The Art of Managing Your Brain with Dr. Charlie M. Hornes cover art

The Art of Managing Your Brain with Dr. Charlie M. Hornes

The Art of Managing Your Brain with Dr. Charlie M. Hornes

By: Dr. Charlie M. Hornes DMin BCC MCPC
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About this listen

The Art of Managing Your Brain

System Strategy for Women Misnamed as the Problem

You’ve been called too intense. Too emotional.

Too sensitive. Too cold.

Too kind. Too reactive.

Too difficult. Too accommodating.

Too much.

And somehow—still expected to carry more.

The system was never built for women who see what’s wrong before it explodes.

So when you react? They misname it.

When you speak up? They call it a problem.

When you say “something feels off”? They tell you to calm down.

What most people label as “not being able to hack it” is usually just a survival instinct—one you were never taught how to manage.

This podcast gives you what no one else will:

  • Not mindset resets.
  • Not mantras or mood boards.
  • Not another list of what you should be doing differently.

Because let’s be honest: You’ve already tried that.

And none of it tells you what to do when it actually hits.

What if this sounds like you?

  • Your brain bolts before you even know why.
  • Your voice disappears the second you need it most.
  • Your fight instinct pops off—then you spiral in guilt.
  • You vanish before the drama even starts.

This isn’t failure. It’s instinct.

And it’s time you finally understood what yours is trying to do.

It kicks in before you can explain it.

  • The shutdown that buys you time—but costs you the truth.
  • The fake yes you gave because it wasn’t safe to say no.
  • The snap-back you regret… even though they had it coming.

You saw it coming.

But they’ve trained you to second-guess—because calling you “too sensitive” is easier than admitting you were right.

Or maybe it’s that eerie calm—the one that shows up while they’re still pretending everything’s fine. But you already know how this ends—and it’s not worth sticking around for.

Whatever shape it takes—there’s a name for it.

And it’s not failure.

It’s instinct.

Each one shows up differently. But they all have one thing in common:

They’ve been working hard to protect you—but nobody ever taught you how to manage them.

Hosted by Dr. Charlie M. Hornes, DMin, BCC, MCPC

Board-Certified Clinical Strategist and creator of the Survival Instinct Archetypes.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • What to do when your nervous system locks the door before you know what’s wrong
  • How to speak when people-pleasing flattens your voice
  • Why your brain tracks danger early—and how to use that as strategy
  • How to name the setup that makes you doubt your intelligence
  • What it takes to stop misreading your survival as failure

Start here:

Take the free Survival Instinct Archetype Quiz: https://www.charliehornescoaching.com/quiz

Then come back here.

We’ll teach you how to manage the part of your brain that’s always blamed—but rarely understood.

New episodes weekly.

Bring your instinct.

Not your apology.

The Charlie Hornes Coaching Studio, LLC Career Success Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Can You Beat the 2AM Replays? Stop the Ruminating Cycle.

    Can You Beat the 2AM Replays? Stop the Ruminating Cycle.
    Aug 26 2025

    Compilation 1 — The Moment You Think It’s You Prequel to the 6-Part Survival Podcast Series

    You know that moment. The one that replays at 2AM. The pause. The tone. The thing you didn’t say—or the thing you did. And now your brain won’t drop it.

    This episode is about exactly that. Not from a place of shame or silence, but from the skill of knowing what’s yours to carry—and what’s not.

    Before Burnout Has a Name, There’s a Moment

    You feel the shift in the room. Your body flags it. But instead of trusting that signal, you turn inward:

    • Did I say too much?
    • Was that the wrong tone?
    • Am I the problem?

    This episode maps that first misdiagnosis—the one where instinct gets mislabeled as insecurity, where survival shows up and gets mistaken for failure.

