Becoming a parent is a huge life transition. Now, researchers are finding evidence that parenthood actually changes the brain – and these changes happen to fathers as well as to mothers. Darby Saxbe, PhD, talks about the hormonal and brain shifts that occur in new moms and dads; the advantages and risks these changes confer; why paternity leave matters; and ... Show More
Yesterday
Dyslexia myths, misconceptions and facts, with Tim Odegard, PhD
Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, yet it’s still widely misunderstood. Tim Odegard, PhD, talks about how dyslexia is diagnosed and defined; his own experience growing up with dyslexia; how kids at risk can be identified early; what interventions work best; ... Show More
39m 5s
Oct 1
Lefties, righties and mixed-handers: The psychology of brain asymmetry, with Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD
Left-handers make up about 10.6 percent of the world’s population. Sebastian Ocklenburg, PhD, talks about why handedness and other brain asymmetries exist; the genetic and environmental factors that influence handedness; whether there’s any truth to the stereotype that lefties ar ... Show More
36m 46s
Sep 24
Teens, AI and the science of risky decisions, with Valerie Reyna, PhD
You might think the best way to make decisions is to know all the facts. But psychologists’ research suggests that getting the “gist” – the core meaning behind the facts – is more important than focusing on every last detail. Valerie Reyna, PhD, talks about why gist matters; how ... Show More
34m 33s
Jan 2025
Parenting and the impact on training
In this podcast, Dr Gemma Phillips and Dr Yogita Chikermane discuss the impact of parenting on anaesthetic training. They share their own experiences, talk about how things might have changed since then (or not), and what still needs to change to help anaesthetists navigate the o ... Show More
41m 19s
Sep 2024
The sweeping reorganisation of the brain in pregnancy, and why it matters
Ian Sample talks to Dr Laura Pritschet, a postdoctoral fellow of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, about her research using precision scans to capture the profound changes that sweep across the brain during pregnancy. She explains what this new work reveals about how ... Show More
14m 25s
Jun 2025
The Ultimate Guide to the Female Brain: Neuroscientist Reveals How to Boost Mood, Energy, & Focus
This episode will change how you understand your brain – and yourself. If you’ve ever felt like your brain is working against you – think brain fog, mood swings, and exhaustion – you’re not crazy, you’re not broken, and it’s not your fault. Today, world-renowned neuroscientist Dr ... Show More
1h 17m
Sep 11
#992 - Dr Sarah Hill - The Period Brain: How Hormones Change Women’s Behaviour
Dr Sarah Hill is a professor at TCU, a research psychologist, expert in women’s hormones and brain science, and an author. Each month, women experience hormonal changes that go far beyond the clichés of PMS. These shifts can influence mood, stress response, and even how women rel ... Show More
1h 39m
Aug 22
Re-Air: Dr. Becky Kennedy: Wire Your Children for Resilience
In honor of "Supporting Young Minds Month," we are revisiting our episode with Dr. Becky Kennedy. Dr. Becky Kennedy (clinical psychologist, founder of Good Inside parenting workshops, author) helps us use attachment, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and internal family systems th ... Show More
1h 14m
Feb 2025
3487: The Scientific Approach to Changing Your Life by Dr. Lisa Firestone of PsychAlive on Personal Development
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 3487:Real change isn’t just about willpower - it’s a process backed by science. Lisa Firestone, Ph.D., explores psychologist ... Show More
9m 47s