Building Your Best Brain

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain, the podcast where we explore neuroscience-backed principles to help you build resilience, regulate stress, and show up as the fullest version of yourself. It is an exciting time because we are starting on episode three of this new series on this podcast all about the balanced brain! Not a perfect brain that never comes across any obstacles but a brain that is flexible, resilient and able to come to a balanced place more easily.  In a world where our brains are overloaded, overstimulated, overwhelmed, a spiritual tool points to a brain change that is a huge piece to bringing balance which is ... being present.  We cover; What does presence truly mean (and what is the opposite)  What brain networks turn on when we are truly present  What are the blocks when it comes to being present If you'd like to explore these topics further, join me for my free Pick My Brain webinar series, where we dive deeper into the neuroscience and practical application of these concepts and answer your questions live. Have a wonderful day, and I look forward to connecting with you in the next episode. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Additional Resources   Ep 43 - The Balanced Brain Series: The Neuroscience Behind Boredom    Ep 42 — Four Lessons That Made Finishing My PhD Surprisingly Enjoyable    Ep 17 - Brain FUNdamentals - What I Wish Everyone Knew  Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain, the podcast where we explore neuroscience-backed principles to help you build resilience, regulate stress, and show up as the fullest version of yourself. It is an exciting time because we are starting on episode two of this new series on this podcast all about the balanced brain! Not a perfect brain that never comes across any obstacles but a brain that is flexible, resilient and able to come to a balanced place more easily.  Neuroplasticity is a big part of that flexible balanced brain! We are focusing on the most underrated part of neuroplasticity, your brain's ability to change and rewire, that literally no one talks about which is … patience!  We cover; What neuroplasticity is and is not  How neuroplasticity changes  How does patience play an important role  If you'd like to explore these topics further, join me for my free Pick My Brain webinar series, where we dive deeper into the neuroscience and practical application of these concepts and answer your questions live. Have a wonderful day, and I look forward to connecting with you in the next episode. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Additional Resources   Ep 43 - The Balanced Brain Series: The Neuroscience Behind Bordeom    Ep 27 – The Stress Circuit You've Never Heard Of (But It Runs Everything)    Ep 17 - Brain FUNdamentals - What I Wish Everyone Knew  Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain, the podcast where we explore neuroscience-backed principles to help you build resilience, regulate stress, and show up as the fullest version of yourself. It is an exciting time because we are starting a new series on this podcast all about the balanced brain! Not a perfect brain that never comes across any obstacles but a brain that is flexible, resilient and able to come to a balanced place more easily.  We are focusing on boredom! We cover; What boredom looks like in our brain  How to integrate boredom into your life  What do to when you resist boredom If you'd like to explore these topics further, join me for my free Pick My Brain webinar series, where we dive deeper into the neuroscience and practical application of these concepts and answer your questions live. Have a wonderful day, and I look forward to connecting with you in the next episode. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Additional Resources Ep 42 — Four Lessons That Made Finishing My PhD Surprisingly Enjoyable  Ep 27 – The Stress Circuit You've Never Heard Of (But It Runs Everything)  Ep17 - Brain FUNdamentals - What I Wish Everyone Knew  Beaty RE, Benedek M, Wilkins RW, Jauk E, Fink A, Silvia PJ, Hodges DA, Koschutnig K, Neubauer AC. Creativity and the default network: A functional connectivity analysis of the creative brain at rest. Neuropsychologia. 2014 Nov;64:92-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.09.019. Epub 2014 Sep 20. PMID: 25245940; PMCID: PMC4410786. Baird B, Smallwood J, Mrazek MD, Kam JW, Franklin MS, Schooler JW. Inspired by distraction: mind wandering facilitates creative incubation. Psychol Sci. 2012 Oct 1;23(10):1117-22. doi: 10.1177/0956797612446024. Epub 2012 Aug 31. PMID: 22941876.  Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain, the podcast where we explore neuroscience-backed principles to help you build resilience, regulate stress, and show up as the fullest version of yourself. Today's episode is a timely story from my own life: the journey of writing and submitting my PhD thesis in neuroscience. While this episode may resonate with anyone currently working on a thesis or major project, it's really about something much bigger. It's about the limiting thoughts we tell ourselves, the scripts we inherit from our environment, the beliefs that keep us stuck, and what it actually takes to move through overwhelm without burning out. In this episode, I share four lessons that not only made writing my thesis possible, but surprisingly enjoyable. My invitation to you is simple: choose one lesson that resonates and experiment with applying the accompanying tool in your own life. Pay attention to what changes. Chances are, your brain will respond differently than you expect. I'd love to hear what stood out to you. Leave a comment, question, or curiosity below. Reflection and discussion are some of the most powerful ways to deepen learning and create lasting change. If you'd like to explore these topics further, join me for my free Pick My Brain webinar series, where we dive deeper into the neuroscience and practical application of these concepts and answer your questions live. Have a wonderful day, and I look forward to connecting with you in the next episode. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome back to the Building Your Best Brain podcast! This week's episode is the final installment (for now) of our Inside-Out Brain series, where we've been exploring the science behind how our internal brain activity influences the people and world around us. We're ending on one of my favorite topics: the stress response. In this episode, we dive into how your stress response impacts not only you, but also the people around you in ways you may not expect. We explore how stress can spread through social interactions, how our nervous systems influence one another, and why learning to regulate your stress may be one of the most powerful ways to support the well-being of those around you. In this episode, we cover: How regulating your stress can help regulate the people around you What the stress response actually is Micro-expressions and how stress shows up on our faces Physiological synchrony and nervous system co-regulation Why your internal state influences your relationships more than you may realize Leave a comment, question, or curiosity below. Asking questions and reflecting on what you've learned is one of the best ways to deepen understanding and create lasting change. If you'd like to dive deeper into these topics, join me for my free Pick My Brain webinar series, where we explore these concepts in more detail and answer your questions so you can better integrate them into your everyday life. Have a wonderful day, and I look forward to connecting with you next time. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Additional Resources Ep 37 – The Inside-Out Brain: Your Body's Hidden Influence Ep 20 – Chronic Stress & Your Brain: What I Wish Everyone Knew Physiological Synchrony Review Paper(The review paper is currently behind a paywall. If you'd like a copy, send me an email at [email protected].) Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Hi curious friends, welcome back to the Building Your Best Brain podcast! This week's episode is a special one because it gives you a sneak peek into my free Pick My Brain webinar series. This session was a mix of live and previously submitted questions all centered around how our thoughts impact not only our own brain activity, but also the people around us. We explore the neuroscience behind thoughts, perception, emotional regulation, communication, and the subtle ways our internal world shapes our external experiences. If you are curious to get your questions answered, deepen your understanding, and learn how to integrate this information in a way that best fits your life, goals, and brain — I would love to have you join the next session. Add your email to be notified about the date and time of the next Pick My Brain webinar. Wishing you a lovely week, and I look forward to connecting with you soon for the next (and likely final) episode in the Inside-Out Brain series. Want to Go Deeper? Join me LIVE for a free webinar by joining my newsletter list for updates on the next Pick My Brain session. If you are looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to understand where your brain is currently at — and how to move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Build Your Best Brain — where neuroscience meets real life so you can show up as your fullest, happiest, and most empowered self. We took a little break… but we are back and continuing our Inside-Out Brain Series — exploring the science of how your inner world shapes your outer reality. In today's episode, we go even deeper into one of the most powerful forces shaping your relationships, career, and daily interactions: your thoughts… and how they may be influencing the way others respond to you. This episode is packed with fascinating neuroscience, practical insight, and empowering tools you can apply to communication, leadership, family, finances, and beyond. In this episode, we unpack: How my own thought patterns have sabotaged presentations, opportunities, and career growth  What neuroscience reveals about neural synchrony, brainwave entrainment, and how our brains influence one another   Practical ways to use this science to your advantage in everyday life And most importantly… This is not an invitation to judge yourself. This is an invitation to get curious… and realize just how powerful you truly are. If this episode sparks thoughts, questions, or curiosities, leave a comment below. Chances are, if you're wondering it, someone else is too. Additional Resources:   Ep 36 – The Inside-Out Brain: How Your Inner World Shapes Your Outer World   Want to Go Deeper? Join me LIVE for a free webinar by enrolling in my newsletter list for date and time here. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to understand where your brain is currently at — and how to move to the next level. Curious about diving more into the neuroscience articles I mentioned? Here is the meta study for brain entrainment and Uri Hasson lab.  Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome back to Build Your Best Brain — where neuroscience meets real life, and where you learn how to actually use your brain to feel better, think clearer, and live more intentionally. This month, we're continuing our Inside-Out Brain series — exploring how your inner world shapes your outer reality. In today's episode, we take it even deeper… into the biology of belief — and how the beliefs you hold don't just live in your mind, but actively shape your brain activity, your body, and how others respond to you. Here's what we're getting into today: • A personal example from my own life on how my beliefs showed up in my dating life • The science behind the placebo and nocebo effects, and what they reveal about the brain's ability to create real physiological change • How classical conditioning wires beliefs into the brain over time • The specific brain regions involved when beliefs are reinforced or updated • How to begin building new beliefs using evidence-based rewiring, rather than forcing positivity This episode is really about shifting the way you relate to your beliefs and recognizing how much power they have over your reality.  Not by "faking it till you make it" — but by bringing awareness to what's already there, and creating a sense of lightness and openness around it. Because change doesn't happen through pressure — it happens through understanding. If something in this episode resonates, I'd love to hear from you — feel free to reach out or share your reflections. And if you want to go deeper, make sure you're on my email list for access to free live Pick My Brain sessions where we unpack your questions and apply this work in real time. Additional Resources:   Ep 27 – The Stress Circuit You've Never Heard Of (But It Runs Everything)   Ep 23 - Words can be Your Wand or Your Sword - What is the Difference in Your Brain?    Ep 13 - Stress is not all BAD for your brain and here is WHY Want to Go Deeper? Join me LIVE for a free webinar by enrolling in my newsletter list for date and time here. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to understand where your brain is currently at — and how to move to the next level. Curious about diving more into the neuroscience of the placebo effect? Here is a review paper that covers some of the studies we unpacked here.  Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Build Your Best Brain — where neuroscience meets real life, and where you learn how to actually use your brain to feel better, think clearer, and live more intentionally. This month, we're dismantling the idea that we're powerless to our environment. We're exploring the inside-out brain — how your inner world shapes the outer one — and today, we're taking it a step further by looking at how your body influences the brains of the people around you. Here's what we're getting into today: • A real example of how my body state completely changed how people responded to the same behavior • What happens in the brain when we read someone's posture, tone, or facial expressions • How to use small shifts in your own body to influence your environment in a healthy, grounded way If something in this episode hits home, message me — I love hearing your reflections. And if you want deeper support, make sure you're on my email list for access to free weekly webinars where we unpack your questions live. And in the next episode, we'll dive even deeper into how to integrate this science into your day-to-day life so these concepts actually change how you feel. Want to Go Deeper? Join me LIVE for a free webinar by enrolling in my newsletter list for date and time here. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to understand where your brain currently at — and how to move to the next level. Curious about diving into mirror neurons? Here is a review paper that covers some of the studies we unpacked here.  Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to the Build Your Best Brain podcast — the place where we explore neuroscience and how to apply it to everyday life so you can build a healthier, happier, and more resilient brain. This month, we're diving into a concept that genuinely changed my life once I understood the science behind it and learned how to practice it daily. It's the idea of the inside-out world — the notion that your external life often reflects what's happening in your internal landscape: your thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and the patterns your brain consistently fires. In today's episode, we're going deeper into this idea. We'll look at: How specific internal shifts led to real changes in my external world — in both my career and my relationship An introduction to the scientific principles we'll explore more thoroughly in the next episodes How to identify where this inside-out pattern is already showing up in your own life As always, I'd love to hear from you — message me with reflections, questions, or breakthroughs. Don't miss the enroll form to get on my e-mail list for free webinars where we dive into your questions live weekly! And stay tuned for the next episode, where we'll go deeper into the education, integration, and real-life application of these ideas — so you can feel truly empowered by your brain. Want to Go Deeper? Join me LIVE for a free webinar by enrolling in my email list for date and time here. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my free quiz to understand where your brain currently at — and how to move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to the Building Your Best Brain podcast — and to a special episode where we have the lovely Lisa Riegel who comes to use with tons of knowledge and experience when it comes to perceptions in our brain! Lisa has a PhD in Education Policy and Leadership and has worked with kids all the way to CEOs. She brings the brain science behind why our perceptions impact our stress response and our quality of life.  