Rewired; Neuroscience Meets Real-Life Change

Tiffany Grimes
  • 4.6 (14)
  • Self-Improvement

Rewired: Neuroscience Meets Real-Life Change is your space for unlocking intentional growth — in yourself and in the people you lead, coach, or inspire. Each episode blends brain science with real-world application, delivering practical tools you can use right away to create lasting change. Through expert interviews, powerful coaching conversations, and bite-sized solo episodes, host Tiffany Grimes shares neuroscience-based strategies for rewiring habits, expanding possibilities, and living with purpose. Whether you’re pursuing your own transformation or helping others navigate theirs, you’ll find insight, community, and empowerment here. This is where science meets soul — and change gets real.

  1. 5d ago

    Ep 46: My Brain and Her Stories: How Identities That Quietly Shape Our Lives

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever caught yourself thinking... I'm not skilled (or educated, or experienced, or, or, or) enough. I have to keep everyone happy. Who am I to charge that much? This week on Rewired, I'm sharing two very personal stories that reminded me of something we all experience: our brains are incredible storytellers. One story showed up while I was trying to write an email to a PD student. The other surfaced when I was offered a training opportunity that paid far more than I typically charge. On the surface, they seemed like completely different situations. Underneath? They were driven by the same thing: identity. Together, we'll explore why the brain clings to familiar beliefs about who we are, why growth often feels uncomfortable, and how the stories we've carried for years can quietly influence our decisions, relationships, leadership, and confidence. One insight that spoke loudest to me: "The people who keep growing aren't the ones with the fewest limiting beliefs. They're the ones who notice them sooner." What if growth isn't about eliminating every limiting belief? What if it's about recognizing the stories your brain is telling—and choosing which ones deserve to keep the microphone? As we begin closing out Season One of Rewired, this conversation feels especially meaningful to me. Every episode this season has explored the incredible ways our brains shape our lives. This one turns the lens inward and reminds us that growth isn't about becoming someone else—it's about becoming more aware of the stories we've been carrying all along. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why your brain creates stories about who you are • How identity shapes confidence, boundaries, and decision-making • Why discomfort is often a sign of growth—not failure • A simple question to help you uncover the stories that may be holding you back • How greater awareness leads to lasting change If this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you. Share it with a friend, leave a review, or connect with me on LinkedIn. And this week, I invite you to ask yourself one simple question: What story has my brain been telling me...and is it still true? Until next time... Keep rewiring. Stay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness.

  2. Jul 17

    Ep 45: Raising the Next Generation of Women Leaders: A conversation with Sarah Jakle

    Send us Fan Mail What if leadership isn't something you're born with—but something your brain can learn? In this inspiring episode of Rewired, Tiffany sits down with Sarah Jakle, Founder and Executive Director of DemocraShe, a national nonprofit preparing historically underserved high school girls to become future leaders, voters, advocates, and elected officials. But this conversation goes far beyond politics. Together, Tiffany and Sarah explore what neuroscience teaches us about courage, confidence, belonging, and why so many capable people hesitate to raise their hands—even when they have something meaningful to offer. Sarah shares how DemocraShe combines evidence-based brain science, resilience practices, and leadership development to help young women move beyond self-doubt and into purposeful action. One of the most powerful ideas from this conversation is the practice of developing your "Inner Best Friend"—the compassionate inner voice that encourages growth instead of reinforcing criticism. Whether you're leading a team, raising children, advocating for your community, or simply trying to become more courageous in your own life, this episode offers practical wisdom for rewiring the way you think about leadership. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why courage comes before confidence—not the other way around. • How neuroscience explains our fear of visibility and leadership. • The difference between your Inner Critic and your Inner Best Friend. • Why leadership is a practice, not a personality trait. • How small, intentional acts of courage literally reshape the brain. • What gives Sarah hope for the next generation of leaders. As Sarah reminds us, leadership isn't reserved for a select few. It begins the moment we believe our voice matters. Learn more about DemocraShe: www.democrashe.org Follow Inner Best Friend on Instagram: @innerbestfriend If this conversation inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who could use a reminder that courage is a skill—and the world needs their voice. Stay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness.

