Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning

Host Andrea Samadi revisits a 2021 conversation with Dr. Kristen Holmes (VP of Performance Science at WHOOP) to explain how measuring sleep, recovery, and strain transforms performance and resilience. The episode emphasizes that small daily habits in downtime—sleep, HRV, hydration, and strategic movement—create a sustainable competitive advantage. Practical tips include tracking one recovery metric, building a shutdown routine, auditing downtime choices, prioritizing consistent sleep, and balancing strain with recovery so you can train smarter, reduce stress, and improve focus and wellbeing. For today's EP 390, we cover: ✔ What “What gets measured gets improved” really means for performance ✔ How sleep, recovery, and strain work together as one system ✔ Why recovery—not effort—is the true driver of results ✔ The hidden cost of high strain without adequate sleep ✔ How to use data to match your effort to your recovery capacity ✔ The difference between training harder vs. training smarter ✔ Why shorter, intentional workouts can outperform longer sessions ✔ How wearable data (like WHOOP) builds awareness and better decision-making ✔ The connection between overtraining, inflammation, and performance plateaus ✔ How to create sustainable performance through balance, not extremes Welcome back to Season 15 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. I’m Andrea Samadi, and here we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience—so we can create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. When we launched this podcast seven years ago, it was driven by a question I had never been taught to ask—not in school,not in business,and not in life: If results matter—and they matter now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make these results happen? Most of us were taught what to do.Very few of us were taught how to think under pressure,how to regulate emotion,how to sustain motivation,or even how to produce consistent results without burning out. That question led me into a deep exploration of the mind–brain–results connection—and how neuroscience applies to everyday decisions, conversations, and performance. That’s why this podcast exists. Each week, we bring you leading experts to break down complex science and translate it into practical strategies that we can all apply immediately. Season 15 we’ve organized as a review roadmap, where each episode explores one foundational brain system—and each phase builds on the one before it. Season 15 Roadmap: Phase 1 — Regulation & Safety Phase 2 — Neurochemistry & Motivation Phase 3 — Movement, Learning & Cognition Phase 4 — Perception, Emotion & Social Intelligence Phase 5 — Integration, Insight & Meaning PHASE 1: REGULATION & SAFETY Staples: Sleep + Stress RegulationCore Question: Is the nervous system safe enough to learn? Anchor Episodes Episode 384[i] — Baland JalalHow learning begins: curiosity, sleep, imagination, creativity Episode 385[ii] — Bruce Perry“What happened to you?” — trauma, rhythm, relational safety Episode 387[iii] Sui WongAutonomic balance, lifestyle medicine, brain resilience Episode 389[iv] Rohan DixitHRV, real-time self-regulation, nervous system literacy Episode 390 Dr. Kristen Holmes (Whoop)Recovery Metrics, physiological readiness Episode 391 Antonio ZadraSleep, dreaming, REM Integration EPISODE 390 — Dr. Kristen Holmes Recovery Metrics, physiological readiness. In Phase 1: Regulation & Safety, we are asking one essential question:Is the nervous system safe enough to learn? And today we cover this topic as we travel back to May 2021 for EP 134[v] when we first met Dr. Kristen Holmes, the VP of Performance Science at Whoop. Back then, I had just turned 50 and purchased the Whoop wearable tracker to help me to improve my weakest link (at the time): Sleep. For today’s EP 390 — We revisit this earlie

In this episode Andrea Samadi revisits her conversation with Rohan Dixit, founder of Leaf Therapeutics, exploring how heart rate variability (HRV) and breath awareness reveal hidden stress and support self-regulation. Learn practical breath techniques like the physiological sigh and slow breathing, plus tips to calm nighttime stress and improve sleep, so you can build lasting resilience without over-relying on technology. In Episode 389, we revisit our September 2022 interview with Rohan Dixit, founder of Lief Therapeutics, where we explore the science behind HRV, breath awareness, and how learning to regulate our nervous system can improve stress, sleep, and resilience. In this episode, we cover: ✔ What heart rate variability (HRV) is and why it’s one of the most important biomarkers for understanding stress, recovery, and resilience ✔ Why many people unknowingly hold their breath during stressful moments and how this impacts mental health and nervous system regulation ✔ How breath awareness can help shift the body from a stress response to a calmer, more regulated state ✔ How wearable technology like the Lief Therapeutics device can help people recognize stress patterns in real time ✔ Why improving breathing patterns before sleep can improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety the following day ✔ The connection between self-regulation, nervous system awareness, and long-term mental health ✔ Why learning to regulate stress through breathing is a skill that develops over time, not a one-time solution Welcome back to Season 15 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. I’m Andrea Samadi, and here we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience—so we can create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. When we launched this podcast seven years ago, it was driven by a question I had never been taught to ask—not in school,not in business,and not in life: If results matter—and they matter now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make these results happen? Most of us were taught what to do.Very few of us were taught how to think under pressure,how to regulate emotion,how to sustain motivation,or even how to produce consistent results without burning out. That question led me into a deep exploration of the mind–brain–results connection—and how neuroscience applies to everyday decisions, conversations, and performance. That’s why this podcast exists. Each week, we bring you leading experts to break down complex science and translate it into practical strategies you can apply immediately. Season 15 we’ve organized as a review roadmap, where each episode explores one foundational brain system—and each phase builds on the one before it. Season 15 Roadmap: Phase 1 — Regulation & Safety Phase 2 — Neurochemistry & Motivation Phase 3 — Movement, Learning & Cognition Phase 4 — Perception, Emotion & Social Intelligence Phase 5 — Integration, Insight & Meaning PHASE 1: REGULATION & SAFETY Staples: Sleep + Stress RegulationCore Question: Is the nervous system safe enough to learn? Anchor Episodes Episode 384[i] — Baland JalalHow learning begins: curiosity, sleep, imagination, creativity Episode 385[ii] — Bruce Perry“What happened to you?” — trauma, rhythm, relational safety Episode 387[iii] Sui WongAutonomic balance, lifestyle medicine, brain resilience Episode 389 Rohan DixitHRV, real-time self-regulation, nervous system literacy Episode 390 Dr. Kristen Holmes (Whoop)Recovery Metrics, physiological readiness Episode 391 Antonio ZadraSleep, dreaming, REM Integration EPISODE 389 — Rohan Dixit HRV, Real-Time Self-Regulation, and Nervous System Literacy In Phase 1: Regulation & Safety, we are asking one essential question:Is the nervous system safe enough to learn? So far, we’ve revisited Dr. Baland Jalal on curiosity, sleep, imagination, and creativity; Dr. Br

