The Thinking Brain: Dr. Delia McCabe on Neuroplasticity, Nutrition, and the Neuroscience of Leadership

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Oct 21, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Delia McCabe, a neuroscientist and expert in nutritional neuroscience, reveals how stress, sleep, and nutrition influence leadership and creativity. She explains the detrimental effects of chronic stress on neuroplasticity and how poor sleep impairs cognitive function. Dr. McCabe shares insights on the 'additive problem' faced by leaders, the myth of productivity due to information overload, and strategies for building resilience to uncertainty. Don't miss her tips for enhancing decision-making and creativity in an AI-driven world!

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INSIGHT

Brain Structure Drives Neuroplasticity

Brain structure (membrane fats) directly enables neuroplasticity and learning.
Essential omega-3/6 fats are often deficient and limit new neural connections.

ADVICE

Protect Sleep And Reduce Cortisol

Prioritize sleep because deep sleep flushes metabolic waste from neurons and preserves cognition.
Reduce chronic stress to avoid cortisol blocking new neural connectivity and creativity.

INSIGHT

The Additive Problem Explains Complexity

Humans default to adding solutions rather than subtracting because it uses less neural energy.
This 'additive problem' explains bureaucracy and complexity growth in organizations.

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The brain is your most powerful strategic tool—if you know how to use it.

In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones talks with Dr. Delia McCabe—neuroscientist and expert in nutritional neuroscience—about how neuroplasticity, nutrition, and stress shape leaders’ ability to think, decide, and adapt. They dive deep into the biology of creativity, the traps of mental fatigue, and why the structure of your brain determines the structure of your strategy.

Dr. McCabe explains how chronic stress, poor sleep, and cognitive overload literally close down creativity—while the right nutrients, rest, and mental frameworks can rewire your brain for better decision-making. From “additive thinking” and uncertainty fatigue to the dangers of believing what you feel, this is a masterclass in how to think better, not just faster.

🔍 In this episode:

How brain structure shapes creative thinking
Why stress kills neuroplasticity and creativity
The additive problem—and why leaders avoid subtraction
Information overload and the myth of productivity
How to build resilience to uncertainty
Changing minds through emotion and safety
The “feeling of knowing” and decision-making traps
The delicate balance between human cognition and AI

🎧 Keywords: Neuroplasticity, brain health, leadership, neuroscience, cognitive load, uncertainty, stress, nutrition, decision-making, creativity, mental resilience, emotional intelligence, organisational change, AI and cognition

📘 Learn more about Dr. Delia McCabe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-delia-mccabe/
Substack: https://deliamccabe.substack.com/

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🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast

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💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/