BRAINZ PODCAST

This is a special edition of the Brainz Podcast with Sam Mishra, The Medical Massage LadyPicture this: You're in a loving relationship, yet you find yourself pushing your partner away. Or perhaps you're constantly seeking reassurance, fearing abandonment at every turn. These behaviours might seem random, but they're far from it. They're echoes of your past, whispering through time, shaping your present in ways you might not even realize.Listen and enjoy!Do you like the content? Don't forget to subscribe to the Brainz Podcast.

Phoebe Toft is the founder of The Rebirth of the Soul, a creative and healing initiative dedicated to supporting individuals recovering from trauma, narcissistic abuse, and violence. Through poetry, storytelling, and authentic self-expression, Phoebe helps others rediscover their inner strength and navigate the complexities of healing. With a voice rooted in both truth and tenderness, she creates safe spaces for reflection, growth, and transformation.Her journey has been one of profound resilience — rising from personal pain to become a guide for others. Phoebe’s mission is clear: to break taboos, foster understanding, and illuminate the path from darkness to light through creativity, compassion, and courageous storytelling.In this episode, we discover the following:   1. How do we spot a narcissist?   2. How can we connect better with our feelings?  3. Why don’t people open up about narcissistic abuse?   4. Should we all leave someone who is narcissistic?With podcast host Mark SephtonHope you'll enjoy the episode!

Dr. Elizabeth Ssemanda is a board-certified psychiatrist and the founder of New U Psychiatry. Rooted in both African and African American cultural traditions, she integrates a soul-centered, holistic approach to healing with a mission to challenge stigma and redefine mental wellness. Navigating the space between two cultures shaped Dr. Elizabeth Ssemanda’s life in profound ways. As the daughter of Ugandan refugees, her upbringing was infused with resilience, history, and silence—particularly around the traumas of war. It’s from this intersection of inherited pain and the search for healing that her passion for psychiatry emerged.Her journey began with a fascination for people and science, blossoming into a desire to understand and support others on their healing journeys. Through psychiatry, she found a language to engage with suffering, resilience, and transformation. After working in a range of settings—from emergency care during COVID-19 to boutique practices—she became disillusioned by a model focused primarily on symptom suppression. It was then that New U Psychiatry was born.In this episode, we discover the following:   1. What is an intuitive psychiatrist?  2. What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist?  3. What is “Post Trauma Resilience“ and how do we grow it?  4. How can we stop feeling “Broken“ when it comes to trauma?With podcast host Mark SephtonHope you'll enjoy the episode!

The Redwood Group was established to address the growing erosion of human agency caused by digital overload, coercive narratives, and algorithmic influence. By translating intelligence and military influence operations into civilian resilience products and services, the group empowers individuals and leaders to protect their cognition, reclaim presence, and lead ethically in today’s expanding information environments. In a time when human attention has become one of the most contested territories on the planet, one organisation stands at the intersection of security, leadership, and ethical influence. The Redwood Group was born not out of ambition, but obligation—an urgent response to a world where digital manipulation threatens the sovereignty of thought itself. Founder Adam Darnley-Stuart shares the story behind Redwood Group, the vision driving its mission, and the philosophies shaping its approach to leadership in an age of algorithmic warfare.In this episode, we discover the following:    1. What are influential risk, narrative sovereignty and cognitive resilience?  2. Why keeping humanity in the loop is the bedrock within the Redwood Group culture.   3. Why it’s about the human and not the tech.   4. Where Adam’s love for humanity and service originates.With podcast host Mark SephtonHope you'll enjoy the episode!

Silvia Russen is a Business Psychologist, Neuroscience Coach, and PhD Researcher specialising in emotional well-being, resilience, and recovery in the workplace. Integrating psychology and neuroscience, Silvia applies evidence-based practices - including Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) - to empower leaders and teams in navigating stress, decision-making, conflict resolution, and workplace relationships. Silvia has collaborated with organisations worldwide, providing tailored interventions and workshops on transformational leadership, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Her engaging speaking style and ability to translate complex neuroscience research into actionable insights have made her a popular keynote speaker at international conferences, industry events, and leadership summits.Alongside her client work, Silvia serves as an Adjunct Professor of Psychology, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in areas such as cognitive neuroscience, organisational psychology, and advanced research methods. Her current PhD research focuses on the neuroscience behind emotional regulation strategies, investigating how these can enhance cardiovascular health, emotional resilience, and overall well-being in professional settings. Passionate about giving back, Silvia also regularly volunteers her expertise to first responders, charities, and frontline aid organisations, providing workshops and strategies on managing stress, building resilience, and improving mental health. Silvia’s ultimate aim is simple yet powerful: to help individuals and organisations leverage psychological insights, enhance their emotional well-being, and thrive both personally and professionally.In this episode, we discover the following:   1. How to keep a healthy brain.   2. What is “Neuroplasticity” and what are the 3 core rules?  3. What is “Neurogenesis” and how do we take care of it?  4. How to use the science of psychology to drive positive change in the workplace.With podcast host Mark SephtonHope you'll enjoy the episode!

