The Brain And Beyond podcast

51:27

Stories shape our world – and our lives. Even when they're simply... stories, not actual truths. That's where Lucy Cooke comes in. With a deep understanding of the natural world and the courage to be a shotcaller, she goes to where the truth is revealed: the wild places our animal kin inhabit, getting first-hand accounts of what the world's species are really about. Looking beyond outdated perspectives and challenging the biases that have skewed our stories, she reveals the incredible complexity of animal cultures – and deeper truths about humans (and how our stories often get US wrong). Tune in for a wild ride – and be sure to learn more about Lucy and her groundbreaking work at thebrainandbeyond.com/lucy Thanks for listening and come back soon! www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Welcome to Season Two of The Brain and Beyond Podcast! 2:54

13 giorni fa2:54

2:54

We're back in action – and look forward to sharing a lively interview as our first official episode of Season Two. Thanks for your patience as I've prioritized other work and taken a deep dive into evolutionary biology – as in "how did our brains evolve?" – human history – as in "what events and changes have made us who we are today?" – and a whole lot about the mutuality of females and males and how we seem to have lost our ways. Season Two's first episode shares a lively interview with bestselling author, zoologist, and amazing being Lucy Cooke, author of the breakthrough "BITCH: On the Female of the Species." Expect some vivid stories and a lot of laughs when I share that episode later today. Also: join me for a unique learning experience: Stepping Up Strong. It's a groundbreaking look at female empowerment that's based on my global retreats and workshops. Learn more at ellenleanse.com . I look forward to sharing Lucy and other guests, along with friendly neuroscience you can put to work for you, in Season Two. As always: I'm glad you're here. www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Inner Work, Outer Impact with Dr. Susanne von der Becke 1:05:12

1 year fa1:05:12

1:05:12

Change, it's said, begins within – and it's hard to imagine a more inspiring advocate for inner change and outer action than Dr. Susanne von der Becke. Susanne's path to mindful living grew, from the inside out, through her work as a scientist, economist, and banker. Along the way she realized the power of an inner-guided way of living, a path she today teaches at corporate retreats, well-being forums, and individual work in Europe and around the world. She's an active investor and board member, Chairwoman of The Klosters Forum , and author of the upcoming book " A Mindfulness Guide for Leaders Who Want to Change the World. " You can find a generous offering of meditation, mindfulness, leadership, and inner transformation on her website, VDBInsights . Be sure to visit her Resource Page for a wide range of helpful content. She also shares updates on Instagram . The Episode Page www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/20 shares a range of resources related to Susanne's work, along with timely wisdom from three globally-respected Indigenous teachers – only three of many such leaders. I hope you'll stop by. Thank you for listening, Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Breath and Presence with Zee Clarke, Author, Mindfulness Guide, Breath Expert 57:18

2 years fa57:18

57:18

Breath is essential to each moment of your life – yet seldom do we realize, or harness, its power. Yet we can guide, even reset, the outlooks and presence with which we navigate the world when we understand the power of breath. Zee Clarke illuminates that path through her book Black People Breathe and through the abundance of resources she shares via YouTube , Instagram , her website , and in all that she does. Listen to Zee and you'll connect with the power of YOUR breath to guide and regulate your mood, interactions, and life experiences. You'll also gain tools for compassion, directed toward others and the self, and insights into the experiences of people in the human family who may face different realities than you've considered. There's also real power in that. Visit www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/19 to explore more of Zee's generous offerings and to connect more deeply to YOUR power...through empathy, mindfulness, and breath. best, Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Back to the Brain: Embodied Intelligence & The Body Brain 44:42

2 years fa44:42

44:42

What took this episode so long? Seriously, it was the amount of eye-opening information on how much intelligence there is to be discovered in the systems of your body – so much so that I don't think I'll ever see the "brain" as the 3-pound mass so far explored in this episode. It is and you are so much more. We scratch the surface here with a look at the "body brain" of the brainstem, medulla oblangata, and cerebellum... then wander down to the Vagus Nerve to really light things up. I've loaded up the episode page at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/18 for those of you who wish to explore more. There's good stuff there. I always welcome input and questions at ellen@thebrainandbeyond.com. Thanks for listening. Best, Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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The Body's Way with Debbie Rosas, Wellness Innovator, Entrepreneur, Creative Force 43:31

