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Dame Kelly Holmes' career is a lesson in dedication. The universally loved icon of British athletics carved out her own space in the sport, culminating in her mighty double Gold Medal-winning performance in the Olympics in Athens 2004.Today on The Braincare Podcast, Kelly gives us a unique look at the inner workings of her champion mindset. We hear about the lifelong project of cultivating physical and mental health, approaches to performance anxiety, and the peculiar portaloo superstition that got her through the Olympic finals in Athens!We talk about: Was Kelly Holmes always destined to be a winner? The pros and cons of the champion mindset How to prepare yourself mentally and physically for success "This is just another day" - gaining perspective on personal challenges Does mental health always follow physical peak performance? Talent is nothing without commitment Breathing techniques for performance anxiety Kelly's championship superstitions and rituals

Dame Kelly Holmes knows the highs and lows of elite sport better than most. The double Olympic Gold Medal-winning athlete and national treasure has spent her career smashing championships. But, as she explains, it can be pretty lonely at the top.Today on The Braincare Podcast, Kelly candidly shares her personal story about the toll of success on mental health. We discuss how attitudes to mental illness have evolved, how she built resilience and the importance of community in self-care and healing.We talk about: The mindset of a world champion Pressure and expectation in elite sports Different manifestations of self harm Resilience and hope: coming back from injury Why managing mental health is a lifelong commitment Kelly's daily self-care practices

Dr. Thomas Curran can spot a real perfectionist a mile off. As a psychologist and lecturer at LSE with a broad body of work on personality characteristics, Tom's recently turned his scientific approach to perfectionism: where it comes from, how it impacts our lives, and why we've recently seen a boom in cases.Today on The Braincare Podcast, Tom explains why high standards and goal-setting do not a perfectionist make! We explore how to know if you're a perfectionist, the impact of deteriorating self-image on our mental health, and why everyone you interview for a job claims to have the same flaw.We talk about: The three types of perfectionism Are there any benefits to perfectionism? Job pressure in a highly competitive society Isn't it good to set goals? Cyclic self-criticism and self-defeat The link between perfectionism and mental health Overcoming setbacks The power of vulnerability

Dr. Thomas Curran says there's more to burnout than exhaustion. As a psychologist and lecturer at LSE's Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science, Tom's research looks at the societal triggers of personality traits and their impacts on our mental health.Today on The Braincare Podcast, Tom shares his insights on what appears to be a thoroughly modern problem: burnout. We explore the universal symptoms of this highly individual psychological phenomenon, and why the gig economy could be pouring petrol on the fire.We talk about: Early warning signs of burnout Physical effects of mental fatigue Millennials and the gig economy Does burnout only happen in the workplace? Pre-emptive self-care: nutrition and exercise How the pandemic exacerbated the phenomenon What does burnout tell you about your job?

Sophie Medlin wants you to scrutinize the ingredients of that diet lollipop you bought on Instagram. During her 13 year career as a renowned dietician and nutritionist, Sophie's charted the rapidly shifting perceptions of aesthetic beauty and the impact that has on mental and physical health.Today on The Braincare Podcast, Sophie shares her wealth of knowledge on the disastrous consequences of our quest for physical perfection. We discuss the perils of distorted body image, the proliferation of pseudoscience on social media, and why we're now seeing an avalanche of disordered eating issues in men.We talk about: Encouraging body positivity without promoting obesity Surely setting health goals can't be a bad thing? Damaging aesthetics narratives Disordered eating in men and women The shifting perceptions of Instagram vs. reality Physical ramifications of low body fat percentages What does physical health really look like?

Sophie Medlin will change the way you think about your diet. As a Practicing Consultant Dietitian and Chair of the British Dietetic Association for London, Sophie's no stranger to the delicate topic of strict diet regimes and the controversy around challenging erroneous beliefs.Today on The Braincare Podcast, Sophie explains the science behind the potential nutritional deficiencies linked to some of today's most popular diets. Host Dan Murray-Serter shares his personal journey with veganism and mental health, and we get the bottom of Miley Cyrus' mysterious brain fog.We talk about: Is there a link between veganism and mental health issues? How to take on Veganuary and come out stronger than ever The problem with Omega 3s Brain fog: it's real Nutritional deficiencies in veganism and vegetarianism The real cost of rigid diet rules How can supplements enhance plant-based diets?

