The Brain Blown Podcast

The Brain Blown Podcast
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We’re Laine and Cherys, two licensed clinicians here to talk about why our brains do the things they do and how to use our minds to become happier & healthier people through the power of knowing more.

  1. 12 APR ·  BONUS

    Neuroscience of Play: DND exercise

    Enjoy this DND exercise led by Laine — let's play together! Most of us stopped playing long before we realized it — and it turns out, that might be costing us more than we know. In this episode, we're diving into the neuroscience of play: what it actually is (hint: it's not about the activity), why it's as fundamental to our biology as sleep and food, and what happens to our brains — and our lives — when we don't get enough of it. From dopamine and neuroplasticity to why boredom might actually be good for your kids, we're making the case that play isn't just for children. It's one of the most powerful tools we have for resilience, joy, and mental wellness — at any age. >> ⁠⁠⁠Support the Brain Blown on Patreon⁠⁠⁠ >> Have questions, stories, or topics you want us to cover? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠info@brainblownpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠. >> Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠www.brainblownpodcast.com⁠ Resources: The Importance of Pleasure in Play — Bruce PerrySelected Principles of Pankseppian Affective Neuroscience — Kenneth L. Davis & Christian MontagYes, We Need a Neuroscience of Play — Phillip Stevens Jr.Neuroscience and the Magic of Play Therapy — Anne L. Stewart, Thomas A. Field & Lennis G. EchterlingNeuroscience, Early Childhood Education and Play: We Are Doing It Right! — Stephen RushtonNeuroscience and Learning Through Play: A Review of the Evidence — Liu, Solis, Jensen, Hopkins, Neale, Zosh, Pasek & WhitebreadAdult Play: A Neuroscientific and Psychoanalytic Perspective — Ellen Park Psy.D.In Search of the Neurobiological Substrates for Social Playfulness in Mammalian Brains — Stephen M. Siviy & Jaak PankseppThe Playful Mediator, Moderator, or Outcome? — Shen & MasekRisky Play in Children's Emotion Regulation, Social Functioning, and Physical Health — Sandseter, Kleppe & KennairNational Institute for Play — Dr. Stuart Brown

    12 min

  2. 26 MAR

    Neuroscience of Play

    Most of us stopped playing long before we realized it — and it turns out, that might be costing us more than we know. In this episode, we're diving into the neuroscience of play: what it actually is (hint: it's not about the activity), why it's as fundamental to our biology as sleep and food, and what happens to our brains — and our lives — when we don't get enough of it. From dopamine and neuroplasticity to why boredom might actually be good for your kids, we're making the case that play isn't just for children. It's one of the most powerful tools we have for resilience, joy, and mental wellness — at any age. >> ⁠⁠Support the Brain Blown on Patreon⁠⁠ >> Have questions, stories, or topics you want us to cover? Email us at ⁠⁠info@brainblownpodcast.com⁠⁠. >> Learn more at ⁠⁠www.brainblownpodcast.com Resources: The Importance of Pleasure in Play — Bruce PerrySelected Principles of Pankseppian Affective Neuroscience — Kenneth L. Davis & Christian MontagYes, We Need a Neuroscience of Play — Phillip Stevens Jr.Neuroscience and the Magic of Play Therapy — Anne L. Stewart, Thomas A. Field & Lennis G. EchterlingNeuroscience, Early Childhood Education and Play: We Are Doing It Right! — Stephen RushtonNeuroscience and Learning Through Play: A Review of the Evidence — Liu, Solis, Jensen, Hopkins, Neale, Zosh, Pasek & WhitebreadAdult Play: A Neuroscientific and Psychoanalytic Perspective — Ellen Park Psy.D.In Search of the Neurobiological Substrates for Social Playfulness in Mammalian Brains — Stephen M. Siviy & Jaak PankseppThe Playful Mediator, Moderator, or Outcome? — Shen & MasekRisky Play in Children's Emotion Regulation, Social Functioning, and Physical Health — Sandseter, Kleppe & KennairNational Institute for Play — Dr. Stuart Brown

