The Brain Blown Podcast

Curiosity might be one of the most powerful things a healthy brain can do — and yet most of us were quietly taught to stop doing it. In this episode, we're exploring the neuroscience of curiosity: why it's one of the newest and most openly uncertain frontiers in brain research, what happens in your reward, memory, and executive control systems when you follow a thread of wonder, and why yo...

Shoutout to @ollieschminkey for the inspiration for this month's wellness activity. Find Ollie on most social media platforms for more Writing Prompt Wednesday ideas. Enjoy! We've spent our whole lives being told that a wandering mind is a problem... but what if it's actually one of the most powerful things your brain can do? In this episode, we're diving into the neuroscience of c...

We've spent our whole lives being told that a wandering mind is a problem... but what if it's actually one of the most powerful things your brain can do? In this episode, we're diving into the neuroscience of creativity: what it actually is, why your best ideas almost never happen when you're trying hardest to force them, and what occurs in your brain during a genuine creative brea...

Enjoy this DND exercise led by Laine — let's play together! Most of us stopped playing long before we realized it — and it turns out, that might be costing us more than we know. In this episode, we're diving into the neuroscience of play: what it actually is (hint: it's not about the activity), why it's as fundamental to our biology as sleep and food, and what happens to our brains...

Most of us stopped playing long before we realized it — and it turns out, that might be costing us more than we know. In this episode, we're diving into the neuroscience of play: what it actually is (hint: it's not about the activity), why it's as fundamental to our biology as sleep and food, and what happens to our brains — and our lives — when we don't get enough of it. From dopa...

We’ve engineered a life that minimizes effort. Food arrives. Work happens from chairs. Entertainment comes to us. But the brain didn’t evolve for efficiency — it evolved for interaction. This episode looks at the neuroscience behind movement and why it may be more foundational to how we think and feel than we realize. Due to technical difficulties, this episode is audio-only. We hope to resume vid...

A lot of us aren’t just tired—we’re worn down. In a world that keeps demanding more attention, more productivity, and more endurance, our nervous systems are struggling to keep up. This episode kicks off our season on wellness by starting at the most basic place recovery happens: sleep. You can also watch the very first Brain Blown Podcast episode on video on our YouTube channel ! >> Support...

Last episode, we dug into how people lose their sense of safety and control when something — or someone — hijacks it. This week, we’re picking up the story from there: what it takes to rebuild. What does it look like to find your footing after an experience that knocks you off course? Why do some people regain a sense of agency faster than others? And what does real resilience look like when you&#...

If you think you’d never be pulled into a cult, that belief itself is part of the danger. In this episode, we explore why the brain is far more influenceable—and more predictable—than most of us want to believe. We take a closer look at what happens when belonging, something we’re biologically wired to seek, becomes a pathway into harm. Together, we examine how group dynamics, stress, and relation...

What does neuroscience reveal about great leadership—and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode, we explore the brain science behind leadership: how it guides us in uncertainty, shapes culture, and unlocks human potential. From Microsoft’s near-collapse to its stunning revival under Satya Nadella, we’ll uncover what happens in the brain when leadership fails—and what changes when i...

Humans are born dependent, slow, and vulnerable—but we’ve survived by working together. In this episode, we explore the neuroscience that makes teamwork possible, and why collaboration is more than a soft skill—it’s a biological necessity. From mirror neurons and social cognition to trust, reward systems, and brain synchrony, we break down what’s really happening in your brain when you collaborate...

Most people agree that rape is wrong. But far fewer understand what it actually is—and what it isn’t . In this episode, we confront the myths and misconceptions that continue to shape how we define rape, treat survivors, and pursue justice. We explore the neuroscience behind trauma responses like freezing and fawning, and why these involuntary reactions are still so often misunderstood in courtroo...

This is a recording of Laine's live presentation - the third part in a multiple-part series on being functional in dysfunctional times. For more informaiton on the Brain Blown Podcast, visit us at brainblownpodcast.com or email us at info@brainblownpodcast.cominformation

As a tribute to this month's episode, we wanted to give a quick shoutout to a local store Laine & I know and love: Smitten Kitten in Minneapolis. Founded in 2003 by Jennifer 'JP' Pritchett, Smitten Kitten is a trans-owned business that has been a staple in the community for over two decades. JP and their team are passionate about creating a safe, inclusive space where folks can exp...

This is a recording of Laine's live presentation - the third part in a multiple-part series on being functional in dysfunctional times. For more informaiton on the Brain Blown Podcast, visit us at brainblownpodcast.com or email us at info@brainblownpodcast.com

If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com. We'd love to hear from you. REFERENCES "Appeasement: replacing Stockholm syndrome as a definition of a survival strategy" Rebecca Bailey, Jaycee Dugard, Stefanie F. Smith & Stephen W. Porges "Traumatic entrapment, appeasement and complex pos...

This is a recording of Laine's live presentation -- the second of a 6-part series on taking care of ourselves. For more information on The Brain Blown Podcast, visit us at brainblownpodcast.com or email us at info@brainblownpodcast.com!

This is a re-recording of Laine's live presentation -- the first of a 6-part series on taking care of ourselves. For more information on The Brain Blown Podcast, visit us at brainblownpodcast.com or email at info@brainblownpodcast.com!

Have you ever been in or been around someone in the "honeymoon phase" of a relationship? That crazy, passionate start where seeing their name pop up on your phone gives you butterflies and you can't help but think about them constantly to the point where it's almost obsessive? Turns out there's some wild brain chemistry behind those crazy new-love jitters, how love seems to settle as the relations...

Why are women’s reports of pain so often dismissed? As it turns out, it’s not just oversight—it’s a failure of trust. In this case study mini-episode, we're looking at distrust in real-time—examining how bias in medicine isn’t just about misunderstanding symptoms, but about who gets believed and who doesn’t. Building on our full episode on Trust and our mini-episode on Hatred, Laine dives into...

Hate and distrust feel like opposites of love and trust—but they aren’t. At their core, they’re about fear. Fear of being wrong. Fear of being hurt. Fear of death itself. But how does the brain decide who to trust and who to fear? Why do we hold onto hatred even when it harms us? And most importantly, how do we break the cycle? Let’s dive in. (And enjoy a special open-door ending!) If you have any...

Welcome to Season 4 of The Brain Blown Podcast! This month's focus: relationships And starting with the root of any relationship: trust Trust shapes everything we do—but it’s more complex than we think. In a split second, our brain decides who feels safe and who doesn’t. But why? What makes someone truly trustworthy? And why do some teams thrive while others crumble? Let’s break it down. And l...

Closing out season 3, the BBP ends on an explicit note. The best way to move from a state of numbness or avoidance is to do something. Anything. And Laine walks us through some prime examples as we head into an important election season. Fair warning: Laine's passion in this one is so strong, you may want to mind your audio levels. ;) Join us for a final quick dive into making social change possib...

How do make social change feel feasible? Look to sway those who are already with you. In this mini-episode of Brain Blown, we explore the power of making changes within our own social movements -- like how we made bullying "uncool" and how the GLBT+ adapted the quickest to COVID-19 restrictions. Join us for a quick dive making social change possible, and check out our full-episode on Social Change...

Have you ever felt that knot in your stomach when faced with a new idea that challenges everything you’ve believed? Social change is inevitable, but it often brings discomfort and resistance. And when you're fighting for a social movement, it can feel impossible trying to fight "against the grain" and change people's ways, thoughts or beliefs. In this episode of Brain Blown, we’l...