Coffee with a Neuroscientist

Neuroscientist Shonté Jovan Taylor explains imposter syndrome from a brain-centered perspective, defining the experience and why logic alone doesn't dispel it.

She outlines the neuroscience (amygdala, prefrontal cortex), normalizing strategies, and practical coaching tips to manage emotions, build new neural pathways, and reclaim authenticity.

In this episode of Coffee with a Neuroscientist, the host explores how audio and voice act as powerful "neurotechnologies" that shape attention, memory, emotion, and behavior. Drawing on history, physics, and neuroscience, she explains why sustained listening creates intimacy, trust, and brain synchronization—and how that can both inspire and manipulate audiences.

The episode also examines podcasting’s cultural rise, its role in persuasion and radicalization, and the ethical responsibility of creators and listeners. Practical takeaways: listening is an active skill, audio can amplify influence, and intentional, critical listening is a civic act.

In this episode of 'Coffee with a Neuroscientist,' Shonté Jovan Taylor delves into the concept of intentional joy, particularly Black joy, as a form of resistance and a power strategy. She explains how experiencing joy can heal hijacked nervous systems and become a tool for individual and collective well-being.

Emphasizing the difference between joy, pleasure, and happiness, Taylor frames joy as an intentional, engaging practice rather than a passive state. She discusses the historical roots of black joy, its role during the civil rights movement, the neuroscience behind the benefits of collective singing, and the importance of maintaining joy in the face of systemic oppression.

Taylor argues that joy is a revolutionary act that enhances resilience and creativity, spreading through mirror neurons and influencing entire communities. The episode calls listeners to intentionally cultivate joy, use it to reclaim attention from societal distractions, and frame it as a practice for healing and empowerment.

In this episode of "Coffee with a Neuroscientist," host Shonté Jovan Taylor delves into the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and musical theater, using the Broadway show and now movie "Wicked" as a focal point. With her new OZ vibes Starbucks coffee mug in hand, Shonté explores how the storytelling and music of "Wicked" impact the brain, fostering empathy, connection and compassion.

Shonté discusses how watching Elphaba’s journey in "Wicked"—from being labeled as the Wicked Witch to understanding her struggles and humanity—challenges viewers to question preconceived narratives and consider multiple perspectives. She explains the role of mirror neurons in creating empathy, how oxytocin helps deepen trust and social bonds, and how music activates the limbic system (aka emotional brain) for emotional engagement.

Additionally, Shonté highlights how engaging the prefrontal cortex during such performances helps in perspective-taking and understanding complex social situations. She also underscores the broader societal lessons we can derive from musical theater:

- questioning divisive narratives, 

-bridging divides through shared emotional experiences, and 

-embracing self-worth and resilience.

Listeners are encouraged to apply these insights in their own lives to build empathy and strengthen connections. Shonté concludes by inviting listeners to continue the conversation and share their own experiences with musical theater and its impact on their lives.

This episode is a blend of personal reflection, scientific explanation and practical application, making it a thought-provoking exploration of how the arts can enrich our understanding of ourselves and others.

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🚀 Elevate your performance with Julie Lowe, the high performance coach on the latest ☕️"Coffee with a Neuroscientist" podcast episode! 

🔎 Explore the power of habits and discover a few good habits that can transform your life in ways you never imagined. 🌟

Join Neuroscientist & host Shonté Jovan Taylor in a captivating conversation with Julie Lowe as they dive deep into her book "A Few Good Habits." Discover how these habits can reduce stress, increase energy, boost creativity, and improve relationships. 

Tune in to this mind-expanding episode and unlock the secrets to unlocking your full potential. Don't settle for average or burnout when you can achieve greatness!

Listen now to gain valuable insights and practical tips from Julie Lowe, the high performance coach who will guide you on the path to success. 🎯

Start building your habits arsenal today! 🚀

#Podcast #Neuroscience #HighPerformance #Habits #Transformation #UnlockYourPotential

About Julie

Julie Lowe is an Author, Speaker, and Certified High Performance Coach. Using neuroscience-backed practices, she teaches ambitious professionals how to prioritize their mindset, health, and relationships without sacrificing the quality of their work.

Julie's expertise has been featured on Good Morning Washington, The List, Huffington Post, and Yahoo! Life, to name just a few, and her first book, A Few Good Habits, debuts October 5th.

Grab your copy (or 5!) of "A Few Good Habits" on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/46xg02a

Are you a creative, healer, educator, leader or activist who is feeling the nudge to take the leap and start your own business? Today’s episode with my special guest is a call for you to listen to your intuition, that voice that is calm, still, non-judgmental and loving, inside of you. 

In 2010, Jen Shultz, Founder of The Non-Nine-to-Five™ found herself battling anxiety and depression. During this dark time, she received an intuitive persistent message urging her to create a business and generate an income on her own terms. That year, Jen went against all "safe norms", followed the call, and quit her full-time teaching job to become self-employed.

