Podcasts about Neuroplasticity

Send us a textWhat happens when modern neuroscience, ancient plant medicine, and spiritual self-awareness collide?In this powerful conversation, Joey Pinz sits down with Dr. Leah Linder—naturopathic physician, reverend, and co-founder of Setas Seminary—to explore how psilocybin mushrooms are being used responsibly, ethically, and intentionally to support healing from trauma, PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and cognitive decline.Leah breaks down the actual science behind psilocybin—how it reduces neuroinflammation, stimulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and helps the brain form new neural pathways—while also explaining why integration and nervous system regulation matter far more than the ceremony itself.You'll also hear why psilocybin became a Schedule I substance, how federal religious protections allow safe access today, and why healing isn't about being “fixed,” but about learning to listen to your body and rewrite old stories.This episode is grounded, thoughtful, and eye-opening—perfect for anyone curious about the future of mental wellness, consciousness, and sustainable personal growth. 

Click to Text Thoughts on Today's EpisodeWhat if you could literally change your brain's structure just by thinking differently? Neurosurgeon and Iraq war veteran Dr. Lee Warren shares groundbreaking insights on how modern brain science confirms ancient biblical wisdom—and how you can use "self-brain surgery" to break free from anxiety, depression, and negative thought patterns. After performing over 200 brain surgeries in a war zone and losing his son to tragedy, Dr. Warren discovered the surprising truth: your mind controls your brain, not the other way around. This conversation will change how you think about thinking.Main Points:1. Your Mind Controls Your Brain (Not Vice Versa)2. 80% of Your Thoughts and Feelings Aren't True3. Gratitude and Anxiety Cannot Coexist4. The Daily Scrub-In Practice5. Neuroplasticity: Your Brain's Built-In Hope6. Practical Self-Brain Surgery OperationsLinks:The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery: Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your LifeDr. Lee Warren PodcastConnect with Dr. Warren:www.drleewarren.comInstagram: @drleewarrenFacebook: @drleewarrenX: @docleewarrenYouTube: @drleewarrenMy latest recommended ways to nourish and move your body, mind and spirit: Nourished Notes Bi-Weekly Newsletter Be Strong and Vibrant! Online Strength Training Course for Christian Women in Perimenopause and Beyond 30+ Non-Gym Ways to Improve Your Health (free download)Connect with Amy: GracedHealth.com Instagram: @GracedHealthYouTube: @AmyConnell

summaryIn this conversation, Dr. Lee Warren shares his profound insights on navigating grief and trauma through the concept of self-brain surgery. He discusses the impact of personal tragedy on his life and how he transformed his pain into a mission to help others. The discussion covers practical strategies for rewiring thoughts, the importance of community support, and the neuroscience behind resilience and hope. Dr. Warren emphasizes the power of thoughts in shaping our reality and provides actionable steps for listeners to take control of their mental health and well-being.takeawaysDr. Warren's journey through grief led to the concept of self-brain surgery.Hope is essential for recovery from trauma.Feelings are not always factual; they can mislead us.The brain can be rewired through intentional thinking.Community support is vital in navigating grief.Self-awareness is key to managing thoughts and feelings.Practical strategies can help in overcoming negative thought patterns.The importance of preparing mentally for challenges.Neuroplasticity allows us to change our brain's structure through thought.We have the power to change our identity and outcomes.Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute medical or dental advice. Any mention of products, services, tests, or supplements is not an endorsement and may include affiliate links. Guest views are their own and may not reflect the views of Dr. Debbie Ozment or this podcast. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for advice specific to your situation.Visit my website DrDebbieOzment.com for valuable free downloads. Additionally, you will find shopping links which I have curated on the website. Please follow me on instagram at drdebbieozment.

This content was created in 2020. Rewrite Your Story: Remove the Blocks Holding You Back Beautiful soul, this month is about freedom. In this episode, Julie introduces the Rewrite Your Story course and walks you through how subconscious beliefs, thought patterns, and old stories quietly shape your life. If you feel stuck, frustrated, or like you keep hitting the same invisible wall, this message explains why and how to change it. You'll learn how the egoic mind creates limiting stories, how intuition tries to guide you forward, and how to consciously rewrite the narratives that no longer serve you. This work is gentle, practical, and deeply empowering, helping you take ownership of your thoughts, actions, and future. This episode is especially supportive for anyone who feels blocked around health, intuition, relationships, purpose, or abundance and is ready to reclaim their power and move forward with clarity. Short Episode Chapters (1:00) What the Rewrite Your Story course is about (4:20) How subconscious beliefs shape your life (8:10) Why we think in opposites and limitations (12:40) Intuition vs. the egoic mind (18:30) Identifying your self-limiting stories (26:10) Rewriting beliefs through God's perspective (34:45) Neuroplasticity and making change stick (41:30) Choosing your three core stories to rewrite (48:20) Taking ownership and stepping into freedom Work with Julie & Your Angels If you feel called to go deeper, here are ways to work with Julie and your angels: Book a private angel reading: theangelmedium.com Join the Angel Membership: theangelmedium.com/angelmembership Angel Reiki School 3-in-1 Certification in Angel Messages, Reiki, and Mediumship https://theangelmedium.com/get-certified Keywords Angels, Angel Messages, Rewrite Your Story, Subconscious Mind, Intuition, Divine Guidance, Ego Mind, Spiritual Awakening, Energy Healing, Neuroplasticity, Self-Limiting Beliefs, Inner Healing, Pray and Be Wealthy, Angel Reiki School, Mediumship

One spring evening in 2024, science journalist Rachel Gross bombed at karaoke. The culprit was a bleed in a fist-sized clump of neurons tucked down in the back and bottom of her brain called the Cerebellum. A couple weeks later, her doctors took a piece of it out, assuring her it just did basic motor control - she might be a bit clumsy for a while, but she'd still be herself. But after that surgery Rachel did not feel quite like herself. So she dove into the dusty basement of the brain (and brain science)  to figure out why. What Rachel found was a new frontier in neuroscience. We learn what singing Shakira on stage has to do with reaching for a cup of coffee  — and why the surprising relationship between those two things means we may need to rethink what we think about thinking.Special thanks to Warzone Karaoke at Branded Saloon, the Computer History Museum for their archival interview with Henrietta Leiner, either the choir “Singing Together, Measure by Measure” or the Louis Armstrong Department of Music Therapy which houses it, Daniel A. Gross (... and Shakira?)EPISODE CREDITS: Reported by - Rachel GrossProduced by - Sindhu GnanasambandanEPISODE CITATIONS:Articles -“Ignoring the cerebellum is hindering progress in neuroscience.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39934082/), by Wang et al, 2025“The cerebellum and cognition.” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29997061/), by Schmahmann JD. Neurosci Lett. 2019“How did brains evolve?” (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11805823/), by Barton RA., Nature. 2002Books - Vagina Obscura (https://www.rachelegross.com/book), by Rachel E. GrossSign up for our newsletter!! It includes short essays, recommendations, and details about other ways to interact with the show. Signup (https://radiolab.org/newsletter)!Radiolab is supported by listeners like you. Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab (https://members.radiolab.org/) today.Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @radiolab, and share your thoughts with us by emailing radiolab@wnyc.org.Leadership support for Radiolab's science programming is provided by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Science Sandbox, a Simons Foundation Initiative, and the John Templeton Foundation. Foundational support for Radiolab was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

To purchase Lynnie's self-talk course visit: www.bit.ly/stopthewobble Would you like to schedule a consultation? Call 586-685-2222 To try Dr. Christine's Smart Carb-45 for go to: www.smartcarb45.com To work directly with Dr. Christine: https://gutcall.thedigestiondoc.com/consult

Stay informed on current events, visit www.NaturalNews.com - Ice Shooting Incident and Pushback Against Border Patrol (0:11) - Senator Rand Paul's Call for Testimony and Maga Crowd's Reactions (3:09) - Mike Adams' Training and Law Enforcement Principles (4:57) - Financial Situation in America and Silver Market Volatility (14:25) - Potential Consequences of a War with Iran (24:12) - Maga Movement's Hypocrisy and the Rule of Law (44:31) - Trump's Role in the Crisis and the Potential for Martial Law (1:23:36) - The Importance of Preparedness and Critical Thinking (1:25:36) - Upcoming Special Reports and Interviews (1:25:54) - Conservative Principles and the Second Amendment (1:26:11) - Critique of Conservative Behavior and Principles (1:30:07) - Zero Hedge Article and January 6 Protests (1:31:31) - Principles and the Rule of Law (1:33:49) - Support for ICE and Rule of Law (1:35:59) - Conservative Hypocrisy and Principle Abandonment (1:42:01) - Christian Zionism and Satanism (1:48:47) - Low IQ and Principle Abandonment (1:52:23) - Surveillance and Government Power (2:09:05) - Universal Principles and Society (2:13:50) - Understanding the Importance of Addressing Root Causes in Mental Health (2:27:28) - The Role of Diet and Environment in Mental Health (2:59:55) - Impact of Media Violence and Social Media on Mental Health (3:01:12) - The Power of Focus and Attention Building (3:04:30) - Building Mental Resilience and Emotional Regulation (3:09:43) - The Importance of Neuroplasticity and Self-Responsibility (3:11:17) - Final Thoughts and Encouragement (3:14:19) Watch more independent videos at http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport  ▶️ Support our mission by shopping at the Health Ranger Store - https://www.healthrangerstore.com ▶️ Check out exclusive deals and special offers at https://rangerdeals.com ▶️ Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html Watch more exclusive videos here:

Core wounds healing + nervous system rewiring for women over 40. In this episode, JJ Flizanes joins Lesa Koski to unpack core wounds healing, the “core wound map,” and how your subconscious beliefs shape people-pleasing, abandonment fears, and everyday triggers. You'll learn why core wounds healing isn't just awareness—it's rewiring, stretching past comfort zones, and building new neural pathways. JJ shares how core wounds healing can change your patterns in real time, and why choosing yourself is the pathway out of abandonment loops. Plus, a powerful look at 2026's “Year of the Fire Horse” energy—movement, action, and expansion after a season of shedding.If you're navigating midlife change, divorce recovery, emotional healing, or you're ready to stop spiraling and start choosing you, this conversation will meet you right where you are.Timestamps (in parentheses):(These are listener-friendly timestamps—adjust to match your final audio.) (00:00) Welcome + why JJ is a “big deal” and where to find her work (02:10) Lesa's healing journey + why the Core Wounds course mattered (05:10) JJ explains core wounds as subconscious beliefs (and why therapy can stall) (10:40) The “core wound map” + why people process differently (moon signs + patterns) (16:30) Why awareness isn't always enough: rewiring requires stretching (20:30) The “video that made her cry” example + how the brain flags “unsafe” (24:40) Neuroplasticity story: cats in an RV + how the brain learns “I didn't die” (28:40) Lesa gets real: people-pleasing, overexplaining, and tiny daily triggers (33:10) Abandonment wound: the belief underneath it + “How do you abandon yourself?” (38:15) “Choose you” homework: one daily small step + one bigger weekly stretch (42:30) Healing in relationship vs healing alone + the power of mirroring (47:10) Tribe + community: why group energy accelerates growth (50:25) 2025 shedding → 2026 Year of the Fire Horse begins Feb 17, 2026 (55:10) How to work with JJ + her application link + closingKey Takeaways:Core wounds are subconscious beliefs that shape how you see yourself and relationships—often without you realizing it.Awareness is step one, but rewiring requires action that stretches your comfort zone and builds new neural pathways.People-pleasing and overexplaining can be signs of an abandonment pattern—your nervous system trying to stay “safe.”Healing isn't just emotional; it's nervous-system and behavior change, practiced moment-to-moment and proactively.Community matters: being in a tribe of people on a similar growth path keeps your “coal” warm and your progress moving.Guest Bio:JJ Flizanes is a personal development coach, podcast host, and creator of emotional healing programs focused on identifying and rewiring subconscious patterns. She developed the Core Wound Map, expanding on the core wound exercise from Imago therapy, and continues to teach tools for emotional resilience, nervous system awareness, and practical rewiring strategies.Resource Links:DIY Parenting Plan CourseFind More From Lesa Here!Sign up for my newsletter https://enchanting-basil-714.myflodesk.com/qwzridafyj

Dr. David Eagleman, PhD, is a neuroscientist, bestselling author and professor at Stanford University. We discuss how to leverage the science of neuroplasticity to learn new skills and information and how accurate and false memories form and are forgotten. We also discuss time perception and why it speeds up or slows down depending on our age and stress level. We cover dreaming and the meaning of visual and other dream content. And we discuss the neuroscience of cultural and political polarization and how to remedy it. This episode provides science-based knowledge and practical tools you can use to enhance learning and better understand your experience of life in the past, present and future. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Mateina: https://drinkmateina.com/offer Rorra: https://rorra.com/huberman Lingo: https://hellolingo.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) David Eagleman (00:02:35) Neuroplasticity & Learning; Cortex, Flexibility & Repurposing, Savantism (00:11:07) Sponsors: Mateina & Rorra (00:13:27) Specialization vs Diversification, Practice; Internet & Curiosity (00:22:05) Building a Well-Rounded Brain, Tool: Critical Thinking & Creativity (00:28:18) Neuroplasticity & Adults, Tools: Novelty & Challenge (00:32:41) Neuromodulators & Plasticity, Psychedelics; Directed Plasticity (00:38:50) Sponsor: AG1 (00:39:41) Building a Better Future Self, Tool: Ulysses Contract to Avoid Bad Behaviors (00:50:13) Brain Chatter, Aphantasia & Practice (00:56:57) Specialization vs Diverse Experience, Childhood & Brain (01:00:50) Space & Time Perception, Tool: Space-Time Bridging Meditation (01:06:17) Are We Good at Estimating Time?; Fear, Time & Memory (01:11:23) Sponsor: Lingo (01:12:53) Fearful Situations & Time Perception; Joyful Events & Novelty, Tool: Do Things Differently (01:18:56) Staying in the Present, Mental Illness & Time Domains, Addiction (01:27:09) Social Media, Addiction, Curiosity (01:30:51) Vision & Auditory Deficits, Sensory Substitution, Neosensory Wristband (01:35:26) Sponsor: Function (01:37:13) Sensory Reliance, Echolocation, Potato Head Theory, Sensory Addition (01:41:36) Why We Dream, Vision & Neuroplasticity, REM Sleep, Blindness (01:49:55) Victims, Fear, Memory Drift & Recall, Eyewitness Testimony & Jury Education (01:56:10) Kids vs Adults, Memory Manipulation; Photos (01:59:27) Polarization, In vs Out Groups, Empathy; Fairness (02:06:31) Polarization, Reward vs Punishment; Propaganda, Language, Complexification (02:19:27) Current Projects; Acknowledgements (02:21:44) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heard a Pop in My Head: The Stroke Warning Sign Most People Ignore When Phat heard a pop in his head, it didn't feel dramatic. There was no collapse. No sirens. No panic. Just a strange sensation. A few minutes of numbness. Then… everything went back to normal. So he did what most people would do. He ignored it. Five days later, he was being rushed to the hospital with a hemorrhagic cerebellar stroke that nearly cost him his life. This is not a rare story. It's a dangerously misunderstood stroke warning sign and one that often gets dismissed because the symptoms disappear. When You Hear a Pop in Your Head, Your Brain Might Be Warning You “Hearing a pop in my head” isn't something doctors list neatly on posters in emergency rooms. But among stroke survivors, especially those who experienced hemorrhagic strokes, this phrase comes up more often than you'd expect. For Phat, the pop happened while stretching on a Sunday. Immediately after: His left side went numb The numbness lasted about five minutes Everything returned to “normal” No pain. No weakness. No emergency, at least that's how it felt. This is where the danger lies. Stroke Symptoms That Go Away Are Often the Most Misleading One of the most common secondary keywords people search after an experience like this is: “Stroke symptoms that go away” And for good reason. In Phat's case, the initial bleed didn't cause full collapse. It caused a slow haemorrhage, a bleed that worsened gradually over days. By Friday, the real symptoms arrived: Severe vertigo Vomiting and nausea Inability to walk Double vision after stroke onset By Sunday, his girlfriend called an ambulance despite Phat insisting he'd “sleep it off.” That delay nearly killed him. Cerebellar Stroke: Why the Symptoms Are Easy to Miss A cerebellar stroke affects balance, coordination, and vision more than speech or facial droop. That makes it harder to recognise. Common cerebellar stroke warning signs include: Sudden dizziness or vertigo Trouble walking or standing Nausea and vomiting Double vision Head pressure without sharp pain Unlike classic FAST symptoms, these can be brushed off as: Inner ear issues Migraine Muscle strain Fatigue or stress That's why “pop in head then stroke” is such a common post-diagnosis search. The Complication That Changed Everything Phat's stroke was classified as cryptogenic, meaning doctors couldn't determine the exact cause. But the consequences were severe. After repairing the bleeding vessel, his brain began to swell. Surgeons were forced to remove part of his cerebellum to relieve pressure and save his life. He woke up with: Partial paralysis Severe balance impairment Double vision Tremors Aphasia A completely altered sense of identity Recovery wasn't just physical. It was existential. The Invisible Disability No One Warns You About Today, if you met Phat, you might not realise he's a stroke survivor. That's one of the hardest parts. He still lives with: Fatigue Visual processing challenges Limited multitasking ability Balance limitations Cognitive overload This is the reality of invisible disability after stroke when you look fine, but your nervous system is working overtime just to keep up. Recovery Wasn't Linear — It Was Personal Phat describes himself as a problem solver. That mindset became his survival tool. Some of what helped: Self-directed rehabilitation (sometimes against advice) Meditation and breath-counting to calm the nervous system Vision therapy exercises to retrain eye coordination Strength and coordination training on his affected side He walked again after about a year. Returned to work after two. And continues to adapt more than four years later. Recovery didn't mean returning to the old version of himself. It meant integrating who he was with who he became. Why This Story Matters If You've Heard a Pop in Your Head This blog isn't here to scare you. It's here to clarify something crucial: If you hear a pop in your head followed by any neurological change, even if it goes away, get checked immediately. Especially if it's followed by: Numbness Vision changes Balance issues Confusion Head pressure or vertigo Stroke doesn't always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it whispers first. You're Not Alone — And Recovery Is Possible Phat now runs a platform called Hope for Stroke Survivors, sharing stories, tools, and reminders that recovery doesn't end when hospital rehab stops. If you're early in recovery, or terrified after a strange symptom, remember this: Stroke recovery is complex Timelines vary Healing continues for years You don't have to do it alone Learn more about recovery journeys and tools in Bill Gasiamis' book: The Unexpected Way That a Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened Support the podcast and community on Patreon: Patreon.com/Recoveryafterstroke “I heard a pop in my head… and because everything felt normal again, I ignored it.” Final Thought If this article helped you name something you couldn't explain before, share it with someone you love. Because sometimes, recognising a stroke doesn't start with fear. It starts with understanding. Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan. “I Heard a Pop in My Head” — Phat's Cerebellar Stroke Story A pop. Five minutes of numbness. Then everything felt “normal.” Days later, Phat collapsed with a cerebellar haemorrhage. Phat Cao’s Linktree Research shortcut I use (Turnto.ai) I used Turnto.ai to find relevant papers and sources in minutes instead of hours. If you want to try it, my affiliate LINK PDF Download The Present Moment Is All We Have: You survived the stroke. Now learn how to heal from it. Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Life Before the Stroke 01:14 The Stroke Experience 09:05 Initial Diagnosis and Recovery 13:29 Rehabilitation Journey Begins 17:44 Mental Challenges of Recovery 22:40 Identity Transformation Post-Stroke 30:57 Mindset Shifts and Control 36:39 Breath Control Techniques for Stress Relief 42:04 Managing Tremors and Physical Recovery 48:09 Growing an Online Presence and Sharing Stories 01:01:01 Understanding Stroke Recovery Transcript: Phat (00:00) on a Sunday. And then it wasn’t until I felt like severe stroke symptoms on a Friday, which was about, what is it, four or five days. And then I didn’t think I was having a stroke because I didn’t realize the details of the stroke. And so I just went about my day on that Sunday and until Friday I started getting like some BEFAST symptoms and then, you know, I tried to sleep it off it was actually just me and my girlfriend at the house and then she didn’t feel, comfortable. So then she called the ambulance, even though I told her I’ll just sleep it off. It’s okay. Introduction and Life Before the Stroke Bill Gasiamis (00:37) today’s guest is Fat Kyle, a stroke survivor who experienced something most people would brush off. He heard a pop in his head. It went away, so he kept going. Days later, his brain was bleeding. Fat story isn’t traumatic for the sake of it. It’s honest, it’s thoughtful, and it speaks directly to anyone who’s ever ignored a symptom because it didn’t last. In this conversation, we talk about delayed stroke symptoms, cerebellar hemorrhage, identity loss, invisible disability, meditation, and what it really takes to rebuild a life when your old one disappears. And if you’ve ever had that moment where you thought, was that something or nothing? This conversation really matters. Now, before we get into it, I want to briefly mention something that fits naturally with this topic. When you’re dealing with stroke, whether you’re newly affected or years into recovery, finding clear relevant information can be exhausting. research opinions, patients, stories and updates constantly coming out. And most of it isn’t written. with stroke survivors in tool I personally use and find helpful is Turn2. I like it because it cuts down the time and energy it takes to stay informed. Instead of digging through endless articles, Turn2.ai pulls together all stroke-related research updates, expert insights, and patient discussions in one place based on what you actually care about. It’s not about replacing doctors, it’s about reducing noise. when your focus, energy and capacity are limited. You’ll find the link in the description. And just to be transparent, if you choose to use my link, it helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you. All right, let’s get into Fats story. Bill Gasiamis (02:23) Phat Cao Welcome to the Phat (02:26) Hey Bill, thank you. It’s an honor to meet you. Bill Gasiamis (02:29) pleasures all mine. I pronounce that correctly? Phat (02:32) Yeah, you know you did. It’s not that complicated. Fat Cal is right. I blame my parents. Bill Gasiamis (02:39) Fair enough. that a common name in Vietnam? Phat (02:42) You know, it’s not a common name. Actually, it’s not a common Vietnamese name. But a lot of people do have fat, the first name, and then the last name people do. Some people do have it. It just happens in America, it means something else, you know, in English. Bill Gasiamis (02:58) It totally does, it sounds like I’m being mean. Phat (03:01) Yeah, I get it all the time. I’ve had to grow up like this. It’s been kind of rough. Bill Gasiamis (03:08) I hear you. Have you ever considered making a change to one of the names just for the sake of ease? Phat (03:15) Phat’s so funny. You know what? Because I wasn’t born in the US, because I live in the US. And when I got my citizenship, that was something I thought about. But then after I thought about it, I’m like, well, this is the name that was given to me. Vietnamese, it means something else. And so then I decided to keep it. Bill Gasiamis (03:33) What does it mean in Vietnamese? Phat (03:34) Phat was kind of like, means prosperity and also like high prosperity. Bill Gasiamis (03:41) Dude, that’s a cool name. Phat (03:43) Thank you, yeah. Yeah, so yeah, when I tell people, they’re like, oh wow. Bill Gasiamis (03:47) I had, ⁓ my name is not Bill, it’s Vasili. Phat’s my Greek name. My parents gave me that name when I was born. And when I had, when I turned 18 and I got my driver’s license, they asked me, because my birth certificate says Vasili, what do you wanna have on your driver’s license? And I think I made the wrong decision then. I chose Bill for the sake of ease of use. And once it’s on your driver’s license, then it goes on pretty much every other document after that. And it’s really difficult to go back and change everything. I kind of, I don’t regret it, but I love the connection to your roots, you know, with the original name that you were given. Phat (04:23) Yeah. ⁓ yeah. I get, you know what, I had that decision too, because everyone pretty much in my family, they changed their names. So, you know, when I was at that point, I decided not to. And so, hey, it is what it is. You know, I had to go through some stuff, but I think it kind of set, it created me to, you know, to kind of not care so much and just embrace my roots. Bill Gasiamis (04:59) Yeah. And with a name like prosperity, it’s probably helpful in taking, that attitude to the rest of your life, especially after a stroke, man. Phat (05:11) Yeah, yeah, definitely I had to live it, you know, but yeah. I don’t know how prosperous or how much that is since I had a stroke, but I had to live it. Bill Gasiamis (05:25) You have to adapt it somehow. So what was life like before stroke? Anyway, how did you go about your day? Phat (05:32) You know, before the stroke, was active. You know, I like to do a lot of community service. I was involved with a lot of nonprofits. You know, I felt like I did various things. You know, I went through a lot of different stages in my life, but I’ll start off coming to America here. You know, I grew up in a trailer home. My parents escaped Vietnam, took us over here. And, you know, we grew up pretty poor and so you know he’s just growing up in the US my parents didn’t know a lot of English and so that was kind of my childhood. But just growing up and slowly you know learning how to adjust you know that was kind of my thing and I was trying to learn as much as I could so that way I can help my family and stuff and you know be the one to provide and stuff too and help them out for all their sacrifices. But yeah that was my life before the stroke in a nutshell. Bill Gasiamis (06:31) What kind of conditions did they escape? Phat (06:33) You know what, was towards, it was at the end of the war and so the communists had taken over. So they were fighting for the South, you know, which is allies with the U.S. and they wanted to bring us over here for freedom. Bill Gasiamis (06:48) Wow, pretty intense. old were you? Phat (06:49) Yeah. You know, I was one year, not even one years old when I got over here, but during when they escaped, they went to a refugee camp in the Philippines and that was where I was born. I also have two older sisters that were born in Vietnam, but I was the only one born in the Philippines at the refugee camp until they got, they got accepted to the U.S. and then they took our whole family over here. Bill Gasiamis (07:16) And what year was that? Phat (07:18) Phat was 1983. Bill Gasiamis (07:20) Dude, you don’t look like you were born like in 1983. You look like you were born only like in the 2000s. Phat (07:24) Hey, I appreciate it. No, I was born in 1983. So I’m 42 right now. Bill Gasiamis (07:34) Now you don’t look like you’re 42, but that’s great. Phat (07:38) I it. Yeah, you know, I had the stroke when I was 36. So it’s been about four years and seven months. I did a calculation. Bill Gasiamis (07:48) How did that come about? happened? How did you end up having a stroke? Phat (07:54) You know, as far as the stroke, I had a hemorrhagic stroke. It was actually a cerebellar stroke and the doctors could not determine exactly how it happened. And so, you know, they did some tests and stuff, but they couldn’t figure it out. So mine is considered cryptogenic. Bill Gasiamis (08:13) Defend the means. They found the bleeding blood vessel though, right? Phat (08:19) Yeah, they found a bleeding. ⁓ One of the arteries in the cerebellum was bleeding. And so it was like, I felt like a on a Sunday. And then it wasn’t until I felt like severe stroke symptoms on a Friday, which was about, what is it, four or five days. And then I didn’t think I was having a stroke because I didn’t realize the details of the stroke. Heard a Pop in My Head And so I just went about my day on that Sunday and until Friday I started getting like some BEFAST symptoms and then, you know, I tried to sleep it off and until, you know, it was actually just me and my girlfriend at the house and then she didn’t feel, you know, like comfortable. So then she called the ambulance, even though I told her I’ll just sleep it off. It’s okay. Bill Gasiamis (09:14) Did you actually hear a pop? Felt a pop? I’ve heard similar stories before. like, what was that like? Phat (09:22) Okay, you know, I did feel a pop. And then actually, when I was stretching at that time, which I don’t tell a lot of people because it sounds really funny, but I was stretching at that time and then I felt a pop. And so that’s when like part of my left side went numb. And then I was wondering if it was a stroke and I didn’t know much about strokes, right? You have your assumptions. what a stroke is and so I was like, well maybe it’s a stroke and at that time I waited about five, 10 minutes and I felt normal again. So then I just went about my day and at that time I was doing a lot of stuff so I kind of forgot about it. Which, you know, it doesn’t make sense but yeah, I forgot about it. Bill Gasiamis (10:13) Did the numbness hang around the entire five days before you got to the hospital? Phat (10:19) It did not. It only stayed for about five minutes and then it went back to normal. Bill Gasiamis (10:25) Wow. Phat would kind of distract you from thinking that there was something wrong, right? Because the numbness goes away. hear a pop, so what? Like everything’s fine. Phat (10:26) So then… Yeah. Yeah, then I should have went to the hospital and got it sort of looked into, but at that time I didn’t. And then I just continued with what I had to do and I went back to work and not realizing it was a slow bleed. You know, I think your body, now that I’m looking back, I think your body kind of fixes itself a little bit as much as it can. And then it was like, it turned into like a slow bleed until it got to a point where. Bill Gasiamis (10:50) realizing it ⁓ Phat (11:04) I was nauseous, I couldn’t walk my vertigo, I was throwing up. My eyes, I had double vision, and that’s when it really hit me. Bill Gasiamis (11:05) just being vicious. I could be little bit of wimp, I could be the longest three in the I know why. Friday would have been the worst day, was that kind of progressively getting worse as the days were passing or did it just sort of suddenly come on on Friday? Phat (11:15) Friday. It just suddenly came on on Friday. I had a lingering like small headache, but then it suddenly came on on Friday. Bill Gasiamis (11:27) Thank Hmm. And then from there, were you, let’s go to the hospital or were you trying to play it down again? Phat (11:40) I was trying to play it down until Sunday. So I was trying to sleep it off. And then, you know, by the time Sunday hit, you know, finally my girlfriend just called the ambulance and that’s when they came and then they checked me out and they found out I was having a stroke. Bill Gasiamis (11:58) I had a similar experience. I noticed, I didn’t hear anything, but I noticed numbness in my big toe, my left toe. And that was on a Friday. And then it was slowly, the numbness was spreading from my toe to my foot, to my ankle. And then by the Friday later, so seven days later, nearly eight days later, the numbness had gone down my entire left side. Phat (12:07) Mmm. Bill Gasiamis (12:27) So I was progressively getting worse every day. It was slowly creeping up as the blood vessel kept leaking. The blood clot got bigger and bigger. And my wife was telling me, you need to go to the hospital. You need to get a checked out, all that kind of stuff. I went to the chiropractor because I thought I’d done something to my back. And that’s why I had a pinched a nerve. I thought something like that. Chiropractor couldn’t find anything. I went back to the chiropractor the Friday. The chiropractor said, you need to go to the hospital because whatever’s happening to your left side is not happening because of your ⁓ back or your spine or any of that stuff. And instead of going to the hospital when he said so, I went home. My wife said, you what did he say? I told her, I told her that he said I should go to the hospital. She said, why are you at home? ⁓ I was reluctant the whole time. Like I didn’t wanna go because I had work to do, I was busy. Phat (13:13) Really? Rehabilitation Journey Begins Bill Gasiamis (13:26) It was really busy work week. We were helping out a whole bunch of clients. So yeah, it was insane, but what you’re describing that delay, the delay is very familiar. Phat (13:35) Phat’s insane. You know, that’s the first time I’ve heard someone