    This Episode Is For You If:
    • You overthink what you said after meetings or hard conversations
    • You edit your words to make others more comfortable
    • Your silence gets mistaken for agreement—but it was survival
    • You’re done replaying moments on a loop at night
    What You’ll Learn:
    • Why your brain replays the scene even when you did nothing wrong
    • What rumination is actually doing for your system
    • The real skill behind walking out of the room without reliving it
    • How to stop chasing a better version of what already happened
    • What quiet confidence looks like when it’s clear and done
    Key Topics:
    • The 2AM mental replay loop
    • Silence as a survival instinct—not weakness
    • The high-functioning reflex to explain, soften, or buffer
    • How to stop rewriting yourself for their comfort
    Chapters:
    • 00:01:44 — The moment you spoke up and still felt unsure
    • 00:02:42 — What it means when your voice shakes
    • 00:05:23 — The survival pattern behind second-guessing
    • 00:06:12 — Silence as a trained protection response
    • 00:07:14 — The instinct to reframe for their comfort
    Next Step: Take the Free Quiz

    Take the Survival Instinct Quiz to confirm your primary survival instinct.

    https://charliehornescoaching.com/quiz

    Get your cinematic archetype cheatsheet with real strategies—and stop mislabeling the signal as a flaw. Get the full 5 Survival Instinct Archetype Series now in a curated auto playlist FREE:

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLydviSJ3yTA8UpwUqOmNwfTQnzkbhyA2t Watch: Lion/Fight

    https://youtu.be/Mf804KS8J9c

    Deer/Flight

    https://youtu.be/n4vK4_ygX5o

    Owl/Freeze

    https://youtu.be/VEt4LKeTWEk

    Fox/Fawn

    https://youtu.be/bYDOYgAXkOY

    Panther/Seek

    https://youtu.be/Mf804KS8J9c

    Take the FREE QUIZ and learn how to tame and train YOU survival instinct archetype!

    #SelfTrust #HighFunctioningWomen #ClarityOverChaos
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • Panther Survival Instinct: The Hidden 5th Fight-or-Flight Pattern & How to Use It

    Panther Survival Instinct: The Hidden 5th Fight-or-Flight Pattern & How to Use It
    Aug 9 2025
    Panther Survival Instinct: The Hidden 5th Fight-or-Flight Pattern & How to Use It

    The room shifts. A detail is off. Most people miss it. You don’t.

    This episode of The Art of Managing Your Brain breaks down the Panther Survival Instinct — the fifth pattern beyond fight, flight, freeze, and fawn — and shows how to turn that scanning precision into a strategy.

    Inside This Episode:
    • What makes the Panther/Seeker instinct different from the four classic responses
    • How the salience network flags changes before anyone else notices
    • Why early detection gets mislabeled as “overthinking”
    • Real-world examples of Panther precision in leadership and relationships
    • Step-by-step micro-coaching to work with your early-warning scan
    • How to separate real threats from echoes of the past
    Resources & Links:

    Panther Toolkit — Limited Time $9.97 (Reg. $29.97): Get the full interactive survival instinct toolkit with cinematic graphics, drills, and a 7-Day Panther Precision Challenge.

    Take the Survival Instinct Quiz: Start here

    Chapters
    • 00:00 – The survival instinct no one talks about
    • 01:06 – Why the quiz missed your pattern
    • 02:37 – Meet the Panther: The Seeker archetype
    • 04:13 – How the Panther scans for early danger
    • 07:44 – Real-world example: Predicting burnout before it happens
    • 10:01 – Understanding your salience network
    • 14:00 – How the Panther instinct gets built
    • 16:47 – Micro-coaching: Turning your scan into a superpower
    • 18:39 – What’s happening in your brain (Amygdala, Hippocampus, PFC)
    • 20:27 – The Panther cycle disruptor
    • 23:21 – Auditing your silence and speaking earlier
    • 27:04 – Why the Panther is leadership, not paranoia
    • 29:14 – Resetting after high-alert moments
    • 32:16 – Special offer: Panther Toolkit $9.97
    • 34:36 – Bonus coaching: Trust your first read
    • 36:15 – Final thought: Your Panther is perfect
    • 38:55 – What’s next: Real-world diagnostic tools
    Questions Answered:
    • What is the Panther survival instinct and how is it different from fight, flight, freeze, and fawn?
    • Why do some people notice problems before anyone else does?
    • How does the salience network in the brain work as an early-warning system?
    • How do you stop second-guessing early signals?
    • How can early detection be used for leadership without burning out?
    • What’s the fastest way to tell real risk from a false alarm?
    Related Episodes:

