Explore every episode of the podcast Mindset Neuroscience Podcast

Most of us walk through the world believing we're responding to what's actually happening. But we're not. We're responding to a model—a statistical best guess shaped by our history, our nervous system, and even the people who raised us. Here's...

The post Your brain doesn’t do reality – it does probability: And self-understanding is how we update the code. appeared first on StefanieFaye.

  Gratitude - and all of its related rituals - can come across as surface level and performative.  But when we can explore it through the lens of neuroscience, we see that it is not just about some frivolous ‘feel-good’...

The post The Neuroscience of Thanksgiving: regulation beyond the ritual appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Resilience isn't built by staying calm. Resilience also doesn't happen by following a script or filling out a worksheet. It's built through rupture, repair, and range. It's about in-the-moment-flexibility, adaptation, and widening our repertoire of strategies and scenarios of what we can handle.   I love leading research teams on enhancing human performance and resilience.  It helps us get clear about what we...

The post Resilience isn’t built by staying calm: how your brain-body actually heals appeared first on StefanieFaye.

How does revenge play a role in our world? Neuroscience research shows that its neurological basis plays a deeper, darker role than we might have imagined...   “Behavioral studies from around the world confirm that people who hurt (or kill)...

The post How revenge affects our brain and how we can break the cycle w/ Dr. Kimmel appeared first on StefanieFaye.

What if the most powerful leaders are not those who control others, but those who have mastered the art of self-regulation? Not only leaders who can regulate themselves, but those who regulate the nervous systems of those around them.  By...

The post Super-Regulators: the Science of Self-Regulation Leadership appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Our past experiences are not simply stored in the brain—they are patterns embedded into the circuitry of our brain-body system.     For many people, their history can linger as patterns of dysregulation, stress, or a sense of being "stuck"...

The post Our Brain as a Liberation Technology: how to free our mind from our past appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Memory is not just in the brain. Many of you have heard of the book, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk. The main idea of the book is that memory is not just something contained in...

The post Our Body Keeps the Score, Our Cells ‘Remember’ with Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Memory is not just in the brain. Many of you have heard of the book, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk. The main idea of the book is that memory is not just something contained in...

The post Our Body Keeps the Score, Our Cells ‘Remember’ with Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin appeared first on StefanieFaye.

What does your mind do when it wanders?  Perhaps you catch yourself getting 'lost in thought'...  moments of daydreaming, wondering, wandering...   Do you believe that those 'lapses in attention' are helpful or hindering?   Without knowing what the brain is...

The post The Science of How to Build Our Most Powerful Brains w Dr. Immordino-Yang appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“[...] humans, people and knowledge are not only objectively significant: they are by far the most significant phenomena in nature – the only ones whose behaviour cannot be understood without understanding everything of fundamental importance.” ― David Deutsch, The Beginning...

The post Artificial Intelligence, Disembodied Wisdom: interview with Dr Mathilde Cerioli appeared first on StefanieFaye.

"It's a blessing to be hidden and a disaster not to be found." - D. W. Winnicott   The labels we assign to ourselves or accept from others can drastically influence our self-perception and motivation. The words we hear about...

The post Recognition: the Science and Power of Attunement, Non-Conformity, and Hope with Dr. Ross Ellenhorn appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Attachment theory is not a 'theory'.. it's a part of our neurophysiological operating system It’s a biobehavioral adaptation that helps us regulate ourselves and explore new frontiers.  And attachment is not just a childhood concept. It is something that carries...

The post Neuroscience of Attachment: satiated connection, rest and play as prerequisites for growth appeared first on StefanieFaye.

"your brain is editing out what it thinks you should know about and what you shouldn't know about." -Dr. Allan Hamilton   Understanding why we react the way we do, where our patterns come from and how we can show...

The post Cerebral Entanglements: How the Brain Shapes Our Public and Private Lives – Dr Allan Hamilton appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Ever feel like your brain's in a fog? Like something is off and your brain is not firing on all cylinders? This is something I come across a lot when working with clients, and particularly in doing brain maps. What...

The post the science of brain fog: 4 ways to boost your mind’s clarity (mini podcast episode) appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Years ago, while studying with my mentor-professor at NYU, Zoran Josipovic - who was looking at brains scans of monks - I decided to stay for a few months at various monasteries. One of them was Deer Park - under...

The post The Heart as a Little Brain: the beauty and power of mindful breathing appeared first on StefanieFaye.

As we approach the end of the year, we may start notice within ourselves - and others - feelings of exhaustion, burn out, feeling frazzled or overwhelmed.     There are seasons that are influenced socially and symbolically.. for example,...

