Dr. Caroline Leaf Podcast

Difficult & challenging conversations are one of the best ways to use our minds and brains, develop stress resilience, increase creativity and problem solving, and prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers. But they are not easy. In this episode I chat with Coach Yeamah on how to have these difficult conversations, why they are vital, and how these conversations can improve mental & physical health if done correctly.   Special offers from our sponsors:  -BetterHelp (the best online counseling app): To get 10% offBetterHelp counseling during your first month see: https://trybetterhelp.com/drleaf   -BLUblox (the best glasses to reduce your exposure to harmful blue and green light): To get 15% off your BLUblox glasses use the code LEAF15 at checkout: https://BLUblox.com    Podcast Highlights 2:28 How Coach Yeamah went from being afraid to go out her home to living with purpose 4:47 Why we should celebrate our differences, and focus our attention on what we need to change now 5:27 Why yes, all li

Sign up to join my free text program and receive mental health care tips and strategies, exclusive offers and more! Just text DRLEAF to 1 (833) 285 3747 (*Only available for U.S numbers at this time)  The world is in mourning. We have lost friends, family, jobs, finances and our sense of normality to COVID-19. We are coming face to face with the pervasive effects of systematic racism in our society, and its terrible human toll. 2020 has not been “our year”...or perhaps it has, but just not in the way we expected it?  In this episode I spoke to grief expert and therapist Claire Bidwell Smith about how grief is a process that helps us face and deal with loss, how this will look different for everyone, how unresolved grief can cause anxiety and affect our mental health, how to help our children deal with grief and loss, and how grief is a normal part of life and integral to the healing process. We also discus how to deal with the loss of a job, a routine, financial security and more!Special offers from our spons

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Being a mother, woman and professional can be challenging, but this is even more so if you are a mother, woman, professional and a person of color. In this podcast, I speak to my good friend LaTanya Coleman-Carter about being a black female professional from the South, why we need to listen to people of color's experiences, the importance of learning about racism and white privilege, why our educational system needs to change, hood feminism, the "talk" black parents have to give their children, why we need to have diversity in the workplace, how to talk to your children about race and so much more.     This episode was made possible by the following sponsors:   -BiOptimizers (my favorite supplement company): Magnesium Breakthrough Supplement: Get up to 40% off select packages with coupon code DRLEAF10: https://magbreakthrough.com/leaf   -KiwiCo (the best way to keep your children busy and build their brains!): Get YOUR FIRST MONTH FREE on select crates at https://kiwico

Racial prejudice doesn't just hurt the person who is victimized by it, it also impacts the person who inflicts the pain, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Toxic, biased mindsets are real things: they are built into the structures of brain, affecting how we see and interact with the world, which can affect our mental and physical health. Thankfully, we can rewire these mindsets and start changing the way we live, and the way we participate in society. But that's only if we are willing to put in the work to do so.Unwiring prejudice and racial bias from our brains and societies begins with deep, honest conversations, and I hope that this discussion with my two wonderful sons-in-law will impact you as much as it did me.  In this episode we discuss what it is like to be a black man in America, why we are talking about black lives matter and what does it really mean, police brutality and what we can do to change the system, how racism affects our mental health, dealing with trauma, what is going on wit

Register for my 2020 Virtual Mental Health Solutions Summit here:https://www.drleafconference.com  **Early bird tickets end October 15**Sign up to join my free text program and receive mental health care tips and strategies, exclusive offers and more! Just text DRLEAF to 1 (833) 285 3747 (*Only available for U.S numbers at this time) Right now, we are all dealing with a lot. The world is topsy-turvy, and life just seems so…out of whack. But what do you do if you are dealing with all this, and you are stick at home or in quarantine with someone who drives you nuts at the best of times? In this week’s blog and podcast, I speak with bestselling author, speaker and clinical psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud about setting boundaries during quarantine, dealing with difficult people during the COVID-19 crisis, how to help others without enabling them and how not to feel guilty for saying no.     Special offers from our sponsors:  -Blinkist (my favorite reading app): To get your fre

Dr. Amen will be a guest speaker at my 2020 Virtual Mental Health Solutions Summit! Register here:https://www.drleafconference.com  **Early bird tickets end October 15**Sign up to join my free text program and receive mental health care tips and strategies, exclusive offers and more! Just text DRLEAF to 1 (833) 285 3747 (*Only available for U.S numbers at this time)Episode description:  Mental health is a hot topic these days, especially considering the current COVID-19 pandemic, and the enforced social separation and isolation many of us have experienced over the past several months. Even though things are starting to open in many places, we all are facing a world which is dramatically different to the one we knew before the pandemic—so many things are uncertain, which only exacerbates our collective mental distress. Thankfully, as I discuss in this week’s blog and podcast with world-renowned psychiatrist, brain specialist and best-selling author Dr. Daniel Amen, there are ways we can take our ment