    The Fight Instinct - Lion Archetype

    https://youtu.be/yEpql4mXYUE

    The Flight Instinct - Deer Archetype

    https://youtu.be/n4vK4_ygX5o

    The Freeze Instinct — Owl Archetype

    https://youtu.be/VEt4LKeTWEk

    The Fawn Instinct — Fox Archetype

    https://youtu.be/bYDOYgAXkOY Full Survival Instinct Series Playlist

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLydviSJ3yTA8UpwUqOmNwfTQnzkbhyA2t

    panther archetype, fifth survival instinct, seeker instinct, hidden survival patterns, salience network, early warning system, overthinking myth, fight flight freeze fawn panther, burnout prevention tools, leadership instincts, micro coaching, survival brain science, nervous system regulation, early threat detection, instinct scanning, hidden archetypes, self leadership skills, managing your brain podcast, Charlie Hornes, early signal detection, burnout science
    Show More Show Less
    40 hrs and 5 mins
  • Letting Go Isn’t the Goal: Real Transformation with Joanna Rajendran | E57

    Letting Go Isn’t the Goal: Real Transformation with Joanna Rajendran | E57
    Aug 2 2025
    E57 | Letting Go Isn’t the Goal: Real Transformation with Joanna Rajendran

    What if “letting go” is just self-abandonment dressed up? In this no-fluff episode, Dr. Charlie Hornes interviews transformation strategist Joanna Rajendran on what actually works when the storm hits. Together, they unpack the myth of mindset shortcuts, why your nervous system craves chaos, and how real transformation happens when you stop outsourcing your worth.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • Why “letting go” is often used to bypass growth
    • How survival-mode ambition mimics doubt
    • What instinct looks like when it masquerades as intention
    • How to build boundaries without isolating
    • Why you don’t need to feel “ready” to shift
    Chapters:
    • 00:00 – Cold open: What no one tells you about “letting go”
    • 03:14 – Joanna’s background: From survival to strategy
    • 08:27 – Joy ≠ avoidance: real recalibration
    • 14:01 – Why happiness doesn’t stick
    • 17:52 – Coping vs. choosing: the behavioral shift
    • 22:35 – Is it doubt or a safety reflex?
    • 30:48 – Why chaos sometimes feels safer than clarity
    • 37:09 – The trap of “feeling ready”
    • 41:55 – The 30-Day Letter method: scripting what's next
    • 48:42 – Power doesn’t require pain
    • 53:10 – Final takeaway: stop outsourcing your worth
    Questions This Episode Answers:
    • What if “letting go” is actually keeping me stuck?
    • Am I reacting from instinct or making a conscious choice?
    • Why do I doubt right before I break through?
    • Can discipline feel like freedom—not punishment?
    Clarification Upgrades:
    • “Fine” is not a feeling—it’s a script
    • Boundaries aren’t walls—they’re instructions
    • Transformation isn’t control—it’s agency
    • Survival instinct isn’t dysfunction—it’s data
    — Want to Keep Going? Start Here —
    • ▶ Work with Joanna (12-Week Course — Save $500)
    • ▶ Take the Burnout Archetype Quiz (Free)
    • ▶ Upgrade & Get My Burnout Equation Masterclass ($97) Special Offer with Joanna's Course
    Related Episodes:
    • E6 OG Joanna - 2024
    • The Complete 4 Archetype Survival Instinct Playlist
    • MUST WATCH Pod Shorts & Clips Playlist
    • E47: What Burnout Really Is—and What It’s Not
    Quote Preview: “Joanna, I just made a decision without doubting myself—for the first time in years. I feel FREE.” —Beth, Week 3 Find Joanna: @joanna.rajendran https://www.joannarajendran.com/ Joanna's Pod: https://www.youtube.com/@TheManifestStationPodcast Kerr County Community Foundation Flood Relief Donations LInk: https://cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=4201&fbclid=IwY2xjawLWMpFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFTV0JkUXk5ZTlZWDgxbzRjAR4DaLjDOM8VVGT6EZoRqPVdqTtITph3c-5YTEYPwr_tZdE6j5YDqaXVCoFohw_aem_VVpHI38XerzdaOM2-4elUQ Hashtags:

    #LettingGoIsNotTheGoal #SurvivalInstincts #BurnoutRecovery

    Search Terms:

    burnout archetypes, letting go isn’t the goal, burnout recovery, mindset mastery, transformation tools, burnout equation, high-functioning women, nervous system healing, trauma-informed coaching, letting go myths, real transformation podcast, self-doubt solutions, survival instincts, clarity vs chaos, burnout podcast, dr charlie hornes, joanna rajendran, burnout archetype quiz
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
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