THRIVING MINDS PODCAST - podcast cover

THRIVING MINDS PODCAST

Professor Selena Bartlett, Neuroscientist, Brain Health is Everyone's Businesswww.profselenabartlett.com

Do you want to learn how to build resilience, boost your cognitive performance, and achieve mental agility? Then it's time to discover the exciting world of brain health and fitness with Thriving Minds. Hosted by renowned neuroscientist Professor Selena Bartlett, Thriving Minds is a podcast dedicated to exploring the latest advances in brain science education. 

With decades of experience studying addiction, stress, and mental health, Professor Bartlett is a true expert in her field. And she's on a mission to empower people to take control of their mental and physical well-being. So what makes Thriving Minds so unique? 

It's not just about theory – it's about practical tips and simple tools that you can use to improve your brain health and fitness right now.  From understanding how stress wires the brain, the power of cold exposure, nutrition and exercise and connection. 

Thriving Minds is also a deep dive into cutting-edge brain science and digital technology. From neuroplasticity to brain imaging, Professor Bartlett and her team are at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field. They're exploring the latest research and innovations and sharing their insights with listeners around the world.And the best part? 

Let's make brain health everyone's business. They're inspiring people to take action and create a culture of mental fitness, where people prioritise their brain health as much as their physical health. 
 
Tune in to the podcast and discover the secrets of brain health and fitness. Whether you're looking to boost your cognitive performance, reduce stress, or improve your overall well-being, Selena and her team are here to help you thrive. 

The opinions expressed in the podcast are Selena Bartlett's personal opinion and her guests. They are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, psychology or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The opinions in the podcast do not reflect the opinion of Queensland University of Technology.

Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Episode #92. Make your Brain SMARTER with Dr Sandra Chapman. Founder of the Centre for Brain Health, UT Dallas

Making brain health everyone's business with Dr. Sandi Chapman is one of the nation’s preeminent cognitive neuroscientists furthering our understanding of what makes the brain stronger, faster and last longer. She is committed to enhancing human cognitive capacity and the underlying brain systems across the lifespan. She is committed to democratizing access to brain health strategies and tools to achieve for brain health what has been done for heart health in individuals ages 10 – 100 from all w...

Jun 13, 202249 minEp. 92

Episode #91 Prescription mindfulness, how much is enough and too much with Dr Sarah Strohmaier, Mindfulness researcher, UK

Prescription mindfulness, how much is enough , how much is too much with Dr Sarah Strohmaier, Mindfulness researcher, UK A short time of mindfulness, 5 mins, over 2 weeks compared to a longer-term, 20 mins over 2 weeks is more effective for people that have not practiced mindfulness before. Understanding- think about running a marathon, would not expect to run a marathon on the first day. Start small and pay attention to the breath. Sarah’s Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/sarahstrohmaier Sa...

Jun 06, 202246 min

Episode #90. Wim Hof ice baths are rewriting the medical textbooks. Learn the beauty of a cold shower with Dr Diwadkar, the neuroscientist that imaged Wim's brain.

Dr Diwadkar has imaged the Iceman's brain- Wim Hof. "They have shown how his brain responds during experimentally controlled whole-body cold exposure. These investigations are part of the scientists' series of seminal studies launched in 2014 on how the human brain responds to thermoregulatory challenges. The results document compelling brain processes in The Iceman and present intriguing possibilities for how his techniques might exert positive effects related to disorders of the immune system ...

May 29, 202259 min

Episode #89. Oh sugar, we need to talk. How sugar can rewire your brain - true story - and how to give it up- an addiction on the on the Healthy-ish podcast.

Learn why sugar is embedded in the food chain, is addictive and what to do about it. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-neuroscientist-on-sugar-the-damage-to-your-brain/id1246679887?i=1000557120286 Interviewed on the Healthy-ish podcast by Felicity Harley. She has 20 years media experience, Felicity Harley is one of the most respected editors in women's publishing. In 2017 she launched whimn.com.au, before which she was launch editor of Women's Health magazine. During her nine year tenure, ...

May 16, 202211 min

Episode #88. Inspiring Connections. Why we take a side, who is hot or not the beginnings of facebook. Dr Mark Williams, cognitive neuroscientist

Dr Mark Williams who is a cognitive neuroscientist discusses his new book. The Connected Species: How the evolution of the human brain explains and offers solutions for societal challenges including racism, sexism, marginalisation, and extremism. Mark says in his book: "as a card-carrying cognitive neuroscientist, I firmly believe that understanding our brain and how it works will help us understand our behaviours and how to control them. Since I started studying the human brain some 25 odd year...