We are getting deep into the science why; How do perceptions impact the brain? How do they impact our stress response? Can perceptions change in our brain? How can we shift our perceptions? How does identity play into this? What is a healthy sense of identity when we think of a healthy well-rounded life. As always, I'd love to hear from you — message me with reflections, questions, or breakthroughs. Don't miss the enroll form to get on my e-mail list for free webinars where we dive into your questions live weekly! And stay tuned for the next episode, where we'll go deeper into the education, integration, and real-life application of these ideas — so you can feel truly empowered by your brain. About Lisa Lisa Riegel started her career in education, driven by one goal: to help people reach their potential. Over time, she realized that fulfillment—whether in a classroom, company, or community—comes from understanding how the brain drives behavior and how systems shape success. That discovery became the foundation for her life's work. As an educator, researcher, and author, she has spent two decades helping schools, leaders, parents, and organizations align brain science with human systems—creating cultures where people feel connected, capable, and in control of their growth.   Dr. Riegel earned dual bachelor's degrees in English and Secondary Education from Kent State University. She holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Otterbein University and a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from The Ohio State University. Her work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and she has authored five books, including her two latest books, NeuroWell, and Aspirations to Operations, focused on brain science and how we can leverage it to help people become happier, healthier, and more successful. Want to Connect with Lisa? www.lisariegel.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisariegel/ www.epinstitute.net  Amazon author page Want to Go Deeper? Join me LIVE for a free webinar by enrolling in my email list for date and time here. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my free quiz to understand where your brain currently sits — and how to move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome back to the Build Your Best Brain podcast — and to our final chapter (for now) on a very timely topic: fear and your brain. We are getting deep into the science why; How you interpret your fear sends different signals to your brain  How this impacts the brain and our stress longterm What is looks like when we change our interpretation As always, I'd love to hear from you — message me with reflections, questions, or breakthroughs. Don't miss the enroll form to get on my e-mail list for free webinars where we dive into your questions live weekly! And stay tuned for the next episode, where we'll go deeper into the education, integration, and real-life application of these ideas — so you can feel truly empowered by your brain. Additional Resources Episode 24 : From Thought Spiral to Stillness: The Neuroscience of Neutrality  Episode 31: How Fear Hijacks Your Attention (and How to Take It Back) Episode 32 : Sneak Ways Fear is Running Your Brain Episode 33 : How Your Brain Turns Avoided Fear Into a Bigger Threat Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com    

Welcome back to the Build Your Best Brain podcast — and to a new chapter of the show, where we're diving into a timely and powerful topic: fear and your brain. This episode isn't here to scare you — it's here to empower you. We are getting deep into why avoiding your fears actually causes them to take up MORE space in your brain. In this episode we talk about; The neuroscience behind avoiding and when it doesn't work  How shifting the fear internally changes your outside world How to start confronting your fears without getting in a full blown stress spiral  As always, I'd love to hear from you — message me with reflections, questions, or breakthroughs. And stay tuned for the next episode, where we'll go deeper into the education, integration, and real-life application of these ideas — so you can feel truly empowered by your brain. Additional Resources Episode 17: Brain FUNdamentals Episode 24 : From Thought Spiral to Stillness: The Neuroscience of Neutrality  Episode 31: How Fear Hijacks Your Attention (and How to Take It Back) Episode 32 : Sneak Ways Fear is Running Your Brain Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com    

Ep 31 - How Fear Hijacks Your Attention (and How to Take It Back) Welcome to the Build Your Best Brain podcast — and to a new chapter of the show where we're diving into a very timely topic: fear. Before you worry — this episode is not here to scare you. It's here to inform, educate, and ultimately empower you. We'll explore fear on multiple levels, starting with how fear impacts — and often hijacks — our attention. Understanding this process is a powerful first step toward working with your brain instead of against it. In this episode, we cover: Intrinsic vs. extrinsic fears How fear unconsciously hijacks our attention The fear centers in the brain and where they project A daily fear analysis you can use in your own life (link to the tool here) This can feel like a lot of information, so feel free to listen more than once and apply the concepts in small, manageable chunks. Every time you do, you're supporting your brain — and I promise, you're doing it a huge service. Engaging with the material, asking questions, sharing reflections, and finding ways to apply what you're learning will deepen your understanding significantly. So don't be shy — leave a comment below, send me a message, or share this episode with a friend to explore it together. I'm really looking forward to the next episode and to watching you learn and grow along the way.   