Welcome to the Building Your Best Brain podcast!

I'm so happy you're here — learning how to rewire your brain for resilience and feel empowered by your own biology.

In this episode, we dive into the missing piece of stress regulation — the piece that helps your brain build positive momentum, instead of feeling like you're stuck in a never-ending game of whack-a-mole. (You know… addressing one stress symptom only to have another pop up a few moments later.)

We explore:

· What core circuit is linked to MOST of your stress symptoms

· The neuroscience behind shifting this core circuit and how it affects your brainwaves

· How this circuit shows up in your day-to-day life

· How to start identifying which core circuit is running your system

If you're ready to identify your own core circuit, click here to download your worksheet and begin noticing which patterns are running your day.

If questions or curiosities come up — reach out. This is a HUGE part of rewiring your brain, and you absolutely do not have to navigate it alone.

Want to go deeper with me? If you're interested in my 1:1 neurofeedback program, Fire & Rewire, to jumpstart your rewiring journey, fill out your info here and I'll send you all the details.

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok — @synaptic.sylvie 🎥 YouTube — Synaptic Sylvie 🌐 Website — synapticsylvie.com

Welcome to Building Your Best Brain podcast!

Today's episode we dive into the science behind why when we try to make a change in our brain (example – regulate your stress, rewiring a limiting belief) that you may start to feel WORSE.

If I knew this information 5 years ago it would have saved me so much time and energy! The stage that most people give up and think the tools aren't working is usually when you brain is making massive change and you don't even know it.

In this episode we discuss;

- How circuits form and why changing them can make you feel worse.

- Stories of brain training program clients and what their EEG brainwave recordings look like during this stage.

- How to know if you are in this camp or if the tool you are using is simply not working.

- How to motivate yourself (and your brain) to keep going.

I would LOVE to hear how this practise goes for you – drop your reflections/questions below in the comments or reach out to me on IG @synaptic.sylvie

And if you want to explore brain training with at home EEG devices to take the guesswork out of how your brain can become more resilient to stress, overwhelm, and negative thought-loops – fill out this form to get more information.

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Other Episodes Mentioned

Ep 25 — The 6 Levels of Stress Regulation: A Neuroscientist's Framework for Stress Management Mastery

Ep17 - The Brain FUNdamentals

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Let's connect:📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🧘‍♀️ Insight Timer – Synaptic Sylvie

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain!

In this episode, I'm sharing something brand new — a 6-level framework I developed to measure and improve stress regulation, based on neuroscience, behavior, and emotional awareness. 🧠

As a neuroscientist, yoga and meditation teacher, and someone who has personally navigated mental health challenges, I've spent years studying what it really means to regulate your stress. This scale bridges the science of the nervous system with the lived experience of emotion, showing you where you are, and how to gently move toward greater calm, clarity, and control.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

• The 6 levels of stress regulation — from reactive to resilient.

• The neuroscience behind each level and how it shows up in your thoughts, body, and behaviors.

• How to identify where you are on the scale in different areas of your life.

• A personal story of how I used this framework to shift from survival mode to self-trust.

• A simple practice to "reward" your brain for small wins and accelerate emotional rewiring.

Your homework: Pick one area of your life (work, relationships, health…) and notice what level you're currently in. Then, track your "wins" — moments where you regulate faster, react less, or recover with more grace. This tells your brain: this is the path to safety and success.

✨ Want to go deeper with me? If you'd like to be added to the waitlist for 1:1 EEG Brain Training Coaching or get more details on my group offers, you can leave your email here.

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🌐 Website – synapticsylvie.com🧘‍♀️ Insight Timer – Synaptic Sylvie

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain!

Today, we're diving into the neuroscience of thoughts — what actually happens in the brain when you get caught in a spiral, why your emotions can take over so quickly, and how to bring your brain back to balance. 🧠

Here's what we cover in this episode:

• What happens in the brain during a thought spiral.

• How emotions create feedback loops that keep you stuck.

• The science (and magic) of bringing neutrality to your triggers and desires.

• A guided exercise to rewire your stress response through thought awareness.

• A real-life example of how neutrality created clarity and momentum in my life.

If you've ever felt trapped in overthinking or emotionally reactive loops, this one's for you.

If you'd like to be added to the waitlist for 1:1 EEG Brain Training Coaching or get more details on my group offers, you can leave your email here.

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🌐 Website – synapticsylvie.com🧘‍♀️ Insight Timer – Synaptic Sylvie

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain!

Today, we're getting the science behind our WORDS when it comes to building circuits in our brain. A topic that has A LOT of nuance that is often not explained or overlooked. Once you get these subtle differences, you'll see rather quickly how your brain shifts and changes in the direction you desire 🧠✨.

• What happens to the brain when we say things out loud?

• Why affirmations don't work.

• The dangers of venting.

• Two tools that help you use your words to build what you want in your brain!

If you'd like to be added to the waitlist for 1:1 neurofeedback coaching or get more details on my group offers, you can leave your email here.

