In each episode, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
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The Sciencebased Podcasts
Welcome to Pneuma—wellness with depth. I’m Daniel, a PT who believes in strengthening body and soul. Here, we blend practical health tips with timeless wisdom. From the Shake Weight to Shakespeare, Pilates to Platonism, we’ll dive into it all—always with a mission of helping you live more deeply. If you'd like your questions featured on the show (or just want to chat!) send a message to [email protected]. I can't wait to connect! If you’re interested in bespoke 1:1 wellness coaching, ...
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Should you live like a SIMPLETON? A lesson from Alyosha the Pot
21:16
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21:16In this episode, we’ll dig into one of Leo Tolstoy’s shortest stories, Alyosha the Pot, from which a big question arises: Should you live like a simpleton? Alyosha’s life is marked by quiet obedience, unflappable cheerfulness, and long suffering that he accepts without complaint. But is his approach to life an act of goodness or self-erasure? Tolst…
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My early morning reflections on ITALY (recorded at 4:00 AM)
30:58
30:58
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30:58I just returned from a two-week honeymoon in Italy. Changing time zones is always disruptive. I woke up at 4:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time), couldn’t fall back asleep, and decided to record my reflections. I hope you enjoy them. To those of you who have traveled to Italy, what was the most memorable part? If you're interested in bespoke 1:1 wellness…
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Inside the Predictive Brain: A Coach’s Guide to Change (Dr. Irena O'Brien)
39:11
39:11
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39:11Andrew Chapman interviews Dr. Irena O’Brien about her journey from accounting to neuroscience, exploring how the predictive brain, emotional contagion, and mind-body connection influence behavior, energy, and change—and how coaches can use these insights for deeper, lasting client transformation. In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr…
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Does fitness begin in the body? Does wisdom begin in the mind?
11:26
11:26
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11:26In this episode, we answer a listener’s question: “If fitness begins in the body, does wisdom begin there too?” If you're interested in bespoke 1:1 wellness coaching, but prefer someone more approachable than your typical trainer, start here ➡️ https://forms.gle/n1q3rpMYi8YhqQ9y6. If you simply want to get in touch, don’t hesitate to reach out. Sen…
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5 More Easy Ways to Boost your Daily STEPS - Part II
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14:06
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14:06More tips you can use to boost your daily step count! If you struggle to hit your daily step goal—or you’ve fallen into an all-day sitting rut—this quick, practical episode is for you. Just implement these simple techniques, and you’ll be striding toward 8-10k steps per day. 1. Stroll while you scroll 2. Lose your marbles 3. Launder Longe 4. Re-siz…
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For someone who is overweight, where’s the best place to BEGIN — not just physically, but mentally?
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15:00In this episode, we answer a listener’s question: “For someone who is overweight or out of shape, where’s the best place to begin — not just physically, but mentally?” If you feel a little lost, this episode might provide you with the direction for which you've been searching. If you're interested in bespoke 1:1 wellness coaching, but prefer someon…
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5 Easy Ways to Boost your Daily STEPS - Part I
18:14
18:14
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18:14If you struggle to hit your daily step goal—or you’ve fallen into an inescapable all-day sitting rut—this quick, practical episode is for you. No need to schedule extra workouts or carve out big chunks of time. You don’t even need to put on gym clothes! Just implement these simple techniques, and you’ll be striding toward 8-10k steps per day. If yo…
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The spirit of the CHASE. Shakespeare, Dopamine, and the secret of DESIRE
16:48
16:48
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16:48Why do we feel so alive when we’re chasing something, yet so flat once we finally obtain it? Drawing on a line from Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice and the findings of modern neuroscience, we’ll explore the psychology of pursuit, the paradox of desire, and the art of finding joy in the process rather than the prize. If you're interested …
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Rewiring Motivation: The Hidden Science That Keeps You Moving Forward (Melinda Cohan)
25:52
25:52
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25:52Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Dr. Irena welcomes Melinda Cohan in this replay of the Neuroscience of Coaching pilot episode, a surprisingly deep conversation on the hidden science behind motivation. Whether motivating ourselves or our clients, understanding how to work with the brain instead of against it …
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Life in the shadow of death - A meditation
11:57
11:57
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11:57By Daniel Finneran
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Avoid these common mistakes when wearing a WEIGHTED VEST
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3:46
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3:46Have you experienced soreness or pain after walking with a weighted vest? Avoid these five common mistakes and stride confidently, pain-free! Inadequate attire (wear a shirt that covers your shoulders) Inappropriate weight (no more than 5-10% of your bodyweight) Poor posture (don’t slouch) Altered gait (don’t over-stride) Excessive distance (modera…
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Can the KETO diet help relieve menstrual cramps?
