The Write Brain

Ellis Melillo
  • 5.0 (2)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Write Brain is a podcast that explores the intersection of mental health and the music industry. Hosted by singer/songwriter Ellis Melillo and functional neurologist Dr. Robert Melillo, each episode features intimate conversations with musical artists about their mental health journeys. With insights from Dr. Melillo on brain health and Ellis' personal experiences, the show uncovers the challenges musicians face in balancing creativity, performance, and well-being. Tune in for powerful stories of resilience, healing, and creative expression.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Assume Competence: The Truth About Non-Speaking Autism

    In this episode of The Write Brain Podcast, we dive into one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in autism: What if non-speaking autistic individuals understand everything? Dr. Robert Melillo shares 35 years of neuroscience research and clinical experience working with children and adults on the autism spectrum — including those who have never spoken a word. We discuss: • What is actually preventing some autistic individuals from speaking• The role of the right brain and interoception• Why many non-speaking individuals may be exceptionally gifted• The controversy around spelling and letter boards• What research says about motor control vs. language ability• Why we must “assume competence”• Powerful real stories from families Many of the individuals discussed in this episode have demonstrated advanced reading levels, deep emotional intelligence, and profound insight — despite being previously labeled “low functioning.” Could it be that we’ve misunderstood the autistic brain? This episode is about awareness, compassion, neuroscience, and giving a voice to those who have one inside — but struggle to express it outwardly. If you know someone with autism, especially a non-speaking individual, please share this episode. April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day.For more information about Dr. Melillo’s upcoming lecture in New York City, visit his Instagram: @DrRobertMelillo or drmillo.com Assume competence.Presume intelligence.Lead with respect.

    1h 3m

  2. 26 FEB

    Are Psychic Abilities Genetic? The Science Behind Intuition

    This episode starts with a birthday month conversation… and somehow ends with chromosome 7, universal consciousness, autism, astral projection, and mushroom chocolate. We’re diving into something that sounds “woo” — but may actually have scientific grounding. In this episode, we explore: • Published research on a potential “psychic gene” • The role of chromosome 7 in intuitive abilities • Whether psychic ability could function like a biological sense • Right brain vs left brain differences in intuition • Autism, hyperconnectivity, and telepathic claims • The theory of universal consciousness (and what physics says about it) • Dreams, premonitions, and altered states Is psychic ability genetic? Are intuitive people neurologically different? Is consciousness produced by the brain — or accessed through it? We’re not telling you what to believe. We’re inviting you to think bigger. Open your mind. Question everything. And maybe don’t eat the chocolate in someone else’s cabinet. 🎙 Welcome back to The Write Brain podcast.

    53 min

  3. 10 FEB

    Abby Anderson: Why Creative People Feel Everything So Deeply

    Abby Anderson joins The Write Brain podcast for a raw, honest conversation about creativity, anxiety, control, and what it really means to be gifted. In this episode, Abby opens up about: Growing up feeling “too sensitive” Why creative people struggle with anxiety and self-doubt The neuroscience behind right-brain dominance How control and perfectionism can turn into coping behaviors Her experience navigating the music industry at 19 Why artists often crash emotionally after shows Turning pain into purpose through songwriting Learning that nothing was “wrong” with her — her brain just works differently This episode blends real-life vulnerability with brain science, offering language and understanding for creatives who’ve always felt deeply but never knew why. If you’re an artist, songwriter, or someone who’s ever thought “why am I like this?” — this conversation will make you feel seen.

    54 min

  4. 3 FEB

    The Truth About Memory, Anxiety & Forgetting

    Memory isn’t what most people think it is. In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, Ellis and her dad dive into how memory actually works — and why so many creative, right-brained people feel like they “don’t remember anything.” We talk about: The difference between right brain and left brain memory Why some people remember feelings but not details How trauma and stress affect memory Why forgetting can actually be a strength The connection between creativity, anxiety, and memory loss Why most people who think they’re “losing their memory” actually aren’t How memory relates to identity, learning disabilities, and ADHD Practical ways to improve memory and protect your brain long-term If you’ve ever felt embarrassed because you can’t remember names, dates, or events — but you can remember emotions, songs, or moments — this episode is for you.

