In today’s episode of Talk Nerdy To Me, we’re going to dive into the intersection of science and spirituality, the autonomic nervous system, why stress isn’t actually as bad as you think, and one of the most powerful practices you can do right now to support your brain and body. 

Today I’m talking with Kristin Leal:  a teacher, lecturer and body worker who travels the world with her MetaAnatomy trainings passionately sharing about the miracle of the human body and the liberating potential of both movement and stillness. She is the author of the books "The Yoga Fan” and “MetaAnatomy- A Modern Yogi’s Practical Guide to the Physical and Energetic Anatomy of Your Amazing Body” which was called "smart and sassy" by Elena Brower and "a luscious resource" by Rod Stryker. 

Teaching for nearly 30 years, she has graduated thousands of teachers through her own 200 and 300-hr teacher trainings along with working for in person and virtual yoga training programs around the world. In 2021, she was invited to join the anatomy advisory team at Yoga Journal Magazine. These days you can find her in her new home in London, England writing books, studying in a nearby park full of swans and teaching virtually and producing offerings in her faux fur lined-plant and bone filled home yoga studio.

Episode Resources: 

V.S. Ramachandran Quote:  “The human brain is without any doubt the most complexly organized form of matter in the universe. The brain is made up of 100 billion nerve cells or neurons. Someone has calculated that the number of possible permutations and combinations of brain activity exceeds the number of elementary particles in the universe. And this gives you some idea of the staggering complexity one is faced with in trying to understand the functions of this mysterious organ. So the question is, "How do you even begin?"

Click here to learn more about Kristin

Click here to join Kristin’s Vagus Nerve Masterclass

Click here to get Kristin’s 20 Hour Nervous System Training and get 20% off with promo code: talknerdytome

Get Kristin’s book MetaAnatomy here

Follow Kristin on Instagram

If you loved this episode, help us get it into more ears by leaving a 5 star review and subscribing on whatever platform you’re listening on. 

For the month of June 2023, when you share this podcast and tag @alex_nashton on Instagram, you’ll be entered into a giveaway for the chance to win a 90 minute long coaching call with Alex. 

Each episode that you share in June 2023 will lead to one entry which means that you can share all of them! 

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LEARN MORE: www.alexnashton.com

Join Alex's free challenge: 5 Days to Overcome Anxiety

In this conversation with China McCarney, we talk about what his own mental health journey has looked like, the role that stigma played in perpetuating his own struggles with anxiety and depression and the most effective tools he’s learned. In this episode we’ll also touch on topics such as imposter syndrome, vulnerability, ownership, and the role of service as a form of accountability and self-leadership.

China McCarney is the Founder & CEO of the Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation. He is also the VP & CFO of Jaeger Sports Inc. in Southern California. China was also a minor league baseball player who was drafted in 2008 by Cleveland and in 2009 by Tampa. China started the foundation Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression because he deals with anxiety on a daily basis and felt the need and desire to “Be The Change” that he was seeking in the world instead of waiting for a change.

China resisted and fought his anxiety disorder for 6 years before he finally decided to attack it head on. He discovered that the second he embraced anxiety it no longer had the severe crippling effect that it previously had on him. As he began to study anxiety and depression, he realized that stigma is a huge part of the problem. China's goal is to help everyone embrace their attributes through courage and vulnerability and to help everyone "Be The Change" they wish to see in their lives.

Episode Resources:

Follow China on Instagram here

Follow AAAD on social media here

Learn more about AAAD and get free therapy here

The Daily Mental Health YouTube Channel

Vulnerability AFGO! Share your story here

Get The Mental Health Manual

Alex’s pleasure reading right now (Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow)

One of Alex’s spiritual teachers: Katie Silcox

If you loved this episode, help us get it into more ears by leaving a 5 star review and subscribing on whatever platform you’re listening on. 

For the month of June 2023, when you share this podcast and tag @alex_nashton on Instagram, you’ll be entered into a giveaway for the chance to win a 90 minute long coaching call with Alex. 

Each episode that you share in June 2023 will lead to one entry which means that you can share all of them! 

TALK NERDY ON INSTAGRAM

LEARN MORE: www.alexnashton.com

Join Alex's free challenge: 5 Days to Overcome Anxiety

Today we’re talking nerdy about the neuroscience of habit formation- and not just behavioral habits like reaching for your phone first thing in the morning or eating a cookie every time you feel sad, but also cognitive habits and patterns of thinking, like why you might get stuck in the habit of using self-criticism as a form of motivation. In this conversation with Dr. Alex Korb, we dive into why your brain creates and sustains habits-even when they suck-and what it actually takes to rewire your brain for habits of thinking and behavior that are more helpful. 

