In this episode of The Business of Thinking, Richard Reid sits down with Loretta Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute, to explore the primal neurochemistry driving human behavior. Loretta reveals how "happy chemicals" like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin were designed for animal survival and how these ancient pathways still dictate our professional lives and personal success today.

Key Takeaways

Our brains are wired by early childhood experiences, creating neural "highways" that influence our adult reactions to competition and reward.

Understanding the mammal brain allows high achievers to move beyond surface-level motivation and master their emotional responses to workplace stress and social hierarchies.

Episode Highlights

Loretta discusses the reality of social hierarchies and why the drive for status is a natural biological impulse rather than a character flaw.

She breaks down the role of cortisol in decision-making, explaining how the brain decides when to "persist with a chase" or "cut losses" in a business context.

Finally, she provides a roadmap for retraining the brain through repetition to build new, healthier habits.

Timestamps

00:50 Loretta’s journey from professor to brain behavior expert

06:17 The four happy chemicals and survival behavior

12:42 Serotonin, social dominance, and workplace competition

19:49 Oxytocin and the evolutionary need for protection

31:29 Lion’s perspective: Using cortisol for better business decisions

35:11 Strategies for retraining childhood neural pathways

🔗 Connect with Loretta Breuning

Website: InnerMammalInstitute.org

Free 5-day Happy Chemical Jumpstart: https://InnerMammalInstitute.org/newsletter

LinkedIn: Loretta Breuning

Instagram: @inner.mammal.inst

Facebook: LorettaBreuningPhD

YouTube: @InnerMammalInstitute

⭐️ Connect and Subscribe

Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com.

Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

In this episode of The Business of Thinking, Richard Reid sits down with entrepreneur and author Joel Steele to discuss the psychology of resilience.

Joel shares his raw journey from facing borderline bankruptcy and life-threatening situations to building a thriving financial services business. He introduces the concept of the "Life Switch" - the internal choice to stop coasting and start living with intentionality.

Key Takeaways

Awareness is the first step toward high performance. Joel explains that we all possess internal assets and "pre-wiring" for success, but they remain dormant until we consciously "power them on" through vision and action. He emphasises that failure is only final if you accept it as a dead end rather than a pivot point.

Episode Highlights

Joel discusses how he transformed a failed restaurant venture and half a million dollars in debt into the foundation for a successful financial career.

He provides a masterclass on channeling anxiety into activity, explaining how to use fear as high-octane fuel for your goals.

The conversation also covers the importance of "self-actualization" and why tuning out digital distractions is essential to tuning into your purpose.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Joel Steele

02:43 - Overcoming bankruptcy and near-death experiences

05:55 - Transforming $500k of debt into a winning business

08:39 - The power of vision and your internal "GPS"

14:36 - Embracing the "Hard Road" and avoiding regret

18:18 - Converting anxiety and fear into productive activity

31:25 - How to extract your ideas and make them tangible

32:41 - The "Life Switch" mission and a $1M charity goal

🔗 Connect with Joel Steele

Website: BookJoelSteele.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-steele-9685888

Instagram: @lifeswitchofficial

⭐️ Connect and Subscribe

Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com.

Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

In this episode of The Business Of Thinking, host Richard Reid is joined by Vanessa Abraham, a dedicated speech-language pathologist whose career and life took a dramatic turn in 2019. Vanessa shares her harrowing journey from being a medical provider to becoming a patient paralyzed by a sudden neurological disorder that left her unable to speak or eat. She provides a raw look into the psychological toll of medical trauma, describing the "profound depression" and "invisible disabilities" that often go unaddressed after a patient leaves the ICU.

Vanessa discusses her transformation into a "crazy researcher," diving into neuroplasticity and innovative healing modalities like the Neubie device to reclaim her life. Her story is a powerful testament to the psychology of high performance and the importance of purpose, reminding listeners that "when people have a purpose, they’re willing to withstand pretty much anything".

Key Takeaways

The episode explores Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), highlighting the cognitive deficits, anxiety, and PTSD that survivors face long after physical recovery.

Vanessa emphasizes the necessity of a trauma-informed approach in healthcare, looking at a patient’s mental state and nervous system functioning as the primary foundation for physical healing.

A major theme is the power of intellectual humility, where putting aside pride and asking "dumb questions" becomes the ultimate tool for innovation and recovery.

The conversation delves into the shift from sympathetic to parasympathetic drive, explaining how creating a relaxed state allows the body and brain to repair itself.

Episode Highlights

Vanessa describes the rapid onset of her illness, going from a healthy, active lifestyle to being ventilated in the ICU within 48 hours.

She explains the "missing piece" of healthcare: the lack of mental health support once a patient is discharged and the support system of the hospital slips away.

The discussion covers Vanessa's book, Speechless, which serves as a guide for clinicians and survivors to understand the human side of medical trauma.

Vanessa shares her future mission, including hosting workshops and retreats to educate medical providers on the realities of PICS and medical trauma.

Timestamps

00:12 - Introduction to Vanessa Abraham and speech pathology

01:32 - Transition from clinician to paralyzed patient

03:56 - The rapid onset of a life-changing neurological disorder

08:28 - Discussing Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)

11:37 - Researching neuroplasticity and natural healing modalities

16:44 - The grieving process and losing one's identity

22:59 - How the Neubie device aids in neurological recovery

26:55 - Redefining trauma-informed care in medical practice

31:50 - Upcoming workshops and the Speechless book

🔗 Connect with Vanessa Abraham

Website: www.aneuhealing.com

Instagram: @speechless_slp

To purchase book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cjvA4ao

Facebook: Speechless SLP

⭐️ Connect and Subscribe

Thank you for joining us on The Business of Thinking podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating! It helps us bring more insightful content on the psychology of high performance. Find more about Richard Reid’s work at www.richard-reid.com.

Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/