Move Your Mind with Nick Bracks

Nick Bracks
  • 4.7 (24)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Move Your Mind with Nick Bracks explores how the most successful people think and the mindset that got them there. Hosted by actor, TEDx speaker, and mental health advocate Nick Bracks, the show features deep, unscripted conversations with world-class thinkers, performers, and creators. Nick draws from his experience delivering over 1,000 talks worldwide and working in film, television, and mental health advocacy to uncover what drives human potential. Guests have included Harvard psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer, UFC Champion Alex Volkanovski, U.S. Congressman Adam Smith, Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis, author Mark Groves, and many more leaders across business, science, sport, and the arts. Each episode dives into the habits, challenges, and mindset shifts that shape success, purpose, and resilience in everyday life - helping listeners build a healthier, more meaningful approach to growth and performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    #298: Masculinity Expert Explains Why Young Men Fall for Andrew Tate - Michael Kimmel

    What happens when young men are so desperate to prove they're real men that they'll follow anyone who promises to show them how? In this episode I sit down with Michael Kimmel, the sociologist and author of Guyland who has spent decades studying how boys become men, to explore why young men fall for figures like Andrew Tate. We talk about why the pressure on young men hasn't changed since he wrote Guyland but the noise around it has exploded, what West Point cadets told him about the difference between a good man and a real man, the day he stared at his shoes while a kid was bullied next to him, and why his son getting kicked out of the cool group was the best thing that ever happened to him.We also explore the three relationships that make young men resilient, how one guy in a locker room can change the way a whole team talks about women, why some of the richest men in history were miserable, and the voice that told me nothing I do will ever be enough. But underneath the headlines, this conversation is about something much more personal.Why men hide what they really feel because other guys are always watching. How the gap between who you are and who you think you have to be leaves you looking for anyone to follow. And what it takes to stop proving yourself and start being yourself. Because you can't navigate this alone. And you were never supposed to.Michael Kimmel is a sociologist and one of the world's leading experts on men and masculinity. He's the author of Guyland, Manhood in America and Angry White Men, and he founded the Center for the Study of Men and Masculinities at Stony Brook University. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction; False Prophets (00:24) Guyland Then Now (03:27) West Point Two Voices (06:58) Gender Policing Rules (11:13) Manosphere Amplification (14:34) Three Keys Resilience (18:04) Friends Allies Stories (20:05) Boys Schools Talk Masculinity (22:08) Calling Out Misogyny (27:26) Parents School Religion (29:04) Two Voices of Manhood (29:26) Strengthen the Inner Compass (30:00) Community Support Plug (30:29) Success Pressure and Worth (32:12) Redefining a Good Man (33:34) Living in Dad's Shadow (35:05) Escaping the Never Enough Trap (37:13) Safety Nets and Contentment (40:58) Wealth Addiction Warning (41:59) Tools and Mentorship Models (43:18) Let Boys Cry at School (46:13) Find Your True North Join the Move Your Mind Community: go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunity Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks Website: http://nickbracks.com Email: contact@nickbracks.com Connect with Michael: Website: michaelkimmel.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #298: Masculinity Expert Explains Why Young Men Fall for Andrew Tate - Michael Kimmel

  2. 5d ago

    #297: 90210 Star Explains Why Childhood Trauma Fractures Your Identity - AnnaLynne McCord

