The Self-Brain Surgery™ Podcast with Dr. Lee Warren - podcast cover

The Self-Brain Surgery™ Podcast with Dr. Lee Warren

Dr. Lee Warrenwleewarrenmd.com
Neurosurgeon and award-winning author Dr. W. Lee Warren, MD delivers weekly prescriptions from neuroscience, faith, and common sense on how to lead a healthier, better, happier life. You can’t change your life until you change your mind, and Dr. Warren will teach you the art of self-brain surgery™ to get it done. His latest book, Hope Is the First Dose, is available everywhere books are sold.

Episodes

Become Happier by Eradicating These Two Thought Cancers

If you're stressed about anything, take heart! Good morning my friend! I hope you’re well. We had an amazing book signing event yesterday at Bible Supplies here in North Platt. Craig, Nancy, and Alyssa are so wonderful, and we’re grateful to have had a chance to meet so many readers and new friends. Today I've got six lessons from the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk to help you change your mind and change your life. Learn to transplant THOUGH and YET for the thought cancers IF and WHEN, and you'l...

Nov 12, 202336 minSeason 8Ep. 49

Thoughts Regulate Gene Expression: Positive Thinking Isn't a Trick

It's Self-Brain Surgery Saturday!Today, a look at the question of whether "changing our minds" is just another self-help gimmick, or if it's really possible to change our lives by changing how we think. This one gets deep into neurobiology and biochemistry, with some surprising answers!Book mentioned: The Genie in Your Genes: Epigenetic Medicine and the New Biology of Intention by Dawson ChurchScripture: II Corinthians 1, 10:5 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to acces...

Nov 11, 202341 minSeason 9Ep. 48

Tricking Your Brain, or Changing Your Mind?

Training Your Brain to Look for the Bright Side Takes Work But it's the secret to becoming healthier, feeling better, and being happier. People who learn to look at every situation and look for some hope or possibility have incredible resilience, better neurochemistry, and are more effective and successful in every measurable way. Here's a talk about why it matters, and how you can get there. Today, a new introduction to Positivity Bias is a Superpower (S8E54) for Throwback Thursday, as a setup ...

Nov 09, 202336 minSeason 9Ep. 46

What's So Amazing?, with Philip Yancey

Join me for another incredible conversation with New York Times Bestselling author, Philip Yancey!We had a great talk about his book What's So Amazing About Grace?, which is now available in a revised and updated 25th anniversary edition. From Amazon:OVER TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD! It's the most powerful force in the universe, our only hope for love and forgiveness, and a foretaste of eternal life: amazing, radical, life-changing grace. Millions of lives have been changed by award-winning author P...

Nov 08, 202341 minSeason 9Ep. 45

When You Know it's Time to Start

Sometimes, God puts something on your heart, and you know: It's time to start.What do you do then?Real life change is hard, scary, and often seems impossible. There's so much inertia in staying put, because even if where you are isn't great, at least you know it and understand it. But sometimes, your mind and your heart just know, and you can't stay still any longer.That's when it's time to start today.Join me as we go back in time to the very first episode of the You Start Today Podcast, as we ...

Nov 07, 202328 minSeason 9Ep. 44

Let Creation Speak, with Dr. Michael Guillen

It's Mind Change Monday!Today, we have a special guest! Dr. Michael Guillen, a best-selling author, Emmy award–winning journalist and former physics instructor at Harvard, used to be an Atheist―until science changed his mind. Once of the opinion that people of faith are weak, small-minded folks who just don’t understand science, Dr. Guillen ultimately concluded that not only does science itself depend on faith, but faith is actually the mightiest power in the universe. Book mentioned: Let Creati...

Nov 06, 202347 minSeason 9Ep. 43

Feeling Stuck? This will help.

Do You Feel Stuck? Here's a look at the brain imaging, neuroscience, and scripture around the ways in which major loss can make us feel stuck. Here’s the science, and what to do about it! (Updated with new material from Season 8, Episode 55, All In for Getting Unstuck)This episode has a video and video transcript available! Click here to watch. Scripture: Lamentations 3 Jesus Calling Podcast While We’re Waiting Podcast This Naked Mind Podcast Science: This amazing article. Books mentioned: Dark ...

Nov 05, 202352 minSeason 9Ep. 42

Remember Where the Storm Is

What to Do When Your Brain Won't Let You Sleep One night last year, there was a terrible storm, and I couldn't sleep. After hours of tossing and turning, I remembered a song from Matt Redman called Songs in the Night. One of the lines is, "So when I am in the storm, Lord the storm is not in me." Then I remembered Psalm 77, in which Asaph handles anxiety and insomnia by singing... songs in the night! Most of the time when I can't sleep, though, it's not because of a storm outside. Usually, it's i...

