Dr. Emily Falk on How to Rewire Your Brain for Better Choices | EP 596
Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Exploring Anti-Mattering and the Search for Purpose
This chapter delves into the concept of 'anti-mattering' and its effects on personal identity, focusing on how feelings of insignificance can arise from internal and external influences. It emphasizes the importance of social connections and a sense of purpose in fostering well-being, along with strategies for enhancing one's sense of mattering.
In Episode 596 of Passion Struck, host John R. Miles sits down with Dr. Emily Falk, a leading neuroscientist and expert in the science of behavior change. Falk is the Vice Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, and the author of the Next Big Idea Club Must-Read book What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change.
This powerful conversation explores how our brains weigh choices, how our values shape behavior—often unconsciously—and what it takes to truly live in alignment with who we want to become. From decoding the “value calculator” in our brain to understanding how identity, connection, and purpose influence decision-making, Falk offers deeply practical insights on how to shift your behavior and build a better life.
Full Shownotes here: https://passionstruck.com/emily-falk-rewire-your-brain-for-better-choices/
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How your brain calculates value—and why that system often favors short-term rewards
- Why your future self can feel like a stranger, and how to build empathy toward them
- How self-transcendent values like compassion and purpose reshape behavior
- What brain synchrony is and how we build it in conversation, relationships, and society
- The psychological toll of “not mattering”—and how to fix it
- Tools to overcome defensiveness and embrace growth, including values affirmation
- How seemingly small changes—like biking to visit a loved one—can reshape identity
- Why connection, not control, is the key to lasting behavior change
Connect with Dr. Emily Falk: https://www.asc.upenn.edu/research/centers/communication-neuroscience-lab
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Next on Passion Struck:
In the next episode of Passion Struck, John sits down with Anne Marie Anderson, an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, sports journalist, and leadership expert. Anne Marie has spent years breaking barriers in sports media, navigating high-stakes environments, and coaching top athletes and executives on leadership, resilience, and communication. In our conversation, we'll dive into the mental frameworks of high performers, the art of storytelling, and how to build confidence in any field.
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Catch More of Passion Struck:
- My solo episode on 4 Powerful Trust-Building Exercises for Strong Teams and Relationships
- Can't miss my episode with Gabriella Rosen Kellerman on Thriving in the Future of Work
- My episode with Ethan Mollick on the Impact of AI on Life and Work
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