    What happens when the trauma you survived as a kid splits you into parts you don't even know are there? In this episode I sit down with AnnaLynne McCord, the 90210 star who went public about her assault years before Me Too and later revealed her dissociative identity disorder diagnosis, to explore why childhood trauma fractures your identity.We talk about why she was first diagnosed as bipolar, how her DID diagnosis cracked open memories she'd buried, what it was like to have co-consciousness with different parts of herself, and how she went from 90% dysregulation to 90% peace. We also explore why Hollywood warned her that honesty would end her career, the 70-year-old woman who finally accepted herself after hearing AnnaLynne speak, why boys are taught to shut their hearts down, and the one thing she believes most people spend their lives avoiding. But underneath the headlines, this conversation is about something much more personal. Why we build a version of ourselves to survive a world that felt unsafe. How a tough, fearless exterior can hide someone who believes they're weak. And what it actually takes to stop running from what you feel. Because the fracture came from an absence of love. And the only thing that puts you back together is love. AnnaLynne McCord is an actress best known for her role in 90210, and a longtime advocate against human trafficking who has spoken at the United Nations. She speaks openly about trauma, mental health and her DID diagnosis, and leads healing retreats around the world. If you're struggling, please reach out:US: call or text 988Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14UK: Samaritans 116 123 Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: DID and Fragmentation (00:17) Meet AnnaLynne McCord (00:34) Misconceptions and Masks (04:43) Tailoring Identity for Approval (09:00) Homeschooling and Early Independence (12:42) Industry Pressure to Stay Perfect (14:14) Speaking Out on Assault and DID (19:52) Turning Pain Into Purpose (24:23) Heart Led Masculinity (29:32) Boys and Emotional Conditioning (32:57) Honoring Men at the UN (36:26) Trafficking Speech Pushback (38:49) Masculine and Feminine Balance (40:49) Reactive Systems and Labels (41:34) Sponsor Break Move Your Mind (42:24) Trauma Misdiagnosis to Healing (45:33) Finding Peace Through Integration (49:34) Advice to Her Teen Self (51:32) Stop Avoiding Emotions Join the Move Your Mind Community: go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunity Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks Website: http://nickbracks.com Email: contact@nickbracks.com Connect with AnnaLynne: Instagram: @theannalynnemccord Website: theannalynnemccord.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #297: 90210 Star Explains Why Childhood Trauma Fractures Your Identity - AnnaLynne McCord

  3. Sep 25

    #296: Therapist Who Stole Millions From Alanis Morissette Explains Why You Self-Sabotage - Jonathan Todd Schwartz

    What happens when you already know there's no winning, and you keep going anyway? In this episode I sit down with Jonathan Todd Schwartz, a former Hollywood business manager who embezzled millions from a handful of clients, including Alanis Morissette, and is now an addiction therapist, to explore why we keep doing the very things that are destroying us.We talk about how six years of betting on sports every day turned into a hole he kept digging deeper, why he bet on every game on the board even though it was almost impossible to win, how the hope of one big windfall kept him chasing, and why he believed asking for help was a weakness. We also explore the childhood trauma he carried for 46 years without ever facing it, why he refuses to use that trauma as an excuse, what prison gave him that his old life never could, and why he now believes self-awareness has to come before you can change the way you talk to yourself. But underneath the headlines, this conversation is about something much more personal. Why we escape our emotions instead of feeling them. How presenting as Superman to the world can hide someone who feels like he's never enough. And what it actually takes to stop running and start owning your choices. Because the thing you're using to escape the hole is usually the thing digging it. And the way out starts with the courage to ask for help. Jonathan Todd Schwartz is a therapist specialising in addiction and trauma at Altus Rehab in Encino, California. A former CPA and partner at GSO Business Management, he was sentenced to six years in federal prison in 2017. He is now almost 10 years sober and uses his lived experience to help others get to the core of what drives their addictions. If you're struggling, please reach out: US: call or text 988Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14UK: Samaritans 116 123-00:00 Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: Gambling Spiral Confession (00:20) Meet Jonathan Todd Schwartz (00:42) Stealing and Avoiding Help (02:34) How Gambling Escalates (04:47) Betting Every Game (06:13) Rock Bottom and Asking Help (07:16) Finding the Why Trauma (09:10) Empathy Over Judgment (11:55) Childhood Abandonment and Abuse (13:37) Healing Trauma With EMDR (16:03) Fight Flight Comfort Zone (18:36) Self Care Without Money (20:33) Vulnerability and Connection (24:03) Self Awareness and Emotions (28:50) Success and External Validation (30:41) Host Story and Ambition Trap (32:43) Authentic Change Within (33:19) Quality Circle Over Fame (35:03) Celebrity Validation Trap (36:08) CPA to Embezzlement Fallout (39:11) Making Amends and Asking Help (43:17) Recovery Nerd Mindset (44:00) Cocaine and Sobriety Choices (46:29) Suicide Prevention and Empathy (50:37) Money Lessons and Humility (53:37) Social Media as Addiction (56:33) Advice to Younger Self Join the Move Your Mind Community: go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunity Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks Website: http://nickbracks.com Email: contact@nickbracks.com Connect with Jonathan: https://www.instagram.com/therealjonathanschwartz/?hl=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #296: Therapist Who Stole Millions From Alanis Morissette Explains Why You Self-Sabotage - Jonathan Todd Schwartz