    1 hr

  3. 26 FEB

    Neuroscience of Movement

    We’ve engineered a life that minimizes effort. Food arrives. Work happens from chairs. Entertainment comes to us. But the brain didn’t evolve for efficiency — it evolved for interaction. This episode looks at the neuroscience behind movement and why it may be more foundational to how we think and feel than we realize. Due to technical difficulties, this episode is audio-only. We hope to resume video next episode, but we’ll keep you posted. >> ⁠Support the Brain Blown on Patreon⁠ >> Have questions, stories, or topics you want us to cover? Email us at ⁠info@brainblownpodcast.com⁠. >> Learn more at ⁠www.brainblownpodcast.com Episodes Referenced: Phantom Limbs (S2, Mini 1) Motivation (Season 2, Mini 2) Long-Term Decisions (Season 3, Mini 2) REFERENCES: A New Dynamic Model of the Cortico-Basal Ganglia Loop — Atsushi NambuA Computational Neuroanatomy for Motor Control — Reza Shadmehr & John W. KrakauerThe Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons — Sam KeanExercise-Induced Neuroplasticity: A Mechanistic Model and Prospects for Promoting Plasticity — El-Sayes, Harasym, Turco, Locke & NelsonMovement: How the Brain Communicates with the World — Andrew B. SchwartzImpact of Physical Activity and Exercise on the Epigenome in Skeletal Muscle and Effects on Systemic Metabolism — Julio Plaza-Díaz et al.Recent Advances in the Study of the Neurobiological Mechanisms Behind the Effects of Physical Activity on Mood, Resilience and Emotional Disorders — Chong Chen & Shin Nakagawa

    55 min

  4. 29 JAN

    Neuroscience of Sleep

    A lot of us aren’t just tired—we’re worn down. In a world that keeps demanding more attention, more productivity, and more endurance, our nervous systems are struggling to keep up. This episode kicks off our season on wellness by starting at the most basic place recovery happens: sleep. You can also watch the very first Brain Blown Podcast episode on video on our YouTube channel! >> Support the Brain Blown on Patreon >> Have questions, stories, or topics you want us to cover? Email us at info@brainblownpodcast.com. >> Learn more at www.brainblownpodcast.com REFERENCES: Falup‑Pecurariu, C., Diaconu, Ș., Țînț, D., & Falup‑Pecurariu, O. — Neurobiology of Sleep (Review) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Lee, A. E., Ancoli-Israel, S., Eyler, L. T., Tu, X. M., Palmer, B. W., Irwin, M. R., & Jeste, D. V. — Sleep Disturbances and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Schizophrenia: Focus on Sex Differences Pocivavsek, A., & Rowland, L. M. — Basic Neuroscience Illuminates Causal Relationship Between Sleep and Memory: Translating to Schizophrenia Peever, J., & Fuller, P. M. — Neuroscience: A Distributed Neural Network Controls REM Sleep Aulsebrook, A. E., Jones, T. M., Rattenborg, N. C., Roth II, T. C., & Lesku, J. A. — Sleep Ecophysiology: Integrating Neuroscience and Ecology Simon, K. C., Nadel, L., & Payne, J. D. — The Functions of Sleep: A Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective Urry, E., & Landolt, H.-P. — Adenosine, Caffeine, and Performance: From Cognitive Neuroscience of Sleep to Sleep Pharmacogenetics Kay, D. B., & Buysse, D. J. — Hyperarousal and Beyond: New Insights into the Pathophysiology of Insomnia Disorder through Functional Neuroimaging Studies Zielinski, M. R., McKenna, J. T., & McCarle, R. W. — Functions and Mechanisms of Sleep Marques, D. R., Gomes, A. A., Caetano, G., & Castelo-Branco, M. — Insomnia Disorder and Brain’s Default-Mode Network

