Next Door Neuro

Your relationship with alcohol isn’t just about drinking.

It’s about how you cope with stress, regulate your emotions, and navigate discomfort.

In this episode of Next Door Neuro, I’m joined by Erica Mallery, founder of ShameOver, to explore a more nuanced and compassionate approach to alcohol and behavior change.

Rather than framing alcohol as the problem, Erica offers a different perspective:

For many people, alcohol is a solution,

A reliable way to manage stress, emotional overload, and mental fatigue.

Here, we discuss:

• Why alcohol isn’t a moral or willpower issue
• How shame and judgment keep people stuck
• The role of identity in changing behavior
• Why all-or-nothing approaches often fail
• How to build awareness, self-trust, and sustainable change

At the heart of this conversation is a powerful reframe...

The challenge isn’t just what you’re doing,

It’s what that behavior is doing for you.

 
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Next Door Neuro: Episode 2 
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In this first Next Door Neuro Lab Notes episode, I take a deeper look at an idea that came up in my conversation with Marcy Stoudt:

What if stress isn’t the problem?

Instead, what if the way we think about stress is what actually shapes how it impacts our health, performance, and overall well-being?

Most of us are taught to see stress as something to avoid. . . something harmful that wears us down over time. But research suggests a more nuanced (and empowering) reality.

In this episode, I walk through:

• A large-scale study showing how stress mindset is linked to long-term health outcomes
• Research from Stanford psychologist Alia Crum demonstrating how quickly stress beliefs can shift
• How your body responds differently to stress depending on your mindset
• Why two people can experience the same situation but have very different biological and psychological outcomes

I also explore what’s happening under the surface - from cortisol to DHEA - and how your mental framing of stress can influence resilience, growth, and performance.  

Most importantly, I talk about how to apply this.

I’ll walk you through a simple, practical way to start shifting your stress mindset in everyday life, something you can use in moments of pressure, overwhelm, or uncertainty.

A simple practice to try

When you notice stress building, take a moment and remind yourself:

• This stress is giving me the tools I need to succeed
• I’m growing because of this challenge
• I stress because I care

Start small. Practice in low-stakes moments. Build the skill so it’s there when it matters most.

This Lab Notes episode is designed to pair with my conversation with Marcy Stoudt, where we explore how emotional regulation and mindset shape leadership and performance.

Next Door Neuro is where neuroscience meets everyday life,

through conversations, reflections, and practical tools you can actually use.

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Next Door Neuro - Lab Notes: Episode 1 
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Your brain shapes how you lead.

It influences how you respond to stress, how you communicate, and the emotional tone you bring into every room.

In this episode of Next Door Neuro, I’m joined by Marcy Stoudt, founder of REVEL, a leadership advisory firm focused on helping organizations grow without losing their identity.

We explore a more human approach to leadership, one grounded in self-awareness, emotional regulation, and intentional presence.

In this conversation, we discuss:
 • What authentic leadership really means in practice
 • Why leadership starts with regulating yourself, not controlling others
 • How “victim loops” shape behavior and limit growth
 • Why adapting your leadership style can strengthen (not weaken) authenticity
 • How small mindset shifts can unlock better performance and connection

At the core of this conversation is a simple idea:

Leadership isn’t about controlling the room. . . it’s about regulating yourself inside it.

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Next Door Neuro: Episode 1 
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Your brain fuels your life.

It shapes how you focus at work, how you respond to stress, how patient you are with the people you love, and how effectively you make decisions. And yet, despite how central the brain is to everything we do, most of us rarely think intentionally about how to support it.

Modern life quietly works against brain health. We spend more time indoors under artificial light, more time on screens designed to capture our attention, and more time under chronic stress. At the same time, many people struggle to get consistent sleep, access nourishing food, move their bodies regularly, or spend time in nature.

Over time, these forces slowly deplete the brain’s capacity, making it harder to show up as the person we want to be.

Considering this, Next Door Neuro explores a simple question:

If our brains fuel our lives, what can we do to fuel our brains?

Hosted by neuroscientist and wellness coach Jamey Maniscalco, the podcast features conversations with scientists, health & wellness practitioners, and thoughtful leaders exploring how the brain works and how we can realistically support it in the modern world.

Each episode translates neuroscience into simple ideas and practical habits that help restore clarity, resilience, and emotional steadiness in everyday life.

Welcome to Next Door Neuro!