that has a similar experience to mine and I can relate with you. You know, I was like, it’s okay. And there was a lot going on. didn’t want to, you know, delay certain things that was going on. I was in the process of closing on a house and stuff. So I’m like, okay, let’s just finish this up. You know, I didn’t want it to put me behind or nothing. Bill Gasiamis (14:01) Yeah. What kind of work were you doing? Phat (14:03) You know, I was doing engineering, so I’m an engineer for Boeing. Bill Gasiamis (14:08) Yeah, pretty intense job. Phat (14:11) Yeah, you know, I do see that, but it wasn’t because of stress. I don’t believe it was. Because I really did have a good, I feel like I did have a good balance of with my stress and also a balance of, you know, play and stuff like that too. And I felt like I was handling it okay. Bill Gasiamis (14:31) smoking, drinking, any of that kind of stuff. Phat (14:34) You know, before then I was smoking and drinking more, but I wasn’t smoking that much. Before the stroke, I probably had quit about a year before that, but I was smoking before that for about like 10 years, 15 years. Bill Gasiamis (14:41) Yeah. Yeah, again, familiar. I was 37 when I had my bleed the first time and I was also, yeah, yeah, that’s crazy. Like it happens around the same age for so many people I’ve interviewed between the age of 35 and 40 when they’ve had bleeds specifically. I don’t know why. And my, and I was smoking for, Phat (14:58) ⁓ we’re like the same age. joke, yeah. Bill Gasiamis (15:19) I was 37, so I was smoking from the age of 13 or 14 on and off. Um, I wasn’t drinking heavily, but it was drinking. But again, my thing was, um, something I was born with. was potentially going to bleed at some point. And, um, it’s just one of those things. Uh, but I think that my, uh, my lifestyle didn’t. Phat (15:36) all yours. Bill Gasiamis (15:44) It didn’t make things better. It sort of created the perfect storm for it to bleed. And that’s why since then I don’t drink and I don’t smoke 100%. You know, like I’ve just completely stopped. I have a drink maybe once a year. Phat (15:56) yeah, I’m the same way too, I just… Yeah, I get you. I was never like a heavy drinker maybe once a weekend, you know, but now I completely stop smoking or drinking. It just doesn’t interest me. Bill Gasiamis (16:09) Yeah, what were the early days like? Were you scared? Was it confusing? How do you deal with the initial diagnosis and your brain’s bleeding? Phat (16:21) Yeah, you know, in the beginning, it was a big shock. know, I think looking at me now, you know, you couldn’t tell. But, you know, I’ve built up to this point. But the biggest thing was I had complications when I had the stroke and, know, I had ⁓ my brain was swelling and so they had to do a second surgery on me to remove part of my brain. And so then that’s what left me with the, you know, disabilities and stuff, which, you know, I had most of the symptoms that most stroke survivors experience, spasticity, aphasia. I had tremors, know, partial paralysis, my balance, vision, things like that. But yeah, it was tough for sure, just coming home and at first you’re just so busy in the hospital working to regain, you know, yourself again, to rebuild yourself. But coming home, yeah, it’s just a… It hits you because you can’t do anything that you used to do. And everything changes, know, even your relationships change. Bill Gasiamis (17:22) Yeah. Which part of the brain did they take out man? And why did they need to take it out? Was it just a blood vessel that burst or? Mental Challenges of Recovery Phat (17:33) They took part of my cerebellum out and it was because after they repaired, since I had a hemorrhagic stroke, they repaired that vessel. It was, my brain started swelling and there was blood just filling up so then they had to remove part of my brain so they can allow space for it to swell up. Bill Gasiamis (17:59) Wow. Phat (18:00) Yeah, so I don’t know, you know, they decided to remove part of my brain, but it ended up working out. Actually before that, before they removed the second surgery, I was completely partially paralyzed. But in a way, since that happened, I had some movement. Bill Gasiamis (18:18) It’s just crazy, isn’t it? I had a recent brain scan where, because I’ve been having a lot of headaches and to throw caution into the wind, like they went and got me another brain scan literally about six months ago. And it was the first time I saw what my brain looks like after brain surgery. And there’s like a canal. Phat (18:37) they do. Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (18:47) like a canal from my ear, that’s all, there’s like an entry wound and then there’s a line that goes in to the spot where they went and removed the blood vessel, like where the damage has caused my deficits, the ones that are still with me. And it’s just intense that you can have a little bit of your brain missing or gone or whatever removed and you’re still functioning. It is just amazing how far technology and how far Phat (19:04) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (19:17) Medicine has come. Phat (19:18) Yeah, that’s so incredible. The human body too, it makes you think about it. You know, I hear different things about, and just knowing like parts of our brain is dead, you know, and it’s able to, you know, regain different things. Neuroplasticity, right? Bill Gasiamis (19:36) Yeah. How long did it take you to get back on your feet after you realized you can’t walk? Phat (19:42) It took me about a year, but at that time I was still using a walker. Yeah, so about a year. Bill Gasiamis (19:47) And then from a walker, it become, how do you take the first steps away from a walker? What happened to allow that progression? Phat (19:57) you You know, I was told to use a cane and it would have helped me big time. But what I did was I skipped the cane and and then I use I just did it without the walker and I slowly built up built up the confidence. You kind of adjust. think each each time you transition like from one one from wheelchair to walker, you know, and then without the walker, you have to. Re-adapt the whole time and so that’s what I kind of did and it was ugly, know I fell a lot and stuff, but that’s what I did. I just kind of went for it Bill Gasiamis (20:33) So for those of you watching on YouTube, you might’ve noticed the change in scenery. That’s because the first part of the interview was recorded more than a week ago. And we had some technical difficulties because fat was in the car and we couldn’t get a decent connection. So we’re reconvening with that fat at home. Phat (20:55) Yeah, this is is better better connection Bill Gasiamis (20:58) Way better. And we finished the discussion off by me asking you a question about what you had said about how you continued your rehabilitation alone, where you were meant to be walking with the the Walker and you ditched it. And I was wondering, did your team find out that you weren’t walking with a Walker? Did they kind of like suss out that you We’re being, what’s the word, maybe a little bit risky or unsafe in the way that you were going about your rehab. Phat (21:34) Yeah, you know, I didn’t, I kind of, didn’t mention it to them really, but there was one of them that I did mention it to and she recommended I use a cane to be safe. And, you know, I did, I did say, tell her that I was trying it without it because I noticed that when I like switch like from the wheelchair in the beginning to the walker, it just like every time you switch, I noticed that you would have to adjust. so That’s the reason why I just went from the walker just to walking without a cane. Bill Gasiamis (22:08) Is it so that there’s less of an adjustment period between one thing to the next thing to the next thing was a kind of like just bypass everything in between and go straight to walking. Phat (22:18) Yeah, it was me being risky too, because I know if you fall or something, it could cause a lot of damage. But yeah, it was kind of my risk and my therapist, she wasn’t too happy about it. But I didn’t talk about it that much either. So I kind of kept it a little private too. Identity Transformation Post-Stroke Bill Gasiamis (22:40) what would you say some of the toughest challenges that you faced early on? Phat (22:44) I would say the toughest for sure is the mental and getting used to my new identity. You you come home and everything’s completely different. It kind of hits you at once. And I think, you know, living a normal life and then all of a you’re, you have a disability and you know, you can’t do the same things, you know, you could do the independence. So I think it’s all that. Bill Gasiamis (23:14) Yeah, you know, the mental, what does that mean for you? Like what is the mental challenge? Like, can you describe it? Phat (23:24) Yeah, I would say sadness. think anxiousness, fear. You don’t know what’s going to happen in your future. I think the unknown. Low energy. think those are the things that pop up in my head. Bill Gasiamis (23:45) Does it make you kind of overthink in a negative way or are you just comparing your old self to your new self? Phat (23:51) I think comparing my old self to my new self. Bill Gasiamis (23:55) Hmm. Do you reckon, do you reckon you brought some of that old self with you or is there a pause on the old self and why you’re kind of trying to work out what’s happening moving forward? Because a lot of people will talk about how, you know, their identity gets impacted, especially early on. And then sometimes down the track, when I speak to stroke survivors who are many years down the track, they might talk about how They brought some of their identity with them and then, and they’ve integrated that old identity into the new way they go about their lives. Early on is the old identity kind of far away over there and then there’s something completely different here. How did you experience it? Phat (24:44) Yeah, I think initially there were a lot of things and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. But I think throughout this time, you know, part of me has learned how to process it and resolve it and also rebuild myself. And so I think now, if anything, I take that experience to my present day to learn from and grow from. I feel like I’ve invested in myself enough to ⁓ not feel the same way, the negative things that, you know, were coming in the beginning. But now I think I’ve processed it correctly. And so I think I’m a lot better now. Bill Gasiamis (25:27) A lot of stroke survivors always often ask me for a timeline, you how long before this happened? How long before that happened? And we’re all so different, so it doesn’t really apply. But do you have a sense of the time that it took for you to integrate old self with new self? ⁓ I know you ⁓ got a substantial amount of your movement and your function back. How did you integrate? Phat (25:52) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (25:53) the two and how long did it take before you kind of felt okay with who you were. Phat (25:57) Yeah, that’s a that is a hard question to say it wasn’t like Suddenly everything was okay. It was kind of a process I think as you I mean I’m for over four and a half years now and so it was gradual but I would say initially about Two years, you know is when it took me two years to build myself up to when I could finally work again and Maybe about the two-year mark I felt like things were starting to come more together. But it was an evolution. feel like, you know, every year, every month or whatever, you learn different things. And so it’s kind of a process. Even today, you know, I’m still learning different things and, you know, it’s changing too in different ways, right? But that’s how was for me. Bill Gasiamis (26:48) Yeah. What kind of person are you? Are you like curious? Are you a problem solver? I’m very interested about kind of understanding how people come to be on my podcast. I know that there’s a portion of people who come on because they want to share their story and help connect to other people. Also share their story to help people through the early days of their own challenge. People also connect to meet me so that we can create a conversation and meet each other. Phat (26:55) You know. Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (27:19) How do you go about your, what is your approach to stroke recovery about? What’s the fundamental thing that it’s about? Phat (27:29) Yeah, you know, that’s what I love about your podcast because it’s people from all walks of life. And I really like how you set it up. I mean, you say you don’t have to even prepare for it, but I think I’m the type of person. Yeah, I think I am ⁓ naturally a problem solver. think, know, in initially someone asked me if I cried and normally I, I don’t cry. And I remember when I had the stroke, once I got home, You know, I suddenly broke out in tears and you know, it was with my mom right there. And so it just hit me. know, initially I think, you know, we all get hit with that and our emotions and, you know, everything bottles up and has to come out or should come out. But, um, you know, I am a problem solver. I felt like after time, it gave me some time to process it. And I started thinking a bit like, okay, so how am I going to tackle this? So I tried to think of it like a problem that I had to solve and I slowly broke it down into pieces and started building myself up. know, I mean, when you look at me now, you you wouldn’t look at me and think like, okay, his stroke probably wasn’t that bad. But you know, it’s a lot different now than it was in the beginning. And so, you know, and that’s why with me, I figured it out. I started figuring out things and slowly improved until where I’m at now. Bill Gasiamis (28:53) That whole thing is that if you look at me now, you wouldn’t know that I had a stroke and I don’t come across as somebody who had a stroke, et cetera. And that’s a real challenge for me because I have had the worst week leading up to this interview again. Today’s probably the first day I felt really good, maybe for about four or five days. And I was struggling with fatigue and I was struggling with brain fog and I was struggling with sleep. And I was just a mess. Phat (29:04) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (29:23) half the person that I was a week earlier. And it’s. I’m always conscious about the fact that I put off of this vibe on my podcast interviews, because I try and be the best version of myself, because you need to be the best version of yourself when you’re interviewing another person, even if you don’t feel the best. ⁓ But at the same time, you want to be, what’s the word like? Phat (29:38) That’s so good, yeah. Bill Gasiamis (29:45) you wanna be authentic. I mean, that’s the only word I can come up with. And that means that I need to tell people about how I’m feeling during a podcast. Like I might be tired, half asleep. I might even come across a little bit off, but then still, this is sometimes what stroke looks like and the part of stroke. After the interviews, you may not see, you may not see what it’s like. And I don’t want people comparing themselves to me just because I mostly look okay on a podcast interview. Phat (30:21) Yeah, I think that’s the frustrating thing. no matter whether you look like it or don’t, I think we still both experience different types of things in After Effects. And I understand your situation because it is frustrating because a lot of times we might not show it, but we’re still dealing with things that survivors still experience. Mindset Shifts and Control And, you know, we in front of the camera, we had to put on a face, right. And even sometimes like at work or in front of my family, they don’t realize I’m still dealing with things. And, you know, even my significant others, there’s things she doesn’t fully understand, and I’m still dealing with it. You know, or I might do something and she’s like, why are you doing that? But she doesn’t realize what I’m going through inside. And the external is one thing and the internal is another. Bill Gasiamis (31:12) Yeah, extremely difficult for me to even wrap my head around it still. And, you know, I’m nearly 14 years post first stroke, you know, and I’m 12 years post surgery and there’s so many things that have improved and so many things that are better. But you know, when I’m, my kids were over the other day and they don’t often hang around with me for a long amount of time. So they don’t often see what it’s like for me. Phat (31:23) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (31:41) But everyone assumes that I am what’s wrong. Like everyone assumes there’s something wrong. And it’s like, I’m not cranky. There’s nothing wrong. I’m just having a stroke day. Like I can’t be better than what I am right now. And it’s not you, you know, it’s me. Phat (31:58) Yeah, big time. Yeah, I really feel like sometimes it’s hard for people to understand too if they haven’t had a stroke, but even for survivors to know that even people with, there are invisible disabilities out there, know, and each stroke is so complex and different. So we’re all, you know, having to deal with different things. And so that’s something to be aware of. And it’s good to be aware of that. Bill Gasiamis (32:25) What are some of the things that you still miss out on that you haven’t gone back to or you can’t do anymore or you choose not to do? Phat (32:36) Yeah, you know, I used to be a lot more active. I like, I love to snowboard before I can’t do that anymore because my balance is not at that point. And, plus I don’t want to take that risk in case something happens. Like, you know, I get some kind of traumatic brain injury or something or fall. ⁓ You know, my coordination, my fine manipulation isn’t good. My memory isn’t the best. I still have double vision, so I can’t do any type of like, like people are trying to invite me to play pickleball and I definitely can’t do that. You know, I can’t fall and track the ball, you know, plus my balance is horrible. Yeah. You know, I think my processing, I can only retain so much information or like Multitasking even though I think I believe multitasking isn’t the best but it’s like I can’t multitask, know, so you have to really focus in on one thing You know, I mean I built myself up to this point But it’s hard to do multiple things like if I’m really focused on something it’s hard for me to pay attention to something else Yeah, those are just some things Bill Gasiamis (33:52) You know with double vision, I don’t know anything about it. I’ve met so many stroke survivors who have double vision as a result of the stroke. Phat (34:00) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (34:01) This might sound like a silly question. If you close one of your eyes, does the double vision go away? Phat (34:08) It does go away. So just to explain, it’s just your eyes aren’t… normally your eyes work together, but then one is kind of offset a little bit. So you’re seeing two pictures, but if you close one eye, then the double vision goes away. But in order for you to improve the double vision, you got to train it to work together. Bill Gasiamis (34:23) Okay. Is that some kind of training that you’ve done that you’re continuing to do? Phat (34:30) So there’s. ⁓ Yeah, know what I did initially, I saw a vision therapist that I was seeing them for about a year, but it got really expensive. So I stopped. But now I’m just taking what I learned and I’m practicing it on my own. There is an option for people to get surgery, but I am focused on just doing everything naturally. And so it’s still healing as long as I continue to practice it and exercises stay consistent. But just recently, since I’m doing a lot of things, I haven’t been as good at being consistent with my vision therapy exercises, so it’s actually getting worse. Bill Gasiamis (35:14) huh. So what does the surgery do? Does it change the position of the eye? Phat (35:16) Yeah. Yeah, the surgery does change the position and then it corrects it right away. Which there’s a lot of survivors that have done that. My double vision actually was really extreme, but it’s at the point now where it’s almost corrected. Bill Gasiamis (35:40) And is that a muscle issue? that like, you know how some strike survivors talk about weakness on their left side? It’s that the muscle activates or becomes deactivated in a particular way. And therefore it doesn’t respond in the same way that it used to. It doesn’t contract and release from the contraction in the same way that it used to. Is that a similar thing that’s happening to the eye? Breath Control Techniques for Stress Relief Phat (36:09) Yeah, it is kind of similar to that. And so what I’ve learned from talking to different therapists, it helps when you like isolate one side and you build that side and strengthen it. And so that’s the part where I’m missing because I’m working them together, but still the affected side is weaker. And so it’s just not strong enough to keep up. It’s kind of like our bodies, like, you know how one side is more affected. So we is good for us to isolate it and build it and that’s what I try to do with my effective side normally but with the eye it’s more difficult with the eye because you really have to like wear a patch or something you know Bill Gasiamis (36:50) Yeah, I hear you. Okay, so you wear a patch, you isolate the other eye, but then at the same time, you’re decreasing the strength of the other eye, or you might be interfering with that one by isolating it. Phat (37:02) Yeah, you’re right. Yeah, that’s exactly it. So you don’t want to patch it too much because you also want the eyes to work together. Bill Gasiamis (37:09) Yeah, that sounds like a task. I know going to the gym when I’m ⁓ pushing weights with the barbell, my left side might be pushing the same amount of weight, but it’s never going to become as big or as strong as my right side. It always seems to be just, you know, the few steps behind it, no matter what I do. it’s improving in strength, but it’s always the weakest link. It’s always the link that kind of makes the last few exercises not possible because it fatigues quicker than the right side. Phat (37:43) Yeah. Yeah, that’s what I deal with too. And a lot of times your dominant side does help it out a lot. Bill Gasiamis (37:58) kind of dominant side, my dominant side kind of over helps. And then it puts that side at risk. Phat (37:58) So yeah, sometimes. Yeah, it will help. Yeah, big time. You know, I’ve learned that there’s different ways to do it. You can build that affected side like with reps and then also sometimes doing a little bit heavier just a few times. I don’t know. I feel like it gets really in depth like how you want to do it. You know, sometimes even like holding a lightweight like up for a long time, it kind of gets heavy and it wants to like fatigue out real fast. So there’s different variations that I’ve learned throughout this process. Bill Gasiamis (38:40) Yeah. Was there a moment, would you say that you had a moment where your mindset shifted and you realized that you were kind of growing through this, even though you had all this challenge and difficulty that you had to overcome? Phat (38:58) Yeah, you know, I have to really think about it. It’s kind of just been a process and I’ve kind of accepted so much to happen, but I would say for the longest time over a year, you know, I would go down on myself and think about, ⁓ I miss the old ways. But I think as I’ve continued on this path and Maybe I don’t think about it as much because I keep myself busy and just trying to recover. so, yeah, but I think I’m trying to think of when it was like kind of like a light bulb moment, but I kind of knew that I couldn’t stay stuck in that because I couldn’t change anything about it. So I had to focus on what I could do or what I had control over. Bill Gasiamis (39:52) Yeah, that control part is really important. It seems like people who lose control of things ⁓ tend to, depends if you’re a control freak kind of person, right? Some people really like the illusion of control. They tend to feel good when things are predictable. I’m kind of that way, I lose, if I lose predictability, take control. I like to take a few steps back and see what I can control. can control the way I think about things, the way I respond to things, the way I act, the way I behave. It becomes about what then I can control on a micro scale. Whereas some people will do control on a macro scale. And some people will control like, Phat (40:16) Yeah. Mm-hmm. Bill Gasiamis (40:44) their environment and if their environment is okay, then they’re okay within their environment. But I don’t try and control external things. I try to influence them in a positive way, but I won’t expect an outcome from something that I don’t have any influence over. ⁓ And then I kind of try and work on what do I need to do to feel better about that thing that I am out of control of that I cannot change. but I can change how I respond to it. That’s kind of where all the work has been. Like where’s the work for you been? Phat (41:21) Yeah, you know, I do know that I do practice meditation and even before I had a stroke, I did practice meditation and that is one of the big things from meditation that you just naturally have that mindset to do that and to understand. And so I feel like that practice has actually helped me to be more flexible and accept certain things and focus on what I can control more. But just to say with the benefits of meditation, a lot of the benefits are specifically for stroke survivors. So I feel like it has helped me tremendously. Managing Tremors and Physical Recovery Bill Gasiamis (42:04) Did it begin, was that kind of one of the tools that helped you to begin to feel hopeful again? Phat (42:10) Yeah, to feel hopeful, to be able to focus better, have better memory, I guess reduce the pain that I was feeling, the depression. Yeah, there’s a list of things, yeah, think that’s, those are the ones off the top of my head. Yeah, I know it’s like. Bill Gasiamis (42:32) Are you a guided meditation? Phat (42:35) You know, I don’t, I just do ⁓ the most simple breath counting meditation. Yeah. It’s kind of, I can explain it, but you just focus on your breathing and counting. So it helps you with your focus too. don’t know. A lot of survivors have a problem with their focus. I did. So, and I still do actually now it’s not like to where I was before the stroke, but it’s getting almost there. Bill Gasiamis (42:45) What’s your kid? Counting how many counts in, how many counts out do you do? Phat (43:10) So you do inhale and exhale is one, inhale, exhale two, all the way till ten, and then you start over again. If that makes sense, yeah. Bill Gasiamis (43:23) So you just basically trying to get even inhale and exhalations. Are they even? they one is longer than the other or shorter than the other? Like how does it go? Phat (43:36) You can do even. I tend to do a longer exhale. Maybe like a, well, cause now I’ve built up the endurance. do about five second in inhale and then like a eight second exhale. But I also put together a PDF. I can send it to anybody for free if they want to just reach out to me. Yeah. And I can, you can put my information on the show notes. Yeah. It’s a really basic thing I put together if anyone’s interested. And Navy SEALs, use this type of, I mean, it’s also called box breathing. It’s kind of box breathing or meditation. And, you know, I know they use it for like extreme stress and things like that too. Bill Gasiamis (43:59) Okay, cool. helps people calm their autonomic nervous system to go into a parasympathetic state, which is the relaxed state. That’s what the, yeah, the longer exhalation helps people go there. You can basically intervene in a ⁓ heightened anxious state or a stressed state or a upset state. And you can intervene within a few minutes and bring yourself into a calm state just by changing the way that you breathe. You know what’s really cool fat? Phat (44:29) That’s exactly it, yeah. Bill Gasiamis (44:53) my gosh, I learned this the other day on TikTok. think I saw it. I can’t remember who it was that showed it to me. So unfortunately I can’t credit them, but also people who do yoga or that kind of stuff probably already know this, but to me it was like the most brand new amazing thing that I’ve ever learned. And what it was, if you can see my fingers, right? They said that if you try this, if you press ⁓ your thumb onto the finger after Phat (44:54) Yeah. and Bill Gasiamis (45:22) your little finger, I don’t know what it’s called, finger. So these two, so not your thumb, your thumb and not the little finger, the next one over. When you breathe, what do you notice? And what I noticed, tell me if you noticed this, is I noticed that my breathing shifts from my belly to my chest. somehow my chest takes over the breathing. Somehow my breath moves to my chest and it feels like a labored more anxious breath, right? And then if you shift it from that to your thumb and your first finger, Phat (45:43) But, sorry, just need to focus. Thank Bill Gasiamis (46:06) your breath automatically shifts to the belly and your diaphragm expands and contracts. And I tried that and I had the most profound experience. The first finger, your first finger and your thumb, two fingers next to them. Phat (46:16) really? on. Bill Gasiamis (46:26) Yeah, those two, yeah, yeah. ⁓ I felt like my breath shifted automatically on its own when I did that. And I don’t know if everyone gets that experience. So then for fun, I tried it with my wife and I said to her, can you please do this with your fingers? The first one was the little finger. I wish I knew what they were called, but the finger next to the little finger and the thumb. Phat (46:26) this. really? Bill Gasiamis (46:54) I asked her to do that and I asked her to tell me how does that feel when you’re breathing and she said that feels really terrible, I feel anxious. And I said, okay, cool. Now just please change it to the other two fingers, the first finger and your thumb and then see what that feels like. And she said that feels far better and the anxiousness has gone away. Phat (47:17) Really? Wow. Bill Gasiamis (47:18) Yeah. So I reckon if you have a play with that and you pay attention, I think I’ve seen a lot of yogis or people who practice yoga or who meditate, think I’ve seen people hold their fingers like that. And as a result of that, perhaps they automatically instinctively activate the diaphragm and the belly breath instead of the chest breath, which is the more anxious breath. It was such an interesting little hack to experience literally by changing which two fingers you’re pressing together. And it kind of connects to that meditation side of it. And I think it would add for me, it would add something extra to meditation that I previously didn’t know about. So isn’t that fascinating? Growing an Online Presence and Sharing Stories Phat (48:09) Yeah, that is so fascinating. I actually don’t even normally sit like that. I just put my hands in my lap. But I did. If you notice, I still have tremors on this side, and that’s how I actually got my tremors to reduce is I would hold it like this sometimes and just meditate. And then it’s just like heels or something. But yeah, before it used to shake a lot. Now it’s a lot better. Bill Gasiamis (48:17) Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So do the meditation from now on. Phat (48:39) but sometimes just doing these finger taps. Bill Gasiamis (48:42) Yeah, right. That’s for coordination and that, right. Phat (48:44) Okay, you might try that. Yeah, yeah. Also you do use the pointer finger and the thumb. Bill Gasiamis (48:47) Yeah, try those first two fingers. Make a circle with it. That’s it, is that what it’s called, the pointer finger? Phat (48:55) Okay Bill Gasiamis (48:57) just connects to your belly. Phat (48:59) I’m off to the end. Bill Gasiamis (49:01) I have no idea how, but I love it. love that it does. It’s such a cool thing. Phat (49:05) Yeah, especially you feel that I’m gonna try it. Yeah Bill Gasiamis (49:10) So you know that tremor that you said about your hand, is that also in your leg? Phat (49:15) No, it’s only the hand. Bill Gasiamis (49:17) and it it gets worse when you are tired, I imagine. Phat (49:19) Yeah. Yeah, it does get worse under like pressure or if I’m tired. Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (49:32) but you’ve found that it’s settled down a lot since the early days. Phat (49:37) Yeah, it has. So as I continue to build it, it has. Yeah, in the beginning it was really bad, but I continued to do different things. A lot of resistance training, like with rubber bands and stuff like that, yeah. I do different things. Bill Gasiamis (49:58) Do you remember what it was like in the early days? Is that the dominant hand that you use or? Phat (50:05) No, it’s not my dominant hand. Bill Gasiamis (50:08) Did they make you try and use it too? Okay. Phat (50:09) because I’m bright, dumb, and… Yeah, they said they want me to use it. Sometimes I do get lazy too. I try different things, like even for a time frame I’ll brush my teeth with my effective side, my non-dominant. But a lot of times I get lazy because it is a lot slower. So I just go to my dominant hand. I’m still guilty of it. Bill Gasiamis (50:39) just to get the job done quicker. Phat (50:41) Yeah, yeah. Bill Gasiamis (50:42) Tell me a little bit about your, ⁓ your Instagram page. Phat (50:49) Okay. Well, I started an Instagram page. It’s called Hope for Stroke Survivors. And initially, I just made it for myself to collect information on recovery. Because I felt like I was limited on the information out there. And I would find some stuff on social media. And so I started collecting it for myself and know, eventually I made it public and I started, people started following it and gravitating towards it. And so I decided to start sharing different like tips. And then I continued to do that and more people started following it until I think that was around a year after my stroke. And now I just continue to do that and it’s grown to this point now. And so I felt like a part of it was kind of my outlet. You know, you know, I’m passionate about strokes and I want to share and provide awareness. so, yeah, I started for myself, but now it’s grown to where it’s at now. And I feel like, you know, it’s, I want to provide hope and also share different people’s stories because I really enjoy, and I still enjoy seeing comeback stories. And so, you know, that’s what happened with that. And so now it’s been about, what is it? for four years or something. Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (52:19) Hope for stroke survivors like 11.6K followers. Phat (52:23) Yes, call them. I’m sorry, what was that? Bill Gasiamis (52:26) It’s got 11.6K followers, 929 posts, and in the description it says, don’t fear change, trust the process. My goal is to spread hope while recovering from a severe stroke. Check out the stories from fellow stroke survivors too. Phat (52:45) Yeah, you know, after a while, I felt like, ⁓ I want to share survivor stories. feel like bring our community together. There’s a lot of survivors out there that are doing great things like yourself. You know, I found your stuff. And so, you know, I feel like it really gives a lot of us, you know, motivation, hope to believe what’s possible out there, because a lot of us have. you know, we get the wrong information, you know, I want to be able to show people what’s possible because a lot of times, you know, there’s like myths or whatever, and I just want to give people that hope. So I’ve expanded it to YouTube and also TikTok. And so, yeah, it’s grown tremendously on YouTube also. So it’s pretty cool. Bill Gasiamis (53:33) now. What kind of content you put out on YouTube? Phat (53:37) I, the same stuff, I pretty much just blast the same thing on. Well, now I’m starting to do more, I want to do more interviews, but recently I have kind of cut back on it because of time, but I want to do more interviews for like survivors and therapists and doctors on YouTube. I think that’s where I want to take it. Bill Gasiamis (54:00) Yeah. Yeah. To kind of share more information about the kind of ways that they help other people. Phat (54:08) Yeah, it’s exactly like, you know, what you’re doing. I think that’s amazing. I mean, you helped me out so much. remember yours is actually my top podcast and I would listen to it all the time. Bill Gasiamis (54:13) Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I really appreciate that. mean, you know what I love is that you’ve been doing this for four years. I’ve been doing this for 10. Somehow you’ve cracked the code. You’ve got 36.8k subscribers. I’ve barely got 8,000. So that’s very interesting to me. Like how that some channels that share pretty much the same type of content grow. And then mine has been going for 10 years and I can’t seem to get above 10,000 subscribers. What’s your trick? know, like how did you manage to get that many subscribers? Is there something that you do consistently? I’m also asking for me, but at the same time, there’ll be other stroke survivors who are thinking about starting a YouTube channel perhaps, or thinking about sharing some way or growing this type of a community. And they’re reluctant because they don’t know what they need to do and they don’t know what could happen. Now I’m not completely dissatisfied with 8,000 followers. I’m perfectly satisfied with that. But of course I wanna make sure I reach way more stroke survivors because that’s the whole point of this is to get out. Do you have any tips as to what it was that kind of helped the channel grow so fast? Phat (55:25) Yeah, yeah. Yeah, you know, I think a big one is consistency. You know that. But, you know, I have learned a lot of things. read a lot and a part of it is also. Initially, I would share other survivors stories and also it was ⁓ like even survivors in who have had like cancer or different types of sicknesses. And so initially I was just doing that for fun. so then I think it attracted more people because it was a variety of things. But then, you know, I know that I didn’t plan to do it. if it’s. If I was going to do that, I don’t want to share other people’s things, you know, like if I want to be more serious, I have to niche down or I got to share my own stuff because I don’t want to take stuff from people. But initially. I was sharing a bunch of stuff and not wanting, I wasn’t expecting it to grow like that and I was just doing it for my own reason, for my own purpose and I think that’s how it attracted so many people too. Bill Gasiamis (56:46) Yeah. Look, it’s, it’s very cool that, um, the people have subscribed. Absolutely. And what’s good about it, even though it’s not all your content, it doesn’t really matter because if you’re putting content out there that people, uh, I mean, you’re not stealing the content, you’re not changing the names or anything like that or repurposing it. All you’re doing is, um, uh, all you’re doing is kind of pointing people to the direction of somebody else’s content channel or whatever. you know what I mean? Phat (56:58) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (57:17) ⁓ but I know what you’re saying. Phat (57:18) Yeah, yeah. mean, I would always put their contact or their credit. But that wasn’t my intent of doing it. And I’m not making any money off of it. But then I’m learning about, OK, what can I do to make this bigger and help more people? And now I’m trying to focus down or just come up with my own content so that way people can see that too. Bill Gasiamis (57:31) Yeah, yeah. Yeah. ⁓ I think there’s not enough voices in stroke recovery and awareness and support and why, you know, we need more. need every version of person, how they’re affected and different cultural backgrounds and that we need way more people kind of putting content out and sharing their version of the story. My story resonates with you, but it might not resonate with someone else, you know? So if, if we can have more people out there listening, who are curious about it. Phat (57:53) Yeah. You’re right, you’re right. Bill Gasiamis (58:17) ⁓ biting the bullet and doing it. It would be fantastic if that happened and then more people to collaborate with. Phat (58:21) You know, I think it’s Yeah, I think it’s easy to pay attention to the subscribers or the followers, but a lot of times too, the way how I did it is if it can just help one person, you know, that makes me happy and then it just grew like that. But that’s what I continue to do. You know, I mean, maybe there’s more subscribers. but maybe your content is connecting really deeply with more people, you know? So I feel like it can’t always be compared exactly to the followers. And if you’re a survivor, you know, I wouldn’t want to let you feel like demotivated because of that. you know, I think if you’re passionate about it, just do it. you know, I think there’s plenty of room for a bunch of people, right? Like you were saying. Bill Gasiamis (59:15) I what you said, like if you’re just passionate, just do it. That’s why I started, I didn’t start out to get a certain number of subscribers or anything like that. I just started out to share. What’s cool is that the subscribers have happened. What’s fascinating is to view like how other people have grown their channel. what, it’s a completely different version of what you’ve done and yours has grown and I’m just keen to learn about it. And I think it will encourage or help other people, you know, do the same thing. Phat (59:24) Yeah. Bill Gasiamis (59:45) ⁓ And that’s kind of why I raised it. What I love about what you said is if it helps one person, like I said the same thing, dude, it helps so many more than one person. You just don’t know it because very few people reach out. Not that you’re expecting them to, but people just get the help and then they move on and they go and do good stuff. And it’s like, even better. ⁓ But every so often I get people like you sending me messages going Thanks for that episode. That was a great interview. I really got a lot out of that Can you point me in this direction or can you connect me with that person? One of the things that I do best I think then better than anything is I can connect people from all around the world with people who Are ⁓ listening and they want to get information about the thing that you tried or that service that you ⁓ purchased or whatever, you that’s what I love about it the most is I can connect people and they could be on different continents. And I love that I can do that from Australia, you know, like it’s crazy. Understanding Stroke Recovery Phat (1:00:58) Yeah Yeah. And especially, yeah, it has affected me too. You know, like I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t be standing here like this if I didn’t hear your podcast. You know, I could literally say that, you know, so that’s pretty cool. Yeah. And you’re in Australia. I’m in Arizona. Bill Gasiamis (1:01:17) It’s fabulous, man. It’s so fascinating. That’s one of the things I love about technology is that with time, technology will improve and make things better for people. And hopefully it’ll help way more people than it’s helping at the moment. It’s definitely helped me with my mental health, having this podcast, this platform,