Dr. Daniel Amen believes we can end mental illness. The world-renowned psychologist and author has been a life-long warrior in advocating the use of brain imaging to study mental illness. His pioneering work has helped progress scientific understanding of the crossover between physiology and psychology, and he shares some of those insights today.On today's Braincare Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen shares the personal story that accelerated his investigation into brain imaging and mental health. We discuss the impacts of brain trauma, toxic substances, and nutrients on our mental health, and why loving our brains could lead to the end of mental illness.We talk about: The extraordinary links between brain injury and homelessness What's the risk of moderate alcohol use? Mental health misdiagnosis The 11 preventable or treatable mental health risk factors How diabetes, obesity and hormone disorders impact our brains Can nutrients improve your brain health?

Dr. Daniel Amen knows just how powerful a healthy brain is. As one of the world's best-known psychologists and authors at the intersection between neuroscience and psychology, he's performed an enormous amount of brain scans to understand what's going on in our heads during our most challenging moments.On today's Braincare Podcast, Dr. Daniel Amen shares his insights on overcoming anxiety, trauma, and grief. We discuss the very real implications of stress on our brain function and why good brain hygiene is imperative. Plus, Dr. Daniel Amen shares actionable practices to combat anxiety that you can start today!We talk about: What is brain reserve? Your brain during the pandemic Habits and practices for overcoming anxiety How can a healthy brain help you to withstand stress? PTSD and post-traumatic growth The power of diaphragmatic breathing The first steps for coming to terms with grief

Mo Gawdat wants to help you regain control of your thoughts! The former CBO at Google, author, happiness guru, and serial entrepreneur, solves problems for breakfast, and he's here to share his intriguing concept of useful thinking.On today's Braincare Podcast, we discover where negative and thoughts come from, how they develop and take seed, and what you can do to regain control. Plus, learn why experiential thinking can deliver a healthy dose of much-needed reality.We talk about: What is useful thinking? Problem-solving for peace of mind How to stop incessant thoughts The importance of separation and schedule Positive and negative reinforcement Why we rush to chastise ourselves 3 brain-related happiness tips

Mo Gawdat wants to make the world a happier place. When faced with one of the most emotionally devastating life events imaginable, the former Chief Business Officer at Google founded the One Billion Happy movement to bring collective emotional liberation to the masses. **On today's Braincare Podcast, we hear how Mo's personal story lead to his life's work investigating powerful human emotions, and how acknowledging causality can free us of guilt, and why you should make happiness a priority.We talk about: Why is happiness important? Mo Gawdat's flow chart for mapping emotions Thoughts on emotional embodiment The physical ramifications of unhappiness How much of our feelings are conditioned by external forces? Why our brains are the keys to unhappiness

Sophie Scott CBE is a professor of good vibes! The Director of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL is an author, TED talker, and expert on sound, neuroscience, and the weird and wonderful things that happen between your ear and your brain.Today, on the most meta of Braincare Podcasts, we learn about the bombastic biology of vibrations and electrical signals that help our brains to process sound and discover the astounding physiological responses of listening to the music that we love.We talk about: How your brain turns vibrations into electricity Babies and the rhythm of language What's happening when we're simultaneously listening and thinking? Root psychological causes of some types of tinnitus What makes certain sounds set your teeth on edge? The power of curating different auditory environments

Professor Sophie Scott CBE wants to tickle your neurons! The Director of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL is an author, TED talker, and stand-up aficionado who's spent her career investigating the power of a good knee-slapper, and what exactly happens when we laugh.On today's Braincare Podcast, we explore laughter, one of the most powerful non-verbal expressions of emotion, and why it's about a lot more than humour. Sophie shares insights on stress-induced laughter, what it can tell you about the state of your relationships, and why we rarely laugh alone.We talk about: Your brain on comedy What is laughter really a physiological response to? Darwin's thoughts on laughter Why do we laugh less on our own? Why Roman jokes are so terrible Where is your brain's ticklish bit?

Dr. James Doty wants you to conjure the life of your dreams. The Stanford University neurosurgeon, author, and mate of the Dalai Lama, the Pope, and Desmond Tutu (despite being an Athiest) knows a thing or two about manifestation!On today's Braincare Podcast, Dr. James Doty explains the incredible results of manifesting your intention with all of your senses. Plus, he explains how seemingly serendipitous moments of good fortune are linked to our self-actualisation practices.We talk about: How can you manifest your intentions with all of your senses? Manifestation and the subconscious mind Extraordinary connections: why you should never take people for granted Neuroplasticity and manifestation Mind over matter: how to change your fate What one thing do all spiritual leaders have in common?

