Podcasts about Neuroscience

What makes you 'you'? If scientists made a digital replica of your mind, would this new 'you' be conscious? And what does this all mean for what it means to exist?Whole-brain emulation (often called “mind uploading” in science fiction) refers to the possible future ability to scan a human brain in such detail that a digital replica could be created, capable of functioning, and perhaps even experiencing the world, like the original. While we are far away from this now (the current record is a fruit fly) an increasing number of neuroscientists and entrepreneurs are betting that we may be closer than most think. What is happening in the world of computational neuroscience, and will the world be ready for it?Don't hesitate to email us at podcast@iai.tv with your thoughts or questions on the episode!To witness such talks live buy tickets for our upcoming festival: https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/And visit our website for many more articles, videos, and podcasts like this one: https://iai.tv/You can find everything we referenced here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, I'm joined by Travis Hahler, founder of The Neurological Nomad, strategy and transformation leader at Salesforce, and author of Rethink Resistance. Travis brings together neuroscience, psychology, and business leadership to help organizations better understand how people respond to change and how leaders can communicate more effectively through transformation. In this episode, Travis and I explore why people naturally resist change, how neuroscience influences the way messages are received, and what leaders can do to communicate in ways that build trust instead of triggering fear and uncertainty. Whether you're leading organizational change, managing a team, or simply looking to become a more effective communicator, this conversation offers practical insights you can put to work immediately. Let's dive in. Additional Resources: ► Follow Communispond on LinkedIn for more communication skills tips: https://www.linkedin.com/company/communispond ► Connect with Scott D'Amico on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottdamico/ ► Connect with Travis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisdhahler/ ► Purchase Travis's book here: https://linktr.ee/theneurologicalnomad  ► Learn more about The Neurological Nomad: https://travishahler.com/ ► Subscribe to Communicast: https://communicast.simplecast.com/ ► Learn more about Communispond: https://www.communispond.com

Why is it that an ephemeral arrangement of sounds can move us to tears, while the exact same sequence might sound like chaotic noise to someone from another culture?Reader in Cognitive Science at Queen Mary University of London and Honorary Professor of Neuroscience at Aarhus University, Dr. Marcus Pearce joins host PJ Wehry to discuss the overlooked significance of our brain's probabilistic predictions.Dr. Pearce explores the computational mysteries of how we process sound in his book, Learning to Listen, Listening to Learn: Music Perception and the Psychology of Enculturation. They examine how our pleasure in music stems from an ingrained psychological drive to predict the future, and how understanding this can help us map out cultural evolution.In this conversation they explore:How our brains act as statistical prediction machines, constantly building internal models to anticipate the next note for an evolutionary survival advantage.The surprising realization that the perception of consonance and dissonance is not biologically universal, as shown by differing reactions in cultures like the Chimane of Bolivia.Why the pleasure we derive from music relies on an "inverted U-shaped" relationship, where a balance between predictable patterns and complex surprises maximizes our enjoyment.The use of interpretable probabilistic AI models, rather than "black box" neural networks, to better understand how a listener's perception matures within a musical tradition.How music acts as a safe training ground for humans to vicariously experience complex emotional states and hone cognitive processes without real-world risk.The role of cultural evolution in music, explaining why groundbreaking, highly complex composers like Stravinsky were initially rejected by audiences before eventually becoming standard repertoire.This is a conversation for anyone interested in cognitive science, evolutionary psychology, and musicology who wants to understand the biological weight behind our favorite songs and how we process the beautifully complex structures of human sound.Make sure to check out Dr. Pearce's book: Learning to Listen, Listening to Learn: Music Perception and the Psychology of Enculturation

We are excited to host Grace Blest-Hopley on this episode of the Mangu.tv podcast. Dr Grace Blest-Hopley is a neuroscientist with over a decade of research into cannabinoids and psychedelics, and the founder of Hystelica — the world's first research organisation dedicated to understanding female biology for safer, more effective psychedelic use, delivering both original research and education in the field. She holds a PhD in Neuroscience from King's College London, and now serves as Chief Scientific Officer at NWPharmaTech and Research Director at Heroic Hearts Project, where she leads work supporting military veterans living with trauma. Grace has spoken internationally as part of her advocacy for women's representation in psychedelic science.   Grace discusses her upbringing on a Staffordshire farm, her connection to horses, and how experiences in India led her to study neuroscience. She and Giancarlo explore the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, the challenges of cannabis research, and findings from neuroimaging studies of long-term users, particularly those who started young.Their conversation also covers the rise of psychedelic-assisted therapy, the importance of preparation and integration, and Grace's work with the Heroic Hearts Project, where she witnessed the benefits of Ayahuasca ceremonies with the Shipibo people. Grace explains how psychedelics may create a window of increased neuroplasticity, offering opportunities to rewire the brain. She also discusses her research into women's health, examining how hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle can influence psychedelic experiences and their therapeutic potential.

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This podcast is made possible by our listeners and viewers. If this show has brought you value, you can support it by becoming a member of The Way Forward, our platform designed to help you find the health and freedom community (people, practitioners, schools, farms, and more) near you. Your membership directly supports the podcast and the work we do.A neuroscience student at UT Austin is challenging the foundation of his own field.Brandon Cowling is a 20-year-old pre-med junior with over 70K followers, exploring where neuroscience meets consciousness. His perspective matters because he's inside the curriculum asking the questions most students are trained not to ask.You'll learn why the Epstein file release functions as mass trauma neuroscience, hijacking the amygdala and shutting down the prefrontal cortex across millions.This episode is jam-packed. Together, we examine Kundalini as a measurable nervous system phenomenon, how the spiritual community and scientists jump to causes they can't prove, why the placebo effect might be the most ignored truth in modern medicine, the Ancel Keys fraud, manifestation as both biology and something more, and what it means to increase love into a system designed to make you feel helpless.You'll Learn:[0:00] Introduction[13:51] The Ancel Keys fraud that built decades of saturated fat dogma[24:49] How 4 adult rabbits became the safety proof for infant vaccine adjuvants[32:05] Is consciousness created by the brain or expressed through it?[49:17] What neuroscience says about kundalini and why it's not just woo[58:47] A Law of One dream, a vibrating awakening, and a message about Ra[1:04:57] Why spiritual people jump to esoteric causes too fast, and scientists miss the metaphysical[1:26:30] The Tanganyika laughter epidemic and what 204 contagion studies found[1:31:37] Why going pre-med while knowing the system's corruption is the harder path[1:38:34] German New Medicine, cancer, and how belief itself becomes the cure[1:48:36] Service to self versus service to others and the 51% threshold for polarization[1:54:35] Why fighting darkness with darkness fails, and love is the only real weapon[2:10:07] Skepticism about government UFO disclosureRelated The Way Forward Episodes:The Hidden Meaning of The Law of One: Densities, Love & Humanity's Evolution | Edmund Knighton | YouTubeResources Mentioned:Neuroscience of the Epstein Files by Brandon's Brainwave | InstagramSecret of Light by Walter Russel | Free PDFThe Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer | BookCan You Catch A Cold?: Untold History & Human Experiments by Daniel Roytas | BookThe Ra Material: Law of One by Elkins, McCarty and Rueckert | BookA Course in Miracles | WebsiteFind more from Brandon:Brandon Cowling | InstagramSoltopiah | WebsiteFind more from Alec:Alec Zeck | Instagram | XThe Way Forward | InstagramDonate to The Way Forward here.The Way Forward is Sponsored By:Want more crypto insights and a community to back you up?Join the Crypto Freedom Academy today. It's 100% free and designed to help you master the markets.

Dr. Ashok K. Shetty is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics and Associate Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Texas A&M University, Naresh Vashisht College of Medicine. He is developing treatments for neurological and neurodegenerative disorders using stem cells and stem cell-derived products, such as extracellular vesicles. These are tiny vesicles secreted by stem cells that carry microRNAs and proteins. Once they make their way into the brain, they can induce beneficial changes in neural cells to improve brain function. Science takes up a lot of Ash's time, but when he's able to get a moment to himself, he enjoys spending time with family, cycling on a stationary bicycle, playing brain games like Sudoku, and going out to see movies at the theater. Ash earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, and he completed postdoctoral research at Montana State University and Duke University. Afterward, he joined the faculty at Duke University in the Division of Neurosurgery. He joined the faculty at Texas A&M University College of Medicine in 2011. In 2024, he was honored with the University Distinguished Professor Award from Texas A&M University, and he has also received the College of Medicine's Senior Research Excellence Award. In addition, Ash is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Neural Transplantation and Repair. He has received the Research Career Scientist Award from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, has been recognized among the "World's Top 1% of Scientists" across all scientific fields, and he was the 2025 honoree of Fast Company's World Changing Ideas. In this interview, Ash shares details about his life and his work in science.

