more and help fund the important research: https://brainchemistrylabs.org

And you’re guaranteed to find something you love and need desperately here: explorebigsky.com/gift-and-gear-guide-2025/