
Advertise on podcast: Neuroscience of Coaching
Rating
4.8from
This podcast has
75 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Mirasee FMExplicit
No
Date created
2024/02/23
Latest episode
2026/10/08
Average duration
33 min.
Release period
14 days
Description
In each episode, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
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Check latest episodes from Neuroscience of Coaching podcast
Mind Shifting: How Scripts and Stories Shape Behavior (Mitch Weisburgh)
2026/10/08
Our most downloaded episode of 2026 in case you missed it! Mind-shifting expert Mitch Weisburgh discusses how scripts and stories shape our mindset, and how metacognition can lead to meaningful change. Includes practical tools for coaches to help clients shift limiting narratives into new habits.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“Pause to prevent knee-jerk reactions, and focus on one small change at a time.” — Mitch Weisburgh
Guest Bio:
Mitch Weisburgh is an educator, author, and speaker who has spent decades helping people unlock their potential. After witnessing how individuals often get stuck in limiting mindsets—whether in education, leadership, or personal life—he developed a practice called MindShifting.
Drawing from cognitive science, lived experience, and real-world application, Mitch’s MindShifting framework teaches people to reframe their thinking, confront unproductive narratives, and replace them with clarity and action. Today, through books, speaking engagements, and online learning, Mitch helps others shift their thinking—and their lives.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O'Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O'Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolMitch Weisburgh’s website: MindShiftingWithMitch.com
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Andrew ChapmanAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: Mind Shifting: How Scripts and Stories Shape Behavior (Mitch Weisburgh) coming soon.
Producer's Pick: Burnout in the Age of Hustle – Finding Balance in a Demanding World (Ana Melikian)
2026/09/24
As we head into the busy final quarter of 2026, our Producer's Pick is this replay on burnout. Guest Ana Melikian explores deliberate practice in the face of hustle culture and key strategies for managing energy. You’ll also learn how to balance a productive life with mindfulness and strategic rest.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“Success doesn’t make us immune to burnout. We always have to be aware, keep in check, and keep taking care of ourselves from the basic needs to the more advanced needs.” — Ana Melikian
Guest Bio:
Dr. Ana Melikian is a speaker, top 1% podcaster, and the author of MINDSET ZONE: Actualize Your Human Potential, a #1 Amazon Best-Seller in Organizational Learning. Ana earned a Ph.D. and two masters in Psychology, laying a solid foundation for her work that integrates research data with practical applications. She is also a cancer survivor, embodying resilience and inspiring change through self-leadership. Dr. Melikian is at the forefront of navigating the human side of the AI disruption. Her work aims to harness the power of artificial intelligence to leverage our human potential, ensuring that technological advancements enhance — rather than diminish — our humanity and collective well-being. It’s all about impact without burnout.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O’Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolAna’s Website: AnaMelikian.com
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Andrew ChapmanAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: Producer's Pick: Burnout in the Age of Hustle – Finding Balance in a Demanding World (Ana Melikian) coming soon.
From Founder to Leader: The Psychology of Letting Go (Dr. Jena Booher)
2026/09/10
The behaviors that make a founder successful can eventually hold them back. Business psychologist Dr. Jena Booher explores why leadership growth can require an identity shift—and how coaches can help clients let go of old patterns, redefine their value, and become the leaders their companies need.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“Leaders, especially at the top, don't get any feedback. As they're stepping into a new identity, they need you to tell them when things are going well.”— Dr. Jena Booher
Guest Bio:
Jena Booher, PhD, is a business psychologist, executive coach, and adjunct professor teaching leadership at Rutgers Business School. She works with founders, CEOs, and executive teams navigating the psychological demands of scaling organizations, with a particular focus on judgment, courage, and leadership under pressure. Before becoming a psychologist, Jena spent nearly a decade on Wall Street at JPMorgan, including through the 2008 financial crisis. Her work today sits at the intersection of psychology, business, and human behavior helping leaders understand how they think, adapt, and make decisions when the stakes are high.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a PhD in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolDr. Jena Booher’s website: www.jenabooher.comDr. Jena Booher’s LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/jenabooherphd
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Andrew ChapmanAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: From Founder to Leader: The Psychology of Letting Go (Dr. Jena Booher) coming soon.