In this episode Andrea Samadi welcomes back Dr. David Stephens to explore his new book, The Glucose Protocol, and the science showing how targeted glucose can restore brain function, improve mental clarity, and reduce symptoms linked to diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and chronic stress. They break down the difference between glucose and other sweeteners, explain why the brain prioritizes survival over higher-order thinking during stress, and share practical strategies—like on-the-spot glucose dosing—to regain focus and cognitive performance. Dr. Stephens also discusses biomarkers, clinical observations, and upcoming practical products to make brain refueling easy, offering hopeful, science-based approaches to restore long-term brain health. Watch interview on YouTube here https://youtu.be/zv70S5fZh2I Today's EP 388 we’re welcoming Dr. Stephens back to the podcast to explore: The difference between glucose and other sugars Why blood sugar and brain glucose matter for cognitive performance What his newest research is revealing about brain restoration And how we can think more clearly about nutrition and brain health moving forward. Welcome back to Season 15 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. I’m Andrea Samadi, and here we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience—so we can create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. When we launched this podcast seven years ago, it was driven by a question I had never been taught to ask—not in school,not in business,and not in life: If results matter—and they matter now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make these results happen? Most of us were taught what to do.Very few of us were taught how to think under pressure,how to regulate emotion,how to sustain motivation,or even how to produce consistent results without burning out. That question led me into a deep exploration of the mind–brain–results connection—and how neuroscience applies to everyday decisions, conversations, and performance. That’s why this podcast exists. Each week, we bring you leading experts to break down complex science and translate it into practical strategies that we can all apply immediately. When the brain, body, and emotions are aligned, performance stops feeling forced—and starts to feel sustainable. Season 14 showed us what alignment looks like in real life. We looked at goals and mental direction, rewiring the brain, future-ready learning and leadership, self-leadership, which ALL led us to inner alignment. And now, Season 15 is about understanding how that alignment is built—so we can build it ourselves, using predictable, science-backed principles. Because alignment doesn’t happen all at once.It happens by using a sequence. And when we understand the order of that sequence —we can replicate it. By repeating this sequence over and over again, until magically (or predictably) we notice our results have changed. Season 15 we’ve organized as a review roadmap, where each episode explores one foundational brain system—and each phase builds on the one before it. Rather than focusing on outcomes, hacks, or motivation alone, we examine the core brain systems that must be stable before learning, performance, and leadership can emerge. Episodes are organized around a simple but powerful progression: Phase 1: Regulation & Safety — the nervous system foundation for learning Phase 2: Neurochemistry and Motivation—dopamine balance + Emotional regulation Phase 3: Cognition & Learning — attention, memory, and executive function Phase 4: Perception & Social Intelligence — how we read ourselves and others Phase 5: Integration & Meaning — how experience becomes insight and growth Each system builds upon the one beneath it, reminding us that when foundations are ignored, progress is temporary. When they are strengthened, performance becomes sustai

This episode revisits Dr. Sui Wong’s insights on how the eyes are neural tissue that can reveal early signs of brain, vascular, and metabolic issues, and reframes migraine as a common, often invisible neurological condition that causes brain fog and cognitive symptoms. Actionable takeaways include scheduling regular dilated eye exams, stabilizing blood sugar, prioritizing sleep and retinal blood flow, reducing digital strain, and tracking migraine triggers to prevent worsening symptoms. In today's review of EP 342 with Dr. Sui Wong from August 2024, we cover: • Why the eyes are considered an extension of the brain — and how the retina is neural tissue • How eye exams may provide early insight into overall neurological and vascular health • What drusen are, why small amounts can be age-related, and why monitoring retinal changes matters • The powerful idea that prevention begins before symptoms become severe • Why migraine is not “just a headache,” but a neurological condition affecting 1 in 7 people globally • The hidden symptoms of migraine — including brain fog, mood changes, word-finding difficulty, and cognitive slowing • Why migraine is a leading cause of disability in young women and often goes unrecognized • The connection between blood sugar regulation, sleep, stress, and neurological function • Practical ways to support long-term brain health through awareness, monitoring, and daily lifestyle habits • How small, consistent actions build cognitive resilience over time Welcome back to Season 15 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. I’m Andrea Samadi, and here we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience—so we can create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. When we launched this podcast seven years ago, it was driven by a question I had never been taught to ask—not in school,not in business,and not in life: If results matter—and they matter now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make these results happen? Most of us were taught what to do.Very few of us were taught how to think under pressure,how to regulate emotion,how to sustain motivation,or even how to produce consistent results without burning out. That question led me into a deep exploration of the mind–brain–results connection—and how neuroscience applies to everyday decisions, conversations, and performance. That’s why this podcast exists. Each week, we bring you leading experts to break down complex science and translate it into practical strategies you can apply immediately. When the brain, body, and emotions are aligned, performance stops feeling forced—and starts to feel sustainable. Season 14 showed us what alignment looks like in real life. We looked at goals and mental direction, rewiring the brain, future-ready learning and leadership, self-leadership, which ALL led us to inner alignment. And now, Season 15 is about understanding how that alignment is built—so we can build it ourselves, using predictable, science-backed principles. Because alignment doesn’t happen all at once.It happens by using a sequence. And when we understand the order of that sequence —we can replicate it. By repeating this sequence over and over again, until magically (or predictably) we notice our results have changed. Season 15 we’ve organized as a review roadmap, where each episode explores one foundational brain system—and each phase builds on the one before it. Season 15 Roadmap: Phase 1 — Regulation & Safety Phase 2 — Neurochemistry & Motivation Phase 3 — Movement, Learning & Cognition Phase 4 — Perception, Emotion & Social Intelligence Phase 5 — Integration, Insight & Meaning PHASE 1: REGULATION & SAFETY Staples: Sleep + Stress RegulationCore Question: Is the nervous system safe enough to learn? Anchor Episodes Episode 384[i] — Baland JalalHow learning begins: curiosity, sleep, imagin

