PODCAST · education
The Brain Coach
by Mary Turos
The Brain Coach podcast is hosted by executive function expert and 'Brain Coach' Mary Turos. Take a deep dive into executive functions and simple strategies based in neuroscience to overcome obstacles and achieve personal progress. Each episode provides insights from a community of educators, researchers, therapists, clinicians, family members to support a healthy brain.
Episodes
-
When Pleasure Goes Missing: Understanding Anhedonia
In this episode, Mary Turos explains anhedonia—the reduced ability to feel pleasure—and breaks it into common forms (social, physical) and stages (anticipatory vs. consummatory). It covers causes from depression and neurological conditions to stress, medication effects, and examples of how it can...
-
Speeding Up Your Thinking: Practical Steps to Improve Processing Speed
In this episode Mary Turos explains the difference between lab-based "processing speed" and the everyday slowness people experience, reviews the weak transfer of commercial brain-training, and shares practical, research-backed strategies to reduce bottlenecks. She covers building automaticity for...
-
Train Your Attention: Daniel Goleman's 'Focus' Explained
In this episode Mary Turos reviews Daniel Goleman's book "Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence," explaining the book's "triple focus" model — inner, other, and systems awareness — and how attention underlies performance, empathy, and systems thinking. Mary summarizes attention mechanics…
more -
When Guilt Fires: Is It Protecting You or Holding You Back?
In this episode Mary Turos explains what guilt is, how it differs from shame, and why it often feels visceral. She outlines when guilt is a useful signal to repair harm and when it's a chronic, rule-based pattern that needs a different approach. Listeners learn a simple diagnostic question to...
-
Break the Groove: 3 Simple Fixes for Getting Out of a Rut
In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary Turos explains what a rut is from an executive function perspective and why willpower alone won’t fix it. She outlines practical strategies—change the cue, shrink the first step, and add external monitoring—to help you break repetitive, unhelpful patterns....
-
The Hidden Mask: Why We Pretend and How to Unmask
Mary Turos explains psychological masking—how and why people hide their true thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to fit in, avoid judgment, or feel safe. She outlines common causes and clear signs of masking, the emotional and physical costs like exhaustion and identity loss, and how it often shows...
-
Living in the Now: Understanding Time Blindness and ADHD
This episode explains "time blindness," a neurologically based difficulty perceiving and managing time often linked to ADHD, and clarifies that it’s a performance issue, not laziness. Mary Turos outlines practical strategies to externalize time—using analog clocks, visual timers, padded…
more -
Stuck in Place? Beat Task Paralysis with One Small Step
Mary Turos explains task paralysis—the freeze between knowing what to do and actually doing it—and how it stems from breakdowns in executive function, not laziness. She outlines common triggers (cognitive overload, emotional interference, depleted capacity) and real-life examples like the...
-
Power Naps, Big Gains: How Short Sleep Supercharges Your Brain
In this episode Mary Turos explores the science of naps and why sleep is essential for brain health. She explains mechanisms like the glymphatic system, memory consolidation, and sleep spindles that make naps effective for learning, emotional regulation, and clearing metabolic waste. Mary covers...
-
Control What You Can: Mastering Your Sphere of Influence, Impact & Concern
Mary Turos breaks down Covey’s circles—control, influence, and concern—explaining how influence (what you can sway) differs from impact (the effects you actually create) and why confusing them fuels anxiety. She offers a simple mapping exercise, practical questions, and concrete examples...
-
Breaking the 'I Can't' Cycle: Reversing Learned Helplessness in Kids, Teens, and Adults
In this episode Mary Turos explains learned helplessness—how repeated uncontrollable outcomes teach kids, teens, and adults to stop trying—and illustrates it with everyday examples (from untied shoes and classroom embarrassment to stalled careers and health habits). She then offers practical...
