What if everything you’ve been told about stress… is wrong?

Cortisol is often called the “stress hormone.” But according to world-leading neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, that’s not actually true. In this conversation, she shares a radically different way of understanding stress, emotion, and the brain’s hidden role in shaping our reality.

Dr. Feldman Barrett explains how the brain is constantly predicting, budgeting, and constructing the world we experience — and why this “body budgeting” system may be at the root of anxiety, depression, and burnout. She also offers a powerful reframe of what’s really happening during “fight or flight,” and why our current view of stress may be doing more harm than good.

She doesn’t stop there. We explore:

• Why cortisol isn’t really a “stress hormone”

• How body budgeting affects mental health

• The surprising connection between anxiety and prediction

• A fresh perspective on SSRIs and emotional regulation

• How understanding your brain can change how you live

Dr. Feldman Barrett is one of the most cited scientists in the world, with more than 270 published papers. She’s a professor, psychologist, and author of two groundbreaking books: “Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain” and “How Emotions Are Made.”

If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, emotional overwhelm, or stress, this episode will change how you understand your brain — and yourself.

🎧 Listen now and add her books to your reading list.
📚 Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain
📚 How Emotions Are Made

— Sarah Ann

***

Thank you to my wonderful sponsors!

BON CHARGE | Science-backed beauty, wellness and recovery products.

https://boncharge.com/LIVEWELL?rfsn=8119877.ae1cd73

Use code LIVEWELL for 15% off.

OptimallyMe | Personalised insights for optimal health.

https://bit.ly/lwbw20/

Use code LWBW20 for 20% off.

Squarespace |  A website makes it real.

http://squarespace.com/LiveWell

Get a free trial and use code LIVEWELL for 10% off your first website or domain purchase.

***

If you enjoyed this episode you might also like:

4 Types of Stress: How to Manage Each One | Mo Gawdat & Alice Law

https://youtu.be/CknAbrLXuhQ?si=QfT2jnfq2Qxmt46e

Dr. Shefali: How To BREAK FREE From The Self-Awareness TRAP

https://youtu.be/k_9oQBSE4uU?si=nWyy0dVEfYc8uu_E

Mo Gawdat: How To Transform Stress Into Success

https://youtu.be/5THJeXv5X7s?si=fkAX9baNqJ4isyC0

***

Let’s be friends!

📷 Instagram:  / sarahannmacklin

📹 Subscribe:   / @livewellbewellsarah  

🐦 Twitter:  / sarahannmacklin  

📱 TikTok:  / sarahannnutrition  

💌 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3rUbHyS

***

Unlock Stress-Busting Recipes: Get My Top 5 Mood-Boosting Meals Now! 🍽️🧘‍♀️ | Click Here to Reduce Stress Deliciously

http://bit.ly/3HDuVxj

Fuel Your Mind Weekly: Subscribe to Our Free Mental Wellness Newsletter 🧠💪 | Join Now for Expert Tips, Inspiration, and Self-Care Strategies

https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63da7b62ecc678190062732d

***

Highlights:

• Introduction: Rethinking Emotions (00:00)
• The Science of Emotions: Challenging Traditional Views (00:50)
• Pixar's Inside Out: A New Perspective on Emotions (08:36)
• Emotional Intelligence: Strategies for Managing Feelings (17:00)
• The Body Budget: How Mood Affects Your Health (23:33)
• Understanding Mental Health: Depression and Anxiety Explained (28:33)
• Mindfulness Techniques: Reframing Negative Thoughts (36:37)
• Diet's Role in Depression and Treatment (42:44)
• Debunking Common Stress and Cortisol Myths (55:54)
• Fight, Flight, or Fiction? The Truth About Our Stress Response (01:00:50)
• Self-Compassion: The Key to Emotional Well-being (01:08:22)
• Conclusion and Future Research in Emotional Health (01:13:02)