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The Dr. Leaf Show

The Dr. Leaf Show

Dr. Caroline Leaf 714 episodes Latest May 27, 2026

Dr. Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist and mental health expert, hosts this podcast to provide practical and scientific tips for improving mental, emotional, and physical health. The show covers topics like understanding the mind, managing stress, and taking control of your well-being. It is intended for educational purposes and not as medical advice.

Episodes

Why horror movies can be healing, breakups feel like drug withdrawal, & attachment styles can be dangerous Jun 10, 2026 2722 Why do breakups hurt so much? Because neurologically, heartbreak looks almost identical to drug withdrawal. In a landmark 2010 fMRI study, Helen Fisher and her colleagues showed that the brains of the recently rejected lit up in the same reward and craving circuits — the VTA and nucleus accumbens — that drive cocaine addiction. In this episode of The Dr. Leaf Show, Dr. Caroline Leaf unpacks the n
High-Functioning Anxiety Isn’t Who You Are. Here’s the Truth Jun 4, 2026 2405 High-functioning anxiety isn't a personality type. It's a stress response that's gone unchecked. You look calm. You hit your deadlines. You say "I'm fine." But inside, your body is paying a tax that's quietly editing your gene expression while everyone applauds your output. In this episode of The Dr. Leaf Show, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down what high-functioning anxiety actually is, what your non
The Exhaustion Sleep Can't Fix — A Scientist Explains NAD Depletion May 27, 2026 2140 NAD is the molecule in every cell that powers your energy — and there's a kind of exhaustion, the kind a good night's sleep and a weekend off can't fix, that comes from running low on it. If you're a woman in your 40s, 50s, or 60s caring for aging parents while raising kids and running a career — the sandwich generation — that depletion is real, and it's happening at the cellular level. In this e
Pick My Brain: Why Adult Friendships Are Dying (And What to Do About It) May 20, 2026 2065 Pick My Brain is Dr. Caroline Leaf's new Q&A series — you send the questions, she answers them with real neuroscience. No fluff, no generic advice. Just honest answers to the things you're actually dealing with. This week's theme: why adult friendships are dying — and what's happening in your brain when they do. You have 500 followers and no one to call at 2 AM. The number of Americans with no c
The 15-Minute Solitude Practice That Rewires Your Brain May 13, 2026 2222 Most people would rather shock themselves than sit alone with their own thoughts. In a University of Virginia study, 67% of participants chose physical pain over 15 minutes of silence. That's not a personality flaw — it's a skill most of us were never taught. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf explains why solitude isn't a luxury or a wellness trend — it's a neurological requirement your brain de
Tracking Your Kids Is Wiring Your Brain for Anxiety May 6, 2026 2273 Tracking apps promise peace of mind — but the neuroscience tells a different story. About half of U.S. parents now use location-tracking apps like Life360, Find My, and Google Family Link to monitor their kids. A 2024 study found that frequent checking correlates with lower self-esteem in teens and higher parental hostility into the college years. The safety you're buying may be costing you more
The Neuroscience of Prayer (Craig Groeschel & Dr. Caroline Leaf) Apr 29, 2026 2410 What if prayer isn’t just spiritual—but neurological? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Caroline Leaf sits down with Craig Groeschel—founder of Life.Church and New York Times bestselling author—to explore the science of prayer, the reality of burnout, and the mental health crisis many leaders quietly face. Craig opens up about the moment anxiety hit him like a “40-pound weight” on his chest—and
The Emotional Affair Starts Before You Notice — 5 Steps to Stop It Apr 22, 2026 3360 Nearly half of people in committed relationships admit they've had feelings for someone else. A 2024 meta-analysis found that over 70% consider an emotional affair as painful — or more painful — than a physical one. So why does it still feel harmless in the moment? In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down the neuroscience of emotional affairs: why intimacy builds in the brain long before a
7 Ways to Keep Your Brain Young (From a Neuroscientist in Her 60s) Apr 15, 2026 2052 How do you keep your brain young? Not with supplements or puzzles — but by understanding how your mind drives your brain. Neuroscience now shows that some of the brain's most powerful rewiring happens later in life, not earlier. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf walks you through 7 research-backed ways to keep your brain young — not by overhauling your life, but by understanding how your mind dr
5 Signs It's Time to Cut Someone Off (A Neuroscientist Explains) Apr 8, 2026 2288 Almost 60% of adults stay in draining relationships far longer than they should — even when their mind and body have already flagged that something is off. You feel it:That subtle drop in energy when their name appears.The tension in your body before a conversation that hasn’t even happened yet.The quiet sense that something isn’t right… but no clear “reason” to leave. In this episode, Dr. Carol
The 3-Step Method to Deal with Jealousy (Backed by Neuroscience) Apr 1, 2026 1308 Jealousy isn’t a flaw—it’s a warning signal. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down why jealousy feels so intense, why it can spiral so quickly, and how to manage it using a simple 3-step method. You’ll learn how to:• Identify the real trigger• Separate feelings from facts• Communicate without damaging your relationship If jealousy has ever made you overthink, react, or question your re
The Science of Aging Well (What Most People Miss) Mar 30, 2026 2384 Longevity is having a moment. But a lot of the conversation skips past the basics and goes straight to the extreme—biohacks, expensive protocols, the next big thing. So what actually moves the needle when it comes to aging well? Dr. Caroline Leaf sits down with Dave Watumull, Co-Founder and CEO of AX3 Life, to talk about one of the most researched—and quietly underrated—compounds in the longevit

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