-
When Criticism Hurts: Understanding Expressed Emotion
Mary Turos breaks down expressed emotion—the family patterns of criticism, hostility, and over-involvement—and how they affect relapse and everyday functioning across mental health issues. She shares practical, research-based approaches for critics (emotion coaching and psychoeducation) and for...
-
Doom Boxes: Why We Can't Let Go — ADHD, Biases, and Practical Fixes
In this episode Mary explains the concept of "doom boxes"—places where people dump items they intend to sort later—and why they’re common, especially with ADHD. She covers the psychological and neurological reasons we hold on to things, including executive function challenges, the endowment…
more -
Why Anxiety Makes You So Tired — The Neuroscience of Fatigue
Mary Turos explains why anxiety produces real, measurable fatigue: chronic HPA axis activation (cortisol and adrenaline), constant threat scanning and rumination, sleep disruption, and post-anxiety crashes that deplete energy. She outlines how unfinished tasks and working-memory overload drain...
-
Screen Inferiority: Why Devices Damage Reading and Attention
In this episode Mary Turos explains why digital devices harm developing and adult brains and why reading comprehension drops when we read on screens. She summarizes research showing screen time substitutes for crucial social and play experiences in young children, compounds executive-function...
-
Train Your Uncertainty Muscle: Act Without All the Answers
Host Mary Turos explains what uncertainty tolerance is and why it matters for executive function, anxiety, and everyday decisions. She breaks the concept into three parts—cognitive flexibility, distress tolerance, and willingness to act—and gives examples of how low tolerance shows up at school,...
-
Did You Ask a Good Question Today? — Reviving Curiosity
Mary Turos examines why questioning drops from early childhood into adolescence, showing how classrooms, social risk, and rewarded answers suppress curiosity rather than brain changes. She shares brief, practical strategies—pause before answering, respond before correcting, model uncertainty, and...
-
Train Your Uncertainty Muscle: Act Without All the Answers
Host Mary Turos explains what uncertainty tolerance is and why it matters for executive function, anxiety, and everyday decisions. She breaks the concept into three parts—cognitive flexibility, distress tolerance, and willingness to act—and gives examples of how low tolerance shows up at school,...
-
Graduated, Not Done: A Guide for New College Grads
Mary Turos offers concise, practical guidance for recent college graduates: reset timeline expectations, use early jobs to build "identity capital," focus on proactive first-90-day behaviors at work, and prioritize financial basics like emergency savings and retirement contributions. She also...
-
Summer Advice for Parents of Recent Grads
Now it's time for parents to learn how to let go of being their child's prefrontal cortex! It's not always easy, but it is SO necessary!!!
-
Summer Advice for Grads
Congratulations on your graduation! Now the work begins! It's time to start or continue working on your Executive Function skills so that you can live on your own, even if you still live at home!
-
Here We Go Again!
I'm back! And hopefully the technology cooperates!
-
S4 E6: How to Work With People You Dislike
Have you ever encountered a coworker who drains your energy, pushes your buttons, or just rubs you the wrong way? You don’t have to like everyone you work with, but you do need strategies to protect your focus, energy, and professionalism. In this episode of The Brain Coach podcast, executive...
-
S4 E5: Masking Our Many Faces
We’ve all done it—laughed at jokes we don’t understand, forced eye contact when it feels uncomfortable, or said we’re “fine” while feeling completely overwhelmed. Maybe you even feel like you have a “work self,” a “family self,” and a “real self.” These patterns might be signs of masking. In this...
-
S4 E4: Examining Melancholy
In today's episode of The Brain Coach, Mary explores melancholy: what it is, why some of us feel it more deeply, and how it differs from depression. Mary explains the biological, psychological, and existential roots of melancholy's quiet, lingering sadness; from brain chemistry and temperament to...
-
S4 E3: Bottom Up and Top Down Thinking
Tune in to today's episode with Brain Coach Mary Turos and explore how you process information and identify your unique thinking style. Learn the differences between bottom-up and top-down thinking, discover your personal style, and get practical tips for boosting your own productivity and...
