The Dr. Leaf Show
- Episodios
- 676
- Se publica
- varias veces por semana
- Último episodio
- 12 Nov 2026
Sobre el podcast
Hi! I’m Dr. Caroline Leaf. I’m a cognitive neuroscientist, author, & mental health expert. Whether you are struggling in your personal life or simply want to learn how to understand and use your mind to live your best life, this podcast will provide you with practical & scientific tips and tools to help you take back control over your mental, emotional, and physical health. Visit: https://drleaf.com*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your personal physician if you have any personal medical questions. For ad inquiries, please reach out to: [email protected]
Episodios 676
Is ADHD Real? What a 600-Page Review Found (ADHD Part 2)
A new 600-page UK review found there’s no blood test, scan or biological marker for ADHD. So what does an ADHD diagnosis actually tell you? In part 2 of our ADHD series, my daughter Dominique and I unpack the …
Notas del episodio
A new 600-page UK review found there’s no blood test, scan or biological marker for ADHD. So what does an ADHD diagnosis actually tell you?
In part 2 of our ADHD series, my daughter Dominique and I unpack the new Fonagy review, why using an ADHD diagnosis to explain the struggle becomes circular reasoning, and what brain scans, gene research and medication studies show. The struggle is real, and I’ll give you two simple exercises to turn a label into a description you can work from.
Want to go deeper? I’m hosting a live Q&A on ADHD for members of Neurocycle Insiders, my new private community. Join as a founding member for the Q&A and weekly Prescriptions: https://neurocycle-insiders.circle.so/neurocycle-insiders
On ADHD medication? Please don’t stop suddenly. Talk to your doctor first.
In this episode:
- Why the UK’s Fonagy review found no biological test for ADHD
- Is ADHD overdiagnosed? Why August-born kids were about 30% more likely to be diagnosed
- What the ENIGMA brain scan study really showed about the “ADHD brain”
- What long-term ADHD medication research says about height, heart health and psychosis risk
- A 10-second sentence test that turns “because I have ADHD” into something you can change
- My 7-day attention map: where your focus holds, where it slips, and whyNew here? Start with ADHD Part 1, earlier in this feed.
Want to read more from Drominique? https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com/
Resources:
- This week’s Neurocycle Prescription: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
- Become a Neurocycle Certified Strategist: https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist
- 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1Research cited:
- The Fonagy review (2026): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ac7c305b016250bca013ac3/independent-review-into-prevalence-and-support-for-mental-health-conditions-ADHD-and-autism.pdf
- Joanna Moncrieff’s response (2026): https://www.madinamerica.com/2026/10/fonagy-missed-opportunity/
- ENIGMA brain volume study (Hoogman, 2017): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28219628/
- August birthdays and ADHD diagnosis (Layton, 2018): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6322209
- Stimulant study in healthy boys (Rapoport, 1978): https://doi.org/10.1126/science.341313 and follow-up (1980): https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1980.01780210091010
- MTA follow-up into adulthood (Swanson, 2017): https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12684
- ADHD medication and heart disease (Zhang, 2023). The 4% is a relative risk increase per year of use, not 4% of people: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.4294
- Amphetamines and psychosis or mania (Moran, 2024). Measured recent use in hospitalized psychiatric patients, not long-term use in the general public: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230329
- Methylphenidate for children (Cochrane, 2015), source of the percentages quoted: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009885.pub2 and 2023 update: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009885.pub3This episode is brought to you by:
- Walden: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit WaldenU.edu.
- Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf
- Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf
- Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
- Geviti: Get started at gogeviti.com/LEAF and use code LEAF for 20% off your membership.
- Mint Mobile: So, what are you waiting for? To get your new wireless plan for 15 bucks a month, go to mintmobile.com/drleaf
- Momentous: If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code DRLEAF for up to 35% off your entire first order.
New episodes every Monday and Thursday. If this supported you, follow the show and leave a rating.Connect with me: https://drleaf.com | Instagram & TikTok: @drcarolineleaf
Emotional Hangover: Why You Feel Drained for No Reason
An emotional hangover is the drained, foggy, flat feeling you get after a hard conversation, a long cry, or even a wonderful day. It’s real, it’s normal, and you can manage it. In this episode, my daughter …
Notas del episodio
An emotional hangover is the drained, foggy, flat feeling you get after a hard conversation, a long cry, or even a wonderful day. It’s real, it’s normal, and you can manage it.
In this episode, my daughter Dominique and I talk about why emotional hangovers happen, why you can wake up wiped out the morning after a fight or a wedding, and what it means when the same people or situations keep leaving you exhausted. I walk through the research on how emotional states carry over, why socializing tires everyone out, and how to work through it with the Neurocycle.
💬 My new private community is open! Become a founding member of Neurocycle Insiders and get weekly Neurocycle Prescriptions and live Q&As with me: https://neurocycle-insiders.circle.so/neurocycle-insiders
✍️ Read more from Dominique on Substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
🔬 What you’ll learn:
- How an intense moment colors the next 30 minutes of your day, and sometimes the next morning
- Why socializing leaves both introverts and extroverts tired a few hours later, and why the mood boost is still worth it
- What smiling through a family dinner or staying composed in a tense meeting costs you
- Why you can feel sad or flat after a great day, and how to recover faster
- How people pleasing and the fawn response lead to emotional exhaustion, and how to turn them into a kind boundary
- My Neurocycle Prescription for when an intense experience is over but the feeling isn’t
📚 Resources mentioned:
This week’s Neurocycle Prescription in the Neurocycle app: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app📖 Research cited:
- Emotional brain states carry over (Tambini, Rimmele, Phelps & Davachi, Nature Neuroscience, 2016): https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4468
- Sociable behavior and later fatigue (Leikas & Ilmarinen, Journal of Personality, 2016): https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12264
- The cognitive cost of hiding your feelings (Richards & Gross, Stanford, 2000): https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.79.3.410
🎧 This episode is brought to you by:
- Walden: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit WaldenU.edu.
- Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf
- Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf
- Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
- Geviti: Get started at gogeviti.com/LEAF and use code LEAF for 20% off your membership.
- Mint Mobile: So, what are you waiting for? To get your new wireless plan for 15 bucks a month, go to mintmobile.com/drleaf
- Momentous: If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code DRLEAF for up to 35% off your entire first order.
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
New episodes every Monday and Thursday. If this conversation helped you, tap follow so you never miss an episode, and leave a rating or review. It helps more people find the show. Share this with someone who wants to build a stronger, more adaptable mind.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolineleaf
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drleaf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf
Website: https://drleaf.comDelulu Is the Solulu? Why Dreaming Isn't Enough
Delulu is the solulu, or so TikTok says. I love a little delulu, but research shows that picturing your dream without a plan can make you less likely to get there. Join my new private community: Be a founding …
Notas del episodio
Delulu is the solulu, or so TikTok says. I love a little delulu, but research shows that picturing your dream without a plan can make you less likely to get there.
Join my new private community: Be a founding member of Neurocycle Insiders for weekly Prescriptions and live Q&As with me: https://neurocycle-insiders.circle.so/neurocycle-insiders
In this episode, my daughter Dominique and I talk about where delulu came from and how it connects to manifesting and the law of attraction. We also get into why a fantasy can feel like progress when nothing has actually happened yet. I walk you through what NYU psychologist Gabriele Oettingen found about positive fantasies, how her WOOP method fits with the Neurocycle, and how to give your delulu a plan-a-lulu.