32:59
32:59
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32:59Is a simple adjustment to your diet the cure for menstrual cramps? In this conversation, Lucia opens up about her struggle with severe PMS cramps and the various remedies she tried with little relief. After experimenting with a low-carb, keto- style diet, she noticed that her symptoms were greatly eased. We’ll discuss PCOS, the female cycle, the …
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We met on a dating app. In 2 weeks, we’ll be married.
34:20
34:20
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34:20In this episode, we share the unlikely story of how a dating app brought us together, and how, just two weeks from now, we’ll be married! From our personal histories with dating to the stigma that still surrounds meeting a romantic partner online, we dive into the reasons why apps have become a powerful (and sometimes necessary) way to connect. Alo…
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What’s the SINGLE best thing you can do to improve your health?
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8:07You probably expect the answer to be “cut carbs, get off your rump, and join a gym!” Not quite. In this episode, we’ll take the question in a different direction–back to the wisdom of the ancients, which we’ll connect to the latest science. I’m curious… What’s the single best thing you’ve done to improve your health? Maybe you’d like more personali…
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Shakespeare the HERBALIST? How Ophelia’s flowers can heal you
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16:09
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16:09Wait–when did Shakespeare become a wellness guru? Believe it or not, the Bard had more to say about health than you might think. In Hamlet, Ophelia enters with a handful of herbs—rosemary, pansies, fennel, rue, violets. On the surface, they’re poetic symbols. But each also carries a rich tradition of healing, rooted in folklore, herbal medicine, an…
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How I built my CHEST. Simple, straightforward, actionable advice.
14:51
14:51
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14:51Genetically ungifted with a broad, brawny chest, this episode explains how I grew my pecs. I’ll tell you what worked for me, what didn’t, and the simple principles you can apply to build your dream physique. If you're Interested in bespoke 1:1 coaching, but prefer someone more approachable than your typical trainer, start here ➡️ https://forms.gle/…
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Special Replay: Is Visualization Just Fantasy? (Jason Moss)
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32:32Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Dr. Irena is joined by Jason Moss to discuss the widely touted technique of visualization. The two explore the line between what people think visualization is and what actually happens in the mind, while clarifying the roles of fantasy versus expectation and process versus out…
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In this short meditation, we reflect on Albert Schweitzer’s timeless insight: “Truth has no special time of its own. Its hour is now—always, and indeed then most truly when it seems most unsuitable to actual circumstances.” Together we explore the nature of truth — how it interrupts our lives, why it often arrives at inconvenient moments, and how i…
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Every bride wants to feel confident, radiant, and yes — a little snatched — on her big day! In this special episode, I’m joined by Lucia, my fiancée, to discuss some simple techniques that brides-to-be can employ to look stunning on the day of their wedding. We dive into the ketogenic diet, smart nutritional tweaks, and other practical techniques t…
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Is fasting just another trendy wellness fad, or is it something much older? In this episode, we’ll explore the history of fasting…. From our hunter-gatherer ancestors who lived in cycles of scarcity and plenty, To the religious traditions that ritualized and made sacred their abstention from food, To the popular protocols of the modern era, like 16…
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Anniversary Replay: Why Imperfect Action Beats Overthinking in Business (Krista Martin)
36:50
36:50
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36:50Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak We’re highlighting this episode from one year ago. Business coach Krista Martin takes a systematic approach to growth with emphasis on strong decision-making. Choose swift action over excessive research, embrace imperfection, reduce decision fatigue, and evolve your skills as …
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Special Replay: Unlocking Compassionate Coaching with Brain-Based Strategies (Caroline Leroux)
34:38
34:38
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34:38For more info on Dr. Irena's "Certificate Program in Applied Neuroscience" starting September 2025, go to: www.NeuroscienceSchool.com/join Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Dive into the transformative world of brain-based coaching as Caroline Leroux unpacks the neuroscience behind it. With a focus on compassi…
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The Four Seasons Framework for Sustainable Success (Joanna Lindenbaum)
36:22
36:22
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36:22For more info on Dr. Irena's "Certificate Program in Applied Neuroscience" starting September 2025, go to: www.NeuroscienceSchool.com/join Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Master facilitator and coach Joanna Lindenbaum reveals her Four Seasons of Transformation framework, showing how honoring cycles of rest, …
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From Curiosity to Mastery: A Coach’s Journey Through The Neuroscience School (Juliana Macedo)
33:06
33:06
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33:06For more info on Dr. Irena's "Certificate Program in Applied Neuroscience" starting September 2025, go to: www.NeuroscienceSchool.com/join Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Executive and leadership coach Ju Macedo shares how The Neuroscience School transformed her coaching practice—and her clients’ results. Di…
