Episode 8 of Train.Brain.Daily, hosted by Dr Michael “Hewi” Hewitt Gleeson and Morry Morgan, explores a simple but powerful neuroscience idea: the brain is always trying to solve a problem. Rather than judging behaviour by asking, “What is wrong with them?”, Hewi and Morry encourage listeners to ask a more useful question: “What problem was their brain trying to solve?”
The discussion connects this idea to earlier Train.Brain.Daily tools such as CVS, the Current View of the Situation, and GBB, which encourages people to examine the Good, the Bad and the Better. By observing the brain almost as a third party, people can practise metacognition, or “thinking about thinking,” and become more aware of the biological, emotional and situational influences behind their choices.
At the heart of the episode are 10 Brain Detective Questions that can be used by coaches, leaders, parents, mentors, athletes and team members:
Hewi illustrates the idea with examples such as an angry executive, suggesting that behaviour may be influenced by sleep, cortisol, fatigue, past experiences, learned neural pathways, status concerns or perceived threats. Morry connects the concept to Dungeons & Dragons, fasting, comedy training and public speaking, showing how people can observe their reactions and deliberately change their behaviour.
A recurring theme is that awareness makes change possible. When people recognise what their brain is attending to, what emotions are active and what problem it believes it must solve, they can interrupt automatic responses and make better choices. Training, repetition and experience can also reshape how the brain responds to challenging situations.
Hewi and Morry emphasise that this approach does not excuse harmful or foolish behaviour. People remain responsible for their actions. Instead, the goal is to replace superficial judgement with deeper understanding and provide listeners with practical “software for the brain” that can improve coaching, leadership, relationships and decision making.
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