Super Brain explores what really happens inside your head when you do the things you do - and how to use that knowledge to get the best out of your brain and yourself.
From Season Six, neuroscientist and author Dr. Sabina Brennan dives into one everyday human experience per episode - from procrastination to crying, curiosity to trust - to reveal the science behind it and the practical tools that help you navigate life with greater clarity and intention.
Curious, warm and wonderfully human, this is neuroscience you can use: one behaviour, one big insight, three tools for your Super Brain kit to help you think, feel and live better.
Because understanding your brain is the first step to unlocking its power.
New format, same mission — grounded in science, powered by compassion, designed to help you thrive.
Seasons 1 to 5 - Dr Sabina Brennan talks to an eclectic mix of inspiring guests about thriving and surviving in life and shares practical tips to transform your everyday brain into a healthy, happy, Super Brain.
Unleash Your Super Power
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Super Brain explores what really happens inside your head when you do the things you do - and how to use that knowledge to get the best out of your brain and yourself.
From Season Six, neuroscientist and author Dr. Sabina Brennan dives into one everyday human experience per episode - from procrastination to crying, curiosity to trust - to reveal the science behind it and the practical tools that help you navigate life with greater clarity and intention.
Curious, warm and wonderfully human, this is neuroscience you can use: one behaviour, one big insight, three tools for your Super Brain kit to help you think, feel and live better.
Because understanding your brain is the first step to unlocking its power.
New format, same mission — grounded in science, powered by compassion, designed to help you thrive.
Seasons 1 to 5 - Dr Sabina Brennan talks to an eclectic mix of inspiring guests about thriving and surviving in life and shares practical tips to transform your everyday brain into a healthy, happy, Super Brain.
Unleash Your Super Power
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why are we so much harsher on ourselves than we are on others? In this episode of Super Brain, I explore the neuroscience of self-compassion — what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s the antidote to self-criticism.
Drawing on the work of Dr Kristin Neff and Buddhist philosophy, we’ll look at self-compassion as a three-part skill: self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connection. I’ll share research showing how self-compassion reduces stress, quiets the amygdala, and activates brain regions linked to empathy and emotional regulation.
I’ll also explain why self-criticism is a form of self-harm, and why self-compassion is a foundation for flourishing and manifesting happiness, resilience, and contentment.
Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit.
Sabina's books
The Neuroscience of Manifesting
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Psilocybin — the psychedelic compound in so-called “magic mushrooms” — has exploded into headlines and social media feeds. Some call it a miracle cure for depression, others dismiss it as hype. In this episode, I take a clear-eyed look at what the science really says.
I’ll start with Sarah’s story — a young scientist whose life was turned upside down by a cycling accident and who found hope again through a psilocybin clinical trial at Johns Hopkins. Her words: “This trial changed my life.”
From there, I explore:
Finally, I’ll share my Tools in Three so you can separate the real promise from the hype.
Featured Research
Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit.
Sabina's books
The Neuroscience of Manifesting
Follow Sabina Brennan on Instagram
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why do we put off the very things that matter most? In this episode of Super Brain, I explore procrastination — the irrational gap between what we want to do and what we actually do. From ancient Greek philosophy to modern neuroscience, we’ll unpack why our brains resist long-term goals in favour of short-term mood fixes.
I’ll share two leading theories that explain procrastination, what’s happening in the brain when we delay, and why the closer the deadline, the more motivated we become.
And of course, my Three tools for your Super Brain kit will give you practical strategies to shrink tasks, hack your “future you”, and harness the magic of deadlines.
Procrastination is deeply human — but it doesn’t have to rule your life.
References:
📖 The Neuroscience of Manifesting (Dr Sabina Brennan) – on making your goals personal and vivid so they feel worth acting on today.
Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit.
Sabina's books
The Neuroscience of Manifesting
Follow Sabina Brennan on Instagram
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever wondered why you do the things you do, you’re going to love Season Six of Super Brain. In each episode, psychologist and neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan takes you inside your brain to explore what’s really going on when you laugh, cry, procrastinate, or connect. You’ll discover how understanding your brain helps you understand yourself — and unlock your true potential.
This season, Sabina introduces a new format: each episode explores one fascinating aspect of human behaviour, and ends with Three Tools for Your Super Brain Kit — practical, science-based strategies to help you do it better, do it less, or not do it at all.
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and have each new episode drop straight into your playlist.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.
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Dr Sabina Brennan has a fascinating conversation with Prof John Cryan stress neurobiologist and co-author of the Psychobiotic Revolution about the gut and the brain and how bacteria and the food we eat contribute to and are influenced by stress, anxiety, depression and more.