Additional Resources Episode 17: Brain FUNdamentals Episode 13: Stress Is Not Bad for You Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain 🧠✨ As we close out the final days of 2025, today's episode dives into the neuroscience behind how to actually enjoy the journey toward your goals—not just push through it. So many of us struggle to stay motivated and consistent. Not because we lack discipline or desire, but because of how our goals are set up and because no one ever taught us how the brain really works in the process. These struggles often show up as familiar pain points—and in this episode, we unpack them together so you can start shifting them as you move into 2026. In this episode, we explore the science behind—and practical ways to shift—these five common pain points: Feeling like you don't have enough time Being overly focused on the end goal Believing you're not making progress Fearing it won't happen Never feeling like you've "made it," even when you have ✨ Your homework: Choose one of these pain points (alongside your current goal) and begin gently working with it as you head into 2026. If you'd like support, or if anything felt unclear, feel free to leave a comment or send me a DM. It would truly be an honour to support you in moving closer to your goals—because you are an incredible human and more than capable of creating what you want.   Free Resources  Before, During and After Exercise  Ep 24 - From Thought Spiral to Stillness: The Neuroscience of Neutrality   Ep 13 - Stress is not BAD for your brain and here is WHY Ep 28 - Your Brain Doesn't Like Your Goals Ep 25 - The 6 Levels of Stress Regulation: A Neuroscientist's Framework for Stress Management Mastery    Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to the Building Your Best Brain podcast! I'm so happy you're here—learning how to rewire your brain for resilience and feel empowered by your own biology. As someone who loves a good goal (finishing my PhD and building a business over here 🙋‍♀️), I realized something was missing from traditional goal setting. Most approaches don't actually help your brain build the circuits needed to support goals from a productive, sustainable, and regulated place. In this episode, I share a new way of structuring goals—building on powerful work from neuroscience and psychology—that helps create real momentum, both internally and externally. And I didn't want to wait until the new year to share it with you. If questions or curiosities come up as you listen, drop them in the comments. I'm always happy to support you in guiding your brain to build circuits that support your goals while actually enjoying the process. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to the Building Your Best Brain podcast! I'm so happy you're here — learning how to rewire your brain for resilience and feel empowered by your own biology. In this episode, we dive into the missing piece of stress regulation — the piece that helps your brain build positive momentum, instead of feeling like you're stuck in a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. (You know… addressing one stress symptom only to have another pop up a few moments later.) We explore: ·       What core circuit is linked to MOST of your stress symptoms ·       The neuroscience behind shifting this core circuit and how it affects your brainwaves ·       How this circuit shows up in your day-to-day life ·       How to start identifying which core circuit is running your system   If you're ready to identify your own core circuit, click here to download your worksheet and begin noticing which patterns are running your day. If questions or curiosities come up — reach out. This is a HUGE part of rewiring your brain, and you absolutely do not have to navigate it alone.   Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain podcast!   Today's episode we dive into the science behind why when we try to make a change in our brain (example – regulate your stress, rewiring a limiting belief) that you may start to feel WORSE.   If I knew this information 5 years ago it would have saved me so much time and energy! The stage that most people give up and think the tools aren't working is usually when you brain is making massive change and you don't even know it.   In this episode we discuss; -       How circuits form and why changing them can make you feel worse. -       Stories of brain training program clients and what their EEG brainwave recordings look like during this stage. -       How to know if you are in this camp or if the tool you are using is simply not working. -       How to motivate yourself (and your brain) to keep going. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain! In this episode, I'm sharing something brand new — a 6-level framework I developed to measure and improve stress regulation, based on neuroscience, behavior, and emotional awareness. 🧠 As a neuroscientist, yoga and meditation teacher, and someone who has personally navigated mental health challenges, I've spent years studying what it really means to regulate your stress. This scale bridges the science of the nervous system with the lived experience of emotion, showing you where you are, and how to gently move toward greater calm, clarity, and control. Here's what we cover in this episode: The 6 levels of stress regulation — from reactive to resilient. The neuroscience behind each level and how it shows up in your thoughts, body, and behaviors. How to identify where you are on the scale in different areas of your life. A personal story of how I used this framework to shift from survival mode to self-trust. A simple practice to "reward" your brain for small wins and accelerate emotional rewiring. Your homework: Pick one area of your life (work, relationships, health…) and notice what level you're currently in. Then, track your "wins" — moments where you regulate faster, react less, or recover with more grace. This tells your brain: this is the path to safety and success. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain! Today, we're diving into the neuroscience of thoughts — what actually happens in the brain when you get caught in a spiral, why your emotions can take over so quickly, and how to bring your brain back to balance. 🧠  Here's what we cover in this episode: What happens in the brain during a thought spiral. How emotions create feedback loops that keep you stuck. The science (and magic) of bringing neutrality to your triggers and desires. A guided exercise to rewire your stress response through thought awareness. A real-life example of how neutrality created clarity and momentum in my life. If you've ever felt trapped in overthinking or emotionally reactive loops, this one's for you. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain! Today, we're getting the science behind our WORDS when it comes to building circuits in our brain. A topic that has A LOT of nuance that is often not explained or overlooked. Once you get these subtle differences, you'll see rather quickly how your brain shifts and changes in the direction you desire 🧠✨. Here's what we cover in this episode: What happens to the brain when we say things out loud?  Why affirmations don't work.  The dangers of venting.  Two tools that help you use your words to build what you want in your brain! Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain! Today, we're getting into a poorly understood and explained topic "Mental Rest". Where I take both my knowledge in neuroscience, meditation and neuroplasticity to unpack what is truly is and why it is the key to happy and healthy brain 🧠✨. Here's what we cover in this episode: What it means to be well-rested mentally?  What it looks like to not be mentally rested? How this impracts your brain and body long term?  Three tools that help you integrate more mental rest today! Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain podcast! So excited to dive into something that I know a lot of us have experienced before, despite our best efforts … the stress relief tools EVERYONE raves about fail us. This short episode will help solve that problem, and lucky for you doesn't require you to add any more tools or buy anything! In this episode we dive into 5 reasons why your brain may not be finding relief you hoped for and how to rewire for good. My recommendation after this episode is you focus on one of these reasons for the next 2 weeks and begin to notice the small shifts.  Leave a comment or DM on instagram (@synaptic.sylvie) which reason you picked and how it is going! Even simply having a place to share this information, ask questions and our progress can help the brain stay encouraged and accountable.  Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain! Today, we're getting cut through all of the lies and fluff and get down to business when it comes to what happens to your body and brain when it comes to chronic stress. 🧠✨ Here's what we cover in this episode: What is a stressor and how does your brain and body respond? How does noradrenaline and cortisol act on the body? Why there really is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to stress? A few tools to begin to heal your brain and body from chronic stress.  Question for You Which stress management tool do you want to explore even deeper in a future episode? Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain! Today, we're getting REAL about the power that lies within your skull—specifically, how you can literally change your memories using neuroscience. 🧠✨ Here's what we cover in this episode: What it actually means when your brain brings up a memory How to tap into neuroplasticity to rewire your brain's circuits Signs your memory is stuck in the amygdala—and how to release it How to access deep subconscious memories and change them from within Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain! This might just be my geekiest episode yet—and honestly, it's long overdue. In this foundational episode, we're diving into the basics of neuroscience—the tools I believe everyone should have in their mental toolbox to better understand what's going on in their brain and body. Whether you're learning something new, fact-checking brain claims you see online, or just want a quick refresher—this episode is your go-to guide. Think of it as your neuroscience reference point, now and for future episodes. Here's what we cover (with timestamps): 00:00 – Intro 01:40 – Brain resources I love 05:10 – Neurons 07:12 – Neurotransmitters 07:54 – Synaptic connections & neural communication 09:39 – What is a neural circuit? 11:48 – How circuits are formed 15:00 – "Cells that fire together, wire together" 15:46 – Defining neuroplasticity 17:45 – Major parts of the brain 22:10 – Neural networks 26:26 – Brain wave activity 31:40 – Brain entrainment What should we explore next? 🌀 Breathwork & stress? 🧘‍♀️ Meditation & the brain? 🧠 Neurofeedback & brain entrainment? DM me or comment to cast your vote! Let's keep learning how to get our brains working for us—not against us. Want to Go Deeper? Join me LIVE for a free webinar by joining my newsletter list for updates on the next Pick My Brain session. If you are looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to understand where your brain is currently at — and how to move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com   Bonus Resource: 🧠 Khan Academy's Intro to Neuroscience  

