Brain Shaman

Dr. Jennifer Stelter is a clinical psychologist, the CEO of the Dementia Connection Institute, and the author of The Busy Caregiver's Guide to Advanced Alzheimer Disease. In this episode, she shares insights on how to better care for and connect with individuals with dementia. Dr. Stelter delves into the neuroscience and psychology behind their frustrations and behaviors, offering sensory-based tools to enhance the well-being of both those with dementia and their caregivers. We explore how engaging the senses — smell, sight, sound, taste, and touch — can create positive experiences. By incorporating tools like essential oils, music, color, and hands-on tactile experiences, we can enhance mood, attention, memory, language, neuroplasticity, food intake, independence, and connection. Likewise, reducing or eliminating negative stimuli, such as distressing news, violent media, or disruptive lights and sounds, helps diminish negative emotions and behaviors, fostering a more positive environment and overall experience. We discuss the psychological effects of various scents, including lavender, rosemary, citrus, and peppermint, and how we can use them to alter our mood and actions. Even if you don’t have a loved one with dementia, these sensory tools can still benefit your own mood, health, cognition, and overall well-being. Experiment with different sensory experiences, embracing those that work best for you while removing those that don’t. RESOURCESBOOKS- The Busy Caregiver's Guide to Advanced Alzheimer Disease by Jennifer Stelter - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald ORGANIZATIONS- International Caregivers Association (ICA)- Johns Hopkins University- McDonald'sPEOPLE- Barry ReisbergTV PROGRAMS- Memory Lane TVVOCABULARY- activities of daily living (ADLs)- amygdala- hippocampus- limbic system- Memory Care- occipital lobe - olfactory bulb - Pavlov's dog - retrogenesis- Santa Fe**Connect and Learn More**Website: dementiaconnectioninstitute.orgBook: The Busy Caregiver's Guide to Advanced Alzheimer DiseaseInstagram: @neuroessenceorgLinkedIn: /neuroessenceorg

In this solo episode, we explore the myriad of everyday ways we exhale beyond traditional breathing practices. While techniques like the physiological sigh or the 4-7-8 breath are great, there are plenty of other, often overlooked ways to exhale that can be just as effective yet easy and fun.From screaming and laughing to crying and humming, discover how everyday actions like singing, whistling, blowing on your food or furniture, and even blowing raspberries, bubbles, or kisses, or farting and spitting, can serve as excellent ways to exhale and thereby calm down, reduce your energy and anxiety, and balance out your nervous system and mood.Embrace these natural exhalations, get creative, and explore ever more ways to get playful with your breath and life.

Alex Korb is a neuroscientist, author, and personal development coach. In this episode, we explore how to better understand and redirect your unique brain and life. While we all share certain neural circuits, each person's system is wired differently. By applying the iterative process of science and self-inquiry, you can discover your own unique path forward — helping to free your brain and create a happier life.We discuss the importance of identifying what truly matters to you and focusing on what’s within your control — and paying less energy and attention to the rest. Learn to listen to your emotions and use them as a guide. Question your motivations, accept that you can't have it all, and embrace the fact that your brain and life are constantly evolving. By continually updating your mental map and set of actions, you can better navigate this ever-changing neural and existential landscape.In this episode, you'll also discover:Key brain circuits, including the striatum and prefrontal cortexSimple yet powerful mindset shiftsStrategies for habit changeCommon excuses for staying stuckWhy even smart people struggle with self-defeating habits and inactionThe pitfalls of black-and-white thinkingThe hidden strengths of your “bad” brainWhy your brain resembles the stock marketHow to approach your unique brain like a scientistDo-it-yourself tools for changing your brain's biology and elevating your lifeRESOURCESBOOKS- The Upward Spiral by Alex KorbPLACES- UCLA Brain Mapping CenterVOCABULARY- amygdala- butterfly effect- dorsal striatum- electroencephalography (EEG)- functional MRI (fMRI)- nonlinear systems- sea slug- striatum**Connect and Learn More**website: alexkorbphd.combook: The Upward SpiralFacebook: @alexkorbphdInstagram: @alexkorbphdX: @alexkorbphd