May 14, 20221 hr 12 min

Episode #87. Good reasons for bad feelings. A new approach to mental disorders. All about social anxiety and emotions and evolution with Dr Randolph Nesse, Psychiatrist and Professor and Founder of Evolutionary Medicine

In the podcast we discuss with Dr Randolph Nesse his foundational and pioneering work in evolutionary medicine and his work with patients. He talks with his patients and explains to them that, in many cases, their disorders are not a disease or some kind of failing, as they have been told by other practitioners, but rather a natural and inherently useful response that has “gone overboard”. Evolution makes women on average twice as prone to excessive anxiety as men for good reason. Nesse reports ...

May 07, 202257 min

Episode #86 "Boys do Cry" Trigger warning- we discuss suicide and what to do about it- prevention. Sunlight Centre opens a door to prevent suicide in our community. Ken Loftus, 20 yrs as a counsellor and Founder

Hello everyone, this is such an important and very delicate conversation with an expert. I do hope you find useful resources and compassion in this podcast. If you are struggling and have suicidal thoughts, please know you are not alone and help is available. Please contact any one of the following organisations in Australia are listed below, at the bottom of this post. "Boys do Cry" In this episode we discuss suicide and suicide prevention with an expert that has helped people for the last 20 y...

Apr 30, 20221 hr 13 min

Episode #85. Are you addicted to processed food, chicken breasts, the Western diet, what it is and what you can do about it with Dr Robert Lustig

Join us today, learn all about how the western diet is making us unhappy, unhealthy, and weak. Dr Robert Lustig is a pioneer and advocate, author of "Fat Chance" and "Metabolical". You can learn more at his website and links below. Addicted to the western diet. Dr Lustig discusses on the podcast that certain foods — “hyperpalatable foods” — particularly processed foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat can be addictive. Food addiction is still a controversial concept in the scientific communi...

Apr 08, 20221 hr 9 min

Episode #84. "Mind the Hype". Sharing the open secret about the side effects of mindfulness and meditation with Assoc Professor Nicholas Van Dam.

“Mind the Hype” An open secret about the side effects of mindfulness and meditation Did you know that mindfulness and meditation can cause sickness and side effects for some people? You may be shocked to read and learn about this. As all the information tends to portray that nothing can go wrong with mindfulness and meditation and every gets better. There have been about many articles published about its benefits, so much so, that sometimes people feel that they are bad for not practicing and no...

Apr 04, 202256 min

Episode #83 Sharing the cheat codes of life with Kurt Fearnley. He asks of us "Who are we?"

In this extraordinary episode with Kurt Fearnley. He asks us to think about who we are? Are you the type of person that gives blood once a month.? Are you the person that runs next door to help someone in need? Are you a paraolympian representing your country? At this extraordinary time in history, with the world order changing. What a great time to reflect on this question. Would you stay in Australia to fight if you had to? What does it mean to be Australian? All this and more in the episode t...

Mar 04, 202244 min

Episode #82. Escape with us to relieve some stress with Sarrah Le Marquand, Chief Editor Stellar and Body and Soul Magazine.

There is no doubt, to be human right now is not easy. It is almost impossible not to feel the shift underneath in the world order and the feeling is palpable. For us in Queensland and NSW, this is on top of catastrophic floods, and the pandemic. It is Ok to be human and feel the suffering. It is also OK, to escape for a few minutes into worlds that seem far removed from danger, clean-up, masks, and strife. This is the beauty of creating worlds for others to escape to. Join us today with Sarrah L...

Feb 28, 20221 hr 8 min

Episode #81. The Slow Silent Killers hidden in foods and drinks and what we can do about it. Dr James Mueke AM, Lieutenant Governor South Australia, Australian of the Year 2020

Imagine knowing that there are ingredients in food and drinks that when consumed over time are slowly and silently leading toward type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and in the worst case blindness. In this powerful episode with Dr James Muecke AM who is the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia and an Adelaide-based eye surgeon we discuss how a poor diet is the leading cause of death. The startling understanding that type 2 diabetes may be preventable through changing our diet. A pivotal mome...

Feb 22, 20221 hr 3 min

Episode #80. How exercise helps us remember better and extends our lifespan with Dr Tara Walker, neuroscientist.

I can hear you now. I don’t run, or I am too old to run or the classic, I want to protect my knees, and the list goes on. This is exactly what I use to think. Exercise is the one thing shown across several studies to help the brain produce new cells or neurons, also called neuroplasticity. Dr Tara Walker, a neuroscientist, at the Queensland Brain Institute has spent the last 20 years trying to work out how running helps the brain’s memory centres function more effectively. In a recent high-profi...

Feb 16, 20221 hr 5 min

Episode #79. Why kindness at work works. What is your money, joy and love equation with James Rhee.

