On episode 704 of the 40 Plus Fitness podcast, Coach Allan sits down with Dr. Kyra Bobinet, author of Unstoppable Brain: The New Neuroscience That Frees Us from Failure, Eases Our Stress, and Creates Lasting Change. Dr. Bobinet brings nearly three decades of expertise in neuroscience and behavior change, and together they explore the concept of "failure disease"—that sense of being stuck or losing motivation, especially when it comes to health and fitness over 40.
In their conversation, Dr. Bobinet reveals the groundbreaking science behind what really drives our habits and why so many of us feel like we’re destined to fail—spoiler alert: it’s not just a lack of willpower! You’ll learn about the role of the brain’s “motivation kill switch,” the habenula, and get practical tools for working with your brain instead of against it. Whether you struggle with all-or-nothing thinking, motivation loss, or the weight of past failures, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you break the cycle and create lasting change. Time Stamps:
05:35 Learned Helplessness Misunderstood
06:49 "Learned Helplessness in Elephants"
12:30 Addiction Swap Ineffectiveness
15:40 Status and Ego on the Leaderboard
18:07 "SMART Goals and Workplace Deception"
21:07 Marginal Gains in Elite Sports
24:05 "Rethinking Failure in Goal Setting"
28:32 Understanding Brain Patterns and Negativity
33:07 Adapting and Iterating with AI
35:33 Idea Generation & Iteration Tool
38:11 Introducing Change Through Friction & Spice
41:23 Keys to Iterative Success https://drkhirabobinet.com