2 years fa43:31

43:31

Maybe you already know about Nia, the dance technique celebrated worldwide, the one that combines martial arts, healing arts, dance arts, and amazing music in a whole body, whole heart experience. Today's episode shares the voice of Nia founder, Debbie Rosas, and her unique look at the power of sensing – very different from thinking – as a primary intelligence. Listen to Debbie and you'll get all kinds of insights about the brain – the BALANCED brain, that is – and what we might be leaving out with all of our left hemispheric ways of thinking. Be sure to visit the episode page at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/17 for some excellent wellness resources, pics of Debbie from back in the day, and a pretty astonishing look at how principles of Yin and Yang map like "this" to the functions of the brain's hemispheres. And, as the movies Barbie and Oppenheimer vie for "who's on top?" as this episode drops, maybe something even larger. Enjoy. best, Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Oxytocin and the Power of Love (Hormones) 48:12

2 years fa48:12

48:12

Between us? I believe we humans, and all beings, are much (much) more than machines driven by pulses of electricity and surges of chemicals in the body and brain. That's the "mechanistic" view, and – much to a few science-focused friends' dismay – I'm not a mechanist. Though... our neurochemistry, and the way it interacts with lots of other things in the body, across the brain, and in the world around us, DOES shape much of our experience of life. This episode looks at one such chemical, a hormone called oxytocin, and how it might explain some of the puzzling pieces we're all trying to put together in life. Dive in to learn how this hormone works, how it differs across genders, and how you can encourage more of it in your life. And be sure to visit the episode page at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/16 . You'll find a lot of oxytocin-boosting goodies (and some fun!) there. Big shoutout to Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for being awesome, to The Commonwealth Club for allowing use of their interview with Dr. Louann Brizendine, and to the Omega Institute and Elizabeth Lesser. They both rock. Best, Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Everyday Mindfulness: PRESENCE 15:24

2 years fa15:24

15:24

Take 15 minutes to breathe, invite curiosity, balance your mind, and ... experience presence. Maybe you're noticing a theme between the last few episodes and Everyday Mindfulness practices: something about you having more agency and power in your life than the common narratives want you to believe. After all, it's harder for them to meet their goals when you, as the saying goes, are the product. Thanks to wisdom guide and Buddhist scholar/teacher Pamela Weiss for her many sparks of inspiration. Learn more about Pamela on her website , and in my book, The Happiness Hack , where I've featured her wisdom. Explore resources on breath, Buddhism, and "Thinking Fast and Slow" on the Episode Page at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/15 Pro tip: practicing presence is even better with two. Share this episode with a friend and explore the practice together. It's also amazing to talk about presence with kids. Thank you, sincerely. I appreciate you being here and hope you'll come back soon. Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Emotional Rescue: Disarming the Amygdala Hijack 33:59

2 years fa33:59

33:59

In this episode you'll meet two tiny organelles with the power to transform you – or anyone – into a fight, flight, or freeze follower of their survival agenda: your amygdalae. The fight or flight response, or its more modern-day expression, the "Amygdala Hijack," carries an ancient legacy of success in getting our long line of ancestors away from threats to their survival. After all, we wouldn't be here today if their collective amygdalae hadn't excelled at firing the "alert and convert" chemical takeover that fueled their defenses or escapes. Yet in today's world, those ready-to-fire little amygdalae are more likely to surge into action when a threat to our ideas, feelings, identity, or comfort, rather than to our actual survival, arises. Since nothing in their evolutionary legacy has taught them the difference, it's often on us – the proud owners of two powerful little amygdalae and navigators of an often mentally threatening reality – to manage the way our defense systems show up in the world. That's what this episode explores. Understanding the ancient – as in billions of years ancient – roots of the brain's survival manifesto and the vigilant, ever-ready mechanics of the amygdalae, we'll look at how mindset affects our emotional responses, how to "disarm" the potential for hijack, and how to "disalarm" a mind and body takeover when the fight or flight chemicals fire. Lots of episode resources at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/14 I welcome feedback and suggestions at ellen@thebrainandbeyond.com Thanks for being here. By the way, this episode partners well with the recent interview with Mónica Guzmán, political bridge-builder and author of the bestseller "I Never Thought of It That Way." Best, Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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The Power of Curiosity with Mónica Guzmán 1:01:32