In this episode Andrea Samadi interviews Thoryn Stevens, CEO and founder of Brain.One, about using AI, wearables, biomarkers and evidence-based micro-habits to create personalized brain-health protocols. Watch our full interview on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9UN9kev2CE or listen and follow the show notes here https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/can-ai-personalize-your-brain-health-inside-brainones-protocols/ What We Covered on EP 386 with Thoryn Stephens The Problem with Generic Wellness Advice Why most health advice fails to translate into sustained behavior change The gap between research findings and real-world application Why optimization must be systematic, not inspirational From Data to Daily Micro-Habits How Brain.One analyzes peer-reviewed research using AI Turning biometrics (HRV, sleep data, metabolic markers) into actionable protocols Why small, consistent micro-habits compound into long-term neuroplastic change Wearables & What Actually Matters The most misunderstood wearable metrics HRV, sleep architecture, and recovery as early indicators of cognitive health How to avoid becoming obsessive with numbers while still using data intelligently Dementia Prevention & Cognitive Longevity Evidence-based strategies inspired by the Lancet dementia prevention framework Why metabolic health and inflammation play a critical role in brain aging Prevention vs. reversal: when to start optimizing brain health Biological Bottlenecks to Human Potential Stress dysregulation as a performance limiter Sleep architecture and glymphatic clearance Metabolic flexibility and mitochondrial function Why emotional regulation remains foundational to cognitive performance AI in Health: Hype vs. Evidence What makes Brain.One’s system evidence-constrained How AI can scale personalized health protocols The future of data-driven behavioral optimization 🔑 Key Takeaway Lasting change doesn’t require radical overhauls. It requires precise, repeatable micro-adjustments — aligned with your biology. Optimization is not about perfection or obsession.It’s about awareness, alignment, and consistency. Welcome back to Season 15 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. I’m Andrea Samadi, and here we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience—so you can create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. When we launched this podcast seven years ago, it was driven by a question I had never been taught to ask—not in school,not in business,and not in life: If results matter—and they matter now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make these results happen? Most of us were taught what to do.Very few of us were taught how to think under pressure,how to regulate emotion,how to sustain motivation,or even how to produce consistent results without burning out. That question led me into a deep exploration of the mind–brain–results connection—and how neuroscience applies to everyday decisions, conversations, and performance. That’s why this podcast exists. Each week, we bring you leading experts to break down complex science and translate it into practical strategies you can apply immediatelyEach week, we bring you world-class researchers, clinicians, and performance innovators to break down complex science — and turn it into strategies you can use immediately. We’ve been reviewing past episodes for the past 2 seasons, but every now and then, when I see someone doing something innovative, I want to learn more. And today’s guest sits right at the intersection of biology, AI, and human potential. 🎙 GUEST INTRO For Episode 386, we’re joined by Thoryn Stephens, scientist, molecular biologist, data visionary, and Founder & CEO of Brain.One. Brain.One is an AI-powered health optimization platform designed to transform scientific research into

