Let's Talk Brain Health! 🧠

Virtual Brain Health Center
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Health & Fitness

What can you do today to care for your brain? 🎙 "Let's Talk Brain Health!" is where science meets story. We bring together the world's leading experts—neuroscientists, physicians, psychologists, nutritionists—and the 'lived experience' experts navigating brain health journeys firsthand, to answer the biggest questions about memory, cognition, and dementia prevention. We dive into the brain health science, push the limits of knowledge, and deliver takeaways you can use today. For health enthusiasts, caregivers, clinicians—plus FREE accredited CEs on ALL episodes for select medical providers.

  1. 18h ago

    What Is Brain Fog and What Can You Actually Do About It? with Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi, MD, MSc

    You know something is off. The word you were reaching for is gone. The thought dissolves before you finish it. You read the same sentence three times and still cannot hold onto it. That is brain fog. And in this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast, Dr. Krystal Culler sits down with Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi — neuropsychiatrist, biomedical engineer, and serial health-tech founder — to finally give it the language, the science, and the path forward it deserves. Brain fog is one of the most common complaints in brain health — and one of the most dismissed. Most people are told they are tired, stressed, or just getting older. Today that changes. Dr. Ghomi sees patients with a focus on neurodegenerative disorders and cognitive health across a wide range of conditions — including the growing wave of post-COVID cognitive complaints. His message is clear: brain fog is real, it is worth investigating, and in most cases it is reversible. What You'll Learn in This Episode 🧠 What brain fog actually is — and why it is a symptom cluster, not a diagnosis 🧠 The full range of symptoms to recognize — from mental fatigue and forgetfulness to word-finding difficulties and slow processing 🧠 How brain fog may present differently in women versus men — including perimenopause, postpartum, thyroid disorders, and hormonal shifts 🧠 How to talk to a healthcare provider about brain fog — and what to bring to that appointment to be taken seriously 🧠 The biggest myths and misconceptions about brain fog — including why "it's all in your head" is both wrong and dismissive 🧠 The three most evidence-informed lifestyle factors contributing to brain fog — sleep, physical activity, and metabolic and nutritional stability 🧠 Why blood sugar swings, vitamin deficiencies, and iron levels matter more than most people realize 🧠 How wearable devices and symptom tracking can help you and your provider identify patterns 🧠 A real patient case study — a woman in her late 40s caring for a parent with Alzheimer's who recovered from significant brain fog in 90 days 🧠 Why brain fog is a signal — not a sentence — and what that means for your brain health journey Key Takeaways ✔ Brain fog is not a diagnosis — it is a cluster of symptoms worth tracking, naming, and taking to a provider ✔ It is almost always reversible — and the sooner you address it, the more preventable the underlying causes become ✔ Sleep is the highest-leverage lifestyle factor — protect it like the non-negotiable it is ✔ Come to your appointment with data — a symptom diary, medications, supplements, and nutritional patterns make a significant difference ✔ Do not accept dismissal — advocate for yourself, and if one provider does not help, find another ✔ Brain fog is your brain communicating — not failing. Listen to what it is asking for Earn FREE CE/CMEs This podcast qualifies for continuing education credit for the following healthcare professionals: Physicians (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™), Nurses (ANCC), Pharmacists (ACPE), Physician Associates (AAPA), Dentists (ADA CERP), Dietitians (CDR), Social Workers (ASWB), Psychologists (APA), Athletic Trainers (BOC), and Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE). Each eligible episode offers 0.5 hours of FREE CE credit. Not seeing your profession listed? You will receive a Certificate of Participation to submit to your licensing board for possible credit approval. Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE credit for listening to this episode — available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Thank you for investing your time and energy into your brain health. A special thank you to Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi, MD for reminding us that brain fog is a signal — not a sentence — and that you are allowed to feel better. Resources Continue to learn more with Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi at rezahg.com Stay connected with Dr. Ghomi on social media on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok @drrezaghomi

    What Is Brain Fog and What Can You Actually Do About It? with Dr. Reza Hosseini Ghomi, MD, MSc