  3. Jul 12

    Ep 44: You Can't Outthink a Dysregulated Nervous System

    Send us Fan Mail What if one of the most powerful tools for changing your brain isn't another productivity hack, mindset strategy, or morning routine? What if it's your breath? In this solo episode of Rewired, Tiffany shares a personal story from a particularly full week that led her to rediscover something we all do more than 20,000 times a day—but rarely with intention. Inspired by James Nestor's Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, she explores the fascinating neuroscience behind why slowing our breath can help us think more clearly, make better decisions, regulate our emotions, and reconnect with ourselves. Together, we'll explore: • Why your brain is constantly asking, "Am I safe?" • How your breath directly influences your nervous system • The connection between breathing, emotional regulation, and clear thinking • Why you can't access your wisest self from a survival state • The role of interoception—your brain's awareness of what's happening inside your body • A simple breathing practice you can begin using today Whether you're leading a team, navigating a difficult conversation, supporting others, or simply feeling the weight of a busy season, this episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and remember that sometimes the fastest way to change your mind is to first calm your body. Because rewiring isn't always about finding a better thought. Sometimes it's about creating the conditions for your best thoughts to return. Resources Mentioned Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James NestorIf this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use one deep breath today. Until next time, stay curious...your brain is always changing. Stay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness.

  4. Jul 4

    Ep 43: Rewiring Failure - The Neuroscience of Failing Forward

    Send us Fan Mail What if failure wasn't the opposite of success — but the very mechanism behind it? In this solo episode of Rewired, host, Tiffany Grimes, dives into the neuroscience of failing forward and unpacking what's actually happening in your brain during a setback. You'll walk away with five concrete, brain-based coaching tools rooted in the latest research in resilience, positive psychology, and cognitive behavioral coaching. Whether you're in the middle of a setback right now or building the mental architecture to handle whatever comes next — this episode is for you. Tiffany shares 5 Brain-Based Tools for Failing Forward: The Failure Reframe — Turn the verdict into data with three journaling questionsSelf-Compassion Pause — Acknowledge, connect, offer kindness (Neff's 3-step method)The Micro-Win Ladder — Rebuild dopamine momentum with the smallest possible winNarrative Rewriting — Three-chapter story: what happened / what it cost / what it gaveThe Resilience Anchor Practice — 5-minute daily nervous system resetReady to bring the science of falling forward into your workplace or personal life?Partner with an ICF Certified Professional Coach at Empower to do real team and personal growth work — creating understanding of how to use failure to propel growth. Start the conversation at www.YesEmpower.com Got a question for the podcast??? Email us at Info@YesEmpower.com Key Research Tiffany Referenced: Educational Psychology Review (2025) — Biological benefits of failure on learningFrontiers in Neuroscience (2025) — Neurological and psychological predictors of resilienceFrontiers in Psychology (2025) — Self-compassion, PsyCap, and stress managementSociety for Neuroscience (2025) — Open discussions of failure and resilienceCambridge University Press (2025 systematic review) — Daily resilience and recovery speedStay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness. Stay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness.

  5. Jun 19

    Ep 42 - Rewiring Leadership: Growing People, Growing Purpose with Sarah Strickler