We all know that our hormones are important, but did you know that they can impact our mood and mental health as well? In this podcast, I spoke to Dr. Anna Cabeca, an OB-GYN, bestselling author and hormone expert, about the neuroendocrine system, how our hormones affect our mood and mental wellbeing, how the keto diet boosts brain energy and can help us lose weight and what our urine says about our stress levels.  Dr. Anna’s desire to help others was inspired by her own life story. After the traumatic death of her young son, Anna’s health started declining as she went through PTSD-induced early menopause. Even though she was a highly-qualified doctor who trained at one of the best schools in the country, she was at a loss: nothing was working, so she went around the world looking for answers.  During her healing journey, Dr. Anna began to realize the importance of lifestyle choices and habits, and the impact they have on our hormonal health and mental and physical wellbeing. She recognized the importance of a

Join my text group for more tips, notifications of sales, and more! Just text DRLEAF to 80519  Fighting injustice and fighting for what you believe often sounds exciting, but it can come at a great cost. Yet the cost of being inauthentic, of denying who you are and what you believe in, is often greater, and can keep you in bondage, as I discuss in this week’s blog and podcast with speaker, NY Times best-selling author and top podcast host Jen Hatmaker. As Jen discusses in her amazing new book Fierce, Free and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Gloriously You, even though standing up for what you believe is right and embracing who you are and what you want in life can be challenging, the struggle is worth it. On the other side you will find beauty, fulfillment and true freedom.  This week's podcast is made possible by our sponsor BiOptimizers (my favorite supplement company)! BiOptimizers is giving away a FREE bottle of their patented proteolytic probiotic P3-OM until the end of this month. Go to www.p3om.com/le

Learning can be challenging, but did you know it can also be fun and empowering, taking you places you have never been before and helping you achieve your goals and dreams? In this podcast, I spoke with master brain coach, top podcast host and NY Times bestselling author Jim Kwik about how learning how to learn is one of the best things we can do for our mental and brain health, why our ability to use knowledge is our superpower, and how the brain is truly limitless, allowing us to be as intelligent as we want to be! As a child, Jim suffered from several traumatic brain injuries, when affected his ability to perform in school. Eventually, his desperation led to his inspiration: Jim set out to understand how the brain and memory work, and how to learn how to learn. As he notes, this is something that is not often taught in schools, where we are given lots of knowledge to learn, but are not taught how to make the most of this knowledge. Indeed, many of us incorrectly assume that intelligence is something that w

We all know fiber is good for us, but did you also know that it can help with your mental health? In this week’s blog and podcast, I speak with GI specialist and epidemiologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz about how a high-fiber diet can help boost mental and brain health, heal food sensitivities and reduce inflammation in the brain and body! In his amazing new book, Fiber Fueled: The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome, Dr. B notes how even though he was very successful as a medical doctor, his processed food diet was making him miserable, tired and anxious. When he met his wife, he began to understand how real, healthy whole foods could transform his life, which led him on the path he is on today: meeting people where they are in their journey and helping them live their best and healthiest lives. As Dr. B points out, although the current healthcare system is really good at treating acute illnesses, it falls short when it comes to preventative medic

Science is science, right? Unfortunately, this is not always the case, especially when it comes to women’s health. Our understanding of the human brain and body has been clouded by years of gender bias—for decades many scientists and doctors have assumed that men and women are really the same, except for the bits and bobs that can be covered by a bikini. Yet, as this podcast guest and renowned researcher Dr. Lisa Mosconi points out, this kind of “bikini science” has dramatic implications for women’s mental and physical health that go beyond our reproductive organs, affecting every part of the brain and body.  Dr. Lisa Mosconi, PhD, is the Director of the Women’s Brain Initiative and Associate Director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC)/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where she serves as an Associate Professor of Neuroscience in Neurology and Radiology. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the Department of Psychiatry at New York University (NYU) School of Medicine,

For many of us, trauma is something with a capital “T”, a big event or situation, such as a car accident or pandemic, that impacts us in dramatic and unforeseen ways. Yet, as I discuss in this week’s blog and podcast with licensed clinical social worker and therapist Alyssa Mancao, trauma with a lowercase “t” is something many people have to deal with on a daily basis. This kind of trauma, institutional or otherwise, is often normalised and suppressed, which can have a lasting impact on someone’s mental and physical health, compelling them to fight for survival in the face of persistent stressors in their environment. Thankfully, as Alyssa has seen in her social work and her private practice, many people, given the right help, can and do recover from trauma and learn how to reconnect to themselves and their communities in deep and meaningful ways. How? Alyssa focuses on bringing back the human element in therapy, going beyond evidence-based practices and focusing on the individual’s unique story and experienc

We know that our gut affects our mental health, but did you know that the fungi in our gut is especially important when it comes to our mental and physical wellbeing? In this podcast, I discuss how to identify fungal issues in the gut, how gut fungi can affect our mood and mental health, and simple changes we can all make to heal the gut microbiome with Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum. Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum is one of the world’s leading microbiome researchers and the scientist who named the mycobiome, our body’s fungal community. He lectures at many institutions globally, including the National Institutes of Health, on the microbiome and his breakthrough research on probiotics. He’s published over 400 papers on his research and has been cited over 20,000 times by other scientists!  This episode is made possible by our sponsors:Kettle & Fire (the most delicious bone broths): To get 15% off your Kettle & Fire bone broth order see: Kettleandfire.com/drleaf or use code DRLEAF at checkout.​ KiwiCo (the best way to kee

