225 — Control Your Vagus Nerve to Improve Your Mental and Physical Health With Dr. Kevin Tracey
What if improving your mental health and physical well-being could be as simple as understanding one nerve in your body? Research shows your vagus nerve plays a powerful role in your well-being.
This week, I’m joined by Dr. Kevin Tracey, a world-renowned neurosurgeon and pioneering researcher, to explore the vagus nerve and how improving your vagal tone can improve your health.
Some of the things we discuss are:
What the vagus nerve is and why it’s crucial for your overall health.
How vagus nerve stimulation is being used to treat conditions like depression and rheumatoid arthritis.
Clear signs of vagus nerve dysfunction and how it connects to inflammation.
Practical ways to improve your vagal tone, from exercise to breath work.
Why heart rate variability might be a window into your health.
The critical role the vagus nerve plays in building mental strength and resilience.
Want more tips for building mental strength? Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium and get weekly AMA episodes and monthly bonuses to help you grow mentally stronger!
Links & Resources
The Great Nerve
Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
Connect with the Show
Buy Amy's books on mental strength
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
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53:43
224 - 8 Myths About Feelings That Can Sabotage Your Emotional Intelligence
What if everything you’ve been told about emotions is wrong? Emotional intelligence is important but there's a lot of misinformation about emotions that are holding people back.
On this episode, I’m exposing eight common myths about emotions that keep us stuck and make it hard to grow mentally stronger. From the idea that venting your feelings helps you feel better to the notion that controlling your emotions makes you less authentic, I’m breaking down the science behind these myths and sharing actionable strategies to overcome them.
Some of the things I talk about are:
Why judging your feelings keeps you stuck and how to accept them instead.
The truth about venting and why it might actually make things worse.
How to regulate emotions without shutting them down.
How to stop letting other people have power over your emotions.
Steps to take uncomfortable emotions and turn them into a strength.
When to feel your feelings and when to shift them.
Strategies for reducing the intensity of uncomfortable feelings.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like bonus episodes, signed books, and 30-day challenges that will keep you growing stronger.
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
Quince — Get free shipping and 365-day returns at Quince.com/stronger
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/
ZocDoc — Go to Zocdoc.com/STRONGER to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today!
Calm — Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/STRONGER
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
Mentally Strong — Sign up for your free 7-day trial at MentallyStrong.Downpat.ai
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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24:29
223 — How to Get the Deep Rest You Need for a Stronger, Clearer Mind with Dr. Therese Huston
Do you think of rest as a luxury instead of a necessity? Or maybe you can’t seem to rest even when you try?
This week, I’m joined by Dr. Therese Huston, a cognitive scientist and psychologist who specializes in brain health. Dr. Huston breaks down why rest is crucial for building mental strength and shares actionable techniques to give your brain the reset it needs.
Some of the things we discuss are:
The difference between deep rest and just zoning out.
What deep rest is and how to get it.
What happens to your brain when you don’t take breaks.
Simple ways to rest during the workday, no matter how busy you are.
Breathing techniques that calm your brain and help you recharge.
How practices like Yoga Nidra and spending time in nature enhance your mental strength.
How more rest can increase focus, reduce stress, and prevent burnout.
Why deep rest is essential to your mental health and how it helps you grow mentally stronger.
Want more tips for building mental strength? Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium and get weekly AMA episodes and monthly bonuses to help you grow mentally stronger!
Links & Resources
ThereseHuston.com
Sharp
Connect with the Show
Buy Amy's books on mental strength
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
Quince — Get free shipping and 365-day returns at Quince.com/stronger
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Calm — Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/STRONGER
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
ZocDoc — Go to Zocdoc.com/STRONGER to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today!
Mentally Strong — Sign up for your free 7-day trial at MentallyStrong.Downpait.Ai
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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52:07
222 — 5 Areas of Your Life to Declutter So You Feel Less Overwhelmed and More in Control
What if decluttering your life could make room for more energy, joy, and freedom?