The post How to not take things personally: The science of stimulus-response appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Connection is a 'biological imperative'. Being a mammal means that we are extremely 'nurture-dependent'. We cannot survive without connection to another. On the one hand, each human must become self regulating to a certain degree. Self-regulation is what we do...

The post Brains on the same wavelength: higher levels of collective intelligence – interview with Caroline Szymanski Season 4 Ep 9 appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Whether it's asking a question, raising our hands, speaking in public, posting or publishing, expressing something new, asking someone out, having a difficult conversation, setting a boundary, or wanting to have a new experience that challenges us…  our ability to...

The post Bravery and the Brain: how to cultivate courage and vulnerability for learning and trying new things appeared first on StefanieFaye.

When we truly understand the power of the human brain, and we authentically become learners, neuroscience becomes a language of the human spirit - one that empowers and inspires.  Unfortunately, it can also become a language of buzzwords, hype and...

The post Beware False Growth Mindset: Signals of Inauthenticity and How to Change Them appeared first on StefanieFaye.

As we approach the holidays and important moments in history… are there social or family dynamics that feel like repeats or remnants from the past?   Do you sometimes get the feeling that nothing ever really changes?  Repeating history isn’t...

The post How to not repeat history: neurochemical identities and self-fulfilling prophecies – mini episode appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Purpose isn't just some grandiose, once-in-a-lifetime discovery. It's not a single "aha" moment where suddenly everything clicks. Instead, we can view a sense of purpose as an ongoing narrative that evolves with our unique sensitivities* and experiences - and the...

The post How purpose and transcendent thinking affect the brain appeared first on StefanieFaye.

"One thing about human intelligence is absolutely certain: it is malleable, meaning it can be changed through exposure to new information or even by looking at what you already know in a new way.  There is no limit to what...

The post How to inspire growth mindset using neuroscience (5 steps) appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Emotion regulation doesn't mean being calm and collected all the time. It's about range and repertoire, and an ability to intentionally shift into a state we prefer.  A state that 'feels better'.  Feeling better is always relative - if we...

The post Emotion Regulation doesn’t mean being calm and collected all the time – Mini Episode appeared first on StefanieFaye.

The brain, more than anything, is a predictive system. It conserves energy by attempting to predict - rather than truly understand - what is in front of it. When information is missing, it fills in the blanks based on its...

The post Vibrational Availability: how our brain distorts people and reality – Mini Episode appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“Your brain - every brain - is a work in progress. It is 'plastic.' From the day we're born to the day we die, it continuously revises and remodels, improving or slowly declining, as a function of how we use...

The post Mastering the Art of Inner Intelligence – Mini Episode appeared first on StefanieFaye.

  Imagine yourself when you were at a low point in your life. Is there a voice that could have somehow helped you see yourself in a new way?  Perhaps an older, wiser version of you.. Or even a younger...

The post Suppress, Switch, Engage: The neuro-mechanics of your inner voice and how to fuel your purpose – Season 4 Ep 7 appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it [...] has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present. Trauma results in a fundamental reorganization of...

The post The Neuroscience of Intergenerational Trauma and Healing: Interview with Tim Lewis – Season 4 Ep 6 appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it [...] has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present. Trauma results in a fundamental reorganization of...

The post the science of intergenerational trauma appeared first on StefanieFaye.

What is it about those things we know are good for us that we somehow just can’t get ourselves to do? Maybe we have intentions to do something healthy but then we don’t. … or maybe we do start making...

The post The Neuroscience of Feeling Like a Failure: why our brain makes us feel like giving up and what we can do stop it – Interview with Dr. Kyra Bobinet, Season 4 Ep 5 appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“too often people typically spring into action based on what first comes to mind, and thus too often mind… And thus too often, wind up seeing the world through the lens of what they already know.”   - Maggie Jackson,...

The post Uncertain: The Science and Wisdom of Being Unsure Season 4 Ep 4 appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Our nervous systems and brain networks are powerfully shaped by experiences that are embodied, visceral, sensory-motor and social. This is the essence of Embodied Social Neuroscience.

In this episode, learn about 5 concrete embodied, neuroscience-supported pillars you can use to get better at honing the incredible power of the human mind-brain-body system.  We look at several biomarkers and physiological pillars of how to combine the extraordinary, beautiful and magnificent power of the human brain with the mechanics of our body to help us achieve a state of deep fulfillment and sense of agency and alignment with our highest potential.

The post Embodied Social Neuroscience and Self-Regulation: brainwaves, heart rhythms, and more appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” ― Albert Einstein     In a world that often values certainty and consistency, it can be hard to admit when we need to change our minds. The concept of changing...