  4. Sep 18

    #295: AI Expert Warns Against Using AI as Your Therapist - David Dean

    We're told the answer to hard feelings is to talk them out. But what if the thing you're talking to isn't actually listening at all? In this episode I sit down with David Dean, an enterprise AI strategist with 20 years of transformation experience and author of An Inbox Between Us, to explore what happens when we start turning to AI for emotional support, and where the line sits between using it as a tool and giving it too much authority over our lives. We talk about why turning to AI for emotional and relationship support can become dangerous, why in some ways you're really just talking to yourself, why no matter how you use AI you're still responsible for the decisions you make, and what happens when loneliness and psychological escape start driving the way we interact with it. We also explore how AI can help us identify patterns we struggle to see ourselves, why getting your thoughts and emotions out before asking AI to analyse them can be far more useful than asking it to tell you what to do, how over-relying on AI could weaken skills we still need, and why our ability to make human choices remains so important. But underneath the technology, this conversation is about something much more personal. Why we reach for something outside ourselves when we're struggling. What we lose when we hand our judgment to a tool instead of owning our choices. And where the line sits between using AI to see ourselves more clearly, and using it to avoid facing ourselves at all. Because AI can help you find the signals. It can help you see patterns you couldn't see alone. But it can't make the choice for you, and it was never built to save you from yourself. David Dean is an enterprise AI strategist, author and speaker with 20 years of transformation experience. He is the author of An Inbox Between Us and explores how AI is changing the way we work, make decisions and understand human behaviour. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: The AI Therapy Trap (00:44) Guardrails and Accountability (03:52) Loneliness and Escape Loops (05:07) AI Impact at Work (08:11) Self Service vs Controlled (10:47) Fear, Jobs and Humanity (12:56) Lived Experience Matters (15:37) Making AI Real (19:49) Inbox Data as Lens (23:16) AGI and Self Awareness (28:16) Humanity in Machines (29:44) Symbiotic Relationship (30:54) Community Break (31:23) Humans Still Premium (33:38) Art Music and Value (35:50) Spotify and artist pay (36:29) Why human art matters (38:49) AI as breathing room (40:33) Burnout and wellbeing (41:52) Guardrails and governance (45:59) Using AI for clarity (47:22) Choice and self discovery (48:58) Adoption needs unofficial work (51:31) Reality over AI fantasy (55:56) Over-reliance and staying grounded (01:00:41) Authentic leadership signals (01:03:41) Hype tools and proximity Join the Move Your Mind Community: go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunity Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks Website: http://nickbracks.com Email: contact@nickbracks.com Connect with Dean: https://www.davidchristopherdean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #295: AI Expert Warns Against Using AI as Your Therapist - David Dean

  5. Sep 12

    #294: World-Leading Twin Researcher Explains Why You Can’t Escape Who You Are - Dr. Nancy Segal

    We're told that if we want to change who we are, we just need to change our habits, our environment and the way we think. But what if parts of who you are were there long before you ever had a choice? In this episode I sit down with Dr. Nancy Segal, a leading twin researcher, psychologist, author and founder of the Twin Studies Center at California State University, Fullerton, to explore what decades of twin research can teach us about who we really are, and how much of ourselves we can actually change. We talk about why roughly half of the differences in personality across people are linked to genetic differences, why people tend to return toward their characteristic personality and happiness levels, how motivation and persistence can be partly influenced by genetics, and why achieving the thing you thought would finally make you happy can still leave you feeling empty. We also explore what identical twins reveal about human behaviour, the extraordinary bond between twins, what happens when that bond is lost, why our environments still matter enormously, and how understanding our predispositions can actually help us make better choices rather than become trapped by them. But underneath the science, this conversation is about something much more personal. Why we keep returning to certain patterns even when we desperately want to change. How much of ourselves we need to accept. And where our responsibility to create a different life begins. Because you may not be able to completely transform who you are. But you can understand yourself, modify what isn't serving you, change your environment, and make more of the potential that's already there. Dr. Nancy Segal is a psychologist, author and internationally recognized expert on twins. She founded and directs the Twin Studies Center at California State University, Fullerton, and has spent decades studying what twins can teach us about genetics, environment, personality, relationships and human behaviour. - (00:00) Introduction: Can We Change Ourselves? (00:34) Twin Identity Differences (01:20) Nature Nurture Explained (03:35) Personality Set Points (05:18) Engineering Happiness (07:52) Motivation Genes And Drive (10:01) Success High Then Empty (12:04) Finding Meaningful Pursuits (15:13) Nancy Segal Origin Story (18:42) Twin Research For Everyone (23:27) Unexpected Twin Casework (25:07) Suicide And Twin Loss (28:24) Twin Telepathy Myth (29:07) Twins In Sports (29:37) Grief After Twin Loss (31:22) Twin Loss Gets Attention (32:11) Lessons From Twin Studies (36:07) Risk Taking And Change (38:08) Olympic Twin Advantage (39:14) Competition Without Jealousy (42:18) Biracial Twins And Tolerance (43:41) Baby Steps To Change (48:05) Support Groups And Holocaust Twins (49:53) Where To Find Nancy - Join the Move Your Mind Community: go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunity Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks Website: http://nickbracks.com Email: contact@nickbracks.com Connect with Dr. Nancy: https://drnancysegaltwins.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #294: World-Leading Twin Researcher Explains Why You Can’t Escape Who You Are - Dr. Nancy Segal