The Third Option: Coaching Beyond Binary Thinking (Beck Sydow)
2026/08/27
Beck Sydow, founder of Humankind Business Leaders, joins Dr. Irena O’Brien to explore how coaches can help leaders who are stuck in binary thinking. They also discuss nervous-system regulation practices that can create space for non-binary “both/and” options that a stressed brain can't reach.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“The leaders’ nervous systems are running the company.”— Beck Sydow
Guest Bio:
Beck Sydow [they/them] works with leaders who are brilliant, overloaded, and tired of losing themselves under pressure. A business geek with Buddhist roots, Beck teaches founders, entrepreneurs, and senior leaders to recognize fear in real time, steady their nervous system, and return to clarity when it matters most.
With four decades of experience as a CEO/COO, therapist, and mindfulness teacher, Beck moves easily between business strategy and the inner workings of a leader’s nervous system. This dual fluency is what clients call “magic” — the moment when reactivity quiets, insight returns, and leadership feels spacious again.
Beck’s work offers a way of leading that allows results and humanity to finally coexist. They are the founder of HumanKind Business Leaders and the creator of the People-Hearted & Business-Minded™ framework and Homebase Practice for Leaders™️.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolBeck’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/beck-sydowBeck’s Website: HumankindBusinessLeaders.comBeck’s Homebase Practices Sheet: HumankindBusinessLeaders.com/infographics
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Andrew ChapmanAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: The Third Option: Coaching Beyond Binary Thinking (Beck Sydow) coming soon.
Special Replay: Inside the Predictive Brain, an Interview with Dr. Irena O'Brien
2026/08/13
Show producer Andrew Chapman interviews Dr. Irena O’Brien about her mission in neuroscience. They explore how the predictive brain, emotional contagion, and mind-body connection influence behavior, energy, and change—and how coaches can use these insights for deeper, lasting client transformation.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“The purpose of the brain is not for thinking or feeling but to ensure that we grow, survive, and reproduce.” — Dr. Irena O’Brien
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O’Brien’s website: The Neuroscience School
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Andrew ChapmanAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: Special Replay: Inside the Predictive Brain, an Interview with Dr. Irena O'Brien coming soon.
Can Coaching Create Instant Change? (Josh Hornick)
2026/07/30
Can lasting transformation happen in a single conversation? Dr. O’Brien and Josh Hornick explore the neuroscience behind instant change, memory reconsolidation, shifts in perspective, and why some breakthroughs last while others fade – giving coaches practical insights into lasting transformation.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“A new perspective can change a life in an instant.” — Josh Hornick
Guest Bio:
Joshua Hornick is the Director of The Hornick School for Coaching. He curates, designs, and teaches/facilitates all the English language programs. Several years before starting HSC, he taught for nine years at another coaching school. Before that, he was an award-winning secondary school teacher as well as a non-profit director, a certified massage therapist, and a Wall Street lawyer. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, where he plays ultimate Frisbee, accompanies shows on the piano, and maintains a full coaching practice.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O’Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolJoshua Hornick’s website: HornickSchoolOfCoaching.com
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Andrew ChapmanAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: Can Coaching Create Instant Change? (Josh Hornick) coming soon.
Using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to Unlock New Perspectives (Claire Hayek)
2026/07/16
Claire Hayek joins Dr. Irena O'Brien to explore how LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® helps individuals and teams think differently. They discuss embodied cognition, metaphor, psychological safety, and why building with your hands can unlock deeper insight, creativity, and more meaningful coaching conversations.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“When people build, they often discover ideas they couldn't put into words.”— Claire Hayek
Guest Bio:
Claire Hayek is a Neuroleadership expert, TEDx speaker, and founder of Mind. Soul. Purpose. Teambuilding. She is the creator of Pressure-Proof Leadership™, a neuroscience-based framework that helps leaders and organizations maintain clarity, resilience, and performance in high-pressure environments.
For more than 30 years she has operated in high-pressure environments, from growing up in war-torn Lebanon to engineering and executive leadership. Her work examines how sustained pressure shapes the human nervous system, identity, and performance, and how high performers can harness drive without letting it quietly erode clarity, health, or voice.
Her clients are mid-market and enterprise organizations facing the cost of slow decisions, communication breakdown, and execution that stalls when it matters most.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolClaire’s websites: ClaireHayek.com and MSPteambuilding.caClaire’s new book: ClaireHayek.com/bookClaire’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Andrew ChapmanAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: Using LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® to Unlock New Perspectives (Claire Hayek) coming soon.