Mike Wiley Jr., MA, LPC, is a licensed therapist and sought-after mental performance strategist with over a decade of experience in clinical counseling and sports psychology. As the former Director of Mental Skills and Performance for the NFL’s Chicago Bears, Mike has supported professional athletes, Grammy-nominated artists, corporate leaders, medical doctors, high achievers, and elite teams—helping them navigate and master high-pressure environments, enhance focus, and lead with grounded intention and purpose. He holds a Master’s degree in Counseling with a specialization in Sport & Health Psychology from Adler University and a B.S. in Psychology from Washington State University. Mike is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Georgia, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington.Now based in Georgia, Mike is the founder and head clinical therapist at MadeMind Wellness & Performance—a mental wellness firm rooted in mindfulness, resilience, and intentional living. Through his work, Mike empowers clients to break through mental barriers, align their values with their performance goals, and unlock sustained excellence in all areas of life. Mike Wiley Jr. has built a reputation for bridging the worlds of clinical therapy, elite performance, and grounded personal development. His work at MadeMind Wellness & Performance reflects not only his extensive training, but also a personal philosophy that wellness and ambition aren’t opposing forces—they're allies. In this conversation, Mike opens up about the motivations behind his practice, how he works with high performers, and why presence, not perfection, defines true balance.In this episode, we discover the following:   1. The biggest mental challenge elite performers struggle with.  2. What mental performance habit should we implement every day?  3. How Mike decides which therapy to use with his clients.  4. What is one thing that top elite athletes embrace more than anyone else?With podcast host Mark SephtonHope you'll enjoy the episode!

This is a special edition of the Brainz Podcast with Petra Brunnbauer and Sian ElizabethIn this episode of the Brainz Podcast, Petra Brunnbauer and Sian Elizabeth take a deep dive into Functional Freeze—a nervous system response to chronic stress where people appear to function on the outside while feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and emotionally numb on the inside. Petra introduces key insights from The Functional Freeze Formula, sharing how chronic stress keeps the nervous system trapped in conflicting states and why traditional approaches often fail to resolve it. The conversation breaks down how to recognize Functional Freeze, why so many people remain stuck despite doing all the 'right' things for stress relief, and what it takes to start managing and overcoming Functional Freeze.Listen and enjoy!Do you like the content? Don't forget to subscribe to the Brainz Podcast.

Victoria Rader, Ph.D., is the Possibility Coach®, founder of YU2SHINE and a Regional Director for Global Woman Club Metro DC. Victoria is a globally recognized transformational speaker, featured in Forbes and seen on CNN, Fox, ABC, and NBC.  A pioneer of Quantum Personal Development, Victoria created innovative tools like MyGiftOffer.com, mE Journals, Empower-mE and Master-mE apps. A multiple-time best-selling, award-winning author and Broadway Producer, she is also featured in the upcoming Zero Limits movie. Her work frees individuals toward fulfillment and prosperity. Her teachings have even reached the moon through the Lunar Legacy project. Victoria’s mission is to help others to quantum leap their life by remembering and shining their light through LOVE—Life Originating Vibrant Emotion. An avid reader, traveler, tennis player and dog lover, Victoria’s greatest joy in life is her family. Above all, Victoria is clear that all that has been accomplished by her has simply been accomplished through her via God’s infinite divine grace.In this episode, we discover the following:   1. What is Quantum Personal Development?  2. How do we surrender to LOVE as Life Originating Vibrant Emotion?  3. How can we bridge the gap between science and spirituality?   4. Victoria's favorite Quantum Personal Development™ practice. With podcast host Mark SephtonHope you'll enjoy the episode!

Theresa Lambert is a Business Consultant, Fractional COO, and Mentor who helps visionary entrepreneurs and service-based business owners simplify their operations, scale sustainably, and get paid like real CEOs. With a legacy rooted in luxury hospitality, Theresa scaled a boutique hotel to eight figures at North America’s #1 ski resort, blending precision, performance, and intentional leadership. Now, she brings that same strategic depth to both early-stage founders who need clarity and structure—and established CEOs ready to streamline, grow, and step back from the daily grind.In 2020, she became an Amazon Bestselling Author with Achieve with Grace: A Guide to Elegance and Effectiveness in Intense Workplaces. She's also the host of the Diaries of a Six-Figure Coach podcast and a sought-after speaker, known for her grounded yet visionary voice. Theresa’s work has been featured in Hotelier Magazine, Profiles of Excellence, Thrive Global, Fresh Magazine, Authority Magazine, and Brainz Magazine. Now based in Tulum, Mexico, she works with both rising coaches and multi-six to seven-figure CEOs across the globe—helping them build high-value businesses that create time freedom, sustainable growth, and serious profit.In this episode, we discover the following:  1. How to make 10k as an online coach.   2. Why it’s important to still welcome one client on your group coaching program.  3. How to scale your business and stay true to your essence.   4. What is strategic clarity?With podcast host Mark SephtonHope you'll enjoy the episode!