The Brain It On! Podcast

Lindsey Kealey
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Your brain is the powerhouse behind your life, your relationships, and your ability to overcome challenges. On The Brain It On! Podcast, we explore practical ways to nurture your brain for optimal health and happiness. We delve into strategies to strengthen your connections with loved ones, build resilience, and navigate life's ups and downs with a focus on brain health. This podcast offers actionable tips, emotional regulation techniques, and a trauma-informed approach to help you thrive in all areas of life. Discover how understanding and caring for your brain can transform your relationships and empower you to face any challenge with confidence. 

  1. 6D AGO

    The Holiday Spirit: When Grief and Joy Sit at the Same Table

    How do you find "The Most Wonderful Time of Year" when you’re facing your hardest days? 📺 Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aPk8j4gjx_s?si=XrHFdMtCmTTUEz-9  In this episode, we’re having an honest conversation about reclaiming the holiday spirit while navigating cancer, hospital stays, and grief. Whether you’re spending the holidays in a hospital room or managing the heavy waves of loss at home, we share practical ways to brighten your environment and strategies for holding space for both sorrow and celebration. We truly believe you don’t have to choose between grief and joy—there is room at the table for both. What we discuss in this episode: Navigating the "Grief Wave": Practical strategies for when the holidays feel heavy or unexpected emotions surface.Hospital Holiday Hacks: How simple things like battery-powered lights and cozy blankets can transform a clinical space.The Power of Dressing Up: Why wearing something festive—even in a hospital room—is a powerful tool for mental resilience.Connecting with Care Teams: Small ways to share the spirit with your nurses and doctors.Safe Celebrations: How to stay connected to your community while prioritizing your health.Key Takeaways: Reclaiming the holiday spirit is an active choice, not a location.It is okay to hold space for both grief and celebration at the same time.Small, simple moments of "festive resilience" can change your entire outlook.You are not alone—we are walking this path with you.Resources & Mentions:  Blood Cancer United Interview 🩸: https://youtu.be/ek-O6hNKKXc?si=mJypgj5D7YA3F4n0Heated Seats for Outdoors: https://a.co/d/8yfGOA3Colorful KN95s 😷: https://a.co/d/18EGLf9Warm Christmas Jazz 🎄: https://youtu.be/CPFutAYDBTI?si=P9n9vrrDgi4rlcEsInstrumental Christmas Fireplace Ambience: https://youtu.be/qOb0aoWH8DA?si=sHhknTFyMxgKcKAwTranquil Autumn Jazz: https://www.youtube.com/live/2G00EZsE_2w?si=ulBHzFlVPld1TNm-Haunted Pumpkin Porch Ambience 🎃: https://youtu.be/Mq-RRyha5Ag?si=_wS7DuK4Z1ZhyJsvConnect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebrainitonpodcast 📱Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thebrainitonpodcast 🎥 If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Share this episode with someone who's navigating a hard season. ❤️ #HospitalHolidays #CancerJourney #GriefSupport #HolidayHacks #BrainItOn #MentalHealth #FindingJoy #Resilience Send us a text

    37 min

  2. DEC 8

    Navigating Grief and Choosing Love

    In this episode, Lindsey shares her personal journey through grief following the loss of her mother-in-law, Julie, who passed away from pancreatic cancer. She discusses the complexities of grief, emphasizing that it encompasses more than just the loss of a loved one. The conversation explores the importance of vulnerability, the necessity of grieving, and the process of finding meaning in loss. Lindsey also highlights the support she and her family have received, the role of faith in their healing, and practical strategies for coping with grief. Ultimately, the episode serves as a reminder that while grief is painful, it is also a testament to the love shared with those who have passed. Key Learnings: Grief is proof of our love.The only cure for grief is to grieve.Love changes its address.God is close to the brokenhearted.Grief is normal, natural, and necessary.Finding meaning is a continuous process.Connect with us on Instagram @thebrainitonpodcast 📱and subscribe to our YouTube channel for videos and behind-the-scenes content! 🎥  If this episode helped you, please leave us a review and share it with someone who's navigating a hard season. ❤️ Send us a text

