She Hosts the Award-Winning Podcast You Should Be Listening To

Birmingham’s own Dr. Virginia “Ginger” Campbell was recently inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame for her show Brain Science. Since 2006, Ginger’s podcast has been helping listeners better understand the human brain through captivating interviews with neuroscientists regarding their books and research on the gray matter that Ginger believes should matter to us all.

By day, Ginger practices palliative medicine at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and teaches UAB medical students and residents. She also has over 20 years of experience working as an emergency physician in rural Alabama. We’re honored to introduce our newest FACE of Birmingham, Dr. Virginia “Ginger” Campbell. 

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What inspired you to start this podcast? What do you hope it accomplishes and offers listeners?

My goal was to make accurate information about neuroscience available to people of all backgrounds. The problem with most science coverage is that either nobody but the specialist can understand it, or it’s so oversimplified that it’s no longer accurate.

My particular gift is helping people with high levels of knowledge about something translate it into [plain] English. I think this comes from being a physician. My favorite part of being a doctor has always been explaining things to my patients, so I took that into podcasting. I discovered early on that I was really good at interviewing scientists, and it’s really fun to do.

Why do you believe it’s essential for everyday people to understand basic neuroscience?

Neuroscience helps us to understand ourselves and other people. I really believe that having some basic neuroscience knowledge is essential to being a good citizen in the 21st century.

What role can your podcast play in making society more accepting of neurodiverse children or adults?

A lot of people who listen to my show, who have various neurological challenges, write to me about how it helps them understand how the brain works. It makes them feel empowered.

Last year, I had the opportunity to interview Simon Baron Cohen, who is (by most people) considered the #1 researcher in autism. I think that the better people understand how things work, the more likely they are to be tolerant.

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What are some things we should all do to promote brain health?

Always be learning new things. We have to make a point of doing new things so that we’re not stuck in a rut. This helps with what’s called brain or neural plasticity.

Being social is really important; we need to interact. One researcher I talked to said the way to keep your brain plastic is to have things happen that are not predictable. There’s nothing more unpredictable than other people.

The third thing, of course, is exercise. There’s really good evidence that exercise is good for your brain. Just walking makes your hippocampus get bigger. Hippocampus is the part of the brain associated with memory. So, you don’t have to do heavy lifting at the gym unless that’s something you enjoy, but be physically active — whether working in the garden or walking around your neighborhood.

In 2018, you launched Graying Rainbows, a podcast on the challenges of coming out as LGBT+ later in life. Tell us more about that.

I came out at the age of 60 after my husband died. There’s nothing there for people who are older when they come out, even though there are many people in the demographic. It was one of those “build the thing you wish were there” sort of things.

I did [the podcast] for three years and still get emails pretty regularly from people who listen. It doesn’t have big numbers, but it makes a big difference to the people it reaches. Numbers aren’t everything. If you’re thinking about doing a podcast, don’t think about the numbers. Think about whether or not you can make a difference. If you can make a difference to even one person, then it’s probably worth it if it’s a thing you feel passionate about.

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What do you appreciate most about practicing palliative medicine at the Veterans Administration Medical Center?

The skills of palliative care are mostly about communication — helping people with hard decisions and being there for them in that hard time that, in the end, affects not just the patient but the family. I like palliative care because, to me, it’s like old-fashioned medicine. You’re there for the patient and their family. I find that rewarding.

And what do you enjoy most about teaching?

I enjoy that because I spent over 20 years in the ER where, in these little places, I was often the only doctor in the hospital when I was on duty. So, I never had a chance to work with younger physicians. It’s nice to be able to do that now, at this point in my career. I really enjoy working with younger people. It’s easy to get discouraged about the state of medicine, but seeing these young people, I realize that most of them are coming in for the right reasons. They’re not coming in because they think they’re going to be rich — which is good because they’re not. They’re coming in because they really care about helping people.

Have you read any books lately that weren’t about neuroscience?

Over the weekend, I read a book called Existential Physics, which doesn’t come out until next month. It’s by a German Physicist named Sabine Hossenfelder. She has a YouTube channel, too. I like to read some physics every now and then. I’m also reading a book about the French Revolution [A New World Begins]. I like to read history because it gives perspective on current events.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not working?

Obviously, reading is my favorite pastime. I also like to do physical activity; I like to play tennis and take my dog for walks. And I love new experiences, so I love to travel.

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What’s the best advice you have to offer?

If there’s somebody in your life that you have a difference with, try to leave a place to build the bridges back in the future. Remember that everybody else is human, too, and your relationship with them doesn’t have to be totally tied to believing the same thing. Remember that for whatever differences you have with other people, you still have more in common with them.

Name three things you can’t live without.

Chocolate, dogs, and other people.

Thank you, Dr. Campbell! All photography provided.

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Meet more inspiring women from Birmingham and across the South by visiting our FACES archives.