The Dr. Leaf Show

Is the push for return-to-office really about culture, or is it harming families and well-being? Discover how lost autonomy triggers stress and impacts daily life, turning Sundays into a source of dread. Learn about the science behind motivation and how shifting work rhythms can damage trust. Dr. Leaf offers practical tools, like the 5-step Neurocycle, to reclaim agency and redesign routines. By prioritizing small changes, both leaders and employees can foster a healthier work environment that respects personal life.

Why do we sometimes panic when things finally get better? Why can rest, safety, or even joy register as unpredictable or unsafe?In this episode, I walk you through what happens when a trauma-trained brain reacts to peace like it’s danger—and how your mind can gently redirect that response. You’ll learn what joy-triggered anxiety actually reflects, why the brain loops it so quickly, and how to retrain the pattern in a way that doesn’t rely on guilt or pressure.If you're tired of waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under you, this video is for you.📘 My new book Help in a Hurry is out now!✏️ Rewire your mind, reclaim your peace, and save $50 on the new Help in a Hurry course—signed book included at www.helpinahurrycourse.com   Inside the book and course, I walk you through:• How to interrupt trauma-trained reactions using the 5-step Neurocycle• Tools for building joy tolerance gradually and intentionally• Why your brain loops protective responses—and how your mind can step in• Real language to redirect thought patterns in the moment🧠 Explore the Neurocycle app: https://neurocycle.app📨 Subscribe to Mental Mess Monday: https://drleaf.com/pages/newsletter🎙️ Listen to all podcast episodes: https://drleaf.com/pages/podcast🌐 Visit my website: https://www.drleaf.comGET IN TOUCH:📸 Instagram: / drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: / drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: / drcarolineleafSPONSORS:Nature's Sunshine: Nature's Sunshine is offering 20% off your first order plus free shipping. Go to naturessunshine.com and use the code DRLEAF at checkout. MENO by O Positiv: Get 25% off your first purchase with code DRLEAF at checkout or visit opositiv.com/drleafNurture Life: Head to NurtureLife.com/DRLEAF and use code DRLEAF for 55% off your first order PLUS free shipping. DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a professional for personalized support.#JoyAfterTrauma #TraumaHealing #DrCarolineLeaf #Neurocycle #HelpInAHurry #MindAndBrain #PostTraumaAnxiety #EmotionalSafety #BrainRewiring #HabitRecovery #MentalHealthTools #PsychologyPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Staying together for the kids may not provide the safety net you think. Silent divorce leads to emotional disconnection, affecting children's brain development. Kids pick up on subtle tensions, reshaping their identities and expectations of relationships. Chronic stress alters their attention and self-regulation. Discover practical steps to create emotional safety at home, including a simple two-minute evening debrief. Learn how to shift signals without ending a relationship, ensuring your children inherit healthier emotional patterns.