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The Emotional Science of Leadership: How to Inspire and Overcome Resistance (Susan Schramm)
37:03
37:03
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37:03Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Susan Schramm, founder of Go To Market Impact, describes how emotional states influence organizational change. Coupled with Dr. Irena’s neuroscience insights, Susan shares how vision and alignment help leaders overcome resistance, inspire their teams, and turn strategic ideas …
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Why Journaling Works: Brain Science Behind a Transformational Practice (Lynda Monk)
37:47
37:47
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37:47Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Dr. Irena and Lynda Monk explore the benefits of journaling and its role in emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience. They discuss Lynda’s Life Source Writing method, which provides a structured approach to journaling that can be a transformative practice for coach…
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Grocery Guide - BEEF JERKY - How to Buy, What to Avoid, and How to Make your own
15:56
15:56
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15:56In this episode on everyday food choices, we’ll discuss beef jerky. What’s its origin? What’s actually in it? And how do you avoid buying the stuff that’s more sugar and sodium than meat? We’ll cover a quick history of jerky, explain how to shop smart for beef sticks at the store, and walk through the basics of making your own at home. It’s practic…
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Managing Emotions and Listening Better: Neuroscience Tools for Conflict Resolution (Julia Menard)
40:05
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40:05Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Conflict leadership specialist Julia Menard and host Dr. Irena share insights on how our brains interpret and control conversations to shape our understanding. They discuss the role of the predictive brain and how neuroscience can help coaches manage difficult communications a…
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"Your intellect–which has come to you as an emanation from God–is the bond that exists between you and Him. The choice is yours: If you wish, you can strengthen and broaden this bond. Or, if you so desire, you can weaken it and make it gradually thinner until you cut it off altogether". This short meditation is inspired by the philosopher, Maimonid…
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How Kindness Builds Resilience, Confidence, and Creativity (Emma-Louise Elsey)
38:12
38:12
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38:12Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Emma-Louise Elsey challenges the idea that kindness is weakness, reframing self-compassion as a powerful tool for growth and resilience. Drawing from neuroscience and her unique coaching methodology, she offers tips in “Fierce Kindness” to help us thrive, reduce stress, and in…
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Everything that truly HAPPENS, happens to YOU
23:19
23:19
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23:19“All things happen to oneself, and happen precisely, precisely now”. These words, written by the great Argentine author, Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986), appear in his short story, The Garden of Forking Paths. Labyrinthine, dense, esoteric, and yet, at all times, wonderfully eloquent and readable, Borges gives us a lot to think about. This episode ad…
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Post cibum, ambulandum est “After eating, one must walk” Apply this ancient wisdom to your post-meal ritual, and your health will improve immensely. What do you like to do after a meal? Walk? Dance? Watch TV? I’m curious to know! Send me a message at [email protected]. If you're Interested in bespoke 1:1 coaching, but prefer someone more ap…
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Is it your duty to be happy? Immanuel Kant, the great German philosopher of the late 18th century, argues that it is. “To secure one’s own happiness is a duty…because discontent with one’s condition, under the pressure of many anxieties and amid unsatisfied wants, might easily become a great temptation to transgress one’s duties.” What do you think…
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Boost Focus & Performance with Music & Neuroscience (Hilary DeCesare)
42:16
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42:16Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Hilary DeCesare joins Dr. Irena to explore the powerful link between music and the brain, revealing how the right tunes can trigger neurochemicals for motivation, healing, and growth. Discover actionable steps and personal stories that illuminate music’s potential to transform…
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How seldom we look toward the horizon, Toward the distance, Toward the heavens. Instead, we’re focused unblinkingly on the luminous little boxes perched six inches away from our noses! (Yes--the fancy phone on which you're reading these words. That box!) Unsurprisingly, this has caused our eyesight to suffer. In this episode, we’ll work to undo thi…
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Intermittent Fasting v. The "30-30-30" Protocol: Which is better?
31:22
31:22
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31:22The 30-30-30 Protocol—developed by Tim Ferriss and popularized by Gary Brecka—is an approach to nutrition that requires you to: 1. Consume 30 grams of protein 2. Within 30 minutes of waking 3. After which you perform 30 minutes of exercise This method is starkly different from intermittent fasting, in which you to abstain (typically during the morn…
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Turning water into weight LOSS? The secret about SAUNAS
4:56
4:56
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4:56A sauna can be immensely beneficial to your overall wellbeing: It boosts cardiovascular health, enhances recovery, deepens sleep, and supports detoxification. But there’s a common misunderstanding about its power to help you lose WEIGHT, of which you should be disabused. Does sweating in the sauna = weight loss? Have you implemented regular sauna u…
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How Can Brain Science Elevate Coaching from Insight to Action?