The Hidden Brain Patterns Behind Chronic Pain (Jane Hogan)
2026/07/02
Jane Hogan joins Dr. Irena O'Brien to explore how chronic pain is shaped by the nervous system, predictive processing, and neuroplasticity. Together they discuss why pain is always real, how the brain learns danger, and how repeated experiences of safety can support lasting healing.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“Pain is always real, but it isn't always a measure of tissue damage.” — Jane Hogan
Guest Bio:
Jane Hogan, “The Wellness Engineer,” is a neuroscience-based mind-body educator, health coach, and wellness leader, helping people release chronic pain by rewiring their brain and calming their nervous system.
After personally reversing debilitating rheumatoid arthritis using natural and neuroplasticity-based methods, Jane left a 30-year engineering career to apply her analytical mind to the science of healing. Today, she integrates functional medicine, psychoneuroimmunology, and mind-body neuroscience to help others understand and transform the patterns that keep them stuck in pain.
Through her Wellness by Design podcast, bestselling book Pain-Free on Purpose: Use Your Mind to Heal Your Body and Get Your Life Back, and her transformative programs Calm by DESIGN and Living Pain-Free, Jane has guided thousands of people to retrain their nervous systems, restore vitality, and return to a state of peace and possibility.
Her compassionate, science-meets-spirit approach bridges the gap between traditional medicine and holistic healing. Jane has been featured in Thrive Global, Elephant Journal, and numerous podcasts and summits, and is the creator and host of the Becoming Pain-Free online summits, empowering thousands worldwide to step into their innate healing potential.
Jane’s mission is to teach the world that pain can be unlearned and that living pain-free is possible.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolJane’s website: www.TheWellnessEngineer.comJane’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@thewellnessengineer
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: The Hidden Brain Patterns Behind Chronic Pain (Jane Hogan) coming soon.
The Neuroscience of Women’s Leadership: The Mastery Trap
2026/06/18
Why can expertise feel safer than leadership? In Part 3 of the Women’s Leadership Series, Dr. Irena O’Brien and Silvia Causo explore the mastery trap: the pattern where capable women keep learning, preparing, refining, and becoming more qualified, while still hesitating to step into broader influence. And how “I’m not ready yet” can become a nervous system strategy when visibility, influence, and uncertainty feel risky.
This conversation is especially relevant for coaches, women leaders, and helping professionals who want a deeper and more compassionate understanding of why self-minimizing, deflecting praise, or struggling to own their achievements can persist even at senior levels.
“Uncertainty is fundamentally unsafe for the brain. But we can learn to accept or to be more comfortable with uncertainty.” — Dr. Irena O’Brien“Leadership really requires an incredible level of a sense of self, really strong sense of self, that it's independent from external validation. — Silvia Causo
Guest Bio:
Silvia Causo is a trauma-informed coach and energetic realignment facilitator who supports visionary leaders and changemakers to release the mental, emotional, and energetic blocks that limit their fullest expression of power and purpose.
Her work moves beyond traditional coaching, bridging neuroscience, somatic healing, and energetic attunement to create profound transformation at every level of being. Through her high-touch, deeply intuitive approach, Silvia helps leaders reconnect to their inner coherence, the state where clarity, confidence, and authenticity naturally arise.
Silvia is also the co-founder of Lead & Belong, a pioneering collaboration with writer and scholar Adrianne Arendse. Together, they explore the intersections of leadership, culture, and embodied healing, guiding organisations and individuals to move beyond performative inclusion toward genuine connection, collective wellbeing, and regenerative impact.
At the heart of Silvia's work is a simple yet radical set of beliefs: that deep self-awareness is the path to true freedom, authentic belonging is what we all seek, and true power emerges when we self-lead from integrated wholeness rather than fragmentation.
Her presence invites both safety and expansion, a rare balance that allows transformation to unfold not through force, but through resonance.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O'Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O'Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolSilvia’s website: www.SilviaCauso.comLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviaannacauso/
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: The Neuroscience of Women’s Leadership: The Mastery Trap coming soon.
Menopause Is Not Decline: A Nervous-System Lens for Coaches (Luce Beaulieu)
2026/06/04
Perimenopause and menopause can affect more than hormones. Dr. Irena O’Brien speaks with coach Luce Beaulieu about capacity, nervous system regulation, identity, brain fog, shame, leadership, and why old ways of pushing through may stop working.
Perimenopause and menopause are often discussed as hormonal or reproductive transitions. But what if they are also capacity transitions?
In this episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, Dr. Irena O’Brien speaks with coach and transformation specialist Luce Beaulieu about menopause, nervous system regulation, identity, emotional meaning, and embodied leadership. Luce explains why menopause is not simply a list of symptoms, and why many women experience this phase as a deeper disruption of identity, energy, self-trust, and the ability to keep pushing through.