Dr. Berne introduces the idea that vision is a reflection of whole-body health, sharing his journey and the limits of conventional eye exams. #HolisticHealth #VisionHealing #FunctionalMedicine #HealthTalks

Send us a textIn this week's episode Lance and Jacklyn dive into the world of Lucid Dreams.  They discuss what it is, how to do it, and why it's a powerful tool to play with.  They also describe their own experiences with Lucid Dreaming and tools for traversing the dreamworld.As always, stay tuned for the Treasure Chest to hear what we are reading doing watch and learning.

Let us know what you think! Text us!In this episode of The Security Halt! Podcast, Deny Caballero speaks with Ben Kramer, a Marine Corps veteran, firefighter, and licensed psilocybin facilitator, about the transformative role of psychedelic medicine in veteran mental health.They discuss:Trauma, worthiness, and identity after servicePsilocybin as a tool for healing—not a shortcutThe importance of preparation and integrationNeuroplasticity, awe, and mindfulnessCommunity, gratitude, and post-military purposeBreaking stigma around psychedelicsAddressing the veteran suicide crisisThis is a grounded, honest conversation about healing beyond the battlefield.Chapters:00:00 – Psilocybin and Veteran Healing Explained 02:58 – Ben Kramer's Military to Healing Journey 06:05 – Why Peer Support Matters for Veterans 08:59 – Preparation and Integration in Psilocybin Therapy 11:56 – Trauma, Worthiness, and Identity 14:55 – Awe, Neuroplasticity, and Mental Health 17:59 – Mindfulness and Breathwork for Healing 20:46 – Compassion in Veteran Mental Health Care 24:03 – Exploring Alternative Healing Modalities 26:50 – Creating Safe Spaces for Psychedelic Healing 29:18 – Hypervigilance and the Cost of Constant Readiness 30:49 – Addressing Veteran Suicide 32:53 – Breaking the Psychedelic Stigma 34:29 – Psychedelics as a Catalyst for Change 37:21 – Ego, Insight, and Integration 40:04 – Why Chasing Treatments Doesn't Work 42:52 – Doing the Work After the Experience 46:10 – Community as the Foundation of Healing 50:39 – Transitioning from Military to Civilian LifeSponsored by: Dr. Mark Gordon & Millennium Health Centers  Get the book Peptides for Health Vol.1 Medical Edition today.  Use code PTH25 for 25% off through March 15  Use code Phase2P for 10% off Millennium products  Available only at MillenniumHealthStore.comPRECISION WELLNESS GROUP  Use code: Security Halt Podcast 25Website: https://www.precisionwellnessgroup.com/ Security Halt Mediahttps://www.securityhaltmedia.com/Connect with Ben Today!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-kramer-16846127a/Website: www.fungimentalpdx.com  Instagram: @securityhaltX: @SecurityHaltTik Tok: @security.halt.podLinkedIn: Deny CaballeroSupport the showProduced by Security Halt Media

Are you overthinking…or under-processing? What if reflection was the missing piece to becoming (and receiving) everything you've ever wanted?Today, Tara Schuster returns to the Expanded Podcast to explore one of the most impactful healing modalities there is: journaling. Her latest book, This Journal F*cking Works, offers a science-backed and historical look at why journaling is so powerful, woven together with humor and Tara's own journey of rewriting internal narratives to break free from toxic, repetitive thought loops. It's an invitation to start “DMing with your soul” and to open up neural pathways of self-understanding, emotional processing, and healing.Jessica and Tara unpack why ritual matters. Not everything is about maximizing habits, productivity, or “doing it right.” Real transformation often comes from giving your brain space to process lived experience: to be honest, imperfect, and fully human. With this outlook, journaling becomes a bridge between science and intuition, seamlessly supporting your own TBM and personal growth practice.This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck in mental loops, wants a grounded and research-backed way to connect more deeply with intuition, and yearns to understand who they are at their core.**Trigger warning: Discussion of self-harm and abusive family dynamics at 00:07:10 through 00:09:28**Find the complete show notes here -> https://tobemagnetic.com/expanded-podcast Resources: Return to Magic - 15 Day Manifestation ChallengeA 15-day guided journey to reparent your inner child, reconnect with your magic, and step into this new year as your most confident, regulated, and magnetic self yet. Join our membership to access! (It's not too late to join in. Start any time!) The Pathway Membership gives you unlimited access to all of our manifestation workshops—including How to Manifest, Unblocking Your Inner Child, Shadow, Love, Money, Rock Bottoms, Ruts, and Energetic Updates —plus 70+ self-hypnosis tracks designed to unlock your full potential.LEARN MORE HERE Get the latest from TBMJoin the Pathway now - Return to Magic Challenge available now! New to TBM? Free Offerings to Get You StartedLearn the Process! Expanded Podcast - How to Manifest Anything You Desire Get Expanded! The Motivation - Testimonial LibraryReady to find out what's holding you back? Try our Free Clarity Exercise Be an EXPANDER! Share Your Manifestation StorySubmit to Be a Process GuestWhat did you manifest during the Money Challenge? Share a voice note of your question, block, or Process to be featured in an episode! This Episode Is Brought to You By: MASA Chips - Get 25% off your first order with code MAGNETICMASA OriginalMASA LimeMASA Churro In this episode we talk about:Tara's personal journey and initial skepticism with the effectiveness of journalingWhy “thinking harder” doesn't always lead to clarity, and how writing helps the mind complete emotional cyclesThe difference between habits that automate and rituals that animateHow rituals create meaning, presence, and emotional rangeWhy writing by hand deepens comprehension and self-awarenessThe power of naming emotions without storytelling and how journaling builds self-trust over timeWhy clarity often comes after discomfort, not beforeUsing journaling to track energy, not just emotionsHow to approach journaling without shame or perfectionismWhy falling off a practice isn't failure—it's proof you careHow writing reconnects you to your intuition in a distracted world Mentioned In the Episode: Join Tara's free 14 day journaling challenge!This Journal F*cking Works: The Science, Ritual, and Art of JournalingExpanded x Ep. 288 - How To Build High Self-Worth: The Process with Tara SchusterThe Ritual Effect by Michael NortonExpanded x Ep. 99: Dr. Tara Swart on Neuroplasticity and ManifestationExpanded x Ep. 206 - EXPLAINED Aligned Action with Dr. Tara SwartExpanded x Ep. 376 - Dr. Tara Swart on Signs from the Other Side: Love, Loss, and Connection Beyond DeathExpanded x Ep. 176 - Elise Loehnen - Getting Back into Balance & Finding ExpansionExpanded x Ep. 252 - When Will You Be Good Enough? - The Price Women Pay To Be Good - Elise LoehnenExpanded x Ep. 371 - How to Reframe Jealousy and Step Into Your Power with Elise LoehnenThe Artist's Way by Julia CameronDr. Jennifer Freed on IGWatch our full-length video episodes on Youtube!Find our Return to Magic Challenge plus all our workshops and all workshops mentioned inside our Pathway Membership! (Including the Return to Magic Challenge, Surrender DI Playlist, Validation DI, and Worst Case Scenario DI) Connect with Tara SchusterThis Journal F*cking Works: The Science, Ritual, and Art of JournalingJoin Tara's free 14 day journaling challenge!Connect on IG @TaraschusterSubstack @taraschusterCheck out her other books Glow in the Fucking Dark and Buy Yourself the Fucking Lilies  HOW TO MANIFEST by Lacy Phillips (with exercises by Jessica Gill)Available now! The Expanded Podcast, from To Be Magnetic™ (TBM), is the leading manifestation podcast rooted in neuroscience, psychology, and energetics. Hosted by TBM's Chief Content Officer Jessica Gill, with monthly appearances from founder Lacy Phillips, Expanded is where science and the mystical meet to help you manifest in the most grounded, practical, and life-changing way.At TBM, we've redefined manifestation through Neural Manifestation™—our proven, science-backed method developed with neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart. This process helps you reprogram limiting beliefs at the subconscious level so you can create the life most aligned with your authenticity.Each week, we take you inside the TBM practice to help you expand your subconscious to believe what you desire is possible. Through expert interviews, thought leader conversations, TBM teachings, and real member success stories, you'll learn how to: – Rewire your subconscious mind and step into your worth – Heal your inner child and integrate shadow work – Set boundaries, strengthen intuition, and reclaim self-worth – Manifest relationships, careers, abundance, and experiences that align with your true selfWith over than 40 million downloads and a global community in over 100 countries, Expanded has become the gold standard in manifestation content. Think of it as your weekly practice for expanding your mind, believing what you want is possible, and manifesting the life you're meant to live.Past guests include leading voices such as Mel Robbins, Lewis Howes, Jenna Zoe, Martha Beck, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Dr. Gabor Maté, Mark Groves, and Brianna Wiest. Where To Find Us!@tobemagnetic (IG)@LacyannephillipsLacy Launched a Substack! - By Candlelight - Join Here@Jessicaashleygill@tobemagnetic (youtube)@expandedpodcast

In this solo episode, I explore the concept of self-image, emphasizing its foundational role in personal development. I discuss how self-image is shaped by beliefs, experiences, and internal narratives, and introduce a three-step framework for change: awareness, acceptance, and action. The episode outlines practical strategies for improving self-image, including a five-minute daily routine and the importance of exercise.  - 00:00 Building the Best Version of Yourself 02:50 Understanding Self-Image and Identity 05:38 Neuroplasticity and Self-Image Change 08:57 The Three-Step Framework for Change 11:26 Daily Practices to Improve Self-Image 14:45 The Role of Exercise in Self-Image 17:34 Reinforcing Your New Identity -

See how a woman with advanced Alzheimer's regained major function using lifestyle changes, and what it means for the future of treatment and prevention. #AlzheimersReversal #BrainHealth #CognitiveRecovery

Dr. Will Cole and Dr. Tara Swart Bieber join me at The Wellness Oasis during Miami Art Week to reveal why low-level chronic stress destroys longevity faster than anything else, how that COMT gene mutation in half this audience keeps your mind racing when your body needs rest, and why I schedule my entire life around sleep and exercise instead of fitting wellness into leftover time slots. Connect with Dr. Will Cole Website: ⁠https://bit.ly/3LEmCqB⁠  YouTube:⁠https://bit.ly/3LhijSd⁠  Instagram: ⁠https://bit.ly/4qnE2XN⁠  Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/49Xe6wg⁠  X.com: ⁠https://bit.ly/4qxNpnN⁠  LinkedIn: ⁠https://bit.ly/49TEEyq⁠  Connect with Dr. Tara Swart Bieber Website: ⁠https://bit.ly/4pJiO5s⁠  Instagram: ⁠https://bit.ly/3YGWDBR⁠  TikTok: ⁠https://bit.ly/4pBD8FN⁠  Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/3YCiri9⁠  X.com: ⁠https://bit.ly/4qnYJTz⁠  LinkedIn: ⁠https://bit.ly/4pGzrib⁠  Thank you to our partners H2TABS: “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: ⁠https://bit.ly/4hMNdgg⁠ BODYHEALTH: “ULTIMATE20” FOR 20% OFF: ⁠http://bit.ly/4e5IjsV⁠ BAJA GOLD: "ULTIMATE10" FOR 10% OFF: ⁠https://bit.ly/3WSBqUa⁠ SNOOZE: LET'S GET TO SLEEP!: ⁠https://bit.ly/4pt1T6V⁠ COLD LIFE: THE ULTIMATE HUMAN PLUNGE: ⁠https://bit.ly/4eULUKp⁠ WHOOP: JOIN AND GET 1 FREE MONTH!: ⁠https://bit.ly/3VQ0nzW⁠ AION: “ULTIMATE10” FOR 10% OFF: ⁠https://bit.ly/4h6KHAD⁠ A-GAME: “ULTIMATE15” FOR 15% OFF: ⁠http://bit.ly/4kek1ij⁠ PEPTUAL: “TUH10” FOR 10% OFF: ⁠https://bit.ly/4mKxgcn⁠ CARAWAY: “ULTIMATE” FOR 10% OFF: ⁠https://bit.ly/3Q1VmkC⁠ HEALF: 10% OFF YOUR ORDER: ⁠https://bit.ly/41HJg6S⁠ RHO NUTRITION: “ULTIMATE15” FOR 15% OFF: ⁠https://bit.ly/44fFza0⁠ GOPUFF: GET YOUR FAVORITE SNACK!: ⁠https://bit.ly/4obIFDC⁠ GENETIC METHYLATION TEST (UK ONLY): ⁠https://bit.ly/48QJJrk⁠ GENETIC TEST (USA ONLY): ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3Yg1Uk9⁠ Watch  the “Ultimate Human Podcast” every Tuesday & Thursday at 9AM EST: YouTube: ⁠https://bit.ly/3RPQYX8⁠ Podcasts: ⁠https://bit.ly/3RQftU0⁠ Connect with Gary Brecka Instagram: ⁠https://bit.ly/3RPpnFs⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://bit.ly/4coJ8fo⁠ X: ⁠https://bit.ly/3Opc8tf⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/464VA1H⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://bit.ly/4hH7Ri2⁠ Website: ⁠https://bit.ly/4eLDbdU⁠ Merch: ⁠https://bit.ly/4aBpOM1⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://bit.ly/47ejrws⁠ Ask Gary: ⁠https://bit.ly/3PEAJuG⁠ Timestamps 00:00 Intro of Show 03:11 Sleep as Our Human Superpower 06:12 Metrics for Sustainable Wellness 09:15 Thoughts and Trauma Impacting Health 11:56 Misconceptions on Biohacking 17:51 Link between Emotional Stress and Inflammation 24:02 Neuroplasticity as a Foundation of our Well-Being 28:47 Whole Health: Thriving vs. Maintaining 37:03 Women and Autoimmune Disease 42:14 Wearable Technology for Health Metrics 43:31 Good Sleep Hygiene Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is not intended for diagnosing or treating any health condition. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making health or wellness decisions. Gary Brecka is the owner of Ultimate Human, LLC which operates The Ultimate Human podcast and promotes certain third-party products used by Gary Brecka in his personal health and wellness protocols and daily life and for which Ultimate Human LLC and / or Gary Brecka directly or indirectly holds an economic interest or receives compensation.  Accordingly, statements made by Gary Brecka and others (including on The Ultimate Human podcast) may be considered promotional in nature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this video, we explore what really happens when your voice shuts down under pressure—and why it's not a flaw, a curse, or something you're born with. This conversation breaks down real-world case studies from professionals who struggled with speech anxiety, stuttering, rushed communication, and freezing in high-stakes moments, and shows how communication confidence is built through habits, identity, and intentional practice. You'll learn why speech is a trainable motor skill, how mindset and self-image shape the way you speak, and how tools like modeling, immersion, breath control, and focused awareness help replace fear with calm, controlled communication. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & high-stakes speaking moments 01:04 Speech anxiety vs. traditional therapy 01:50 Identity and executive presence 02:17 How speech habits create career limitations 03:23 Avoidance, fear, and lost opportunities 04:32 Rushed speech and sounding less confident 05:49 Why people finally decide to change 06:15 Modeling confidence instead of fixing flaws 07:19 Self-study vs. coaching and accountability 08:28 Speech as a habit, not a curse 08:56 Modeling, mirror neurons, and identity shifts 10:43 Word anticipation and staying present 11:17 Consistency, immersion, and habit rewiring 12:07 Career, income, and confidence breakthroughs 13:22 Personal wins beyond performance 14:50 Neuroplasticity and rewriting your identity If you've ever struggled with anxiety before speaking, freezing in meetings, rushing your words, or feeling held back by how you communicate, this video offers a clear and grounded path forward. The goal isn't perfection—it's progress, presence, and learning how to speak with confidence on purpose.

You know what they say, fall down seven times, pursue a class action lawsuit against the establishment. Just kidding but not really (see sources linked below) this week we're learning about the neuroscience, psychology, and *personal* philosophy of rejection to manufacture some good ol' fashion luck. This is not a guide on gambling nor a get rich quick scheme, this is a reframe to get you all to take a chance on some weird opportunities to flourish or at least establish a sizable amount of lore. As always, thank you for joining me in the communal Schauer, please know that I am not perceiving any of you. When I step into the weekly STEAM I can't see anything beyond the computer in front of me. Wishing you all the best. Check out Gabbies1000nos aka the woman who inspired this episode!   https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThRthGxf/ Gabbie, if you see this, you've inspired me and I'm wishing you nothing but luck on your journey! Resources:  Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst - Robert M. Sapolsky  Squares & Sharps, Suckers & Sharks: The Science, Psychology & Philosophy of Gambling - Joseph Buchdahl  Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change - Emily Falk Your brain learns from rejection – here's how it becomes your compass for connection https://theconversation.com/your-brain-learns-from-rejection-heres-how-it-becomes-your-compass-for-connection-249124 Neural responses to social rejection reflect dissociable learning about relational value and reward https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2400022121 The Psychological Health Benefits of Accepting Negative Emotions and Thoughts: Laboratory, Diary, and Longitudinal Evidence https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5767148/ Strengthen Your Mind the Way You Strengthen Your Body https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/building-resilient-minds/202601/strengthen-your-mind-the-way-you-strengthen-your-body#:~:text=The%20Window%20of%20Tolerance:%20Whereand%20even%20grow%20from%20it. The Neuroplasticity of First Attempts https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-from-a-neuroscience-perspective/202509/the-neuroplasticity-of-first-attempts The Luck Field Manual - “How to Manufacture Luck” https://substack.com/@polymathinvestor/note/c-194112619 The Spirit of Hope - Byung Chul Han https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2YMgEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT2&ots=l4PW6LyQQ8&sig=bGGFu0gUVQv3hqfvSS0d0ZyBjP4#v=onepage&q&f=false — My Resources to Help You All Get Lucky! — On the Art and Craft of Doing Science - Kenneth Catania How to Find a Research Gap - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThrD8Q8L/  Nightshade - https://nightshade.cs.uchicago.edu/whatis.html Tool for artists :) Learn More About Adaptive Yoga - Mindbodysolutions.org Learn More About Class Action Lawsuits - ClassAction.org  Job Posting Websites to Check Out Hiring.cafe - https://hiring.cafe/ Welcome to the Jungle - https://us.welcometothejungle.com/?utm_source=foundation&utm_campaign=redirect_modal&utm_content=en  especially great if you work in tech! LinkedIn Job Search Hacks - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThryKvGR/  Check Out Audrey Gidman's Substack On Art Residencies  A non-exhaustive list of writing (and art) residencies in the so-called US https://substack.com/home/post/p-162701566  Another non-exhaustive list of writing (and art) residencies in the so-called US https://audreygidman.substack.com/p/another-non-exhaustive-list-of-writing?r=1cyxix  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode Summary Whatever happened yesterday is gone. Whatever is happening tomorrow hasn't arrived. You are right here, at the starting line of a brand new day.In this powerful "Morning Reset" session, host Martin Hewlett guides you through a deliberate practice to switch on the lights, fire up the engines, and invite positive momentum into your life. This isn't just about waking up the body; it's about regulating your nervous system and unlocking your potential before the world rushes in.Whether you are battling morning anxiety or simply looking to sharpen your focus, this session is your tool to calibrate your radar for joy and opportunity.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The "Somatic Wash" Technique: A 4-minute guided breathwork session designed to lower morning cortisol, clear "morning fog," and fire every neuron.Nervous System Regulation: How to move from a state of sleep inertia to a "Strong, Steady, Ready" state of active presence.Neuroplasticity & Affirmations: Specific mantras to rewire your thoughts for success and invite a flow state where life works in your favor.The "Big Rock" Rule: A simple strategy to stop overwhelm and build resilience by prioritizing your one non-negotiable task.Somatic Movement: Why a quick spinal twist is essential to tell your body "we are safe and active".Key Quotes:"We aren't just waking up the body, we're regulating your nervous system and waking up your potential." "Your body is a battery and you are currently plugging it into the source." "You aren't dragging yourself through the day. You have arrived." 3 Steps to Maintain Momentum:Hydrate First: Your brain is 75% water. Eliminate brain fog immediately by drinking water before coffee.The Big Rock: Pick one absolute "must-do" task. Do it first.Move Your Spine: Engage in somatic movement to signal safety and activity to your nervous system.Connect with Martin:Subscribe: Don't miss a daily session.Share the Calm: Send this episode to a friend or colleague who needs a morning boost.Disclaimer: This podcast provides guided meditation and tips for well-being. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Smith shares EEG-backed results showing how a 5-minute technique called quantum bracketing can resolve emotional trauma and create profound brain changes. #TraumaRelease #QuantumTools #EmotionalHealing

If you're curious as to whether you have any stored emotions or trauma that might be causing your illness, preventing you from achieving your goals, or even just showing up as the best, authentic version of yourself, I invite you to take my free Stored Emotions and Trauma QuizThe belief that you're not enough may be learned AND reversible.This episode explores how the belief of not being good enough is rooted in survival patterns and the brain's ability to adapt and reinforce what once ensured acceptance. Early attention tied to performance taught the subconscious mind to link success with worth. In modern life, this limiting belief holds people back. When questioned, the idea of “good enough” quickly collapses. Releasing it starts by recognizing it as untrue, then gently correcting it as it returns—supporting synaptic pruning, neurosculpting, and lasting emotional healing.You'll Learn:[00:00] Introduction [01:18] Why this belief often lives below awareness until it shows up emotionally[02:36] How survival wiring teaches the brain to equate worth with acceptance[04:12] What childhood attention and approval teach the nervous system about safety[05:58] Why the brain keeps reinforcing this pattern long after survival is secured[07:14] How questioning “being good enough” exposes how fragile the concept really is[08:42] The mindset shift that supports synaptic pruning and belief rewiring[10:26] Why noticing and correcting the belief matters more than eliminating it[12:11] How this same process applies to other repeating limiting beliefsFind More From Dr. Stephanie Davis:Dr. Stephanie Davis | WebsiteQuantum Rx | InstagramQuantum Rx | Skool

Drs. Blake and Helman share personal motivation and patient cases where early-stage Alzheimer's symptoms were reversed with whole food, plant-based diets and caregiver support. #AlzheimersReversal #BrainHealth #PlantBasedHealing

Dr. Gabriel Cousens opens with how dancing, joyful relationships, and spiritual love improve flexibility, brain function, and life expectancy. #LongevitySecrets #JoyfulLiving #HolisticHealth

On this episode of Trending in Ed with Mike Palmer, unlock the secrets of the reading brain and the future of educational technology in this deep dive with Dr. Ola Ozernov-Palchik. A researcher at Boston University's Wheelock College of Education and Human Development and MIT's McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Dr. Ola sits at the cutting edge of cognitive neuroscience and the science of reading.