What you’ll learn:
- Why a little delulu can push you to try something you’d otherwise talk yourself out of
- What the research says about positive fantasies, energy and effort
- Manifesting vs. delusion: where wishful thinking ends and directed dreaming begins
- How to use WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) to turn a dream into action
- Signs you’re a little too delulu, from all talk and no action to shame and self-blame
- My Neurocycle prescription for directed dreaming vs. wishful believing
Resources mentioned:
- This week’s Neurocycle Prescription in the Neurocycle app: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
- Rethinking Positive Thinking by Gabriele Oettingen + the WOOP method: https://woopmylife.org
- Dominique on Substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com/
Research cited:
- Positive fantasies sap energy (Kappes & Oettingen, 2011): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.02.003
- Delulu enters the Cambridge Dictionary (ABC News, 2025): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-18/delulu-tradwife-skibidi-enter-the-cambridge-dictionary/105668182
This episode is brought to you by:
- Walden: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit WaldenU.edu.
- Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf
- Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf
- Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
- Geviti: Get started at gogeviti.com/LEAF and use code LEAF for 20% off your membership.
- Mint Mobile: So, what are you waiting for? To get your new wireless plan for 15 bucks a month, go to mintmobile.com/drleaf
- Momentous: If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code DRLEAF for up to 35% off your entire first order.
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
New episodes every Monday and Thursday. If this conversation helped you, follow the show and leave a rating so you don’t miss the next one. Share it with someone who wants to build a stronger, more adaptable mind.
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolineleaf
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drleaf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf
Website: https://drleaf.comAdult ADHD in Women: Is It ADHD, or Is Life Just Too Much? (Part 1)
Adult ADHD in women is being diagnosed faster than ever. But is it ADHD, or have you been stretched past your limit for years? 👉 Get the ADHD handout from this episode and join me LIVE this week to ask your …
Notas del episodio
Adult ADHD in women is being diagnosed faster than ever. But is it ADHD, or have you been stretched past your limit for years?
👉 Get the ADHD handout from this episode and join me LIVE this week to ask your questions, inside Neurocycle Insiders: https://neurocycle-insiders.circle.so/neurocycle-insiders
In this episode, my daughter Dominique asks me the question so many women are typing into their search bar right now.
We talk about why ADHD in women went unnoticed for decades and why so many women in their thirties and forties suddenly see themselves in a 30-second video. We also look at why I say a label can describe what you’re going through but can’t tell you why.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why stress, poor sleep, grief, trauma and perimenopause can look exactly like ADHD symptoms in women
- What masking costs you, and what your nonconscious mind has been carrying all along
- Why “I am ADHD” and “I’m experiencing an attention pattern” lead to very different places
- What the research on ADHD self-diagnosis, TikTok and brain scans does and doesn’t show
- Questions to ask yourself this week, before or alongside an ADHD assessment
This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation on adult ADHD, burnout and mental health.
Resources mentioned:
Episode 447: Addressing ADD & ADHD with Child Psychiatrist Dr. Sami Timimi: https://drleaf.com/posts/addressing-add-adhd-with-child-psychiatrist-dr-sami-timimi
Neurocycle app: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
This episode is brought to you by:
- Walden: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit WaldenU.edu.
- Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf
- Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf
- Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
- Geviti: Get started at gogeviti.com/LEAF and use code LEAF for 20% off your membership.
- Mint Mobile: So, what are you waiting for? To get your new wireless plan for 15 bucks a month, go to mintmobile.com/drleaf
- Momentous: If you want to try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine, head to livemomentous.com and use code DRLEAF for up to 35% off your entire first order.
If this conversation helped you, follow the show and leave a rating so you never miss a new episode. New episodes every Wednesday.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please don’t change or stop any medication without the guidance of your prescriber.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolineleaf
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf
Website: https://drleaf.comJoin Neurocycle Insiders, my new private community! As a founding member, you’ll get weekly Prescriptions, live Q&As with me, and the ADHD handout I mentioned in this episode. Join me this week for a LIVE session where I’ll answer all your questions on adult ADHD: https://neurocycle-insiders.circle.so/neurocycle-insiders
Revenge Bedtime Procrastination: Why You Stay Up When You're Exhausted
Revenge bedtime procrastination is why you're still scrolling at midnight, eyes burning, and telling yourself "just ten more minutes." Here's what's driving your desire to stay up late scrolling. When the day …
Notas del episodio
Revenge bedtime procrastination is why you're still scrolling at midnight, eyes burning, and telling yourself "just ten more minutes." Here's what's driving your desire to stay up late scrolling.
When the day belongs to everyone else, the hour after the house goes dark can feel like the only time that's yours. In this episode, my daughter Dominique and I talk about where the term “revenge bedtime procrastination” came from, what the research says, and why staying up late is a reasonable protest using the wrong tool. Then I walk you through a Neurocycle prescription to get your time back without taking it from your sleep.
🔬 What you'll learn:
- Why you stay up late on your phone even when you're exhausted
- The difference between deliberate, mindless and strategic procrastination
- How to plan your joy first thing in the morning so the night stops feeling like your only chance
- How thinker moments give your brain a break during a busy day
- What "attention infidelity" is, and how phones in bed affect your relationship
Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
Be one of the first to join Neurocycle Insiders, my new private community. Get a new Neurocycle Prescription every week, live Q&As with me, and support from certified Neurocycle experts. Founding members lock in their price for as long as they stay. Join by November 13: https://neurocycle-insiders.circle.so/neurocycle-insiders
💛 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS- Hans: https://hansfordogs.com/leaf (code LEAF for $30 off your first month)
- Walden: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit WaldenU.edu.
- Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf
- Primal Queen: https://primalqueen.com/leaf
- Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf
- ElevenLabs: see a demo of Eleven Agents at https://elevenlabs.io/leaf
- Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
- Betterhelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
- Veracity: So before Metabolism Ignite sells out again, make the switch to GLP 1’s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 65% off your order.
📚 Research mentioned: Kroese et al., bedtime procrastination study (Frontiers in Psychology, 2014) Jessica Gross, "Attention Infidelity" (The New York Times, Sept 30, 2026) Institute for Family Studies survey of married Americans and phone use
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
🧠 This week's Neurocycle prescription is in the Neurocycle app: https://drleaf.com
New episodes every Wednesday.
#RevengeBedtimeProcrastination #DrCarolineLeaf #SleepProcrastination #Neuroscience #MentalHealth
If this conversation supported you, tap follow and subscribe so you stay connected to each new episode. Share this with someone who wants to build a stronger, more adaptable mind.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolineleaf
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drleaf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf
Website: https://drleaf.com
A Neuroscientist on Tradwives: Real Desire or Burnout?
Why does tradwife content pull you in, even if you'd never live that way? My daughter Dominique and I unpack the tradwife trend, the burnout often hiding behind it, and the shame women feel no matter what they …
Notas del episodio
Why does tradwife content pull you in, even if you'd never live that way? My daughter Dominique and I unpack the tradwife trend, the burnout often hiding behind it, and the shame women feel no matter what they choose. We look at the movement from every side: where it came from, what supporters and critics say, and what new research says is driving its appeal. Then I explain how unquestioned choices get built into the brain through the mind, why shame is a signal worth investigating, and how to tell whether a life choice comes from real desire or from running from exhaustion. 🔬 In this episode, you'll learn: • Why the trend may be more a symptom of burnout than a wish to go back to the 1950s • How an unquestioned choice becomes a stable network in your brain, and what that does to your sense of identity • What to do when you feel shame for staying home, for working, or for wanting both • How to observe a strong reaction to online content without merging with it • A five-step Neurocycle prescription for the pressure to pick a side
Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com 💛 Thank you to our sponsors: • Hans: $30 off your first month with code LEAF at https://hansfordogs.com/leaf • Walden University: Learn at a pace that works for you at https://waldenu.edu • Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf • Primal Queen: https://primalqueen.com/leaf • Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf • ElevenLabs: See a demo of Eleven Agents at https://elevenlabs.io/leaf • Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf • BetterHelp: 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/drleaf • Veracity: Up to 65% off Metabolism Ignite with code DRLEAF at https://veracityhealth.co 🔗 1:1 coaching with me: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1 Resources, books, blogs, and more: https://drleaf.com New episodes every Wednesday. If this conversation supported you, follow the show so you never miss an episode, and share it with someone who wants to build a stronger, more adaptable mind. Connect with me: Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolineleaf TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf Facebook: https://facebook.com/drleaf X: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf Website: https://drleaf.com
Sunday Scaries? How to Stop Overthinking the Week Ahead
Sunday scaries creeping in? This bonus episode is for the night before the week starts, when your mind keeps replaying last week and rehearsing the next one. I'm bringing back one of our most-requested episodes …
Notas del episodio
Sunday scaries creeping in? This bonus episode is for the night before the week starts, when your mind keeps replaying last week and rehearsing the next one.