If you enjoy this episode, we're sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects.  In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we've got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge.  So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below.  Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsBiblioBernardi, Luciano, Peter Sleight, Gabriele Bandinelli, Simone Cencetti, Luciano Fattorini, Johanna Wdowczyc-Szulc, and Alfonso Lagi. “Effect of Rosary Prayer and Yoga Mantras on Autonomic Cardiovascular Rhythms: Comparative Study.” BMJ 323, no. 7327 (2001): 1446–1449.Benson, Herbert, John W. Lehmann, Mark S. Malhotra, Ralph F. Goldman, Jeffrey Hopkins, and Mark D. Epstein. “Body Temperature Changes During the Practice of g Tum-mo Yoga.” Nature 295 (1982): 234–236.Benson, Herbert, Mark S. Malhotra, Ralph F. Goldman, Gregory D. Jacobs, and Jeffrey Hopkins. “Three Case Reports of the Metabolic and Electroencephalographic Changes During Advanced Buddhist Meditation Techniques.” Behavioral Medicine 16, no. 2 (1990): 90–95.Bremer, Brandon, Lorenzo Wu, Zoran Josipovic, and colleagues. “Mindfulness Meditation Increases Default Mode, Salience, and Central Executive Network Connectivity.” Scientific Reports 12 (2022).Brewer, Judson A., Patrick D. Worhunsky, Jeremy R. Gray, Yi-Yuan Tang, Jochen Weber, and Hedy Kober. “Meditation Experience Is Associated with Differences in Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 108, no. 50 (2011): 20254–20259.Britton, Willoughby B. and colleagues. Research associated with the “Varieties of Contemplative Experience” project on meditation-related challenges, adverse effects, and safety considerations in contemplative practice.Crowley, Aleister. Liber E vel Exercitiorum sub figura IX. In the A∴A∴ training corpus. Relevant sections include asana, pranayama, and dharana as foundational magical exercises.Dennison, Paul. “Insights From an EEG Study of Buddhist Jhāna Meditation.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 13 (2019).Fialoke, Shantala, Helen Weng, and colleagues. “Functional Connectivity Changes in Meditators and Novices During Yoga Nidra Practice.” Scientific Reports 14 (2024).Fox, Kieran C. R., Savannah Nijeboer, Matthew L. Dixon, James L. Floman, Melissa Ellamil, Samuel P. Rumak, Peter Sedlmeier, and Kalina Christoff. “Is Meditation Associated with Altered Brain Structure? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Morphometric Neuroimaging in Meditation Practitioners.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 43 (2014): 48–73.Hölzel, Britta K., James Carmody, Mark Vangel, Christina Congleton, Sita M. Yerramsetti, Tim Gard, and Sara W. Lazar. “Mindfulness Practice Leads to Increases in Regional Brain Gray Matter Density.” Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging 191, no. 1 (2011): 36–43.Kozhevnikov, Maria, Olesya Louchakova, Zoran Josipovic, and Michael A. Motes. “The Enhancement of Visuospatial Processing Efficiency Through Buddhist Deity Meditation.” Psychological Science 20, no. 5 (2009): 645–653.Kozhevnikov, Maria, John A. Elliott, Jennifer Shephard, and Klaus Gramann. “Neurocognitive and Somatic Components of Temperature Increases During g-Tummo Meditation: Legend and Reality.” PLOS ONE 8, no. 3 (2013): e58244.Laukkonen, Ruben E., and Heleen A. Slagter. “From Many to (N)one: Meditation and the Plasticity of the Predictive Mind.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 128 (2021): 199–217.Lomas, Tim, Juan Carlos Ivtzan, and Itai K. Fu. “A Systematic Review of the Neurophysiology of Mindfulness on EEG Oscillations.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 57 (2015): 401–410.Lott, James P., Richard J. Davidson, John D. Dunne, Thupten Jinpa, Antoine Lutz, and colleagues. “No Detectable Electroencephalographic Activity After Clinical Declaration of Death Among Tibetan Buddhist Meditators in Apparent Tukdam.” Frontiers in Psychology 11 (2021): 599190.Lutz, Antoine, Lawrence L. Greischar, Nancy B. Rawlings, Matthieu Ricard, and Richard J. Davidson. “Long-term Meditators Self-induce High-amplitude Gamma Synchrony During Mental Practice.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101, no. 46 (2004): 16369–16373.Lutz, Antoine, Julie Brefczynski-Lewis, Tom Johnstone, and Richard J. Davidson. “Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise.” PLoS ONE 3, no. 3 (2008): e1897.Matko, Karin, Peter Sedlmeier, and colleagues. “Adverse Effects of Meditation and Mindfulness in Clinical Practice.” 2025.Patanjali. Yoga Sutras. Especially Book III, traditionally describing dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.Riegner, Gretchen, Fadel Zeidan, and colleagues. “Disentangling Self from Pain: Mindfulness Meditation-Induced Pain Relief Is Driven by Thalamic-Default Mode Network Decoupling.” Pain 164, no. 2 (2023): 280–291.Tang, Yi-Yuan, Britta K. Hölzel, and Michael I. Posner. “The Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience 16 (2015): 213–225.Vago, David R., and David A. Silbersweig. “Self-awareness, Self-regulation, and Self-transcendence: A Framework for Understanding the Neurobiological Mechanisms of Mindfulness.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 6 (2012): 296.Zeidan, Fadel, and colleagues. Research on mindfulness meditation, pain modulation, attention, and the neural mechanisms of pain relief.Slagter, Heleen A., Antoine Lutz, Lawrence L. Greischar, Andrew D. Francis, Sander Nieuwenhuis, James M. Davis, and Richard J. Davidson. “Mental Training Affects Distribution of Limited Brain Resources.” PLOS Biology 5, no. 6 (2007): e138. Use for: Attentional blink, limited attention, and meditation changing how the brain allocates resources.Hölzel, Britta K., James Carmody, Mark Vangel, Christina Congleton, Sita M. Yerramsetti, Tim Gard, and Sara W. Lazar. “Mindfulness Practice Leads to Increases in Regional Brain Gray Matter Density.” Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging 191, no. 1 (2011): 36–43. Use for: Neuroplasticity, repeated practice leaving measurable marks on the brain, and the “practice writes itself into the practitioner” idea.Laukkonen, Ruben E., and Heleen A. Slagter. “From Many to (N)one: Meditation and the Plasticity of the Predictive Mind.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 128 (2021): 199–217. Use for: Predictive processing, the brain as a prediction machine, meditation loosening automatic models, and the “veil” argument.Lutz, Antoine, Julie Brefczynski-Lewis, Tom Johnstone, and Richard J. Davidson. “Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise.” PLOS ONE 3, no. 3 (2008): e1897. Use for: Compassion meditation, loving-kindness, emotional circuitry, and training compassion as a repeatable state rather than just a moral idea.Kok, Bethany E., Kimberly A. Coffey, Michael A. Cohn, Lahnna I. Catalino, Tanya Vacharkulksemsuk, Sara B. Algoe, Marc A. Brantley, and Barbara L. Fredrickson. “How Positive Emotions Build Physical Health: Perceived Positive Social Connections Account for the Upward Spiral Between Positive Emotions and Vagal Tone.” Psychological Science 24, no. 7 (2013): 1123–1132. Use for: Loving-kindness, social connection, vagal tone, and the cautious “social nervous system” bridge.Black, David S., and George M. Slavich. “Mindfulness Meditation and the Immune System: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1373, no. 1 (2016): 13–24. Use for: Immune-system caution, inflammation markers, cell-mediated immunity, biological aging, and why this material should be framed as tentative rather than miracle healing.Burić, Ivana, Miguel Farias, Jonathan Jong, Christopher Mee, and Inti A. Brazil. “What Is the Molecular Signature of Mind–Body Interventions? A Systematic Review of Gene Expression Changes Induced by Meditation and Related Practices.” Frontiers in Immunology 8 (2017): 670. Use for: Stress biology, inflammatory gene expression, NF-kB-related language, and the cautious claim that mind-body practices may affect biology below ordinary mood.Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A

This conversation originally aired December 6, 2022.Dr. Michael Platt is a Professor of Neuroscience, Psychology, and Marketing at the University of Pennsylvania and holds joint appointments at the Perelman School of Medicine, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the Wharton School. He is the founder of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and the author of The Leader's Brain.Preston and Michael work through the neuroscience underneath three questions: Why do emotional interventions sometimes produce learning, and sometimes just produce resentment? What does it actually mean to have a "social brain," and what happens to it when you cut people off from each other? And what are the neurological precursors to the thing teams call flow?Listen to learn the marble metaphor for habit and development, the default mode network as a muscle that atrophies without boredom, the role of synchrony in what rowers call "swing," and a standing challenge to the introverts in the audience (go talk to your neighbors).Michael's closing recommendations are three things most likely to keep your brain and your team's brains healthy under pressure.

Your brain runs a prediction machine that locks you into failure before you even try. In this episode, Tracy breaks down neuroscience research from Wendy Suzuki and Eric Kandel to reveal how basal ganglia habit loops keep you trapped in default patterns—and the exact neurological switch points where you can interrupt this script. Discover the productivity habits and mindset shifts that rewire your success blueprint. https://YourSuccessDNA.com Tracy breaks down the real neuroscience behind why personal development feels so hard — and why that difficulty has nothing to do with your discipline, your motivation, or your character. Drawing on peer-reviewed research from NYU neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki, Nobel laureate Eric Kandel, and psychiatrist Norman Doidge, Ace reveals how your brain's built-in prediction machine keeps you locked in the default version of yourself — and the precise biological mechanism that makes lasting change not just possible, but inevitable. From the basal ganglia's habit loops to CREB protein activation, dopamine as a learning signal, and the power of the five-second choice point, this episode delivers a science-backed roadmap for becoming the person your future requires.