    Send us Fan Mail What if the greatest leadership strategy isn't about managing people... ...it's about growing yourself? In this episode of Rewired, Tiffany sits down with Sarah Strickler, co-founder and Chief Community Officer of Grown Rogue, to explore what it really means to cultivate people, culture, and leadership from the inside out. Together, they discuss why companies can't outgrow their leaders, how trust and ownership become the foundation of healthy organizations, and why creating the right environment matters just as much for people as it does for plants. Sarah also shares the surprisingly simple practices that keep her grounded through the demands of leading a growing company: breath, movement, journaling, time in nature, and the discipline of returning to the present moment. Whether you lead an organization, a team, your family, or simply yourself, this conversation is a reminder that sustainable leadership begins long before the boardroom—it begins with how we care for ourselves. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why leadership is ultimately about growing people—not just products • How self-awareness becomes a competitive advantage • The role trust plays in creating high-performing teams • Why culture compounds over time • Simple daily practices that help leaders stay grounded during uncertainty • What it means to lead with presence instead of pressure Sarah Strickler is the co-founder and Chief Community Officer of Grown Rogue, a publicly traded, flower-focused cannabis company rooted in Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley. Since co-founding the company in 2016, she has helped scale Grown Rogue into a multi-state organization known for disciplined execution, intentional culture, and craft-quality products. Sarah is passionate about leadership development, community engagement, and creating environments where people feel safe, seen, and empowered to thrive. Learn more about Sarah and Grown Rogue: • Grown Rogue Recommended reading from Sarah: • Female Founders: Sarah Strickler on the Five Things You Need to Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder (Authority Magazine) • How It Started: Sustained Excellence with Sarah Strickler (BudsFeed) • What I Want My Kids to Know About Cannabis This Mother's Day (mg Magazine) If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's growing—not just a business—but themselves. Stay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness.

  6. Jun 12

    Ep 41: The Power of Community, Connection & Shared Growth

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 41, we're getting into the science — and the soul — of community. What actually happens in your brain when you're supported? Why do your goals feel more achievable when someone is walking alongside you? And what can fireflies teach us about human potential? (Yes, really.) Inspired by Shawn Achor's work on Big Potential, this episode explores how the right relationships don't just make life more joyful — they make growth more possible. For all of us. Backed by neuroscience, the Harvard Study of Adult Development, and one surprising stat that will completely change how you think about success, this episode is a reminder that you were never meant to shine alone. This is the episode to share with your people. With your team. With the friend who's been grinding in silence. Because the research is clear: we are wired to shine brighter together. 🌿 Ready to bring the power of community into your workplace? Partner with an ICF Certified Professional Coach at Empower to do the real team growth work — building connection, trust, and shared momentum. Start the conversation at www.YesEmpower.com Stay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness.

  7. Jun 6

    Ep 40: Rewiring Midlife—The Brain, Identity & Becoming with Judy Dutton

    Send us Fan Mail What if midlife isn't a period of decline—but a season of transformation? In this episode of Rewired, Tiffany sits down with Judy Dutton, founder of Transitions Coaching LLC, Certified Professional Empower Coach (CPEC), and women's midlife transition coach, for a powerful conversation about what really happens when women enter perimenopause and menopause. For many women, midlife arrives with unexpected changes: brain fog, shifts in energy, changes in confidence, emotional fluctuations, and a quiet but persistent question: Who am I now? Drawing from emerging neuroscience, women's health research, and her own professional journey, Judy helps us understand that what many women experience during this season is not a brain in decline—but a brain in transition. Together, Tiffany and Judy explore: What current neuroscience reveals about the midlife brainThe role estrogen plays in brain health and cognitive functionWhy so many women experience an identity shift during perimenopause and menopauseThe difference between surviving midlife and intentionally thriving through itHow coaching can support women through seasons of transition and reinventionWhy understanding the neuroscience changes everythingJudy's own journey from Fortune 500 HR executive to coach and entrepreneurWhat she learned through her Certified Professional Empower Coach (CPEC) experienceWhether you're navigating this season yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how our brains continue to evolve throughout life, this conversation offers hope, validation, and practical wisdom. Because midlife isn't the end of the story. It may be the beginning of a whole new chapter. About Judy Dutton Judy Dutton spent more than 20 years as an HR executive inside Fortune 500 companies before founding Transitions Coaching LLC, where she helps high-performing midlife women navigate perimenopause and menopause while staying competitive and thriving professionally. She is a Certified Professional Empower Coach (CPEC) and is currently completing her Perimenopause and Menopause Certificate through the Integrative Women's Health Institute (IWHI). Judy brings a rare combination of organizational leadership experience and women's health expertise—the kind that comes from having been inside the rooms where expectations don't slow down, even when the body is changing. Connect with Judy LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judy-dutton Email: dutton.judyj@gmail.com Schedule a Conversation (and mention Rewired): https://calendly.com/dutton-judyj/30min Resources Mentioned in This Episode Dr. Lisa Mosconi Director of the Women's Brain Initiative and Alzheimer's Prevention Program at Weill Cornell Medicine Website: www.lisamosconi.com Book: The Menopause Brain (2024) Dr. Mary Claire Haver Board-Certified OB/GYN and Certified Menopause Provider Website: thepauselife.com Books: The New Menopause (2024) The New Perimenopause (2026) Gail Sheehy Books: Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life Silent Passages Integrative Women's Health Institute Perimenopause and Menopause Certificate Program Website: https://integrativewomenshealthinstitute.com/ Find a Menopause-Informed Healthcare Provider The Menopause Society Certified Provider Search: https://menopause.org/patient-education/choosing-a-healthcare-practitioner Listener Offer If something in today's conversation resonated with you and you'd like support navigating your own midlife transition, connect with Judy and mention that you heard her on Rewired. Judy is offering listeners a complimentary 30-minute "Know Your Transition" consultation—no strings attached. Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judy-dutton Or schedule directly: https://calendly.com/dutton-judyj/30min If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this conversation. Because understanding the brain changes how we understand ourselves. And that understanding has the power to change everything. Stay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness.