I'm bringing back one of our most-requested episodes so you can learn how to stop overthinking before Monday arrives. I walk you through the difference between overthinking and deep thinking, plus simple tools from Chapter 4 of my book Help in a Hurry that you can use the moment the replay starts. I also share what happened when I caught myself running the same painful scenario 17 times in 10 minutes, walking through an airport on my way to speak at a conference.
🔬 What you'll learn:
- How to catch overthinking early, from the replaying to the worst-case scenarios to the panic that keeps building
- Why going over and over the plan for a meeting or a busy week keeps you stuck
- Overthinking vs deep thinking, and why deep thinking gets you to a resolution you can act on
- The four questions I use to break a thought loop in the moment
- A 10-second breathing reset you can do anywhere, and how to give your mind something new to think about
💛 Thank you to our sponsors:
- Hans: https://hansfordogs.com/leaf (code LEAF for $30 off your first month)
- Walden: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit WaldenU.edu.
- Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf
- Primal Queen: https://primalqueen.com/leaf
- Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf
- ElevenLabs: see a demo of Eleven Agents at https://elevenlabs.io/leaf
- Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
- Betterhelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
• • Veracity: So before Metabolism Ignite sells out again, make the switch to GLP 1’s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 65% off your order.
📚 Resources mentioned: Help in a Hurry, Chapter 4 Neurocycle app, courses and certification: https://drleaf.com
💛 If you're having thoughts of suicide, please reach out for support. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Outside the US, find a helpline near you at https://findahelpline.com
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
New episodes every Wednesday.
#DrCarolineLeaf #SundayScaries #HowToStopOverthinking #Overthinking #MentalHealth
If this conversation supported you, tap follow and subscribe so you stay connected to each new episode. Share this with someone who wants to build a stronger, more adaptable mind.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolineleaf
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drleaf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf
Website: https://drleaf.com
How to Stop Caring What People Think: 7 Steps From a Neuroscientist
People pleasing and peacekeeping can look identical from the outside. One comes from fear. The other comes from strength. Which one are you running on? We're re-airing this episode because so many of you told …
Notas del episodio
People pleasing and peacekeeping can look identical from the outside. One comes from fear. The other comes from strength. Which one are you running on?
We're re-airing this episode because so many of you told us it changed how you see yourself in your relationships. In it, I pull apart the fear of judgment underneath both, explain why disapproval can hurt like physical pain, and walk you through a 7-step process to stop caring what people think by understanding your mind well enough that outside opinions lose their grip.
🔬 What you'll learn:
- How to tell the two apart, and why it matters for your relationships and self-worth
- Why rejection and physical pain share overlapping pathways in the brain
- How to spot the approval loop that makes you edit yourself around certain people
- Why separating your identity from your performance takes the sting out of criticism
- A simple "danger or data?" question to ask the next time you feel judged
- A real-time technique for holding your ground when the old fear spikes
💛 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS- Hans: https://hansfordogs.com/leaf (code LEAF for $30 off your first month)
- Walden: Take the first step and learn at a pace that works for you. Visit WaldenU.edu.
- Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf
- Primal Queen: https://primalqueen.com/leaf
- Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf
- ElevenLabs: see a demo of Eleven Agents at https://elevenlabs.io/leaf
- Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
- Betterhelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
• • Veracity: So before Metabolism Ignite sells out again, make the switch to GLP 1’s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 65% off your order.
👑 Primal Queen: Get a free month plus four free gifts at https://primalqueen.com/leaf
🛍️ Shopify: Start your free trial at https://shopify.com/leaf
💪 Momentous: Get up to 35% off your first order of Signature Spec Creatine at https://livemomentous.com with code DRLEAF
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
📚 Resources mentioned:
Neurocycle app: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
New episodes every Wednesday.
#DrCarolineLeaf #PeoplePleasing #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience
If this conversation supported you, tap follow and subscribe so you stay connected to each new episode. Share this with someone who wants to build a stronger, more adaptable mind.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolineleaf
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drleaf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf
Website: https://drleaf.com
Is AI Making You Forget How to Think? A Neuroscientist Explains
AI and your brain: what happens to your memory, focus, and judgment when a machine does the hard thinking for you? We first aired this last year. It's worth a second listen. In the year since, AI has moved into …
Notas del episodio
AI and your brain: what happens to your memory, focus, and judgment when a machine does the hard thinking for you? We first aired this last year. It's worth a second listen.
In the year since, AI has moved into almost every part of daily life: work email, homework, health questions, even the late-night conversations people used to have with a friend. In this episode, I walk through what cognitive offloading does to your mind and brain, why confident-sounding AI is so easy to believe, and how to use these tools while keeping your own voice and judgment.
🔬 What you'll learn:
- Why you remember less when you know you can look it up later (the Google Effect)
- How automation bias makes AI feel right even when it gets the facts wrong
- Why AI emotional support can't replace another person in the room
- Three practical ways to let your mind manage AI, so you keep your memory, voice, and discernment
- What's at stake for kids growing up with chatbots before they learn to trust themselves
💛 Thank you to our sponsors:
- Hans: https://hansfordogs.com/leaf (code LEAF for $30 off your first month)
- Shopify: https://shopify.com/leaf
- Primal Queen: https://primalqueen.com/leaf
- Granola: https://granola.ai/drleaf
- ElevenLabs: see a demo of Eleven Agents at https://elevenlabs.io/leaf
- Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
- Betterhelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
📚 Resources mentioned: Sparrow, Liu & Wegner (2011), Google Effects on Memory, Science Help in a Hurry: https://helpinahurrybook.com
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
New episodes every Wednesday.
#DrCarolineLeaf #AIandYourBrain #CognitiveOffloading #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience
If this conversation supported you, tap follow and subscribe so you stay connected to each new episode. Share this with someone who wants to build a stronger, more adaptable mind.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolineleaf
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@drcarolineleaf
Facebook: https://facebook.com/drleaf
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCarolineLeaf
Website: https://drleaf.com
When Life Feels Like Too Much: A Neuroscientist's 63-Second Reset
When life feels like too much, you need something you can do right now. Here's what I do in the first 63 seconds, before the stress takes over. In this episode, my daughter Dominique and I get practical about …
Notas del episodio
When life feels like too much, you need something you can do right now. Here's what I do in the first 63 seconds, before the stress takes over.
In this episode, my daughter Dominique and I get practical about the weight of too much: the moment everything piles up at once and you're about to snap, shut down or walk away. Dominique shares a real moment when a small comment set off a reaction far bigger than the comment, and I walk you through what to do right then and afterward.
🔬 What you'll learn:
• The 3-7 breathing pattern I use to get my body back under control in about a minute
• Why breathing alone won't fix it, and the statement that gives you your power back
• How fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses are signals you can use, and how fight can become assertiveness
• Why a small comment can trigger a reaction way out of proportion, and what's been piling up underneath
• How to run a fast Neurocycle in the moment, then deal with the pattern over 63 days
Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
📚 Resources mentioned:
Help in a Hurry (Chapter 18, "Help, Everything's Going Wrong," including Visualize Your Tunnel) : https://a.co/d/08P2TyDu
Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess (the 63-day Neurocycle process): https://a.co/d/0eQrqSsM
Neurocycle app, now with Neurocycle Prescriptions: https://neurocycleapp.com (https://neurocycleapp.com/)
Books, research and resources: https://drleaf.com (https://drleaf.com/)
💛 Thank you to this episode's sponsors:
ElevenLabs: see a demo of Eleven Agents at https://elevenlabs.io/leaf
Hans: $30 off your first month at https://hansfordogs.com/leaf
Shopify: start your free trial at https://shopify.com/leaf
Ritual: 25% off your first month of Magnesium+ at https://ritual.com/leaf
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
New episodes every Wednesday.