    1hr 6min

  5. 26/11/2025

    Neuroscience of Resilience

    Last episode, we dug into how people lose their sense of safety and control when something — or someone — hijacks it.This week, we’re picking up the story from there: what it takes to rebuild. What does it look like to find your footing after an experience that knocks you off course?Why do some people regain a sense of agency faster than others?And what does real resilience look like when you're living it, not just talking about it? If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com. We'd love to hear from you. REFERENCES Hunter, Gray & McEwen — The Neuroscience of Resilience Elsevier B.V. — Neuroscience of Resilience for Mental Health Baratta, Seligman & Maier — From Helplessness to Controllability: Toward a Neuroscience of Resilience Ruth Feldman — What Is Resilience: An Affiliative Neuroscience Approach Alex Iantaffi — https://www.alexiantaffi.com/

    29 min

  6. 18/11/2025

    Neuroscience of Cults

    If you think you’d never be pulled into a cult, that belief itself is part of the danger. In this episode, we explore why the brain is far more influenceable—and more predictable—than most of us want to believe. We take a closer look at what happens when belonging, something we’re biologically wired to seek, becomes a pathway into harm. Together, we examine how group dynamics, stress, and relationship patterns can quietly shift a person’s behavior and sense of self. Laine brings research and real-world examples that show just how thin the line can be between healthy connection and unhealthy devotion. If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com. We'd love to hear from you. REFERENCES Cults: A Natural Disaster—Looking at Cult Involvement Through a Trauma LensShelly Rosen Pedagogical, Neuropsychological and Social Conditions of Shaping the Identity of Cult Group FollowersMariusz Gajew

    39 min

  7. 24/09/2025 ·  BONUS

    Neuroscience of Leadership

    What does neuroscience reveal about great leadership—and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode, we explore the brain science behind leadership: how it guides us in uncertainty, shapes culture, and unlocks human potential. From Microsoft’s near-collapse to its stunning revival under Satya Nadella, we’ll uncover what happens in the brain when leadership fails—and what changes when it succeeds. You’ll hear how trust, safety, and connection transform not just teams, but entire organizations, driving innovation and resilience. If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com. We'd love to hear from you. REFERENCES David Rock & Jeffrey Schwartz — Neuroscience of Leadership Manu Melwin Joy — The Neuroscience of Leadership Kimberly Schaufenbuel — The Neuroscience of Leadership: Practical Applications

    28 min

  8. 15/08/2025

    Neuroscience of Teamwork

    Humans are born dependent, slow, and vulnerable—but we’ve survived by working together. In this episode, we explore the neuroscience that makes teamwork possible, and why collaboration is more than a soft skill—it’s a biological necessity.From mirror neurons and social cognition to trust, reward systems, and brain synchrony, we break down what’s really happening in your brain when you collaborate—and what it takes to build a team that actually works. If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com. We'd love to hear from you. REFERENCES David A. Waldman, M.K. Ward, William J. Becker — Neuroscience in Organizational Behavior Stephanie Balters, Grace Hawthorne, Naam Mayseless — Of Team Cooperation Versus Team Collaboration Paul Zak — The Neuroscience of Trust M.K. Ward, Stefan Volk, William J. Becker — An Overview of Organizational Neuroscience Mohammed Algumaei, Imali T. Hettiarachchi, Mohamed Farghaly, Asim Bhatti — The Neuroscience of Team Dynamics: Exploring Neurophysiological Measures for Assessing Team Performance Diego A. Reinero, Suzanne Dikker, Jay J. Van Bavel — Inter-brain Synchrony in Teams Predicts Collective Performance Hua Xie, Iliana I. Karipidis, Amber Howell, Manish Saggar et al. — Finding the Neural Correlates of Collaboration Using a Three-person fMRI Hyperscanning Paradigm Xinmei Deng, Meng Yang, Xiaomin Chen, Yong Zhan — The Role of Mindfulness on Theta Inter-brain Synchrony During Cooperation Feedback Processing: An EEG-based Hyperscanning Study

    46 min
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About

We’re Laine and Cherys, two licensed clinicians here to talk about why our brains do the things they do and how to use our minds to become happier & healthier people through the power of knowing more.

Information

  • Creator
    The Brain Blown Podcast
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Brain Blown Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Brain Blown Podcast