The Dr CK Bray Show

There is so much talk about all the different aspects of Covid-19. Should you take the vaccine? Should you not? Should you wear a mask and what type of mask really helps? After watching the news (which I rarely do anymore - too depressing) I had an ugly realization. Many of the most important topics related to Covid-19 that you should know are being drowned out in meaningless noise. Today Dr. Bray talks about your brain and Covid-19. What happens when Covid-19 breaches your brain and what are the acute and long-term effects? Learn what researchers are finding out about the brain and Covid and the difference if you were hospitalized on a ventilator versus having it at home and recovering. Dr. Bray shares recent research published in the last two months on what researchers are doing to learn the long-term consequences of Covid-19 on your brain. This is a must listen to episode!

If you were allowed to change one decision from your past what decision would you change? A question whose answer will likely uncover a regret. Regrets can be dangerous as we focus on what has occurred in the past and wonder, “if only I would have done……..” In today’s episode Dr. Bray discusses regret and two books that helped him change how he views past experiences and choices he would have made differently. If you are stuck in regrets from the past and struggling to move forward this podcast is for you. Don’t regret missing this insightful look at regret. *Matthew Haig, “The Midnight Library” *Andrew Miller, “On Not Being Someone Else” *Psychology Today October 2020 “A Life Worth Living”

What makes your life meaningful? The answer to this question has strong implications to both your physical and mental health. Recent studies have highlighted some of the mechanisms that create meaning in your life and Dr. Bray shares them in this week’s podcast. Discussing research from the University of Sussex Dr. Bray highlights three important factors to a meaningful life, at what age individuals find most meaning and how ordinary, everyday experiences and routines may be the place to look for meaning. Dr. Bray also discusses the blockers to a meaningful life and how he was reprimanded by his 7-11 convenience store friend for what he said in a recent podcast. You don’t want to miss this episode!

I snuck into a new (and AWESOME!) Harvard course called “The Psychology of Eating (Culinary Psychology)” Well, to be honest, I didn’t officially sneak in, my wife is finishing up her master's, and she was attending class via zoom and I couldn’t help but listen in. The professors repeatedly taught how food can affect us in so many different ways. I agreed wholeheartedly as my lunch of Thai food with rice was causing a downturn in my energy and quickly sending me into a sleep coma. The Harvard class reminded me of all the small choices and events in our lives that can make a drastic difference in our day. I decided to share (or maybe remind you) of six evidence-based ways to change your brain for a good day. Tune into today’s podcast to learn about the six ways to jump start your brain and what research is teaching us about each of these factors. A few of them may sound familiar, but it is important to understand the new insights into why you should focus more on your brain health. I also share new neuroscience research on how caffeine effects the structure of your brain. This research was released February 15, 2021, so it is hot off the press! References for the article -- “Daily Caffeine Intake Induces Concentration-Dependent Medial Temporal Plasticity in Humans: A Multimodal Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial” by Carolin Reichert et al. Cerebral Cortex -- Theconversation.com: Six scientifically proven ways to help improve brain and mental health. 2020

For decades society has taught we are to be measured against the average. How successful we may be in life depends on how we compare to the average in our college admissions test, grade point average, performance reviews at work and personality assessments. It is being like everyone else, only doing a bit better. Dr. Bray doesn’t believe that and research is backing him up. In today’s episode Dr. Bray shares examples and personal stories on how comparing yourself to the average can limit your success, fulfillment and happiness. Utilizing research from Todd Rose, a Harvard Professor, and his fantastic book, “The End of Average” Dr. Bray shares why the science of individuality is always your best bet. If your life is feeling average this is the episode for you!

During a time of career upheaval, several listeners have asked if they should follow a boss or another leader to a new job. What a perfect way to advance your career, or is it? In this week’s podcast, Dr. Bray talks about the benefits and possible pitfalls to be aware of when you follow someone else to a new job. Dr. Bray will discuss six areas to assist you in making the right decision when leaving a job for a new job. Dr. Bray also shares new research that won’t be published until February of 2021. You don’t want to miss the inside scoop of the latest brain research and be the last to know! *Manager Tools – Following Your Boss to a New Job.

Everyone loves an underdog, the dark horse who has been overlooked because they did not fit the standard notion of a champion, yet beyond all odds emerges a winner. If you have ever looked in the mirror and realized, "this is not who I am or who I want to be, or there is more to me than this," you may be a dark horse. In today's episode, Dr. Bray talks about what a dark horse is and why most of us fit into this category. He also shares several stories of dark horses and what contributed to their success. Dr. Bray shares how an underdog utilizes life's experiences to increase their success and the dark horse's secret of happiness and achievement. You don't want to miss this episode. *Dark Horse: Achieving Success Through the Pursuit of Fulfillment by Todd Rose.

2021 is going to be a year of change and adapting. Dr. Bray is a big believer in being prepared, so today, he answers two questions that have repeatedly been asked over the last few months.

“How do I have a great zoom interview?”

“What are the signs that a layoff may be coming?”

Both topics are critical to securing or maintaining your career in 2021. Join today’s podcast and learn how to have a phenomenal zoom interview (or even how to better show up for zoom meetings) and what signs to look for that may indicate an upcoming layoff. You don’t want to miss this crucial information.

We all have bad days. Days we feel we failed at life, and everyone seems to be more successful, and happier than we are. I had a day like this recently and decided to dive into the research on Late Bloomers. I focused on individuals who discovered talents, abilities and potential that came shining through later in life. It was a bit like walking down the stairs to my grandma’s dark and damp basement as a kid wondering what I was going to find. The data and information I found were inspiring. I considered forty to eighty-year-old individuals to be late bloomers. But the research added to the age span with many mid twenty somethings feeling like life has passed them by if they haven’t created and sold a multimillion dollar business by thirty. The late bloomer research applies to all of us. In today’s episode learn about individuals who have proven the late bloomer theory and what six strengths late bloomers bring to the table. At the start of a new year that will be different than any we have experienced before this podcast is critical to your future success, purpose, and understanding of what you and your brain can accomplish this year. “Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement” by Rich Karlgaard https://amzn.to/35JhY2A

One of the easiest words for a toddler to say is “NO!” One of the most difficult words for an adult to say is “No!” What happened as we became adults? In today’s episode learn more about the importance of saying no and what interaction should happen between you and the individual asking you to do something should be. Dr. Bray also steps up on the soap box and provides a rant about why he isn’t a social media influencer. This doesn’t happen often so don’t miss his bitterness on today’s show!