The Best of 2025:: The Female Brain!

2025 was a big year for the female brain — and on this episode of Wellness Big Sis the Pod, Dr. Kelsy Vick breaks down the most impactful neuroscience-backed lessons we covered this year.From the truth behind Lucky Girl Syndrome to how motivation and discipline fluctuate across the menstrual cycle, this episode connects the dots between hormones, dopamine, goal-setting, gratitude, friendships, and pain. We revisit why consistency is easier when goals are tied to identity, how gratitude reshapes the brain, why female friendships affect health differently than male friendships, and why pain is better understood as a brain output rather than a body input.If you’re heading into the New Year wanting to understand your brain, your cycle, and your goals on a deeper level — this episode brings it all together.All referenced episodes are linked below.87:: The neuroscience of pain https://wellness-big-sis-the-pod.captivate.fm/episode/copy-of-pod-83-pain/85:: The science of gratitude https://wellness-big-sis-the-pod.captivate.fm/episode/85-the-science-of-gratitude-using-gratitude-to-rewire-your-brain/84:: The neuroscience behind Lucky Girl Syndrome https://wellness-big-sis-the-pod.captivate.fm/episode/copy-of-img-3569/82:: Female Friendships https://wellness-big-sis-the-pod.captivate.fm/episode/pod-82/ 80:: Consistency & Goal-Setting  https://wellness-big-sis-the-pod.captivate.fm/episode/80-/ 79:: Motivation & Discipline https://wellness-big-sis-the-pod.captivate.fm/episode/copy-of-pod-79-motivation-and-discipline/ loving the pod? click the follow button, & we'd love if you could leave a review! thank you x 1000 :) sign up for the free Wellness Girl Chats newsletter!Want a peak into what it is like building this business, the podcast interviews, and all things female founder BTS? sign up for the free Firstborn Daughter Diaryinsta:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispodyoutube:: @dr.kelsyvickdpttiktok:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispodsign up for our patreon for exclusive content & workouts!00:00- 00:17 Intro00:18- 00:34 Introduction and Overview of 202500:35- 01:14 Exploring Lucky Girl Syndrome01:15- 02:25 The Reticular Activating System: Your Brain's Filter02:26- 04:00 Neuroscience Behind Affirmations and Action04:01- 05:00 Female Brain and Motivation Across Cycles05:01- 09:29 Discipline and the Prefrontal Cortex09:30- 12:18 Maximizing Motivation and Discipline12:19- 18:56 Consistency and Goal Setting18:57- 22:50 The Science of Gratitude22:51- 25:15 Female Friendships and Health25:16- 31:56 Understanding Pain as an Output31:57- 32:41 Conclusion and Wrap-Up