Join Michael Rearden in a transformative conversation with Dr. Laurette Willis, Cognitive Behavioral Therapist and Christian Weight Loss Coach, as she shares her insights on renewing the mind and transforming your life. Dr. Willis explains how self-talk, faith, and daily choices shape results, emphasizing that true joy comes from serving others and not from comparison or external circumstances.Through practical techniques drawn from neuroplasticity, journaling, and Scripture-based coaching, Dr. Willis guides women in overcoming emotional eating, negative thought patterns, and limiting beliefs. She also shares how her personal journey—including faith, past mistakes, and coaching experience serves as a platform to help others live healthy, fit, and free lives.What You'll Learn in This Episode-How to drop excess weight without dieting or deprivation-Why true joy comes from serving others, not just seeking happiness-How neuroplasticity allows you to rewire your thought patterns-Observing and managing your thoughts for better results-The power of self-talk in shaping beliefs and actions-How childhood experiences influence coping mechanisms-Journaling as a tool for self-reflection and transformation-Why simplicity often leads to the most effective solutions-How finding inner peace supports lasting joy-Daily choices that shape your path to freedom and successKey Takeaways✅ Empower women to drop excess weight without dieting✅ True joy comes from serving others, not just external happiness✅ Neuroplasticity enables thought pattern transformation✅ Observing thoughts helps manage beliefs and actions✅ Self-talk significantly influences results and behavior✅ Coping mechanisms often stem from childhood experiences✅ Journaling is a powerful tool for reflection✅ Simplicity leads to effective, sustainable solutions✅ Inner peace is key to discovering joy✅ Sharing your journey can help others thrive✅ Past mistakes can be platforms for success✅ Comparison is misleading; focus on your own journey✅ Surrendering to faith creates transformation✅ Emotional eating can be addressed through positive affirmations✅ Daily choices and mindset shape long-term successGuest Links — Dr. Laurette WillisWebsite: https://drlaurette.net/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauretteWillis/X (Twitter): https://x.com/Fit4ChristYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@praisemovesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurette/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurette/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlauretteBonus: http://ChristianWeightLossKit.comExplore More with Michael ReardenWebsite: https://revenconcepts.com/Podcast: https://coachinginsession.buzzsprout.coSend us a MessageSupport the showWebsite: www.Revenconcepts.comEmail: Coachinginsession@gmail.com Youtube: @Revenconcepts Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with others who would benefit from it!

SummaryIn this episode of the OPD podcast, Joe and Austin dive into a range of topics centered around stress & functional health. This leads to a broader conversation about the autonomic nervous system and its connection to functional health, where they explore how mindset and emotional states can impact physical well-being. Joe shares insights from his experiences at a meditation retreat, emphasizing the importance of regulation and the challenges of managing stress and anxiety in today's fast-paced world.As the conversation progresses, Joe and Austin delve into the concept of neuroplasticity, discussing how our brains adapt to stress and the importance of acceptance in the healing process. They highlight the paradox of seeking to fix symptoms while inadvertently reinforcing them through anxiety and fear. The duo also touches on the significance of mindfulness practices, such as meditation and being present in daily activities, as tools for fostering resilience and emotional regulation. The episode concludes with practical advice for listeners on how to cultivate awareness and acceptance in their lives, ultimately leading to a healthier relationship with their bodies and minds.Takeaways"The poison is in the dose.""You can't fix everything, nor should you try to.""Thinking about something doesn't make it work better.""What you resist persists.""Surrendering to discomfort is key for neuroplasticity.""Mindfulness is about being with whatever is.""Acceptance is the foundation of healing.""Every time you resist a thought, you rewire your brain.""Stress can manifest in many ways, but it often stems from the same root.""Neuroplasticity takes time and patience."Chapters00:00 Introduction and Illness Reflections02:29 Exploring the Autonomic Nervous System05:52 The Role of Mindset in Health11:20 Contemplation and Identity Crises in Bodybuilding16:04 The Stress Cycle and Health Anxiety21:28 Neuroplasticity and Acceptance in Healing30:33 The Journey to Autonomy in Bodybuilding38:55 Evolving Needs and Personal Growth40:50 Neurological Resilience and Discomfort44:27 Mindfulness and Observing Thoughts49:10 Surrendering to the Present Moment53:34 Meditation as a Tool for Awareness01:01:05 Intentional Delayed Gratification and Neuroplasticity

What does abracadabra mean? You've heard magicians in tuxedos say it, as well as children with magic wands. Maybe even in a Disney movie! It feels magical even if you've never stopped to ask why. It's playful, mysterious, and seems to appear at the exact moment something changes. Today, I'm not talking about stage tricks or fairy tales. This is an invitation to reclaim the magic in words. Abracadabra was meant to heal and to shift energy, and offers a powerful doorway back to something ancient and surprisingly scientific. If you've ever felt stuck in the same mental loop, repeating the same old stories about yourself no matter how much inner work you've done, this is for you. The Magical Power of Your Words The words you speak shape your brain, your nervous system, and the life you quietly create every day. This is actually ancient and ties to the secret history of abracadabra. If you could travel back to the Roman Empire in the second century and told someone you were sick, they might prescribe something unexpected: Abracadabra – a word-based or spoken medicine. That’s when the earliest written record of abracadabra appears in a Roman medical text called Liber Medicinalis, written by a physician named Quintus Serenus Sammonicus. His instructions were precise. Write the word ABRACADABRA on parchment or metal. Then write it again below, removing the last letter. Continue line by line until only the letter “A” remains. The finished inverted triangle would be worn on a string around the neck, and was suggested for someone suffering from a fever. As the word diminished, letter by letter, the illness was believed to fade out too. Images of reconstructed abracadabra amulets still exist today and are physical evidence that words were once understood as active forces, rather than passive communication. What Does Abracadabra Mean? There isn't one agreed upon translation, which is common with magical words. Many scholars trace it to Aramaic, a language closely related to ancient Hebrew, with meanings along the lines of “I create as I speak” or “it will be created in my words.” Others interpret the word as “let the thing be destroyed,” which fits the idea of illness shrinking away. There are also connections to Hebrew blessing traditions and to a Gnostic figure named Abraxas. You don't need a perfect translation to grasp the shared belief underneath the theories. Saying something with intention, was believed to create change. Words shaped reality. A Form of Protection Between the third and seventh centuries, abracadabra also became a form of protection against misfortune and unseen forces. It was spoken, worn, and traced as a spiritual shield. Breath and sound were the tools. So when a magician says “abracadabra” before a big reveal, they're unknowingly echoing an ancient understanding. The moment you speak is the moment something shifts. Words are spells, in the past and still today. Ancient cultures all over the world shared this concept. Mesopotamian incantations were used to drive out illness. Egyptian healers combined herbs with spoken formulas. Biblical traditions delivered blessings and curses through speech. To the ancient mind, words were a force. Name something and you gained power over it. Speak a blessing and you invited it closer. Today witches may talk of spells but the vast majority of the population doesn’t go there. However, it does show up and is acceptable when discussing neuroscience, psychology, and neural pathways. The actual mechanism is quite similar. See, the stories you repeat to yourself like, “I always mess things up,” “nothing ever works out,” or “I'm too old,” act like incantations. The charm is created through your own voice, and the impact is on your nervous system. Unfortunately, this type of mantra spoken unconsciously and without intentional crafting, can backfire, and could even prevent growth or improvement. After more than twenty years working with intuition and mindset, I've seen this pattern again and again. Change often doesn't happen until awareness and usage of the language changes. The Neuroscience of Self-Talk Modern psychology has studied self-talk extensively. Self-talk includes the running commentary in your head and the sentences you speak about yourself and your life. Supportive, positive self-talk is consistently linked to lower anxiety, better coping skills, and greater resilience. Harsh, critical self-talk is linked to higher stress, increased worry, and decreased performance. On a brain level, negative language activates threat centers like the amygdala, while balanced, compassionate self-talk engages the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for regulation and problem-solving. A fascinating 2024 study from the NIH explored what happens when people hear affirming statements spoken in their own voice. Turns out hearing your own voice activates brain regions tied to identity and personal meaning more strongly than listening to someone else's voice. This helps explain why a single kind sentence you say to yourself can calm your body, while a harsh one can feel crushing. When you speak to yourself, your brain treats it as deeply personal. Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change with experience. Every thought or phrase you repeat creates a pathway. Repeat it often enough and that pathway becomes easier to access. Negative Inner Dialogue If your inner dialogue constantly says, “I'm stuck” or “nothing changes,” you're reinforcing that route. When you begin practicing language like, “I'm learning” or “I'm allowed to begin again,” you start forging new trails. At first this might feel uncomfortable, but over time, the brain learns to favor them. In other words, the magic words you repeat most often becomes your reality. That's everyday abracadabra isn't it? Language affects your inner world and shapes how you perceive and interact with others. The brain loves consistency. It filters information to match the story you tell yourself or others. That's how a belief becomes self-fulfilling, not because the universe is against you, but because your nervous system wants coherence. I'm not suggesting any kind of by passing, ignoring reality, or your feelings. However, you can acknowledge reality and still choose language that leaves room for growth. Examples include: “This is hard and I'm learning how to handle it.” “This hurts and I'm allowed to receive support.” “This didn't go how I wanted and I'm still worthy of good things.” A Powerful Use of Words These thoughts or phrasses are still like “abracadabra” because they are a powerful use of words. Ancient healers didn't deny pain or discomfort. They combined practical care with ritual and language and you can do the same. Abracadabra, in its most empowering interpretation, means “I create as I speak.” Every time you describe who you are or want to become, your brain responds and so does the Universe. Possibilities open or close based on the language you choose. Listen to the podcast for the visualization I created to leverage Abracadabra and this idea of diminishing letter by letter to change a situation which updates your inner operating system. As you move through your day, notice how you talk about yourself. You don't need to monitor every word. Just become curious about the ones that feel heavy or limiting. Then, gently replace them with language that aligns with the life you want to create. This is modern magic, neuroplasticity, and a daily practice, all in one exercise . Abracadabra and there you go! Listen to the podcast today at the top of this page or any audio podcast platform. The post Abracadabra: Words You Speak Have the Power to Change Everything appeared first on Intuitive Edge.

Chronic pain affects millions of people, yet many are told their tests are normal and their symptoms cannot be explained.On this episode of Groove with Portia, I sit down with Dr. David Clarke, president of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms, to explore what happens when pain is generated by the brain rather than structural injury.Dr. Clarke shares his personal and professional journey into neuroplastic medicine, including the moment that changed his career when he discovered that a patient's severe gastrointestinal symptoms were rooted in unresolved trauma. We talk about how stress, anxiety, depression, and adverse childhood experiences can manifest as very real physical pain, even when scans and lab work appear normal.We explore how neuroplastic symptoms show up in the body, why so many patients feel dismissed or misunderstood, and how validating someone's experience is often the first step toward healing. Dr. Clarke explains his framework for identifying neuroplastic pain, the importance of looking beyond symptoms, and how emotional patterns can quietly drive chronic illness.This episode also dives into groundbreaking research on neuroplastic recovery therapy, including long term studies showing significant and lasting pain reduction. We discuss why this work is gaining attention from healthcare systems, insurers, and medical schools, and why hope matters for people who have been told they must simply live with pain.If you are navigating chronic pain, unexplained illness, grief stored in the body, or the emotional weight of not being believed, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a new lens for understanding healing.Connect with Dr. Clarke: https://www.symptomatic.me/

Are you struggling to connect with your child—even though you love them deeply and are trying your best?Have you ever wondered why behavior issues, emotional distance, or constant conflict keep showing up in your family—no matter how hard you work at parenting?In this powerful episode, we break down a truth that changes everything: good parenting ultimately comes down to strong attachment and connection with your children.Whether you're parenting toddlers, teens, or somewhere in between, every behavior—tantrums, rebellion, withdrawal, anxiety, defiance—points back to attachment. And the good news? Attachment can always be rebuilt.We dive deep into why early attachment matters, how patterns formed in infancy can carry into the teen years and adulthood, and—most importantly—what you can do now to repair broken bonds, rebuild trust, and create lasting connection with your child.This episode is both hope-filled and practical, showing parents exactly how small, intentional changes—like presence, co-regulation, physical affection, and emotional attunement—can completely transform family dynamics.If you've ever felt discouraged, blamed yourself, or wondered if it's “too late,” this conversation will give you clarity, direction, and confidence moving forward.Family work is the most important work—and success is in the details.Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQxLUerQ1z0

Chris Anderson was inspired by the growth of TED once they expanded from being simply a conference company to adding the concept of offering their talks free to the world over the internet.   He's now calling on us all to "reclaim the internet" and use it as a force for spreading less hate and division and more kindness and generosity.  His new book, Infectious Generosity, lays out clearly the reasons why generosity is good for the world — as well as for us as individuals — then details a plan by which this movement can spread virally.  Chris's views on these subjects are aligned perfectly with the work of The Optimism institute and he shares them with great enthusiasm in this uplifting and inspiring episode of Blue Sky.    Chapters:  00:00 Welcome Chris Anderson to Blue Sky  Bill Burke welcomes Chris Anderson, head of TED, to the Blue Sky Podcast. Chris discusses his new book, "Infectious Generosity," and his mission to use the internet as a force for good, combating online division.  02:14 TED's Impact and TEDx's Success  Chris shares how TED made its videos freely available online, which surprisingly enhanced the conference rather than hurting it. He explains the success of TEDx, a free licensing model that enabled 65,000 volunteers to create events globally, generating billions of views.  06:00 The Internet's Downfall and Human Nature  Chris discusses how the internet, especially social media, went astray, preying on our 'lizard brains' and promoting outrage.   11:47 Generosity and Happiness  Chris explains the deep connection between generosity and happiness, citing a Chinese proverb that highlights helping others as a path to lifelong joy. He emphasizes that while the internet can be negative, it also offers a powerful tool for spreading positive change.  15:57 Reclaiming the Internet: Tactics  Chris discusses tactics for reclaiming the internet, focusing on making 'good stuff' go viral by evoking authentic human emotion. He uses the example of 'The Kindness Pandemic' Facebook group and highlights the need for creativity and courage to break through online negativity.  21:09 Our Role in Shaping Social Media  Chris emphasizes that users are not helpless in shaping their social media experience, stressing the importance of conscious choices in who to follow and what content to engage with.   27:47 The Uniqueness of Our Time and Generosity Strategy  Chris highlights the unique historical moment that allows for widespread generosity due to frictionless digital sharing and its reputation-building power.   33:06 Embracing Imperfect Generosity and Gratitude Chris encourages letting go of the idea of 'perfect generosity,' urging celebration of all motivations behind giving, even those with mixed intentions.   39:25 Podcast Recommendation and Host Reflections  Bill Burke recommends 'Two Lives,' a character-driven narrative podcast about overcoming darkness, which has received several awards.  42:21 Neuroplasticity, Optimism, and AI for Good  Chris discusses neuroplasticity and how our narratives shape us, emphasizing that kindness, like a muscle, grows with exercise. He introduces the Infectious Generosity Guru (TIG), an AI tool designed to help individuals brainstorm ways to spread generosity online.  49:15 A Vision for a Better Future  Chris outlines his continued work with TED, focusing on the Audacious Project to collaboratively fund large-scale change initiatives. He emphasizes that optimism is a stance—a determined effort to find and illuminate pathways to a better future, urging collective action to reclaim the internet and inspire change. 