James Rhee now has 1 million views on TED, for his kindness at work talk. This is not the “being nice” version of kindness nor the “Love Eat Pray” version of love. This is about the human need to be seen and heard and the feeling of safety generated that leads the people and their brain health toward creativity, innovation, and purpose. James is an expert at building back businesses, especially when they on their knees, through optimising the unmeasurable, “goodwill” of its people and translatin...

Feb 01, 20221 hr 5 min

Episode #78. People are everything. Creating, fashion and neuroscience with Lydia Pearson.

Have you wondered how you create a brand-new product, an idea or way of living out of nowhere? Today, we speak to Lydia Pearson, fashion designer and teacher and someone creating new products and ideas every day. Having led a global fashion brand, Easton Pearson, through the highs and lows of the picky and tricky fashion world. Lydia is not shy about giving something hard a good shot. Nor is she afraid to pull the pin when things are not feeling right. Her biggest lesson in life is that people a...

Jan 27, 202242 min

Episode #77 What it takes to break a cycle of disadvantage to become happy, healthy and successful. Mark Ryan's incredible story of success.

Mark Ryan's story of courage. He grew up in a single-parent household in public housing in Redcliffe, north of Brisbane (parents divorced when my twin brother and I were three years of age after a relationship characterised by domestic violence - mental and physical) He showed promise academically and was included in various gifted and talented programs as a child - One of the first students offered a 'Learning for Life' scholarship through The Smith Family in 1997, which allowed me to study Law...

Dec 13, 202146 min

Episode #76 How to engage young people using neuroplasticity with Sheryl Batchelor

For decades Sheryl Batchelor, CEO and Founder of Yiliyapinya Indigenous Corporation has been teaching young people about their brain to improve cognition and self-regulation. In the podcast, we discuss the techniques she helps to engage young people with neuroplasticity. The revolution of the 80s and 90s taught us how important physical exercise is for our overall health and well-being, brain fitness is the next step forward in that revolution. Just like your physical body, it is now scientifica...

Dec 06, 202155 min

Episode #75 Beating the Odds to Raise the Profile of Teachers. Meet Professor Marcia Devlin, CEO Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership

Dr Marcia Devlin is a qualified teacher and registered psychologist who began her education career as a primary teacher before moving into the tertiary sector.​ She has extensive experience in professional learning for teachers and facilitating improved student learning, including through excellent teaching and learning leadership.​ Her most recent executive role was Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University and previously, she has held executive and senior roles at Federation Univers...

Nov 28, 202137 min

Episode #74. How to unleash your creative brain on the "Common Creative" podcast with Paul Fairweather and Chris Meredith

Let's talk about brain training! Professor Selena Bartlett is a Group Leader in Neuroscience and Neuroplasticity at the Translational Research Institute and a Research Capacity Building Professor at QUT. Join us for a fantastic conversation about brain training, flow states and the importance of working in teams for creativity. Links/References Selena Bartlett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drselenabartlett/ Selena Bartlett website: https://www.profselenabartlett.com/ Thriving Minds Podcast: https...

Nov 24, 202132 min

Episode #73 Designing your teams to flow with Professor Lisa Scharoun and Head of School Design at QUT.

Imagine exiting a train station and rounding the corner in an urban part of London for the first time, on your own without knowing a single person to start studying in a Design School, after growing up in a small town. This is exactly the unlikely path taken by Lisa Scharoun, now Professor and Head of the School of Design. This never occurred to her growing up as one of 5 children in the middle of rural U.S.A. As Steve Jobs famously quoted you can only join the dots looking backwards. What comes...

Nov 09, 202148 min

Episode #72: Learn about psychedelic research advances for the treatment of addiction and depression with neuroscientist and psychedelics researcher Dr Allison Fedducia

Allison Feduccia, PhD is a neuropharmacologist, psychedelic researcher, and a builder of virtual and in-person communities. She is the Co-Founder of Psychedelic.Support and Project New Day. In these roles, Allison facilitates the spreading of evidence-based knowledge, connection to resources, and strategies for individuals to maximize the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics through safe and responsible practices. Prior to this, she worked on studies researching psychedelics and treatm...

Oct 14, 202139 min

Episode #71: Use the boxer within. How martial arts boosts mental health with Vickie Simos

Vickie Simos talks about how martial arts can increase confidence, reduce anger, and lead to an overall boost in mental health. After years of self-doubt and self-deprecation, Vickie Simos has made many discoveries about who she was and who she wants to be – a confident, strong person who considers herself worthy of all the best life has to offer. Thelo (Teach, Help, Elevate, Lives, Organically) was founded from these experiences and the desire to share her hard learned knowledge and help other ...