#DrCarolineLeaf #Neurocycle #MentalHealth #Neuroscience #StressManagement
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when life feels like too much,what to do when everything is too much,Neurocycle,how to deal with stress in the moment,how to stop overreacting,why do I snap at my husband,mental health podcast,Dr Leaf,how to stop panicking,3 7 breathing,fight flight freeze fawn,emotional regulation,stress vs anxiety,mind vs brain,stress for moms,overthinking,Help in a Hurry,Dr Caroline Leaf,triggered,disproportionate reaction,mental load,burnout,anxiety attack,overstimulated
A Neuroscientist's Near Death Experience: What I Saw When I Died
A neuroscientist's near death experience: six years ago, after a long surgery, my heart stopped for three to five minutes. Here's what I saw, and what the science says. I flatlined in the ICU, left my body, and …
Notas del episodio
A neuroscientist's near death experience: six years ago, after a long surgery, my heart stopped for three to five minutes. Here's what I saw, and what the science says.
I flatlined in the ICU, left my body, and watched my husband Mac bang on the door shouting that something was wrong. In this episode, my daughter Dominique and I talk through that experience, a shared death experience I had years later, and why so many researchers now say a dying, oxygen-starved brain can't explain what people report.
🔬 What you'll learn:
• What happens when you die, from someone who came back and studies consciousness for a living
• Why the oxygen deprivation and hallucination theories don't match what experiencers describe
• How nearly dying can take away the fear of death for good
• What a shared death experience is, and why the reports are so consistent
• How your mind drives your brain, and why that gives you more power than you realize
Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
💛 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
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📚 Research mentioned:
Dr. Raymond Moody, Life After Life
Dr. Bruce Greyson, After
Dr. Michael Egnor, The Immortal Mind
Dr. Eben Alexander, Proof of Heaven Dr. Sam Parnia, AWARE-II study (Resuscitation, 2023)
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1 🧠 Neurocycle app, books, certification and more: https://drleaf.com (https://drleaf.com/)
New episodes every Wednesday.
#DrCarolineLeaf #NearDeathExperience #Consciousness #Neuroscience #MentalHealth
How to Stop Fearing Other People's Disappointment
Do you say yes when you mean no? My daughter Dominique and I open up about the fear of disappointing people, and why it runs so many of our decisions without you even noticing. In this episode, I break down …
Notas del episodio
Do you say yes when you mean no? My daughter Dominique and I open up about the fear of disappointing people, and why it runs so many of our decisions without you even noticing.
In this episode, I break down where the fear of disappointing people actually comes from, why it feels so physical in the moment, and how to start telling the difference between genuine kindness and people pleasing driven by fear.
🔬 What you'll learn:
• Why saying yes when you want to say no leaves you grieving a part of your identity
• The difference between being kind and being afraid of someone's disappointment
• How to spot your own pattern before guilt and resentment take over
• A simple in-the-moment test for deciding when to say no
• The 5-step Neurocycle process for working through the fear of disappointing people, step by step
Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
📚 Resources mentioned:
The Neurocycle app, for the full step-by-step walkthrough of the process discussed in this episode: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Sponsors making this epsiode possible:
Momentous: Try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine — pharmaceutical-grade, third-party tested, 10x fewer impurities. Get up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com with code DRLEAF.
Granola: Granola turns your meeting notes into clean, organized summaries automatically — no bots, no new tools to learn. Try it free at granola.ai/DRLEAF.
Shopify: Start your business with Shopify — the platform I use to run my own store, checkout and all. Start your free trial at shopify.com/leaf.
ElevenLabs (ElevenAgents): ElevenAgents is the AI voice and chat platform helping businesses fix broken customer service. See how it fits your workflow — get a demo at elevenlabs.io/leaf.
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New episodes every Wednesday.
#DrCarolineLeaf #FearOfDisappointingPeople #PeoplePleasing #Neuroscience #MentalHealth #BrainScience
How to Hit Any Goal When You Have Zero Motivation
Up to 92% of long-term goals never stick, and it has nothing to do with willpower. A neuroscientist breaks down the real, brain-based reason and the exact steps to fix it. What you'll learn: Why up to 92% of …
Notas del episodio
Up to 92% of long-term goals never stick, and it has nothing to do with willpower. A neuroscientist breaks down the real, brain-based reason and the exact steps to fix it.
What you'll learn:- Why up to 92% of long-term goals never stick, and why it's not a discipline problem
- How your non-conscious mind treats an oversized goal as a threat
- The single trick for shrinking any goal until your brain says yes
- How to update the identity story that keeps predicting you'll quit
- Why a vague first step kills follow-through, and how to make it visible
- The two-minute daily habit that locks a new pattern into your brain
- What the Neurocycle is and how it gets to the root of the pattern
Resources:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Neurocycle App: https://neurocycle.app
Support the sponsors:Momentous: Try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine — pharmaceutical-grade, third-party tested, 10x fewer impurities. Get up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com with code DRLEAF.
Granola turns your meeting notes into clean, organized summaries automatically — no bots, no new tools to learn. Try it free at granola.ai/DRLEAF.
Start your business with Shopify — the platform I use to run my own store, checkout and all. Start your free trial at shopify.com/leaf.
ElevenAgents is the AI voice and chat platform helping businesses fix broken customer service. See how it fits your workflow — get a demo at elevenlabs.io/leaf.
Betterhelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. New episodes every Wednesday.
Which of the 5 steps do you think you're skipping? Tell me in the comments.I Had an Eating Disorder. So Did My Daughter. Here's How We Found Healing.
Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf and her daughter Dominique Leaf sit down to talk about something neither has discussed this openly before: their own eating disorders, and how one was handed to the …
Notas del episodio
Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf and her daughter Dominique Leaf sit down to talk about something neither has discussed this openly before: their own eating disorders, and how one was handed to the other.
Caroline counted calories at university, down to 500 a day, until her sister picked up an apple and asked whether she was working out the number in her head. Dominique was diagnosed with anorexia at 13, spent over a year in therapy, and says plainly that she blamed her mother and grandmother for years. What follows is how that pattern moves through a family, what broke it in both cases, and the two exercises Dominique's therapist gave her that still work when the old thinking comes back.
They also get into whether we should ever comment on another person's body, what GLP-1s have done to the culture around thinness, and why "she was trying to protect me" changed how Dominique understood her grandmother.Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
Content Note: This episode discusses eating disorders and related topics. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available:
• National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline: 1-866-662-1235
• Crisis Text Line: Text “NEDA” to 741741
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US): call or text 988
• International Association for Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp): iaedp.com for provider directories
• Outside the US: findahelpline.com has country-specific listings
Dr. Leaf is not an eating disorder specialist and says so up front. She is a clinical and research neuroscientist, and what she offers here is the mind side: spotting the trigger, questioning the thinking underneath it, and building a new pattern over 63 days with the Neurocycle. If you are struggling, please also speak to a qualified eating disorder professional.
Special guest: Dominique Leaf
What you'll learn:
• Why the calorie number takes up so much mental space that nothing else fits
• The difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating
• How a pattern passes through a family, and what epigenetics actually means
• The eulogy exercise, and what it tells you about what you actually value
• Why "I am struggling with anorexia" beats "I am anorexic"
• When to say something about someone's body, and how to do it with kindness
• Where GLP-1s help, and where the real risk sitsResources:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
Neurocycle Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-appMomentous
Try Momentous Signature Spec Creatine — pharmaceutical-grade, third-party tested, 10x fewer impurities. Get up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com with code DRLEAF.Granola
Granola turns your meeting notes into clean, organized summaries automatically — no bots, no new tools to learn. Try it free at granola.ai/DRLEAF.Shopify
Start your business with Shopify — the platform I use to run my own store, checkout and all. Start your free trial at shopify.com/leaf.ElevenLabs (ElevenAgents)
ElevenAgents is the AI voice and chat platform helping businesses fix broken customer service. See how it fits your workflow — get a demo at elevenlabs.io/leaf.Betterhelp: Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. New episodes every Wednesday.
