• The Settle-for-More Shift (S12E89)
    Nov 3 2025
    In this episode, we continue with 100 days of exploring self-brain surgery as a mechanism for personal growth and transformation, leading up to the launch of my next book, ⁠The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery⁠. I introduce a new operation called the "Settle for More Shift," focusing on overcoming feelings of stagnation and dissatisfaction. I empower listeners to reassess their mindsets and identify areas of complacency through self-assessment and practical strategies like journaling. By fostering a growth mindset and using visualization techniques, I encourage you to replace limiting beliefs with empowering narratives. This journey emphasizes aligning your goals with deeper callings while resisting fear and self-doubt. I provide tools for proactive mental health and personal growth, inviting you to embrace the potential within and embark on a path of transformation. ⁠Click here for the transcript⁠ Resources and Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to check out my latest book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sign up for my weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! (Get my free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe!) Pre-order my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery⁠ and get three amazing bonuses! (Enter your receipt/order number to claim your goodies!)
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    46 mins
  • 100 Days to a Transformed Life (S12E88)
    Nov 1 2025
    In this episode, we enter 100 days of exploring self-brain surgery as a mechanism for personal growth and transformation, leading up to the launch of my next book, The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery. Drawing from my experiences as a neurosurgeon and the loss of my son, I emphasize the necessity of reshaping our thought patterns to alter our circumstances. We do a deep dive into neuroplasticity and its role in overcoming sadness, sickness, stress, feelings of being stuck, and settling for less. I provide actionable strategies and principles that encourage you to take control of your mental narratives and foster meaningful connections. The discussion highlights the importance of envisioning your aspirations, addressing your past, and taking definitive steps toward a clearer future. Each episode this month will equip you with practical tools and insights for profound life transformation. I invite you to join me on this journey to harness your mind's power for healing, growth, and hopeful change. Click here for the transcript Resources and Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to check out my latest book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sign up for my weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! (Get my free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe!) Pre-order my new book, ⁠⁠⁠The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery and get three amazing bonuses! (Enter your receipt/order number to claim your goodies!)
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    49 mins
  • The Question that Annihilates Anxiety (S12E87)
    Oct 31 2025
    In this episode, I take a moment to reflect on October and its impact on our journey together as Self-Brain Surgeons. As we transition into November, I want to introduce a shift in focus towards the core concept of self-brain surgery, a practice I believe will significantly enrich your life.With my forthcoming book, The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery, coming in February, November will set the stage for a deeper dive into the mechanics of self-brain surgery, as we explore its potential to reshape not just your thinking, but your entire life.As we embark on this transformative journey, I encourage you to challenge negativity in your thoughts and replace it with constructive possibilities. Embrace the idea that what you focus on in your mind can indeed come to fruition. I reintroduce the concept of the premortem analysis, a strategic approach for evaluating potential outcomes and redefining your path toward success.Your thoughts and perceptions shape your reality. Embracing a mindset of hope and possibility can dramatically change the course of your life. So, this episode wraps up with a powerful question that can annihilate anxiety: "What if everything goes right?" Remember, you've been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, and that empowerment is at the heart of what we're cultivating through self-brain surgery. In this episode, I'll show you that having all your fears come true is no more likely than everything working out okay, and how you use your mind to map out your steps helps determine where you wind up. Join me as we gear up for a powerful November packed with tools, training, and the support you need to rewrite your narrative. Together, we will harness the power of self-brain surgery to navigate your path to purposeful living, inspired action, and profound change. Let’s step into this new chapter ready to reshape our thoughts, lives, and destinies meaningfully. Click here for the transcript Resources and Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to check out my latest book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sign up for my weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! (Get my free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe!) Pre-order my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery⁠ and get three amazing bonuses! (Enter your receipt/order number to claim your goodies!)