Have you ever felt weighed down by the physical, emotional, or mental clutter in your life? This week, I’m breaking down five key areas where decluttering can make life simpler and more meaningful.
From tidying up your spaces to reassessing relationships, we’re covering practical strategies to lighten your load and focus on what truly matters.
Some of the things I talk about are:
How physical clutter impacts your mental health and how to declutter effectively.
Simple tips to organize your finances and reduce money stress.
How to clear mental clutter for sharper focus and inner peace.
Strategies to set boundaries and declutter toxic relationships.
Ways to declutter your time and prioritize what’s truly essential.
Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium for exclusive content like bonus episodes, signed books, and 30-day challenges that will keep you growing stronger.
Connect with the Show
Buy a copy of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
Visit my website — AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
Quince — Get free shipping and 365-day returns at Quince.com/stronger
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/
ZocDoc — Go to Zocdoc.com/STRONGER to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today!
Calm — Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/STRONGER
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
Mentally Strong — Sign up for your free 7-day trial at MentallyStrong.Downpat.ai
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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21:39
221 — Feeling Stuck? How Sharing Your Struggles Can Set You Free with Carnie Wilson
Our struggles often feel isolating. But talking about them, even when it's uncomfortable, can be the key to growth and healing.
Today's guest, Carnie Wilson, co-founder of the world famous musical group Wilson Phillips, understands the importance of vulnerability. From navigating fame and a multigenerational legacy in music (including her legendary late father, Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys) to overcoming addiction, shame, and postpartum depression... Carnie’s willingness to share her struggles is a testament to the power of connection and self-compassion.
We explore how opening up about challenges can build mental strength, the importance of community, and the small steps you can take to find healing.
Some of the things we discuss are:
How vulnerability can become a superpower for growth and healing
What led to her becoming a mental health advocate
The role of connection in staying resilient and fostering mental strength
The challenges and triumphs of battling addiction and recovering from postpartum depression
Why shame and stigma hold us back, and how sharing your story can set you free
The importance of mental health advocacy and raising awareness for conditions like tardive dyskinesia (TD)
Practical steps to move past perfectionism and focus on progress in your mental health
Want more tips for building mental strength? Subscribe to Mentally Stronger Premium and get weekly AMA episodes and monthly bonuses to help you grow mentally stronger!
Links & Resources
Connectingwithcarnie.com
Follow Carnie on Instagram — @Carnie68
Connect with the Show
Buy Amy's books on mental strength
Connect with Amy on Instagram — @AmyMorinAuthor
AmyMorinLCSW.com
Sponsors
OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Calm — Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at calm.com/STRONGER
AirDoctor — Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today!
Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at Shopify.com/mentallystronger
Mentally Strong — Sign up for your free 7-day trial at MentallyStrong.Downpait.Ai
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Growing mentally stronger will change your life and therapist Amy Morin wants to show you how to make it happen.
Whether you want to improve your mental health, boost your resilience, gain emotional intelligence, or gain a competitive edge that will help you reach your greatest potential, this show is for you.
Mentally Stronger provides therapist-approved strategies for tackling the biggest battle we all face--the one in our minds.
Webby Award-Winning Host Amy Morin is a psychotherapist and the bestselling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. Every episode dives into science-backed strategies for building the mental strength you need to handle whatever life throws this way.
No one understands the importance of having mental strength more than Amy. Her personal journey surrounding grief and loss has led to her to take a deep dive into mental strength. And now, she's sharing what she learned along the way.
Her TEDx talk, The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong, is one of the most viewed talks of all time with 25 million views and she's sold over 1 million books. She's a speaker and a consulted who teaches companies like Google, Under Armour, and NBC how to grow mentally stronger.
Unlike other shows, Mentally Stronger provides a unique blend of research-backed tips, stories of mental strength, and therapist-approved strategies that will empower you to thrive.
Join Amy on the transformative journey to mastering your mind. And the fun part is, she records the show from a sailboat in the Florida Keys.
New Zealand