Change Your Brain Every Day

Can't sleep? Anyone who does shift work, travels across time zones, or simply can't get the deep rest you want needs to listen to this! If you want a sharper mind, stronger memory, better mood—and even a younger-looking brain—it starts with getting your ZZZs. In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen sit down with world-renowned sleep psychiatrist Dr. Shane Creado to reveal the surprising science of how sleep impacts every part of your brain and body. Discover why even one lost hour can raise your risk of heart disease, dementia, and depression, and how alcohol, anxiety, and irregular bedtimes secretly sabotage your brain health. Dr. Creado shares his proven strategies for better rest—used by Olympic athletes, CEOs, and patients at Amen Clinics—to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up truly restored. You'll learn: ·      Why "just one bad night" can age your brain by years ·      The #1 mistake sabotaging your deep sleep ·      Why you need to know your sleep type ·      The sleep robbers stealing your rest ·      Natural, drug-free ways to beat insomnia and jet lag ·      The truth about the 20-minute "power nap" ·      How to train your brain to rest, recover, and repair overnight

Dr. Daniel Amen and actress/model Nikki Leigh demonstrate a technique to break a panic attack in 2 minutes. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder in which a person experiences recurrent panic attacks. A panic attack involves sudden feelings of intense fear and worry combined with overwhelming physical symptoms even though there is no real danger present. Panic attacks themselves are not life-threatening, but they can make you feel like you can't breathe like you're having a heart attack, or like you might die. Panic attacks tend to come on suddenly and without warning. They can hit you anywhere at any time—even in places you would expect to feel safe. For example, a panic attack can wake you from a sound sleep in your own bed, hit you when you're on vacation at the beach, or strike you while you're in church. The distressing feelings can linger long after the initial onset of the panic attack. You may begin to live in fear of having another attack and begin avoiding places or situations where you think it might happen again. This can ruin your quality of life and cause problems at work, at school, and at home.

Is what we call "normal" actually healthy—or just common? In this powerful episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen sit down with world-renowned physician and bestselling author Dr. Gabor Maté to explore how trauma, stress, and childhood experiences shape our health, addictions, and even our immune system. Dr. Maté explains why depression and anxiety aren't simply "diseases," how suppressed emotions harm the body, and why addictions are not about the drug or behavior—but about unhealed pain. You'll hear deep insights on boundaries, the hidden costs of saying "yes," why so many of us struggle in silence, and how true healing begins with connection. This conversation will challenge everything you think you know about mental health—and give you hope for change.   Dr. Maté's new book, The Myth of Normal: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Normal-Illness-Healing-Culture/dp/0593083881    

When Heather Wyatt lost her bubbly 13-year-old daughter Aubreigh to suicide after relentless bullying, her world shattered. But instead of letting grief consume her, Heather turned her pain into purpose. In this deeply emotional and inspiring episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen sit down with Heather to talk about the warning signs parents often miss, how antidepressants can affect young brains, and practical ways to protect kids from social media bullying. Heather shares her journey through trauma, faith, and advocacy—and how the "Live Like Aubreigh Wyatt" (#LLAW) movement is helping families across the country heal and find hope again. This episode is heartbreaking, raw, and ultimately redemptive—a must-listen for every parent, teacher, and teen.

Actress and mom Odette Annable sits down with Dr. Daniel Amen for a raw look inside her brain scan—and what it reveals about her struggles with ADHD, perfectionism, criticism, and the pressure to be "the strong one." Odette shares what it's like to feel hyper-productive yet scattered, zigzagging through her day only to end up frustrated—like there's a cap on her potential she can't break through. From growing up in pageants to navigating marriage and parenting a child with ADHD, Odette shares how her brain wiring fuels reactivity, stress, and self-doubt—and what she's learning to do differently to create a healthier brain and a stronger family.

Actor Dave Annable opens up to Dr. Daniel Amen in this candid brain scan session that's as raw as it is eye-opening. Dave shares his lifelong struggles with ADHD, insomnia, and self-medication with unhealthy substances—and how they affect his marriage. With Dr. Amen's insights, Dave discovers how brain health impacts not only focus and productivity, but also intimacy, parenting, and long-term happiness. Dr. Amen also reveals the surprising brain patterns shaping Dave's life and explains why he should see a functional medicine doctor. Whether you're married, a parent, or simply curious about how your brain impacts your relationships, this episode is both deeply relatable and full of practical hope.

On this week's podcast episode, the Amens welcome CA Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos. As California's Doctor, she is the leading spokesperson on the most pressing public health issues of the time within the State of California. With a steadfast commitment to addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences, mental health, and maternal mortality and morbidity, Dr. Ramos has been a driving force in shaping policies and programs that make a lasting impact. Her mission is simple: to advance the health and wellbeing of all Californians.

On this week's episode of Change Your Brain Every Day podcast, NY Times Bestselling Author Dr. Josh Axe sits down with the Amens to discuss his new research and book, The Biblio Diet. For more on Dr. Josh Axe's new book, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Biblio-Diet-Metabolism-Depression-Conquer/dp/1546008438  

When Emma Heming Willis' husband, actor Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, she felt like her world has fallen apart. In this heartfelt conversation with Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen, Emma opens up about the hidden grief of ambiguous loss, the weight of caregiving, and how she's turning pain into purpose through her advocacy and new book The Unexpected Journey. With raw honesty and hard-won wisdom, she shares how she found strength, community, and resilience while holding onto love in the midst of heartbreaking change. Whether you're a caregiver, grieving, or walking alongside someone you love through illness, this episode will remind you that you're not alone—and that hope can be found even in the hardest places.   Emma's new book, The Unexpected Journey: https://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Journey-Strength-Yourself-Caregiving/dp/0593833945  

What does it take to go from broken bones and broken confidence… to becoming one of the NBA's fiercest playoff performers? In this revealing conversation, 3-time All-Star Julius Randle opens up to Dr. Daniel Amen about his mental health struggles and self-doubt to unlock a championship mindset. You'll hear the surprising brain scan discoveries that changed his game, why he ditched marijuana, and how embracing his "Mamba Disciple" alter ego—honoring his mentor Kobe Bryant—helped him dominate under pressure. Whether you're chasing peak performance, trying to capture that flow state at work on on the court, or simply trying to find more zen in your life, this story will inspire you to rewrite the limits of your life.