Episode 595: Why Did They Leave? Reinventing and Revitalizing the Exit Interview Guide
Release Date: 09/15/2025
FAN FAVORITE Episode 306: Thankful, Grateful and a Dose of History
The Dr CK Bray Show
We all need a day to celebrate and acknowledge all that we are grateful for. No matter where you live in the world today listen to the story of Squanto and how he changed Thanksgiving for numerous immigrants. Also, take up the Thanksgiving challenge to do service for others and be an individual someone else is grateful for! Dr. Bray starts off the United States Thanksgiving week right. Quotes by Dr. Bray: “This week the assignment is: be a blessing, do service, or have someone be grateful for you.” “No matter where you live in the world, it’s a great time to be grateful, thankful, and...
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Episode 604: The Science of Stillness: Quieting the Brain
The Dr CK Bray Show
We live in a world that glorifies speed, noise, and constant doing. But what if the secret to thinking better, leading better, and living better is actually found in the moments when we stop? In this episode, Dr. Bray dives into the neuroscience of stillness; why your brain needs quiet to perform at its best, and how doing nothing may be the most productive thing you can do. He will share the story of a high-performing executive who thought he was burning out, when in fact, his brain was begging for a break. We’ll explore what happens in your mind when you slow down, how silence rewires your...
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Episode 603: Why You Don’t Need to Worry When Things Don’t Work Out
The Dr CK Bray Show
We have all been there. The job that didn’t happen, the plan that fell apart, the moment that left you wondering, what now? In this episode, Dr. Bray explores what happens in your brain and body when life doesn’t go as planned, and why learning to let go, reframe, and keep moving forward is one of the most powerful things you can do for your mental health and resilience. You will learn why holding onto anger, regret, or comparison quietly drains your brain’s energy, how your nervous system responds to disappointment, and how small mindset shifts can rewire your focus and restore clarity....
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Episode 602: Personality Tests: Why We Love Them and Why They Can Mislead Us
The Dr CK Bray Show
Everyone loves a good personality test. Whether it is the Myers-Briggs, the Enneagram, or that quiz you took online that told you which TV character you are most like, there is something satisfying about seeing yourself neatly described in a few short sentences. But here is the question: are these tests actually telling you who you are, or just giving you a clever label? In this episode, Dr. Bray unpacks the science behind our obsession with personality tests. You will learn why we are wired to love them, how the brain’s reward systems light up when we feel recognized, and why the Barnum...
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Episode 601: Be Yourself Is Terrible Advice: The Neuroscience of Authenticity
The Dr CK Bray Show
We have all heard it. Someone looks at you with a smile and says, “Just be yourself.” Nice idea, but have you ever tried it? It turns out being yourself is not nearly as simple as it sounds. In this episode, Dr. Bray digs into the science of authenticity and why the version of you that shows up at work, at home, or even at dinner with friends is often a carefully constructed blend of performance, prediction, and protection. You will hear how the brain’s prefrontal cortex, default mode network, and even the amygdala shape your sense of self and sometimes keep you from showing up as the...
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Episode 600: Smarter, Stronger, Sharper: The Science of Measuring and Improving Your Brain Health
The Dr CK Bray Show
Smarter, Stronger, Sharper – How to Measure and Improve Your Brain Health What if your brain had a dashboard that told you exactly how well it was performing before you hit burnout, before focus fades, and before your memory starts to slip? In this episode, Dr. Bray dives into the cutting edge science that is reshaping how we understand brain health. You will discover how researchers like Dr. Evelyne Bischof, a Harvard and Columbia trained longevity physician, are using data, AI, and neuroscience to measure brain performance in real time and even predict cognitive decline before it begins....
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Episode 599: Why Bronze Feels Better than Silver
The Dr CK Bray Show
Ever noticed that the athlete standing in second place sometimes looks less happy than the one in third? Turns out, it is not just your imagination, it is neuroscience. In this episode, Dr. Bray dives into thirty years of research showing why bronze medalists often leave the podium smiling while silver medalists are silently stewing. The culprit? The way our brains process expectations, comparisons, and reward prediction errors. He will explore: Why your brain is wired to feel loss when you almost win, but joy when you barely make it How dopamine, the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex...
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Episode 598: The Work Connection Deficit And How To Fix It
The Dr CK Bray Show
Work is noisy. Slack pings, endless meetings, emails that never stop. But beneath all that activity, many employees feel something deeper, disconnected. In this episode, Dr. Bray dives into a powerful article from Harvard Business Review that reveals a hidden truth: nearly one in five employees feel lonely at work. That loneliness is not just a personal struggle; it is an organizational blind spot. When people feel isolated, creativity wanes, performance declines, and engagement wanes. But here’s the good news: leaders can change this. Connection is not about forcing more meetings or filling...
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Episode 597 Preparing for Retirement, It is About More Than Money
The Dr CK Bray Show
Retiring Without Regrets For decades, we’ve been told the same story: work hard, save well, and one day retirement will be the reward. But what if stepping away from work feels harder than the job itself? What if freedom comes with a side of restlessness? In this episode, Dr. Bray delves into what truly makes retirement fulfilling and why neuroscience reveals that it’s about more than just money or free time. I’ll explore the hidden challenges the brain faces when structure, identity, and daily rewards suddenly disappear. And more importantly, I’ll share the four practices that help...
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Episode 596: Stop Making Life Harder Than It Is
The Dr CK Bray Show
Ever feel like you’re carrying bricks in your backpack that no one asked you to carry? Or turning a five-minute task into a half-hour saga of overthinking? You’re not alone, and your brain might actually be the culprit. In this episode, Dr. Bray pulls back the curtain on why we over complicate simple things and what neuroscience reveals about it. (Hint: it’s not just about dopamine, it’s about the way our brain’s prediction systems and default mode network keep us stuck in loops of worry and “what ifs.”) You’ll learn: Why your brain makes simple things feel hard, and how it...
info_outlineWhy do good employees walk away? You might think you know, but most exit interviews never uncover the real story. People rarely say, “I left because I felt stuck” or “I couldn’t see a future here.” Yet, those are often the true reasons behind turnover.
In this episode, Dr. Bray breaks down a powerful interview framework that goes beyond surface answers and gets to the heart of why employees quit. These aren’t ordinary exit questions; they’re conversation starters that uncover what employees were searching for, what pushed them away, and what might have convinced them to stay.
You’ll discover:
The four “quests for progress” that drive almost every job change
The exact questions that reveal whether someone left for alignment, control, growth, or just to get out
How to turn exit interviews into learning tools that reshape your culture
Why stay interviews matter more than exit interviews and how to run them effectively
If you’re a leader, HR professional, or business owner, this episode gives you actionable insights and ready-to-use tools for reducing turnover. Understanding why people leave is the first step in creating a workplace where they want to stay. You don't want to miss this episode!
For more information on this topic, read the HBR article spotlight on "Why did They Leave? An Interview Guide," in the November-December 2024 Issue for exact questions to use in your next exit interview.
QUOTES BY DR. BRAY
"People rarely say, 'I left because I felt stuck' or 'I couldn’t see a future here.' Yet, those are often the true reasons behind turnover."
"Turn exit interviews into learning tools that reshape your culture."
"Whether someone left for alignment, control, growth, or just to get out — the right questions will reveal it."