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    19 mins
  • Neuroplasticity and God's Plan for Your Healing (S12E86)
    Oct 27 2025
    In this episode, I speak with Leanne Ellington about the intersection of neuroscience and faith. Leanne shares her journey of overcoming struggles with food and body image, advocating for women to break free from societal pressures. We discuss her application of self-brain surgery and how understanding neuroplasticity leads to transformative change. We explore the complexities of habit change and practical strategies for rewiring the brain, emphasizing that true transformation starts within. Leanne underscores the importance of accountability and radical responsibility in the healing process, offering resources for listeners to further their journey. This episode reinforces that change is possible through the blend of faith and neuroscience. Click here for the transcript⁠.⁠ Resources and Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leanne's website Leanne's guest host of Spiritual Brain Surgery (She recently hosted THREE episodes, and you can find them all on our YouTube channel) Leanne has two incredible podcasts, ⁠⁠What's God Got to Do With It? ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠Outweigh⁠⁠. My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to check out my latest book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sign up for my weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! (Get my free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    40 mins
  • Suffering, the Brain, and the Mind (S12E85)
    Oct 24 2025
    In this episode, I speak with Dr. Sharon Dirckx, an Oxford neuroscientist, about her book Broken Planet, which explores the connections between neuroscience, suffering, and faith. We discuss the nature of suffering in natural disasters, highlighting survivor resilience and distinguishing between moral and natural evils. Dr. Dirckx emphasizes that suffering reflects our broken world rather than divine punishment and shares how mindset influences healing. We also address the relationship between climate change and natural calamities. This conversation offers listeners insights on coping with suffering and finding hope through faith amidst challenges. ⁠Click here for the transcript⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Note: Computer-generated transcripts are not perfect. Dr. Dirckx's name is misspelled throughout the transcript.) Resources and Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sharon's website Sharon's book, Am I Just My Brain? Sharon's book, Broken Planet Sharon's book, Why? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to check out my latest book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sign up for my weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! (Get my free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe!) Pre-order my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery⁠
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    48 mins
  • Feel Lost and Alone in Life? Do This. (S12E84)
    Oct 20 2025
    In this episode, I speak with my good friend Christopher Cook, author of Healing, What You Can't Erase, about navigating wilderness periods of disconnection from God during hardship. Chris shares his personal journey through grief and health struggles, illustrating how faith can transform these experiences. We discuss the importance of grounding ourselves in Scripture and seeking God's presence for peace. Chris shows us that healing often occurs through recognizing God's closeness in suffering and the value of community in processing pain. Click here for the transcript⁠ Resources and Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out Chris's website here. Chris is on Substack! Here's one of my favorites of his posts. Chris's book Healing What You Can't Erase: Transform Your Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health from the Inside Out. Chris has an incredible podcast and YouTube Channel! ⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to check out my latest book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sign up for my weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! (Get my free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe!)
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    56 mins
  • From Rupture to Repair (S12E83)
    Oct 17 2025
    In this episode, I discuss the intersection of neuroscience and faith with Cyd and Dr. Geoff Holsclaw, authors of the new book Landscapes of the Soul. We explore how attachment theory can help address feelings of disconnection in our spiritual lives, focusing on the importance of relational attachment and early experiences. We examine the four emotional landscapes- jungle, desert, war zone, and pasture- and discuss strategies for nurturing secure connections with God and others. The episode emphasizes the transformative power of vulnerability and awareness in fostering joy and intimacy. Ultimately, we highlight pathways to deeper connection and spiritual fulfillment, along with a chance to win a copy of Landscapes of the Soul. Click here for the transcript⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Resources and Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Cyd and Geoff's new book, Landscapes of the Soul The Holsclaw's website Geoff's powerful writing on Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to check out my latest book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sign up for my weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! (Get my free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe!) Pre-order my new book, ⁠⁠The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery
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    54 mins
  • The Girl on the Bathroom Floor (S12E82)
    Oct 13 2025
    In this episode, I talk with Amber Emily Smith about her devastating experience following the drowning of her son, River. Amber shares insights from her new book, The Girl on the Bathroom Floor, reflecting on grief, healing, and the duality of joy and sorrow. We discuss how she and her husband, musician Granger Smith, took practical steps to navigate their loss together and protect their marriage. We talk about her devastating second loss, another "bathroom floor" moment when she suffered a miscarriage. This conversation offers comfort and encouragement for anyone grappling with loss. Click here for the transcript⁠ ⁠ Resources and Links⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amber's book, The Girl on the Bathroom Floor Amber's website (merchandise, her foundation, and more!) ⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Playlist on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I've Seen the End of You⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be sure to check out my latest book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope Is the First Dose⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Sign up for my weekly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! (Get my free Thought Biopsy Worksheet when you subscribe!) Pre-order my new book, The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery
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    32 mins