Stay ConnectedMindset hacks for a badass life, hosted by cognitive neuroscientist Alexis Fernandez.
On Mondays my episodes are a combo of neuroscience and psychology. I deep dive into everything from habit formation and how to live a carefree life, to friendships and heartbreak. And on Fridays we’ve got Head Noise – where I answer your questions!
Email info@dyfmpod.com to submit your questions.
Order your copy of my latest book How to Chase Change at https://bit.ly/44xwszR
Copyright: © 2025 LiSTNR - Text, image, music and sound comprising this podcast are owned by or licensed to SCA. By accessing, communicating or using this podcast, you agree to be bound by the terms available at https://podcastoneaustralia.com.au/terms
Can you truly love someone and still cheat? Honest advice on infidelity, setting boundaries with a mother-in-law and why a best friend might ghost you.
Key takeaways
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**How to Feed Your Brain for a Happier, Healthier You**
In today's world, it's easy to get caught up in the habit of mindless scrolling and doom scrolling, but what if you could turn those "dead" moments into something more enriching?
In this episode I go into the importance of consuming a balanced diet of information, including education, entertainment, and comfort. Our brains are wired to respond to stories and how this can be a powerful tool for retaining information and making it more enjoyable.
This ep will teach your how to turn "dead time" into something more productive where you feel more fulfilled at the end of the day.
Thank you so much to the episode sponsor Audible for working together with me to bring you this piece. (and for providing me with my favourite audio books)
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Struggling to decide between staying home or moving overseas? In this ep I give you 9 questions to ask yourself to get the clarity you need. Then I answer 3 listener questions. Key themes covered are indecision after moving, what changing locations does to personal growth and how to plan ahead for the difficult times that moving can bring.
Takeaways -
Are you after adventure or permanent change? A year abroad for adventure means saying yes to everything, not settling into a dull nine-to-five. A move for permanent change comes from dissatisfaction, so be clear about which one it is. If money is what’s holding you back, booking a non-refundable flight can turn a dream into a plan.
Are you running away or chasing something? You take yourself with you wherever you go. Moving fixes problems with your town or city, but not your habits or motivation. A sunny city won’t make you a morning person. A new place is a strong fresh start, but only if you do the work.
Plan for everyday life, not the holiday version. Think about what a normal Monday will look like, how you cope with being alone, and whether you can afford to come home if things go wrong. Then ask which you’d regret more in five years: going or staying.
Loneliness after emigrating keeps your brain in survival mode. Long stretches without safety or belonging keep the brain in a stressed, reactive state, which wears down confidence and self-esteem. The main fix is building a sense of belonging. That can start small: run clubs, volunteering, learning your barista’s name, getting to know your neighbours.
Being alone abroad isn’t a failure, and moving for love needs a fair plan. Travelling solo builds self-trust and resilience, even when it doesn’t feel that way. If you keep moving for a partner’s career, talk honestly about a long-term plan before the sacrifices turn into resentment.
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What you can walk to shapes your mental health. Having shops, cafés and friends within a 10-minute walk means you leave home more often and have more small interactions. Long drives make you batch your errands into one trip, which is more isolating.
Other Takeaways
Living close to friends makes you happier because it allows spontaneous catch-ups. Living nearby turns a quick text into a coffee or a dog walk together. A 40-minute drive means every catch-up has to be planned, so you see good friends far less often.
Chrono-urbanism: time-based living lowers chronic stress. This urban planning idea measures a place by how quickly you can reach what you need. Short trips and good public transport cut the daily stress of traffic, parking and long drives.
The “big house, small life” problem: more space can mean less connection. Many families move further out for a yard and extra rooms, then end up feeling isolated. Choosing location over space often makes for a bigger social life.
Social connection protects your health, and small interactions count. Research comparing the health impact of loneliness to smoking about 15 cigarettes a day. Chatting with neighbours and strangers builds a sense of belonging, which supports mental health, immunity and healthy years of life.
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Feeling lost, stuck people-pleasing, or like you’re living the 'wrong' version of your life? In this encore episode, I break down what your authentic self really means, the psychology of self-conflict and self-discrepancy theory, and how living authentically boosts your self-esteem, confidence and resilience.
Too much choice can leave you paralysed, and the pressure to please family, friends and society can pull you far from who you really are. This episode gives you practical mindset tools and journal prompts to reconnect with your true self.
Top takeaways:
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Is fear keeping your life small? Learn the difference between good and bad fear, how to stop spiralling, and why irreversible decisions make you happier.
Key takeaways
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Bonjour and welcome to your head noise episode!
Today I am covering 3 questions. From overcoming the doubt that arrises in your 20s and fear of not doing enough, to dealing with pain and anxiety from past experiences and how to not relive that same pain in the future, and lastly, a listeners husband who has cheated on her on grindr.
If you would like to submit your questions, email info@dyfmpod.com or go to www.dyfmpod.com to submit you voice note!
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What if success is a brain pattern you can train? Learn how your prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia and dopamine turn goals into habits that actually stick.
Key takeaways
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This episode is one of my most loved from the archives.
In this episode, I am sharing with you a 30-day challenge that you can RELATIVELY EASILY implement to change your life... (within reason). This challenge is designed to increase awareness, rewrite and visualize, create energy shifters, and change small routines. By following these simple yet powerful steps, it can help you break away from negative patterns and begin creating more of a growth mindset.
The challenge is broken down into four components: increasing awareness, rewriting and visualizing, creating energy shifters, and changing the bedtime routine.
If you're ready to start making some changes, tune in to this episode to learn more.
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In this head noise episode, I answer 3 email questions from you, my BEANS.
I offering guidance on how to rebuild and forgive oneself as a parent for past mistakes, and how to navigate a partner's infidelity, and be more hopeful in what seems to be a hopeless dating landscape, and dealing lack of emotional support after having a baby.
If you're looking for some life advice, or just to hear my VOICE then this episode is a must-listen.
Danke!
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