Architecture of the self: Gene expression, environment, and adaptation

Architecture of the self: Gene expression, environment, and adaptation

Author: Charts & Leisure December 3, 2025 Duration: 30:05

In the final installment of our special series, Architecture of the Self, Kurt and Mary dive into the future of mental health through the lens of epigenetics. Featuring Dr. Tesfaye Mersha, epigenetics expert, Endowed Chair, and Professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and weaving in insights from earlier guests in the series, this episode explores how genetics, environment, and life experiences shape who we become, and how trauma and healing can leave lasting marks at the genetic level. Discover why adaptation, not destiny, is at the heart of mental health and why new science offers hope for more personalized and effective treatments.

Links - 

Learn more about the Mersha Lab: https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/research/divisions/a/asthma/labs/mersha

Be sure to listen to the other episodes in this series: Architecture of the Self: Diagnosis, Architecture of the Self: Memory, Dissociation, and Traumatic Experiences, and Architecture of the Self: Unlocking Neuroplasticity 


There’s a thread that connects our inner lives to the culture we live in, and Unravelling pulls on it to see what emerges. This isn’t a lecture series, but a conversation guided by therapist Kurt White and journalist Mary Wilson, who bring their distinct perspectives to every discussion. They explore how mental health is woven into everything from our daily fitness routines and societal pressures to the art we consume and the relationships we keep. In each episode, you’ll hear from experts who study the mind alongside individuals sharing their personal, lived experiences, creating a dialogue that feels both intellectually rigorous and deeply human. The aim is to move beyond simple definitions, examining how anxiety, resilience, joy, and struggle shape our collective reality. Produced by Charts & Leisure, this podcast provides a space for nuance, challenging the idea that our psychological worlds exist in a vacuum. It’s for anyone who has ever felt the tension between their private thoughts and the public world, offering not easy answers but a more textured understanding. By listening, you become part of a broader exploration into how compassion, for ourselves and our society, can actually be built from a place of genuine curiosity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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