Have you ever had someone ask you the question that made you see it? Tell me in the comments.Is Your Apple Watch Making You Anxious? A Neuroscientist (and Her Daughter) Explain
Is your Apple Watch making you anxious? Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf is joined by special guest Dominique Leaf, her daughter and the show's producer, to ask whether we are over-tracking and …
Notas del episodio
Is your Apple Watch making you anxious? Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf is joined by special guest Dominique Leaf, her daughter and the show's producer, to ask whether we are over-tracking and over-optimizing our health to the point where health anxiety is rising.
Dominique wore an Apple Watch for years and took it off. She talks openly about how the numbers fed her eating disorder struggles, and how tracking pulled her away from how she actually felt in her body. Dr. Leaf explains what happens in the mind and brain when a number on a screen hijacks your nervous state, and why the fix is never the device. One phrase runs through the whole conversation: observe, do not merge.
What you'll learn:
• Whether a fitness tracker causes health anxiety or reveals anxiety that was already there
• Why anxiety is data and a signal, not a disorder to be eliminated
• The four warning signals to read before you reach for a device
• What merging with a tracker does to your brain on a physical level
• Why your mind is 99 percent of who you are and your brain and body are 1 percent
• The seven-day exercise that shows you how often you really check
• Three questions that reveal whether tracking has turned compulsiveWant to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
Support the sponsors:
Quince: free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/leaf
Ritual: 25% off your first month at https://ritual.com/leaf
Shopify: free trial at https://shopify.com/leaf
Veracity: up to 65% off with code DRLEAF at https://veracityhealth.co
Resources:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
Neurocycle Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. New episodes every Wednesday.
Do you track your health, and does the data leave you calmer or more worried? Tell me in the comments.The Girlboss Trap: Why Ambition Became Burnout
Girlbossing is making us mean, exhausted, and unhappy. A neuroscientist and her daughter on what hustle-culture ambition did to us, and what healthy ambition looks like. Dr. Caroline Leaf and her daughter …
Notas del episodio
Girlbossing is making us mean, exhausted, and unhappy. A neuroscientist and her daughter on what hustle-culture ambition did to us, and what healthy ambition looks like.
Dr. Caroline Leaf and her daughter Dominique take apart the girlboss era: how ambition turned into a glorified way of running from ourselves, why the self-care backlash is just as performative as the hustle, and how the companies built on "boss babe" branding collapsed. Then they get practical, walking the Neurocycle through identity and self-worth so ambition comes from self-trust instead of fear.Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
What you'll learn:
• Why chasing ambition can quietly become burnout and resentment
• How the girlboss era sold individual grind as the fix for a system problem
• Why "self-care" often just performs wellness instead of doing it
• The identity work underneath ambition, and why copying others backfires
• How to tell healthy ambition from fear-driven ambition
• What it looks like to build a life you don't need to escape fromSupport the sponsors:
Quince: free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/leaf
Ritual: 25% off your first month at ritual.com/leaf
Shopify: free trial at shopify.com/leaf
Veracity: up to 65% off with code DRLEAF at veracityhealth.co
Resources:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
Neurocycle Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. New episodes every Wednesday.
Where has ambition cost you more than it gave you? Tell me in the comments.
#Girlboss #Ambition #DrCarolineLeaf #HustleCulture #NeuroscienceWhen Botox Becomes Body Dysmorphia: The 30% Rule
Dr. Caroline Leaf and her daughter Dominique go past the beauty debate into what happens in your mind when you consider a cosmetic procedure. It is for anyone who has asked "should I get Botox?", felt judged …
Notas del episodio
Dr. Caroline Leaf and her daughter Dominique go past the beauty debate into what happens in your mind when you consider a cosmetic procedure. It is for anyone who has asked "should I get Botox?", felt judged for it, or worried a friend is going too far. You will learn to tell self-improvement from body dysmorphia, why the injections won't fix your life, and how to decide from self-worth, not comparison.
What you'll learn:
• How to tell healthy self-improvement from body dysmorphia
• The 30% rule: how much thinking about your looks is too much
• Why fillers and injectables can't fix what you are missing
• The six signs a cosmetic habit is tipping into obsession
• Why commenting on a woman's body says more about you
• What preventative Botox in your 20s really trades off
• How to raise it with someone you love without shaming themWant to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
Support the sponsors:
-Quince: free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/leaf
-Ritual: 25% off your first month at ritual.com/leaf
- Shopify: free trial at shopify.com/leaf
- Veracity: up to 65% off with code DRLEAF at veracityhealth.co
Resources:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
Neurocycle Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. New episodes every Wednesday.
Where is your line between self-improvement and going too far? Tell me in the comments.
#Botox #BodyDysmorphia #DrCarolineLeaf #MentalHealth #NeuroscienceDr. Nicole LePera: Why Your Nervous System Picks Familiar Pain Over Safety
In this episode I sit down with Dr. Nicole LePera, The Holistic Psychologist, to talk about her new book Reparenting the Inner Child: The New Science of Our Oldest Wounds and How to Heal Them.We get into why …
Notas del episodio
In this episode I sit down with Dr. Nicole LePera, The Holistic Psychologist, to talk about her new book Reparenting the Inner Child: The New Science of Our Oldest Wounds and How to Heal Them.
We get into why your nervous system will choose what is familiar over what is good for you, even when familiar means the same relationship pattern that hurt you as a child. Nicole explains the question underneath so much of adult behavior: when I reached for comfort or connection as a child, what happened? The answer your body learned back then is still running your relationships, your stress response, and the moments you shut down or overreact today.
We cover why attachment theory alone stopped being enough, how fight, flight, freeze, and fawn show up in a grown adult who looks fine on the outside, why a healthy relationship can feel like danger to a body trained for chaos, and what the new science of stress and epigenetics says about how much of this is actually changeable. Nicole also explains why reparenting does not require blaming your parents. The real work is understanding the capacity they actually had, and building the capacity you never received as a child.
This is one of my favorite conversations we have had, and it is our fourth time together for a reason.Get Dr. LePera's book here: https://theholisticpsychologist.com
Work with me:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.comNeurocycle Certification, Clinical: https://drleaf.com/clinical-certification
Neurocycle Certification, Strategist: https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
SPONSORS Making this show possible:
- AG1: Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
- Betterhelp: Visit drinkag1.com/LEAF and for a limited time get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.
- Shopify: start your free trial: shopify.com/leaf
- Quince: Upgrade your everyday. Go to quince.com/LEAF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.
- Veracity: Get up up to 65% off GLP-1 support: VeracityHealth.co (code DRLEAF)
2 Simple Rules for Being Happy: Always Have a Quest and a Crush
A clinical neuroscientist breaks down the two things that actually make you happy, a quest and a crush, and the brain science behind why a little whimsy is so good for you. Dr. Caroline Leaf sits down with her …
Notas del episodio
A clinical neuroscientist breaks down the two things that actually make you happy, a quest and a crush, and the brain science behind why a little whimsy is so good for you.
Dr. Caroline Leaf sits down with her daughter and producer Dominique to unpack Dominique's theory of happiness: to feel happy, you need a quest and a crush. It sounds playful, but the neuroscience runs deep. Dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, cortisol, theta waves, and the resilience networks that form every time you choose a bit of whimsy over the grind.If you have felt flat, stuck in hustle mode, or like the fun drained out of ordinary days, this one is for you. It is a warm, funny, science-backed conversation about how to be happy again by bringing whimsy back on purpose.
Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com
What you'll learn:
- Why a quest and a crush flip your brain into its healthiest, most efficient state
- What actually happens in your brain and body when you have a crush (dopamine, norepinephrine, and those butterflies)
- Why early infatuation shows serotonin levels that look almost identical to OCD, and why that is completely normal
- How to read anxiety as useful data when a quest starts to tip from healthy toward toxic
- Why your mind is in charge and your brain carries out its instructions, and what that means for how you feel
- How small whimsical moments wire lasting resilience into your brain
- Simple ways to turn errands and mundane days into a questResources:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
Neurocycle Certification, Clinical: https://drleaf.com/clinical-certification
Neurocycle Certification, Strategist: https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-appSPONSORS Making this show possible:
- AG1: Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
- Betterhelp: Visit drinkag1.com/LEAF and for a limited time get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.
- Shopify: start your free trial: shopify.com/leaf
- Quince: Upgrade your everyday. Go to quince.com/LEAF for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.
- Veracity: Get up up to 65% off GLP-1 support: VeracityHealth.co (code DRLEAF)
Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. New episodes every Wednesday.
What is one quest or one crush you could give yourself this week? Tell me in the comments.Is Gossip Bad for You? The Science of Good vs Toxic Gossip (ft. a special guest!)
Why do we gossip, and is it actually bad for you? Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf unpacks the science of gossip with special guest Dominique Leaf, her daughter and the show's producer: the difference …
Notas del episodio
Why do we gossip, and is it actually bad for you? Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf unpacks the science of gossip with special guest Dominique Leaf, her daughter and the show's producer: the difference between the kind of gossip that bonds us and the kind that damages us. Gossip carries a lot of guilt for most people. It also has a long history. Gossip is one of the oldest social tools humans have, and a large part of how our species learned to cooperate in groups far bigger than a family. It can do real harm too. The intent behind it decides which way it goes. You'll learn why gossip isn't automatically toxic, what actually decides whether it helps or harms, and what a back-and-forth conversation physically does inside your brain and body. Dr. Leaf walks through Yuval Noah Harari's argument that shared stories built civilization, Dunbar's 150 rule, and why the three-person "triad" is the most unstable and most damaging shape a conversation can take. Dominique brings the questions most of us are too embarrassed to ask. 🎙️ Special guest: Dominique Leaf
Want to hear more from Dominique? Follow her on substack: https://dominiqueleaf.substack.com 🔬 What you'll learn: - Why do we gossip at all, and how gossip helped humans survive and cooperate - The clear line between functional gossip and toxic gossip, and how to tell which one you're in - The warning signals in your body that tell you you've crossed from one into the other - What gossip physically wires into your brain and body, for better or worse - Why the "triad" is the most unstable and dangerous shape gossip can take - Whether gossiping about celebrities is really as harmless as it feels - One question to ask yourself the next time you feel pulled into a conversation 📚 Resources: 🔗 Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com 🔗 Neurocycle Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com 🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1 🔗 Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app 🔗 Neurocycle Clinical Certification: https://drleaf.com/clinical-certification 🔗 Neurocycle Certified Strategist: https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist 💸 Support the sponsors: Veracity: up to 65% off Metabolism Ignite at VeracityHealth.co (code DRLEAF)
OSEA: 10% off your first order sitewide at OSEAMalibu.com (code LEAF)
Shopify: start your free trial at SHOPIFY.COM/leaf
Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you'll receive a free 3-year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor's 30-day money-back guarantee.
AG1: Visit drinkag1.com/LEAF and for a limited time get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.
Betterhelp: Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf Subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode. Which of the 4 signs hit closest? Tell me in the comments.
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. New episodes every Wednesday. 💬 Which kind of gossip do you catch yourself in most? Tell me in the comments.
5 Mindless Habits that Secretly Exhaust You
Do you feel exhausted even after a full night’s sleep or a seemingly restful weekend? You might be unknowingly caught in mindless habits that are slowly wearing you down. In this episode, I break down five …
Notas del episodio
Do you feel exhausted even after a full night’s sleep or a seemingly restful weekend? You might be unknowingly caught in mindless habits that are slowly wearing you down. In this episode, I break down five common, sneaky habits that drain your mental and physical energy—from chaotic multitasking to overstimulation from tech and even shallow breathing. These aren’t just bad habits—they’re signs your mind is running on empty. Tune in to learn: -Why your messy desk might be stressing you out more than you realize -How "milkshake multitasking" scrambles your focus -The surprising science behind why doing nothing is actually doing something powerful -Simple tools like "thinker moments" and deep breathing to reboot your mind and restore energy
These quick neuroscience-backed tips will help you stop the spiral of overwhelm, create calm, and start feeling like yourself again—even when life isn’t perfect.
Resources:
🔗 drleaf.com
🔗 NeuroCycle Certification (opens September) — Clinical: https://drleaf.com/clinical-certification · Strategist: https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist
🔗 Neurocycle app: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
Support the sponsors:
Veracity: So before Metabolism Ignite sells out again, make the switch to GLP-1's the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 65% off your order.
OSEA: OSEA's Hyaluronic Body Serum is multi-layer hyaluronic-powered hydration for the entire body. And right now we have a special discount just for you. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com.
SHOPIFY: With Shopify, nothing stands between your idea and a real business. So go make it one. Start your free trial at SHOPIFY.COM/leaf
Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you'll receive a free 3-year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor's 30-day money-back guarantee.
AG1: Visit drinkag1.com/LEAF and for a limited time get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.
Betterhelp: Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf Subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode. Which of the 4 signs hit closest? Tell me in the comments.
Am I a Narcissist? 4 Signs + Why Confidence Advice Is Backward
Self-focus is one of your most powerful tools for change, but there's a point where it quietly turns into a wall. Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down the difference between healthy self-focus and narcissism, the 4 …
Notas del episodio
Self-focus is one of your most powerful tools for change, but there's a point where it quietly turns into a wall. Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down the difference between healthy self-focus and narcissism, the 4 signs to watch for, and why nearly all popular confidence advice (affirmations, power poses) is neurologically backward, then gives you 5 research-backed moves to build real confidence. What you'll learn: - Why self-focus is a neuroplasticity tool, and the moment it becomes a wall - The 4 signs your self-focus may be sliding toward narcissism - 5 ways to rebalance: the relationship audit, directed outward attention, the clean apology, and more - Why affirmations like "I am enough" measurably made people feel worse (2009 University of Waterloo study) - Why the famous power-pose finding was retracted by its own lead author - What confidence actually is: a signal your brain generates, not a personality trait - Albert Bandura's gold standard for building confidence: mastery experiences - 5 moves to build confidence from evidence, not claims - Why a 2024 meta-analysis of 108 studies found women are less confident, and what to do
Resources: 🔗 drleaf.com 🔗 NeuroCycle Certification (opens September) — Clinical: https://drleaf.com/clinical-certification · Strategist: https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist 🔗 Neurocycle app: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app 🔗 The self-focus article: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/signs-you-think-about-self-too-much_l_6a344d76e4b057a50ced3bbd
Support the sponsors:
Veracity: So before Metabolism Ignite sells out again, make the switch to GLP-1's the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 65% off your order.
OSEA: OSEA's Hyaluronic Body Serum is multi-layer hyaluronic-powered hydration for the entire body. And right now we have a special discount just for you. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com.
SHOPIFY: With Shopify, nothing stands between your idea and a real business. So go make it one. Start your free trial at SHOPIFY.COM/leaf
Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you'll receive a free 3-year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor's 30-day money-back guarantee.
AG1: Visit drinkag1.com/LEAF and for a limited time get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.
Betterhelp: Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf Subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode. Which of the 4 signs hit closest? Tell me in the comments.