  6. Sep 4

    #293: Buddhist Monk Explains Why Men Can't Stop Watching Porn - Jeremy Lipkowitz

    Most men don't think they have a porn problem. They think they just have a habit. Something they do late at night, alone, that nobody needs to know about. But according to today's guest, that habit isn't really about sex. It's about something much harder to face. In this episode I sit down with Jeremy Lipkowitz, a former Buddhist monk, scientist and founder of Unhooked Academy, to talk about what's really driving compulsive porn use in men and why willpower alone will never fix it. We talk about why most men start using porn as young as eight or nine years old, how it rewires the brain to crave novelty over real intimacy, why the shame of the habit makes it worse not better, and what the Rat Park experiment reveals about what addiction is actually about. But underneath the porn, this conversation is about something much more universal. The emotions men avoid, the pain they won't sit with, and the coping mechanisms they build around that pain without ever realising it. Because the problem was never really the porn. The problem is what the porn is helping you not feel. Jeremy Lipkowitz is a former Buddhist monk, certified mindfulness teacher and founder of Unhooked Academy, a global community helping men break free from compulsive behaviours and build a life of discipline, purpose and integrity. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: Porn as Avoidance (01:45) Early Exposure Origins (04:27) Porn Is Not Special (06:23) The Insatiable Cycle (08:51) Trance of Unworthiness (10:45) Success and Insecurity (14:16) Society Against Flourishing (15:35) Men Lost in 2026 (20:07) Is Porn Ever Healthy (24:48) AI Porn Dystopia (27:15) Quit Completely vs Moderate (28:32) Community and Algorithms (29:44) Algorithmic Dopamine Traps (31:14) Dropping Shame Taking Ownership (33:12) Porn Rewires Objectification (37:18) Novelty Addiction Warning Signs (38:48) Coping Not Sex Drive (41:40) Rat Park And Fulfillment (45:39) Mindfulness Under The Urge (47:37) Talking With Partners Safely (49:40) Recovery Not Perfection (52:43) Anti Guru Real Talk (54:24) Where To Find More (55:10) Final Thanks And Support Join the Move Your Mind Community: go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunity Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks Website: http://nickbracks.com Email: contact@nickbracks.com Connect with Jeremy: https://unhookedacademy.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #293: Buddhist Monk Explains Why Men Can't Stop Watching Porn - Jeremy Lipkowitz