What if your chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or overwhelming perimenopause symptoms aren't just hormonal, but neurological? I'm Dr. Betty Murray, and in this groundbreaking episode, I sit down with Ashok Gupta, founder of the Gupta Program and pioneer in neuroplasticity-based brain retraining for chronic illness. Ashok's personal journey from debilitating chronic fatigue syndrome at Cambridge University to complete recovery led him to develop a program that has now been validated in seven clinical studies and helps thousands of people worldwide rewire their nervous systems to heal. You'll Discover: ●Why 85% of chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and mast cell activation cases occur in women aged 35-60, and how perimenopause creates a "drought in the kingdom" that sensitizes the nervous system ●How your immune system and nervous system become traumatized after fighting off threats and keep firing weapons of war even after the battle is over, causing widespread inflammation ●Why survival is the number one priority of your brain, and how it would rather trigger your immune and nervous systems wildly to protect you than bring you back to balance ●How neuroplasticity works through repetition and intensity to rewire the brain, just like learning to drive a car transforms from conscious effort to automatic behavior ●Why estrogen loss in perimenopause builds more brain receptors (not less), affects the cannabinoid system and mitochondrial function in the prefrontal cortex, making the nervous system hypersensitive to fluctuations ●The neuroimmune conditioned syndrome framework covering symptoms like poor sleep, pain, fatigue, swollen glands, temperature fluctuations, post-exertional malaise, and cognitive dysfunction across multiple mysterious illnesses ●How the Gupta Program was four times more effective than sleep advice, diet, supplements, and activity recommendations for long COVID fatigue in independent studies ●Why modern medicine treats hardware problems (broken bones) well but fails at software problems (nervous system dysregulation) that account for 50% of doctor visits PLUS, we talk about the first-ever clinical study on perimenopause and menopause using the Gupta Program, and you can participate! This episode is for women experiencing chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, long COVID, anxiety, or overwhelming perimenopause symptoms that medications haven't helped. If you're tired of being told "it's just stress" or "it's all in your head," this conversation will change everything.  Watch now and discover how retraining your brain can heal your body, and how you can participate in groundbreaking research. Connect with Ashok Gupta:  Website: https://www.GuptaProgram.com/ Gupta Program App (free downloads available on App Store and Play Store) Connect with Dr. Betty Murray:  Betty Murray Website: https://www.bettymurray.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbettymurray/ Links:  The Fierce Female Method for Longevity (Dr. Betty's book): https://fierce.hormoneshelp.com/ Menrva Telemedicine: https://gethormonesnow.com/ FREE Hormone Quiz: https://bit.ly/3wNJOec Living Well Dallas: https://www.livingwelldallas.com/ Hormone Reset: https://hormonereset.net/ More from the Podcast:  Subscribe to #MenopauseMastery → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwONPdSvb2-YYY74VhD-XBw   Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/menopause-mastery/id1607369247   Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/0tNsjm32CZNXSgSFEwS3uH   Thank you for listening to Menopause Mastery. Empowering your health journey, one episode at a time.  

Moheb Costandi is a neuroscientist turned science writer who spends his life exploring one of the biggest mysteries we all live inside - the human brain. He's written for Nature, Science, New Scientist, Scientific American (all a big deal in Academia) and The Guardian, and he's the author of books like Neuroplasticity, '50 Human Brain Ideas You Really Need to Know' and 'Body Am I’, which look at how the brain builds our sense of self, identity, and reality. Moheb has a gift for taking complex neuroscience and turning it into stories that actually make sense - stories about why we feel the way we do, why change is so hard, and how our brains quietly shape our entire experience of being human. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this heart-expanding episode, Dr. Warren shows us how modern neuroscience is finally catching up to what Scripture has told us all along: that our minds can be renewed, reshaped, and transformed from the inside out. Drawing from decades in the operating room and a lifetime of faith, he breaks down the beautiful reality of “mind-down control”—the God-given ability your mind has to influence the physical structure of your brain. And he does it in a way that makes even the most complex science feel accessible, empowering, and deeply hopeful. Whether you’ve battled anxiety, negative self-talk, shame, or long-standing thought patterns that seem impossible to break, this episode shows you why your story is not fixed… and why change is not only possible, but promised. This is the science of neuroplasticity. This is the truth of Romans 12:2. And this is your invitation to experience healing in a completely new way. GUEST: Dr. Lee Warren // wleewarrenmd.com // @drleewarrenDr. Warren's Podcast: https://wleewarrenmd.com/podcast/Pre-Order Dr. Warren's New Book: DrLeeWarren.com/preorder HOST: Leanne Ellington // StresslessEating.com // @leanneellington To learn more about Leanne, head over to www.LeanneEllington.com, and to share your thoughts, questions, feedback, or guest suggestions instantly, head on over to www.WhatsGodGotToDoWithIt.com.Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanneellington/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textMost people assume brain aging is something you deal with later. Or worse, something you can't change at all.Christin Glorioso has spent her career proving that assumption wrong. With MD PhD training, a neuroscience postdoc at MIT, and her work as the founder and CEO of NeuroAge, she studies how the brain ages and how much of that process is actually within our control. The work became personal when she uncovered a genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease and saw the same diagnosis move through her family.Dr. Kevin White sits down with Christin to explore what happens when brain health stops being abstract and becomes something you can measure. They talk through how brain aging often starts much earlier than people realize, why waiting for symptoms is a losing strategy, and how factors like sleep disruption, rising blood pressure, lipid changes, and fitness quietly shape cognitive health years before memory problems appear.In this episode, you'll hear how Christin tested her own brain age, made targeted lifestyle and medical changes, and saw measurable improvements including increased hippocampal volume. They also unpack why genetics are not destiny, how prevention works when it starts early enough, and why clarity can be more empowering than reassurance.“Thinking you're destined for cognitive decline is one of the biggest myths in medicine.”                                                            Christin GloriosoIf you've ever wondered when you should start paying attention to brain health, or assumed cognitive decline was inevitable, this conversation offers a grounded and hopeful reframe rooted in data, agency, and practical action.Learn more about NeuroAge testing at neuroagetx.com, join the app waitlist at waitlist.neuroagetx.com, and follow Christin on Instagram at @neuroage_therapeutics.If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Daily Apple and leave a review. It helps more people find the show. Learn more at www.primehealthassociates.com and follow Dr. Kevin White on Instagram and YouTube at @KevinWhiteMD. Prime Health Associates

Anxiety is the most common mental health challenge in the world, affecting over 300 million people globally.In this episode of the Kwik Brain podcast, I break down what anxiety actually does to your brain and how you can rewire those patterns using the principles of neuroplasticity.Your brain is not fixed.It's adaptable.And with the right practices, you can train it to respond differently to stress.In this episode, you will learn: ✅ What neuroplasticity really is and why it gives you hope ✅ How chronic stress and anxiety affect the amygdala, hippocampus, and immune system ✅ The famous London taxi driver study and what it proves about brain change ✅ How expressive writing helps process anxious thoughts and reduce rumination ✅ Why your self-talk programs your brain for either fear or resilience ✅ How meditation physically reshapes brain regions tied to emotional regulation ✅ How visualization rewires your stress response using mental imagery ✅ Why movement and exercise act like medicine for anxiety ✅ How BDNF works as “fertilizer” for your brain ✅ Simple, practical ways to reduce anxiety using daily habitsAnxiety may explain how your brain learned to survive.But it doesn't have to define your life.If you are ready to train your brain for calm, clarity, and confidence, this episode is for you./ / / Are you ready to take the next step on your brain optimization journey? / / /Choose your own adventure. Below are the best places to start:>>> Master Exceptional Memory Skills in 31 Days>>> Discover Your Unique KWIK BRAIN C.O.D.E To Activate Your GeniusTake your first step by choosing one of the options above, and you will find everything you need to ignite your brilliant brain and unlock your exceptional life, allowing you to achieve and surpass all of your personal and professional goals.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is a quiet, reflective departure from Jon's usual teaching format—part science, part story, part meditation on what parenting does to the human brain. Beginning with the migration of the Arctic tern, Jon explores how love quite literally rewires us, asking what happens when the self itself begins to migrate in service of another.Parents will walk away with a deeper understanding of neuroplasticity, caregiving, and identity—and a tender reassurance that feeling disoriented, changed, or unlike your former self isn't a failure of parenting, but evidence that love is doing its work. Send us a textCLICK HERE to Register or learn more about the 5 Brain Hacks that will CHANGE your LIFE Support the showLinks to help you and me: To support the Podcast, Subscribe on Substack Get Jon's Top Five Emotional Regulation Games Get Jon's Book Punishment-Free Parenting Preorder Jon's Children's Book Set My Feelings Free Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, Youtube

Joey Remenyi talks with Helen Dugdale, author of Put Insomnia to Sleep. They discuss how neuroplasticity works with healing insomnia, how to reconnect to the wisdom of the body and how our culture shapes us. Learn more about Joey here: https://www.seekingbalance.com.au/our-story/ Find Helen's book here: https://www.amazon.com.au/Put-Insomnia-Sleep-Retrain-amazing/dp/1922982482 – 3 WAYS TO GET STARTED ON YOUR HEALING JOURNEY:

In this deep dive, we break down the PR90 Speech System—a science-backed approach to transforming how you speak by rewiring your brain through neuroplasticity, daily habits, and real-world application. You'll learn why speaking confidence isn't a talent you're born with, but a skill you can train, how identity shapes your speech patterns, and how tools like 7-7-7 breathing, modeling, immersion, and proactive speaking replace fear with calm control. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & speaking identity 02:08 Neuroplasticity and habit change 07:31 The 3 mindset laws (belief, control, accumulation) 11:04 The daily blueprint & immersion 17:47 Affirmations, breathing, visualization 23:20 Managing self-talk (TRACK method) 30:02 Modeling & proactive speaking skills 37:45 Presenting with confidence 40:36 Final takeaway & reflection If you've ever struggled with anxiety, stuttering, or freezing under pressure, this video shows you a clear, step-by-step path to becoming a smooth, confident communicator—on purpose.

Are you ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about pain? What if those persistent aches and discomforts aren't actually coming from your body—but from your brain? And what if your brain could learn to turn down the volume on that pain? Jaw and TMJ specialist Dr. Joe Damiani joins us to explore neuroplasticity—your brain's incredible ability to change and adapt—and how it might help reduce pain. He discusses how our emotions can amplify pain and why the brain sometimes keeps sounding the pain alarm long after the body has healed. Plus, he walks us through neuroplasticity retraining exercises designed to calm your nervous system and quiet those ongoing pain signals. Intrigued? You won't want to miss this episode. Care Experts is a weekly podcast by CareCredit where we sit down with doctors and experts who give information, tips and insight into healthcare treatments and procedures. Check in every Wednesday for new episodes at carecredit.com/careexperts or follow on your favorite podcast app. CareCredit is a health, wellness and personal care credit card that has helped millions of people with promotional financing options and is accepted at hundreds of thousands of provider and retail locations nationwide. Learn more at carecredit.com.

In this episode, we explore how our thoughts directly influence our biology through stress chemistry, epigenetics, and neuroplasticity. Drawing on the work of Dr. Bruce Lipton, the conversation reframes illness as something we can influence through our mindset. You'll hear practical tools—like better questions, emotional anchor words, and healing visualizations—to shift from chronic stress into a state of safety, gratitude, and calm, so your thoughts send healing signals instead of stress signals to your body.   Key Points: Thoughts act as biochemical instructions to the body Illness is not only aging or genetics; mindset matters Negative thoughts trigger stress chemicals like real danger Neuroplasticity: repeated thoughts strengthen brain pathways Chronic worry and self-criticism lock in stress patterns Choosing optimism trains the brain to see what's good Replace "Why me?" with "What does my body need now?" Problem-solving questions calm the nervous system Pick a daily emotional anchor word (e.g., calm, safe) Anchor words help lower stress hormones Use vivid visualization of your body healing and flowing The brain responds to imagined events like real ones You always have a choice: stress signals or healing signals Connect with Anna: Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com Website: www.happywholeyou.com / https://linktr.ee/happywholeyou Personal Website: www.DrAnnaMarie.com Instagram: @happywholeyou Personal Instagram: @Dr.Anna.Marie Facebook: Happy Whole You LinkedIn: Anna Marie Frank Venmo: @happywholeyou

Midlife weight gain, burnout, and metabolic changes often get mislabeled as willpower issues. This episode challenges the oversimplified weight loss narrative and unpacks why many women feel blindsided by changes even when their habits stay solid.We dive deeper into this in the Broads episode with Dr. Tyna Moore. We also chat about why GLP-1 was never meant to be a vanity weight loss tool, why microdosing doesn't mean what most people think it means, and the real risks of frailty and why strength equals long-term freedom.Dr. Tyna Moore is a Licensed Naturopathic Physician and Chiropractor with over 30 years in the medical field, specializing in holistic regenerative and metabolic medicine. She earned her degrees from the National College of Natural Medicine and the University of Western States Chiropractic College. Dr. Tyna is also the host of The Dr. Tyna Show and an international speaker.What's Discussed:(08:48) How being “early” to the GLP-1 conversation led to backlash and burnout(10:49) How GLP-1 became misused and distorted by telemedicine and influencers(15:18) Why midlife weight gain isn't about willpower but a neurological shift(16:09) The idea of functional deficiency and why modern stress breaks signaling(19:15) How GLP-1 can increase motivation to move through brain plasticity(22:20) How GLP-1 can magnify existing hormonal deficiencies in women(24:11) Why movement is essential for gut health and metabolic signaling(28:01) Why microdosing is not a true weight loss strategy(35:44) Why strength training is non-negotiable for women in midlife(39:02) The real risks of frailty, hip fractures, and loss of independenceCheck out more from Broads:Website: www.broads.appInstagram: @broads.podcast @broads.appCheck out more from Tara LaFerrara:Website: www.taralaferrara.comInstagram: @taralaferraraYoutube: @TaraLaferraraTiktok: @taralaferraraCheck out more from Dr. Tyna, ND, DC:Website: www.drtyna.comInstagram: @drtynaYoutube: @drtyna

Now is the perfect time to start a refreshed daily supplement routine, or reinvent your current stack. This podcast episode pairs the most popular new years resolutions with supplements that can help you achieve them! Emiel and Erika discuss the products that they use for staying fit, calm under stress, and thinking creatively throughout the year. In addition, they cover supplement stacks that will support a multitude of health and cognition goals. Loose weightBerbeleanCyathermGain MuscleEurycomaxCistamaxCreatineDrink lessAlcohol Defense before drinkingSubstitutes: Relievex, Supercritical Coriander, Kava, Kanna, Magnolia Bark, Shoden, TauromagEat HealthierInfinigreens after a meal Saffron ALAThe Specialist GoalsImprove MoodSaffronBlack GingerKannaCistamaxCognanceImprove Relaxation:Ecklonia cavaSupercritical corianderLemon BalmBaikal SkullcapImprove Cognitive Function (memory, focus, motivation)OmegaTAUErinamaxSabroxy4 DMA 7,8 DHFCognanceMushroom Magic Matcha BallerEnhance Social CapabilitiesSaffronKannaIsoliquiritigeninTribugenEurycomaxSupercritical corianderImprove SleepTauromagSleep supportSupercritical corianderLucidimaxLucidisporeImprove LibidoBlack gingerTribugenEurycomaxIncrease Stress ResiliencePanamaxShodenImprove Immune FunctionImmune defenseImmuseLucidimaxFitness/Weight-loss focusedCistamax or Eurycomax: Mood, libido, strength Cyatherm: Mood, libido, weightloss, blood flow, cognitive functionSaffron: Mood, focus, appetite reductionInfinigreens: Appetite reduction, micronutrients and blood flowCognition FocusedOmegaTAU: Memory, focus, moodCognance: Memory, divergent thinking, moodPolygala tenuifolia: Neuroplasticity, focus, motivation and moodErinamax: Memory, focus and moodBecoming Calmer Under StressPanamax: Relaxation, stress, mood, cognitive functionShoden: Relaxation, stress, mood, fitnessRhodiola Rosea 3% salidroside: Energy, stress, cognitive function, fitnessInfini-B: Energy without jitters Building a Social moodBlack ginger: Mood, libido, blood flow, confidenceSaffron: Enhanced mood and focusCognance: Enhanced mood and focusIsoliquiritigenin: Relaxation, mood

Post-traumatic growth gets talked about like a mindset shift, but real change often starts somewhere else: the nervous system. In this episode, we explore why being around happy people can feel threatening, why "find the silver lining" pressure can lead to bypassing, and why growth is not the same as rushing to meaning. We also unpack the other trap: getting stuck in a healing loop that keeps re-entering the pain without creating new patterns. If you have ever felt ashamed for not "moving on" fast enough, this conversation offers a different map. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof (founder of BrainBased.com) and Jennifer Wallace (Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide) are joined by Matt Bush (Next Level Neuro, lead educator at NSI). Together, they break down what post-traumatic growth is (and is not), why connection and co-regulation are essential to healing, and how safety, repetition, and nervous system capacity create the conditions for authentic transformation. Timestamps: 00:00 Why "silver lining" pressure can trigger bypassing, and why happy environments can feel unsafe 06:30 What post-traumatic growth is (and what it is not), including the "toxic positivity" trap 14:30 Why trauma isolates, and why relational healing and co-regulation matter for recovery 23:30 Social bonding as a survival strategy: oxytocin, group rhythms, and threat reduction 34:30 Discernment in community: how to titrate connection and track nervous system outputs 45:00 Neuroplasticity and integration: why insight alone rarely rewires survival patterns 56:00 Practical integration for practitioners: frameworks, tools, and daily repetition for change   Key Takeaways: Post-traumatic growth is not about forcing gratitude or meaning. It often emerges after safety and capacity return to the body. Trauma can make connection feel dangerous, even when connection is what the nervous system needs to heal. "Good advice" can still be harmful when it is delivered before the nervous system is ready, especially around forgiveness and resilience. Healing can get stuck in two loops: performative "I am fine" masking, or compulsive re-processing that repeats intensity without building new patterns. Tracking outputs (sleep, digestion, pain, mood stability, compulsions) can reveal whether a practice is supporting regulation or creating more dysregulation. Resources Mentioned: RewireTrial.com: Free two-week access to live neurosomatic intelligence classes and an on-demand library of nervous system practices BrainBased.com: Elisabeth's online community for applied neurology and somatic tools for behavior change, resilience, and stress processing NSI Certification: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification/ Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence. FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired Wayfinder Journal: Track nervous system patterns and support preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence.   Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube!