You can follow Prof Cryan on Twitter @JFCryan
You can read more about his research and access his publications
https://www.ucc.ie/en/apc/people/johncryan/
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Dr Sabina Brennan chats to journalist Marianne Power about the year she spent following the advice of one self-help book per month. -The book is like reading a Bridget Jones script only better, you'll laugh and cry and thanks to Marianne's no hold's barred honesty you will recognise yourself on every page. I loved chatting to Marianne and I know you will love listening to our chat.
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Dr Sabina Brennan chats to 20 year old Dr Mya-Rose Craig about her memoir Birdgirl. Already a woman if substance this young woman who has achieved so much in such a short period of time describes herself as a British-Bangladeshi birder, environmentalist, diversity activist, writer, speaker and broadcaster.
Mya-Rose's memoir Birdgirl is available in print, e-book and audiobook online and in stores. You can read about Mya-Rose's work and achievements on www.birdgirluk.com
You can follow her on instagram as @birdgirluk and on twitter as @birdgirluk
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Dr Sabina Brennan takes a look into secret research.
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Dr Sabina Brennan explores the psychology and neuroscience of control, impulsivity, self-control, taking control and relinquishing control.
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Dr Sabina Brennan chats to NHS doctor, Sunday Times best-selling author and host of the The Doctor's Kitchen podcast about how he overcame a life-changing diagnosis and avoided heart surgery by adjusting his lifestyle and changing his diet. In this frank interview Rupi admits that it can be tough to maintain a healthy lifestyle in times of stress and shares the daily habits that help him to get back on track
Download the Doctors Kitchen App to get access to personalised recipes, with specific suggestions tailored to your health needs.
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The Super Brain podcast returns with this audio documentary produced and presented by Super Brain host Dr Sabina Brennan
Dr Edward O'Sullivan, Director of the Migraine Clinic at Cork University Hospital takes us inside the migraine brain offering a medical and scientific perspective and Dr Sabina Brennan shares her own experience of living with chronic migraine.
Migraine is the 7th most debilitating condition in the world (WHO) affecting 10-12% of the population. Vox pops threaded through the doc illustrate the misconceptions and misappropriation of migraine.
This audio documentary aims to bust the myth that migraine is just a headache and get people to think twice about appropriating this neurological condition to describe a hangover or pull a sickie."
Producer/Presenter Sabina Brennan
Editor Emily Burke
Assistant Producer Angela Mezzetti
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Super Brain is back. Season 5 kicks off March 21st 2022 with the audio documentary produced and presented by Dr Sabina Brennan.
Super Brain Episodes will drop every third Monday in the Month
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In this, the final episode of Season 4 Dr Sabina Brennan talks about the benefits of talking to strangers
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Dr Sabina Brennan and multi-award-winning script writer and actor Mark O'Halloran discuss strength and weakness through the lens of his amazing films, Viva and Adam and Paul.
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Dr Sabina Brennan takes a look at synaesthesia a fascinating neurological phenomenon where certain sensory inputs such as words, letters, numbers or music automatically trigger the additional senses like colour, sound, taste and smell.
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Dr Sabina Brennan chats to performing artist, activist and sex worker Kate McGrew about her passion for performing, sex work, and the need to make sex work safe.
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Eureka moments are a specific form of creativity. They don't just materialise from the ether – it’s simply the work of the human brain. In this booster Dr Sabina Brennan shares some scientific insights into this kind of creativity and offers some tips on how to super charge your own creativity.
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BP Walter's Sunday Times best seller, The Dinner Guest is one of the best books I've read in quite some time. As soon as I finished it I felt compelled to contact the author to see if he would be a guest on Super Brain because I wanted to get inside the head of such a fabulous author. I must admit I was utterly blown away to discover that BP aka Barnaby is only 29 years old! This episode is all about thriving in life, having dreams and working hard to make them come true. His new book, another excellent read, The Woman on The Pier, comes out 11th November 2021. Check out www.sabinabrennan.ie for links to his four books, full transcripts of the episode and other bits and bobs.
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Dr Sabina Brennan hands the mic for this booster to sex therapist and self-confessed sez geek Emily Power Smith who shares her top 4 tips for great sex
Emily is a professional member of the World Association of sexual health. Emily is absolutely passionate about providing current and factual information about sexuality, so that people are equipped to make good choices about their own sexual health, their well being and their safety
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I've had a clitoris all of my life and never knew that what we refer to as the clitoris is actually only the sensitive tip of an extensive internal organ that is capable of erection. The clitoris was removed from anatomy manuals in the beginning of the 20th century because its only purpose is pleasure. This video by Betty Dodson sketches out the full extent of the clitoris that is absent from text and medical books.
I've learned so much from my guest this week, sexologist and sex therapist Emily Power Smyth who is on a mission to make sure that the sex we have is safe, consenting and above all pleasurable.
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