  7. Aug 26

    #292: Why You Don’t Need to Have Your Life Figured Out - Jeremy Walton

    There’s no perfect timeline for figuring out your life. But when everyone around you seems to be moving forward, it can be difficult to believe you’re not falling behind. In this episode I sit down with film producer Jeremy Walton to explore why there is no normal path through life, and why starting a new chapter later than expected doesn’t mean you’ve taken the wrong one. Jeremy came to filmmaking after a career in law, finance and venture capital. Rather than regretting the years he spent elsewhere, he believes those experiences helped prepare him for the work he eventually found himself doing. We talk about why there is no formula for building a career, how overwhelm can stop you from ever beginning, why making something imperfect can be more valuable than waiting until you’re ready, and why success doesn’t have to mean the same thing for everyone. But underneath the filmmaking, this conversation is about something much more universal: the pressure to know where your life is going, the fear that you should be further ahead, and what can happen when you stop measuring yourself against an imaginary timeline. Jeremy Walton is a film producer at Moo Studios, where he works across film and television development, finance and production. He describes filmmaking as his “second chapter” - one he says he wouldn’t go back and start any earlier. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: No Normal Timeline (00:52) Jeremy’s Career Pivot (02:59) Creativity and Film Community (05:01) EQ Matters on Set (06:42) Getting Your First Script Made (09:29) Know Your Audience (13:42) Originality vs Commercial Reality (16:23) Compromise in Filmmaking (21:18) Write for Budget and Practice (25:57) Overwhelm and Finding Producers (28:17) YouTube and Content Explosion (31:15) Buyers Market Reality (32:03) Budgets Race Down (32:29) Obsession Lessons (35:31) Defining Film Success (38:00) Career Paths in Film (40:30) No Normal Budget (42:07) Microbudget Proof (44:39) Actors Survival Tips (49:13) Ego Free Collaboration (51:45) Industry Future and AI (54:18) Advice to Younger Self (56:22) Where to Find More Join the Move Your Mind Community: go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunity Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks Website: http://nickbracks.com Email: contact@nickbracks.com Connect with Jeremy: https://www.moostudios.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #292: Why You Don’t Need to Have Your Life Figured Out - Jeremy Walton

  8. Aug 19

    #291: Can You Train Yourself To Stop Asking Everyone What To Do? - Dr. Sue Morter

    Your mind is designed to keep you safe. But what happens when it starts protecting you from threats that aren't actually there? In this episode I sit down with Dr. Sue Morter to explore why we can stay trapped in survival mode long after the danger has passed, and how fear can quietly shape the decisions we make, the risks we avoid, and the lives we end up living. Sue describes the way the mind creates worst-case scenarios as essentially "creating bears" that aren't even real. And yet our instinct is usually to do exactly what keeps the fear alive: avoid the thing that scares us. We talk about why the body can continue responding as though it's under threat, what happens when you build your life around feeling safe, and why trying to control everything can ultimately make your world smaller. But underneath all of it, this conversation is about something much more universal: how much of your life can be shaped by dangers your mind has imagined, and what becomes possible when you stop organising your life around avoiding them. Dr. Sue Morter is the founder of the Morter Institute and New York Times bestselling author of The Energy Codes. Her work explores the relationship between the mind, body and our patterns of survival, and how people can move beyond them to live with greater freedom. - (00:00) Intro: Imaginary Bears (00:22) Meet Dr Sue Morter (00:35) Stuck in Survival Mode (04:46) Train Calm Neutrality (05:48) Mind Body Tethering (09:30) Fear Based Money Story (11:30) Passion Creates Abundance (13:53) Small Steps Not Cliff (17:56) Pratyahara Inner Listening (24:12) Stop Seeking Validation (26:23) Self Grounding Without Others (30:38) Permission To Dream Story (35:17) Reflecting On The Lesson (35:35) Dream Without Consequences (35:59) Quantum Creative Soup (36:45) Breathwork And Abundance (39:39) Permission To Dream (41:30) Love The Doubter (49:47) Freedom Is Abundance (51:38) Embrace Whats Triggering You (54:58) Avoiding Your Greatness - Join the Move Your Mind Community: go.nickbracks.com/mymcommunity Connect with Nick: Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracks Website: http://nickbracks.com Email: contact@nickbracks.com Connect with Daniella: https://drsuemorter.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #291: Can You Train Yourself To Stop Asking Everyone What To Do? - Dr. Sue Morter
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Move Your Mind with Nick Bracks explores how the most successful people think and the mindset that got them there. Hosted by actor, TEDx speaker, and mental health advocate Nick Bracks, the show features deep, unscripted conversations with world-class thinkers, performers, and creators. Nick draws from his experience delivering over 1,000 talks worldwide and working in film, television, and mental health advocacy to uncover what drives human potential. Guests have included Harvard psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer, UFC Champion Alex Volkanovski, U.S. Congressman Adam Smith, Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis, author Mark Groves, and many more leaders across business, science, sport, and the arts. Each episode dives into the habits, challenges, and mindset shifts that shape success, purpose, and resilience in everyday life - helping listeners build a healthier, more meaningful approach to growth and performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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