Episode 399 reviews Phase 2 of Season 15 and introduces the Motivation Loop — the sequence of meaning, belief, attention, action, reward, and recovery that drives sustained effort. The episode explains common loop breakers (loss of meaning, negative thoughts, distracted attention, too much challenge, poor recovery, and no visible progress) and how to diagnose which link is failing. Practical takeaway: identify your gap, reconnect purpose, protect attention, celebrate small wins, and balance challenge with recovery to keep motivation alive. In This Episode 399, We Will Cover: ✅ The Motivation Loop — what it is, why it matters, and how it influences behavior, focus, effort, and achievement. ✅ What Keeps the Loop Alive — the role of meaning, belief, attention, action, reward, recovery, and growth. ✅ What Breaks the Loop — how loss of meaning, negative thoughts, distraction, lack of progress, poor recovery, and burnout weaken motivation. ✅ The Neuroscience of Motivation — why the brain repeats what it rewards and how dopamine reinforces behavior. ✅ The Difference Between Challenge and Burnout — finding the sweet spot where effort creates growth instead of exhaustion. ✅ My Personal Motivation Loop Story — how I watched my own loop begin to break in real time while pushing too hard with hiking and what I learned from it. ✅ How to Repair a Broken Loop — practical strategies to restore motivation before burnout takes hold. ✅ The Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex (AMCC) — the brain region associated with persistence, self-regulation, resilience, and doing hard things. ✅ Why Doing Hard Things Grows the Brain — how meaningful challenges strengthen the neural circuits responsible for sustained effort. ✅ Finding Your Gap — using our Brain's Operating System framework to identify where your system may be out of alignment. ✅ The Biggest Lessons from Phase 2: Neurochemistry & Motivation — insights from Bob Proctor, Dr. Caroline Leaf, Dr. John Medina, Dr. Anna Lembke, Dr. Chuck Hillman, and Friederike Fabritius. ✅ What's Next — a preview of Episodes 400 and 401 on Leadership and Trust, and our transition into Phase 3: Movement, Learning & Cognition. Key Question of the Episode "When motivation begins to disappear, have we lost our drive—or is there simply a broken link in the loop?" Aha Moment The goal isn't to push harder. The goal is to identify the broken link, repair it, and keep the loop alive. EP 399: The Motivation Loop: What Keeps It Going—and What Breaks It? Welcome back to the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. This week, we're wrapping up Phase 2: Neurochemistry and Motivation. Over the past several months, we've explored some of the most important drivers of human behavior, attention, effort, learning, and performance. Through the work of Bob Proctor, Dr. Caroline Leaf, John Medina, Dr. Anna Lembke, Chuck Hillman, and Friederike Fabritius, we've been focused on one fundamental question: What drives sustained effort and forward movement? Today, I want to zoom out and connect everything we've learned into one simple framework: The Motivation Loop. More importantly, we'll look at: What keeps the loop going What causes it to break How we can strengthen it over time And why doing hard things may actually help grow parts of our brain responsible for persistence and self-regulation. The Brain's Operating System of Human Performance Before we dive into the Motivation Loop, let's remember what we've covered so far. One of the biggest insights from neuroscience is that high performance doesn't happen in one part of the brain. It happens through a sequence. Just like a computer has an operating system, our brains have an operating system for learning, achievement, and human performance. Over the past several months, we've been building that system one phase at a time. Phase 1: Regulation & Safety REGULATE The first question we asked was: "Is the nervous system safe enough to learn?" Before motivation... Before focus... Before performance... The brain must first feel regulated. Through guests like Bruce Perry, Kristen Holmes, Antonio Zadra, and Sui Wong, we learned that: Sleep matters Recovery matters Rhythm matters Our Stress levels matter A dysregulated brain struggles to learn. No regulation. No learning. Phase 2: Neurochemistry & Motivation ENGAGE Once the brain is regulated, we move to the next question: "What drives behavior, focus, and sustained effort?" This is the phase we've just completed. We explored: Dopamine Belief Thought patterns Attention Reward Burnout Energy And perhaps the biggest lesson from this phase was: The brain repeats what it rewards. This became the foundation of what I've called: The Motivation Loop: What Keeps the Loop Going? Looking at this graphic, notice the green side first. The healthy loop begins with: Meaning and Purpose When we know why something matters, effort becomes easier to sustain. This was Bob Proctor's message and the message that launched author Simon Sinek's entire career (Knowing Your Why). People can tolerate enormous challenges when the goal is meaningful. Example: Learning a New Skill Imagine someone deciding to learn a new language. At first: Progress is slow. Mistakes are frequent. The work feels uncomfortable. But they have a purpose. Maybe they want to connect on a deeper level with family. Maybe they want to travel. Maybe they want a new career opportunity. Purpose keeps them engaged long enough to continue with the hard work.   Belief Shapes Thought If I believe I can improve, my thoughts become more constructive. This was Dr. Caroline Leaf's work. Our thoughts influence our neurochemistry. Positive thoughts don't guarantee success. But they keep us moving toward it. Attention Drives Growth This was John Medina's contribution. Attention determines what the brain decides matters. The brain learns what we repeatedly focus on. What we attend to, we strengthen. Action Creates Progress Once attention is focused, behavior follows. We study. We practice. We train. We learn. Reward Reinforces Behavior This was Dr. Anna Lembke's work. The reward doesn't have to be huge. Sometimes it's simply noticing progress. The brain says: "That effort produced a result." And the loop continues. Example: Exercise A person begins walking 20 minutes every day. Week 1: No major changes. Week 2: Energy improves. Week 3: Sleep improves. Week 4: Resting heart rate begins dropping. The brain notices progress. The effort feels worthwhile. The loop strengthens. The behavior repeats. We have spent a lot of time on understanding how to keep the loop from breaking. How the Loop Breaks Now let's look at the red side. How the loop breaks. The loop rarely breaks all at once. Usually one link weakens first. Then the others follow. Loop Breaker #1: Loss of Meaning What Happened? A student studies only to pass a test. The test ends. The reason disappears. Motivation disappears. The loop breaks because there is no longer a compelling "why." What Could Have Prevented It? Reconnect to purpose. Instead of: "I have to study for this test." Shift to: "I'm building skills for the future version of myself." Bob Proctor taught us that goals are not just about achievement. They're about growth. Loop Repair Ask: "Why does this matter beyond today?" When meaning returns, motivation returns.   Loop Breaker #2: Negative Thought Patterns What Happened? Someone starts a health journey. After a difficult week they think: "I'm failing." "Nothing is changing." "I'll never get there." Their attention shifts toward evidence of failure. The loop weakens. What Could Have Prevented It? Focus on progress instead of perfection. Dr. Caroline Leaf would remind us that thoughts influence neurochemistry. A better question might be: "What is improving that I haven't noticed yet?" Loop Repair Look for small wins. Better sleep More energy More consistency Better habits Progress fuels dopamine. Dopamine fuels effort.   Loop Breaker #3: Distracted Attention What Happened? You sit down to work. A text arrives. Then email. Then social media. Then another interruption at your office door. Attention becomes fragmented. Learning slows. Progress slows. Reward disappears. What Could Have Prevented It? Protect your attention. John Medina taught us: Attention determines what the brain decides matters. Loop Repair Create: 30-minute focus blocks Phone-free work periods (with notifications turned off) One-task-at-a-time sessions The brain rewards completion. Not multitasking.   Loop Breaker #4: Too Much Challenge What Happened? This one surprises many people. Doing hard things strengthens the brain. But doing impossible things breaks the loop. A person starts: A new diet A new exercise plan A new business A new habit And tries to change everything at once. The challenge becomes overwhelming. What Could Have Prevented It? Start smaller. The AMCC grows when challenges are difficult but achievable. Loop Repair Ask: "What's the smallest difficult thing I can consistently repeat?" Not: "What's the hardest thing I can do today?"   Loop Breaker #5: Poor Recovery/Low Energy   What Happened? This is actually my hiking example that I've mentioned previously. Everything was working. My recovery improved. My WHOOP age improved 6.4 years younger than my actual age. My fitness improved- v02 max increased. Then I increased the challenge. Longer hikes. More strain. More effort. But not enough recovery time in between. I could actually see the reward disappearing in real time. The effort at the end of these longer hikes felt exhausting instead of energizing. I know that doing difficult things makes my brain stronger, but I was close to giving up on something I really enjoyed. What Could Have Prevented It? Recovery needed to increase alongside challenge. The mistake wasn't hiking, or making the hike more challenging. The mistake was believing: More is always better. Loop Repair Alternate: Hard days Easy days Increase recovery as strain increases. As Friederike Fabritius taught us: Performance isn't built through effort alone. It's built through effort and recovery. Once I put more attention on recovery before pushing again, the broken motivation loop repaired, and the end of those difficult hikes became energizing again (with the right amount of rest).   Loop Breaker #6: No Visible Progress What Happened? A salesperson makes: 50 calls 100 calls 150 calls No results. The brain begins asking: "Why bother?" The reward disappears. What Could Have Prevented It? Measure leading indicators instead of outcomes. Instead of focusing only on sales: Track: Calls completed Meetings booked Relationships built Skills improved Loop Repair Celebrate effort metrics. Not just outcome metrics. The brain needs evidence that effort matters. Also, if the strategy you are using is not yielding results, try a different one. Ask others who are having success, what they are doing, and how they are getting results. Once you can identify where your loop is breaking, fixing it requires doing something that you were not doing before.   The Big Lesson Every loop break in this phase points back to one question: What link failed? Was it: Meaning? Thoughts? Attention? Progress? Recovery? Challenge? Because the loop rarely breaks all at once. Usually one link weakens first. And the good news is: If you can identify the broken link, you can repair the loop. What About Doing Hard Things? One of the most fascinating concepts we explored this phase was the work surrounding the: Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex (AMCC) This area of the brain appears to play an important role in: Persistence Self-regulation Attention control Doing things we don't feel like doing Research suggests this area strengthens when we repeatedly choose meaningful challenges. Not impossible challenges. Not burnout. Not exhaustion. Meaningful challenges. Example Choosing: The workout you don't feel like doing. The difficult conversation you've been avoiding. The presentation that makes you nervous. The study session when you'd rather scroll your phone. Every time we choose effort over comfort, we may be strengthening the neural systems responsible for persistence and researchers also would say, the will to live. The Secret to Keeping the Loop Going After everything we've learned this phase, the answer is surprisingly simple: The loop stays alive when effort feels worthwhile. That means: ✅ Meaning ✅ Purpose ✅ Focus ✅ Progress ✅ Recovery ✅ Challenge But not too much challenge. Because challenge without recovery becomes burnout. And recovery without challenge becomes stagnation. The sweet spot lies in the middle. Instead of blaming ourselves, we can start diagnosing the system to build a stronger, more resilient version of ourselves. How to Use the "Find Your Gap" Framework Whenever you feel: Stuck Unmotivated Burned out Distracted Overwhelmed Plateaued Ask yourself: Which phase is broken? Because the problem is rarely "everything." Usually it's one phase creating a bottleneck for the others.   Phase 1 Gap: Regulation & Safety Ask: Am I sleeping well? Am I recovered? Is stress overwhelming me? Is my nervous system regulated? Signs This Is Your Gap Anxiety Exhaustion Brain fog Poor sleep Irritability Example A teacher can't focus. They assume they need more motivation. But they're sleeping 5 hours a night. The real gap isn't motivation. It's regulation. Solution Fix: Sleep Recovery Stress management First.   Phase 2 Gap: Neurochemistry & Motivation Ask: Do I still know why this matters? Am I seeing progress? Has the reward disappeared? Have I lost momentum? Signs This Is Your Gap Procrastination Lack of drive Loss of enthusiasm Feeling stuck Example This was your hiking example. You still had the ability. You still had the discipline. You simply stopped feeling rewarded by the effort. Solution Repair the Motivation Loop: Reconnect to purpose Reduce challenge temporarily Improve recovery Look for progress   Phase 3 Gap: Movement, Learning & Cognition Ask: Am I moving enough? Am I physically engaged? Am I learning new things? Is my brain being challenged? Signs This Is Your Gap Low energy Mental sluggishness Poor concentration Feeling mentally flat Example Someone spends 10 hours at a desk. Their motivation is fine. Their sleep is fine. But they're sedentary. Movement is the missing ingredient. Solution Move first. The research from Chuck Hillman and John Ratey suggests movement often improves: Attention Mood Learning Memory   Phase 4 Gap: Perception, Emotion & Social Intelligence Ask: Am I seeing this situation clearly? Am I understanding others? Do I feel connected? Signs This Is Your Gap Conflict Miscommunication Isolation Emotional reactivity Example A leader thinks: "Nobody supports my vision." But the real issue is communication. The gap isn't motivation. It's perception. Solution Improve: Listening Emotional awareness Perspective-taking Relationships   Phase 5 Gap: Integration, Insight & Meaning Ask: Does this align with who I want to become? Am I moving toward something meaningful? Do I have clarity? Signs This Is Your Gap Success without fulfillment Feeling lost Lack of direction Constantly chasing goals Example Someone has achieved everything they wanted professionally. But they still feel empty. The gap isn't performance. It's meaning. Solution Reconnect with: Values Purpose Identity Contribution to the World. The Most Powerful Question At the end of every week, ask: "Where is my gap?" Is it:

You love your partner.So why does a screen feel more exciting than real life?Most people assume it's a relationship problem.But what if it's a brain problem?The brain adapts to what it experiences most.Scrolling. Short videos.Pornography.  Constant novelty.Over time, stimulation becomes the reward.And real-life connections can start feeling less exciting than they used to.Because your brain learned to chase novelty instead of connection. Your brain has been hijacked.Why Does Pornography Lower Relationship Satisfaction? The Neuroscience Explained

In today's episode of the Building Better Humans Podcast, I dive into a powerful concept from neuroscience that has the potential to completely change the way you approach your goals, challenges, and opportunities in life. Most people think they're chasing success, but the reality is that our brains are wired to chase certainty. The problem? Growth, change, and success almost always require us to step into uncertainty. That's where so many people get stuck. I unpack why your brain naturally prefers the familiar over the possible, even when the familiar isn't making you happy. Whether it's staying in a job you don't love, avoiding a difficult conversation, putting off a new business idea, or refusing to take a chance on something meaningful, our need for certainty often becomes the very thing holding us back. Throughout the episode, I share lessons I've learned from years of leading people through challenging adventures like Kokoda, Kilimanjaro, and Everest Base Camp. Time and time again, I've watched people discover that confidence doesn't come before action—it comes because of action. The people who grow the most aren't the ones who feel fearless; they're the ones who take the next step despite the fear. We'll explore why your brain often mistakes growth for danger, how to recognise when certainty is costing you opportunities, and what you can do to start building trust in yourself rather than waiting for perfect conditions. If you've been waiting until you feel ready, confident, or certain before making a move in your life, this episode is your reminder that certainty is not the goal. Growth is. Tune in and discover why your brain loves certainty more than success—and how understanding that one concept could help you create the life you've been wanting all along. The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.auADVENTURE WITH GLENN ONLINE MINDSET PROGRAMS 1-ON-1 MENTORINGSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This CEO Is Advancing Neuroscience, Reducing Pain, & Treating Epilepsy – Meet Dave Rosa, CEO, NeuroOne Medical Technologies $NMTCGuest: Dave Rosa, CEO, NeuroOne Medical Technologies $NMTCDave's BioDave Rosa is an entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the medical device industry spanning a variety of technologies and products. In addition to CEO roles with early-stage medical device companies, Mr. Rosa's background also includes senior roles with C.R. Bard Inc., Boston Scientific Inc., and St. Jude Medical, where his responsibilities included marketing, product development and business development. He has been named as an inventor on multiple medical device patents, serves on seven corporate boards, and has raised $200M in the capital markets. Mr. Rosa holds an MBA from Duquesne University and a BS in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University.Mr. Rosa currently serves as the President and CEO of NeuroOne (Nasdaq: NMTC), a medical technology company that develops high-definition, minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic devices based on its unique thin film electrode technology. NeuroOne, Nasdaq: NMTCWebsitehttps://nmtc1.comCompany Bio NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation is a medical technology company focused on improving surgical care options and outcomes for patients suffering from neurological disorders. NeuroOne markets a minimally invasive and high-definition/high-precision electrode technology platform with four FDA-cleared product families: Evo(R) Cortical Electrodes, Evo(R) sEEG Electrodes, OneRF(R) Ablation System (for brain), and OneRF(R) Trigeminal Nerve Ablation System. These solutions offer the potential to reduce the number of hospitalizations and surgical procedures, lower costs, and improve patient outcomes by offering combination diagnostic and therapeutic functions. The Company is engaged in research and development for drug delivery and spinal cord stimulation programs.

Dr. Devorah Segal earned her MD and PhD in Neuroscience at Icahn Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She completed her pediatrics and pediatric neurology training at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and then completed a fellowship in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center.  She is a pediatric neurologist and neuro-oncologist at NYU Langone, where she is associate director of the Neurofibromatosis Center. She treats children with brain tumors and patients of all ages with neurofibromatosis, schwannomatosis, and other brain tumor predisposition syndromes. She also leads several clinical trials treating pediatric brain tumors, neurofibromatosis, and other genetic disorders with neurologic components. She lives in Northern NJ with her husband and 5 kids, all of whom were born during medical school. CONNECT WITH DVORA ENTIN: Website: https://www.dvoraentin.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dvoraentin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@misconceptionspodcast  

The career path -- M.S. in Neuroscience to filmmaking -- is a wholly original one and so is his filmmaking. His second feature, PONDEROSA (2026), is a comedy-horror film that looks at American masculinity in a way I've never seen before. It is a gift to watch -- beginning to end -- not because I understood everything going on, but because I didn't.The best type of filmmaking should challenge you and make you think differently about the world around you. Mission accomplished here by Rob, with brilliant actors by his side. I'm texting my friend with a neuroscience degree, telling him to get on over to Tribeca and make a film!In this episode, Rob and I talk about:going from CRISPR engineer to filmmaking;how PONDEROSA came about and the trickiness of describing the film;what his experiences at prominent film festivals taught him;how he got some of the best actors out there -- Bill Camp; Alexis Bledel -- to work on his film;how he did the score and music FIRST and then edited accordingly;how he balances directing and producing;what's next for him.Rob's Indie Film Highlight: THE MISCONCEIVED (2026) dir. by James N. Kienitz WilkinsLinks:Follow Rob On Instagram

Show NotesStudent-Built Car Hits 2,145 MPG And Beats Every Production VehicleRex SanchezAutoBlog.comhttps://www.autoblog.com/news/student-built-car-hits-2145-mpg-and-beats-every-production-vehicleSee YouTube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz84xF6tn-MBacteria Live in Fog Droplets and Clear Toxins from Earth's AirKeith CowingAstrobiology.comhttps://astrobiology.com/2026/05/bacteria-live-in-fog-droplets-and-clear-toxins-from-earths-air.htmlSee also: https://futurism.com/science-energy/something-living-inside-fogSee research paper here: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.00463-26Solar cells just did the “impossible” with this 130% breakthrough - A new “spin-flip” breakthrough could let solar panels generate more energy than they receiveKyushu UniversityScienceDaily.comhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260328024517.htmSee research paper here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.5c20500Scientists reverse brain aging, with a nasal spray - New therapy is turning back the clock in aging brains, healing inflammation, restoring memory and reshaping the future of brain age-related therapies.Zaid ElayyanTexas A&M Storieshttps://stories.tamu.edu/news/2026/04/14/scientists-reverse-brain-aging-with-a-nasal-spray/Scientists Create First-Ever ‘Smell Map' - A detailed diagram of smell receptors in the nose fills in missing details of how olfaction worksCatherine CarusoHarvard School of Medicine Websitehttps://hms.harvard.edu/news/scientists-create-first-ever-smell-mapAI-powered spectrometer chip shrinks lab technology to the size of a grain of sand - Scientists built a grain-of-sand-sized AI chip that could turn future gadgets into powerful chemical and medical scanners.University of California DavisScienceDaily.comhttps://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260525000501.htmEach atom in the universe might be uniqueK. R. CallawayScientific Americanhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/each-

A tiny tagging system nobody had ever studied in the brain turned out to be hard at work locking in fear — and only in the females in the lab.SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/Fear-StudyLook for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

In this episode of Healthy Wealthy & Smart, Dr. Karen Litzy welcomes Kathryn Nicolai, the creator and host of Nothing Much Happens, one of the most listened-to sleep podcasts in the world. Discover how storytelling, nervous system regulation, and mindful routines can transform your sleep quality in this engaging episode. Kathryn shares practical strategies rooted in her background in yoga, neuroscience, and storytelling to help listeners foster calm, resilience, and restful nights. Key Topics: ·       The therapeutic power of storytelling in calming anxiety and promoting sleep ·       The neuroscience behind why safety and overstimulation block restful sleep ·       Practical tools like breathwork, joy, and routines to reset the nervous system ·       The concept of SIMS (Safety in Me) versus DIMS (Danger in Me) and how to shift balance ·       How to develop a personalized sleep ritual that feels pleasurable and sustainable ·       The importance of joy, predictability, and self-compassion in sleep hygiene ·       Mental models for reducing hypervigilance and promoting safety at night ·       Kathryn's process of creating comforting stories and building a connected universe for sleep ·       Techniques for integrating mindfulness and sensory awareness into everyday life ·       Encouragement to prioritize pleasure over perfection in self-care routines Timestamps: 00:00 - What makes storytelling a powerful tool for sleep 00:48 - Kathryn's journey from yoga teacher to sleep storyteller 02:12 - Why safety in the nervous system is key to restful sleep 03:22 - The role of overstimulation and how modern life hampers rest 04:45 - The magic of bedtime stories and their universal calming effect 06:00 - Understanding default mode network and the glazed eye of overthinking 07:14 - The principles of SIMS and DIMS in regulating nervous system safety 08:45 - How stories foster a reparative sense of witnessing and safety 10:05 - The art of building a nurturing, interconnected storytelling universe 11:41 - Creating a sensory-rich environment that promotes calm 13:03 - Kathryn's storytelling techniques: pacing, predictability, and authenticity 14:13 - The importance of intention and personal touch in story creation 15:33 - Making routine pleasurable — integrating joy into sleep rituals 17:04 - The calming power of familiar locations and recurring characters 18:28 - The significance of predictability and control in anxious times 20:14 - The myth of perfect sleep routines and focusing on what feels good 22:24 - Front-loading the day with joy as a resilience booster 24:24 - The uplifting impact of simple pleasures — music, a kind word, a moment of delight 26:22 - Breathing techniques and other accessible practices to turn down the nervous system dial 27:34 - The accessibility and free nature of mindfulness tools 28:34 - Building habits slowly and with pleasure, not perfection 30:23 - Letting go of rigidity: sustainability in self-care 31:17 - The importance of internal permission to enjoy and relax 32:41 - The secret ordinary moments that remind us of magic 33:44 - Choosing a story setting you'd love to live in 34:19 - Debunking myths in the wellness industry around "perfect rest" 35:16 - The transformational advice to younger selves: embrace imperfect progress 36:11 - Resources, books, and ways to connect with Kathryn 37:13 - Final words: cultivating a safe, restful, joyful sleep environment Resources & Links: ·       Nothing Much Happens – Website ·       Nothing Much Happens – Podcast ·       Nothing Much Happens - Instagram ·       On the Street Where You Live – Kathryn's upcoming book (search title for purchase info) ·       First This – Guided meditation show ·       Kathryn on YouTube More About Kathryn Nicolai: Kathryn Nicolai is the creator and host of Nothing Much Happens, one of the most listened-to sleep podcasts in the world, where millions of listeners use her stories to calm anxiety, fall asleep, and feel more at ease in their bodies. With over 20 years of experience as a yoga and meditation teacher, Kathryn is a trusted voice in self-care, with a focus on sleep hygiene, nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and storytelling as medicine. She draws on lived experience and practices including Vipassana meditation, gentle movement, brain training, and bibliotherapy to support people navigating stress, anxiety, depression, and more. Through her work, Kathryn helps people cultivate rest, creativity, and emotional resilience in a culture shaped by overstimulation and burnout. Her new audio book, On The Street Where You Live, also comes out in July. Jane Sponsorship Information: Book a one-on-one demo here Mention the code LITZY1MO for a free month   Follow Dr. Karen Litzy on Social Media: Karen's Instagram Karen's LinkedIn   Subscribe to Healthy, Wealthy & Smart: YouTube Website Apple Podcast Spotify SoundCloud Stitcher iHeart Radio

In this episode, we're exploring the neuroscience behind relationship anxiety, attachment wounds, and why so many women lose themselves around men they deeply care about.We'll talk about:✨ Why your nervous system mistakes attachment for safety✨ The hidden fear underneath relationship anxiety✨ Why rejection feels so painful✨ How childhood and past relationships shape your attachment patterns✨ The neuroscience of self-abandonment✨ How to retrain your brain for healthy love✨ Why you're not actually afraid of losing him—you're afraid of losing what he representsIf you've ever felt obsessed, anxious, needy, or unlike yourself around someone you cared about, this conversation is for you.Healing isn't learning how to make someone stay.It's learning that your safety was never dependent on them in the first place.✨ Let's connect:

What if the exhaustion so many mothers experience isn't because they're doing motherhood wrong, but because they've been disconnected from what is biologically normal? In this episode, Cait sits down with Brittany Chambers, founder of Goodnight Moon Child and creator of the Integrative Infant Sleep Framework, to explore the intersection of infant sleep, attachment science, neuroscience, maternal intuition, and the cultural narratives shaping modern motherhood. Together, they unpack the messages many mothers receive about independence, sleep training, and what it means to be a "good mother," while examining what both science and ancestral wisdom reveal about the mother-baby relationship. This conversation challenges conventional beliefs, invites curiosity over judgment, and offers a powerful reminder that mothers may be far more equipped than they've been led to believe. Tune in to hear: Why Brittany believes modern motherhood has become disconnected from ancestral wisdom The neuroscience behind attachment, co-regulation, and infant sleep How Cait's experience with her three children completely changed her perspective on sleep and connection What research says about bed sharing, biological infant sleep, and maternal rest The surprising link between infant sleep expectations and postpartum mental health Why many mothers feel torn between cultural advice and their own instincts How maternal intuition gets buried beneath perfectionism and societal expectations The role of nervous system safety in child development Why Brittany believes informed consent is missing from many parenting conversations How the mother-baby relationship impacts families, communities, and future generations The connection between responsive parenting, authenticity, and personal power Why breaking generational patterns often begins with trusting yourself Connect with Brittany Chambers Instagram: @goodnightmoonchild Website: goodnightmoonchild.com Substack: Goodnight Moon Child

When stress runs high and teams start operating on edge, the instinct for many leaders is to push harder, communicate more forcefully, or demand better behavior. But that approach makes things worse.Find the full show notes at: https://workmatters.com/De-Escalate-to-Lead---The-Neuroscience-of-Emotional-Control-with-Doug-Noll 

What if the reason so many of us are struggling right now isn't a lack of success… but a lack of connection to something deeper?Dr. Lisa Miller is a clinical psychologist, professor at Columbia University, and author of The Awakened Brain, and her research challenges something many of us have been taught to overlook: that spirituality isn't optional, and it isn't just religion… it's a core part of how we're wired. Her journey began at 26, on an inpatient psychiatric unit, where she watched the best available treatments fall short for people in their darkest moments. When the unit had no clergy for Yom Kippur, she showed up with her grandmother's prayer book and led a service in the back hall… and watched patients who had been despairing for months sit up, brighten, and begin to heal. That day set her on a 30-year scientific quest.What she found reframes how we think about mental health. Buried in the back of large national data sets was a single question: how personally important is spirituality or religion to you? When Dr. Miller ran the numbers, a strong personal spirituality, with or without religion, turned out to be 80% protective against addiction and 82% protective against completed suicide — more protective against the diseases of despair than anything else known to the clinical sciences. Twin studies show this capacity is one-third innate and two-thirds environmentally formed, which means every one of us is born with it, and every one of us can strengthen it. Her MRI research, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that a sustained spiritual life builds cortical thickness across the regions of the awakened brain, protecting against the recurrence of depression.In this conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais, Lisa walks through the difference between achieving awareness and awakened awareness, the three neural circuits behind feeling loved, guided, and never alone, and how parents and leaders can put this science to work. Mike opens up about his own path… the early pull he felt toward a spiritual life, the pendulum swing toward achievement, and the hypocrisy he witnessed as a teenager that nearly cost him his connection to what Lisa calls the flame.In this conversation, we explore:Why spirituality is an inborn capacity, not a beliefThe single research finding that reframes how we think about mental healthThe difference between the achieving brain and the awakened brainThe three neural circuits behind feeling loved, guided, and never aloneWhy a sustained spiritual life physically strengthens the brainHow parents can support a child's natural spiritual awarenessWhy 90% of leaders made the most important decision of their lives through an awakened form of knowingHow to heal from spiritual injury when a bad messenger breaks your trustIf you've ever felt successful on paper but disconnected in your life, this conversation offers a science-backed way back to something deeper.Links & ResourcesThis episode is brought to you in part by our partner, Sunlighten, the company that has pioneered infrared sauna technology. Go to https://findingmastery.com/sunlighten to see how you can save up to $2,100 on their mPulse Intelligent Sauna.Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMasteryGet exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors!Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletterDownload Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindsetFollow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XDr. Lisa Miller's Books: The Awakened Brain and The Spiritual ChildSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“Our brain really prioritizes vocal signals. They're super important to the brain because human communication is a really big priority for us as a species. It's a deep signal in our brain, right? And so, we were seeing a stronger reaction to the screams than to the music, and that sort of makes sense. There were more intricacies to that, but I can't really remember the exact brain areas and all that. But it was cool to see that. Yeah, it is sort of mimicking, but our brain really separates them. You know, it may still get sort of a response, a same kind of fearful response, but it's not going to be as powerful as the voice, um, which makes sense because music is not real, right? There's a difference between a real stimulus and this sort of artistic one. Yeah, so it was interesting.” – Caitlyn TrevorThis episode's guest is an award-winning researcher and musician with over a decade of experience studying how people perceive and respond to sound. She holds a PhD in Music Theory from Ohio State University and has published her work in top journals. She was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship to study music and neuroscience, and she's professionally certified in user research. As a musician, she has a Master's in Cello Performance, has composed an award-winning short film score, and has designed sound for theater and film. At SonicUXR, she leads with both credibility and creative empathy, equipping sound teams with the tools to create more intentional, impactful audio.Her name is Caitlyn Trevor, and her work is reshaping how sound is understood, valued, and designed across industries. If you've ever wondered how sound really works on us, this conversation will change the way you listen.As always, if you have questions for my guest, you're welcome to reach out through the links in the show notes. If you have questions for me, visit audiobrandingpodcast.com, where you'll find a lot of ways to get in touch. Plus, subscribing to the newsletter will let you know when the new podcasts are available, along with other interesting bits of audio-related news. And if you're getting some value from listening, the best ways to show your support are to share this podcast with a friend and leave an honest review. Both those things really help, and I'd love to feature your review on future podcasts. You can leave one either in written or in voice format from the podcast's main page. I would so appreciate that.(00:00) – Lighting a Musical FireOur conversation starts with Caitlyn's early impressions of sound, particularly the moment that sparked her love of orchestral music. “I came across on the floor like a little cassette tape and a cassette player, and I popped it in and just hit play while we were chatting, and it was the Lord of the Rings soundtrack,” she recalls. “I was a little too young when it came out, the first one, and I was just captivated by it. I mean, I was like, ‘Wow, what is this?'” We discuss the chance encounter during her musical studies that turned her focus towards music cognition and the neuroscience behind sound. “There was a lecture I went to totally by chance,” she tells us. “It was a new music theory professor, and the lecture was about music cognition, and I had never heard of it before. And I was like, ‘This is just the coolest field I've ever heard of.' And I totally was on board after that.”(15:00) – Pianto Sighs and Psycho ViolinsOur discussion turns to her research on the connection between music and the brain's primal response to voices. “In sad music,” Caitlyn explains, “there's something called the pianto topic, which is essentially just a half-step falling motion, like, which is supposed to mimic a sigh. But, you know, that's quite abstract… Whereas the psycho violin, you know, sounds very much like a scream.” She tells us about the birth of her daughter and how her career shifted from academia to the private sector. “I think a lot of academics are scared that's going to happen, that it's going to feel like, I don't know, maybe they wasted all that time,” she says. “I was prepared that I may not be able to continue doing music cognition, and I'm very happy that that hasn't been the case. That was surprising.”(21:40) – Putting Audio Theory to PracticeCaitlyn tells us more about her work on UX research, and how it quickly and unexpectedly led to her focus on phone trees and hold-time experiences. “They hadn't thought about the phone tree for that,” she recalls. “They just mentioned it, like, ‘Oh, and we're also doing the phone tree and the on-hold music.' And I was like, ‘Wait, that would be great for me to work on… somebody needs to do UX on that [because[ it's the worst.'" She talks about the advantage of being able to put her findings to use, something that hadn't been so easy at the university. “What I like about my new position,” Caitlyn explains, “as opposed to working in academia, is synthesizing it in a way that's accessible… I never really did that in academia. It was always just about supporting your hypothesis, explaining the results. But now I get to say this research shows me that we should compose it this way.”Episode SummaryCaitlin shares her journey from Lord of the Rings to the science of sound.The evolutionary origins of music and its impact on the brain.Caitlin's work in UX research and creating a better phone-hold experience.Tune in for next week's episode as we discuss the results of Caitlyn's studies into on-hold UX design and phone trees, why unpleasant sounds are sometimes the better choice in automobile UX, and what she's learned about the long-term return on investment when it comes to sonic branding.Connect with the Audio Branding Podcast:Book your project with Voice Overs and Vocals by visiting https://voiceoversandvocals.comConnect with me on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jodikrangle/Watch the Audio Branding Podcast on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/JodiKrangleVOConnect with me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodikrangle/Leave the Audio Branding Podcast a review at https://lovethepodcast.com/audiobranding (Thank you!)Share your passion effectively with these Tips for Sounding Your Best as a Podcast Guest!https://voiceoversandvocals.com/tips-for-sounding-your-best-as-a-podcast-guest/Get my Top Five Tips for Implementing an Intentional Audio Strategyhttps://voiceoversandvocals.com/audio-branding-strategy/Editing/Production by Humberto Franco - https://humbertofranco.com/This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Chronic stress, anxiety, and chronic pain can keep your brain stuck in protection mode. Learn how to calm your nervous system, retrain your brain, and create more safety for healing and resilience. Why does your brain keep repeating the same stress patterns, anxious thoughts, or pain responses… even when you want to change? Join me and my guest, Dr. Irena O'Brien, neuroscientist and founder of The Neuroscience School, to learn more about how the brain predicts, protects, and shapes our behaviors, emotions, and even chronic pain experiences.

Michael Platt, Wharton Professor of Marketing, Psychology & Neuroscience, discusses his research on brain-based performance metrics, explaining how focus, confidence, and mental fatigue can be measured to improve athlete selection, training, and development, while also revealing applications for business leadership, cybersecurity, and other high-pressure professions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At some point in all of our lives, we will experience Grief. Thanks to my next guest, we will now have the tools to manage it when it arrives.  Kate Doerge — certified grief coach, founder of Penny's Flight Foundation, and author of Reimagining Grief (out June 16th) — has lost her father, her mother, and her daughter Penny at sixteen to neurofibromatosis-related glioblastoma. And in every case, she chose light over dark, faith over fear. She reached for signs, she moved her body, she turned her pain into a foundation that has raised over $6 million for neurofibromatosis research. This episode is about what grief can look like when you refuse to let it define you — and the five actions that can help you get there.00:00:03 Introduction 00:04:20 Kate's Losses and Her Father's Advice00:08:55 Losing Her Mother Five Days Before Christmas 00:11:14 Rejecting the Five Stages of Grief 00:13:34 Penny, Neurofibromatosis, and the Love Cocoon 00:27:29 The Five Actions for Moving Through Grief 00:29:50 Movement and the Neuroscience of Grief 00:34:18 Signs, Faith, and Sunshine People 00:45:38 Changing the Language Around Grief 00:48:02 Penny and the Prom 00:52:37 The Book Tour and Penny's Flight Fam Jam 00:59:24 OutroHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