Start your year grounded, clear, and on purpose. In this short monthly meditation, I guide you to meet your December 31, 2026 self, anchor into neuroplasticity through repetition, and use one life-changing question to set the tone for your month. Listen 3–7x/week for best results. What you'll get: A calm reset to release last year's weight Future-self visualization (Dec 31, 2026) The "time & money" clarity question Simple mantras to rewire your identity A 5-minute journaling prompt that unlocks goals Try this next: Do this meditation daily for one week. Journal: If I had all the time & money, what would I create this year? Screenshot your notes + tag me @moirakucaba so I can cheer you on. Keywords: monthly meditation, visualization, neuroplasticity, new year reset, 2026 goals, morning routine, manifestation, identity shifts, journal prompts, goal setting.   Subscribe To My Newsletter: https://moirakfitness.activehosted.com/f/28 Join My FREE High Vibe Life Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/811935653862055 Learn more about MAKE Wellness:  https://meet.makewellness.com/?referral=74249EEEC5 FREE Habit Tracker https://bit.ly/HighVibeHabitTracker Rise up planner + Book Of Proof Journal https://bit.ly/moirakucababooks  Rise Up Course https://bit.ly/moirariseupcourse Follow Me On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moirakucaba/?hl=en Watch On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@moirakucaba5802  

In this episode, Dr. Tony Ebel addresses a question that deeply concerns seizure parents: why seizures often increase during developmental leaps. Drawing from both clinical experience and his personal journey as a father, he explains how these temporary upticks can be part of neurological growth and healing, not necessarily regression. Dr. Tony breaks down the neuroscience behind neuroplasticity, increased metabolic demand, and why the nervous system can look more unstable before reorganizing more effectively. He also shares clear guidance on how to support your child during these phases, how to tell the difference between healing progress and true setbacks, and when additional medical support is needed.-----Links & ResourcesListen to the deep dive seizures episode here.Get access to our free guide to improve your child's sleep here.-----Key Topics Covered:3:00 Dr. Tony's personal story and his son's seizure journey6:00 Reframing the challenge and when an uptick may signal healing11:00 The neuroscience of neuroplasticity and temporary instability14:00 Why vulnerable nervous systems struggle more during developmental leaps17:00 Three key signs to distinguish healing progression from true regression22:00 How parents can support their child through regulation, sleep, and metabolic needs26:00 Metabolic demand and the immune system connection30:00 The vagus nerve's role in neurological stability32:00 Understanding regression as part of progression in healing36:00 Practical recap and warning signs that require medical review40:00 Closing encouragement and how to submit future questions-- Follow us on Socials: Instagram: @pxdocs Facebook: Dr. Tony Ebel & The PX Docs Network Youtube: The PX Docs For more information, visit PXDocs.com to read informative articles about the power of Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care. Find a PX Doc Office near me: PX DOCS DirectoryTo watch Dr. Tony's 30 min Perfect Storm Webinar: Click Here

SWM — Sex as Worship: Pornography, Erotica and AI Companions. Check out the blog post here for more details and links. Pornography and erotica have become ubiquitous and socially normalized, and AI “companions” are increasingly marketed as hyper-sexual substitutes. These offer the appeal of intimacy without risk—no rejection, responsibility or vulnerability—yet they train desire away from real people and covenant relationships. God designed intimacy for embodied, vulnerable union within marriage (Genesis 2:24–25; “to know” as in Genesis 4:1). In the “Sex as Worship” framework, aligning with God's design is worship; deviations declare that we know better. Scripture shows God's insistence on real relationships, not images or illusions (Exodus 20:4–6). Marriage pictures Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:31–32), and the incarnation underscores embodied presence (John 1:14). Substitutes like porn, erotica and AI reject that design (Romans 1:25). Practically, these fantasies retrain desire through novelty-driven dopamine, dulling normal arousal and escalating content. They reduce relationship satisfaction, weaken empathy, and increase objectification by orienting desire around control, not mutual love. They soothe loneliness without healing it, and intensify conflict avoidance—eroding skills vital to intimacy. Common rationalizations fall short: “It's better than cheating,” “It's just a character,” “It helps me cope,” “My spouse doesn't meet my needs,” “Everyone does it,” “You're sex-negative,” or “I can separate fantasy from reality.” In reality, formation happens; what captures your brain shapes your life. Relief isn't healing, and avoidance entrenches wounds. If you've been using these, stop and seek accountability. Share with your spouse if possible, involve a pastor/elder or coach, and retrain desire toward your spouse. Neuroplasticity means change is possible; meditate on what is true, noble, pure and lovely (Philippians 4:8). Healing aims at presence, covenant, and embodied love. You were made for more than illusion. Fantasy promises intimacy without pain; only reality delivers intimacy with meaning. God's design is harder and riskier—but far more satisfying. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter If you'd like to discuss the questions as they come in, consider joining our private forum. Thank you to all our faithful supporters! If you like that there are no ads in our podcast and want to keep it that way, check out our support page for more info. Even $5/month makes a difference. Lastly, if you like our podcast, please rate it as it helps others know this is a good resource to help with their marriage. You managed to find us—help someone else do the same and receive the same benefits to their relationship.

In this deeply moving episode of The Addicted Mind, host Duane Osterlind sits down with Burton Fischler, author of The Gift: Trauma to Triumph. Burton shares a harrowing personal journey marked by unimaginable loss—the murder of his wife, Barbara, at the hands of her son who struggled with severe mental illness and addiction.Burton discusses how he navigated the dark abyss of PTSD and grief, eventually finding a path toward healing through writing, nature, and service. Now a substance addiction counselor, Burton explains the intersection of trauma and addiction and offers a message of profound hope for anyone feeling lost in the darkness.Key HighlightsA Tragic Turning Point: Burton recounts the heartbreaking events leading up to his wife's death and the systemic failures that preceded the tragedy.The Weight of Trauma: Moving beyond "talk therapy" to understand how trauma lives in the body and the reality of living with PTSD.The Power of Writing: How documenting his journey for eight hours a day became a lifeline and a tool for self-discovery.Gratitude vs. Joy: The shift from waiting for joy to practicing gratitude as a foundational step toward recovery.Neuroplasticity and Choice: Understanding that while we cannot "think" our way into right action, we can act our way into right thinking by rewiring the brain through healthy habits.The Wisdom of Trauma: Why Burton chose to become a substance abuse counselor and how his own pain allows him to connect deeply with his clients.During the conversation, Burton emphasizes the importance of replacing negative feedback loops with positive ones. This process leverages the brain's natural ability to change.Breaking Isolation: Moving from secrecy and shame to human connection.Nature and Awe: Finding symbols of resilience in the natural world (like a flower growing through concrete).Holistic Practice: Incorporating meditation, nutrition, and movement to support the "rewiring" of the mind.Notable Quotes"It is not joyfulness that makes us grateful. It's gratitude that makes us joyful." — Burton Fischler (referencing Brother David Steindl-Rast)"If children after they fell did not get up and try again, we would have a world of people on their knees." — Burton Fischler"There are two ways to look at life: one is that nothing is a miracle, and the other is that everything is." — Burton Fischler (referencing Albert Einstein)Resources MentionedBook: The Gift: Trauma to Triumph by Burton FischlerPoetry: T.S. EliotReferences: Viktor Frankl (Man's Search for Meaning), Gabor Maté, and Bill Wilson (AA).Connect with Burton FischlerWebsite: traumatotriumph.clubCoaching: coachburton.comSocial Media: Follow @BurtonFischler on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery CenterNovusMindfulLife.comWe want to hear from you. Leave us a message or ask us a question: https://www.speakpipe.com/addictedmindDisclaimerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You can have the most mind-blowing healing experience of your life and still find yourself right back in familiar patterns. Why? Because the nervous system defaults to what it knows. In this episode of Trauma Rewired, we explore why insight alone does not create lasting change and why the most intense healing experiences do not start in the mind, they start in the body. Co-hosts Elisabeth Kristof, founder of BrainBased.com and the Neurosomatic Intelligence Coaching Certification, and Jennifer Wallace, Neurosomatic Psychedelic Preparation and Integration Guide, unpack peak somatic experiences through a trauma-informed lens. Together, they examine how experiences like breathwork, somatic practices, and psychedelics interact with neuroplasticity, interoception, and complex trauma. They also name an often-missing piece of the conversation: these experiences are not inherently healing without preparation, capacity, and integration. This episode offers a grounded, nuanced discussion of why peak somatic experiences can be both transformative and destabilizing, especially for nervous systems shaped by chronic stress, dissociation, or developmental trauma. Rather than promoting quick fixes or heroic doses, Elisabeth and Jennifer emphasize nervous system safety, minimum effective dose, and relational support as essential ingredients for real, embodied change.   Timestamps: 00:00 – Why insight alone does not create change 05:40 – What peak somatic experiences are and are not 14:20 – Neuroplasticity, psychedelics, and the default mode network 28:10 – Somatic memory, dissociation, and complex trauma 44:30 – Why preparation and integration matter more than the experience itself 58:45 – Risks, discernment, and trauma-informed support 1:12:30 – Capacity building and minimum effective dose 1:24:00 – Integration, regulation, and long-term nervous system change Key Takeaways: Peak somatic experiences amplify existing nervous system patterns rather than replacing them. Neuroplasticity is neutral and requires direction, support, and integration. Somatic memory often surfaces without narrative recall, especially in complex trauma. Preparation and capacity determine whether an experience is healing or destabilizing. Lasting change happens through consistent, embodied integration, not one-time breakthroughs. Resources Mentioned: RewireTrial.com: Free two-week access to live neurosomatic intelligence classes and an on-demand library of nervous system practices BrainBased.com: Elisabeth's online community for applied neurology and somatic tools for behavior change, resilience, and stress processing Sacred Synapse: an educational YouTube channel founded by Jennifer Wallace that explores nervous system regulation, applied neuroscience, consciousness, and psychedelic preparation and integration through Neurosomatic Intelligence. Wayfinder Journal :  helps you see the patterns shaping your inner world — and guides you through preparation, integration, and nervous system regulation using Neurosomatic Intelligence principles. → Find your way inward. https://stan.store/illuminated   NSI Certification: https://neurosomaticintelligence.com/nsi-certification/ Call to Action: Subscribe on your favorite audio platform or join us on YouTube!

In this solo episode of The SuperLife Podcast, Darin Olien dives deep into the true biology of energy—not motivation, not stimulants, not willpower, but the mitochondria themselves. Inspired by a groundbreaking conversation between Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Martin Picard, Darin reframes energy as an emergent property of how we live, not just what we eat or how much we sleep. This episode explores how mitochondria act as signal translators, listening to your food, stress, sleep, movement, emotions, purpose, and environment—and turning those signals into either vitality or depletion. Darin connects cutting-edge mitochondrial science with real-world practices around recovery, meaningful stress, consistency, connection, and alignment, showing how true longevity and resilience are built at the cellular level.     What You'll Learn in This Episode 00:00  – Welcome to SuperLife & the mission of sovereignty and vitality 00:32 – Thera Sage sponsor: family-built healing tech & red light 02:10 – Why this episode is different: diving into cellular energy 02:42 – Inspiration from Huberman & Picard's mitochondria conversation 03:11 – Rethinking mitochondria: not just ATP, but information processors 04:03 – Energy as potential for change, not calories or fuel 04:39 – How thoughts, emotions, food, and stress shape energy 05:05 – Energy is dynamic, adaptive, and responsive to how you live 06:02 – Mitochondria as signal integrators: sleep, hormones, purpose, connection 06:50 – Mitochondria as antennas, not factories 07:16 – Translating life experience into biological energy 08:09 – Why we don't feel "energy," we feel energy flow 08:53 – Flow states, purpose, and why passion creates vitality 09:32 – Different organs, different mitochondrial roles 10:26 – Why energy optimization is not one-size-fits-all 10:49 – Energy resistance: the hidden cause of fatigue and burnout 11:47 – Chronic stress, poor sleep, and ultra-processed food as energy blockers 12:12 – Why recovery is non-negotiable for longevity 12:20 – Caldera Lab sponsor: clean, performance-driven skincare 14:20 – The danger of constant output without recovery 14:45 – Sleep as a mitochondrial reset and repair system 15:40 – Exercise, adaptation, and why recovery completes the signal 16:22 – Intentional stress vs. chronic stress 17:29 – Food as information, not just fuel 18:05 – Time-restricted eating, fresh food, and metabolic signaling 18:27 – Meaning, purpose, and emotional states as cellular inputs 19:23 – Mitochondria, aging, and the potential reversibility of decline 20:06 – SuperLife framework: alignment over optimization 20:37 – Consistency beats intensity at the cellular level 21:19 – Stable rhythms: sleep, nourishment, hydration, movement 21:45 – Stillness, meditation, and parasympathetic repair 22:35 – Growth requires both resistance and recovery 24:44 – Connection, community, and loneliness as biological signals 25:27 – Eliminating fatal conveniences to restore vitality 26:02 – Your mitochondria are listening—change the signals 26:21 – Honoring Huberman & Picard's contribution to human health 27:12 – Energy flow as the foundation of a SuperLife 28:11 – Closing reflections and invitation to apply this work     Thank You to Our Sponsors Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off Caldera Lab: Experience the clinically proven benefits of Caldera Lab's clean skincare regimen and enjoy 20% off your order by visiting calderalab.com/darin and using code DARIN at checkout.     Join the SuperLife Community Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns — beyond social media restrictions: Weekly voice notes Ingredient deep dives Wellness challenges Energy + consciousness tools Community accountability Extended episodes Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien     Find More from Darin Olien: Instagram: @darinolien Podcast: SuperLife Podcast Website: superlife.com Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway "Your mitochondria are not broken. They are responding perfectly to the signals you give them. Change the signals, and your energy, resilience, and life will follow."     Bibliography & Sources Here is the bibliography based on the sources referenced in the document, formatted with direct links to the scientific papers, books, and the podcast episode. Primary Source Material Huberman, A. (Host). (2025, December 15). Improve Energy & Longevity by Optimizing Mitochondria with Dr. Martin Picard [Audio/Video podcast]. Huberman Lab. Link to Episode Picard Lab. Mitochondrial Psychobiology Group. Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Link to Lab Website Key Scientific Literature & Books Hood, D. A., Memme, J. M., Oliveira, A. N., & Triolo, M. (2019). Exercise and Mitochondrial Biogenesis. Physiological Reviews, 99(1), 669–715. Read Study Lane, N. (2015). The Vital Question: Energy, Evolution, and the Origins of Complex Life. W.W. Norton & Company. Book Link López-Otín, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M., & Kroemer, G. (2013). The Hallmarks of Aging. Cell, 153(6), 1194–1217. Read Study Mattson, M. P., Moehl, K., Ghena, N., Schmaedick, M., & Cheng, A. (2018). Intermittent Metabolic Switching, Neuroplasticity and Brain Health. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19, 63–80. Read Study Picard, M., & McEwen, B. S. (2018). Psychological Stress and Mitochondria: A Systematic Review. Psychosomatic Medicine, 80(2), 126–140. Read Study Picard, M., & Shirihai, O. S. (2022). Mitochondrial Psychobiology: Foundations and Applications. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 43, 102–110. Read Study Speakman, J. R., & Selman, C. (2011). The Free-Radical Damage Theory: Accumulating Evidence Against a Simple Link. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 26(1), 33–39. Read Study Wallace, D. C. (2015). Mitochondria and Cancer. Nature Reviews Cancer, 12, 685–698. (Note: Often referenced alongside his Annual Review of Genetics work on aging). Read Study