Together, Irena and Luce explore how changing body signals can affect the brain’s predictions, why old strategies may stop working, and why what looks like burnout, low confidence, emotional instability, or resistance may sometimes reflect a system under greater physiological and emotional load.
This conversation is especially relevant for coaches and helping professionals who work with midlife clients navigating brain fog, emotional intensity, burnout, identity shifts, leadership strain, or the quiet realization that they can no longer function in the same way they once did.
“You’re going through a revolution. You’re going through a deep, deep transformation on all levels of your being.” — Luce Beaulieu
“A client can be highly competent and still have less available capacity because her system is managing more.”— Dr. Irena O’Brien
Guest Bio:
Luce Beaulieu helps midlife women in leadership stop running their work and impact from depletion, and start leading from real internal capacity. After nearly 20 years working in sustainability, research and social impact, she recognized a critical gap: we cannot build better systems with burned-out, dysregulated leaders.
Today, she integrates nervous system work, somatic coaching, embodiment and leadership development to help founders, executives and change-makers restore clarity, resilience, and grounded authority. Her work challenges the idea that more effort creates better results, and instead shows that the future of leadership depends on how much we can actually hold.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O'Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O'Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolLuce’s website: https://www.immergence.co/
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: Menopause Is Not Decline: A Nervous-System Lens for Coaches coming soon.
The Neuroscience of Women’s Leadership: Why Self-Advocacy Can Feel Wrong
2026/05/21
Why can self-advocacy feel wrong, even when a woman’s contribution is clear? In Part 2 of the Women’s Leadership Series, Dr. Irena O’Brien and Silvia Causo explore how visibility, praise, and claiming one’s work can register as risk in the nervous system, not just reluctance or lack of confidence. Through a neuroscience- and trauma-informed lens, Irena and Silvia explore why self-advocacy can feel like exposure, why “the work will speak for itself” often stops working at senior levels, and why the body may signal risk before the mind can explain it.
This conversation is especially relevant for coaches, women leaders, and helping professionals who want a deeper and more compassionate understanding of why self-minimizing, deflecting praise, or struggling to own their achievements can persist even at senior levels.
“The purpose of the brain is to keep us safe and surviving. And the brain doesn’t differentiate between actual danger and emotional danger.” — Dr. Irena O’Brien
“For many women, putting themselves forward is not a neutral experience. It can feel like exposure.”— Silvia Causo
Guest Bio:
Silvia Causo is a trauma-informed coach and energetic realignment facilitator who supports visionary leaders and changemakers to release the mental, emotional, and energetic blocks that limit their fullest expression of power and purpose.
Her work moves beyond traditional coaching, bridging neuroscience, somatic healing, and energetic attunement to create profound transformation at every level of being. Through her high-touch, deeply intuitive approach, Silvia helps leaders reconnect to their inner coherence, the state where clarity, confidence, and authenticity naturally arise.
Silvia is also the co-founder of Lead & Belong, a pioneering collaboration with writer and scholar Adrianne Arendse. Together, they explore the intersections of leadership, culture, and embodied healing, guiding organisations and individuals to move beyond performative inclusion toward genuine connection, collective wellbeing, and regenerative impact.
At the heart of Silvia's work is a simple yet radical set of beliefs: that deep self-awareness is the path to true freedom, authentic belonging is what we all seek, and true power emerges when we self-lead from integrated wholeness rather than fragmentation.
Her presence invites both safety and expansion, a rare balance that allows transformation to unfold not through force, but through resonance.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O'Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O'Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolSilvia’s website: www.SilviaCauso.comLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviaannacauso/
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: The Neuroscience of Women’s Leadership: Why Self-Advocacy Can Feel Wrong coming soon.
Vision Is a Brain Process: 20/20 Isn’t the Whole Story
2026/05/07
What if some of what looks like distraction, fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, or low motivation is actually visual load? In this episode, Dr. Irena O’Brien and neurooptometrist Dr. Lisa Chow explore the difference between eyesight and vision, and why 20/20 vision is not the whole story, and how visual strain can quietly affect focus, regulation, and everyday functioning.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews an expert to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“Eyesight is clarity. Vision is how well your brain is processing visual information.” — Dr. Lisa Chow
Guest Bio:
Dr. Lisa Chow is a neuro-optometrist and founder of The Sight Doctor platform, where she helps people understand that vision is more than just seeing clearly; it is how the brain processes visual information to help us function, focus, perform, and navigate the world.