    53 min

  5. 27 JAN

    Steve Astephen | Entrepreneurship, Identity, and the Right Brain Mind

    In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, we sit down with Stephen Astephen, founder of The Familie, a sports and music management agency, to talk about right brain entrepreneurship, dyslexia, insecurity, and vision. Steve shares his story — struggling in school, growing up with instability, never graduating high school, and being labeled “bad at academics” — and how those same traits became the foundation for building multiple groundbreaking businesses. This conversation explores: Why so many entrepreneurs are right-brain dominantDyslexia, attention issues, and struggling in traditional school systemsHow insecurity and anxiety can become fuel instead of failureSeeing a vision before it exists — and building it anywayManifestation as identity, not wishful thinkingLeadership, empathy, and managing creatives, athletes, and artistsMental health, depression, and the emotional weight of responsibilitySteve opens up about building the first snowboard shop of its kind, becoming the first agent in action sports, helping build one of the largest sports agencies in the world, and why he ultimately chose to relaunch The Family on his own terms. This is a raw, honest conversation about work ethic, vision, failure, mental health, and what it really means to be right-brain wired in a world built for left-brain systems. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit in school, didn’t think the traditional path was for you, or knew you were meant to build something different — this episode is for you.

    54 min

  6. 21 JAN

    Why Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and “Bad Students” Think the Same Way

    In this first episode of the year, we’re talking about manifestation, identity, and the right brain way of creating a life. We dive into why so many creatives, entrepreneurs, and big-picture thinkers struggled in traditional school systems — and how those same traits often become their greatest strengths later on. From dyslexia and daydreaming to questioning authority and creating something out of nothing, this conversation reframes what “success” actually looks like. We talk about: Why entrepreneurs are often deeply right-brain dominant The difference between hoping for the future and seeing it already happened Identity, backward visualization, and the law of assumption How fear, anxiety, and overthinking block creativity — and how certainty changes everything Why kids (and adults) who feel “different” are often wired for something bigger This episode is part science, part lived experience, and part real-life conversation — including stories about music, performance anxiety, creativity, parenting, and what it means to trust the way your brain works. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit the mold, struggled in school, or knew you were meant to create something that didn’t exist yet — this one’s for you.

    59 min

  7. 14 JAN

    Creativity, Shame, and Telling the Truth Anyway

    This week on The Write Brain, we sit down with for a real, unfiltered conversation about creativity, childhood, and what it means to be honest in your work. We talk about growing up, school, family dynamics, and the early signs of feeling different — long before there was language for it. The conversation naturally moves into creativity as a place of refuge, songwriting as truth-telling, and the complicated relationship between vulnerability, shame, and connection. we open up about the creative process, the emotional cost of honesty, and how writing songs has changed over time — especially in environments where collaboration, expectations, and success can blur the original reason you started. This isn’t a how-to or a highlight reel. It’s a conversation about being human, staying present with discomfort, and letting the work say what you can’t always explain. Toward the end, we ask a question we always come back to on The Write Brain: what would you say to your younger self — or to a younger creative who’s struggling in the same ways you once did? Thanks for being here.

    49 min

  8. 6 JAN

    Dallas Alexander: Country Music, Combat & Consciousness

    In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, we sit down with Dallas Alexander — world-record-holding sniper, country music artist, and devoted father. Dallas opens up about his military career, losing his brother to cancer, and the unexpected healing he experienced through music and psilocybin. We explore PTSD, grief, right-brain healing, parenting in a digital age, and how creativity can help us process life’s hardest moments. This is a raw, honest conversation about masculinity, emotional intelligence, and finding peace after trauma. 🎧 Topics include:    •    Life in special operations    •    Losing a sibling and processing grief    •    Psilocybin and right-brain healing    •    Music as therapy    •    Fatherhood, freedom, and raising resilient kids    •    Creativity, boredom, and imagination

    1h 19m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Write Brain is a podcast that explores the intersection of mental health and the music industry. Hosted by singer/songwriter Ellis Melillo and functional neurologist Dr. Robert Melillo, each episode features intimate conversations with musical artists about their mental health journeys. With insights from Dr. Melillo on brain health and Ellis' personal experiences, the show uncovers the challenges musicians face in balancing creativity, performance, and well-being. Tune in for powerful stories of resilience, healing, and creative expression.

Information

  • Creator
    Ellis Melillo
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ellis Melillo

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