The post Mindstuck: the science of stubbornness and how to change your mind- interview with Michael McQueen Season 4 Ep 2 appeared first on StefanieFaye.

You were born with a growth mindset. When you were first learning to speak and walk, you fell and fumbled over and over again. But there was a part of you - an algorithm - that understood that this was...

The post Neuroscience of Growth Mindset & How to Apply It To Your Life appeared first on StefanieFaye.

"A problem never exists in isolation; it is surrounded by other problems in space and time. The more of the context of a problem that a scientist can comprehend, the greater are his chances of finding a truly adequate solution."...

The post Season 3 Ep 12 – Safety, Security and Systems Intelligence appeared first on StefanieFaye.

  “What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost but the call of a potential meaning...

The post Season 3 Ep 11: Mission, Endurance and Post-Traumatic Growth – Interview with Two Wolf Foundation appeared first on StefanieFaye.

  Because of how human brains develop, the only way for maturity to emerge is in the presence of maturity.   Listen on Blubrry Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts   I remember the first time I gave a...

The post Season 3 Episode 10 – Education, Maturity & Human Potential appeared first on StefanieFaye.

  A quick episode that covers some insights gained over the course of my career in human communication and psychology, child development, teaching, and neuroscience.   Highlights include the importance of: mindset, purpose and effective teachers anti-disciplinary thinking and teams...

The post Season 3 Episode 9 – Mindset, Purpose & Neuroplasticity: Career Insights & Perspectives appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.” ― Shannon L. Alder   Listen on Blubrry Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify   How we distract ourselves...

The post Season 3 Episode 8 – Warriors Heart: Courage, Connection and Healing appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Danger - and how it is dealt with - is the central theme of attachment - and therefore human interaction. Who we turn to and who we have around us during times of uncertainty and threat affect our abilities for information processing and preparing and responding to future events.

The concept of how we regulate ourselves and with others, and how we deal with social danger, rejection, status, comparison, the need for acceptance, and how we diversify our abilities to navigate our neurochemicals are topics we cover in this Episode of the Mindset Neuroscience Podcast, where I interview Loretta Breuning of the Inner Mammal Institute.

In our interview, we explore:

-The neurochemicals associated with how it feels to have social support - and how this differs from social dominance
-The fluctuations of neurochemicals, feelings and behaviors tied to threat, rejection, and constantly seeking external rewards and short-term gratification 
-Being more realistic about the ups and downs of all of our neurochemical states, rather than believing we should feel good all the time. 
-The biological purposes to the fluctuations and varieties of states we experience and why it’s helpful for us to understand this so we can get better a-t making choices that are good for our mental and physical health
-The life-threatening feelings people experience when it comes to social rejection, and social comparison
-How our brain and body store information about threats, and how this can significantly influence our current reactions to people
-The idea of ‘dopamine droop’ and our constant urge to seek reward and avoid discomfort

"We have inherited a brain that compares itself to others to promote its survival. It creates has a sense of urgency about how it measures up. If you don’t know you are creating this feeling yourself, you think the world is doing it to you. You feel bitter, resentful, and victimized. Instead, you can accept that the people around you are mammals, and you are a mammal too." -Loretta Breuning, Inner Mammal Institute

The post Season 3 Episode 7 – Danger, Attachment and Navigating our Neurochemicals with Loretta Breuning appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“Love is at once an affirmation and a transcendence of who we are.” ― Esther Perel   “And what is true for human beings is true for every living thing: all organisms require alternating periods of growth and equilibrium. Any person...

The post Season 2 Ep 6: Love, Purpose and Relational Realities appeared first on StefanieFaye.

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” * ― Leo Tolstoy   Listen on Blubrry Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts We are in the most interconnected period that humanity has ever experienced. The...

The post Season 3 Episode 5: Why social rejection is so scary – the science of communication, maturity and purpose appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Learning is a gateway to power and freedom Learning increases our degrees of freedom by giving us new ways to move, communicate and adapt to challenges and capitalize on opportunities.   Listen on Blubrry Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple...

The post Embodied Cognition and Learning with Drs. Sheila Macrine and Jennifer Fugate appeared first on StefanieFaye.

“Once again, the world seems to be less about objects than about interactive relationships.” ― Carlo Rovelli, Seven Brief Lessons on Physics   Studying human brains while a person is immobile and alone in an mri machine can only get us so...

The post Season 3 Ep 3: The socio-biomechanics of resilience, trust and flow appeared first on StefanieFaye.

To update our algorithms and enhance our brain functioning, there is one key thing we can do: Intentionally add experiences into our weekly routine that engage our sensory-motor systems in ways that are completely unfamiliar to us.

