Super Brain

Modern life can estrange us from what truly matters. We chase goals that look like success but feel hollow – and before we know it, we’re overwhelmed, reactive and disconnected from our own internal compass. In this episode of Super Brain, Sabina Brennan explores meaning and purpose through a neuroscience lens and offers a powerful practical tool: make an appointment with yourself. You’ll learn why your sense of self is essentially a story your brain constructed from data (some brilliant, some expired), why memory isn’t a recording device and how clarity changes what your brain notices. By the end, you’ll have a simple, repeatable ritual to audit the story of you, update limiting beliefs and take one small action aligned with what matters most. In This Episode Call to Action If this episode landed for you, schedule your appointment with yourself today – even 30 minutes is enough. For a deeper dive into these ideas, explore The Neuroscience of Manifesting. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary: Why do some people seem to attract good fortune? In this episode, I explore the neuroscience of serendipity – those chance discoveries and happy accidents that change everything. From Alexander Fleming’s mouldy petri dish to the role of the brain’s default mode network in connecting unrelated ideas, this episode uncovers the science behind what we call “luck.” You’ll learn how curiosity, openness, and cognitive flexibility make us more likely to notice opportunity when it crosses our path – and how to train your brain to do just that. In this episode: serendipityPNASThree Tools for Your Super Brain KitThree Tools for Your Super Brain Kit: Expand your inputPractise attentive opennessReframe setbacks as openingsReferenced research: PNASThe Luck Factor.The Serendipity Mindset.Key Quote: “Serendipity isn’t just luck – it’s the brain’s brilliance at connecting the unconnected.” Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr Sabina Brennan explores how generative AI changes learning. She looks at why effortful thinking is the engine of mastery, how AI can create an illusion of competence and practical ways to use AI as a tutor rather than a crutch. Key takeaway: Learning sticks when it’s hard – AI works best when it helps you reach insights, not when it replaces the work. Source: Brian W. Stone (2025), The Conversation – “How does AI affect how we learn? A cognitive psychologist explains why you learn when the work is hard”. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If New Year’s resolutions leave you inspired one day and flattened the next, it’s not a willpower problem – it’s a nervous system problem. In this episode, Sabina shares three tiny, science-backed “micromoment” resets that help your brain feel safe enough to begin, plus a menu of quick interventions for common January traps like overthinking, doomscrolling, self-doubt, catastrophising, comparison, over-planning, worry and procrastination In this episode, you’ll learn wantKey takeaways The 3 tools (quick reference) Tool 1 – The 3–3–3 reset + 10-minute agency3 things you can see3 you can hear3 you can feelone thing you can influence in the next 10 minutes“I didn’t solve everything, but I did choose and complete one thing.” Tool 2 – The two-minute toe dip (procrastination reset)2 minutesonly the first stepstarting Tool 3 – The threat to choice switch (doomscrolling + catastrophising)“I’m checking for threat.”2 minutesWorst case → most realistic → best case If this episode helped, share it with someone whose brain might benefit and follow Super Brain so next week’s episode lands straight in your feed. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode summary What happens when you close your eyes and try to “see” something in your mind? For some people it’s a full-colour mental movie. For others it’s hazy, fleeting or completely blank. In this episode, Dr Sabina Brennan explores the neuroscience of mental imagery, including eigengrau (that grainy ‘intrinsic grey’ most people notice in darkness), the spectrum from aphantasia to hyperphantasia and why visualisation is less about forcing pictures and more about learning how your brain constructs experience. S6E6 - Visualisation beefed up … In this episode, Sabina covers top-down simulationbottom-up perceptionTools in ThreeKey takeaways intentional rehearsalprocess-focused Tools in Three Know your baselineBuild a multisensory practiceApply imagery intentionally and aim for processMemorable lines (pull quotes) References (as cited in the episode) Lives without imagery – Congenital aphantasia.The human imagination: the cognitive neuroscience of visual mental imagery.Aphantasia and hyperphantasia: extreme differences in visual imagery vividness.Tags visualisation, mental imagery, aphantasia, hyperphantasia, eigengrau, neuroscience of imagination, memory, anxiety, sport psychology, mental rehearsal, guided imagery, manifesting, brain prediction Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever walked into a room and thought, “Any minute now they’re going to realise I’ve no idea what I’m doing”? In this episode of Super Brain, psychologist and neuroscientist Sabina Brennan unpacks what’s often called imposter syndrome – and why the original researchers