A practicing clinician based in Ontario, Canada, Dr. Chow brings over 15 years of clinical experience and more than 30,000 patient visits to her work. Through her clinical practice, she works with patients experiencing concussion-related vision problems, visual dysfunction, eye teaming and focusing challenges, and other brain-based visual issues that can impact daily life, performance, learning, and recovery.
She is passionate about translating complex neuroscience and vision concepts into practical insights that people can apply to modern life, including screen fatigue, mental clarity, cognitive endurance, stress regulation, and overall visual wellness.
Dr. Chow's mission is to help people see vision differently: not just as eyesight, but as a key part of how we think, feel, learn, perform, and experience the world.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O'Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O'Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolLisa's Instagram: www.instagram.com/drlisachowLisa's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlisachow/Lisa's Brain Vision community here: https://www.drlisachow.com/community Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: Vision Is a Brain Process: 20/20 Isn’t the Whole Story coming soon.
The Neuroscience of Women’s Leadership: Why Claiming Achievements Feels Risky
2026/04/23
Why do so many accomplished women still struggle to name and claim their achievements, even when their competence is clear?
In Part 1 of this 12-part Women’s Leadership series within Neuroscience of Coaching, Dr. Irena O’Brien and Silvia Causo explore why this is often not a confidence gap at all, but a nervous system pattern shaped by history, belonging, and the learned risk of visibility.
Through a neuroscience- and trauma-informed lens, Irena and Silvia explore why visibility can still feel risky, why insight alone is often not enough, and why advice like “speak up more” can miss what is really happening underneath. This conversation is especially relevant for coaches, women leaders, and helping professionals who want a deeper and more compassionate understanding of why self-minimizing, deflecting praise, or struggling to own their achievements can persist even at senior levels.
“It wasn't until two days later I realized I had minimized my own accomplishment and given it to someone else.” — Dr. Irena O’Brien
“I invite you just to stop and ask yourself whose voice is this? Is this my voice?”— Silvia Causo
Guest Bio:
Silvia Causo is a trauma-informed coach and energetic realignment facilitator who supports visionary leaders and changemakers to release the mental, emotional, and energetic blocks that limit their fullest expression of power and purpose.
Her work moves beyond traditional coaching, bridging neuroscience, somatic healing, and energetic attunement to create profound transformation at every level of being. Through her high-touch, deeply intuitive approach, Silvia helps leaders reconnect to their inner coherence, the state where clarity, confidence, and authenticity naturally arise.
Silvia is also the co-founder of Lead & Belong, a pioneering collaboration with writer and scholar Adrianne Arendse. Together, they explore the intersections of leadership, culture, and embodied healing, guiding organisations and individuals to move beyond performative inclusion toward genuine connection, collective wellbeing, and regenerative impact.
At the heart of Silvia's work is a simple yet radical set of beliefs: that deep self-awareness is the path to true freedom, authentic belonging is what we all seek, and true power emerges when we self-lead from integrated wholeness rather than fragmentation.
Her presence invites both safety and expansion, a rare balance that allows transformation to unfold not through force, but through resonance.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O'Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O'Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolSilvia’s website: www.SilviaCauso.comLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviaannacauso/
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: The Neuroscience of Women’s Leadership: Why Claiming Achievements Feels Risky coming soon.
The Science of Rhythm: A New Way to Think About Growth (Anette Lan)
2026/04/09
Why do clients know what to do—but still don’t do it? In this episode, Dr. Irena and technologist, coach, and author Anette Lan explore rhythm, presence, and disciplined practice as the real drivers of change. They reveal how sustainable growth comes from repeated experience, not just insight.
In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“Transformation isn’t a breakthrough—it’s a pattern you practice.”— Anette Lan
Guest Bio:
Anette Lan works at the intersection of leadership, language, and technology, exploring how energy moves through people, teams, and systems and how those subtle dynamics shape performance long before results are visible.
She is the co-founder of Miru Pulse™, a human-centred diagnostic platform focused on the side of leadership most organizations don’t measure. Alongside her work as a tech co-founder, she leads Ensō Mindset, where she developed the Human Impact Kata, a Japanese-inspired leadership practice grounded in repetition, presence, and real-world application.
She is also the author of Ensō, A Tree Still Grows, in which she shares her story as a Canadian-Japanese leader and founder—and the shift that changed how she understands leadership, not as something to chase, but something to grow into. She’s interested in what becomes possible when organizations learn to understand not just what people do at work, but how they are while doing it.