Algorithms don’t just track what you like—they profit from how often you spiral. In this episode, I break down what happens to your brain when you stay stuck in outrage cycles. You’ll learn:✅ The dopamine-cortisol loop fueling reactive scrolling✅ How non-conscious thought patterns rehearse chaos into identity✅ Why emotional volatility gets monetized—and how to reclaim your mindThis isn’t about deleting your apps. It’s about updating the mental architecture that keeps you in a loop you didn’t consent to.📚 Order my new book Help in a Hurry: www.helpinahurrybook.com✏️ Rewire your mind, reclaim your peace, and save $50 on the new Help in a Hurry course—signed book included at www.helpinahurrycourse.com 📫 Join 250,000+ readers of my free newsletter with science-backed mental health strategies: Sign up here🖥️ Watch the show on YouTube: @drcarolineleafGET IN TOUCH:🌍 Website📸 Instagram: @drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: @drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: Dr Caroline Leaf☀️ Nature's Sunshine: Nature's Sunshine is offering 20% off your first order plus free shipping. Go to naturessunshine.com and use the code DRLEAF at checkout. 🌿 MENO by O Positiv: Get 25% off your first purchase with code DRLEAF at checkout or visit opositiv.com/drleafDISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a professional for personalized support.#OutrageEconomy #MindManagement #MentalHealthTools #Neuroplasticity #SocialMediaBrain #AlgorithmicAddiction #EmotionalRegulation #HelpInAHurry #StressReset #CognitiveReframe #BrainHealth #DigitalWellness #Neurocycle #AttentionHijack #HealingInChaos #NeuroscienceInsights #MindBrainConnection #MentalSelfCare #PatternInterruption #MentalHealthPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do so many women feel an unspoken pressure to “be good”—to perform endless selflessness at the cost of their own identity?In this conversation, I sit down with Elise Loehnen, author of On Our Best Behavior, to unpack the centuries-old scripts that bind women to ideals of goodness rooted in the Seven Deadly Sins. We’ll explore the neuroscience behind identity formation, why reputation feels like survival, and how to break free without burning bridges.What you’ll learn in this episode:✅ The hidden cost of cultural conditioning on women’s mental health✅ Why “being good” often comes at the expense of authenticity✅ The neuroscience of identity and how to rewrite old scripts✅ Practical steps for reframing self-worth and reclaiming agencyVisit Elise Loehnen’s Website: https://www.eliseloehnen.com/Follow Elise on Instagram: @eliseloehnenGet Elise's New Book "Choosing Wholeness Over Goodness: A Process for Reclaiming Your Full Self:"https://www.eliseloehnen.com/onourbestbehavior📒 Order my new book Help in a Hurry: www.helpinahurrybook.com✏️ Rewire your mind, reclaim your peace, and save $50 on the new Help in a Hurry course—signed book included at www.helpinahurrycourse.com📫 Join 250,000+ readers: https://drleaf.com🖥️ Watch on YouTube: / @drcarolineleafGET IN TOUCH:🌍 My Website📸 Instagram: / drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: / drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: / drcarolineleafFatty15: Get 15% off their 90-daysubscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/DRLEAF and using code DRLEAF at checkout.UPLIFT: Go to upliftdesk.com/DRLEAF and use code DRLEAF to get four free accessories, free same-day shipping, free returns, and an industry-leading 15-year warranty—plus an extra discount off your entire order.Veracity: For up to 45% off your order, head to VeracitySelfCare.com, and use code DRLEAF. DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a professional for personalized support.#EliseLoehnen #OnOurBestBehavior #WomenAndIdentity #CulturalConditioning #MentalHealthForWomen #SevenDeadlySinsMyth #MindManagement #IdentityAndAgency #Neuroplasticity #HelpInAHurry #DrCarolineLeaf #SelfWorthReset #BreakingCulturalScripts #PerformancePressure #FeminineConditioning #ResilienceTools #BehaviorChange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a parent doesn’t just ask for your time—it asks for your mind, your brain, and your body. The planning, predicting, soothing, deciding, remembering… it adds up. And the longer you carry the invisible weight, the more it rewires your mind to expect pressure instead of peace.In this episode, I’ll show you the neuroscience behind mental load, why emotional regulation often falls to one person in the home, and how to use small brain-based strategies to reduce burnout without guilt.📒 Order my new book Help in a Hurry at www.helpinahurrybook.com✏️ Rewire your mind, reclaim your peace, and save $50 on the new Help in a Hurry course—signed book included at www.helpinahurrycourse.com  📫 250,000+ read my free newsletter that breaks down scientific strategies to help you improve your mental health. Sign up here: https://drleaf.com🖥️ WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE: /@drcarolineleafGET IN TOUCH:🌍 My website: https://drleaf.com📸 Instagram: /drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: /drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: /drcarolineleafFatty15: Get 15% off their 90-daysubscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/DRLEAF and using code DRLEAF at checkout.UPLIFT: Go to upliftdesk.com/DRLEAF and use code DRLEAF to get four free accessories, free same-day shipping, free returns, and an industry-leading 15-year warranty—plus an extra discount off your entire order.Veracity: Head to VeracitySelfCare.com and use code DRLEAF for up to 45% off your order. DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a professional for personalized support.#ParentingNeuroscience #MentalLoad #DecisionFatigue #DrCarolineLeaf #HelpInAHurry #ParentBurnout #CognitiveLoad #EmotionalLabor #Neuroplasticity #ParentingSupport #MindManagement #InvisibleLabor #MentalHealthForParents #ParentingPressure #BrainHealth #ParentingPodcast #OverthinkingFatigue #StableParentStress #FamilyDynamics #DailyStress Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Success is supposed to feel good. But what if it also feels… lonely? What if your growth created distance from the people you love most?In this episode, I’ll explain the neuroscience of relational disconnection after personal growth—why self-comparison, status shifts, and unspoken shame rewire the brain and fracture emotional safety. Whether it’s family, friends, or your partner, I’ll show you how to recognize when distance is caused by trauma patterns—not truth—and how to rebuild closeness without shrinking yourself.📚 Order my new book Help in a Hurry: www.helpinahurrybook.com✏️ Don’t just cope—thrive: enroll in Help in a Hurry now for $50 off and a signed book, only at www.helpinahurrycourse.com 📫 Join 250,000+ readers of my free newsletter with science-backed mental health strategies: Sign up here🖥️ Watch the show on YouTube: @drcarolineleafGET IN TOUCH:🌍 Website📸 Instagram: @drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: @drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: Dr Caroline LeafWONDERFEEL: Visit www.getwonderfeel.com and use code DRLEAF to save $15 now, get $20 for later, and start investing in your cellular health today.MENO by O Positiv: Get 25% off your first purchase with code DRLEAF at checkout or visit www.opositiv.com/drleaf DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a professional for personalized support.#SuccessAndRelationships #EmotionalDistance #NeurocycleHealing #OutgrowingPeople #HelpInAHurry #BrainHealth #DrCarolineLeaf #MentalSelfCare #MindManagement #SuccessGrief #FamilyDynamics #ComparisonWiring #AttachmentInAdulthood #HealingWithoutShrinking #RelationshipNeuroscience #PersonalGrowth #TraumaResponse #GrowthGuilt #InvisibleGrief #RelationalSafety Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does political division feel so personal—and so addictive? In this episode, I unpack the neuroscience of ideological entrenchment, how tribal identity shapes our threat response, and why outrage keeps getting rewarded by your brain’s own chemistry.You’ll learn:✅ How repeated exposure to conflict rewires your brain (ideological neuroplasticity)✅ Why your nervous system confuses disagreement with danger✅ The real cost of certainty—and how dopamine drives polarization✅ A 5-minute micro-tool to break the loop and reclaim mental clarityThis isn’t about silencing your values. It’s about staying present in a world designed to keep you outraged—and helping your brain feel safe without rigidity.📚 Order my new book Help in a Hurry: www.helpinahurrybook.com✏️ Rewire your mind, reclaim your peace, and save $50 on the new Help in a Hurry course—signed book included at www.helpinahurrycourse.com 📫 Join 250,000+ readers of my free newsletter with science-backed mental health strategies: Sign up here🖥️ Watch the show on YouTube: @drcarolineleafGET IN TOUCH:🌍 Website📸 Instagram: @drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: @drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: Dr Caroline LeafBiOptimizers: Get 15% off www.bioptimizers.com/drleaf with code DRLEAFCreatone Brickhouse: Get 20% off your first order at www.ToneToday.com and use my code DRLEAF for your discount. DISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a professional for personalized support.