actually called it the impostor phenomenon instead. Drawing on brain science and real-world examples, Sabina explores what’s happening in your threat circuits, reward system and perfectionist wiring when you’re constantly bracing for the “fraud police” to knock on the door. You’ll hear how early messages about being “the smart one” – or never quite smart enough – can set up a lifelong gap between how others see you and how you see yourself. Most importantly, you’ll learn three practical tools to add to your Super Brain kit: – Name it, don’t shame it – shifting from “I am a fraud” to “I’m having an impostor moment” – Rewire the self-doubt circuits – using neuroplasticity, self-compassion and “good enough” experiments – Change the context, not just yourself – noticing when your discomfort is data about an exclusionary system The impostor phenomenon isn’t proof that you’re a con artist. It’s a protective brain story that you can gently update. You’re allowed to be a work in progress – and you’re allowed to be here while you’re learning. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode summary: “Brain rot” was named the Oxford Word of the Year 2024 – a tongue-in-cheek term for that fried feeling after too much scrolling or streaming. But what’s really going on in the brain when constant digital stimulation leaves us feeling empty and unfocused? In this episode, Dr Sabina Brennan unpacks the neuroscience of brain rot – how dopamine loops, cognitive overload and attention fatigue are reshaping our mental landscape – and what you can do to reclaim your focus and creativity. You’ll learn: Three Tools for Your Super Brain Kit: The Friction RuleDopamine ResetStillness PracticeMentioned in this episode: Beating Brain FogConnect: 💬 Share your thoughts and experiences with #SuperBrain 📚 Read more: www.sabinabrennan.ie 🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

pisodic-like memory • How dog ageing helps us understand human dementia • Why your dog is a genuine co-regulator of your nervous system Tools in Three Takeaway: Every pat, cuddle, and walk is brain medicine — for both of you. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary (short version): Why does winter feel heavier for some of us? In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of Seasonal Affective Disorder — from circadian rhythms and serotonin pathways to evolutionary quirks and the strange possibility that humans may still carry traces of ancient hibernation biology. Learn why your brain struggles with short days, how morning light acts as a natural antidepressant, and practical strategies to help your winter self thrive. I share my own experience with winter mood shifts, what the science says about why they happen, and — most importantly — the tools we can use to reclaim our energy and wellbeing during darker months. Three Tools for Your Super Brain Kit: Light before screensAnchor your dayReverse-winter habitsbefore Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books The Neuroscience of Manifesting Still Me 100 Days to a Younger Brain Beating Brain Fog Brain Gym in a Box Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are we so much harsher on ourselves than we are on others? In this episode of Super Brain, I explore the neuroscience of self-compassion — what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s the antidote to self-criticism. Drawing on the work of Dr Kristin Neff and Buddhist philosophy, we’ll look at self-compassion as a three-part skill: self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connection. I’ll share research showing how self-compassion reduces stress, quiets the amygdala, and activates brain regions linked to empathy and emotional regulation. I’ll also explain why self-criticism is a form of self-harm, and why self-compassion is a foundation for flourishing and manifesting happiness, resilience, and contentment. Tools in Three Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books The Neuroscience of Manifesting Still Me 100 Days to a Younger Brain Beating Brain Fog Brain Gym in a Box Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psilocybin — the psychedelic compound in so-called “magic mushrooms” — has exploded into headlines and social media feeds. Some call it a miracle cure for depression, others dismiss it as hype. In this episode, I take a clear-eyed look at what the science really says. I’ll start with Sarah’s story — a young scientist whose life was turned upside down by a cycling accident and who found hope again through a psilocybin clinical trial at Johns Hopkins. Her words: “This trial changed my life.” From there, I explore: online buzzscientific evidenceneurosciencerisksFinally, I’ll share my Tools in Three so you can separate the real promise from the hype. Featured Research 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30065-10.1056/NEJMoa203299410.