This week, Alexa chats with artist, songwriter, choir leader, and vocal coach India Bourne about life beyond the stage. From touring the world with Ben Howard to building a thriving teaching career, India shares how completing the BAST Foundation Course deepened her understanding of the voice, transformed her songwriting, and enriched her work with singers. She also opens up about balancing creativity, teaching, and motherhood, revealing how life as a mum has shaped her artistry, sharpened her instincts, and helped her to continue creating a sustainable, fulfilling career in music.  WHAT'S IN THIS PODCAST?  1:08 What venues are India's favourite to play? 3:38 What has India learnt through touring and being a human in the music industry? 6:06 Does teaching ever feel in tension with being an artist?  12:37 India's experience with BAST 14:50 How has being a classically trained cellist influenced artistry and teaching? 18:10 Songwriting and creative ideas 25:07 Singing and training emotion in music 30:02 Being the creative juggler  33:26 Protecting your own creativity  35:35 India's new music  About the presenter HERE RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS Ben Howard Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw Why Doing Nothing Can Change Your Life by Joseph Jebelli Heidi Moss Erickson Singing in the Brain: Ep.2: The Spaces in Between - Part1 Rest Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.256 The Neuroscience of Singing: What the Singer's Brain Needs Middle Farm Studios Outside venue  ABOUT THE GUEST India Bourne is a classically trained musician, songwriter and vocal coach whose voice has travelled the world as a long-time member of Ben Howard's live band. Singing and playing cello, bass and percussion, she has spent years immersed in shared stages and shifting landscapes. Alongside this, she has released music as Tender Central, where electronica and folk intertwine in songs that echo the emotional depth of Massive Attack, Lamb and Joni Mitchell.  Now, India returns to releasing music under her own name. This new collection is shaped by long-standing musical relationships, featuring collaborators Mickey Smith, Nat Wason and Rich Thomas alongside her all-female choir, The Big Skirts. Recorded live to tape at Middle Farm Studios with producer Peter Miles, these are songs of initiation and becoming - of motherhood, grief, nature, and new life - held together by the rare chemistry of old friends playing in the same room.   At the heart of the record is the voice, or rather voices. India writes with her women vocalists in mind, weaving their lines together as a living fabric from which melodies emerge. The result is music that feels both grounded and expansive, rooted in collective breath, resonance and connection.  Website Instagram The Big Skirts 

What happens when you achieve the career success you always wanted… and still feel unfulfilled?In this episode of The Authority Company Podcast, Joe Pardavila sits down with executive coach and author Brad Lekang to explore identity, reinvention, burnout, coaching, leadership, and the challenge of building a meaningful next chapter after corporate success. Brad shares lessons from his time working with major companies like Apple, Visa, and Target, and explains how he developed The Cloudberry Coaching Method, a neuroscience-informed framework designed to help leaders align their identity, values, and goals.They discuss the emotional side of leaving prestigious careers, the fear that comes with entrepreneurship, why many executives struggle with identity after retirement or career changes, and how coaching can help people move through uncertainty with clarity and purpose.Brad also breaks down the difference between coaching and mentorship, why neuroscience has become such a major focus in leadership development, and the habits that keep people stuck even when they know they want change.If you're thinking about a career pivot, struggling with burnout, questioning your identity outside of work, or trying to figure out what comes next, this conversation will hit home.Topics discussed include:• Leaving corporate life and starting over• Identity loss after career transitions• Entrepreneurship and uncertainty• Executive coaching and leadership development• Neuroscience and behavior change• Burnout and fulfillment• The psychology of success• Retirement transitions and reinvention• Building sustainable habits• The Cloudberry Coaching Method⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:00 Brad's obsession with national parks02:00 Creating the Cloudberry Coaching Method04:44 Why Brad left corporate life06:40 The fear of becoming a solopreneur08:40 Losing identity after leaving Apple10:45 The loneliness of entrepreneurship14:45 What the Cloudberry Coaching Method actually is18:20 How coaching really works22:40 Coaching vs mentorship27:40 Why neuroscience exploded in leadership culture32:25 What to stop doing if you feel stuck34:20 Final thoughts

In today's episode of That Neuroscience Guy, we discuss the neuroscience behind our willpower and when it fails. 

Bizzie Gold is a neurobehavioral specialist, author of Your Brain Is a Filthy Liar, the creator of Break Method, and has spent more than a decade studying how the human brain gets hijacked. A kid from the East Coast who fought daily panic attacks for a decade, she once sat under a famous past-life hypnotherapist before being blindsided and ambushed by Jesus in a Boulder church in the middle of a blizzard. Now she is a neurobehavioral specialist, and her thesis is simple, and a little terrifying: most of what you call discernment is really your unhealed trauma talking, and the enemy is counting on it.What follows is a masterclass in how you actually think. Bizzie unpacks the neurocognitive funnel, the five brain patterns, and why your perception, not the facts, is what gets burned into memory. She and the guys tie it all together: spiritual warfare, the authority of Christ, the legal rights we hand the enemy through self-cursing, why getting triggered is like kicking off a scent that spirits can smell across the room, and the gap between instinct, intuition, and true discernment. They go from the Garden of Eden to the nature of time to why the hardest, holiest thing you can do is walk straight into the trigger instead of away from it. If you have ever wondered why one podcast episode can set your whole nervous system on fire, this is the conversation that finally explains it This episode is sponsored by: https://homechef.com/blurry — Get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box & free dessert for life! https://ruffgreens.com — Get a free Jumpstart Trial bag with discount code BLURRY at checkout. - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can’t think your way out of OCD In part one of our three-part series on Anxiety and OCD, Dr. Jon Abramowitz helps us understand why intrusive thoughts are normal, how OCD turns them into a source of distress, and what keeps the cycle going. We explore uncertainty, reassurance-seeking, relationship dynamics, and the research-backed treatments that help people reclaim their lives from OCD.In this conversation, we unpack the surprising truth about intrusive thoughts, why reassurance often backfires, and how learning to tolerate uncertainty can be a powerful path toward recovery. “There is no such thing as absolute certainty.” – Dr. Jon Abramowitz Time Stamps for Why Certainty Isn’t the Answer: OCD, Intrusive Thoughts & Recovery with Dr. Jon Abramowitz (301) 02:40 Understanding anxiety and its disorders 05:46 Distinguishing normal anxiety from OCD 08:21 The nature of obsessional thoughts 14:09 The cycle of OCD and compulsions 16:53 The role of exposure and response prevention 19:44 Understanding scrupulosity in OCD 25:25 Treatment approaches for OCD 33:34 Managing distress in OCD therapy 36:55 Understanding control and uncertainty in OCD 40:41 Distinguishing OCD from Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder 50:02 Supporting loved ones with OCD About our Guest – Dr. Jon Abramowitz (301) Jonathan (Jon) Abramowitz, Ph.D., is Professor and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research and clinical work focuses on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and anxiety disorders, including fears and phobias, health anxiety, and panic attacks. He has authored over 350 scientific publications and 20 books, which have been translated into several languages. He served as President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and as Editor or Associate Editor of several academic journals. Dr. Abramowitz has received wide recognition for his scholarly work and contributions.   Resources for Why Certainty Isn’t the Answer: OCD, Intrusive Thoughts & Recovery with Dr. Jon Abramowitz (301) Dr. Abramowitz website – Resources and information OCD resources for clinicians and consumers  Beyond Attachment Styles course is available NOW!   Learn how your nervous system, your mind, and your relationships work together in a fascinating dance, shaping who you are and how you connect with others. Online, Self-Paced, Asynchronous Learning with Quarterly Live Q&A’s! Earn 6 Continuing Education Credits – Available at Checkout As a listener of this podcast, use code BAS15 for a limited-time discount.       You are invited!  Join our exclusive community to get early access and discounts to things we produce, plus an ad-free, private feed. In addition, receive exclusive episodes recorded just for you. Sign up for our premium Neuronerd plan!! Click here!!    Get your copy of Secure Relating here!!

Dr. Curt Thompson shares about confessional communities from his book "The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community" and his podcast (links below). Originally aired July 25, 2024 S7E1: Confessional Communities: Forming Outposts of Beauty and GoodnessS7E2: Confessional Communities: A Community of FormationS7E3: The Symphony of Confessional CommunityS7E4: Confessional Communities: Getting StartedS7E5.1: Confessional Communities: Learning to Love Doing the WorkS7E5.2: Confessional Communities: Learning to Love Doing the WorkS7E6: Confessional Communities: The Later SeasonsS7E7: End of Season Q&A Check out Susie's podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here

Welcome back to the Homeward Podcast. In today's episode I'm diving into the conversation everyone seems to be having right now: the Yap Challenge. But instead of talking about algorithms, tactics, or whether the trend is "good" or "bad," I want to explore what I think is actually happening beneath the surface. I share why I believe the success of the Yap Challenge has far less to do with a tiny microphone and far more to do with courage, authenticity, repetition, and the willingness to be fully seen.  This episode is an invitation to stop obsessing over what everyone else is doing and start owning your own medium, your own message, and your own version of "yapping," because the real magic isn't in the trend. It's in the courage to be as fully YOU as possible.  I can't wait for you to listen. Links Mentioned: Book a Breakthrough Call: amberlilyestrom.com/breakthrough Take The Personal Money Codes Quiz: amberlilyestrom.com/moneyquiz Subscribe over on Substack Join my signature biz building program Homeward   Tag me in your big shifts + takeaways: @amberlilyestrom Did you hear something you loved here today?! Leave a Review + Subscribe via iTunes 

GTP host Steve Lowery is leading the conservation today with special guest Maxey Scherr, the founder of Scherr Law Firm in El Paso, Texas. They explore the complexities of an extraordinary case, Mendoza vs. Titan Transportation, where Maxey secured a verdict of over $16 million for her client, Ruben Ivan Mendoza.   Remember to rate and review GTP on Apple Podcasts: Click Here to Rate and Review   Case Details: The case revolved around a severe truck crash in Dallas County, Texas, where Ruben Mendoza, the driver of a pickup truck leased by Titan Transportation, was rear-ended by a truck owned by DSX Transportation. Despite the defense's attempts to frame Mendoza as an independent contractor, Maxey successfully proved that he was an employee in the course and scope of his employment, showcasing Titan's negligence in his lack of training and safety protocols. Scherr Law Firm secures an $11,005,000 settlement with three of four defendants named in a lawsuit and obtains a $16,857,276 verdict against the fourth remaining defendant in  their second trial. (Source)   Guest Bio: Maxey Scherr Maxey Scherr founded Scherr Law Firm in 2022. She has litigated over 40 jury trials resulting in multi-figure verdicts across the board. Her areas of expertise include trucking accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injuries, and catastrophic injuries. Ms. Scherr is a member of various boards and organizations and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Women's Caucus and Board of Regents member with the ATAA, is on the Texas State Bar Committee on the Administration of the Rules of Evidence, is a member of the American Association for Justice and sits on the Women's Rights Commission for the City of El Paso. Through the years, Ms. Scherr's efforts have garnered many accolades. Most notably, Ms. Scherr is a "Super Lawyer," a "Top Ten Attorney," receives numerous "Litigator Awards" and has various National Law Journal Top 100 Verdicts. Ms. Scherr is licensed in Texas, New Mexico and Illinois and graduated from Texas Tech School of Law. She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Boston with magna cum laude honors and undertook postgraduate work in Neuroscience at Harvard University. Read Full Bio   Links: Scherr Law Firm on Facebook: Scherr Law Firm Scherr Law Firm on LinkedIn: Scherr Law Firm Contact Scherr Law Firm: Scherr Law Firm Check out previous episodes and meet the GTP Team: Great Trials Podcast   Show Sponsors: Harris Lowry Manton LLP - hlmlawfirm.com   Free Resources: Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 1 Stages Of A Jury Trial - Part 2

