Music reaches your brain fast! It activates memory, movement, emotion, and connection in seconds. In this episode, host Dr. Krystal L. Culler, DBH, MA, sat down with Shannon Wallace, CDP, CDC, creator of Musical Memory Care to explore how music functions as a whole-brain and body workout. We focus on one powerful ideaāthe ātime of your lifeā effect. Research shows the music you loved between roughly ages 13 and 27 leaves a lasting imprint. Those songs shape identity. They anchor memory. They often remain accessible even during cognitive change. Shannon shares how she moved from professional jazz vocalist to serving older adults in memory care communities. What began as singing for residents evolved into an intentional, research-informed program that integrates rhythm, movement, emotional expression, and identity support. We explore: Why time-of-life music remains accessible in dementia How music activates the limbic system and supports emotional regulation The role of rhythm in movement, including Parkinsonās support Why intentional facilitation matters in memory care settings How music supports dignity, identity, and human connection Practical ways you can use music today for brain healthYou will hear real-world stories from Shannonās work in memory care. Stories of individuals who had not spoken in years yet responded to music. Stories of rhythm supporting walking and daily tasks. Stories that reinforce this truth. Music is not entertainment alone. It is a neurological tool. If you are a caregiver, clinician, or family member supporting someone with cognitive change, this conversation gives you some practical suggestions. Play their music, not yours. Use rhythm to support movement. Build playlists rooted in their adolescence and young adulthood. Intention matters. If you are focused on your own brain health, start here: Create a ātime of your lifeā playlist Use music to regulate mood and stress Pair rhythm with movement for exercise Share meaningful songs to deepen social connectionMusic does not require perfection. It asks for presence. About Shannon Wallace, CDP, CDC Shannon Wallace is a professional international jazz vocalist and the creator of Musical Memory Care, an interactive program serving active older adults and individuals living with all stages of dementia. Her work has reached participants across North America and in more than 40 countries. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Dementia Care Certified professional who integrates music, movement, and compassion into structured memory care experiences. Brain health lives in daily moments. Music is one of the most accessible tools you already have. 00:00 Why Music Hits Fast: A Whole Brain + Body Workout 00:49 Meet Shannon Wallace & the Musical Memory Care Mission 02:23 The Grant Question That Changed Everything (Volunteering in Memory Care) 05:48 Music Like Fitness: Intentionality, Regulation, and Engagement 08:09 Your āTime of Lifeā Music Bump: Why Certain Songs Stick Forever 11:41 Music for Mood & Nervous System Regulation (Limbic System, Empathy, Shifting State) 15:10 Why Music Still Connects in Dementiaāand the Need for Intentional Care 20:45 Inside the Musical Memory Care Program: Reading the Room + Multi-Sensory Design 23:32 Proof in Practice: Vivian Speaks Again & Building Trust Through Personal Connection 29:28 Try This at Home: Playlists, Movement, Sharing Songs + Parkinsonās Rhythm Hack 36:24 Closing Wisdom: Work-Life Balance, Where to Find Shannon, and Final Takeaways Resources Download the free infographic on how music is a whole brain-body workout! Learn more about Shannon and her Musical Memory Careā¢ program on her website. Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn or her professional website for her vocal talent or speaking. Listen to our previous podcast conversation with Eyleen Braaten, Executive Director of the Giving Voice Chorus and Neuroscientist, Dr. Patricia Izbicki, Ph.D., to learn how singing can impact your brain.