In this episode Andrea Samadi revisits Season 15’s foundation with Dr. Bruce Perry to explore how safety, regulation, and patterned experience shape the brain’s capacity to learn and create. We examine why potential must be activated through repetition, rhythm, and low-threat environments, and how trauma, stress, or dysregulation block learning. Takeaways include practical steps for educators, parents, and leaders: prioritize nervous-system safety before instruction, use micro-repetition to build skills, and employ storytelling to make scientific ideas stick. This episode anchors Phase 1 of the season: regulation, rhythm, repetition, and relational safety as the prerequisites for sustainable performance and lasting change. This week, Episode 385—based on our review of Episode 168 recorded in October 2021—we explore: ✔ 1. Genetic Potential vs. Developed CapacityWe are born with extraordinary biological potential.But experience determines which neural systems become functional.The brain builds what it repeatedly uses. ✔ 2. The Brain Is Use-DependentLanguage, emotional regulation, leadership skills, motor precision—all are wired through patterned, rhythmic repetition. ✔ 3. Trauma, Regulation & LearningA dysregulated nervous system cannot efficiently learn.Safety, rhythm, and relational connection come before strategy. ✔ 4. “What Happened to You?” vs. “What’s Wrong with You?”Shifting from judgment to curiosity changes how we approach: Children Students Teams Ourselves ✔ 5. Early Experience Shapes Long-Term ExpressionDevelopmental inputs—especially patterned, early ones—determine which capacities are strengthened. ✔ 6. Repetition Builds ConfidenceConfidence is not a personality trait.It is neural circuitry built through structured repetition in safe environments. ✔ 7. Story Makes Science StickFrom Dr. Perry’s experience writing with Oprah:You can’t tell everybody everything you know.Impact comes from: One core idea Wrapped in story Delivered with restraint ✔ 8. Information Overload Weakens LearningDepth > VolumeClarity > DensityRetention > Impressive Data ✔ 9. Regulation Comes Before MotivationBefore goals.Before performance.Before achievement.The nervous system must feel safe. ✔ 10. Season 15’s Foundational QuestionIs the nervous system safe enough to learn? Welcome back to Season 15 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. I’m Andrea Samadi, and here we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience—so we can create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. When we launched this podcast seven years ago, it was driven by a question I had never been taught to ask—not in school,not in business,and not in life: If results matter—and they matter now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make these results happen? Most of us were taught what to do.Very few of us were taught how to think under pressure,how to regulate emotion,how to sustain motivation,or even how to produce consistent results without burning out. That question led me into a deep exploration of the mind–brain–results connection—and how neuroscience applies to everyday decisions, conversations, and performance. That’s why this podcast exists. Each week, we bring you leading experts to break down complex science and translate it into practical strategies you can apply immediately. If you’ve been with us through Season 14, you may have felt something shift. That season wasn’t about collecting ideas. It was about integrating these ideas into our daily life, as we launched our review of past episodes. Across conversations on neuroscience, social and emotional learning, sleep, stress, exercise, nutrition, and mindset frameworks—we heard from voices like Bob Proctor, José Silva, Dr. Church, Dr. John Medina, and others—one thing became clear: These aren’t separate tools that we are covering in each ep

Andrea Samadi revisits a conversation with neuroscientist Dr. Baland Jalal about how curiosity launched his career and how transitional sleep states fuel creativity. The episode explores sleep paralysis research and the hypnagogic window—the moments before sleep and after waking when the brain makes unexpected connections. This week, Episode 384—based on our review of Episode 224, recorded in June 2022—we’ll explore: ✔ Why learning, creativity, and curiosity depend on a regulated nervous system✔ How sleep—especially REM—creates the conditions for insight and problem-solving✔ What happens in the brain when focus shuts down and imagination turns on✔ Why safety, rhythm, and rest are prerequisites for learning—not rewards after it✔ How understanding sleep changes the way we approach performance, education, and growth Listeners learn practical tips for capturing insights at the edge of sleep, setting intentions before bed, and protecting morning silence to preserve creative flashes. The episode emphasizes that learning and creativity emerge best when the nervous system feels safe and regulated. This episode launches Season 15’s Phase 1 focus on regulation and safety, framing sleep, rhythm, and emotional regulation as the essential foundation for motivation, learning, and sustained performance. Welcome back to Season 15 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. I’m Andrea Samadi, and here we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience—so you can create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. When we launched this podcast seven years ago, it was driven by a question I had never been taught to ask—not in school,not in business,and not in life: If results matter—and they matter now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make these results happen? Most of us were taught what to do.Very few of us were taught how to think under pressure,how to regulate emotion,how to sustain motivation,or even how to produce consistent results without burning out. That question led me into a deep exploration of the mind–brain–results connection—and how neuroscience applies to everyday decisions, conversations, and performance. That’s why this podcast exists. Each week, we bring you leading experts to break down complex science and translate it into practical strategies you can apply immediately. If you’ve been with us through Season 14, you may have felt something shift. That season wasn’t about collecting ideas.It was about integrating these ideas into our daily life. Across conversations on neuroscience, social and emotional learning, sleep, stress, exercise, nutrition, and mindset frameworks—from voices like Bob Proctor, José Silva, Dr. Church, Dr. John Medina, and others—one thing became clear: These aren’t separate tools.They’re parts of one operating system. When the brain, body, and emotions are aligned, performance stops feeling forced—and starts to feel sustainable. Season 14 showed us what alignment looks like in real life. And now we move into Season 15 that is about understanding how that alignment is built—so we can build it ourselves, using predictable, science-backed principles. Because alignment doesn’t happen all at once.It happens by using a sequence. By repeating this sequence over and over again, until magically (or predictably) we notice our results have changed. So this season, we’re revisiting past conversations—not to repeat them—but to understand how they fit together, so we can replicate them ourselves. Because the brain doesn’t develop skills in isolation.Learning doesn’t happen in isolation.And neither does performance, resilience, or well-being. The brain operates as a set of interconnected systems. When one system is out of balance, everything else is affected. So Season 15 we’ve organized as a review roadmap, where each episode explores one foundational brain system—and each

