Your Brain, Your Tool: How to Stop Being a Tool of Your Brain with Ellen Petry Leanse

The Eternal Optimist

Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Ellen Petry Leanse for a thoughtful and impactful conversation about the power of curiosity, slowing down, and embracing life’s natural seasons. Ellen shares insights from her deep experience in neuroscience, coaching, and personal reflection, offering practical tools like the ABC method (Aware, Breathe, Curiosity) and the power of open-ended questions to navigate challenges and foster connection. Together, Matt and Ellen explore the idea of the “midlife chrysalis” and how obstacles—especially those within ourselves—can become gifts if we choose to see them that way. This conversation is a guide to approaching life with presence, purpose, and a brain-aware mindset.

Chapters

• 00:00:00 – A Door Opens: Welcome to a Transformative Conversation
• 00:00:24 – Meet Ellen: The Curious Brain Enthusiast
• 00:01:23 – Behind the Brain: Where Science Meets Everyday Life
• 00:03:39 – Curiosity: The Brain’s Hidden Superpower
• 00:06:23 – From Theory to Practice: Curiosity in Action
• 00:09:35 – Life’s Seasons: Navigating Growth and Change
• 00:18:49 – The Chrysalis Moment: Midlife Reimagined
• 00:22:23 – The Zipline Story: A Lesson from the Brink
• 00:24:28 – Pain or Information? Redefining How We Process Suffering
• 00:27:45 – Brain Balance: Finding the Equilibrium We Crave
• 00:29:35 – The Journaling Effect: Magic in Daily Reflection
• 00:32:18 – Core Values: The Blueprint for Inner Peace
• 00:36:05 – The Obstacle Within: Confronting the Self
• 00:37:51 – Dreams and Impact: A Future Worth Building
• 00:39:53 – Final Threads: Wisdom to Carry Forward

Book Recommendations

• I Never Thought of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán
• The Source by Dr. Tara Swart

Links and Resources

• Ellen Petry Leanse
• Ellen on LinkedIn
• Ellen on Instagram
• The Brain and Beyond

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