Dr. James Doty is on a quest for compassion. He's a leading neurosurgeon, founder of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University, and an all-round wonderful human who has dedicated his studies to unraveling the surprising science of compassion and brain health.On today's Braincare Podcast, Dr. James Doty shares the origin story of his obsession with compassion: a mindfulness technique in a magic shop! We discuss the incredible power of human intuition and the effects of mindfulness practices on neuroplasticity and physiology.We talk about: Your brain on compassion What's going on in your sympathetic nervous system? The neuroscientist's angle on self-affirmation and care The Buddhists have it sussed: why mindfulness works  Internal conversations and the power of positive thinking Why human connection is irreplaceable

Jay Shetty wants you to sit with your negativity. The hugely popular social media influencer and author of Think Like A Monk has seen how negative self-talk can blight even the most zen of lifestyles. Negativity is part and parcel of existence, how can we deal with it productively?On today's Braincare Podcast, Jay explains why negative self-talk of our inner saboteur can cast a shadow on our lives. He shares his spot-stop-swap methodology to engage with that voice and flip its consequences so that you can proactively seek a peaceful life.We talk about: Ways to identify negative self-talk Should you trust your inner narrative? The spot-stop-swap methodology Can we manipulate our own emotions for good? Journalling and the power of words writ large Actionable advice for boosting self-esteem

Jay Shetty wants you to get specific about gratitude. Jay is a former monk and a formidable social media influencer with millions of fans and billions of views on his inspirational videos. Jay developed his holistic mindset during his continual evolution - from monk life to manager life to media life.On today's Braincare Podcast, Jay Shetty explains the fundamentals of cultivating a positive mindset. He explains how, by embracing the amazing plasticity of the mind, we can rid ourselves of limiting beliefs and cultivate positive practices that open up new worlds of possibility.We talk about: What are limiting beliefs and how can we get rid of them? Weekly positive practices to cultivate a positive mindset The power of specific gratitude Meditation is for the bold: how to sit with your thoughts The joyous consequences of learning something every day Tools to process sorrow or sadness

Ed Cooke is disrupting the space-time continuum. The Grandmaster of Memory spent the majority of the first lockdown throwing experimental online parties with one goal in mind: with your perceptions. On today's Braincare Podcast, Ed Cooke explains how our memory alters our perception of time resulting in a mirror relationship between memory and experience. While traumatic memories might take up a lot of space, good memories might be compressed. But what if we could change that?We talk about: How can we speed up or slow down our perception of time? Why pleasurable memories can seem fleeting The reason why parties featuring location changes are remembered best The link between sound and cognitive ability How your WFH set up can dramatically change your productivity The link between engagement and enjoyment

Ed Cooke will never forget your birthday. As a Grandmaster of Memory, Ed Cooke flexes his memory muscle on the daily. He's won countless competitions, memorised the first few books of Paradise Lost, and spent the majority of the lockdown throwing experimental online parties. On today's Braincare Podcast, Ed Cooke we discuss why we have trouble remembering things, and why memory is the polar opposite of perception. Plus, how to deck out your memory palace with evocative imagery that will make remembering anything a breeze!We talk about: Why do we forget people's names? The differences between remembering events and detailed lists Do mnemonics really work? Memory palaces: why it's still the best technique out there Why imagination is fundamental to memory What's Anthony Costa from Blue got to do with the Heights ingredient list?

Gina Rippon thinks society has a lot to answer for. The author of The Gendered Brain myth lives to debunk neuroscientific sexism, but when it comes to the societal impact on our mental health she says the evidence is writ large. On today's Braincare Podcast, Gina Rippon brings her wisdom to one of the places where brain health does differ according to gender - mental illness. If male and female brains are so similar, then what causes mental illnesses to manifest differently in men and women?We talk about: Why are certain mental illnesses linked predominantly to one gender? Self-esteem as a powerful driver in the brain How are genetics linked to eating disorders? Society and the gender brain gap What are the perils of perfectionism? Parkinsons is more prevalent in women, and Alzheimers in men

Gina Rippon wants to debunk the gendered brain myth. In fact, she literally wrote the book on it. Gina was the Head of Neuroimaging at Aston University Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience where she spent her days studying brain imaging to reach some groundbreaking conclusions. On today's Braincare Podcast, Gina Rippon takes us on a whistlestop tour of the gendered brain myth, from the skewed metrics and willful ignorance of early neuroscientists, through Darwin's cognitive dissonance, right up to the neurosexist misconceptions that still impact science today.We talk about: What is the gendered brain myth? Rewriting evolution: even Darwin was susceptible to a little cognitive dissonance Do male and female brains actually differ? How did gender discrimination cloud neuro-scientific discovery Neuro-trash and neuro-sexism How 21st Century neuroscience debunks the gendered brain myth