  2. Aug 5

    Your Body Is Talking — Are You Listening? A Brain Care Story of Chronic Pain, Nervous System Health & Recovery with Nora Rodden, MS, MBA

    What if the symptoms your body was sending you were trying to tell you something your mind had not yet figured out how to hear? In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast, Dr. Krystal Culler makes space for a story. Because at the heart of brain health is not just the science— it is the lived experience. The hard seasons. The wisdom that only comes from having walked through something yourself and come out the other side with something worth sharing. Nora Rodden is the Founder and CEO of Nervana, an AI-powered digital health company helping people with chronic symptoms explore the psychological and emotional factors that may be contributing to how they feel. But before the company and the Harvard MBA, Nora spent years navigating chronic back pain following a car accident, debilitating GI symptoms, and insomnia — searching desperately for answers that conventional medicine could not give her. What she eventually discovered changed everything. And she has dedicated her career to making sure others do not have to search as long as she did. This is her brain care story. What You'll Learn in This Episode 🧠 Nora's journey from a car accident at college to years of chronic pain, GI symptoms, and insomnia, and what it felt like to navigate all three simultaneously in her early 20s 🧠 Why chronic symptoms can be an invisible illness and the emotional and financial toll of searching endlessly for answers 🧠 How the nervous system gets stuck in a chronic fight or flight state and why that can perpetuate physical symptoms long after the original injury has healed 🧠 What the mind-body connection actually means 🧠 The Harvard clinical trial that changed Nora's life and what a structured mind-body program actually looks like in practice 🧠 Why your brain's predictive processes matter for chronic symptoms and how neuroplastic recovery approaches work 🧠 How Nora built Nervana to make structured mind-body programs accessible to anyone with chronic symptoms 🧠 What it means to learn your brain and body's language — and how that changes everything 🧠 The one piece of advice Nora would give her earlier self Key Takeaways ✔ Chronic symptoms are not your fault — and understanding that changes everything ✔ The nervous system can get stuck in fight or flight long after the original trigger is gone — and that perpetuation is real, physical, and treatable ✔ Your brain and your body are not separate — considering both is essential to healing ✔ A structured program removes the cognitive load of behavior change — and that matters more than most people realize ✔ You do not have to figure this out alone. Community, recovery stories, and the right tools at the right time make all the difference ✔ Give yourself some grace. Whatever you are experiencing — listen to your body, listen to your brain, and get a little closer to understanding what might be happening internally. Earn FREE CEs This podcast qualifies for continuing education credit across 10 healthcare professions. Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to learn more and earn FREE CE/CME credit for listening to this episode! Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please help us grow the conversation around better brain health: Follow or subscribe to the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast on your favorite platform Leave a rating or review Share this episode with a friend, colleague, caregiver, or fellow brain health advocate Thank you for investing your time and energy into your brain health. A special thank you to Nora Rodden for trusting me with her story — and for turning her own hard season into a resource for everyone still searching for answers. Resources Learn more about Nora's work and explore the Nervana app at trynervana.com Connect with Nora on LinkedIn Explore free mind-body recovery resources at the Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms at symptomatic.me  Read Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter — recommended by Nora and reviewed by the Neuro Nook (book club)

    Your Body Is Talking — Are You Listening? A Brain Care Story of Chronic Pain, Nervous System Health & Recovery with Nora Rodden, MS, MBA

  3. Jul 22

    More Walking, Less Dementia: What Your Feet Are Telling Your Brain About Health and Longevity with Dr. Courtney Conley, DC & Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT

    This podcast episode is a conversation from the Neuro Nook (book club) where Dr. Krystal Culler and co-host Heather Elwell spoke with the authors of the National Bestseller Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity, One Step at a Time — Dr. Courtney Conley, DC and Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT — for a conversation that may likely shift change the way you think about walking. Today, fewer people realize they need to walk each day. What You'll Learn in This Episode 🧠 Why walking belongs alongside breathing and sleeping as one of the three essential physiological functions we need to survive 🧠 The surprising foot-brain connection 🧠 What to look for when you look down at your feet 🧠 What an efficient walking gait actually looks like — and the simple cue that changes everything: roll the earth away 🧠 What makes a healthy shoe choice — and the three criteria to look for when buying footwear 🧠 Gait speed as the sixth vital sign — and what your walking speed can predict about your cognitive health up to nine years in advance 🧠 The step count research on dementia risk — and why 3,800 to 9,800 steps per day could reduce your risk by 25 to 51 percent 🧠 How walking impacts mental health — and why 5,000 steps per day has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression 🧠 The power of the five-minute micro walk — and why five minutes is enough 🧠 Movement snacks from the book 🧠 How to find time for walking in a busy life Key Takeaways ✔ Walking is a physiological necessity — not optional, not a luxury, and not a low-level activity ✔ Your foot occupies massive real estate in your brain's sensory map — what happens from the ground up matters deeply for your overall health ✔ Gait speed is the sixth vital sign — and it can predict cognitive decline up to nine years before diagnosis ✔ Walking 3,800 steps per day reduces dementia risk by 25% — walking 9,800 reduces it by more than 50% ✔ Five minutes counts — the micro walk is real, accessible, and powerful ✔ Walk more, die less — the research is overwhelming and the prescription is free The Neuro Nook Rx from Walk 📋 Add Vitamin W (Walk) to your daily brain care. Start with 5-minute intervals (≈500 steps) and build up to 30–35+ minutes a day (≈5+ days/week). 📋 Take a brisk walk (≈112 steps/per minute) for 30 minutes per day.Earn FREE CEs This podcast qualifies for the following credit types::  Physicians: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ (CME) Nurses: ANCC Pharmacists: ACPE Physician Associates: AAPA Dentists: ADA CERP Dietitians: CDR Social Workers: ASWB Psychologists: APA Athletic Trainers: BOC Interprofessional Continuing Education: IPCE Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE credit for listening to this episode! Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please help us grow the conversation around better brain health: Follow or subscribe to the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast Leave a rating or review Share this episode with a friend, colleague, caregiver, or fellow brain health advocate Thank you for investing your time and energy into your brain health. A special thank you to Dr. Courtney Conley, DC and Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT for calling us into a collective all to action– and promise to keep walking with them? Resources Review the Neuro Nook Book Club Summary of the book– Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity, One Step at a Time– Including the Q&A and Final Takeaways from the authors on Substack  Grab your copy of Walk: Rediscover the Most Natural Way to Boost Your Health and Longevity, One Step at a Time Explore Dr. Courtney Conley's work and education platform at Gait Happens and connect with them on Instagram and YouTube Follow Dr. Courtney Conley, DC on her personal Instagram and Substack Follow Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT on Instagram and Substack Learn more about the Neuro Nook Book Club from the Virtual Brain Health Center

    More Walking, Less Dementia: What Your Feet Are Telling Your Brain About Health and Longevity with Dr. Courtney Conley, DC & Dr. Milica McDowell, DPT

  4. Jul 8

    Hardwired for the Negative–But Not Stuck There: the Negativity Bias & The Science of Gratitude with Dr. Diego Salinas, MD, NBC-HWC