2 years fa1:01:32

1:01:32

Some of us are already bracing ourselves for the conflict and tension anticipated in the upcoming 2024 US elections. Yet we don't have to wait 'til then for the escalation of polarizing political – and media – triggers that seem to show up wherever we look. And often, uncomfortably close to home. This episode shares the unique, bridge-building perspectives of author, activist, and Braver Angel Mónica Guzmán, whose bestselling book, I Never Thought of it That Way," guides new ways of thinking about, and learning from, what could too easily be labeled conflict – and inviting new ways to unify divided factions and reclaim balance as we look to be better together. The episode page at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/13 shares a few excellent Mónica talks, information on Braver Angels, and a resources about the brain's limbic system, where emotions are housed and, with practice, managed. best, Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Everyday Mindfulness: VALUES 15:20

2 years fa15:20

15:20

It's great to be back from some travel and to share another Everyday Mindfulness episode. VALUES shape perceptions, and even the brain – and thus, pretty much everything we experience, think, or do. Yet for most of us the idea of actively choosing and knowing our values simply ... doesn't happen. Interestingly, some of the most popular undergrad classes at Stanford, Princeton, Yale, and no doubt many other schools guide students through choosing their values as a path to "designing an intentional life," or other worthy pursuits. I've linked info on these classes on the episode page at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/12 . Think about this: many of the most successful companies, from household names to local startups, use corporate or company values as a foundation to strategy or decision making. I've worked with many companies to put these values in place and have always wondered why more individuals, folks like you and me, don't always have the tools to choose and act on their own. This episode, a mindfulness practice to get you thinking about values, suggests why, and even how, to get that process started. You'll find more on the episode page linked above. Maybe you'll come up with YOUR t-shirt slogan in a way that guides your thoughts – and all that they lead to. Warmly, Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Beyond Binary: Envisioning Balance, Celebrating Pride 53:18

2 years fa53:18

53:18

This episode explores the binary – or better yet, the lack thereof – when it comes to sexual and gender identity. Celebrating PRIDE and the activist spirit of transgender entrepreneur, community leader, and family man Nat Stratton-Clarke, this special interview weaves in perspectives from social science and biology to support the life-affirming power of a gender spectrum... one on which we all have a unique and important place. Be sure to visit the Episode Page at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/11 for resources about Nat and from Lucy Cooke, Dr. Riane Eisler, and others whose work is referenced in this episode. Explore, enjoy, and challenge that binary, wherever it puts any of us into too small of a box. Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Episode 10: Brainsets of Hope with Alice Waters 41:15

2 years fa41:15

41:15

Greetings – this one took some heavy lifting, yet I wanted to publish before leaving for business travel. I'll catch up with the description and the Episode Page as soon as I can. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy. – Ellen www.ellenleanse.com

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Episode 9: Better Together... Two Halves of a Balanced Brain 45:16

2 years fa45:16

45:16

I didn't leave anything on the table with this one. Yes, there's neuroscience. There's definitely balance. And ... maybe ... there's even hope. Maybe. Because this episode lays out what I think is the most important opportunity we humans have to face the "poly-crises" we're currently addressing and rethink our place in a future we want to be part of. That belief stems from a growing understanding of the differences between the hemispheres of the brain and what we left behind when we surged forward with the pursuit of linear knowledge and rationality at the expense of balanced intelligence. This one was hard. I confess it's a theme I've thought and learned about for years, yet struggled to put into words that actually made sense. I hope I've done that here, and that this episode gets you thinking about what might be unseen, untapped, and yet ... potentially unstoppable in YOUR brain as you think about the challenges you're facing and how you want to activate change. Be sure to visit the Episode Page at www.thebrainandbeyond.com/episodes/9 for additional resources on the hemispheres and ways to learn more. Thank you. I mean it when I say I'm glad you're here. Ellen Neuroscience Educator, Author, and Coach www.ellenleanse.com www.ellenleanse.com…

The Brain and Beyond Podcast

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Episode 8 / Everyday Mindfulness: Cooking 16:30

2 years fa16:30