    26 min

  3. SEP 7

    Embracing Life's Seasons: Finding Joy in Every Circumstance

    In this episode, we open up about navigating life's seasons, from unexpected disappointments to moments of grace, wisdom, and joy. The conversation begins with a celebration – Thomas is officially in molecular remission from leukemia! This powerful health update sets the stage for an honest exploration of how to embrace life's changing seasons. We share our personal approach to infusing joy into everyday moments, from decorating for fall and creating themed movie nights during difficult health challenges. Drawing from Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart, we unpack what disappointment really means—those moments when the movie in our head doesn't match reality. You'll discover practical strategies for managing disappointment, including the power of validation and how cultivating appreciation can strengthen your relationships and well-being. We also share how our faith provides a foundation of strength, offering the reassurance that difficult seasons are temporary while love remains constant. This episode reminds us that two things can be true simultaneously: we can acknowledge disappointment while still finding moments of joy. We can also miss certain seasons while appreciating our current chapter. Whether you're facing health challenges, relationship transitions, or simply navigating everyday ups and downs, we hope you'll find comfort and companionship in this conversation.  Key Learnings Acknowledge Unmet Expectations: The first step to overcoming disappointment is to honor and process it. Learn to put words to your difficult emotions, understanding that it's a brave and healthy step toward healing and meaningful connection.Cultivate Joy and Appreciation: Discover how actively seeking out the good in your current season—even in small ways like decorating your home or savoring a cup of coffee—can help shift your perspective and boost your brain's feel-good chemicals.Give Yourself Grace: Learn to be a "human being" instead of a "human doing." Give yourself permission to rest and sit with your emotions without judgment, knowing that it's a vital part of navigating life's ups and downs.Resources & Mentions Watch the video version of the episode on YouTube! Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown Some Things Never Change (Song from Frozen 2)Michael and Mom Talk CancerPhilippians 4:11-13Connect with us  on Instagram 📱and subscribe to our YouTube channel for visuals from our journey and behind-the-scenes content! 🎥  If this episode helped you find a way to lean into the good in your own life, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Share this episode with someone who is navigating a hard season.  #embracechange #gratitude #disappointment #mentalhealth #cancerjourney #hope #brenebrown #bothandthinking #brainitonpodcast #atlasoftheheart Send us a text

    34 min

  4. AUG 17

    The Black Dot Effect: Life is What You Pay Attention To

    What happens when our minds fixate on life's black dots while missing the expansive white space around them? Join us for a deeply personal exploration of finding joy amid serious health challenges. When my husband Thomas received wonderful news that his cerebral spinal fluid showed no evidence of leukemia, I noticed how quickly my mind pivoted to anxiety about pending bone marrow results. This stark example of negativity bias—our brain's tendency to spotlight potential threats—became the catalyst for this episode's powerful message. Drawing from psychology research, personal experiences in hospital rooms, and wisdom from unexpected places, we unpack why our brains gravitate toward problems and how we can intentionally shift our focus without falling into toxic positivity. The science behind this tendency is fascinating: our amygdala functions as the brain's alarm system, keeping us safe but sometimes causing us to miss the beauty surrounding our difficulties. Perhaps most valuable is the concept that "two things can be true at the same time"—we can acknowledge pain while celebrating joy, feel anxiety alongside gratitude, and recognize hardship without letting it consume our entire perspective. As Catherine Price wisely notes, "Our lives are what we pay attention to." Key Learnings: Acknowledge and Process the Black Dots: Learn to honor and feel difficult emotions like sadness and fear, understanding that doing so is a brave and healthy step toward healing.Define Your "Why": Take a moment for honest self-reflection to clarify your purpose. When you know your "why," it becomes easier to say "yes" to what truly matters and "no" to distractions.Find a Way to Help Others: Discover how shifting your focus to the needs of others—even in your darkest moments—can bring a renewed sense of purpose and agency, allowing you to see the "white space" where good can work through you.Resources & Mentions: Undistracted by Bob GoffUnshakeable by Christine Caine: The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie SantosThe 5 Second Rule by Mel RobbinsThe Power of Fun by Catherine PricePart of Life by Ben RectorThe "Invisible Gorilla" experimentConnect with us on Instagram 📱Subscribe to our new YouTube channel for visuals from our journey, behind-the-scenes photos, and extra content! 🎥 Call to Action: If this episode helped you see the expansive white space in your own life, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Share this episode with someone who is navigating a hard season and needs a reminder that they have the power to choose their focus. #lifeiswhatyoupayattentionto #negativitybias #mindfulness #gratitude #purpose #psychology #mentalhealth #cancerjourney #hope Send us a text

    33 min

  5. AUG 10

    Even Darkness Must Pass: Navigating Setbacks with Hope

    In this episode, Thomas and Lindsey take a deep dive into the lessons learned from J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga, "The Two Towers," and how it resonates with their current journey. While Thomas is in remission from cancer, they've been navigating a new and challenging front: Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD). Join them as they discuss the powerful "two towers" analogy, describing the experience of facing two major battles at once—the lingering threat of cancer and the active fight against GVHD. Through personal stories of making time for therapy, creating an absurd ritual for Thomas's steroid cream application, and finding joy in the small things, Lindsey and Thomas offer powerful takeaways for anyone facing setbacks. This episode is a testament to the power of hope, the importance of finding humor in the absurd, and the resilience that comes from focusing on what you can control. Key Learnings: Seek the Good in the World: Learn to find and cherish moments of joy, connection, and kindness, even in the midst of challenging times.Seek Absurdity: Embrace the illogical and ridiculous as an escape from a goal-driven life, and discover how laughter can bring true fun.Focus on What You Can Control: Find peace and a sense of progress by identifying and acting on the small areas where you have agency, even in overwhelming circumstances.Resources & Mentions: How We Set Up Our Hospital Room for Long-Term Comfort & Healing | Hospital HacksThe Power of Fun by Katherine PriceConnect with us on Instagram 📱Subscribe to our new YouTube channel for visuals from our journey, behind-the-scenes photos, and extra content! 🎥 Call to Action: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder of courage, faith, and enduring love today. Send us a text

