Episode 247: How To Hack Your Habits, Rewire Your Brain & Leverage Dopamine, with Neuroscientist Nicole Vignola
I don’t know about you, but no matter how old I get, September will always feel like that fresh back to school milestone where you get back into your routine and set new goals and habits. And today’s episode is a must-listen to help us get back on track — we called in the internet’s favourite habits and brain expert, neuroscientist Nicole Vignola.
Welcome back to the show!!! We have an incredible fall lineup planned, and I’m so glad you’re here.
I don’t know about you, but no matter how old I get, September will always feel like that fresh back to school milestone where you get back into your routine and set new goals and habits. And today’s episode is a must-listen to help us get back on track — we called in the internet’s favourite habits and brain expert, neuroscientist Nicole Vignola.
This interview is an empowering reminder that you are not stuck in your life. No matter where you’re at, you are capable of rewiring your brain and changing your life for the better. We’ve probably all said or heard, “I’m just wired this way.” But the science is in… and that’s not true. We can completely reshape and rewire our subconsciously programmed beliefs and change our thoughts, behaviours, and routines.
So today, we’re diving into·the science of breaking bad habits and how to make good ones, the principles of neuroplasticity and how to leverage it for positive change, neurohacks for changing our behavioural patterns, how to focus better and learn new skills, and how to improve our mental health by improving our brain health.
Nicole Vignola is a neuroscientist, keynote speaker, author and expert in organizational psychology who teaches people around the world about the science of human optimization, health and longevity, mental health, and peak performance.
Tune in as we learn about:
The principles of neuroplasticity
Why it feels so hard to make big changes
The anatomy of a habit, and the key to making a new habit stick
How long it takes to fully integrate new habits
Building a routine around time of day and your chemical reactions
The truth about negativity bias and positive reinforcement
Using big life changes as a catalyst
Reducing our phone usage
A genius way to break a bad habit
How dopamine impacts motivation and warps time
Boosting productivity by maximizing your mental currency
Why brain health is key for mental health
Nicole’s refreshing take on failure
Follow Nicole:
- Get her revolutionary first book, Rewire: Break The Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts and Create Lasting Change
- Follow Nicole on Instagram
- Check out her website
Our show is produced by:
Gillian Berner, Host, Producer & Editor
Olivia Nashmi, Audio Engineer
Carolyn Schissler, Designer & Web Producer
Sara Valentine, Content Producer
For advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Frequency Podcast Network.
If you have a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you want us to interview, comment or DM us on Instagram:
Related Episodes:
Episode 241: Stop Perfectionism With This Game-Changing Reframe On Success | I’m The Problem, It’s Me
I’ve always struggled with perfectionism and getting caught up in an endless cycle where no success is ever enough, I’m constantly dissatisfied with my achievements, and always in search of something I can’t grasp because I’m forever moving the benchmark of what success should be.
Today’s adulting confession: I have a toxic relationship with success.
Welcome back to another episode of “I’m the problem, it’s me,” where I call bullshit on myself for the things I’m getting wrong, so we can all learn from the struggle.
I’ve always struggled with perfectionism and getting caught up in an endless cycle where no success is ever enough, I’m constantly dissatisfied with my achievements, and always in search of something I can’t grasp because I’m forever moving the benchmark of what success should be.
I’ve learned that the antidote to this unachievable idea of success is (spoiler alert!) learning to embrace the journey, and find fulfillment in the doing.
Today’s episode dives into the game-changing reframe my amazing career coach gave me to help me redefine success and overcome my limiting beliefs. If you’re feeling stuck, this is a must-listen tool that has stopped everyone I’ve shared it with in their tracks.
Tune in to hear more about:
Perfectionism and defining your self-worth
Feeling dissatisfied with your successes
How my toxic ideas of success have held me back
The a-ha advice that reframed my idea of success
How I now define failure
Overcoming comparison and procrastination
The power of self-accountability for confidence and self-efficacy
You’ve got this!
Our show is produced by:
Gillian Berner, Host, Producer & Editor
Olivia Nashmi, Audio Engineer
Carolyn Schissler, Designer & Web Producer
Sara Valentine, Content Producer
For advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Frequency Podcast Network.
If you have a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you want us to interview, comment or DM us on Instagram:
Related Episodes:
Episode 210: What's the Worst That Can Happen? A Tool To Stop Catastrophizing And Get Unstuck
If an endless supply of “what ifs” are keeping you stuck in fear and inaction every time you need to make a decision or move forward, this tool could be a game-changer for you.