In this episode, our guest is Jonathan Dornell, the co-host of the Let's Get Oral podcast. We explore the oral microbiome and how to understand and nurture this vital ecosystem to optimize your brain and body health. You'll learn about key topics like: nitric oxide, neurogastronomy, and how simple habits - like chewing mindfully, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding mouthwash and teeth whitening - can protect your oral microbiome, possibly reducing risks for conditions like caries (cavities), dementia, and heart disease.We also discuss the relationship between bacteria and humans, smell and taste perception, the benefits of slowing down, and the role of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, as well as how sugar and sweet flavors influence our oral and overall health. RESOURCESBACTERIA - Candida albicans- Lactobacillus - Prevotella- Prevotella intermedia- Porphyromonas gingivalis- Rothia- Streptococcus mutans - Treponema denticola - Veillonella- Veillonella dispar- Veillonella parvula BOOKS- If Your Mouth Could Talk by Kami HossORGANIZATIONS- American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH)- The Integrative Dental Medicine Scholar SocietyOTHER VOCAB- Amylase- Arginine- Biofilm- Commensal- Culturomics- Electron micrograph- Lozenge- Neurogastronomy- Nitrates- Periopathogen - Periodontitis- Retronasal smell- Supertaster- XylitolPAPERS- Did the Brain and Oral Microbiota Talk to Each Other? A Review of the Literature- The Oral-Microbiome-Brain Axis and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: An Anthropological Perspective**CONNECT & LEARN MORE**website: letsgetoral.compodcast: Let's Get OralIG: @letsgetoralLinkedIn: /jddornell

In this episode, our guest is Dr. Lara Salyer, a functional medicine practitioner, author, podcaster, and coach. We discuss burnout and how to overcome it by tapping into flow and using functional medicine.Key Topics Covered: Burnout: Causes, diagnosis, physiology, prevention strategies, and Dr. Salyer's personal story. Flow: Neurochemistry, phenomenology, the four phases of the flow cycle (struggle, release, flow, and recovery), triggers, and blockers.Functional Medicine: Core principles, inflammation, the effects of alcohol, plant medicine (including psilocybin and cannabis), and more.Holistic well-being: Creativity, play, emotional expression, community, creating boundaries, and tips for workplace satisfaction. RESOURCESBOOKS- Right Brain Rescue by Dr. Lara Salyer- Start With Why by Simon SinekORGANIZATIONS- Drink Wisconsibly- Flow Research Collective- The Institute for Functional MedicinePEOPLE- Archimedes- Jeffrey Bland- Mark Hyman- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi- Simon Sinek- Steven Kotler- William ShakespeareVOCABULARY- anandamide- Apo-E- Archimedes' principle- Cannabidiol (CBD)- cannabis- dysbiosis- functional medicine- growth mindset- MDMA- norepinephrine- osteopathy- oxytocin- psilocybin**Connect and Learn More**   website: drlarasalyer.com   Instagram: @drlarasalyer   book: Right Brain Rescue   podcast: The Catalyst 

In this episode, our guest is Nicolas Luna, a language and communication coach. We dive into the secrets of learning and mastering any language, regardless of whether you're a beginner or at an upper-intermediate level.Key Topics Covered: Overcoming barriers: Uncover and overcome your fears, increase your confidence, abandon your ego, and let go of limiting identities and habits.Stealthy Techniques: Play, stories, music, games, improv, journaling, mindfulness, social media, mentors, and more.Personal Growth: Embrace discomfort, work hard, identify and pursue your goals, tap into your needs, do what you love, follow your gut instincts, enter flow, and keep the process fun.Teaching Tips: Learn strategies to make language learning more enjoyable and effective for both teachers and students, regardless of class size or age.RESOURCESBOOKS- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienCHARACTERS- Chewbacca- Obi-Wan Kenobi- YodaMOVIES- TransformersPEOPLE- Benjamin Lee Whorf- Daniele Scuteri- Edward Sapir- Michael Bungay Stanier- Noam ChomskyPLACES- Chiang Mai- Museum of Insects and Natural Wonders- UC BerkeleyVOCABULARY- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)- Education Abroad Program (EAP)- flow- mentalese- oxytocin - Pareto principle (80/20 rule)- Prussian education system - Quechua- Sapir-Wharf hypothesis- Seven Factors of Awakening**Connect or Learn More**website: nicolaslunafleck.comInstagram: @nicolaslunafleckitalki: italki.com/en/teacher/4815496LinkedIn: /nicolas-luna-a0bb5820podcast: The Language Journey

In this episode, our guest is ADHD coach Penny Kennedy. We talk all about ADHD - what it is, what it is not, the neuroscience, dopamine, challenges, frustrations, strengths, and more. We discuss various tools to help people with ADHD (or anyone experiencing challenges with executive functioning), including: nutrition, supplements, cold exposure, discomfort, exercise, technology, social connection, coaching, retreats, nature, pausing, and slowing things down.Connect with Penny, learn more, or get a free consultation at: www.advanceadhd.comBOOKS - ADHD 2.0 by Ned Hallowell- Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke- Living With Adult ADHD by Bernadette Ashton- Out of My Skull by James Danckert & John Eastwood- Taking Charge of Adult ADHD by Russell BarkleyEVENTS- Darshan (eye gazing event)- Fairwood Escape (ADHD retreat)- Vipassana Meditation (course / retreat) PEOPLE - Andrew Huberman- Anna Lembke- Bernadette Ashton- James Danckert - John Eastwood - Ned Hallowell- Russell Barkley - Thomas Brown- Tom Cruise- Wim HofSUPPLEMENTS - L-tyrosine - Elite Focus - get dopa- lion's maneVOCABULARY- body doubling- cob house- Gower Peninsula (place)- Swansea (place)- yurt**Connect & Learn More**website: www.advanceadhd.comFacebook: @penny872LinkedIn: /penny-kennedy-calc-accX: @AdvanceADHD