    Your brain is not working against you. It is working for you — the best way it knows how. But sometimes that wiring gets in the way. In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast, Dr. Krystal Culler sits down with Dr. Diego Salinas — pediatrician, neuroscientist, and board-certified health and wellness coach — for a rich, practical, and deeply human conversation about two things that are more connected than most people realize: your brain's built-in negativity bias and the science of gratitude. We explore why your brain holds onto the hard stuff, what happens during emotional flooding, and how understanding that wiring gives you the power to work with your brain instead of against it. Because here is what the science is telling us: we are not at the mercy of our brains. We can train them. And the tools to do that are more accessible than most people think. What You'll Learn in This Episode 🧠 What the negativity bias is — and why it is a survival mechanism, not a character flaw 🧠 What is actually happening in the brain during emotional flooding — the amygdala, limbic system, and prefrontal cortex explained 🧠 Why emotional validation measurably lowers amygdala activation — and what it actually means to validate an emotion 🧠 The HALT check-in — a simple tool for identifying what is driving a heightened emotional state 🧠 How the language you use — "I am excited" vs. "I am stressed" — can change your brain's recovery time 🧠 Where gratitude enters the brain and how it helps rebalance the negativity bias 🧠 Why gratitude is not toxic positivity — it is corrective lenses for a brain already biased toward the negative 🧠 Dr. Diego's three-category gratitude method: the big things, the under-the-radar things, and the comically small things 🧠 Why you should practice gratitude before you need it — and how to make it stick in daily life Key Takeaways ✔ The negativity bias is not a character flaw — it is your brain doing its job ✔ Emotional validation means acknowledging that what someone felt was real — and it measurably changes brain state ✔ Gratitude gives your brain corrective lenses to also see what is good — factual, not fantastical ✔ Small, consistent practice rewires the brain over time — neurons that fire together wire together ✔ Practice gratitude before you need it. It is a protective tool, not just a reactive one ✔ We are all sloppy stardust in the messy middle — compassion for yourself is part of the practice Earn FREE CEs This podcast qualifies for the following credit types: AMA PRA Category 1, ANCC, AAPA, APA, ASWB, and IPCE. Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE credit for listening to this episode! Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please help us grow the conversation around better brain health: Follow or subscribe to the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast on your favorite streaming platform Leave a rating or review Share this episode with a friend, colleague, or fellow brain health advocate Thank you for investing your time and energy into your brain health. A special thank you to Dr. Diego Salinas for reminding us that life is a constant restart — and that is exactly enough. Resources Connect with Dr. Diego Salinas, MD, on LinkedIn or view his coaching profile on Vibly Learn more about Vibly, an all-in-one platform for health coaches Stay connected with Vibly on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn Watch the "It's Not About the Nail" video Explore previous podcast episodes on brain-based behavior change and brain health coaching

    Hardwired for the Negative–But Not Stuck There: the Negativity Bias & The Science of Gratitude with Dr. Diego Salinas, MD, NBC-HWC

  5. Jun 24

    Sunlight Is the Unspoken Nutrient: Vision, Light & Brain Health with Dr. Marion Van Horn, PhD

    When was the last time you stepped outside and just looked up? Not at your phone. Not at a screen. Just up — at the sky, the light, the world around you. If it has been a while, your brain has noticed. And this week's guest is going to tell you exactly why that matters. In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast, Dr. Krystal Culler sits down with Dr. Marion Van Horn — neuroscientist, science communicator, and mother of three — for a conversation that will change the way you think about your eyes, your light environment, and your brain health. Vision is not just seeing. It is how your brain regulates your mood, sets your sleep, manages your emotions, and builds its picture of the world — all in milliseconds. And natural light — something most of us walk past every day — is one of the most powerful inputs our brains receive. Dr. Marion calls it the unspoken nutrient. And after this episode, you will never think about sunlight the same way again. This episode also features a special collaboration —'Take a Brain Break'—' coloring page created by Dr. Marion Van Horn, Dr. Maria Zamfir, and Dr. Krystal Culler. Find it free in the show notes. What You'll Learn in This Episode 🧠 How the brain actually learns to see — and why vision is not automatic at birth 🧠 What neuroplasticity means for visual development across the lifespan 🧠 Why natural sunlight is the unspoken nutrient your brain needs every day 🧠 The relationship between light, circadian rhythms, sleep, and mood 🧠 What screens and artificial light are doing to your brain and body 🧠 How visual pathways connect directly to emotional centers — including the amygdala 🧠 Why going outside when you feel overwhelmed works neurologically — not just psychologically 🧠 How the two eyes work together to create three-dimensional vision 🧠 Why vision loss is a modifiable risk factor for dementia — and why your annual eye exam matters 🧠 Practical steps to protect your visual brain health starting today Key Takeaways ✔ Natural light is the unspoken nutrient — get outside within the first hour of waking, even for a few minutes ✔ Vision actively regulates how you feel and how you interact with the world — it is so much more than seeing ✔ Your eyes are part of your brain — protecting your vision is protecting your brain ✔ Going outside changes your gaze, your nervous system, and your emotional state ✔ Uncorrected vision loss increases dementia risk — prioritize your annual eye exam at every age ✔ Small consistent habits — morning light, noticing the sunrise, watching the moon — add up over time Earn FREE CEs This podcast qualifies for the following credit types: AMA PRA Category 1, ANCC, AAPA, APA, ASWB, and IPCE. Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE credit for listening to this episode! Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please help us grow the conversation around better brain health: Follow or subscribe to the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast Leave a rating or review Share this episode with a friend, colleague, or fellow brain health advocate Thank you for investing your time and energy into your brain health. A special thank you to Dr. Marion Van Horn, PhD for reminding us that one of the most powerful things we can do for our brains costs nothing at all. Go outside. Look up. Resources: Explore Marion’s work and resources on ⁠her website⁠ Connect with Marion on Social media @marion.phd on ⁠Instagram ⁠ Download Our “Let’s Take A Brain Break” coloring page on our website Continue to learn from The Neuron Family on Instagram or their newsletter Check out The Neuron Family’s colouring books on its website or LinkTr.ee Order Volume 1: The Brain Order Volume 2: How We Feel Order Volume 3: How We See