Nov 04, 202324 minSeason 8Ep. 56

Am I Just a Sack of Neurons?

It's Self-Brain Surgery Saturday!Today, a talk about whether we're stuck with our feelings, diagnoses, or past traumas, or not. Am I just a skin sack of neurons? Or I am I fearfully and wonderfully made? What if we actually have a tremendous amount of control over these things? The good news is, we do! How we think changes how we live, even if we've been through TBI, TMT, or any other type of problem. No diagnosis is more powerful than the incredible smashing together of your brain, mind, and sp...

Nov 04, 202341 minSeason 9Ep. 41

All-In Friendship

To Go All-In, We Need Friends To Come Alongside Us A short talk about the power of real friends. Book mentioned: The Prophet by Khalil Gibran PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book! Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here! Learn more about your ad choice...

Nov 03, 202326 minSeason 8Ep. 58

Near-Death Experiences Can Teach Us About God: John Burke

John Burke Has Interviewed Over 1,500 People After Their Near-Death ExperiencesToday for Frontal Lobe Friday, we learn from New York Times Bestselling author and pastor John Burke what these events can teach us about God. This is one of my all-time favorite Friday Conversations. John's new book is Imagine the God of Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God’s Revelation, and the Love You’ve Always Wanted, available everywhere books are sold on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 (pre-order now here).Learn more ...

Nov 03, 20231 hr 8 minSeason 9Ep. 40

All-In: Fear is a Liar, but Doubt Can be Helpful

Doubt isn't your enemy. You just have to change your mind about it. Self-brain surgery tip #8: Doubt is not a symptom of faithlessness. It says, “I don’t know,” & is a fork in the road. Fear says, “No.” Faith says, “Yes.” Doubt isn’t weakness; it’s an opportunity to trust in the Yes. Scripture: Romans 4:18 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! ...

Nov 02, 202319 minSeason 8Ep. 59

Mistakes

If You Keep Making the Same Mistakes, Don't Give Up! Quiet time around mistakes for Throwback Thursday (Adapted from Season 6, Episode 6) Scripture: Colossians 3:13 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen!Please subscribe to our YouTube channel! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book! Sign up for my weekly Self...

Nov 02, 202316 minSeason 9Ep. 39

New Thing November

It’s New Thing November! It’s a new month, and God wants to do new things in your life. But sometimes, it feels like he’s fallen silent, like he’s not answering our prayers or coming through for us. Why? Today’s podcast looks into how we can’t expect God to do new things if we refuse to change old things that are holding us back. Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19, Hebrews 12:1-2 Book mentioned: God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer by Pete Greig Great article by Lisa Appelo on gratitud...

Nov 01, 202329 minSeason 6Ep. 53

New Thing November 2023

It’s New Thing November! Today, we look at three ideas from neuroscience and three ideas from scripture about how to finally cast off everything that's holding us back and accomplish real life change. If you're ready to become healthier, feel better, and be happier, this is your podcast. Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19, Hebrews 12:1-2, Psalm 37, Isaiah 61, Luke 4 Music by Matthew West and Eileen & Tommy Walker (Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and A...

Nov 01, 20231 hrSeason 9Ep. 38

Preparing Your Mind (Tuesdays with Tata)

It's Tuesdays with Tata!Today, a great talk about the importance of getting your mind ready for whatever comes along. Does life jump up and knock you out? Or do you have a plan in place for how you're going to use your mind to handle anything that happens? Tata takes us through I Peter and other scriptures to show us how to keep our minds ready!Key Scripture: I Peter 1:13PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing...

Oct 31, 202327 minSeason 9Ep. 37

How to Manufacture Hope (Mind Change Monday)

It's Mind Change Monday!Today, a look at how suffering turns out to be good for our brains, and is instrumental to the formation of a hopeful person. Scripture: Romans 5:3-5, II Corinthians 10:5, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book! Sign up for...

Oct 30, 202332 minSeason 9Ep. 36

Love Tomorrow More

There are some incredible lessons to be learned from Psalm 30 (Replay with new transcript available) Here's a quiet time around the idea of letting God make joy come in the morning, by being willing to feel the sorrow tonight. The secret? Love tomorrow more. Scripture: Psalm 30 Music by Matt Maher (Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 ) PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is t...

Oct 29, 202319 minSeason 8Ep. 50

Tuesdays with Tata Classic: Let There Be Light

It’s Tuesdays with Tata! Today, we talk about a curious passage from Zechariah 8:20-23, and what it means to be the light of the world! Plus, a new Tata-ism, fiat lux (“Let there be light”)! Scriptures: Zechariah 8:20-23, Matthew 5:13-16, John 1:1-5, Titus 2:10 Music: Tim Hughes (Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 ) PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playl...