Harvard professor David Sinclair believes that not only can we slow aging down, we can actually reverse it. In this episode, David Sinclair explains the three levels of aging, and what can be done on each level. He describes the lifestyle changes that slow aging down, the drug treatments that begin to stop aging, and experimental new procedures that may actually reverse aging once they are fully developed.David, who has spent decades researching longevity and ageing notes how 80% of how we age is up to us. Although many of us view ageing means a decline in function over time leading to disease and death, we don’t just have to accept that as we get old we will get sick!  Podcast Time Stamps1:50 Why David does what he does 3:54 Is aging a disease? And what can we do about this?8:13 Why 80% of health in old age is up to you10:13 How we can change our epigenome23:07 How David’s father uses his son’s research26:00 The current pandemic36:20 Covid-19 treatments​39:20: How David overcame major life setbacks​ like rej

Yes, we are in the midst of a global crisis. For many people, life is incredibly challenging right now. It is easy to lose hope, and fear what will happen in the future. But did you know that you can also use this time to grow as a person, learn how to make the most of living in the moment and discover the opportunities that present themselves? It is often the case in life that something good is birthed out of something bad. Crises can be watershed moments, compelling us to get out of our comfort zone, teaching us to embrace our fears and helping us make the most of living in the moment, as I discuss in this podcast with leadership expert and best-selling author John Maxwell. Even though events like the current COVID-19 pandemic can disrupt our schedules and plans, we can still find clarity in the present, and make the most of the only time we know we have: right now.  Podcast Time Stamps7:29 Why leaders have to lead differently in times of crisis9:00 The power of living in the moment 14:10 The scientific val

I am sure you have seen the joke floating around social media about “finishing” Netflix. Truth is, many people suddenly have a lot more time on their hands, and are not quite sure what to do or how to make their most of their self-quarantine. While I am not supportive of making this pandemic a productivity contest, I do believe there are ways we can use our timely wisely which will help reduce anxiety and stress! It's vital to remember that productivity does not determine your worth BUT it is helpful to know how to do productivity well so it becomes a good habit. In this podcast, I talk about how to make staying at home more productive, how to get more things done in less time, and how to organize your commitments and make the most of your life with world-renown productivity expert David Allen.  This episode was recorded before the crisis and quarantine but the lessons and tips are so relevant for now. Podcast Time Stamps2:38 How David stays on top of his game6:15 What is the greatest barrier to productivity?

Relationships can be challenging at the best of times, but what do you do when you are stuck in self-quarantine with a difficult person? How do you set boundaries and deal with challenging roommates, partners or family members? In this podcast, I talk about what we can do if it is not safe to go outdoors or stay inside, how to set firm boundaries during this period of self-quarantine and how to navigate difficult relationships with relationship therapist and clinical social worker Nedra Tawwab.  Podcast Time Stamps1:50 Why Nedra loves helps helping people create healthy relationships2:32 What happens if there is a toxic environment at home?3:50 If you are uncomfortable at home, set boundaries! 5:33 What do you do if your relationship was in trouble before the crisis? 7:00 How to handle emotional or verbal abuse?10:55 Triggers are indicators that boundaries need to be put in place. 15:18 What if the people you live with don’t respect boundaries?16:52 Living with someone who doesn’t respect the quarantine19:26

It is widely understood that the mind-body connection is important, but did you know that it has the power to change your life? In this podcast (one of my personal favorites!) I speak to the incredible “Iceman” Wim Hof about the incredible capacity we all have to control our thinking and change our biology, overcome toxic stress and stay strong amidst major crises like the current pandemic.  Wim Hof got his nickname by breaking a number of records related to cold exposure. His feats include climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts, running a half marathon above the Arctic Circle on his bare feet, and standing in a container while covered with ice cubes for more than 112 minutes!  Having embraced the majestic force of nature, Wim became convinced that everyone can tap into this potential without having to invest the same decades worth of study, travel and daring, so he developed the Wim Hof Method: a natural path to an optimal state of body and mind.  Podcast Highlights & Time Stamps6:20 Why we are easily over

We all know we should try our best and strive for excellence in everything we do, but what happens when this desire to do well turns toxic? In this podcast, I speak to clinical psychologist Dr. Margaret Rutherford about how perfectionism can be another manifestation of depression, what to do when our desire to succeed becomes destructive, why we need to learn, rather than fear, our failures and useful techniques to overcome perfectionist tendencies.In her new book, Perfectly-Hidden Depression, Margaret notes how many perfectionists often don’t acknowledge or know that they are depressed, or that their desire to succeed in every area of their lives is a coping strategy to deal with past hurts and trauma. Many do not have what are considered “normal” traits of depression, that is feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. Indeed, in a number of cases they do not know how to express uncomfortable or painful feelings and emotions, and tend to talk about what they have gone through in a very detached way.This type