Oct 13, 202127 min

Episode #70. Developing an entrepreneurial mindset no matter what age. Professor Rowena Barrett, Pro Vice Chancellor, Entrepreneurship, QUT

Professor Rowena Barrett is an expert in thinking innovatively and being entrepreneurial to get things done. She is QUT’s latest Pro Vice-Chancellor driving the strategic priority for Entrepreneurship. She leads QUT Entrepreneurship, a team of passionate individuals with years of experience to deliver the whole-of-university initiative providing entrepreneurial skill and mindset learning opportunities for the entire QUT community. Rowena is an authentic leader bringing integrity, purpose and com...

Sep 23, 202141 min

Episode #69: Taking risks, learning 3 languages at 21 and what it took to realise a big dream. Meet Alice Betts, PR Manager for ACNE studios, who is about to head to Paris Fashion week.

What does it take for a young woman raised in Brisbane Australia to become the PR manager of a top fashion brand in Sweden? Alice Betts started out of high school not knowing exactly what she wanted to do. But born adventurous, with a lot of ambition, and family support, she moved to Norway first, then Denmark and then got her first big break as an intern at ACNE Studios. She learnt Norwegian, Danish and Swedish starting at the age of 21. She works fluently in Swedish as the PR manager for ACNE ...

Sep 13, 202131 min

Episode #68 Bring some joy and a smile to lighten your load and raise your spirit. Primary school students visit our lab and ask amazing brain science questions

Need something to lift you and make you smile. Junction Park Primary school students visit the lab and learn about the brain. They ask the most fantastic questions and made us so happy. It is only fair that you are able to enjoy this one too. Thank you John Bray and Junction Park students for embracing neuroscience and the future. We may have some great scientists on the way. Support the show Subscribe and support the podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new Learn more at www....

Aug 19, 202110 min

Episode #67: Learn about the new brain health economy. William Hynes, Head of New Approaches to Economic Challenges at OECD.

William Hynes is a Senior Advisor to the Secretary General and the Head of the New Approaches to Economic Challenges (NAEC) Unit which provides a space to question traditional economic ideas and offer new economic narratives, new tools, methods and policy approaches. He previously worked as a Senior Economist at NAEC, Advisor in the Sherpa and Global Governance Unit, a policy analyst in the Development Co-operation Directorate and an Economic Affairs Officer at the World Trade Organisation. Will...

Aug 17, 202124 minEp. 67

Episode #66 Facing fear and an uncertain future she set herself on adventures and travelling alone. From Galapagos to picking avocados. Meet TV presenter Vanessa O'Hanlon.

Today we are joined by Vanessa O'Hanlon, TV presenter, journalist and adventurer. Facing fear of job loss, covid19 and career uncertainty. She jumped into her car and went on a roadtrip that changed her life. This plus many other adventures are what enable her to thrive despite the unknown. Her motto- wherever the fear is- lean into it and that is where the joy is to be found. www.profselenabartlett.com Support the show Subscribe and support the podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/suppo...

Aug 03, 202129 min

Episode #65 Advice for parents in lockdown with kids. Tips and tricks from Michelle Newnan following 5 lockdowns in Melbourne

Michelle Newnan lives in Melbourne with her husband and two children, a greyhound and a cat. She is a full time Mum and works as a freelance photographer. Her family does the ice challenge, tracing and other exercises that focus on brain health. She is an amazing woman that is taking her family into a thriving mindset despite grief, tragedy and other life circumstances. An amazing interview with many pieces of advice to help other people in the same situation. www.profselenabartlett.com Support ...

Aug 02, 202128 min

Episode #64. The micro-steps that changed Eleanor Carey's mindset to become comfortable with the uncomfortable to become a world class adventurer

Stepping into the unknown is something that Eleanor Carey has done over and over again. It is something that both excites and frightens her every single time. From cycling solo across Europe in search of a career change, to founding multiple businesses, to battling hurricanes, extreme sea sickness and sleep deprivation she has learned how to get comfortable being uncomfortable. Spending 62 days at sea in a 7.5 metre boat, rowing day and night is just one part of Eleanor’s experience that has bui...

Jul 27, 202142 min

Episode #63: Shoot for the stars with the small wins. Meet inspirational Sakurako Kobayashi

What does it take to beat the odds and take the path that most people dare not take. Meet Saki, a first year PhD student at the Peter Mac Cancer Centre at the University of Melbourne. Her suggestion for daring to go beyond and shoot for the stars is to take small wins and celebrate. Connect with Saki Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sakurako-kobayashi-655681217/?fbclid=IwAR2EKSZYCy3_PmjxkwAq0LtyvG-dylYyqoJtkEWMAYab_hfA2FNrIh3HKJM Twitter: Sakurako Kobayashi @Kobayashi1S Support the show Sub...

Jul 18, 202118 min
Hosted on Buzzsprout
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android