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain! This episode features the incredible Dr. Claudia Belliveau—a neuroscientist, science communicator, and entrepreneur who's passionate about making science accessible to everyone. Claudia earned her PhD in Neuroscience from McGill University and founded a scientific consulting company during her studies to bridge the gap between research and the public. Today, she's a freelance science consultant, content creator, and small business owner, running an Instagram platform with 85K+ followers and crafting unique gifts for recent graduates. She's also navigating the transition from academia to the pharmaceutical industry.   In this episode, we cover: Claudia's journey from research to consulting to social media The challenges of science communication & battling misinformation How to strengthen your communication skills Overcoming imposter syndrome Treating productivity like a recipe The importance of celebrating your wins   Connect with Claudia: Instagram/TikTok: @c.belliveau.science Website: cbelliveauscience.com  Resources Mentioned: NIH (National Institutes of Health) – https://www.nih.gov WHO (World Health Organization) – https://www.who.int Harvard Press – https://www.hup.harvard.edu Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Best Brain! In this episode, we: Outline my "Meditation and Your Brain" workshop Share a sneak peek of two out of five of my favorite studies on the long-term benefits of meditation for your brain, especially for experienced meditators Open the floor for your questions, so we can dive even deeper into these fascinating topics Drop your questions below, and don't forget to follow along for more tips on building your best brain! Study 1 (BDNF) - Gomutbutra et al., 2020, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02209. Study 2 (epigenetics) - Chaix et al., 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.08.016. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain Podcast! And Happy New Year! First episode of 2025! And we kick it off with a brilliant guest (and first one ever on this podcast! Our Brain loves a good first!) Here we are chatting about all things neuroscience, work-place and burn out prevention!   In this episode we cover: A masterclass announcement Stress Detox happening January 26th 12 pm EST (see link with promo code below) Nina's story how she went from burn-out to a thriving business owner in work-life  The definition of burnout  What is good workplace stress vs. bad workplace stress Perfectionism at the workplace Burnout personality profiles How Nina helps companies prevent employee burnout How Nina balances worklife and PhD life   Nina's Bio Nina Nesdoly is a speaker, researcher, and expert on the neuroscience of work-life balance, stress, and burnout prevention. She leverages her background in neuroscience (BSc) and Management (MSc) to help people and organizations build better work-life balance. Nina is currently her pursuing her PhD study work-related stress and her TEDx Talk "How to relieve stress when you're overwhelmed" was selected as an Editor's Pick by TED   Resources from Nina Nina's website -  https://www.ninanesdoly.com/ Nina's TedEx - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G1zyFoAaMc IG, TikTok - @Ninanesdoly Workplace culture paper - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/job.2832 Lewin equation - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewin%27s_equation#:~:text=This%20equation%20was%20first%20presented,Topological%20Psychology%2C%20published%20in%201936.   Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Best Brain podcast!   In today's episode we talk about:    How stress gets a bad rep and that is misleading  How presentation of stressors impacts your brain  The two different stress response your brain has and how it impacts your body A personal example of how I used stress to my advantage  The perception shift that has made a HUGE difference in my life.   Got questions? Drop them in the comment section below and follow along for more tips on how to build your best brain.   Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Best Brain podcast!   In today's episode we talk about:    How I do the MOST in my life The science behind why doing the MOST is hurting your brain Some simple shifts I use to do less   Looking for more examples? More tools? Got questions? Drop them in the comment section below and follow along for more tips on how to build your best brain. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com    

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Best Brain podcast!   In today's episode we talk about: 5 reasons why meditation is NOT for you Finding your WHY when it comes to meditation Journal prompts to set up a consistent meditation practise   Use these following journal prompts once to establish what your meditation practise looks and feels like (use as many senses as possible)! This will stimulate the right circuits before you even dive into your practise.  Whenever you are struggling to meditate, pull these answers back up to remind yourself how it looks and feels like. Journal about your BEFORE What activities are you doing right before, how to prepare, your setup, where is your phone, how to feel Journal about your DURING What time of day is it, where are you, what is around you, what are you wearing, what is our state of being Journal about your AFTER What are your closing activities, how do you feel, what do you do next, how does the rest of your day feel You can always come back to this to refine your meditation practise set up, so be kind Message me to let me know how it is going and follow along for more tips on how to build your best brain. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Best Brain podcast!   