The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast

Do You Struggle With Anxiety?If so, this will help. A look back at a 15-part series from 2021 with a new preamble (10 minutes or so). Look, friend: Life is not brain surgery. It’s harder. You can actually train someone to do brain surgery. But you have to live life to get good at it.Anxiety is one of the major problems that prevent an abundant, healthy life, but we're going to learn some self-brain surgery techniques to fight it today. We’re going to start learning to be Infinitely Happier, friend. And we’re going to start today.Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Hey, my new book is releasing July 25. Check it out by clicking on the cover! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Your Brain is Very EfficientI’m always telling you that “neurons that fire together wire together.” This is because God made your brain to be very efficient. So, things you repeatedly experience, think about, perform, or react to will create automatic “programs” through connections called synapses that will make the responses to those things more automated and require you to think about them less. This is the basis of things like “muscle memory,” but also of harmful things like post-traumatic stress syndrome/disorder.That’s the bad news. The good news? You’re not stuck with the brain you have. Through the gift of neuroplasticity, you can reverse this process and employ another neuroscience fact to your advantage: neurons that STOP firing together STOP wiring together. This means that if you have thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or reactions that are not helping you, you can change them.Listen to learn more!Music by Tommy Walker(Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 )Hey, my new book is releasing July 25. Tommy is one of my early readers/endorsers. Here’s what he had to say about Hope is the First Dose.“Dr. Lee Warren has personally gone through the devastating school of loss and come out stronger on the other side of what he calls The Massive Thing—or TMT. No matter what your TMT is, you will walk away from this book with a deep infusion of God’s healing hope!”—Tommy Walker, singer-songwriter and worship leaderSelf-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Christy Lefteri Wrote My Favorite Novel of All TimeI read The Beekeeper of Aleppo after Lisa and I found it in a bookstore in Casper, Wyoming. I love the story, and how the author crafted the story. She used such imaginative ways to jump back and forth between present and past tense, and her control of point-of-view was stunning. Her follow-up novel, Songbirds, is also fantastic, but Beekeeper is one of those books that gets under your skin. Back in 2020 when everyone was on lockdown, I reached out to Christy through our mutual publisher (Penguin Random House), and she graciously agreed to appear on the podcast. It remains one of my favorite episodes ever, and I wanted to give it back to you today. Christy has a new book coming out in January of next year, The Book of Fire. Join me for a fascinating conversation with International bestselling author Christy Lefteri about her life, her work, her novels, and what she's writing next, as well as her perspective on how to find hope even when it seems so far off. Hey, my new book is releasing July 25. Christy is one of my early readers/endorsers. Here’s what she had to say about Hope is the First Dose. “This is an intimate read. You will feel Dr. Lee beside you, the reassuring hand of a friend holding yours. He uses his own personal experiences and his wealth of knowledge to show us what it means to live again after catastrophic loss. Whether you are religious or not, whatever faith you may or may not have, this book will stay with you in times of trouble; it is memorable, universal, and inspiring.”—Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of AleppoSelf-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

It’s Tuesdays with Tata!Today, a great talk about how prayer helps us change our mind, even when massive, difficult things are happening in our lives. Scripture: II Corinthians 1Books Mentioned: The Awe of God by John BevereWords with God by Addison BevereHey, my new book is releasing July 25. John and Addison Bevere are two of my early readers/endorsers. Here’s what they had to say about Hope is the First Dose.“When hard things knock you out, you can’t stay out. Dr. Lee Warren prescribes a treatment plan that will help you rise again so you can discover hope in hardship.”John Bevere, bestselling author, minister, and co-founder of Messenger International“I should warn you that this book comes with deep breaths and the occasional tears. With beautiful prose and intimate insights, these pages take you where you need to go before life forces you to go there. And if you’re already ‘there,’ face to face with what Dr. Warren calls The Massive Thing, I have good news for you: you’ve found your book.”Addison Bevere, author and COO of Messenger International Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

It’s Mind Change Monday!Today we talk about how our thought patterns are predictable, usually negative, and often harmful to ourselves and others. So, to become master self-brain surgeons, we have to learn to anticipate those negative thoughts and treat them pro-actively. Here’s how. Scriptures: Isaiah 43:18-18, Psalm 37Check out my new book! You can pre-order it by clicking the book cover below. Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Tommy Walker is a world-renowned songwriter, worship leader, and pastor. His song, "He Knows My Name," has helped people all over take comfort in being known by God. Today, Tommy shares the beautiful origin of "He Knows My Name," to help us all understand that even when we feel isolated and unnoticed, God sees us, hears us, and loves us. Check out Tommy's ministry, music, and story by clicking on the button below. Hey, my new book is releasing July 25. Tommy is one of my early readers/endorsers. Here’s what he had to say about Hope is the First Dose.“Dr. Lee Warren has personally gone through the devastating school of loss and come out stronger on the other side of what he calls The Massive Thing—or TMT. No matter what your TMT is, you will walk away from this book with a deep infusion of God’s healing hope!”—Tommy Walker, singer-songwriter and worship leaderSelf-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