#PoliticalDivision #OutrageAddiction #Neuroscience #TribalBrain #NeurocycleHealing #CognitiveResilience #DrCarolineLeaf #MindManagement #ThreatResponse #HelpInAHurry #BrainHealth #ConflictFatigue #Polarization #EmotionalWellness #SocialStress #HealingThroughPresence #Neuroplasticity #MentalHealthPodcast #StressReset #MindBrainConnection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do some people turn vision into reality—again and again?In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Pentecost, founder of It Works! and author of Life of Your Dreams. Mark went from high school teacher and coach to building a global business—and now teaches others how to “train” vision like a muscle.We’ll map his practical steps onto the neuroscience of behavior change, so you can learn how environment, micro-habits, and meaning rewire your brain for sustainable success.What you’ll learn in this episode:✅ How to “train” vision like a muscle (and pick the right rooms)✅ A tiny daily rehearsal that locks in momentum✅ How to reconceptualize failure so it upgrades your wiring✅ Why purpose & generosity improve mental regulationFollow Mark on Instagram: @themarkpentecostOrder Mark’s New Book “The Life of Your Dreams” https://www.amazon.com/Life-Your-Dreams-Financial-Freedom/dp/1637634234#:~:text=Review,action%20can%20create%20extraordinary%20results.Sponsors making this show possible: Fatty15: Get 15% off their 90-daysubscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/DRLEAF and using code DRLEAF at checkout MENO by O Positiv: Get 25% off your first purchase with code DRLEAF at checkout or visit opositiv.com/drleafNature's Sunshine: Get 20% off your first order and free shipping by using checkout code DRLEAF at naturessunshine.com.Order my new book Help in a Hurry at www.helpinahurrybook.com📫 250,000+ read my free newsletter: https://drleaf.com🖥️ WATCH THE SHOW ON YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / @drcarolineleafGET IN TOUCH:🌍 My website: https://drleaf.com📸 Instagram: / drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: / drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: / drcarolineleafDISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a professional for personalized support.#LifeOfYourDreams #MarkPentecost #MindsetToNeuroplasticity #DreamMuscle #Neuroplasticity #BrainHealth #BehaviorChange #MindManagement #IdentityHabits #Neurocycle #HelpInAHurry #DrCarolineLeaf #PurposeAndPerformance #DailyReps #MentalHealthPodcast #Resilience #EntrepreneurMindset #EnvironmentDesign #CognitiveFlexibility #NervousSystemRegulation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about breakups all the time—but rarely about the pain of losing a close friend. Yet, the grief can feel even heavier. Why? Because friendships are coded deep into your brain’s identity systems.In this episode, I’ll explain:✅ How the brain stores friendship bonds in emotional memory✅ Why the loss of a friend triggers identity confusion✅ Why you still replay conversations and crave closure✅ How to heal without the “final talk” and start feeling whole againThis isn’t about pretending it didn’t matter. It’s about finding coherence inside your mind when the friendship story feels unfinished. 🎧 Watch now to understand why your grief is real—and how to move forward without losing yourself.👉 SPECIAL OFFER: Using the code DRLEAF gets you $15 off + $20 credit for your next order at getwonderfeel.com.📚 Order my new book Help in a Hurry: www.helpinahurrybook.com📫 Join 250,000+ readers of my free newsletter with science-backed mental health strategies: Sign up here🖥️ Watch the show on YouTube: @drcarolineleafGET IN TOUCH:🌍 Website📸 Instagram: @drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: @drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: Dr Caroline LeafDISCLAIMER: This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a professional for personalized support.#FriendshipBreakup #GrievingFriendships #PlatonicLoss #InvisibleGrief #BrainHealth #EmotionalMemory #NeurocycleHealing #ClosureMyth #HealingWithoutContact #MindManagement #MentalSelfCare #HelpInAHurry #DrCarolineLeaf #UnseenLoss #Neuroplasticity #SocialMemory #EmotionalWellness #FriendshipGrief #MindBrainConnection #MentalHealthPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.