Dr. Jack McCallum — whose remarkable career has included roles as a pediatric neurologist, historian, businessman, university professor, and writer — rejoins the Thrive Hour for a fascinating discussion on how AI may fundamentally reshape the human brain and society itself.  Dr. McCallum argues that humanity's interaction with AI could become the most profound transformation in human history — perhaps second only to the development of language itself. We explore why he believes this shift is so significant, how major transitions throughout history have reshaped civilization, and how our brains physically adapt to new ways of thinking and processing information.  We also discuss education, creativity, intuition, consciousness, human connection, and what skills may become most valuable in the age of AI.An extended version of this conversation will be available on Substack.Follow Dr. Jack McCallum on his substack at changingbrain.substack.comFollow Dr McCallum on his website at JackMcCallumMD.com or on his Substack at changingbrain.substack.com

Disclaimer: Please be advised that this episode contains content related to childhood trauma and a suicide attempt. If these topics are challenging for you, you may wish to skip this episode or seek support.       Understanding how students think, feel, and connect is key to creating meaningful learning experiences. Yet so often, the human side of education is overlooked in favor of purely academic outcomes.        In this episode, I talk with Thayne Martin, a leading expert in experiential neuroscience, about how understanding the brain and emotions can transform the educational experience. We dive into how gratitude, prosocial skills, and experiential learning techniques help students develop resilience, connection, and a sense of belonging. Thayne shares practical strategies for educators and school leaders to incorporate these approaches into classrooms, staff culture, and leadership practices.                      Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/441        Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/       Connect with Thayne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaynemartin

In part two, Dr. Megan Cuzzolino, Dr. Lauren Hodges, and Jessica Billiet dig into what prevents curiosity in our kids, our workplaces, and ourselves. From the neuroscience of dopamine and threat response, to how schools and organizations are designed for speed over exploration, the conversation gets practical. What does it take to protect the margin where curiosity lives? And what can leaders do to model and cultivate it? Part 2 of 2. 00:00 Intro 02:02 Neuroscience of Curiosity 05:39 Aperture Threat and Learning 10:35 Failure Safety and Workplace 21:23 Curiosity Needs Margin 24:14 Awe and Context for Kids 29:00 Patience and Social Safety 31:59 Leader Takeaways and Wrap   LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS Megan - https://pz.harvard.edu/who-we-are/people/megan-powell-cuzzolino Lauren - https://www.performance-on-purpose.com/about Jessica - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicabilliet/   RESOURCES Reflection Guide: Making Space for Everyday Awe: https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/websites.harvard.edu/dist/a/108/files/2025/10/Making-Space-for-Everyday-Awe-Reflection-Tool.pdf   Reflecting on Your Learning in the Workplace: https://nextlevellab.gse.harvard.edu/learning-modules/reflecting-on-your-learning-in-the-workplace/   LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE, SPOTIFY, AND YOUTUBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-geeks-podcast/id1413446184  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mACo97JvUL1LOmVJ9lATI?si=c430a6d9b08c4100 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninggeekspodcast   You can also download us anywhere you get your podcasts.   CONNECT WITH US If you have any feedback or want to join in on the conversation, connect with us via LinkedIN.   DISCLAIMER All thoughts and views are of our own.

Neuroscience is built on an assumption most scientists never examine: that the brain is the seat of consciousness, intelligence, and everything that makes us human. Sadhguru thinks that's like a child staring at a phone while a sunset unfolds right in front of them.In this episode of The Mind-Gut Conversation, Dr. Emeran Mayer sits down with Sadhguru — yogi, mystic, and founder of the Isha Foundation — for a conversation recorded at the Isha Foundation's retreat center in Tennessee. Sadhguru draws a sharp distinction between intellect — the data-gathering, pattern-finding capacity that AI now replicates — and intelligence, which he sees as something far more fundamental, distributed across all living systems from microbes to complex organisms. He argues that consciousness is not a product of the brain, but something far wider, and that our current scientific frameworks are designed for manipulation of the world rather than understanding of it.Topics discussed include:• Why the brain may be evolution's newest gadget, not its crowning achievement• Intelligence vs. intellect: what the distinction reveals• The phenomenal intelligence of microbes and living systems• Why AI leads to more certainty, not more understanding• Memory as a boundary and the concept of Samskara• What consciousness actually means when used preciselyDr. Mayer engages critically throughout, bringing a scientist's perspective and pushing back where he sees tension with evidence from his own decades of research. The result is a rare, unscripted exchange across very different worldviews — science, mysticism, and the gut microbiome all at the table.--------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with Dr. Mayer:Website: https://www.emeranmayer.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeranmayer/X (Twitter): https://www.x.com/emeranmayermdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmeranMayerMD/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emeranmayer/--------------------------------------------------------------------Chapters:0:00 – Introduction1:26 – Does the Brain Deserve Its Central Role?6:14 – Intelligence vs. Intellect10:49 – AI, Data, and the Limits of the Analytical Mind15:39 – What Is Consciousness, Really?22:25 – Memory, Samskara, and the Boundaries of Perception

Communications professor Heather Barnes teaches us how to use what she learned teaching at Second City, managing the Museum of Science and Industry, and taking classes at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science to truly engage with difficult people through the power of positive rants. Kitted Previous Episodes How Minds Change Heather Barnes Improv@Work Second City The Center for Enlightened Disagreement Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science David McRaney's Twitter David McRaney's BlueSky YANSS Twitter YANSS Facebook Newsletter Patreon Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We can know we are loved and still not be able to let it in. The gap between believing something and feeling it in the body is not a faith problem — it's a physiological one.In this second conversation with Aundi Kolber, Michael and Julianne press deeper into what it actually takes to change: why being loved is not just a comfort but a biological prerequisite for growth, why asking someone to change before they feel safe is, in Aundi's word, cruel, and what it means to come home to yourself rather than keep fleeing from what hurts. Aundi also draws a line between the shame that keeps us stuck and the compassion that actually moves us — and why God is calling us home, not calling us out.This is a rebroadcast of one of the most-listened-to conversations in the show's ten-year history.Aundi Kolber is a licensed therapist and author of Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us Out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival and Into a Life of Connection and Joy.Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

If you enjoy this episode, we're sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects.  In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we've got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge.  So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below.  Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsWORKS CITEDArnold van Gennep. The Rites of Passage. 1909; English translation, University of Chicago Press, 1960. Use for: separation, transition, incorporation, initiatory structure, and the candidate's movement through old identity, liminal state, and return.Victor Turner. “Betwixt and Between: The Liminal Period in Rites of Passage.” In The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual. Cornell University Press, 1967. Use for: liminality, threshold identity, the candidate as “betwixt and between,” and darkness as embodied transition.Victor Turner. The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Aldine Publishing, 1969. Use for: liminality, communitas, anti-structure, social transformation, and the ritual pressure placed on ordinary identity.Catherine Bell. Ritual Theory, Ritual Practice. Oxford University Press, 1992. Use for: ritualization, ritual power, the ritualized body, and the temple as a structured environment that trains perception and action.Catherine Bell. “The Ritual Body and the Dynamics of Ritual Power.” Journal of Ritual Studies 4, no. 2 (1990): 299–313. Use for: ritualized bodies, spatial discipline, gesture, power, and the way ritual arrangements shape action.John C. Lilly. The Deep Self: Profound Relaxation and the Tank Isolation Technique. Simon & Schuster, 1977. Use for: the isolation tank, reduced stimulation, altered consciousness, and the modern technological black room.John C. Lilly. The Center of the Cyclone: Looking into Inner Space. Julian Press, 1972. Use carefully for: Lilly's altered-state/counterculture context, isolation tank work, consciousness exploration, and the bridge between research and psychedelic-era experimentation.Justin S. Feinstein et al. “Examining the Short-Term Anxiolytic and Antidepressant Effect of Floatation-REST.” PLOS ONE 13, no. 2 (2018): e0190292. Use for: Floatation-REST, reduced environmental stimulation, anxiety reduction, mood change, and the clinical side of float tanks.Hannah Hruby et al. “Induction of Altered States of Consciousness During Floatation-REST Is Associated With the Dissolution of Body Boundaries and the Distortion of Subjective Time.” Scientific Reports 14 (2024). Use for: float tanks, altered states, body-boundary dissolution, and subjective time distortion.Madison K. M. Garland et al. “A Randomized Controlled Safety and Feasibility Trial of Floatation-REST in Anxious and Depressed Individuals.” PLOS ONE 18, no. 6 (2023): e0286899. Use for: safety, tolerability, repeated Floatation-REST, and caution against overclaiming.Lashgari et al. “Floatation-REST Systematic Review.” 2025. Use for: the broad current state of Floatation-REST research, including anxiety, pain, stress, sleep, well-being, and the need for stronger standardization and larger studies.Michael T. H. Do. “Melanopsin and the Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells.” Neuron 104, no. 2 (2019): 205–226. Use for: ipRGCs, melanopsin, non-image-forming vision, circadian entrainment, pupil response, sleep, and light as biological timing information.Lorenzo Lazzerini Ospri, Glen Prusky, and Samer Hattar. “Mood, the Circadian System, and Melanopsin Retinal Ganglion Cells.” Annual Review of Neuroscience 40 (2017): 539–556. Use for: light, mood, circadian rhythm, melanopsin, and the biological consequences of light exposure.Charles A. Czeisler and related circadian medicine research. Use for: artificial light, circadian disruption, melatonin suppression, shift work, and modern light exposure as a biological intervention.Anne-Marie Chang, Daniel Aeschbach, Jeanne F. Duffy, and Charles A. Czeisler. “Evening Use of Light-Emitting eReaders Negatively Affects Sleep, Circadian Timing, and Next-Morning Alertness.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112, no. 4 (2015): 1232–1237. Use for: screens, evening light, melatonin suppression, delayed circadian timing, altered sleep, and modern light's effect on the body.A. Roger Ekirch. At Day's Close: Night in Times Past. W. W. Norton, 2005. Use for: premodern night, darkness before electric light, nocturnal fear, dreams, prayer, crime, labor, and the cultural history of darkness.A. Roger Ekirch. “Sleep We Have Lost: Pre-Industrial Slumber in the British Isles.” The American Historical Review 106, no. 2 (2001): 343–386. Use for: segmented sleep, first sleep and second sleep, night waking, dreams, prayer, and premodern sleep culture.Craig Koslofsky. Evening's Empire: A History of the Night in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge University Press, 2011. Use for: early modern night culture, artificial lighting, urban night, public space, and the transformation of darkness.Elisabeth Bronfen. Night Passages: Philosophy, Literature, and Film. Columbia University Press, 2013. Use for: symbolic and cultural readings of night, dream, fear, darkness, passage, and the imagination.Robert F. Taft. The Liturgy of the Hours in East and West: The Origins of the Divine Office and Its Meaning for Today. Liturgical Press, 1993. Use for: night offices, vigils, prayer through darkness, sacred time, and Christian ritual use of night.Bernard McGinn. The Foundations of Mysticism: Origins to the Fifth Century. Crossroad, 1991. Use for: Christian mystical traditions, contemplative darkness, early mystical theology, and the development of mystical language.Pseudo-Dionysius. The Complete Works. Translated by Colm Luibheid. Paulist Press, 1987. Use for: divine darkness, apophatic theology, mystical unknowing, and darkness as a theological category.John of the Cross. Dark Night of the Soul. Various editions. Use carefully for: spiritual darkness, purification, absence, mystical trial, and transformation.“The Neophyte Initiation Ritual.” Public Golden Dawn ritual material. Use carefully for: hoodwink, darkness, “Light dawning in darkness,” staged revelation, and the candidate being brought from night into day.Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. The Crystal and the Way of Light: Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. Routledge, 1986. Use for: Dzogchen context, light, vision, and the broader framework around contemplative perception.Christopher Hatchell. Naked Seeing: The Great Perfection, the Wheel of Time, and Visionary Buddhism in Renaissance Tibet. Oxford University Press, 2014. Use for: visionary practice, Great Perfection, Tibetan contemplative contexts, and careful treatment of luminosity and appearance.R. Shane Burns. “Dark Retreat in Tibetan Buddhist Practice.” Use for: dark retreat, preparation, disciplined context, and the difference between contemplative practice and casual sensory deprivation.Raymond Moody. Reunions: Visionary Encounters with Departed Loved Ones. Villard, 1993. Use for: modern psychomanteum practice, grief, mirror-gazing, and encounters with the dead.Arthur Hastings. “The Psychomanteum: A Modern Oracle of the Dead.” Use for: psychomanteum procedure, grief, memory, mirror-gazing, and structured encounter.Marcia K. Johnson, Shahin Hashtroudi, and D. Stephen Lindsay. “Source Monitoring.” Psychological Bulletin 114, no. 1 (1993): 3–28. Use for: inside/outside ambiguity, origin judgments, memory, imagination, and how dark or altered environments complicate interpretation.Shahar Arzy et al. “Induction of an Illusory Shadow Person.” Nature 443 (2006): 287. Use for: sensed presence, body-self disruption, temporoparietal junction, and the feeling of another being nearby.Olaf Blanke et al. “Neurological and Robot-Controlled Induction of an Apparition.” Current Biology 24, no. 22 (2014): 2681–2686. Use for: sensorimotor conflict, apparition-like presence, body-boundary disturbance, and the embodied basis of sensed presence.Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A