    Sunlight Is the Unspoken Nutrient: Vision, Light & Brain Health with Dr. Marion Van Horn, PhD

  6. Jun 10

    Why Your Brain Needs Play: Creativity, Confidence & Connection with Rachael Renae

    What if one of the most powerful tools for your brain health has been sitting on the shelf since childhood — and you just forgot to pick it back up? In this episode of the Let's Talk Brain Health! Podcast, Dr. Krystal Culler, DBH, MA sits down with Rachael Renae— artist, play enthusiast, creative educator, and debut author of Prioritize Play: Express Your Creativity, Boost Your Confidence, and Foster Deeper Connection — for a conversation that will change the way you think about play, creativity, connection, and what it truly means to care for your brain. We often hear brain health advice centered on movement, sleep, nutrition, and stress management. But how often are we told to write a haiku between meetings, make a seasonal play playlist, or simply follow the fun — just for the brain-building benefit of it? The science says we should be. A former engineer with over a decade in her field, Rachael discovered that what was missing from her life wasn't a career change — it was play. This conversation is for anyone who has ever said "I'm not creative," "I don't have time for play," or quietly wondered why life feels a little gray lately. What You'll Learn in This Episode 🧠 Why play is not frivolous — it is a brain-building practice backed by science 🧠 What play actually is and the key ingredients that make something truly playful for adults 🧠 Why every single person is creative, whether they believe it or not 🧠 What the brain loses across creativity, confidence, and connection when play disappears 🧠 How play supports stress reduction, emotional processing, neuroplasticity, and social bonding 🧠 How to find time for play using things you are already doing every day 🧠 Practical 5-minute play challenges — no equipment, no budget, no free afternoon required 🧠 What the "Friend File" is and how it addresses loneliness and social isolation 🧠 How to rewire your brain to seek wonder in everyday routines 🧠 The power of the seasonal "playlist" — a to-do list made up entirely of play activities Key Takeaways ✔ Play belongs on your to-do list right next to the groceries and the bills ✔ Creativity is not a talent reserved for artists — it is a built-in human need ✔ Small, consistent, intentional moments of play rewire the brain toward curiosity and connection ✔ Non-zero play days are enough — one small playful moment today is a powerful place to start Earn FREE CEs This podcast qualifies for the following credit types: AMA PRA Category 1, ANCC, AAPA, APA, ASWB, and IPCE. Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE credit for listening to this episode! Resources Explore Rachael’s work and resources on her websiteCheck out her new book, “Prioritize Play: Express Your Creativity, Boost Your Confidence, and Foster Deeper Connection”Learn more about Rachael’s creative community, the Juice BoxListen to the “Chaotic Creatives” podcast on Apple & SpotifyConnect with Rachael on Social media @RachaelRenae on Instagram Learn more about our “A Kids Book About Brain Health” on our website and download our free coloring pages– fun for all ages! Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please help us grow the conversation around better brain health: Follow or subscribe to the Let's Talk Brain Health! PodcastLeave a rating or reviewShare this episode with a friend, colleague, caregiver, or fellow brain health advocate Explore Previous Episodes Related to the Topic of Play: Episode 7: The Creative Path to Optimal Brain Health with Ty Hagler Episode 27: The Fun Habit: Exploring the Science of Fun for Brain Health with Dr. Mike Rucker, Ph.D. Episode 74: The Arts as the Fifth Pillar of Health: Brain Health, Longevity, and Dementia Prevention with Dr. Daisy Fancourt, Ph.D. Thank you for investing your time and energy into your brain health. A special thank you to Rachael Renae for reminding us all that a more joyful, connected, and fulfilling life is only one playful moment away.