41:15
41:15
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41:15Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak In this compilation, explore transformative insights from eight previous guests who reveal how neuroscience empowers lasting change, self-awareness, and resilience. If you’re a coach, wellness professional, or simply fascinated by the science of change, this episode is rich wi…
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Nutrient timing: It's not only what, but WHEN you eat that matters
27:23
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27:23The nutrients with which you fuel up and recover are important, but so too is the time of day at which you consume them. The term for this is, simply enough, “Nutrient Timing”. In this episode, my pal James Flood explains the basics of “Nutrient Timing”, including: The post-workout feeding window: what to eat, what to avoid, and when. The differenc…
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The unspoken remedy to restlessness… The quiet cure-all for sleepless nights… Sex! A sleep aid–provided to us by the beneficence of nature–than which there is none more effective, satisfying, nor potent. Have you experienced the soporific impact of sex? Send your (PG-rated) comments to Email: [email protected] If you're Interested in bespok…
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Are protein powders detrimental to your health? 🤔 Recently published studies have revealed significant amounts of heavy metals (namely cadmium and lead) to be hiding in them. The highest concentrations were found in: 1. Chocolate flavored powders 2. Plant-based powders My good pal James Flood offers his take on the issue. X link: https://x.com/Dani…
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The MILL and the WATER: A meditation on memory, futility, and FLOW
17:46
17:46
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17:46“The mill cannot grind with the water that has passed”. In this episode, we’ll meditate on an old proverb that addresses the difficulty of: 1. Letting go of the past 2. And focusing, instead, on the present. I wonder… Where is your energy directed? Is it concentrated on the PAST–a deep pool of regret into which it impotently drains? Or is it concen…
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Producer’s Pick: Burnout in the Age of Hustle (Ana Melikian)
46:18
46:18
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46:18Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak We revisit this episode featuring guest Dr. Ana Melikian as she and Dr. Irena explore deliberate practice, culture, and self-awareness. They discuss practical strategies for managing energy, avoiding full burnout, and fostering a balanced productive life through mindfulness an…
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Imagine using a "sink snake", or a drain clog remover, to clean your mind of negative thoughts. With what kinds of thoughts and emotions is it currently filled? Were you easily able to dislodge and dispose of them? What thoughts and emotions remain stuck? If you're Interested in bespoke 1:1 coaching, but prefer someone more approachable than your t…
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Collagen: The protein (literally) holding you together!
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16:23
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16:23Skin, hair, and nails-- Collagen is the foundation of them all! And yet... It's severely de-emphasized in our diets. In this episode, we'll cover everything you need to know about this essential protein (including how to consume more of it). Reach out to me with comments and questions. If you're Interested in bespoke 1:1 coaching, but prefer someon…
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They never TASTE, who always DRINK; They always TALK, who never THINK. -Matthew Prior What did you taste? Let me know! If you're Interested in bespoke 1:1 coaching, but prefer someone more approachable than your typical trainer, start here ➡️ https://forms.gle/n1q3rpMYi8YhqQ9y6. I’m excited to embark on this journey together! Friendly Disclaimer: I…
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What your BRAIN really thinks about your GUT feelings
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19:29Have you ever had a “gut feeling” about something? What about “butterflies in your stomach”? Have you ever had them? It turns out, the GUT is much more than a grumbling, bottomless repository for food; Inextricably linked to the BRAIN, the gut plays a vital role in the regulation of your emotions, moods, and stress. In this episode, we’ll examine t…
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By Daniel Finneran
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Transform Clients and Yourself Through Storytelling (Lisa Bloom)
39:50
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39:50Mirasee FM Special Free Offer (Revenue Leak Checklist): www.mrse.co/leak Explore the transformative role of storytelling in coaching with insights from Lisa Bloom. Discover how stories drive engagement, unlock personal insights, and create lasting impacts. Learn to harness this powerful neuroscience-backed tool to achieve client transformation and …
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William Morris (1834-1896) was an English poet, designer, and political reformer. He developed a simple philosophy for “keeping house”: Keep nothing in your house that you do not Know to be USEFUL Believe to be BEAUTIFUL If your possessions are neither useful nor beautiful, dispose of them. Abide by this easy philosophy, and enjoy the bliss of an u…
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