Episode 383 applies Napoleon Hill’s timeless principles to sales, showing how decision, persistence, and the mastermind turn inner preparation into consistent results. Learn practical, neuroscience-backed actions to make clear decisions, sustain effort through resistance, and multiply success by aligning with the right people. Welcome back to Season 15 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast — where we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience to create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. I’m Andrea Samadi. And seven years ago, when we launched this podcast, it was driven by a question I had never been taught to ask — either in school, in business, or in life: If productivity and results matter — and they matter now more than ever — how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to work with our brain instead of against it. We were taught what to do — but not how to think, decide, persist, or align with others in ways that produce consistent results. That question pulled me into a decade-long exploration of the mind–brain–results connection — and how neuroscience can be applied to everyday decisions, conversations, and performance. That’s why this podcast exists. Each week, I bring you the world’s leading experts so we can break down complex science — and turn it into practical strategies you can apply immediately for predictable, science-backed outcomes. And that brings us to today’s Episode 383 — where we are going back to reconnect to a powerful 6-part series we originally recorded in 2022 around a book that has shaped achievement for generations: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Connecting Back to Our 6-Part Think and Grow Rich Series[i] We used that book as a framework to launch our year, back in 2022, walking chapter by chapter through the principles my mentor, Bob Proctor, studied for over 50 years of his life. Not casually. Not occasionally. But as a daily discipline for creating results — in business, health, relationships, and purpose. That 6-part series was about the basics — the inner mechanics that govern all achievement. And those basics still matter just as much today. What we’re doing now is not revisiting this material because it’s old. We’re revisiting it because it’s timeless. PART 3 — From Decision to Momentum Decision • Persistence • The Power of the Mastermind In Part 3 today, of our Think and Grow Rich for Sales study, we move from inner preparation to outer execution. Up to this point, the earlier chapters have shaped belief, certainty, vision, and authority. But results are not created by preparation alone. They are created when inner mastery is followed by decisive action, sustained effort, and collective intelligence. This is where most people stall—and where sales mastery is forged. Decision We begin with Decision, the moment where intention becomes irreversible.Indecision leaks certainty. Decision creates momentum. Successful people decide quickly and change course slowly. In sales, this means committing to your value, your process, and your outcome before the conversation begins—so hesitation never enters the room. Persistence Next comes Persistence, the force that carries decisions through resistance, delay, and rejection. Persistence is not intensity—it is refusal to quit when progress is invisible. In sales, persistence keeps conversations alive, turns “no” into information, and allows momentum to compound long after others have disengaged. The Power of the Mastermind Finally, we arrive at The Power of the Mastermind—where individual effort becomes exponential. When two or more minds unite in harmony around a definite purpose, a third force emerges: clarity, creativity, and certainty launch beyond individual thinking. This chapter reveals why no great achievement—and no sustained sales success—is built a

Season 14, Episode 382 reviews chapters 4–7 of Think and Grow Rich for Sales, showing how autosuggestion, specialized knowledge, imagination, and organized planning transform inner belief into consistent sales results. This episode explains practical steps to program confidence, build authority, paint future outcomes for buyers, and design repeatable sales systems that create certainty and close deals more naturally. Today EP 382 PART 2 of our Think and Grow Rich for Sales Series, we will cover: ✔ Chapter 4: Autosuggestion: How Your Inner Script Becomes Your Outer Results Sales Application (Practical Use) Pre-call priming: Speak your outcome out loud before every call (“I bring clarity and certainty to this conversation.”) Language audit: Eliminate soft phrases (“I think,” “hopefully,” “maybe”) from your sales vocabulary. Repetition builds belief: Read your sales goals twice daily as if already achieved. Emotion matters: Read goals with feeling—belief is emotional, not intellectual. Interrupt negative mindsets: Replace “They won’t buy” with “I help people make confident decisions.” Consistency over intensity: Daily repetition beats occasional motivation. Key Insight: Belief is built deliberately, not accidentally. ✔ Chapter 5: Specialized Knowledge: From Information to Authority 5 Sales Application Tips Organize your expertise into simple frameworks buyers can easily follow. Know their world better than they do—pain points, language, pressures, timing. Stop overloading: Say less, but say it with authority. Borrow brilliance: Use mentors, subject experts, and masterminds to extend your knowledge. Teach while you sell: Authority grows when you help buyers understand, not when you impress them. Key Insight: You are not selling information. You are selling guidance. ✔ Chapter 6: Imagination: Where Sales Innovation Is Born 7 Sales Application Tips Paint the “after” picture: Describe life, work, or outcomes post-solution. Use sensory language: Help them see, feel, and experience the result. Rehearse success aloud: Walk the buyer through implementation as if it’s already happening. Normalize the decision: Familiarity reduces fear and resistance. Tell transformation stories: Stories activate imagination faster than facts. Slow the moment down: Imagination needs space—don’t rush the close. Anchor certainty visually: “Imagine six months from now…” becomes a mental commitment. Key Insight: People don’t buy solutions. They buy who they become after the solution. ✔ Chapter 7: Organized Planning: Putting Desire Into Action 6 Sales Application Tips Create a repeatable sales process you trust and follow consistently. Plan the work—then work the plan, even when results lag. Refine the plan, not the goal when setbacks occur. Prepare for objections before they arise—confidence comes from readiness. Track behaviors, not just outcomes (calls, follow-ups, conversations). Use structure to eliminate emotion-based decisions during the sales cycle. Key Insight: A plan creates certainty. Certainty creates momentum. Welcome back to our final series of SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how

