Next Door Neuro

Why is it so hard to start something new… even when you know it would be good for you?

In this episode of Next Door Neuro, I sit down with Mark Heckmann - multi-business founder and entrepreneurial coach - to explore what actually gets in the way when we try to start.

Mark has built companies across industries ranging from robotics and agriculture to AI and consulting. But what makes him especially interesting isn’t just what he’s built... it’s how he thinks.

He started with almost no resources… bartering websites for things like pizza… and built momentum by taking action before feeling ready.

Now, he helps others do the same.

In this conversation, we break down:

• Why most people never take the first step,
• How your brain interprets risk and rejection
• What actually changes when you stop waiting for certainty and start taking action.

We also get into one of the most powerful mindset shifts for me personally: reframing rejection not as failure, but as data. Because you’re not even in the game until you’ve heard 100 “nos.”

If your brain fuels your life… what fuels your brain?

In this episode:
• Why starting feels so difficult (even when the idea is clear)
• How your brain interprets risk, rejection, and uncertainty
• Why waiting for certainty keeps you stuck
• How to reframe rejection as useful data
• The role of repetition in building confidence
• Why autonomy changes how you think about work
• How to start something without massive resources
• The difference between planning and actually doing
• Why most people quit before they’ve even really started

About Mark:
Mark Heckmann is a multi-business founder and entrepreneurial coach who has built and operated companies across a wide range of industries.

He is the founder of Crooked Ventures and JobBored, where he helps people launch and grow their own ventures - often starting with limited resources and learning as they go.

Connect with Mark:
Crooked Ventures: https://www.crookedventures.com
JobBored: https://www.jobbored.co
Denison Entrepreneurship Pathways Program: https://jobbored.co/denison/

Subscribe to Next Door Neuro for conversations on brain health, behavior, stress, and how to better fuel your brain in the modern world.

Most of us think that just getting outside is enough.

But if your attention is on your phone, your brain is still operating like you’re indoors… and you’re missing a lot of what nature is actually doing for you.

In this Lab Notes episode of Next Door Neuro, I break down how your phone may be undermining the benefits of being outside - and why presence, not just location, is what actually matters. I explore why nature helps reduce stress, restore attention, and quiet rumination - and how those benefits can be lost if your attention is somewhere else. I also share two simple ways to start getting more out of the time you’re already spending outside.

In this episode:

• Why being outside doesn’t automatically reduce stress
 • How your phone keeps your nervous system “on”
 • What “soft fascination” is, and how it restores attention
 • How nature helps quiet anxiety and rumination
 • Two simple ways to get more out of time you’re already spending outside

Try this:

• Stand still longer than feels normal
• Pause before reaching for your phone

Mentioned in this episode:
Being Outside Isn’t Enough - conversation with Sarah Nielsen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpXhaC7JQK0&t=10s

If your brain fuels your life… what fuels your brain?

What if the reason you still feel stressed, scattered, or disconnected isn’t because you’re not spending enough time outside… but because you’re not actually experiencing it?

In this episode of Next Door Neuro, I sit down with Sarah Nielsen, M.Ed, NBC-HWC, a health and outdoor educator and board-certified wellness coach, to explore why simply being outside isn’t always enough, and what it actually takes for nature to meaningfully impact your brain, body, and well-being.

We talk about how modern life has shifted us indoors, how screens now follow us everywhere, and why so many of us are technically “outside,” but still mentally somewhere else.  

Sarah shares how our phones are changing the way we experience nature - turning special moments into something we capture instead of something we actually feel - and what we’re missing as a result.  

We also explore the science behind why nature helps us feel better, from stress reduction and attention restoration to the sensory and emotional experiences that screens simply can’t replicate.

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation:

You don’t necessarily need more time in nature.
 You need more presence when you’re there.

Sarah also introduces something critical: the idea of “sips of nature” - small, consistent moments of outdoor exposure that can meaningfully improve your stress, focus, and overall well-being.  

Key Topics:

• Why 93% of Americans spend most of their time indoors
• Why being outside isn’t enough if your attention is elsewhere
• How phones are changing our experience of nature
• What we miss when we’re not fully present outdoors
• Stress Reduction Theory & Attention Restoration Theory
• Why nature improves focus, mood, and brain function
• “Sips of nature” vs. all-or-nothing outdoor thinking
• Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation (and social media’s role)
• Why nearby nature and your “wild home” matter most
• Simple ways to bring nature into daily life

About Sarah Nielsen:

Sarah Nielsen is a health and outdoor educator and board-certified wellness coach who helps people reconnect with nature to support physical, mental, and emotional well-being through simple, accessible practices.