Dr. Alex Korb is a neuroscientist, coach, and bestselling author of The Upward Spiral. Dr. Korb has PhD in neuroscience and is an adjunct assistant professor at UCLA. He is also the founder of The Upward Spiral Method where he helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs and professionals conquer unnecessary overthinking, stress, and self-doubt. Dr. Korb has a wealth of experience in yoga and mindfulness, physical fitness, and even stand up comedy- which I think you’ll see is evident in this episode. 

Episode Resources:

Learn more about Dr. Alex Korb and The Upward Spiral Method here

Click here to get his Free guide: The Positive Neuroscience System to Stop Overthinking

Get The Upward Spiral book here

Follow Dr. Alex Korb on Instagram

Follow Dr. Alex Korb on Facebook

If you loved this episode, help us get it into more brains by leaving a 5 star review and subscribing on whatever platform you’re listening on. 

For the month of June 2023, when you share this podcast and tag @alex_nashton on Instagram, you’ll be entered into a giveaway for the chance to win a 90 minute long coaching call with Alex. 

Each episode that you share in June 2023 will lead to one entry which means that you can share all of them! 

TALK NERDY ON INSTAGRAM

LEARN MORE: www.alexnashton.com

Join Alex's free challenge: 5 Days to Overcome Anxiety

Today we’re talking nerdy about neuroplasticity AKA your brain’s ability to rewire itself. In this solo episode with Alex, we’ll dive into how your brain rewires its neural pathways on both cellular and systems levels and how you can harness and maximize that change to rewire yourself. Not only will Alex break down what neurons, neural pathways, and neurogenesis are, but how you can use a conceptual understanding of this neuroscience to create actionable steps towards change. 

Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to rewire itself. Your brain is the only organ in the human body capable of doing this- and it’s happening all the time, whether you are conscious of it or not. Your brain is constantly rewiring itself in 3 different ways:

1. Reinforcing a neural pathway that already exists

2. Creating a new one

3. Weakening a neural pathway that already exists through lack of use until eventually the neurons prune apart.

Everything you experience, both externally and internally, creates this change. Externally, the movies you watch, the books you read, the neuroscience podcasts that you listen to, the inspiring conversations that you have are all changing your neural pathways. Internally, every thought that you think, emotion you experience, every time you project your mind into memories of the past, and into anticipatory thoughts of the future, you are also changing and reshaping your neural circuitry.  

If you loved this episode, help us get it into more ears by leaving a 5 star review and subscribing on whatever platform you’re listening on. 

For the month of June 2023, when you share this podcast and tag @alex_nashton on Instagram, you’ll be entered into a giveaway for the chance to win a 90 minute long coaching call with Alex. 

Each episode that you share in June 2023 will lead to one entry which means that you can share all of them! 

Episode Resources: 

Alex’s first meditation teacher teacher: Alan Finger

Alex’s first mentor: Mona Anand

TALK NERDY ON INSTAGRAM

LEARN MORE: www.alexnashton.com

Join Alex's free challenge: 5 Days to Overcome Anxiety

How do I rewire my brain? How does neuroplasticity work? 

Why do I still have anxiety? How can I improve my mental health?

How do I become more confident? How do I overcome my imposter syndrome? 

How do I feel more motivated? How do I heal my trauma? 

Why do I freak out in relationships? Why am I codependent? 

What does it *actually* take to change?  

I’m Alex Nashton and I love the human brain, but what I’m even more obsessed with is helping you understand how you can rewire yours to create freedom from fear and more joy. 

I’m a coach who has spent the last 10 years teaching the highly ambitious how to become the master of their own minds. Six of those years were also spent formally studying neuroscience and completing independent research on the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety disorders.

Neuroplasticity, epigenetics, and quantum physics are all topics we’ll discuss with leading experts here. 

If you are looking for a neuroscience-backed approach to creating real, lasting changes in your patterns of thinking and behavior…

If you are a nerd for conversations that range from neurotransmitters to neurogenesis and meditation to manifestation… 

If you love learning about the science and psychology behind why the hell you are the way that you are, but have also been looking for ways to apply that to your everyday life to create real, tangible change… 

This is the podcast for you. 

In this show, you will learn from leading scientists, psychologists and experts on how to maximize the constantly changing nature of your brain and rewire yourself to become unstoppable. 

So grab your notebook, your matcha latte and get ready to Talk Nerdy To Me.