    36 min

  6. JUN 30

    Lessons from a Cancer Journey: A Surprise Anniversary Tribute

    In a deeply personal and heartfelt surprise episode for her husband, Thomas, Lindsey takes the microphone to celebrate their 11th dating anniversary and mark the one-year "cancerversary" since Thomas' leukemia diagnosis. This episode reveals profound lessons Lindsey has learned from watching Thomas courageously navigate a year filled with intensive treatment, a bone marrow transplant, and Graft Versus Host Disease. Join Lindsey as she shares how their journey began with answered prayers, and how Thomas’ unwavering faith transformed their perspective on life, faith, and the future. From his awe-inspiring acceptance of his diagnosis on a memorable jet ski day, to his quiet acts of support for his mother, and his incredible determination in starting this podcast even amidst painful mucositis mouth sores, this episode showcases the extraordinary man Lindsey prayed for. Amidst the ongoing challenges, they are committed to carrying forward lessons of trust, resilience, and finding joy in every moment. Key Learnings: Patience & God's Timing: Discover the power of waiting on God for your deepest desires and seeing prayers unfold.Trust in the Storm: Learn to find profound faith and accept challenges, believing God can use them for good.Embrace Your New Story: Pivot from old plans and courageously step into an unexpected future with hope.Unyielding Determination & Vulnerability: Witness the strength in pursuing purpose and sharing your journey, even through immense discomfort.Passion for Life & Others: Cultivate enthusiastic joy and selfless support, making every moment meaningful.Resources & Mentions: Cultus Lake: Thomas' favorite place where we found joy amidst uncertainty.Connect with us on Instagram 📱Subscribe to our new YouTube channel for visuals from our journey, behind-the-scenes photos, and extra content! 🎥 Call to Action: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder of courage, faith, and enduring love today. Send us a text

    22 min

  7. JUN 7

    The Breakthrough of Remission: Joy Amidst Uncertainty

    Thomas is officially in remission! After months of intense treatment, unexpected complications, and significant uncertainty, this milestone feels nothing short of miraculous. From bone marrow once 94% leukemia cells to being cancer-free, this episode reveals how this journey has transformed our perspective on life and time. Join us as we share the full story behind our recent absence, including dealing with Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD), unexpected ER visits, and the discovery of a brain aneurysm and aortic regurgitation. Amidst these challenges, we found profound joy in the smallest moments—a sunny morning, a good cup of coffee, or simply holding hands during a walk. We'll also dive into Brené Brown's "foreboding joy" and how our faith allows us to hold both deep happiness and lingering uncertainty simultaneously. This isn't a return to our old normal, but a powerful step into a new one. We're committed to carrying forward the lessons learned: practicing mindfulness, finding joy in everyday miracles, and leaning on faith through all of life's ups and downs. Key Takeaways: Practice Mindfulness: Cultivate presence to strengthen your prefrontal cortex.Find Joy in Small Moments: Actively counter "hedonic adaptation" by appreciating everyday pleasures.Acknowledge Vulnerability in Happiness: Embrace "foreboding joy" by focusing on gratitude. Lean on Faith Through Uncertainty: Discover how faith can provide a foundation in challenging times.Resources & Mentions: Brené Brown: Learn more about "foreboding joy" in Daring Greatly Bob Goff: Author of Undistracted Connect with us on Instagram 📱Subscribe to our new YouTube channel for visuals from our journey, behind-the-scenes photos, and extra content! 🎥 Call to Action: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Share this episode with someone who needs a renewed sense of hope today.  Send us a text

    42 min

  8. MAR 18

    Building Your Fellowship: Find Inspiration for Resilience

    In this episode, we draw parallels between our personal journey and the epic tale of "The Lord of the Rings," exploring how stories can inspire resilience. We discuss building supportive fellowships, embracing life's challenges, and choosing how to respond to uncertainty. Discover how J.R.R. Tolkien's classic series offers insights into navigating personal trials, mirroring Thomas's own journey. Learn practical strategies for cultivating strong relationships, reframing hardships, and finding meaning in difficult times. We explore the power of inspiration in literature and art, focusing on understanding your narrative and finding strength in shared experiences.  Key Takeaways: Building your "fellowship": Cultivating supportive relationships and understanding your personal narrative.Embracing the "perilous path": Reframing challenges as opportunities for growth.Choosing your response: Finding agency and meaning in difficult circumstances.Additional Resources: Connect with us on Instagram 📱Listen to our episode about emotional agility Watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe to our new YouTube channel for visuals from our journey, behind-the-scenes photos, and extra content! 🎥  Send us a text

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Your brain is the powerhouse behind your life, your relationships, and your ability to overcome challenges. On The Brain It On! Podcast, we explore practical ways to nurture your brain for optimal health and happiness. We delve into strategies to strengthen your connections with loved ones, build resilience, and navigate life's ups and downs with a focus on brain health. This podcast offers actionable tips, emotional regulation techniques, and a trauma-informed approach to help you thrive in all areas of life. Discover how understanding and caring for your brain can transform your relationships and empower you to face any challenge with confidence. 

Information

  • Creator
    Lindsey Kealey
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Brain It On! Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Brain It On! Podcast