[Flashback episode!]Hey my friend, it’s Throwback Thursday, and I’m bringing you one of my all-time favorite podcast episodes. Here’s an interview from 2020 with Paul Baloche, and I think you’ll get a lot out of it!Paul Baloche has given the global church hundreds of worship songs over the years. And through his leadworship.com ministry, Paul has helped equip thousands of musicians and singers to hone the craft of worship ministry. Join me for a conversation with Paul Baloche on how whatever you're going through, worship makes it better. Learn more about Paul at www.wleewarrenmd.com/baloche This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

[Flashback episode!]Even in our hardest moments, hope is always available. Join me for a great conversation about hope and perseverance with American heroes Scotty and Tiffany Smiley, and you'll find yourself inspired and uplifted in this dark time.Blindness became Major Scotty Smiley’s journey of supreme testing. As he lay helpless in the hospital, he resented the theft of his dreams—becoming a CEO, a Delta Force operator, or a four-star general. With his wife Tiffany’s love and the support of his family and friends, Scotty’s response became God’s transforming moment. The injury only intensified his indomitable spirit. Since the moment he jumped out of a hospital bed and forced his way through nurses and cords to take a simple shower, Major Scotty Smiley has climbed Mount Rainier, won an ESPY as Best Outdoor Athlete, surfed, skydived, become a father, earned an MBA from Duke, taught leadership at West Point, commanded an army company, won the MacArthur Leadership Award and completed an Iron Man. Now he and his wife Tiffany travel all over the country sharing and inspiring others to find their hope unseen. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Be Honest: Is Your Prayer Life Everything You Want it to Be?Prayer is difficult for many of us. We’re busy, stressed, and often find ourselves wondering if God is even out there. We’re screaming into the void, and all we hear are the echoes of our own voices and the noises of the culture around us. Or, we’re desperately whispering our deepest needs, but we have no idea how to really connect with God, or whether he’s even listening at all. But what if it doesn’t have to be this way? What if we really can learn to have real connection and conversation with a God who wants to know and be known by us?That’s what my friend Addison Bevere is here to talk about today. Addison’s new book is Words with God: Trading Boring, Empty Prayer for Real Connection. It’s available today, everywhere books are sold. Click the button below for more information about Addison, and his wonderful new book that’s already locked in as one of my top books of 2023 (and all-time). I can’t recommend this book highly enough, and I’m so excited to bring you this wonderful conversation today with my friend, Addison Bevere. Here’s the description of Words with God from Amazon.com, including an endorsement from another one of my favorite writes, Mark Batterson (we use his book, All In, every year for our podcast series called All-In August). For most of us, prayer is a struggle. Do our prayers even matter? What, if anything, happens when we pray? Are we having words with God or just words with ourselves?We know we should pray. It would be good for us--help us be more grounded, more connected to God. But in our hurried lives, slowing down to pray can feel like a cosmic waste of time. In this thoughtful book, bestselling author Addison Bevere takes you into and through the tension of prayer--the struggles, the doubts, the answers--to the place where God makes himself real to you. He tackles questions such as:· What do we do with unanswered prayers and how do we move through them?· Why does God invite us to ask through prayer if he is aware of every need?· Is there a right way to pray? If so, what is it?· How do we learn to hear the Voice of God?Tired of boring, empty, transactional prayer? This is the book for you."Addison's book takes us through our desires for prayer, our disappointments in prayer, and the profound deeper plan of God for our prayers. This is the book you'll return to again and again."--Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C.Hey, my new book is releasing July 25. Addison is one of my early readers/endorsers. Here’s what he had to say about Hope is the First Dose. “I should warn you that this book comes with deep breaths and the occasional tears. With beautiful prose and intimate insights, these pages take you where you need to go before life forces you to go there. And if you’re already ‘there,’ face to face with what Dr. Warren calls The Massive Thing, I have good news for you: you’ve found your book.” Addison BevereSelf-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Is it Reasonable to Base Our Hope on the Bible?It’s Self-Brain Surgery Saturday, and today I’ve got a treat for you!I had a great conversation with Pastor Jarrett Stephens, pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. We talked about why it’s reasonable to believe in and place our hope on God’s word. Do you have to be a moron to believe? Is there any rational basis for thinking that the Bible is inspired and not just a book of old stories and ideas written by people?Jarrett takes us through why even smart people (even brain surgeons!) should have a high degree of confidence in the reliability of this book, and why the Bible isn’t like any other literature in the world- it’s living and active!Jarrett is also the author of two great books, The Always God: He Hasn't Changed, and You Are Not Forgotten, and The Mountains are Calling: Making the Climb for a Clearer View of God and Ourselves.Check out Jarrett's I Am Second video for more of his story. Other book mentioned in this episode- The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller.Hey, I just wrote a book about my research into how people process pain and find hope again after they experience what we call “The Massive Thing,” or TMT, Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things (coming July 25). You can pre-order it by clicking on the book cover below.Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe