What actually happens in your brain when you read? Turns out, quite a lot!
This week Adam and Andy are joined by Phil – senior bookseller at Waterstones Brighton – for a proper deep dive into why reading might be the most underrated thing you can do for your brain. We get into attention span, flow state, dopamine, empathy, why books almost always beat the film adaptation, and why it is absolutely never too late to become a reader.
Phil also shares his own reading origin story – spoiler: it involves a newborn and a lot of sleepless nights – and drops some brilliant book recommendations along the way.
Whether you're a lifelong bookworm or someone who hasn't picked up a book since school, this one's for you.
Visit Waterstones Brighton: https://www.waterstones.com/bookshops/brighton-clock-tower
Listen to the 'Blabbing With Booksellers' Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/24wFbwqlIp9lpqYZjeKm8D
We want to hear from you! Don't hesitate to email the show: adamwright@aypuk.com
Buy us a Coffee!: https://ko-fi.com/onebrainpodcast
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Chapters:
00:00 - Clip
01:25 - Intro & waffle (ft. stalking Phil in Waterstones)
02:25 - Meet Phil — bookseller, actor, voice actor
03:04 - Why reading is so good for your brain
05:07 - Andy discovers books (better late than never)
07:12 - Phil's reading origin story — holding a newborn at 3am
09:30 - Reading as attention span training
12:05 - Flow state, escapism & why reading feels blissful
15:48 - The neuroscience of empathy & seeing through someone else's brain
19:31 - Books vs. film adaptations — why books always win
23:00 - Why reading feels passive (and why that's wrong)
24:28 - Dopamine, TikTok & why your brain wants the phone instead
27:30 - The satisfaction of finishing a book
29:10 - Brandon Sanderson, Stormlight Archive & deep character arcs
32:00 - Reading & mental health representation in fiction
35:44 - Why hyped books disappoint — the neuroscience of expectation
39:00 - Book recommendations from Phil
42:00 - It's never too late to become a reader
45:58 - Outro
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This podcast will change your life, if you let it.
Welcome to One Brain At A Time, an Action Your Potential podcast.
At the top of your neck you have the most powerful processing device in the known universe. But no-one's ever told you how it works... until now.
Each Monday, Action Your Potential consultants Adam Wright and Andy Feist strip away the jargon and break down the neuroscience into practical tools you can apply straight away.
Entertaining, evidence-based, and 100% woo-woo free. That's a guarantee.
Subscribe today wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on Youtube.
If you want to learn more about the work we do at AYP, you can find out more information on our website!
📧 Email us questions at adamwright@aypuk.com.
👀 Watch our episodes on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OneBrainPodcast
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📬 Subscribe to the AYP Newsletter: https://substack.com/@actionyourpotential
One Brain At A Time is written and presented by Adam Wright & Andy Feist. Production from Adam Wright and Andy Feist. Intro Music: “Happy Life” by Fredji (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvQ-5RCt9xs&list=PLfP6i5T0-DkK-1uhfhicxlQ2FJwbuA7uU&index=26). One Brain At A Time is an Action Your Potential production.
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