In today's episode we talk about:   Your limbic system Neurobiology of your fear response  Emotions as energetic fuel    Looking for more examples? More tools? Got questions? Drop them in the comment section below and follow along for more tips on how to build your best brain. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Best Brain   In this episode we:   Define the clinical and scientific definition of placebo effect Unpack a fMRI study looking at placebo and pain relief  How to apply placebo to your limiting beliefs    Drop your questions below and follow along for more tips on building your best brain!   Study video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REaiu-7wRvs&t=112s Review paper placebo and pain- https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010818-021542 Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Best Brain podcast!   In this episode we: Little life update Whats next for the podcast this month  Why triggers are your brain's best friend   Drop your questions below and follow along for more tips on building your best brain!   Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com  

Welcome to building your best brain podcast!   In this episode we dive into a HIGHLY requested topic which is on the popular ONNIT Alpha Brain Supplement. Here I walk you through the website where I review the ingredients, mechanism of action, references and reviews.   I also give you my opinion on whether or not I would try Alpha Brain as well as other options.   Drop in the comments your experience, prespective and questions! And subscribe to learn more tips on building your best brain. Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to the episode of Building Your Best Brain Podcast!   In this episode we:   Different types of information overload The dangers of the "if then" statement  Three ways to overcome "health hack" overload   Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain Podcast! In this episode we: The communication highway between your breath and your brain The autonomic nervous system The lizard brain - star is medulla oblongata Your breathing muscles - main vs. accessory  Inhale vs. Exhale Your stress réponse and breathing rate overtime  Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain Podcast! In this episode we: Benefits of a long, less frequent meditation practise vs. shorter more frequent meditation practice Journal prompts to build your meditation plan that will actually stick! Some free meditation resources to get your started.   Journal prompts; What do you hope you will gain from a consistent meditation practise? What is a small, specific, feasible goal you can implement right now? What tools or resources can you use right now to help strengthen your meditation practise? What emotions/thoughts come up when you think about implementing a daily meditation practise? What is an antidote thought to help nurture a positive learning environment?  What is a science fact that you are most attracted to and/or find most motivating to maintain a  meditation practise?   Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com   References:   Levi K, Shoham A, Amir I, Bernstein A (2021) The Daily Dose-Response Hypothesis of Mindfulness Meditation Practice: An Experience Sampling Study. Psychosomatic Medicine 6: 624-630.  

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain Podcast! In this episode we: What is DNA? How is it organized? Where do we get it? How is each cell so different but have the exact same DNA? Where our genes meet our environment. What is meditation?  Meditation, aging and your epigenetics. Epigenetic aging. What does this mean when it comes to meditation? Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com   References:   Chaix R, Álvarez-López MJ, Fagny M, Lémée L, Regnault B, et al. (2017) Epigenetic clock analysis in long-term meditators. Psychoneuroendocrinology: 210-214.   Chaix R, Fagny M, Cosín-Tomás M, Álvarez-López MJ, Lémée L, et al. (2020) Differential DNA methylation in experienced meditators after an intensive day of mindfulness-based practice: Implications for immune-related pathways. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity: 36-44.  

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain Podcast!   In this episode we: Sylvie's favorite saying in all of neuroscience research! What is a neuron?  What are the building blocks of a circuit in the brain? Excitatory vs. inhibitory neurotransmitters. Dr. Donald Hebb "Hebbian Learning"  The famous rhythm by Dr. Carla Shatz  The break-through research that brought it to life What is neuroplasticity?   Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com   References: Hebb D. 1949. The organisation of behaviour. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons.  Shatz CJ. 1992. The developing brain. Sci. Am. 267, 60–67. ( 10.1038/scientificamerican0992-60) Song S, Miller KD, Abbott LF (2000) Competitive Hebbian learning through spike-timing-dependent synaptic plasticity. Nature Neuroscience 9: 919-926.  

Welcome to the FIRST episode of Building Your Best Brain Podcast!   In this episode we: Sylvie's journey to brain health How your brain is always communicating with you How to be mindful when you talk about your mind How to make small actionable steps and avoid wellness/health overwhelm Using your intuition as a guide What you can expect frog this podcast in the future   Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next Pick My Brain session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take my quiz to discover where your brain is currently at—and what steps can help you move to the next level. Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com