    Why Your Brain Needs Play: Creativity, Confidence & Connection with Rachael Renae

  7. May 13

    The Arts as the Fifth Pillar of Health: Brain Health, Longevity, and Dementia Prevention with Dr. Daisy Fancourt, Ph.D.

    **This special podcast episode was recorded live as part of the Virtual Brain Health Center’s Neuro Nook book club, where readers explored The Art Cure together before welcoming Dr. Fancourt for this live discussion. What if one of the most powerful tools for supporting brain health has been hiding in plain sight? In this episode of the Let’s Talk Brain Health! Podcast, Dr. Krystal Culler and Heather Elwell, co-host of the Neuro Nook brain health book club, sit down with internationally recognized researcher Dr. Daisy Fancourt, author of The Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives, for a fascinating conversation about why the arts may be the forgotten fifth pillar of health. We often hear health advice centered on movement, sleep, nutrition, stress management, and routine medical care. But how often are we told to read a book, visit a museum, sing, dance, paint, or attend a live performance for our health? The science says we should be. Dr. Fancourt shares decades of research showing how arts engagement supports mental health, physical health, social wellbeing, and cognitive health. Whether you identify as creative or not, this episode may change how you think about what belongs in your personal brain health routine. What You’ll Learn in This Episode 🧠 Why the arts are considered the forgotten fifth pillar of health 🧠 What counts as “arts engagement” & why it is broader than many people realize 🧠 The difference between active participation and receptive engagement, and why both matter 🧠 What happens in the brain when you listen to music, read, dance, create, or experience the arts 🧠 How arts engagement influences dopamine, stress hormones, inflammation, and emotional well-being 🧠 The connection between the arts, neuroplasticity, cognitive reserve, and dementia risk reduction 🧠 New research linking arts engagement to biological aging and longevity 🧠 Why arts participation supports healthy aging across the lifespan 🧠 Practical ways to build creative engagement into your everyday routine 🧠 Why equitable access to the arts is also a public health issue Who Should Listen This episode is for: Adults interested in brain health & healthy aging Individuals concerned about memory or dementia preventionHealthcare and public health professionalsEducators & community leadersArtists, creatives, and arts advocatesAnyone who has ever said, “I’m not artistic,” or “I’m not creative”Key Takeaways ✔ The arts are not a luxury. They are a meaningful health behavior ✔ Arts participation may help strengthen cognitive reserve and protect long-term brain health ✔ Both creating art and experiencing art offer measurable health benefits ✔ Small, consistent creative habits can make a difference over time ✔ Healthy aging is not only about what you remove from life. It is also about what you add Earn FREE CEs The podcast qualifies for the following credit types: AMA PRA Category 1, ANCC, AAPA, APA, ASWB, and IPCE. Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, please help us grow the conversation around better brain health: Follow or subscribe to the Let’s Talk Brain Health! PodcastLeave a rating or reviewShare this episode with a friend, colleague, book club, or fellow brain health advocateThank you for investing your time and energy into your brain health. A special thank you to Dr. Daisy Fancourt for sharing her expertise and advocacy, and to our Neuro Nook community for making this live book club conversation possible. Resources: Explore the additional resources from “The Art Cure” book and projectConnect with The Social Biobehavioural Research Group, Dr. Daisy Fancourt’s Research Lab Subscribe to Dr. Fancourt’s NewsletterFollow the Social Biobehavioural Research Group on LinkedIn, X, & Blue SkyLearn more about the Neuro Nook (book club) from the Virtual Brain Health CenterReview the Neuro Nook (book club) summary of The Art Cure

    The Arts as the Fifth Pillar of Health: Brain Health, Longevity, and Dementia Prevention with Dr. Daisy Fancourt, Ph.D.

  8. Apr 29

    Brain Health In Action: How Youth Are Leading Change in Their Communities with Shawn, Manasvi, and Nandita

    What happens when young people move beyond awareness and start taking action on brain health in their schools and communities? In this special episode of the Let’s Talk Brain Health Podcast, Dr. Krystal Culler sits down with youth leaders–Shawn, Mansavi, and Nandita– who are not waiting for change. They are creating it. Through advocacy, education, and peer engagement, these young changemakers are putting brain health into action and showing what prevention can look like in real life. This conversation highlights how youth are using their voices to reduce stigma, promote mental wellness, and build healthier environments where they live and learn. Their stories remind us that brain health is not only a future issue. It is something that can be supported starting today. This episode offers a powerful look at youth leadership, prevention, and the role young people play in shaping the future of brain health. What You Will Learn in This Episode Why youth voices matter in brain health conversations How students are raising awareness about mental and brain health Ways young leaders are supporting their peers The importance of curiosity and education in brain health advocacy How youth are building supportive school and community environments What motivates young people to become brain health advocates Key Takeaways Brain health starts early, and youth are an essential part of prevention efforts. Young people are not only learning about brain health. They are teaching others and creating change. Peer leadership plays a powerful role in reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking. Small actions such as starting conversations, sharing resources, and supporting peers can create a meaningful impact. Investing in youth leadership is investing in the future of brain health. Why This Conversation Matters Youth are often talked about in brain health conversations. This episode highlights what happens when youth are part of the conversation and part of the solution. Their leadership shows how education, advocacy, and community engagement can work together to strengthen brain health literacy and prevention. Who Should Listen Educators and school leaders Parents and caregivers Youth development professionals Public health professionals Students interested in advocacy Anyone interested in prevention and community brain health Key Message From This Episode Brain health is not only something we learn about. It is something we practice. These youth leaders show what it looks like to turn knowledge into action. Resources Learn more about Shawn’s work at Brainolicious Adventures™ and check out his books on Amazon! Explore Manasvi’s work at The Mind Initiative Visit Nandita’s S.T.R.A.P. the Stroke App and learn more about her work at Cognitive Connections Download the Virtual Brain Health Center’s resources for kids and teens on their website Listen to our previous podcast conversation on brain health across the lifespan featuring Nandita!    Earn FREE CEs The podcast qualifies for the following credit types: AMA PRA CATEGORY 1, ANCC, AAPA, APA, ASWB, and IPCE. Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode! Support the Podcast If this episode inspired you: Share it with an educator or youth leaderSubscribe for more brain health conversationsLeave a review to help others find the showThank you for investing in your time in brain health today, and for the next generation. **This conversation was part of the Virtual Brain Health Center's Brain Week 2026 events and is being released on the podcast to reach a broader audience.

    Brain Health In Action: How Youth Are Leading Change in Their Communities with Shawn, Manasvi, and Nandita
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About

What can you do today to care for your brain? 🎙 "Let's Talk Brain Health!" is where science meets story. We bring together the world's leading experts—neuroscientists, physicians, psychologists, nutritionists—and the 'lived experience' experts navigating brain health journeys firsthand, to answer the biggest questions about memory, cognition, and dementia prevention. We dive into the brain health science, push the limits of knowledge, and deliver takeaways you can use today. For health enthusiasts, caregivers, clinicians—plus FREE accredited CEs on ALL episodes for select medical providers.

Information

  • Creator
    Virtual Brain Health Center
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Š Virtual Brain Health Center
  • Show Website
    Let's Talk Brain Health! 🧠

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