That is the essence of my interview with Jason Knight, director of Alderleaf Wilderness College. In this interview, we discuss:
-Jason’s journey to becoming a wilderness expert and his desire to connect people more deeply with nature and the types of thinking that come with those experiences;
-How people’s mindsets get disrupted when they experience a learning environment that challenges what they are used to;
-How our awareness expands as we spend time in nature: we begin to see allies, tools and individuated beings;
-A truly embodied perspective of empathy: working with natural systems requires us to move out of our self-referential networks and expand into neural territories that recognize how another living organism can perceive the world differently than us;
-High-level pattern recognition: how get the best possible solution and sustainable way of achieving a goal by expanding the space-time horizon and creating maps to see multiple systems working together across long periods of time

The post Season 3 Episode 2 – Interview with Jason Knight: Natural Intelligence and Embodied Mindsets appeared first on StefanieFaye.

In this episode, I explore:

-the difference between our autonomic and somatic nervous systems and why knowing the difference gives us power to change
-biomechanisms we use to protect or defend ourselves that are tied to our past and may not be helpful to us in our current situation (as I am learning, these can be hard habits to break)
-how we can experiment with new patterns using skeletal muscles to control our breath, voice, eyes, hands and body within our social interactions
-10 key mechanical adjustments we can make to move in this world in ways that optimize our functioning and sense of fulfillment
-how our hyper-focus on words & devices makes us lose touch with our bodies, with our environment and with all the non-verbal aspects of life

The post Season 3 Episode 1 – Biomechanics of Human Communication and Social Intelligence appeared first on StefanieFaye.

What is moral injury, and how can we use it as a path to cognitive flexibility, sense of purpose and forgiveness?

In this episode, we explore the following:

- what is moral injury
- what is morality and how it can be used to improve energy efficiency and resilience of the human species
- how forgiveness and flexibility help us activate highly sophisticated and evolved neural mechanisms
- that brain activations that are different in trauma compared with moral injury
- how the human species is an interconnected network of nodes that requires social signaling for trust and cooperation

The post Season 2 Episode 12 – Moral Injury, Forgiveness and Cognitive Flexibility appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Attachment theory is not a 'theory'.. it's a part of our neurophysiological operating system Attachment is a way of seeking proximity to an attachment figure.  It’s a biobehavioral adaptation that helps us regulate ourselves and explore new frontiers. This in...

The post Season 2 Episode 11 – The Neuroscience of Attachment and Emotion Regulation appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Have you ever had the experience of feeling like someone really ‘gets you’?   This can take various forms - like being able to share what’s on our mind and the other person holding space for us to explain. It...

The post Season 2 Episode 10 – The Science of Feeling Understood appeared first on StefanieFaye.

Why do systems fall apart or become dysfunctional?

A system can be a family, relationship, community, business, organization, society. The human mind-brain-body is also a system.

One reason dysfunction can happen is related to hierarchy and ‘signal flow’.

Hierarchies exist throughout nature and throughout human society.
Hierarchies are best able to serve the system when there is efficient signal flow from subsystems to the higher levels and vice versa.

We can see dysfunction happen when the highest levels of a hierarchy are
-not serving the goals of the entire system
-have communication channels dominated by a specific subgroup/subsystem
-are blocking or suppressing efficient communication and signal flow from the subsystems

Optimal functioning of a system requires a state of signal flow where all members or nodes feel ‘understood’.

This experience of being understood is at the core of optimal system functioning within human systems. When we don’t feel understood, it means there is a block of signal flow.

This episode covers the idea of hierarchies and signal flow - and what happens when hierarchies don’t serve the goals of the entire system.

In upcoming articles, I’ll be bringing this concept back down to more personal and interpersonal levels.

The post Season 2 Episode 9 – Hierarchies and Signal Flow appeared first on StefanieFaye.

In this podcast episode, I talk about something called ‘shifting the burden’. It’s about the topic of what we depend on ourselves for, and what we look to others to help us with. The balance of our dependence on ourselves and others - whether in adaptive maladaptive ways - is based on our first experiences with depending on someone.

Many of us simply don’t know how deeply emotional of a subject this is. It is one of our most primitive, primal CORE-to-the-CORE experiences of being human… a battle between wanting to be independent and self-sufficient, and yet also knowing that one of our deepest desires is to connect in authentic ways with others.

My reflection questions at the end of the episode are about your doubts, desires and dependencies - how they interplay on each other and how they’ve been formed over time - through your experiences with others.. and what they’ve doubted, desired and depended on in their own lives.

I hope you find something in this episode helpful.

The post Season 2 Episode 8 – Shifting the Burden appeared first on StefanieFaye.