Episode 381 reframes Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich for sales professionals, reviewing Chapters 1–3 to show how thought, desire, and faith create predictable sales results. Andrea Samadi connects these timeless principles to practical steps—how to set burning goals, build unwavering belief through repetition, and transfer certainty to buyers. Listeners will get actionable frameworks (a five-step belief plan and the six steps to impress desire) and a clear roadmap for aligning mindset with sales execution, plus a preview of the next episode continuing the series. Welcome back to our final series of SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how science can be applied to our everyday lives. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to bring you the world’s top experts—so together, we can explore the intersection of science and social-emotional learning. We’ll break down complex ideas and turn them into practical strategies we can use every day for predictable, science-backed results. Connecting Back to Our 6-Part Think and Grow Rich Series (2022) For today’s EP 381, we are connecting back to our 6-PART Series from 2022[i], where we covered the well-known book, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, to make 2022 our best year ever. Today we will cover: ✔ Chapter 1: The Power of Thought: A 5 STEP Plan to Improve Sales (Outer World) by Improving Your Thoughts (Inner World) ✔ Chapter 2: Desire With a 6 STEP Plan to Achieve ANY Goal ✔ Chapter 3: Faith With 3 Ways to Build Unwavering Faith That Will Change Your Life Back in 2022, we didn’t just read Think and Grow Rich—we lived inside it as we launched 2022. Over a 6-part podcast series that began the beginning of January 2022, we walked through this book chapter by chapter, not as theory, but as a personal operating system for growth, performance, and results. This series will always be special for me, as I had heard that my mentor, who inspired me to study this book, Bob Proctor, became ill while I was writing the last episode in the series PART 6. He passed away before it was released, and I’ll always remember this episode series, connected to the many people, globally, that he inspired through his work. At the time, the focus of our 6 PART Series was broad. We covered: Personal development Mindset mastery Vision, purpose, and belief We covered the BASICS of this book that Bob Proctor studied for his entire lifetime (over 50 years) that can be applied to whatever it is that you want to create with your life. Today, we are going to look at this timeless piece of knowledge, through a new lens. What we’re covering today—Think and Grow Rich for Sales—is not new material. It’s the application of this series, towards a specific discipline. You could apply this book to any discipline, but this one, I have wanted to cover for a very long time. How the 6-Part Series Maps DIRECTLY to Sales Mastery Here’s the reframe that matters: Every principle we covered in 2022 becomes a sales advantage when applied correctly. In order for me to have gained this understanding, I have to give credit, where credit is due here. I would not have been able to cover our 2022 series without following Paul Martine

In this Season 14 review (Part 3) Andrea revisits key insights from Dr. Shane Creado on the critical link between sleep, concussions and performance. The episode explains how even mild or repeated head impacts and sleep deprivation damage the same brain regions that support learning, memory, decision-making and emotional regulation, and how one all‑nighter can reduce hippocampal learning capacity by around 40%. Practical takeaways include treating sleep as neurological recovery (7–9 hours), protecting the brain after head jolts, avoiding late alcohol and screens, and prioritizing consistent sleep routines to restore learning, resilience and long‑term brain health for athletes, students and professionals. Welcome back to SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how science can be applied to our everyday lives. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to bring you the world’s top experts—so together, we can explore the intersection of science and social-emotional learning. We’ll break down complex ideas and turn them into practical strategies we can use every day for predictable, science-backed results. As we are nearing the end of Season 14 here, it has been about reflection as we have looked back and reviewed past interviews. Our goal has not been about nostalgia, or remembering these interviews, the goal has been about integrating what we have learned. Taking what we know, aligning it with how the brain actually functions, and applying it consistently enough to change outcomes. And if there’s one thing this season has reinforced, it’s this: Sustainable success isn’t built on intensity or focus alone—it’s built on alignment. As we move into what’s next, (Season 15) the focus shifts from understanding this alignment to bringing this alignment into a tangible, physical form, or embodiment. Not more information—but better execution. After hundreds of conversations with neuroscientists, educators, peak performers, and thought leaders, one truth keeps resurfacing— lasting success is never about doing more. It’s about alignment. Alignment between how the brain actually works, how emotions drive behavior, and how daily habits compound over time. Season 14 has been about stepping back—not to reminisce, but to integrate what we have learned into our current life. I knew the minute that I was sent a couple of video clips from our past episodes, that I had forgotten about, that while I thought I had implemented the ideas from our past guests, I had some work to go myself. For this reason, we spent Season 14 and will resume with Season 15 next January, reviewing past episodes, with the goal of noticing what we have now aligned, that’s bringing us results in our daily life. Core Reflection When we started this podcast 7 years ago, the goal was simple: bridge neuroscience research with practical strategies people could actually use. What I didn’t fully appreciate then—what only became clear through repetition, reflection, and real-life application—is that information alone doesn’t create change. Understanding the brain doesn’t matter if we ignore what to do with the information we release each week: improving our sleep reducing our stress pract

Join Andrea Samadi as she reviews Dr. Shane Creado’s insights on why sleep is a core pillar of brain health, how chronic sleep deprivation harms reaction time, inflammation, pain perception, and why children pay the highest price. Learn practical sleep strategies—consistent schedules, light management, wind-down routines—and how the Silva Method’s mind-training can deepen restorative sleep for athletes, high performers, and families. Welcome back to SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how science can be applied to our everyday lives. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to bring you the world’s top experts—so together, we can explore the intersection of science and social-emotional learning. We’ll break down complex ideas and turn them into practical strategies we can use every day for predictable, science-backed results. This week, we move onto PART 2 of our review of EP 72[i] with Shane Creado, MD and his book Peak Sleep Performance for Athletes recorded back in July of 2020. In PART 1[ii], we covered: How strategic napping, morning brain habits, and even the Silva Method all work together to reset your brain, boost performance, and transform your health from the inside out. Today, PART 2 we will continue with our review, diving a bit deeper into sleep deprivation and its impact of performance (whether you are an athlete, or just someone looking to improve productivity). PART 3, next week, we will go a bit deeper into the impacts of concussions and brain injuries on our sleep and performance. Just a reminder: Dr. Creado is a double board-certified sleep medicine doctor and psychiatrist who practices functional sleep medicine, integrative psychiatry, and sports psychiatry. He brings all of these specialties together to uncover the underlying factors that sabotage our sleep and then treats them comprehensively, helping people to achieve their health and performance goals with sleep at the forefront As we work through our reviews, we will spend a considerable amount of time on this important health staple that’s scientifically proven to boost our physical and mental health. For today’s EP 379, and PART 2 of our review of our 2020 interview with Dr. Shane Creado, we will cover: ✔ Sleep as a core pillar of health according to Dr. Shane Creado, author of Peak Sleep Performance for Athletes. ✔ Sleep deprivation is a national crisis and kid’s pay the highest price. ✔ 7 Well-Known Tips for Improving Sleep ✔ Applying the Silva Method to Reset and Improve Our Sleep ✔ Important sleep tips for athletes and high performers Let’s go back to 2020 and revisit what Dr. Creado had to say about sleep. CLIP 1 — Why Sleep Is Non-Negotiable for Brain Health Short Explanation:In Clip 1, Dr. Shane Creado explains that sleep is a foundational pillar of brain health, equal in importance to exercise and nutrition. He emphasizes that without optimizing sleep, it is impossible to truly optimize learning, emotional regulation, focus, or performance. Dr. Creado highlights that chronic sleep deprivation is widespread in the U.S., often unnoticed, and especially damaging for children—where lack of deep sleep suppresses growth hormone, increases obesit

