Early January invites reflection, not pressure.
In this Season 2 opener, I explore why the brain is wired to chase “more,” why that never quite feels like enough, and how small moments of meaning, what I call glimmers, quiet the nervous system and ground us in what already matters.

This episode isn’t about resolutions.
It’s about beginning the year with intention, alignment, and a gentler relationship with yourself.

In the final episode of Season 1, Oliver reflects on a surprising discovery: even a purpose-driven life needs pauses. Inspired by a quiet moment on his balcony, he explores the neuroscience behind intentional rest and why slowing down isn’t stepping away from your values — it’s deepening them.

Learn how the brain uses stillness to integrate meaning, fuel creativity, and reconnect you with the “why” behind your busy days. You’ll hear personal stories, insights from neuroscience, and an invitation to introduce small but meaningful pauses into your week.

✨ Highlights include:
• Why rest is a core part of living with intention
• How the Default Mode Network makes sense of your life when you stop doing
• What to expect when rest starts working
• A closing message as we wrap up Season 1

As we head into a restorative break, thank you for being here — for choosing intention over autopilot. Less Hustle. More Intention. returns in January with a fresh season and fresh energy.

Until then… breathe, pause, and let meaning settle in. 🌿

Life transitions have a way of shaking us awake. They disrupt our routines, challenge our identity, and activate every part of the brain that craves certainty. In this episode of Less Hustle. More Intention, Oliver dives into why even positive change can feel overwhelming, and what neuroscience, mindfulness, and values-based living can teach us about navigating seasons of uncertainty.

Drawing from both research and personal experience, Oliver unpacks:

• Why the brain reacts to change like a potential threat

• How uncertainty activates the cognitive control network

• The simple mental shift that reduces emotional reactivity

• How mindfulness strengthens the brain’s ability to regulate stress

• Why values act as psychological “anchors” during life transitions

• The difference between controlling a moment and being curious about it

Oliver also shares stories from his own recent transitions — shifting identities, expanding professional roles, and learning to trust the process rather than outrun it.

If you’re in a season of change, big or small, this episode will help you understand what’s happening in your brain, reconnect with what matters most, and take your next steps with confidence and intention.

Listen in and discover why uncertainty isn’t a threat. It’s an invitation.

In this episode, Oliver explores how true empathy begins not with understanding, but with curiosity. Drawing from his own experience returning to graduate school alongside a new generation of counselors, he reflects on what it means to connect across age, experience, and perspective. Blending neuroscience and personal insight, this episode reminds us that empathy isn’t something we give. It’s something we build through presence, humility, and the courage to ask, “Can you tell me more?”

Learn more at: ⁠⁠www.equilibriaevolution.com⁠⁠

Connect with Oliver on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/oschnuse⁠

What if your destiny isn’t something that happens to you, but something you build, one micro-decision at a time?

In this episode, Oliver explores how everyday choices (checking your phone, reaching for chocolate, reacting to stress) literally rewire the brain through neuroplasticity. You’ll learn how the prefrontal cortex and dopamine system shape your habits, and how aligning small actions with your values can reshape your future.

It’s a conversation about awareness, intention, and the quiet power of choice.

Listen to discover:

• Why “neurons that fire together, wire together” isn’t just theory; it’s your daily reality

• How micro-decisions carve neural pathways that define who you become

• How to strengthen your prefrontal cortex through values-based living

• A simple reflection practice to bring your brain back on purpose

Less hustle. More intention.
And also: Less projection. More perspective.

Why does saying no feel so uncomfortable, even when we know we’re already stretched too thin? In this episode of Less Hustle. More Intention. Oliver Schnusenberg unpacks the neuroscience behind boundaries and people-pleasing, showing how our brains literally treat “no” as pain.

Through relatable stories, real-world examples, and practical strategies, you’ll learn:

• Why your brain struggles with saying no (and why it feels like rejection).

• The hidden costs of always saying yes: burnout, resentment, and diluted impact.

• Four tools for setting boundaries without guilt, including the Yes–No–Yes formula.

• A simple “Boundary Audit” exercise to help you start saying no with confidence.

You’ll walk away with a new perspective: every “no” is really a “yes” to something that matters more: your energy, your authenticity, and your values.

Because your life doesn’t need more yes’s. It needs more intention.

You’ve crossed the finish line, landed the promotion, or finally paid off that debt. Everyone expects you to feel amazing, and maybe you do, for a moment. But then comes the unexpected dip: restlessness, flatness, or even sadness. That’s what I call the Success Hangover.

In this episode of Brain on Purpose, we explore why achievement can sometimes feel anticlimactic. From dopamine drops and identity lag to the body’s post-stress crash, neuroscience explains why the joy of success often fades faster than we’d like. I’ll also share practical strategies, like savoring your wins, anchoring to values, and creating rituals of closure, that can help you move through the hangover and truly let success land.

Because fulfillment doesn’t come from motion. It comes from meaning.

Why does success sometimes feel… uncomfortable? You finally build a savings habit, find calm, or hit a big goal. And then, out of nowhere, you knock yourself off track. This isn’t just self-sabotage. It’s what psychologist Gay Hendricks calls the upper limit problem: an unconscious ceiling on how much happiness, peace, or success we allow ourselves before retreating to the familiar.

In this episode of Less Hustle. More Intention, Oliver Schnusenberg, finance professor, life coach, therapist-in-training, and neuroscience enthusiast, unpacks the science behind upper limits. You’ll hear:

• A personal story about choking at 16 and how it reveals a “fear of winning”

• Why the brain isn’t wired for happiness but for the familiar

• Common signs you’ve hit your own upper limit

• A 3-step practice to normalize success and let peace feel safe

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t pushing forward. It’s letting success feel normal. Join Oliver for an insightful and practical conversation about raising your ceiling and living more intentionally.