Building Your Best Brain

Using science, practical tools, cutting-edge research and human experience to empower you to have the healthiest and happiest brain. Tune in to learn the what, why and how to empower yourself to build to your best brain.

Ep 46 - How I Reprogrammed My Brain for my PhD Defence 08/14/2026

Ep 45 - Could your brain be living somewhere else? 07/24/2026

Ep 44 - The Part of Neuroplasticity Everyone Overlooks 07/16/2026

Ep 43 - The Balanced Brain Series: The Neuroscience of Boredom 07/09/2026

Ep 43 - The Balanced Brain Series: The Neuroscience of Boredom 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 session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take 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 — 🌐 Website — /episode/index/show/4ef5c919-61aa-479a-b2f3-980ff077d47a/id/42025835

Ep 42 — Four Lessons That Made Finishing My PhD Surprisingly Enjoyable 06/24/2026

Ep 42 — Four Lessons That Made Finishing My PhD Surprisingly Enjoyable 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 session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take 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 — 🌐 Website — /episode/index/show/4ef5c919-61aa-479a-b2f3-980ff077d47a/id/41793810

Ep 41 — Surprising Ripple Effect of Stress Regulation 06/03/2026

Ep 41 — Surprising Ripple Effect of Stress Regulation 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 session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take 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 (The review paper is currently behind a paywall. If you'd like a copy, send me an email at hello@synapticsylvie.com.) Let's Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — 🌐 Website — /episode/index/show/4ef5c919-61aa-479a-b2f3-980ff077d47a/id/41522640

Ep 40 — Thoughts as Broadcasts 05/27/2026

Ep 39 - Can People Feel What You’re Thinking? 05/12/2026

Ep 39 - Can People Feel What You’re Thinking? 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 . If you’re looking to improve your stress regulation, take my 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 for brain entrainment and . Let’s Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — 🌐 Website — /episode/index/show/4ef5c919-61aa-479a-b2f3-980ff077d47a/id/41269045

Ep 38 - How Beliefs Rewire the Brain (and Influence Others) 04/16/2026

Ep 38 - How Beliefs Rewire the Brain (and Influence Others) 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 . If you’re looking to improve your stress regulation, take my 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 . Let’s Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — 🌐 Website — /episode/index/show/4ef5c919-61aa-479a-b2f3-980ff077d47a/id/40893425

Ep 37 - The Inside-Out Brain: Your Body’s Hidden Influence 04/07/2026

Ep 36 - The Inside-Out Brain: How Your Inner World Shapes Your Outer World 03/24/2026

Ep 35 - The Hidden Filter in Your Brain That Shapes Your Life with Dr. Lisa Riegel 03/17/2026

Ep 35 - The Hidden Filter in Your Brain That Shapes Your Life with Dr. Lisa Riegel 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? Want to Go Deeper? Join me LIVE for a free webinar by enrolling in my email list for date and time . If you’re looking to improve your stress regulation, take my to understand where your brain currently sits — and how to move to the next level. Let’s Connect 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — 🌐 Website — /episode/index/show/4ef5c919-61aa-479a-b2f3-980ff077d47a/id/40512920

Ep 32 - Sneaky Ways Fear Is Running Your Brain 03/17/2026

Ep 34 - Fear Isn’t the Problem — Your Brain’s Interpretation Is 03/10/2026

Ep 33 - How Your Brain Turns Avoided Fear Into a Bigger Threat 03/01/2026

Ep 31 - How Fear Hijacks Your Attention (and How to Take It Back) 02/10/2026

Ep 31 - How Fear Hijacks Your Attention (and How to Take It Back) 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 () 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 session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take 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 — 🌐 Website — /episode/index/show/4ef5c919-61aa-479a-b2f3-980ff077d47a/id/40060600

Ep 30 - Rewiring Reward: The Neuroscience of Supporting Your Dreams 02/01/2026

Ep 30 - Rewiring Reward: The Neuroscience of Supporting Your Dreams Welcome to the Building Your Best Brain podcast — and the very first episode of 2026. Recently, I shared that 2026 is the year I’m intentionally rewarding my brain to build the circuits that support my dreams. And while that might make logical (even scientific) sense… how do you actually begin doing that? The good news: it’s probably not as complicated as you think. You’ve likely experienced versions of this already. But when we try to apply these principles to our goals, something tends to go sideways. A small mismatch. A quiet error in how we’re using reward and motivation. Until now. In this episode, we explore: How evolution shaped the brain’s reward system The role of dopamine in reward, motivation, and attention The brainwave states involved in learning and stress How I personally rewired circuits to reframe reward in my own brain A simple 3-step process to start rewarding your brain differently — starting today If this feels uncomfortable or awkward at first, that’s actually a good sign. It means you’re moving against your brain’s default patterns — and that’s where change happens. Feel free to leave a comment or reach out in my DMs with questions, reflections, or breakthroughs. I love hearing how this lands for you. And stay tuned for the next episode — where we’ll go deeper into the education, integration, and application of these ideas so you can feel truly empowered by your brain. Additional Resources Ep 17 - Brain FUNdamentals Ep 13 - Stress Is NOT Bad for You Ep 25 - The 6 Levels of Stress Regulation - Neuroscientist’s Framework Ep 28 - Your Brain Doesn’t Like Your Goals Want to Go Deeper? Join me live for a free webinar by joining my newsletter and staying tuned for the next session. If you're looking to improve your stress regulation, take 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 — 🌐 Website — /episode/index/show/4ef5c919-61aa-479a-b2f3-980ff077d47a/id/39948115