In this episode, our guest is Janet Gourand, the founder of Tribe Sober, an alcohol sobriety community and podcast. We discuss alcohol blackouts and other alcohol-related dangers. Learn all about blackouts (and brownouts) - risks, causes, science, signs, interactions, preventative measures, horror stories, and more. And become reminded of alcohol's scary links to crime, violence, disease, and even death. One of these times, you could wake up from your blackout inside a hospital, jail cell, or not at all. Entering into and navigating sobriety can be hard at first. So Janet shares various tools that help, such as: social connection, joining a community, and having a project or goal. Alcohol might shut down the brain, but sobriety can help power it back up, increasing things like energy, motivation, mood, creativity, imagination, and connection. RESOURCESBOOKS- Blackout by Sarah Hepola- We Are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen - Why You're Unhappy by Loretta BreuningCOMPANIES - Miller Brewing Company- Philip MorrisCOMMUNITIES - Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)- Tribe SoberPEOPLE- Ernest Hemingway - Jeffrey Dahmer- Laura McKowen - Loretta Breuning- Lucy Denith- Sarah HepolaPLACES - Cape Town- Johannesburg- London- SapporoPODCAST EPISODES - Why You're Unhappy with Dr Loretta Breuning (Tribe Sober, 1/20/2024) - Playing Russian Roulette... with Alcohol - Michael Waite (Tribe Sober, 4/13/2024)TV SERIES - Dahmer – MonsterVOCABULARY - Ativan- benzodiazepines- brownouts- CBD- CB1 receptor- hippocampus - ketamine- THC**Connect, learn more, or join the community**website: tribesober.comInstagram: @tribesober

In this episode, we talk with Julia Yanker, an adventurer, coach, and Somatic Experiencing Practictioner. We discuss her experiences with adventure sports, trauma, nature, and healing through Somatic Experiencing (SE). Learn about the neuropsychology behind the world of adventure sports, as well as the dangers, drugs, psychosocial dynamics, addictions, anxieties, traumas, disembodiment, and other issues often involved. Discover new ways to safely and gently re-connect with your body, emotions, self, world, and others, such as through: somatic experiencing, nature, touch, physical exercises, memory, imagination, reparenting, therapy, coaching, support groups, loving self talk, and good environments & people. We live in a society that pressures us to be disembodied, stressed, consuming, distracted, busy, productive, obedient little robots. But you don't have to live that way. You can remove the distractions, re-enter your body, heal your nervous system and childhood & relationship wounds, and live a more happy authentic connected life. Somatic experiencing and the other tools & ideas discussed today can help take you there. RESOURCESBOOKS- Healing Developmental Trauma by Laurence Heller & Aline LaPierre - Power of Attachment by Diane Poole Heller- Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker- The Myth of Normal by Gabor MateCONCEPTS- attachment theory- avoidant attachment style- Bwiti- co-regulation- disorganized attachment style- Global High Intensity Activation (GHIA)- Integral Somatic PsychologyPEOPLE- Aline LaPierre- Diane Poole Heller- Gabor Mate- Holly Whitaker- Laurence Heller- Loretta Breuning- Mother Teresa- Peter Levine- Raja SelvamPLACES- Beartooth Mountains- Bozeman, Montana- Hokkaido- Sistine Chapel**Learn more and connect**website: juliayanker.comFacebook: /julia.yankerInstagram: @juliayankercoaching

In this episode, our guest is Robert Cefoli, the Director of Health and Fitness at FDNY and Co-Founder of Fyr Tribe, a non-profit dedicated to helping firefighters recover from trauma. We discuss the work environment, the stress and trauma that firefighters are exposed to, the bio-psycho-social health challenges they face, the state of their mind and body, and how body-based therapies like TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises), foam rolling, and breathwork can help. Enter the mind and body of a New York City firefighter, husband, and father, as Captain Cefoli shares uncensored stories from his 20+ year journey, bleeds out his pains and struggles, and teaches us how to build resilience and strength, handle stress, and release our trauma and tension. These are lessons applicable to not just firefighters, but anyone living in the chaos and madness of modern society. If you are a parent, first responder, retiree, divorcee, addict, or have a high-stress job, this set of tools and information will likely resonate with you. Yet this is for anyone who has experienced trauma or stress and wants to come back to life. If you are ready, listen in, let go, and shake your past troubles away. Warning: this episode contains profanity and graphic content. RESOURCESPEOPLE - Adrian Caban - David Berceli TOOLS- ashwagandha - cold exposure- foot grounding- magnesium- myofascial release - TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises)- sound frequencies**Connect & Learn More** Instagram: @fyr_tribewebsite: fyrtribe.org