The Cognitive Performer

Admiral McRaven told 8,000 graduates to make their beds. Most people heard a productivity tip. This episode is about what he was actually describing without knowing it. There's a structure in your brain called the anterior mid-cingulate cortex, the aMCC. It sits at the intersection of your motor system, your internal body state, and your executive function. It's the bridge between what you intend...

Most adults believe their creativity faded somewhere between childhood and now. The neuroscience says something different. You didn't lose it. You trained yourself away from it. And that distinction matters more than you might think, because one of those has a road back. In this episode we get into what creativity actually is in the brain, specifically the three-network system responsible for gene...

This is the final episode of our AI and the Brain series. We've covered what AI does to your brain. This episode is about what YOU do. How do you actually thrive in this world? What makes human cognition uniquely valuable? And what's the practical game plan? The foundation of this series comes down to one thing: we have to consciously defend our humanity now. That was never really a choice before....

Your brain evolved to trust what it sees. For millions of years, that worked. Now? Deepfakes, synthetic media, AI-generated everything. That instinct gets you fooled. This is Episode 3 of our AI and the Brain series. Today we're covering two forces acting on your brain that most people don't even realize are happening. In this episode: The Verification Tax: the mental exhaustion of constantly tryi...

Last month we explored agency - how AI doesn't take anything from you, you give it away. This episode goes deeper into the mechanism: what actually happens in your brain when you delegate cognitive tasks to AI? In this episode: What cognitive offloading is and why AI is different from previous tools The "inverse skills bias" - why AI helps novices more than experts What we gain (speed, reduced loa...

AI is about to become invisible - like electricity. And when that happens, we'll stop examining what it's doing to how we think, work, and develop skills. This is the first episode in a multi-part series exploring AI and your brain. We're not doing hype or fearmongering - we're examining the neuroscience of what happens when you delegate cognitive tasks to these systems. In this episode: Why AI be...

You know your year won't be smooth. So why plan like it will be? In this episode, I break down my 2026 planning strategy - not rigid annual goals, but quarterly focus that adapts to reality. Drawing from competitive powerlifting training, I share why backward planning works, how to maintain agency when life gets chaotic, and why 90-day sprints beat 12-month marathons. What You'll Learn: Why struct...

Why do we stay in patterns that hurt us? Why do we return to familiar anger, destructive relationships, or self-defeating habits even when we logically know better? In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of why the brain mistakes familiarity for safety - and what it takes to actually change. In This Episode: Why "knowing better" doesn't equal "doing better" The two minds competing inside you...

Your gut is talking — and your brain is listening. Discover how diet, microbiota, and even fasting reshape your brain chemistry, mood, and cognition in this deep dive into the gut-brain connection. Your gut is talking to your brain — and your brain is listening. In this episode of The Cognitive Performer , we explore the gut-brain axis — the communication highway connecting your digestive system a...

Think you're stuck with an anxious, stressed brain? Think again. In this episode of The Cognitive Performer, Marco explores the neuroscience of fear extinction - your brain's natural ability to unlearn stress responses and build resilience instead. Discover why stress literally rewires your neural circuits, how fear conditioning keeps you stuck in anxiety loops, and the specific, science-backed te...

We’ve all heard it: dopamine is the “pleasure molecule.” Catchy, sure. But wrong. In this episode of The Cognitive Performer , Marco Rigazio unpacks the myths around dopamine and explores its real role in the brain. Far from being just about “feeling good,” dopamine is a regulator—shaping focus, working memory, and even intelligence. Along the way, you’ll discover what happens when dopamine falls...

Ever record take after take and still feel unsure which one was right? It might not be a creative block. It could be decision fatigue. In this episode of The Cognitive Performer , we break down what really happens when your brain gets overloaded — and how it quietly shapes the choices you make during creative work. You’ll learn: How small, invisible decisions stack up during a session What fatigue...

In this special Q&A episode, Marco answers fascinating questions from fellow voice actors about the brain and performance. Discover why people think so differently (it's actual brain wiring, not just personality), what dreams really do for your brain, and the surprising science behind "manifestation." Plus: where creativity actually comes from, what happens in your brain during those amazing "...

Imposter syndrome, a pervasive psychological phenomenon, is the focal point of our discourse today. We delve into the intricate interplay between the mind and body as we explore this condition that afflicts many, particularly within creative professions. By elucidating the underlying neuroscience, we aim to demystify the experiences associated with imposter syndrome, ultimately equipping our liste...

In this episode of The Cognitive Performer, I dive into the fascinating neuroscience behind performance anxiety and discuss how it specifically affects voice actors. Learn why your body responds the way it does during high-pressure situations, how anxiety impacts your vocal performance, and why trying harder often makes things worse. I explore the surprising "paradox of choking" and understand the...

In this debut episode of The Cognitive Performer, we dive into the fascinating world of neuroplasticity and how voice actors can leverage this brain science to enhance their performances. Discover how your brain physically changes with each practice session and learn science-backed techniques to optimize your vocal training for faster skill development. Some reference links from the show: Brain St...