Connect with Sarah:

https://sgwellnessatx.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-nielsen-m-ed-nbc-hwc-ab446717/

If your brain fuels your life… what fuels your brain?

Subscribe to Next Door Neuro for conversations on brain health, stress, behavior, and how to better fuel your brain in the modern world.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why being outside isn’t enough
 01:10 – 93% indoors: how we got here
 03:00 – Screens, smartphones, and “bed rotting”
 05:20 – You’re outside… but still on your phone
 08:00 – What we miss when we don’t engage with nature
 11:00 – Sensory experience, noticing, and presence
 13:30 – Comfort, modern life, and the loss of variability
 16:00 – Why nature helps us feel better
 17:30 – “Sips of nature” vs. all-or-nothing thinking
 20:00 – Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation outdoors
 23:00 – Nature and personal well-being
 27:00 – Stress Reduction & Attention Restoration
 31:00 – Focus, productivity, and presence
 33:30 – Nature vs. phone-driven reward
 37:00 – Awe, emotion, and connection
 39:30 – Overcoming discomfort
 41:30 – Reframing challenge outdoors
 45:30 – Designing your environment
 47:00 – Nearby nature and your “wild home”
 52:00 – Bringing nature indoors
 54:30 – Final takeaways

Most of us are using AI the same way:

Ask a question.

Get a great answer.

Maybe go a little deeper…

And in the moment, it feels incredibly productive.

Clear. Insightful. Like you’ve really learned something.

And then a few hours later… it’s gone.

Why does this happen?

In this Lab Notes episode, I break down the brain science behind why learning with AI often doesn’t stick, even when it feels like it should.

There are a few key mechanisms at play, including cognitive offloading (outsourcing the work of thinking), the difference between recognizing and generating information, and the lack of “desirable difficulty” that our brains actually need to learn. We also explore the fluency illusion - why something can feel clear in the moment without being deeply understood - and how instant answers may be disrupting dopamine-driven learning.

AI isn’t the problem. But the way we’re using it may be eroding how we learn. Over time, that creates a gap between what feels like progress… and what we can actually use in our day-to-day lives.

In this episode, I also share two simple ways to learn with AI instead of just consuming it:

• Think First, AI Second

• The No-Look Test

The goal isn’t to use AI less, it’s to use it in a way that actually builds your brain.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why AI learning doesn’t stick

00:45 – The illusion of learning with AI

02:28 – Cognitive offloading (why you don’t remember)

04:00 – Recognition vs generation

06:20 – Why easy learning doesn’t last

07:10 – Handwriting & deeper encoding

08:40 – The fluency illusion

09:30 – Why instant answers hurt learning

11:50 – Think First, AI Second

13:00 – The No-Look Test

14:30 – The real goal: learning that sticks

What happens when the way we get answers starts to change how we think?

In this episode of Next Door Neuro, I sit down with Lori Robbins, Head of AI Strategy at Denison University and founder of Herizon AI, to explore how AI is reshaping not just how we work, but how we learn, reflect, and relate to other people.

We start with Lori’s experiment stepping away from AI for a week, and what it revealed about how quickly these tools have become embedded in our daily lives. From the frustration of going back to traditional search, to the deeper connection that comes from turning back to human experience, the conversation highlights both what AI gives us and what it might be taking away.

We explore why AI can feel like a “thought partner,” where that experience breaks down, and how instant answers may be altering the way we process, understand, and retain information. Lori also shares how these systems actually work, why they tend to agree with us, and what it means to use AI in a way that supports - rather than replaces - our own thinking.

We also discuss the growing role of AI in education, mental health, and companionship, and what it means for a generation growing up alongside this technology.

If your brain fuels your life… what fuels your brain?

In this episode:

• Lori’s AI-free experiment and what it revealed
• Why AI feels conversational, and why that matters
• The difference between AI-generated insight and human experience
• How instant answers can create the illusion of understanding
• The “Yes-Bot effect” and why AI often agrees with you
• AI, critical thinking, and the next generation
• The opportunities and risks of AI in mental health and connection
• Data privacy and what we share with AI tools

About Lori:

Lori Robbins is the Head of AI Strategy at Denison University and the founder of Herizon AI, where she helps individuals and organizations better understand and responsibly use artificial intelligence.

Most of us start our day the same way:

Phone.

Notifications.