I put this on my dave smith dharma as well as Secular Dharma Foundation because it is so GOOD! Mark earned his PhD and Master's degrees in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh under the legendary cognitive philosopher Andy Clark, focusing heavily on the embodied and predictive brain. Today, his work spans across multiple prestigious global institutions. He serves as a Senior Research Fellow at Monash University's Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies in Australia, is an Instructor and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto within their Psychology and Cognitive Science departments, and acts as a Visiting Researcher at Hokkaido University's Centre for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience in Japan. He is also the Lab Manager for U of T's Consciousness and Wisdom Lab. Alongside his frequent collaborator, Dr. John Vervaeke, Mark works directly at the bleeding edge of 4E Cognition and Predictive Processing—exploring how our brains act as active, prediction-generating engines rather than passive observers. Whether he is breaking down the rigid cognitive loops of addiction and despair, hosting The Contemplative Science Podcast, or leading his groundbreaking 8-week course, Generations of Joy on The Lectern, Mark is dedicated to bridging rigorous computational neuroscience with ancient contemplative wisdom. https://lectern.johnvervaeke.com/ https://www.markdmiller.live/ https://www.davesmithdharma.com/https://account.venmo.com/u/davesmithdharmaThank you for subscribing.

Inside Britain's Skinwalker Ranch: UFOs, Cryptids & Psychic Phenomena ________________________________________Podcast Highlights: • The eerie parallels between Rendlesham Forest and Skinwalker Ranch• Can UFOs actually respond to human consciousness and intention? • The terrifying overlap between extraterrestrials, cryptids, and psychic phenomena• Why ancient folklore and modern UFO encounters may describe the same intelligenceRight now, humanity is standing at a fascinating crossroads. Governments are talking openly about UFOs. Military footage has gone public. Pilots, intelligence officers, scientists, and experiencers around the world are stepping forward. And the deeper the conversation goes, the more mysterious it becomes. Because it may not simply be about spacecraft in the sky. It may be about consciousness itself. About reality. About who and what we are. Right now, we're diving into one of the most fascinating cases in UFO history, the Rendlesham Forest incident, often called Britain's Roswell. And as my guest discovered while investigating the site, the phenomena surrounding Rendlesham may go far beyond extraterrestrials. My guest is filmmaker, musician, UFO researcher, and fearless truth-seeker MARK CHRISTOPHER LEE. His new documentary journeys deep into the mystery of Rendlesham Forest and asks a provocative question: What if the phenomenon is not just watching us… but interacting with us? www.nubmusic.co.uk ** More with Debbi

Join us as Luke Michael Howard, a renowned hypnotist, shares his inspiring journey from the UK to Canada, his insights on hypnosis, debunking misconceptions, and how he uses his craft to transform lives. Discover the truth behind hypnosis, the power of the mind, and practical tips to harness your inner potential.Contact Luke Howard Below INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/hypnopunkINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/lukenosishypnosis/

What do dreams reveal about fear, hesitation, identity, and transformation? In this episode of The Dream Journal, Katherine Bell talks with Lincoln Stoller about dreamwork, self-doubt, courage, neurofeedback, mindfulness, and how dreams can surface the questions we most need to face. A thoughtful conversation on inner change, psychological growth, and the hidden patterns shaping our lives. #DreamJournal #DreamInterpretation #DreamWork #LincolnStoller #KatherineBell #Neurofeedback #Mindfulness #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth #Psychology BIO: Lincoln Stoller followed his PhD in quantum physics by studying with prophets and shamans around the world. After two decades as a software entrepreneur, he trained in neuropsychology, hypnosis, and psychotherapy. He publishes as a physicist and practices remotely as a therapist, counselor, and coach. His book which is “The Learning Project, Rites of Passage,” won the 2019 Independent Authors Network book of the year.  You can download his latest book: Dreaming Yourself into Being, at his webpage: MindStrengthBalance.com The IASD conference is June 13-17 in Ashland Oregon. Find out more at IASDconferences.org/2026/ This show, episode number 366, was recorded during a live broadcast on June 6, 2026 at KSQD.org, community radio of Santa Cruz. SHARE A DREAM FOR THE SHOW or a question or enquire about being a guest on the podcast by emailing Katherine Bell at katherine@ksqd.org. Follow on LI, IG, YT, FB, & LT @ExperientialDreamwork #thedreamjournal. To learn more or to inquire about exploring your own dreams go to ExperientialDreamwork.com. Video podcast available at youtube.com/@experientialdreamwork. Popular playlists: “Dream Journal shorts” and “FULL LENGTH VIDEOS”. Here are links to some other Dream Journal episodes you might be interested in: Inside the Sleeping Mind: Memory, Dream Yoga, & the Neuroscience of Sleep with Ken Paller, PhD Trauma is Universal but So Is Healing with Wendy Correa Intro and outro music by Mood Science. Ambient music new every week by Rick Kleffel. Archived music can be found at Pandemiad.com. Many thanks to Rick for also engineering the show and to Erik Nelson for answering the phones. The Dream Journal aims to: Increase awareness of and appreciation for nightly dreams. Inspire dream sharing and other kinds of dream exploration as a way of adding depth and meaningfulness to lives and relationships. Improve society by the increased empathy, emotional balance, and sense of wonder which dream exploration invites. A dream can be meaningful even if you don’t know what it means. The Dream Journal is produced at and airs on KSQD Santa Cruz, 90.7 FM. Catch it streaming LIVE at KSQD.org 10-11am Pacific Time on Saturdays. Call or text with your dreams or questions at 831-900-5773 or email at onair@ksqd.org. Podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms the Monday following the live show. The complete KSQD Dream Journal podcast page can be found at ksqd.org/the-dream-journal/. Thanks for being a Dream Journal listener! Available on all major podcast platforms. Rate it, review it, subscribe, and tell your friends.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Golsa Gholampour - medical doctor, author, and passionate advocate for helping women understand the connection between the brain, body, and emotional wellbeing. Golsa's journey has taken her from growing up in Iran, to building a new life abroad, to experiencing burnout that ultimately led her back to her deeper purpose. Through her work, she explores the neuroscience behind empathy, forgiveness, self-compassion, and resilience, helping us understand why letting go isn't just a spiritual concept - it's something that can profoundly impact our brains, nervous systems, and overall wellbeing. This conversation is a beautiful blend of neuroscience, psychology, and wisdom. We explore what happens in the brain when we practise forgiveness, why empathy can be such a powerful tool for healing, and how learning to live with uncertainty can transform the way we experience anxiety. If you've ever struggled to let go of hurt, found yourself asking "why me?", or wondered how to find peace when life doesn't go to plan, this episode is for you. We talk about: How burnout and hitting a wall can lead you back to your deeper purpose The life-changing question: if time and money were no object, what would you do? What happens in the brain when we practise forgiveness and empathy Growing up in Iran vs Australia — and why forgiveness is so needed Where to find Dr. Golsa Gholampour: Instagram: @drgolsahealth YouTube: DrGolsa

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) was developed as a targeted, adjustable therapy for movement disorders to improve earlier hard-to-control procedures. Victor Sung, M.D., discusses how UAB began performing DBS in 1997 and built one of the nation's highest-volume programs, now performing six surgeries a week. Learn how advances such as directional stimulation, brain-sensing devices, and remote programming are shaping care, and how DBS plays an important role in the future of UAB's Movement Disorders Division.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed El' Deity Princey.

Your brain is making choices for you before you even realize it. Neuroscientist Emily McDonald, known as M on the Brain, studies how your identity, nervous system, and subconscious programming quietly run the show. Most people think they're choosing. Research shows the neural pattern of a decision lights up in a brain scan before you're consciously aware you've made it. That's the gap Emily spent years learning to close. She grew up with clinical depression, ADHD, anxiety, and a victim mindset baked in by illness and circumstance. She wasn't looking for a life philosophy. She switched her major to neuroscience because it sounded cool and got a 100 on her first exam. What she found changed everything. The science she uncovered is this: your brain holds a model of who you are in the default mode network. It uses that model to predict your thoughts, behaviors, and choices on autopilot. If the model says you're someone who struggles with money, or fails at relationships, or can't focus, your nervous system quietly steers you toward confirming that story. The identity is the destiny. Shifting it means more than positive thinking. It means identity anchors, environment, the people around you, the habits encoded in your body. Emily calls it identity shifting, and she coaches people through it by asking a deceptively simple question: do you have a to-do list or a to-be list? Most people have never sat down to ask who they're becoming, only what they're accomplishing. This conversation will rewire the way you think about why you keep falling back into old patterns, how affirmations can actually work against you, and what neuroscience actually says about the law of attraction. Emily's Website Emily's Instagram Mindcraft Coaching Program In this episode you will: Understand how the default mode network stores your identity and drives your choices below conscious awareness Learn the identity shifting process Emily uses with coaching clients to break subconscious patterns holding them back Discover why affirmations backfire and how to use forward motion and dopamine to make them actually work Explore the neuroscience behind the law of attraction and why you attract what your nervous system is wired for, not what you want Understand how ADHD medication, dopamine dependency, and addiction cycles form in the brain and what it takes to rewire them For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1935 For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960 Follow The Daily Motivation for essential highlights from The School of Greatness More SOG episodes we think you'll love: Dr Joe Dispenza Dr. K Dr. Sue Morter TOPICS Emily McDonald, neuroscience, identity shifting, default mode network, neuroplasticity, law of attraction, subconscious reprogramming, ADHD, dopamine, limiting beliefs, nervous system alignment, victim mindset Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.