Episode 378 revisits Dr. Shane Creado’s science-driven advice on sleep, strategic napping, and why sleep is foundational for health, hormones, immunity, and performance. Learn practical nap protocols (10–20 minutes or 90-minute recovery naps), timing, environment tips, and how to protect your morning from cortisol-spiking habits like checking phones. The episode also shows how combining a short nap with the Silva Method — setting an intention and entering alpha — can boost creativity, insight, and problem-solving. It concludes with actionable routines to improve sleep consistency, support shift workers, and make sleep a strategy for better productivity and well-being. ✔Learn practical nap protocols (10–20 minutes or 90-minute recovery naps), timing, environment tips, and how to protect your morning from cortisol-spiking habits like checking phones.✔The episode also shows how combining a short nap with the Silva Method — setting an intention and entering alpha — can boost creativity, insight, and problem-solving. ✔ It concludes with actionable routines to improve sleep consistency, support shift workers, and make sleep a strategy for better productivity and well-being. Welcome back to SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how science can be applied to our everyday lives. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to bring you the world’s top experts—so together, we can explore the intersection of science and social-emotional learning. We’ll break down complex ideas and turn them into practical strategies we can use every day for predictable, science-backed results. This week, in our review of EP 72 with Shane Creado, MD and his book Peak Sleep Performance for Athletes and will learn: How strategic napping, morning brain habits, and even the Silva Method all work together to reset your brain, boost performance, and transform your health from the inside out. Clip 1: The Science of Strategic Napping In Clip 1, Dr. Shane Creado explains why every cell in the body follows its own circadian rhythm—and why humans were historically wired for polymodal sleep, with natural dips in alertness that make afternoon naps biologically appropriate.You’ll learn: Why the “post-lunch crash” is actually a melatonin rise, not just fatigue Why old advice to “avoid naps” is outdated How short, intentional naps can boost alertness, learning, mood, and performance The simple rules behind strategic napping: length, timing, and environmentThis clip lays the groundwork for using naps as a tool—not a crutch—for better brain function. Clip 2: Your Morning Cortisol Curve & Hidden Sleep Dangers Clip 2 shifts the focus to the first moments of your day.Dr. Creado warns that checking your phone the moment you wake up spikes cortisol and sends your brain into danger mode, increasing anxiety and disrupting emotional regulation for the entire day.You’ll also learn: Why shift work fragments DNA Why the WHO classifies shift work as a possible carcinogen How sleep protects your hormones, immune system, gut health, and long-term agingThis clip reinforces that sleep is foundational biology, not optional or replaceable. How This All Connects to The Silva Method We clo

Andrea Samadi reflects on seven years hosting the Neuroscience Meets SEL podcast and celebrates reaching 500,000 downloads. She shares seven strategies—clarifying mission and vision, defining the audience, setting measurable goals, creating systems, staying mission-driven, building partnerships, and building momentum—and eight personal lessons learned, including the power of practice, research, adaptation, and praxis. This episode offers practical, science-backed guidance for anyone looking to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, well-being, and long-term results. On today's episode #377, we cover a break from our interviews, with a celebration episode! ✔ 7 Strategies that took our podcast from 0-500,000 downloads (including clarifying our mission, vision, defining our audience, setting measurable goals, creating systems, staying mission-driven, and building partnerships). ✔ 8 Personal Lessons learned over the past 7 years (including the power of spaced repetition, research, adaptation and praxis). Welcome back to SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how science can be applied to our everyday lives. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to bring you the world’s top experts—so together, we can explore the intersection of science and social-emotional learning. We’ll break down complex ideas and turn them into practical strategies we can use every day for predictable, science-backed results. For today’s EP #377 we will take a break from our interview reviews, and look back over the past 7 years, and 14 Seasons, as we hit an important milestone in the podcasting world, our 500,000th download. I remember when we hit the 300,000th marker, back in March 2023[i] we reflected back on the lessons learned in our first 4 years of hosting this podcast. I remember looking at the next milestone of half a million, thinking it was such a distance from where we currently were. It just took 3 years to get here, and now we have our eye on the next 500,000 downloads, which from here, looks like a lifetime away. As we reflect back over the past 7 years, many of our strategies remain the same as when we first began. Some strategies we did have to change. We reviewed some of these concepts on EP 279[ii] back in March 2023. As we review what got us here, I think that these strategies can be applied to anything we are doing, with a long-term vision. 7 STRATEGIES WE USED TO HIT THE 500K DOWNLOAD MILESTONE 1. Know Your Mission (What You’re Doing) The mission of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast is to bridge the gap between neuroscience research and practical applications in education, business, and personal development. The podcast shares insights, strategies, and best practices to enhance learning, performance, and well-being by integrating neuroscience (which we like to make simple) and connecting it to social and emotional skills (SEL). Our goal is to provide valuable information listeners can apply in their work and personal lives to achieve peak performance and overall self-improvement, with a deeper understanding of how our brain works — something many of us were never taught in school. When the missio