How to Become More Confident + 5 Thought Patterns Keeping You Stuck Under Pressure
Self-worth is what makes confidence last, and most of us were never taught the difference. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down self-worth, self-confidence, and self-care, why remote work is changing …
Notas del episodio
Self-worth is what makes confidence last, and most of us were never taught the difference. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down self-worth, self-confidence, and self-care, why remote work is changing your mental health, and the 5 thought patterns that keep you stuck under pressure. 🔬 What you'll learn: - Why a third of declining mental health traces back to how we work remotely, and the one factor that turns it around - The real difference between self-worth and self-confidence, and why confidence built without self-worth cracks under the first knock - How to read pressure as a signal you can use instead of a weight that flattens you - The 5 thought patterns that trap you: "I didn't get X done," "I have to have it all together," "I must succeed," "I cannot make a mistake," and "I'll let everyone down" - The one shift from "what I didn't do" to "what I did" that changes your physiology in seconds - Why self-care without self-worth becomes one more thing to perform - Where to start building self-worth, and roughly how long real change takes
📚 Resources: 🔗 Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com 🔗 Neurocycle Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com 🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1 🔗 Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app 🔗 Segment one article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/opinion/remote-work-depression.html
SPONSORS:
Veracity: So before Metabolism Ignite sells out again, make the switch to GLP-1's the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 65% off your order.
OSEA: OSEA's Hyaluronic Body Serum is multi-layer hyaluronic-powered hydration for the entire body. And right now we have a special discount just for you. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com.
SHOPIFY: With Shopify, nothing stands between your idea and a real business. So go make it one. Start your free trial at SHOPIFY.COM/leaf
Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you'll receive a free 3-year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor's 30-day money-back guarantee.
AG1: Visit drinkag1.com/LEAF and for a limited time get a free AG1 Travel Case with 7 free AG1 Travel Packs in your Welcome Kit with your first AG1 subscription order while supplies last.
Betterhelp: Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf
Photographic Memory Is a Myth + Your Inner Critic Isn't the Enemy
Your mind doesn't record. Tt builds meaning. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down why photographic memory is a myth, what your inner critic is actually trying to tell you, and why understanding a …
Notas del episodio
Your mind doesn't record. Tt builds meaning.
In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down why photographic memory is a myth, what your inner critic is actually trying to tell you, and why understanding a problem and restructuring it are two completely different things. Plus: the real difference between self-worth, self-confidence, and self-love — and why you can have all the achievements and still feel hollow.
📚 Resources:
🔗 Dr. Leaf's Newsletter: https://drleaf.com
🔗 Neurocycle Strategist Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist
🔗 Neurocycle Mental Health Professional Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com/clinical-certification
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
🔗 Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
Help in a Hurry book: https://store.drleaf.com/collections/books/products/help-in-a-hurry-simple-tips-for-finding-peace-when-youre-overwhelmed-anxious-or-stressed
Sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf
OSEA: Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com
Veracity Health: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order.
Quince: Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to quince.com/leaf for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns — now available in Canada, too. Visit quince.com/leaf for free shipping and 365-day returns.
HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 free meals plus a FREE Zwilling Knife — a $144.99 value — on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.
BetterHelp: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf.
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one — new episodes every Wednesday.
"Mogging" Is Quietly Destroying Your Self-Worth + How to Rebuild It
"Mogging" is everywhere right now — and it's quietly reshaping how a whole generation sees themselves. Born in the manosphere from the acronym AMOG ("alpha male of the group"), mogging means outdoing or …
Notas del episodio
"Mogging" is everywhere right now — and it's quietly reshaping how a whole generation sees themselves. Born in the manosphere from the acronym AMOG ("alpha male of the group"), mogging means outdoing or outshining someone on looks and status. It's spreading through Gen Z and Gen Alpha, and it's colliding with the most fragile years of self-worth development.
In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down what mogging actually does to the developing brain, why self-worth isn't a feeling but a physical architecture you build, and how to rebuild it using a step-by-step Neurocycle Prescription you can do with yourself or your teen. Plus a Pick My Brain Q&A on why self-worth feels so hard to build and so easy to lose, and whether low self-worth is genetic or learned.
🔬 What you'll learn:
- What "mogging" and the manosphere are really teaching kids — and why hypercompetition runs against how your brain is actually wired
- Why self-worth is not a feeling but a physical thought structure — and how false values get wired on top of your true identity
- The 4 signals (emotions, body, behaviors, perspective) that reveal how low self-worth is showing up in you or your child
- The full 5-step Neurocycle Prescription for self-worth — gather, reflect, write, recheck, active reach
- Why rewiring takes at least 63 days — and how this work gives you up to 81% control over the side effects of low self-worth
- Why self-worth feels so easy to lose — and how to catch and keep a compliment instead of letting it slide off
- Whether low self-worth is genetic or learned — and what epigenetics says about your power to change it
📚 Resources:
🔗 Dr. Leaf's Newsletter: https://drleaf.com
🔗 Neurocycle Strategist Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist
🔗 Neurocycle Mental Health Professional Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com/clinical-certification
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
🔗 Neurocycle App: https://drleaf.com/neurocycle-app
Sponsors:
Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf
OSEA: Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com
Veracity Health: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order.
Quince: Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to quince.com/leaf for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns — now available in Canada, too. Visit quince.com/leaf for free shipping and 365-day returns.
HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 free meals plus a FREE Zwilling Knife — a $144.99 value — on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.
BetterHelp: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf.
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one — new episodes every Wednesday.
💬 Had you heard of "mogging" before this? Tell me in the comments.
Why horror movies can be healing, breakups feel like drug withdrawal, & attachment styles can be dangerous
Why do breakups hurt so much? Because neurologically, heartbreak looks almost identical to drug withdrawal. In a landmark 2010 fMRI study, Helen Fisher and her colleagues showed that the brains of the recently …
Notas del episodio
Why do breakups hurt so much? Because neurologically, heartbreak looks almost identical to drug withdrawal. In a landmark 2010 fMRI study, Helen Fisher and her colleagues showed that the brains of the recently rejected lit up in the same reward and craving circuits — the VTA and nucleus accumbens — that drive cocaine addiction.
In this episode of The Dr. Leaf Show, Dr. Caroline Leaf unpacks the neuroscience of heartbreak and why it can take at least 63 days to rewire, plus two more segments: why horror movies might actually be good for your brain (and when they're not), and a Pick My Brain Q&A tackling self-love, the attachment styles myth, unconditional love, and how to reignite the spark in a long marriage.
🔬 What you'll learn:
- Why a breakup activates the same craving circuitry as drug addiction — and what Helen Fisher's 2010 brain-scan study actually found
- The 63-day rewiring timeline for heartbreak — and why day 36-40 feels worse right before the breakthrough
- The breathing technique (in for 3, out for 7) that interrupts the conscious-mind loop in 60 seconds
- Why horror movies can boost emotional processing, problem-solving, and intimacy — and the 4 signals that tell you to stop watching
- What "loving yourself first" actually means neurologically — and how self-criticism triggers your immune system
- Why Dr. Leaf urges caution with attachment styles — and what to do instead of labeling yourself
- How to reignite a long-term relationship by retraining your brain to notice
📚 Resources:
🔗 Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
🔗 Neurocycle Certification (opens September): https://drleaf.com/certified-strategist
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
🔗 Neurocycle App: https://theswitch.app
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one — new episodes every Wednesday.
💬 Which segment hit hardest — heartbreak, horror movies, or the attachment styles myth? Tell me in the comments.
Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf
OSEA: Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com
Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get UP TO $300 off today!
Veracity Health: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order.
HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 free meals plus a FREE Zwilling Knife — a $144.99 value — on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.
BetterHelp: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf.
High-Functioning Anxiety Isn’t Who You Are. Here’s the Truth
High-functioning anxiety isn't a personality type. It's a stress response that's gone unchecked. You look calm. You hit your deadlines. You say "I'm fine." But inside, your body is paying a tax that's quietly …
Notas del episodio
High-functioning anxiety isn't a personality type. It's a stress response that's gone unchecked. You look calm. You hit your deadlines. You say "I'm fine." But inside, your body is paying a tax that's quietly editing your gene expression while everyone applauds your output.