  8. May 29

    Ep 39 - Is Worry Actually Helping? The Neuroscience of Overthinking

    Send us Fan Mail Do you ever feel like your brain won't stop scanning for what could go wrong? Maybe it's money. Your health. Your children. Your relationships. The future. Or maybe it's the accumulation of uncertainty that keeps your mind running long after your day is done. In this solo episode of Rewired, Tiffany explores the neuroscience of worry—why our brains are wired to anticipate danger, how worry impacts the nervous system, and the surprising difference between preparation and rumination. Drawing from neuroscience, mindfulness, and a simple yet profound question from meditation teacher Joseph Goldstein—"Is it helpful?"—this episode offers a compassionate framework for understanding worry without becoming consumed by it. You'll learn: Why the brain naturally focuses on potential threatsHow worry activates the body's stress responseThe difference between productive concern and unhelpful mental loopingWhy uncertainty feels so uncomfortable to the human brainFour practical tools for building a healthier relationship with worryHow to return to the present moment when your mind is racing into the futureIf you've ever found yourself lying awake replaying conversations, imagining worst-case scenarios, or carrying tomorrow's problems before they arrive, this episode is for you. Because caring deeply doesn't require suffering in advance. Reflection Question What worry am I carrying right now, and is it helping me respond wisely—or simply keeping me stuck? Connect with Empower Learn more about The Mindfulness Broadcast, coaching, workshops, leadership development, and the ICF-accredited Certified Professional Empower Coach (CPEC) program at: YesEmpower.com Stay connected with Rewired Listen anytime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or yesempower.com/podcast Join the Empower community on LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for weekly tools, neuroscience-based inspiration, and stories of real change. Discover upcoming workshops, LaunchPad learning, and coaching opportunities at yesempower.com Empowered people empower people. Live intentionally. Lead thoughtfully. Grow through awareness.

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4.6
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Rewired: Neuroscience Meets Real-Life Change is your space for unlocking intentional growth — in yourself and in the people you lead, coach, or inspire. Each episode blends brain science with real-world application, delivering practical tools you can use right away to create lasting change. Through expert interviews, powerful coaching conversations, and bite-sized solo episodes, host Tiffany Grimes shares neuroscience-based strategies for rewiring habits, expanding possibilities, and living with purpose. Whether you’re pursuing your own transformation or helping others navigate theirs, you’ll find insight, community, and empowerment here. This is where science meets soul — and change gets real.

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