-
S4 E2: The Importance of Emotional Regulation
In today's episode, Brain Coach Mary Turos explores the essential skill of emotional regulation and explains what it really means to manage, understand, and respond to your emotions in a healthy and flexible way. Learn why emotional regulation is not about suppressing your feelings, but about...
-
S4 E 1: Can We Cure Anger
We're excited to kick off Season 4 of The Brain Coach Podcast! Executive Function expert and 'Brain Coach,' Mary Turos tackles topics that help support a healthy brain. You'll learn simple strategies based in neuroscience to help you overcome obstacles and achieve personal progress. In today's...
-
S3 Ep 22: What To Do When Everything Feels Important
In this episode of The Brain Coach, we revisit a topic that is one of the biggest barriers to productivity — the belief that your value comes from being constantly available. You’ll learn how to shift from 'hero' mode to ownership culture, where you stop being the bottleneck and start empowering...
-
S3 Ep 21: When Is Self-Care Too Much?
In this episode of The Brain Coach, we explore what happens when the comforting routines you enjoy begin to feel more like rules than relief. If you’ve ever felt anxious at the thought of skipping your self-care checklist, this episode will help you reframe routines as support, not stress. You'll...
-
S3 E20: Busyness, Productivity, Efficiency & Effectiveness
Are you constantly 'doing' but not really getting anywhere? Are you a master of small tasks, but you never tackle your big ideas? You might be stuck in the trap of being busy instead of being productive. In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary unpacks one of the biggest mindset shifts for…
more -
S3 E19: Cortisol Is Not The Enemy
Feeling wired at night but exhausted in the morning? Struggling with energy crashes, anxiety, or brain fog? Your cortisol levels may be out of sync. In this episode, Brain Coach Mary Turos breaks down the science behind cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone. What it does, why it matters…
more -
S3 E18: Melatonin and Sleep: Your Body’s Natural Sleep Signal
Are you struggling to fall asleep? Or waking up groggy and wondering why? In this episode, executive function coach Mary Turns breaks down the science of melatonin, the hormone your brain produces to regulate your sleep-wake cycles. Mary explains what melatonin actually is and how it’s produced.…
more -
S3 E17: Will ADHD Meds Damage My Child's Brain?
Does ADHD Medication Harm a Child’s Brain? In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary unpacks one of the most common concerns parents share: Will ADHD medication damage my child’s brain? Drawing from current, well-reviewed research and large-scale neuroimaging studies, Mary explains how stimulant...
-
S3 E16: Book Review of The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss
Back-to-back meetings don’t equal productivity. In fact, research shows excessive meetings can undercut team performance. In this episode, executive function coach Mary Turos dives into Tim Ferriss’ classic book The 4-Hour Workweek and its framework for working smarter, not longer. Mary explores...
-
S3 E15: Avoiding Procrastination NOW Not LATER
Procrastination isn’t laziness—it’s a self-regulation challenge. In this episode, executive function coach Mary Turos breaks down the five root causes of procrastination and how they show up in everyday life. From perfectionism and fear of failure to overwhelm, reward-seeking, and low energy…
more -
S3 E14: Avoiding the Pitfalls of the College Freshman Experience, Part 2
Moving into college isn’t just about packing boxes, it’s about preparing for independence, growth, and new challenges. In this episode of The Brain Coach Podcast, Mary Turos continues the discussion on the freshman experience with practical advice every student (and parent) should hear. From what...
-
S3 E13: Avoiding the Pitfalls of the College Freshman Experience, Part 1
The transition from high school to college is exciting, but it’s also full of challenges that can derail even the most motivated students. In this episode of The Brain Coach Podcast, Mary Turos unpacks the nine most common challenges freshmen face and offers practical strategies to navigate them....
-
S3 E12: How to Stop Judging Yourself Negatively Part 3 of 3
The third episode of this 3-part series on negative self-judgment unpacks where negative self-judgment comes from — and how to change it by building a personal mantra. Brain Coach Mary explains the tools to create a lasting, kinder inner voice that supports growth instead of tearing down. Whether...