If an endless supply of “what ifs” are keeping you stuck in fear and inaction every time you need to make a decision or move forward, this tool could be a game-changer for you.
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the valuable advice my career coach shared last year to help stop catastrophic thinking and get to the root of what’s actually causing you worry or paralysis. Because the answer to “what’s the worst that could happen?” usually isn’t as bad as we make it out to be, and even the worst case scenarios are almost always figureoutable.
Whether you’re stuck in business decisions, dating, networking, trip-planning or big life changes, keep digging one layer deeper until you find out what’s at the core of your worries, and if that’s something you could handle.
Tune in to hear more about:
How catastrophic thinking can hold us back
What was keeping me stuck in inaction
The simple tool my career coach used to change my mindset
Examining the root of your discomfort
Weighing out the worst-case scenarios
How this way of thinking helped me invest in real estate
PS: If you’ve been toying with the idea of launching a podcast but aren’t sure where to start or how to grow, check our consulting services at teachmehowtoadult.ca/howtopodcast!
If you have a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you want us to interview, comment or DM us on Instagram:
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Episode 116: How to I Balance It All And Prioritize — Without The Overwhelm And Guilt?
In the words of Sharpay Evans “I want it all!” and we’re conditioned to believe that we should have it all — a career, a family, good health, a social life, nice things, without having to give anything up. But let’s be honest, our time and energy are finite resources and everything in life comes with tradeoffs. So the real key to “balance” is figuring out what you want to prioritize right now, and what can take the backseat.
In the words of Sharpay Evans “I want it all!” and we’re conditioned to believe that we should have it all — a career, a family, good health, a social life, nice things, without having to give anything up. But let’s be honest, our time and energy are finite resources and everything in life comes with tradeoffs. So the real key to “balance” is figuring out what you want to prioritize right now, and what can take the backseat.
This week we’re tackling a question about how to balance and prioritize everything when you’re feeling overwhelmed and stretched too thin. Juggling work, family and friends can leave us feeling like we aren’t succeeding at any of it, but it’s time to give ourselves a little grace and accept the season that we’re in.
Join us as we chat about:
The myth of having it all and the truth about balance
The “seasons” Gill and Cailyn are currently in
The best advice from Shonda Rhimes
The difference between “legitimate overwhelm” and “lifestyle overwhelm”
Mel Robbins’ antidote to overwhelm
Identifying lies we tell ourselves
How to actually prioritize
You *can* have it all. Just not all at once. Let the journey unfold as you become ready for it.
If you have a topic you’d like us to cover or a guest you want us to interview, comment or DM us on Instagram:
Related Episodes:
Episode 66: How To Ditch Toxic Positivity and Feel for Real, with Psychotherapist Whitney Goodman
Unpopular opinion: It’s NOT always healthy to find the silver lining in everything. Some things just suck, and we don’t always need to look on the bright side, at the expense of *actually* processing hard feelings.
Our culture is obsessed with a “good vibes only,” and “everything happens for a reason” state of mind that makes us feel like we’re failing if we’re not happy 100% of the time. Trying to see the positive isn’t always positive, sometimes shit happens that doesn’t make us stronger, and we’re ready to break up with toxic positivity so we can fully experience our emotions AND our loved ones’ feelings. (Because nothing is worse than platitudes.)
Unpopular opinion: It’s NOT always healthy to find the silver lining in everything. Some things just suck, and we don’t always need to look on the bright side, at the expense of *actually* processing hard feelings.
Our culture is obsessed with a “good vibes only,” and “everything happens for a reason” state of mind that makes us feel like we’re failing if we’re not happy 100% of the time. Trying to see the positive isn’t always positive, sometimes shit happens that doesn’t make us stronger, and we’re ready to break up with toxic positivity so we can fully experience our emotions AND our loved ones’ feelings. (Because nothing is worse than platitudes.)
So this week we called in author and psychotherapist, Whitney Goodman, to help us ditch toxic positivity and get real with our emotions. Whitney is the author of the book Toxic Positivity, a columnist for Psychology Today and appears regularly in publications like The New York Times and Teen Vogue.
No one should have to pretend that everything’s ok when it isn’t, so if you’re looking for some validation, you’ve come to the right place!
Join us as we chat about:
The signs of toxic positivity and why it gets in the way of your healing
Finding the balance between optimism, negativity and toxic positivity
How to deal with friends and family who dismiss your struggles
The productive VS annoying way to complain
The impact of social media on toxic positivity
How to show up for others in a supportive way
We hope this episode helps you deal with your shit and feel all of your very valid feelings.
Follow Whitney:
Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy