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285S10.1056/NEJMoa2206443Nature MedicineNew Scientist Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books The Neuroscience of Manifesting Still Me 100 Days to a Younger Brain Beating Brain Fog Brain Gym in a Box Follow Sabina Brennan on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we put off the very things that matter most? In this episode of Super Brain, I explore procrastination — the irrational gap between what we want to do and what we actually do. From ancient Greek philosophy to modern neuroscience, we’ll unpack why our brains resist long-term goals in favour of short-term mood fixes. I’ll share two leading theories that explain procrastination, what’s happening in the brain when we delay, and why the closer the deadline, the more motivated we become. And of course, my Three tools for your Super Brain kit will give you practical strategies to shrink tasks, hack your “future you”, and harness the magic of deadlines. Procrastination is deeply human — but it doesn’t have to rule your life. References: 📖 The Neuroscience of Manifesting (Dr Sabina Brennan) – on making your goals personal and vivid so they feel worth acting on today. Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books The Neuroscience of Manifesting Still Me 100 Days to a Younger Brain Beating Brain Fog Brain Gym in a Box Follow Sabina Brennan on Instagram Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever wondered why you do the things you do, you’re going to love Season Six of Super Brain. In each episode, psychologist and neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan takes you inside your brain to explore what’s really going on when you laugh, cry, procrastinate, or connect. You’ll discover how understanding your brain helps you understand yourself — and unlock your true potential. This season, Sabina introduces a new format: each episode explores one fascinating aspect of human behaviour, and ends with Three Tools for Your Super Brain Kit — practical, science-based strategies to help you do it better, do it less, or not do it at all. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and have each new episode drop straight into your playlist. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sabina Brennan has a fascinating conversation with Prof John Cryan stress neurobiologist and co-author of the Psychobiotic Revolution about the gut and the brain and how bacteria and the food we eat contribute to and are influenced by stress, anxiety, depression and more. The Psychobiotic Revolution You can follow Prof Cryan on Twitter @JFCryan You can read more about his research and access his publications https://www.ucc.ie/en/apc/people/johncryan/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sabina Brennan chats to journalist Marianne Power about the year she spent following the advice of one self-help book per month. -The book is like reading a Bridget Jones script only better, you'll laugh and cry and thanks to Marianne's no hold's barred honesty you will recognise yourself on every page. I loved chatting to Marianne and I know you will love listening to our chat. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sabina Brennan chats to 20 year old Dr Mya-Rose Craig about her memoir Birdgirl. Already a woman if substance this young woman who has achieved so much in such a short period of time describes herself as a British-Bangladeshi birder, environmentalist, diversity activist, writer, speaker and broadcaster. Mya-Rose's memoir Birdgirl is available in print, e-book and audiobook online and in stores. You can read about Mya-Rose's work and achievements on www.birdgirluk.com You can follow her on instagram as @birdgirluk and on twitter as @birdgirluk Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sabina Brennan takes a look into secret research. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sabina Brennan explores the psychology and neuroscience of control, impulsivity, self-control, taking control and relinquishing control. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sabina Brennan chats to NHS doctor, Sunday Times best-selling author and host of the The Doctor's Kitchen podcast about how he overcame a life-changing diagnosis and avoided heart surgery by adjusting his lifestyle and changing his diet. In this frank interview Rupi admits that it can be tough to maintain a healthy lifestyle in times of stress and shares the daily habits that help him to get back on track The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast Download the Doctors Kitchen App to get access to personalised recipes, with specific suggestions tailored to your health needs. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Super Brain podcast returns with this audio documentary produced and presented by Super Brain host Dr Sabina Brennan Dr Edward O'Sullivan, Director of the Migraine Clinic at Cork University Hospital takes us inside the migraine brain offering a medical and scientific perspective and Dr Sabina Brennan shares her own experience of living with chronic migraine. Migraine is the 7th most debilitating condition in the world (WHO) affecting 10-12% of the population. Vox pops threaded through the doc illustrate the misconceptions and misappropriation of migraine. This audio documentary aims to bust the myth that migraine is just a headache and get people to think twice about appropriating this neurological condition to describe a hangover or pull a sickie." Producer/Presenter Sabina Brennan Editor Emily Burke Assistant Producer Angela Mezzetti Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.