In this Season 14 review (episode 376) Andrea Samadi revisits highlights from her interview with Dr. John Ratey about the science of exercise, nutrition, and social connection for brain health and longevity. The episode explains Peter Attia's rule for foundational fitness, warns against sugar dependence and fat phobia, and presents the three biggest levers for healthy aging: exercise, diet, and social connection, plus practical tips to track and apply these habits. Takeaway: prioritize consistent movement, whole foods, and meaningful connection to boost mood, memory, and overall well-being. On today's episode #376, we review PART 2 of our 2021 interview with Dr. John Ratey and will learn: ✔ 3 Science-backed keys to brain health: Exercise, Nutrition and Connection ✔ What is Attia's Rule that allows us to dive deep into diet and nutrition? ✔ Practical Tips for improving consistent movement, our diet and social connection to boost overall well-being and brain health. Welcome back to SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how science can be applied to our everyday lives. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to bring you the world’s top experts—so together, we can explore the intersection of science and social-emotional learning. We’ll break down complex ideas and turn them into practical strategies we can use every day for predictable, science-backed results. Episode 376: PART 2 Featuring Dr. John Ratey For today’s Episode 376, we continue with PART 2 of our review with Dr. John Ratey, covering the first health staple that we know is scientifically proven to boost our physical and mental health: exercise. We first met Dr. Ratey on Episode 116[i] (back in March 2021) on his book “The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain.” Dr. Ratey is also an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Ratey has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and 11 books in 17 languages. You’ll notice that around the time of the pandemic, in 2020, our interviews took a turn towards health and wellness, and to stay on track, I created a framework of our Top 5 Health Staples on Episode 87[ii], which eventually evolved into our Top 6 Health Staples. 🎧 Listen to Episode 87:The Top 5 Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Prevention Strategies[iii] 🌐 Learn more about Dr. Ratey:www.johnratey.com We also did a Deep Dive into Dr. Ratey’s books 🎧 Listen to Episode 118[iv]: A Deep Dive into Dr. Ratey’s books, Spark, Go Wild and Driven to Distraction. Before we go into Dr. Ratey’s first clip, with the thoughts of debating diet plans or supplements, (a broad and deep topic) Dr. Peter Attia[v] the author of the book The Science and Art of Longevity suggests we first get our “exercise house in order.” He argues that until we can do the following, our time is better spent building foundational fitness. For those of us who want to dive into this topic, he asks us to do the following, which has been coined as: Attia’s Rule. Dead hang for 1 minute Wall sit for 2 minutes Deadlift your body weight for 10 reps Achieve a VO₂ max at or above the 75th percentile As Dr. Attia

Season 14, episode 375 reviews episode 116 with Dr. John Ratey, exploring how exercise and lifestyle shape brain health and learning. The episode highlights Naperville’s Zero Hour PE case study, explains how physical activity boosts attention and academic performance, and introduces BDNF (brain-derived neurotropic factor) as “miracle grow” for the brain. Practical takeaways include exercising before challenging work or school, prioritizing low-glucose nutrition, using hormesis (fasting, intense exercise, sauna) to increase resilience, and improving sleep and stress management to support cognitive health. On today's episode #375, we review our 2021 interview with Dr. John Ratey and will learn: ✔ How physical activity boosts attention and academic performance to improve results at school or in the workplace. ✔ What should we all understand about BDNF (brain-derived neurotropic factor) also known as “miracle grow” for the brain. ✔ How to build a faster, stronger, more resilient brain with exercise, nutrition, and with understanding hormesis. Welcome back to SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren’t taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I’m Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how science can be applied to our everyday lives. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to bring you the world’s top experts—so together, we can explore the intersection of science and social-emotional learning. We’ll break down complex ideas and turn them into practical strategies we can use every day for predictable, science-backed results. Episode 375: Featuring Dr. John Ratey For today’s Episode 375, we continue with our review of past episodes as we make connections to prior learning with whatever it is that we are currently working on this year. I’ll create a roadmap at the end of this season so this pathway will make sense to us (I hope!) as we piece together important parts of our success puzzle and begin to bring them to life. You’ll notice that around the time of the pandemic, in 2020, our interviews took a turn towards health and wellness, and to stay on track, I created a framework of our Top 5 Health Staples on Episode 87[i], which eventually evolved into our Top 6 Health Staples. Today, we covering the first health staple of exercise, jumping to Episode 116[ii] on “The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain” with best-selling author Dr. John Ratey. Dr. Ratey is also an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in Neuropsychiatry. Dr. Ratey has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and 11 books in 17 languages, including the groundbreaking ADHD “Driven to Distraction” series with Dr. Edward (Ned) Hallowell, MD. With the publication of “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain,” Dr. Ratey established himself as one of the world’s foremost authorities on the brain-fitness connection. His most recent book, “Go Wild,” explores how we can achieve optimal physical and mental health by getting in touch with our caveman roots and how we can “re-wild” our lives. 🎧 Listen to Episode 87:The Top 5 Brain Health and Alzheimer’s Prevention Strategies[iii] 🌐 Learn more about Dr. Ratey:www.johnratey.com We also did a Deep Dive into Dr.