A quick scroll.

Within minutes, we’ve had dozens of tiny dopamine hits…

And somehow, the rest of the morning feels flat.

Why?

In this Lab Notes episode, I break down the neuroscience of dopamine - and why not all dopamine is created equal.

There’s a critical difference between earned dopamine and unearned dopamine, and understanding this difference can completely change how you think about motivation, energy, and focus in your daily life.

We live in a world filled with instant rewards (social media, ultra-processed food, constant notifications) and over time, these “easy” dopamine hits can actually reduce your baseline motivation and make meaningful work feel harder.

But there’s a better way!

In this episode, I cover:

• What dopamine actually does (it’s not just “pleasure”)
• Why “unearned rewards” can drain motivation over time
• How modern life is pushing us toward low-quality dopamine
• Why effort, challenge, and discomfort lead to better outcomes
• How to rebuild motivation through “earned rewards”

3 practical ways to rebalance your dopamine:

1. Create space between effort and reward
2. Add one daily “earned reward” anchor
3. Reduce one source of constant, easy dopamine

The goal isn’t less dopamine.

It’s better dopamine.

If you found this valuable, consider following the show and sharing it with someone who might benefit.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why your mornings feel flat

01:05 – Not all dopamine is created equal

01:45 – What dopamine actually does

02:25 – The 2 types of dopamine

03:30 – How “easy rewards” lower motivation

04:15 – Why modern life is the problem

06:30 – Earned vs unearned dopamine

08:00 – Why effort feels better (and lasts)

10:00 – 3 ways to fix your dopamine

10:15 – #1 Create space between effort and reward

11:45 – #2 Add a daily “earned reward”

12:45 – #3 Reduce one easy dopamine source

14:20 – The real goal: better dopamine

What if the reason so many of us feel off is because life has become too comfortable, too controlled, and too disconnected from what our brains actually need?

In this episode of Next Door Neuro, I sit down with Richard Campbell, founder of 10Adventures, to explore why so many people are drawn to adventure, nature, and challenge - and why these experiences may be far more important for our mental health, perspective, and sense of meaning than we realize.

We discuss why outdoor adventure isn’t about dramatic, life-changing epiphanies, but instead about small shifts in how we think, feel, and live. Richard shares what he’s learned from helping thousands of people step outside their normal routines, and we explore how challenge, movement, nature, and disconnection from modern life can help us feel more like ourselves again.

We also dive into evolutionary mismatch, the hidden psychological cost of modern convenience, why walking helps solve problems, how adventure can strengthen relationships, and what it means to build a life around what actually matters.

If your brain fuels your life… what fuels your brain?

In this episode, we cover:

• Why people crave adventure during major life transitions
• The simplicity people rediscover when they step away from daily life
• Why meaningful change tends to happen gradually, not all at once
• How modern environments may be pulling us away from what our brains are wired for
• Why walking, hiking, and time outdoors support stress reduction and clearer thinking
• The connection between challenge, discomfort, and feeling more alive
• How shared outdoor experiences can strengthen relationships
• Richard’s decision to leave a successful career at 40 to pursue a more meaningful path
• Why clarity often comes from stepping away rather than pushing harder

About Richard Campbell

Richard Campbell is the founder of 10Adventures, which helps people experience the world through active, outdoor travel - including hiking, biking, and skiing trips. His work focuses on helping people reconnect with movement, nature, and a simpler, more intentional way of living.

Resources & Links

• 10Adventures: https://www.10adventures.com/
• How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13425570-how-will-you-measure-your-life

Subscribe & Follow

Follow Next Door Neuro for conversations on brain health, stress, behavior, and how to better fuel your brain in the modern world.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why modern life can feel “off”

01:03 – What we’re really craving (and why)

03:45 – The myth of the big life-changing epiphany

05:11 – How stepping away changes perspective

07:28 – Why adventure and nature are surging

09:44 – The mental health benefits of getting outside

13:46 – Evolutionary mismatch: what your brain needs

15:51 – Why challenge and discomfort feel so good

18:10 – Walking, thinking, and problem-solving

25:11 – Daily habits: walks, sunlight, and resets

32:21 – Fitness, discipline, and feeling better

44:40 – Redefining success: time, family, and meaning

Most of us have a constant voice in our head: questioning, criticizing, and second-guessing everything we do.

What if you could change your relationship with that voice, and see it for what it really is?

In this Lab Notes episode, I reflect on my conversation with Dawn Wecker (from the Dawnversations Podcast) and break down the neuroscience behind negative self-talk, rumination, and the identity loops that shape how we see ourselves.

You’ll learn:

• Why your brain is wired to focus on negative thoughts
• How this drives rumination
• Why modern life makes all of this worse
• How repeated thoughts become our identity over time

And most importantly, I’ll walk you through four simple techniques you can use immediately to create distance from that inner voice and take back control.

This isn’t about “just thinking positive.” It’s about understanding your brain, and learning how to work with it instead of against it.

If your brain fuels your life… what fuels your brain?

Key Moments:

00:00 – Meeting the voice in your head (“Carol”)

02:20 – Why self-criticism gets so loud

03:00 – The Default Mode Network and rumination

06:00 – Negativity bias and survival wiring

07:30 – How thoughts shape identity

09:30 – The brain’s capacity to change (neuroplasticity)

10:00 – Four tools to break the cycle

Try this today:

The next time that voice shows up, don’t fight it.

Just say: “I’m having the thought that…”

That one shift can put the voice in its place. 

If you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who might appreciate it!

We’re more connected than ever…

so why does it feel like something’s missing?

We talk more than ever.

We’re surrounded by people.

We have endless ways to communicate.

And yet, so many of us don’t feel truly heard or connected.

In this episode of Next Door Neuro, I sit down with Dawn Wecker to explore why real connection feels harder than it should, and what’s actually getting in the way.

Together, we unpack a simple but powerful idea:

The problem isn’t that we don’t want to connect.

It’s often that we’re not fully present when it matters.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why most people are listening while waiting to talk
• What it actually means to feel heard and validated
• How being stuck in your own head blocks real connection
• The role of your inner voice (“Carol”) in shaping interactions
• Why shared stories help us realize we’re not alone
• How even small moments of connection can create a ripple effect
• What it looks like to bring more presence into everyday conversations

At the core of this conversation the idea that:

Connection doesn’t come from being interesting.

It comes from being interested.

—

Connect with Dawn:

YouTube: @dawnversationspodcast444

Instagram: @dawnversations_podcast

—

If your brain fuels your life, what fuels your brain?

Subscribe for conversations and tools to help you think clearly, connect more deeply, and show up the way you want to in your work and life.

—

00:00 – Why connection feels harder than it should

02:30 – What people actually want: to be heard

08:00 – Listening vs waiting to talk

15:00 – Being stuck in your own head

22:00 – The inner voice (“Carol”)

30:00 – Stories and realizing you’re not alone

40:00 – The ripple effect of helping one person

50:00 – What real presence looks like

We tend to think the problem is the behavior.

Drinking too much.

Scrolling too often.

Snacking late at night.

But what if those behaviors aren’t the problem. . .

and are actually the solution?

In this Lab Notes episode, I reflect on my conversation with Erica Mallery and unpack a powerful mindset shift:

• These habits exist because they reduce discomfort

• And your brain is wired to repeat what works

From a neuroscience perspective: discomfort activates the amygdala (our "fight or flight" brain region), and under stress, the prefrontal cortex (which helps regulate the amygdala) becomes less effective; together, this leads us to default to familiar, reliable relief.

That’s where habit loops form.

And that’s why trying to “replace” a problem behavior often fails. 
We're trying to replace a behavior that's actually working for us in the short term.

Instead, real change comes from building your ability to sit with the discomfort that remains once you remove the coping mechanism. 

In this episode, I walk through:
• The neuroscience of habit loops and negative reinforcement
• Why modern life makes discomfort easy to escape
• How “extinction learning” reshapes your brain’s response
• A simple, practical way to start (30–60 seconds at a time)

Try this today:

• The next time you feel discomfort, pause.

• Stay for 30 seconds.

• Notice what happens.

You’re not doing nothing.

You’re training your brain.

If you want to go deeper, listen to my full conversation with Erica Mallery.

And for weekly insights + reflections:

https://substack.com/@nextdoorneuro

 
⸻ 
Next Door Neuro - Lab Notes: Episode 2 
⸻

0:00 The Real Problem Isn’t the Habit

1:38 Your brain and discomfort (amygdala + prefrontal cortex)

4:10 The habit loop: why relief reinforces behavior

6:10 The modern world removes discomfort

7:20 Why replacing the habit doesn’t work

8:10 The real solution: sitting with discomfort

9:10 A simple practice to start

11:30 How your brain rewires (extinction learning)

13:20 Why change becomes easier over time

13:58 Final takeaway + challenge