The Dr. Leaf Show

Why do teams break down — and what makes them thrive? In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf and bestselling author Jon Gordon unpack the real reasons teams fail and the 7 science-backed commitments that create trust, clarity, and high performance. You’ll learn the neuroscience behind positivity, how mission and vision rewire the brain for follow-through, and why emotional intelligence is the foundation of any successful culture. Whether you’re a leader, manager, educator, or team member, these insights will help you transform how your team communicates and works together. What you will learn: • Why teams fail (and how to fix it)• The 7 commitments of a thriving team• How positivity changes group dynamics• The science of goals, trust, and shared vision• How to stay aligned and resilient under pressure 🛠 Resources & Links: 📘 Books Mentioned: The Energy Bus and by Jon Gordon and The 7 Commitments of a Great Team: A Leadership Fable 🌐 More at https://jongordon.com/book/7-commitments-of-a-great-team/ 📸 Follow Jon on instagram @jongordon11 📚 Browse more tools and mental health content at drleaf.com ✅ Join my annual 21-Day Brain Detox Challenge (starts Jan 1): reset your mind, break toxic thought cycles, and build real mental resilience—$50 off + a FREE surprise gift from Dr. Leaf! Sign up for my newsletter at drleaf.com to get notified when early registration opens! 📸 Instagram: @drcarolineleaf 🐦 X: @drcarolineleaf 📘 Facebook: @drcarolineleaf 📫 Newsletter: Join 250,000+ subscribers at drleaf.com ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as professional advice. Please consult a licensed expert for personalized guidance. #TeamBuilding #PositivePsychology #LeadershipDevelopment

You've trained your brain to see danger everywhere—and you didn't even realize it. Every notification. Every "suspicious person" post. Every late-night scroll through your neighborhood app. Your brain is learning that the world is unsafe, that strangers are threats, and that vigilance equals virtue. But constant alertness doesn't make you safer. It makes you separate. In this episode, I reveal how modern "safety culture" is secretly destroying your mental health—and teaching you to fear the very people who could become your community. In This Episode, You'll Discover: 💡 Why constant vigilance makes you LESS safe—your nervous system can't tell the difference between protection and panic 🧠 The neuroscience of neighborhood paranoia—how every alert trains your brain to expect danger (even when there isn't any) 🛠️ A 5-step tool to rewire fear in real time—no therapy required, just 5 minutes and a willingness to pause ❤️ How trust became the missing ingredient—and why connection (not cameras) is what your brain actually needs to feel safe 🌍 The ripple effect of one person's shift—how changing your own meaning can transform an entire community 📒 Order my new book Help in a Hurry: https://drleaf.com ✏️ Want deeper support? Enroll in my new Help in a Hurry Course and get a FREE signed book: www.helpinahurrycourse.com 📫 Join 250,000+ readers: https://drleaf.com 🖥️ Watch the show on YouTube: @drcarolineleaf GET IN TOUCH: 🌍 Website: https://drleaf.com 📸 Instagram: /drcarolineleaf 🐦 Twitter: /drcarolineleaf 💻 Facebook: /drcarolineleaf SPONSORS: MENO by O Positiv: Get 25% off your first purchase with code DRLEAF at checkout or visit opositiv.com/drleaf Qualia: Get 50% off at qualialife.com/DRLEAF. And here's a bonus: use the code DRLEAF for an additional 15% 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.

Have you ever wondered when creating distance from a parent becomes an act of protection rather than abandonment? Or why stepping back can bring both a deep sense of calm and a quiet ache that lingers beneath the surface? This emotional crossroads is not only psychological. It is profoundly neurological.In this episode of the Dr. Leaf Show, I break down the rising phenomenon of cutting off parents and what actually happens inside the mind and brain when connection stops feeling safe. We explore why distance can regulate the nervous system, why grief often shows up even when the decision is necessary, and how attachment pathways continue to fire long after contact ends. You will walk away with a grounded, compassionate understanding of this experience along with practical tools to navigate guilt, clarity and emotional steadiness.What you’ll learn in this episode:✅ The neuroscience behind why estrangement activates both relief and grief✅ How chronic relational stress reshapes threat pathways in the brain✅ Why familiarity pulls you back even when the relationship was harmful✅ How guilt forms when old attachment networks search for new direction✅ Practical Neurocycle strategies to process the mix of calm, confusion and loss✅ How to rebuild inner coherence whether you stay, step back, or seek repair📒 Order my new book Help in a Hurry: www.helpinahurrybook.com✏️ Want deeper support? Enroll in Help in a Hurry for $50 off and a signed book: www.helpinahurrycourse.com📫 Join 250,000+ readers: https://drleaf.com🖥️ Watch the show on YouTube: @drcarolineleafGET IN TOUCH:🌍 Website: https://drleaf.com📸 Instagram: /drcarolineleaf🐦 Twitter: /drcarolineleaf💻 Facebook: /drcarolineleafSPONSORS:BiOptimizers: Get 15% off bioptimizers.com/drleaf with code DRLEAF.Creatone Brickhouse: Get 30% off your first order at 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.#FamilyEstrangement #CuttingOffParents #NeuroscienceOfRelationships #MindManagement #HelpInAHurry #Neurocycle #EmotionalHealth #FamilyDynamics #MentalHealthPodcast #BrainHealth #DrCarolineLeaf #RelationalHealing #StressNeuroscience #AttachmentScience #BoundariesAndHealing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder why family gatherings can drag us back into old habits? This discussion reveals how familiar sights and sounds activate emotional pathways we thought were dormant. You'll discover the science behind these triggers, including brain imaging insights showing how our reactions shift. Learn practical strategies like a 3-step Holiday Grounding Plan and Neurocycle techniques to stay present and avoid emotional regression. Embrace the holidays with tools to manage triggers and thrive, not just survive!

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.