In this exciting episode of the Peak Performance Perspectives Podcast, host Mark Talukdar talks with Dr. Loretta Breuning, bestselling author of Habits of a Happy Brain and founder of the Inner Mammal Institute. Together, they explore how to boost your happy brain chemicals dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins to improve mental health, emotional wellness, and everyday joy.
Do you ever wonder why you feel the way you do? Dr. Loretta explains how our brains are wired from childhood and how these old brain patterns shape our daily habits, stress responses, and even our relationships. Learn how to rewire your brain with positive habits that last a lifetime.
🧠In this episode, you'll discover:
How to increase dopamine naturally for better motivation
What serotonin teaches us about confidence and social status
Why oxytocin builds trust and connection
When endorphins reduce pain and bring short-term relief
How to avoid stress overload and manage your cortisol levels
Easy tips to change bad habits and build strong neural pathways
Simple tools for improving emotional intelligence and resilience
💡 Dr. Loretta shares clear, science-based answers about habit change, brain chemicals, and the real reason we repeat the same patterns. She also explains how social comparison, past trauma, and “quick fixes” like junk food, alcohol, or social media are wired into the brain and how to take control with simple steps.
🏋️ Whether you want to stop bad habits, boost your mental fitness, or improve your emotional well-being, this episode is full of powerful tools. Mark and Loretta talk about behavioral science, psychology, and self-improvement in a way that’s fun and easy to understand even for beginners.
🎧 Don’t miss this deep yet simple look at how the brain works and how YOU can build better habits starting today.
Offer
5-Day Happy Chemical Jumpstart:https://InnerMammalInstitute.org/newsletter
Bio
OaklandLoretta Graziano Breuning, PhD, is the author of Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin and Endorphin Levels. She's Founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and Professor Emerita of Management at California State University, East Bay. Dr. Breuning's many books, videos and podcasts explain the brain chemistry we've inherited from earlier mammals. It shows that our "happy chemicals" evolved for specific jobs, not to flow all the time for no reason. Our brain is not designed to produce constant happiness, yet Dr. Breuning's work explains the natural way to enhance our power over these chemicals. Her ten books have been translated into sixteen languages. Before teaching, Loretta worked for the United Nations in Africa. Today, she gives zoo tours on animals behavior, after serving as a Docent at the Oakland Zoo. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Tufts. The Inner Mammal Institute offers videos, podcasts, books, blogs, multimedia, a training program, and a free five-day happy-chemical jumpstart. Details are available at InnerMammalInstitute.org.
Connect with her
https://InnerMammalInstitute.org