Host Bio:
Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O’Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolAnette’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anette-lanAnette’s website: https://www.EnsoMindset.com
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducer: Andrew ChapmanAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channelor your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: The Science of Rhythm: A New Way to Think About Growth (Anette Lan) coming soon.
The Neuroscience of Women’s Leadership: A New Perspective
2026/03/26
This episode introduces a 12-part series reframing women’s leadership challenges as nervous system adaptations – not flaws. The groundbreaking series is ideal for coaches, professionals, and leaders seeking deeper and more sustainable change through a neuroscience- and trauma-informed perspective.
In this series within the podcast Neuroscience of Coaching, co-hosts Dr. Irena O’Brien and Silvia Causo discuss women’s leadership through the lens of neuroscience and trauma. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.
“Some women can lead a room brilliantly and still feel a kind of tightening when it's time to name what they've done.” — Dr. Irena O’Brien“Many of the patterns and the challenges we will be talking about are often misunderstood especially in leadership spaces.”— Silvia Causo
Host Bio: Dr. Irena O’Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.
She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.
Dr. O’Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.
Silvia Causo is a trauma-informed coach and energetic realignment facilitator who supports visionary leaders and changemakers to release the mental, emotional, and energetic blocks that limit their fullest expression of power and purpose.
Her work moves beyond traditional coaching, bridging neuroscience, somatic healing, and energetic attunement to create profound transformation at every level of being. Through her high-touch, deeply intuitive approach, Silvia helps leaders reconnect to their inner coherence, the state where clarity, confidence, and authenticity naturally arise.
Silvia is also the co-founder of Lead & Belong, a pioneering collaboration with writer and scholar Adrianne Arendse. Together, they explore the intersections of leadership, culture, and embodied healing, guiding organisations and individuals to move beyond performative inclusion toward genuine connection, collective wellbeing, and regenerative impact.
At the heart of Silvia's work is a simple yet radical set of beliefs: that deep self-awareness is the path to true freedom, authentic belonging is what we all seek, and true power emerges when we self-lead from integrated wholeness rather than fragmentation.
Her presence invites both safety and expansion, a rare balance that allows transformation to unfold not through force, but through resonance.
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviaannacauso/Website: www.SilviaCauso.com
Resources mentioned in this episode:
MiraseeDr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience SchoolSilvia’s website: www.SilviaCauso.com
Credits:
Host: Dr. Irena O’BrienProducers: Andrew Chapman and Michi LantzAudio Editor: Marvin del RosarioExecutive Producer: Danny InyMusic Soundscape: Chad Michael SnavelyMaking our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio
Music credits:
Track Title: Sneaker SmeakerArtist: Avocado JunkieWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: Coo CoosArtist: Dresden, The FlamingoWriter: Matthew WigtonPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Track Title: In This LightArtist: Sounds Like SanderWriter: Sander KalmeijerPublisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION
Special effects credits:
24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.
To catch the great episodes coming up on Neuroscience of Coaching, please follow us on Mirasee FM's YouTube channel or your favorite podcast player. And if you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment or a starred review. It’s the best way to help us get these ideas to more people.
Episode transcript: The Neuroscience of Women’s Leadership: A New Perspective coming soon.
Podcast reviews
Read Neuroscience of Coaching podcast reviews
RVespa 2026/05/14
Best Podcast on Neuroscience
Every episode Dr Irena posts is interesting relevant and well designed. She is an exceptional host and demonstrates tremendous knowledge mixed with vu...
Mweisburgh 2026/02/19
Warm and knowledgeable
Irena knows her stuff, which makes got in depth discussions that get to the heart of why people aren’t happy or productive, and then into practical ch...
Caita84 2024/11/20
Talk about inspiring and empowering!!
Loving this content as a psych NP. This kind of motivation is so needed in these times. Thank you and keep up the good work!!
Ana Melikian 2024/11/05
Neuroscience Meets Coaching: A Perfect Blend of Theory and Practice
Dr. Irena O'Brien masterfully demystifies complex neuroscience concepts in her enlightening podcast. Through engaging discussions with practicing coac...
Ally Machate 2024/09/06
After awareness…then what?
Coaching is helpful for many reasons, but if you don’t really understand the underlying factors working against you, no amount of coaching will help y...
Melanie Benson 2024/07/22
Great insights into neuroscience
If you want to transform your mind into a powerful success tool, you’ll want to listen in to hear how to harness brain power more effectively. Plus, y...
Jeanna Gabellini 2024/03/08
The Dopamine Hit
I love Irena’s spin on doing small steps to get the dopamine hit they need to motivate them to take the next steps.
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