For over 9 years, Jen has been educating, training, and coaching conscientious high-level women who have a deep knowing they are not meant for the 9-5. She leads her clients (creatives, healers, educators, activists, leaders) into successful self-employment tapping into their unique skills and strengths so they can make a

Jen is a master coach and a highly intuitive educator as well as a workshop facilitator and keynote speaker who has spoken on stages across the nation including Google, Wix, The University of Texas. She holds a BA in Communication (University at Albany), MA in Special & General Education (New York University) and is a Certified Professional Coach through iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching). 

In this episode, Jen reveals how to identify the intuitive nudges that you may be feeling and the ways to turn the nine-to-five mindset into what really lights you up. Let us know what inspired you the most from this powerful conversation that I had with Jen, and we  can’t wait to hear how today’s show resonates with you. 

Sign up for Shonte’s ‘OptiMind Blog’ to get neuroscience updates to optimize your expertise & life at ShonteJTaylor.com. 

Today’s special guest is first and foremost a teacher, and someone who has a big mission of bringing joy back into reading, education and the workplace. In this episode, Dr. Danny Brassell shares how the sooner we can get our kids loving words, reading them, writing them and performing them, the better it will be not only for their brains, but for society as a whole. 

A highly-sought after speaker, trainer and coach known as “Jim Carrey with a Ph.D.,” Dr. Danny Brassell has spoken to over 3,500 audiences worldwide and authored 16 books, including his latest, Leadership Begins with Motivation. He coaches business owners, entrepreneurs and executives how to increase their income, freedom and impact by creating engaging presentations.

I like that Danny makes things so understandable for everybody, and for his desire to create sustainable ways to make reading fun and enjoyable for everybody. There are so many powerful lessons in this one conversation, including tips and strategies for entrepreneurs looking to craft their own story to share with others. I really appreciate all the wisdom that Danny gives today, and I can’t wait for you to hear it! 

Sign up for Shonte’s ‘OptiMind Blog’ to get neuroscience updates to optimize your expertise & life at ShonteJTaylor.com. 

What if one little gnome and one tiny suitcase, as well as an app and other educational tools, could change your family? In this episode, you’re going to find out how this is possible and the way that one amazing entrepreneur is improving the brain health of people of all ages, by infusing a sense of adventure into their lives! 

Anne Armstrong is the Founder of My Gnome on the Roam ® educational toys which inspire a love of reading, writing and adventure for kids, families, students and educators across the globe.

After 20 years of teaching gifted and talented students, Anne took on the role of mom entrepreneur to share her formula of small pockets of time + a simple idea for an adventure = deeper family connections in as little as 30 minutes a week.

A published best-selling children’s author of the book “My Gnome on the Roam ®,” Anne strives to live by a phrase coined by her brilliant students who refer to her as the Field Trip Queen: ‘Make Your Life a Book Worth Reading.’

She holds a Master’s and Ed. Specialist degree in gifted education and has been featured on NPR, Huffington Post, Treehugger.com, and the New York Times.

I’m so excited to introduce you to Anne, who is someone that is tapping into her own strength and talents while making the world a much better place. I encourage you to visit her site at https://mygnomeontheroam.com/, and let us both know which adventures you and your family embark on next! 

I’m hosting a workshop called Beyond Vision Boards, which goes even deeper into this topic. In this workshop, you’ll get to see how I balance neuroscience with reality, and I’ll give you something that is applicable and understandable so that you can get to the next level of your potential. To reserve your spot now, go to https://shontejtaylor.lpages.co/beyond-the-vision-board-list/! 

To apply and schedule a brainstorming session with Shonté, you can visit   https://shontejtaylor.lpages.co/apply/ now!

Since I like acronyms, and the brain likes acronyms, I want to share with you the acronym “F.O.C.U.S.”

In this episode, I cover the importance of fueling your brain and how this can optimize its performance, the role that oxygen plays and how to get more of it to your brain, and a process for creating block time in order to reduce the many distractions that we all face. You’ll learn how to understand your “rocks” and plan for optimal brain power, and you’ll hear why sleep is vital. In addition, I reveal the ways to set and manage your expectations, and what it means to “decide like a CEO” and how doing this will significantly increase your brain’s performance.

I want this episode to provide you a framework for having a super brain and a super mind, because this is where it all starts in life and business! 

I’m hosting a workshop called Beyond Vision Boards, which goes even deeper into this topic. In this workshop, you’ll get to see how I balance neuroscience with reality, and I’ll give you something that is applicable and understandable so that you can get to the next level of your potential. To reserve your spot now, go to https://shontejtaylor.lpages.co/beyond-the-vision-board-list/! 

To apply and schedule a brainstorming session with Shonté, you can visit    https://shontejtaylor.lpages.co/apply/ now!