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🌐 Website – synapticsylvie.com🧘‍♀️ Insight Timer – Synaptic Sylvie

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain!

Today, we're getting into a poorly understood and explained topic "Mental Rest". Where I take both my knowledge in neuroscience, meditation and neuroplasticity to unpack what is truly is and why it is the key to happy and healthy brain 🧠✨.

• What it means to be well-rested mentally?

• What it looks like to not be mentally rested?

• How this impracts your brain and body long term?

• Three tools that help you integrate more mental rest today!

If you'd like to be added to the waitlist for 1:1 neurofeedback coaching or get more details on my group offers, you can leave your email here.

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Some of the previous podcasts that would be helpful

Ep 13 - Stress is not BAD for your brain and here is WHY

Ep 18 - The Brain's Secrets for Changing Memories

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🌐 Website – synapticsylvie.com🧘‍♀️ Insight Timer – Synaptic Sylvie

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain podcast!

So excited to dive into something that I know a lot of us have experienced before, despite our best efforts … the stress relief tools EVERYONE raves about fail us.

This short episode will help solve that problem, and lucky for you doesn't require you to add any more tools or buy anything!

In this episode we dive into 5 reasons why your brain may not be finding relief you hoped for and how to rewire for good.

My recommendation after this episode is you focus on one of these reasons for the next 2 weeks and begin to notice the small shifts.

Leave a comment or DM on instagram (@synaptic.sylvie) which reason you picked and how it is going! Even simply having a place to share this information, ask questions and our progress can help the brain stay encouraged and accountable.

If you'd like to work with me 1:1 neurofeedback brain training programs to jumpstart your rewiring journey, fill in your information here and I will send you the details.

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🌐 Website – synapticsylvie.com

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain!

Today, we're getting cut through all of the lies and fluff and get down to business when it comes to what happens to your body and brain when it comes to chronic stress. 🧠✨

• What is a stressor and how does your brain and body respond?

• How does noradrenaline and cortisol act on the body?

• Why there really is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to stress?

• A few tools to begin to heal your brain and body from chronic stress.

Which stress management tool do you want to explore even deeper in a future episode?

If you'd like to be added to the waitlist for 1:1 neurofeedback coaching to jumpstart your rewiring journey, DM @synaptic.sylvie on Instagram with the word REWIRE.

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Some of the previous podcasts

Ep 17 - Brain FUNdamentals - What I Wish Everyone Knew

Ep 13 - Stress is not BAD for your brain and here is WHY

Ep 5 - The Brain-Breath Ballad

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🌐 Website – synapticsylvie.com🧘‍♀️ Insight Timer – Synaptic Sylvie

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain!

Today, we're getting REAL about the power that lies within your skull—specifically, how you can literally change your memories using neuroscience. 🧠✨

• What it actually means when your brain brings up a memory

• How to tap into neuroplasticity to rewire your brain's circuits

• Signs your memory is stuck in the amygdala—and how to release it

• How to access deep subconscious memories and change them from within

Which topic do you want to explore even deeper in a future episode?

🌀 Neuroplasticity? 🧘‍♀️ The Amygdala? 🧠 Deep brain states?

DM me your vote over on Instagram 👉 @synaptic.sylvie

If you'd like to be added to the waitlist for 1:1 neurofeedback coaching to jumpstart your rewiring journey, DM @synaptic.sylvie on Instagram with the word REWIRE.

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🌐 Website – synapticsylvie.com🧘‍♀️ Insight Timer – Synaptic Sylvie

Resources: 🧠 Brain FUNdamentals Episode

Welcome back to Building Your Best Brain!

This might just be my geekiest episode yet—and honestly, it's long overdue.

In this foundational episode, we're diving into the basics of neuroscience—the tools I believe everyone should have in their mental toolbox to better understand what's going on in their brain and body.

Whether you're learning something new, fact-checking brain claims you see online, or just want a quick refresher—this episode is your go-to guide. Think of it as your neuroscience reference point, now and for future episodes.

Here's what we cover (with timestamps): 00:00 – Intro 01:40 – Brain resources I love 05:10 – Neurons 07:12 – Neurotransmitters 07:54 – Synaptic connections & neural communication 09:39 – What is a neural circuit? 11:48 – How circuits are formed 15:00 – "Cells that fire together, wire together" 15:46 – Defining neuroplasticity 17:45 – Major parts of the brain 22:10 – Neural networks 26:26 – Brain wave activity 31:40 – Brain entrainment

What should we explore next? 🌀 Breathwork & stress? 🧘‍♀️ Meditation & the brain? 🧠 Neurofeedback & brain entrainment? DM me or comment to cast your vote!

Let's keep learning how to get our brains working for us—not against us.

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Let's connect: 📱 Instagram & TikTok – @synaptic.sylvie🎥 YouTube – Synaptic Sylvie🌐 Website – synapticsylvie.com🧘‍♀️ Insight Timer – Synaptic Sylvie

Bonus Resource: 🧠 Khan Academy's Intro to Neuroscience