-
S3 E11: How to Stop Judging Yourself Negatively Part 2 of 3
Welcome to part 2 of three episodes exploring negative self judgement and how to stop it. In today's episode, Brain Coach Mary Turos explores why our brains are wired to judge ourselves so harshly. She unpacks the “negative self-judgment bias,” a survival instinct that fixates on threats instead…
more -
S3 E10: How to Stop Judging Yourself Negatively Part 1 of 3
Today we begin a 3-part series focused on understanding self-judgment and its roots. In this opening episode, Mary explores the hidden patterns of negative self-judgment. She explains how the critical inner voice shows up in our minds and why arguing with it often makes things worse. Instead…
more -
S3 E9: A discussion of Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death
S3 E9: A Discussion of Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death In this episode of The Brain Coach Podcast, Mary explores Neil Postman’s classic 1985 book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. Though written about television, its insights feel even more…
more -
S3 E8: Hyperfocusing, Good or Bad?
In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary introduces the concept of hyperfocus, what it is, how to recognize it, and how to manage it. Hyperfocus can feel like being “in the zone,” or a boost in creativity and productivity, but if left unchecked it can also lead to neglected responsibilities…
more -
S3 E7: Brain on Fire
Today on The Brain Coach, Mary makes another great book recommendation, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by journalist Susannah Cahalan. This gripping memoir recounts the author’s sudden descent into paranoia, seizures, and memory loss, initially misdiagnosed as psychiatric illness, before a...
-
S3 E6: Proactive vs. Reactive Mindset
In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary defines proactive and reactive living and explains how each approach shapes the way we navigate health, relationships, careers, and personal development. Learn how to identify reactive patterns, clarify your values, and begin implementing proactive...
-
S3 E5: The Nature Fix
In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary recommends The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams. The book explores the benefits of spending time in nature on the brain and body, drawing from scientific research as well as the author’s firsthand...
-
S3 E4: Managing High-Functioning Anxiety Through Routine
In today’s episode of The Brain Coach, Mary introduces a structured approach to managing high-functioning anxiety through realistic daily routines designed to calm the nervous system and reduce internal pressure to overperform. She explains how high-functioning anxiety often stems from a deeper...
-
S3 E3: What is High-Functioning Anxiety?
In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary takes a closer look at high-functioning anxiety, a form of anxiety that often hides behind achievement, perfectionism, and a polished exterior. While individuals with high-functioning anxiety may appear calm and capable on the outside, they often…
more -
S3 E2: The Habit Loop
In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary breaks down the psychology and science behind habit formation and explains how to use that knowledge to create sustainable routines. She explores the core components of the habit loop: the cue, the routine, and the reward, and how this cycle becomes...
-
S3 E1: The Growth Mindset and the Fixed Mindset
In this episode of The Brain Coach, Mary explores the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. Drawing from the work of psychologist Carol Dweck, Mary explains how our beliefs about ability shape everything from how we handle failure to how we approach challenges, learn new…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Brain Coach podcast is hosted by executive function expert and 'Brain Coach' Mary Turos. Take a deep dive into executive functions and simple strategies based in neuroscience to overcome obstacles and achieve personal progress. Each episode provides insights from a community of educators, researchers, therapists, clinicians, family members to support a healthy brain.
HOSTED BY
Mary Turos
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Brain Coach have?
The Brain Coach currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Brain Coach about?
The Brain Coach podcast is hosted by executive function expert and 'Brain Coach' Mary Turos. Take a deep dive into executive functions and simple strategies based in neuroscience to overcome obstacles and achieve personal progress. Each episode provides insights from a community of educators,...
How often does The Brain Coach release new episodes?
The Brain Coach has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Brain Coach?
You can listen to The Brain Coach on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Brain Coach?
The Brain Coach is created and hosted by Mary Turos.
URL copied to clipboard!