In this episode of The Dr. Leaf Show, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down what high-functioning anxiety actually is, what your non-conscious mind has been trying to tell you, and a 4-step framework to start listening. Plus: why your dog's separation anxiety mirrors your own anticipatory anxiety, and a Pick My Brain segment where Dr. Leaf answers your hardest questions about death, grief, and death anxiety.
What you'll learn:
- Why high-functioning anxiety is built on the "I'm fine" response — and how 40+ years of repressive coping research shows what it does to your heart rate, gene expression, and immune system
- The 4 signals your non-conscious mind is sending: emotional, behavioral, body, and perspective — and how to translate each one
- The 4-step framework for listening to your non-conscious mind instead of overriding it
- Why your dog's pre-departure panic, the suitcase meltdown, the excessive licking — all mirror the same FAS (Fear, Anxiety, Stress) response humans experience
- Pattern disruption techniques that rewire your dog's anticipatory anxiety in 6-9 weeks
- The neuroscience of grief: why feeling nothing after a death is protective, not broken
- Why anticipatory grief makes you grieve twice — and what's happening in the nucleus accumbens during prolonged grief
- What near-death experience research suggests about pain at the moment of death
Resources:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
Neurocycle Certification: https://drleaf.com (training opens September)
1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
Neurocycle App: https://theswitch.app
Subscribe so you don't miss the next one — new episodes every Wednesday.
Sponsors helping make this show possible:
• Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf
• OSEA: Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com
• Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get UP TO $300 off today!
• Veracity Health: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order.
• BetterHelp: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf.
• HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 free meals plus a FREE Zwilling Knife — a $144.99 value — on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.
Which segment hit hardest for you — high-functioning anxiety, dog anxiety, or the death and grief Q&A? Tell me in the comments.The Exhaustion Sleep Can't Fix — A Scientist Explains NAD Depletion
NAD is the molecule in every cell that powers your energy — and there's a kind of exhaustion, the kind a good night's sleep and a weekend off can't fix, that comes from running low on it. If you're a woman in …
Notas del episodio
NAD is the molecule in every cell that powers your energy — and there's a kind of exhaustion, the kind a good night's sleep and a weekend off can't fix, that comes from running low on it. If you're a woman in your 40s, 50s, or 60s caring for aging parents while raising kids and running a career — the sandwich generation — that depletion is real, and it's happening at the cellular level.
In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf sits down with Mona Rosene, MS, RD, Global Director of Scientific Affairs at Niagen Bioscience, to explore NAD — the coenzyme that powers your mitochondria and fuels over 500 metabolic processes. NAD drops roughly 65% between the ages of 30 and 70, and chronic stress, menopause, poor sleep, and illness deplete it even faster. Mona explains what that means for your energy, brain fog, hormones, and inflammation — and what you can actually do about it.
🔬 What you'll learn:
- Why caregiver exhaustion isn't fixed by sleep — and what's actually being depleted inside your cells
- What NAD+ is, why it powers your mitochondria, and how it fuels over 500 metabolic processes in the body
- How perimenopause, menopause, chronic stress, and aging compound to drain your cellular energy
- Why an unmanaged mind "batters the brain and body" and burns through your NAD+ reserves
- The lifestyle-first approach to rebuilding energy — and when supplementation actually makes sense
- The connection between NAD+, inflammation, PCOS, brain fog, and hormonal health
📚 Resources:
🔗 Tru Niagen (use code DRLEAF20 for 20% off): https://www.truniagen.com
🔗 Guest: Mona Rosene, Niagen Bioscience
🔗 Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
🔗 Neurocycle App: https://theswitch.app
Sponsors helping make this show possible:
• Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf
• OSEA: Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com
• Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get UP TO $300 off today!
• Veracity Health: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order.
• BetterHelp: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf.
• HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 free meals plus a FREE Zwilling Knife — a $144.99 value — on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one — new episodes every Wednesday.
💬 Have you felt the kind of exhaustion that sleep can't fix? Tell me in the comments.
Pick My Brain: Why Adult Friendships Are Dying (And What to Do About It)
Pick My Brain is Dr. Caroline Leaf's new Q&A series — you send the questions, she answers them with real neuroscience. No fluff, no generic advice. Just honest answers to the things you're actually dealing …
Notas del episodio
Pick My Brain is Dr. Caroline Leaf's new Q&A series — you send the questions, she answers them with real neuroscience. No fluff, no generic advice. Just honest answers to the things you're actually dealing with.
This week's theme: why adult friendships are dying — and what's happening in your brain when they do.
You have 500 followers and no one to call at 2 AM. The number of Americans with no close friends has quadrupled since 1990. The U.S. Surgeon General has declared loneliness a public health crisis — one that increases your risk of premature death by more than 60%. And yet no one talks about it honestly.
In this episode, Dr. Leaf takes real listener questions on the loneliness epidemic: why friend breakups hurt worse than divorce, why your husband's silence might literally be killing him, what happens in your brain when a friendship turns toxic, and whether it's actually possible to make real friends after 40.
🔬 What you'll learn:
- Why a "like" doesn't trigger the same oxytocin response as eye contact — and what your brain actually needs
- The neuroscience of friend grief: why losing a friendship activates the same pain centers as physical injury
- Why male loneliness is now a public health crisis — and what's happening neurologically when men stop maintaining friendships
- How toxic friendships create the same addiction loop as substances — and why leaving one feels like withdrawal
- The 9-week rule for rebuilding friendship circuitry in your brain and nervous system
- Why jealousy of a friend's success is data, not a character flaw
- The science-backed path to making friends after 40 — even when everyone already seems to "have their people"
Resources mentioned:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
1:1 Coaching: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
21 Day Brain Detox Course: https://drleaf.com/courses
Neurocycle App: https://theswitch.app
Sponsors helping make this show possible:
• Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf
• OSEA: Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com
• Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get UP TO $300 off today!
• Veracity Health: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order.
• BetterHelp: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf.
• HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 free meals plus a FREE Zwilling Knife — a $144.99 value — on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.
🔔 New episodes every Wednesday. 💬 Got a question for the next Pick My Brain? Drop it in the comments.
The 15-Minute Solitude Practice That Rewires Your Brain
Most people would rather shock themselves than sit alone with their own thoughts. In a University of Virginia study, 67% of participants chose physical pain over 15 minutes of silence. That's not a personality …
Notas del episodio
Most people would rather shock themselves than sit alone with their own thoughts. In a University of Virginia study, 67% of participants chose physical pain over 15 minutes of silence. That's not a personality flaw — it's a skill most of us were never taught.
In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf explains why solitude isn't a luxury or a wellness trend — it's a neurological requirement your brain depends on to function. Drawing on neuroscience, she breaks down what happens when you fill every quiet moment with podcasts, notifications, and noise, and what you're actually losing when you do.
You'll learn the difference between chosen solitude and forced isolation, how the brain's default mode network drives creativity, memory, and emotional regulation — and why shutting it down constantly has real cognitive consequences. You'll also get a simple 15-minute practice to start rebuilding the capacity right now.
If you struggle to be alone with yourself — or you've never thought about it — this episode will change how you think about silence.
Resources mentioned:
Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com
1:1 Coaching: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1
21 Day Brain Detox Course: https://drleaf.com/courses
Neurocycle App: https://theswitch.app
Sponsors helping make this show possible:
• Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf
• OSEA: Get a spring-worthy glow with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. And right now we have a special discount just for our listeners. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code LEAF at OSEAMalibu.com
• Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code DRLEAF to get UP TO $300 off today!
• Veracity Health: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order.
• BetterHelp: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf.
• HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 free meals plus a FREE Zwilling Knife — a $144.99 value — on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan.
Aquí están los 40 episodios más recientes de 676. Los anteriores están en el feed del podcast.
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