Oct 29, 202329 minSeason 7Ep. 51

How to Hear God, Part 1: Greg Pruett

It's Self-Brain Surgery Saturday!Today, an incredible talk with Greg Pruett, author and president of Pioneer Bible Translators, about how to hear God. Greg's book, Extraordinary Hearing, will change your life and your relationship with God. I can't think of anything more important on Self-Brain Surgery Saturday than learning to change our minds about how God communicates with us. Click here for more information about Pioneer Bible translators! Key Scripture: Isaiah 30:15, I Peter 1:13(Note: This...

Oct 28, 202347 minSeason 9Ep. 35

Self-Brain Surgery Saturday: Suffering Substitution

It’s Self-Brain Surgery Saturday! “Pain is inevitable. But suffering is optional” Haruki Murakami Today, a very personal talk about how to reframe our thinking about long-held narratives, God’s answer to our prayers, and the difference between pain and suffering. “After all, man is that being who invented the gas chambers of Auschwitz; however, he is also that being who entered those gas chambers upright, with the Lord’s Prayer or the Shema Yisrael on his lips. “ Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for ...

Oct 27, 202333 minSeason 7Ep. 21

Prefrontal Cortex, Downstream Thinking, and Loving Tomorrow More

It's Frontal Lobe Friday! Today, we look at the incredible design and function of your prefrontal cortex, and how God uses it to help you find your way even in the hardest moments of your life. A talk about why it's so important to protect your brain, avoid things that harm it, and stay alert so you can let your brain work the way it's meant to so you can become healthier, feel better, and be happier!Book Mentioned: You, Happier by Dr. Daniel AmenHere's some great research about the effect of al...

Oct 27, 202332 minSeason 9Ep. 34

Hope Talks: Laura Barringer

Laura Barringer is a Teacher, Writer, and TMT Survivor We had a wonderful talk about what to do in the acute phase of your massive thing (TMT), what to do when you’re stuck, and how God is faithful in all of it. You can pre-order Laura’s new book, Pivot: The Priorities, Practices, and Powers That Can Transform Your Church into a Tov Culture, by clicking the button below. Laura’s first book, A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing was one ...

Oct 26, 202341 minSeason 8Ep. 61

All-In: Every Day is Day One

It's Day #13 of All-In August, but it's Always Day One! A few thoughts on how to start every day, finding a path forward, and learning to find the light again. Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book! Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery News...

Oct 26, 202324 minSeason 8Ep. 62

Einstein, Jesus, Non-linear Time, and How Long We Should Pray

It's Theology Thursday! Today we ask one question: What does Jesus's command in Luke 18:1 to, "Always pray, and never give up," have to do with Einstein's Theory of Relativity, and a paper on prayer published in the British Medical Journal about the efficacy of prayer? Listen to find out!Scripture: Luke 18, Hebrews 13:8PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the...

Oct 26, 202327 minSeason 9Ep. 33

All-In: Internal Structure

When the Storm Hits, Does it Knock You Down? This is a great look at the internal structures that predict success or failure when life brings us defeat, great triumph, or the thing we thought we wanted. What happens next depends on how you’ve built yourself on the inside. Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a ...

Oct 25, 202339 minSeason 8Ep. 60

A Tiny Taste of Hope, and It's Enough

It's Wildcard Wednesday!Today, a word study ("Limen," "Liminal," "Liminality") and a decision to learn to slow down enough, even in the midst of your massive thing/trauma/tragedy, to taste the hope that's always there. This is a good one! PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my ne...

Oct 25, 202332 minSeason 9Ep. 32

A Complex Thought That's Full of Hope

It's Tuesdays with Tata!Today, some spiritual brain surgery. We take a look at a curious passage in I Peter 4, and Tata shows us how to find the hope in it. Life is hard. Imagine how much harder it would be if we did not have our hope in Jesus!PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on ...

Oct 24, 202333 minSeason 9Ep. 31

The Plan for Hope (Mind Change Monday)

Today is Mind-Change Monday, and we’re taking a look at why you need a treatment plan in place for when life hurts. Music by JJ HellerPLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book! Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here! (Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Pod...

Oct 23, 202326 minSeason 9Ep. 30

A Packet of Hope for Pre-Hab

The secret to resilience when The Massive Thing Happens is having a solid base of pre-hab in your heart. Today, I give you four Insight Spots from MyBridge Radio, our favorite place for 24/7 encouragement. MyBridge is a great place for YOU to find hope!Plus, music from my friend Tommy Walker!PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen! Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs! Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose! Here's a free 5...

Oct 22, 202319 minSeason 9Ep. 29