The Write Brain

• Tune Your Brain: The Science of Sound & Mood

  Can sound actually balance your brain? In this episode, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo break down the science of sound: high vs. low frequencies, why one ear can stimulate the opposite hemisphere, bone-conduction hacks, and how music choice (yes, even Mozart vs. jazz) can shift mood, focus, anxiety, and reading/rhythm issues. We also share quick at-home tests and everyday listening tweaks you can try safely.What you’ll learnHigh vs. low frequency sound and which hemisphere they stimulateWhy listening in your right ear targets the left brain (and vice versa)Bone conduction vs. air conduction (and when bone wins)Dissonance vs. resonance: turning brain “noise” into flowMusic types that tend to be more left- or right-brain activatingEasy daily tweaks: one-ear listening, volume biasing, playlist swapsTimestamps 00:00 Cold open & dinner debrief (Nashville updates) 02:15 Sound ≈ frequency—how the brain “hears” waves 05:40 High vs. low notes: which side of the brain they hit 08:55 Bone conduction headphones 101 (why they help vertigo/reading) 12:20 Jazz, classical, sad songs & what they say about your wiring 16:45 DIY tests: the one-ear trick, volume bias, tuning forks 21:10 Anxiety triggers (honks, dryers) & the startle/Moro reflex 25:30 Building a smarter playlist for focus or calm 30:10 Quick recap & how to experiment safelyTry these quick experimentsRun with one earbud in your right ear for focus (left-brain boost).Swap to lower-frequency, slower music when you feel overstimulated.Test bone-conduction headphones if you struggle with motion/reading rhythm.Notice which genres soothe vs. spike your nervous system—keep notes for a week.Resources mentionedDisconnected Kids (chapter on sound & color) – Dr. Robert MelilloBrain-balance music concepts & left/right-leaning playlists (Ellis’s notes)

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• Bonner Black: Brain Balancing & Bird Watching

  In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, Ellis and Dr. Melillo sit down with singer-songwriter and viral bird-watcher Bonner Black to talk about ADHD, maladaptive daydreaming, and the brutal emotional comedown after big performances and life wins.Bonner opens up about panic attacks, self-harm, and growing up as a homeschooled, right-brained kid on a Tennessee farm—plus how bird-watching unexpectedly became one of the most powerful tools for calming her nervous system and activating her left brain.They break down right-brain vs left-brain ADHD, why creatives often feel intense shame and self-loathing after being in the spotlight, and the hopeful reality that you can retrain your brain without losing your gifts.

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• Color, Light & Your Brain: What Really Works

  Ellis and Dr. Melillo go deep on COLOR & LIGHT—how different wavelengths (red/orange/yellow vs. blue/indigo/violet) nudge left/right brain networks, impact reading, focus, anxiety, and even motion sensitivity. We cover practical tools (tinted & hemifield lenses, flashing-light glasses) and why some lights (hello, flickery fluorescents) can make you feel off. Plus: what 40 Hz “gamma” is and why meditators love it, and where laser/photobiomodulation fits in—without the woo.What you’ll learnRight vs. left brain: why warm colors often lift left-brain functions; cool colors often lean right-brainIrlen-style tinting & hemifield tricks: when colored overlays/lenses help reading and trackingFlicker matters: why certain room lights spike anxiety or fatigue40 Hz basics: how rhythmic light can entrain brainwaves (pros/cons, safety notes)Photobiomodulation (laser/red light): what it is, what it isn’t, and where the science is headedEasy self-checks: color in your room/wardrobe, quick one-eye/half-field experiment, safer swaps you can try todayTry this (safe, simple)Swap one environment to earth/neutral or warmer tones for a week; note mood/focus.Reading issues? Test a colored overlay or tinted display (warm vs. cool) and see if line-skipping eases.Sensitive to lighting? Replace harsh fluorescents with full-spectrum, low-flicker bulbs.Quick visual-field check: briefly cover one eye and the inner half of the other while looking straight ahead—notice if calm/focus changes. If it does, you might benefit from targeted visual work.Curious about devices (tinted/flash glasses or light therapy)? Work with a qualified clinician—wrong settings can feel worse even if they’re not harmful.Chapters  00:00 Nashville dinner + setup 02:00 Color frequencies & brain networks 06:40 Irlen lenses, reading & eye tracking 12:50 Hemifields and mood/anxiety 19:40 Fluorescent flicker & sensitivity 24:30 40 Hz gamma & entrainment 29:50 Photobiomodulation (laser/red light) 40:30 What to try at home (safely) 44:50 Wrap & next episode teaserListen on: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • iHeartRadio • YouTube Follow: @thewritebrainpodcast | @ellismelillo | @drrobertmelillo Booking/partners: [email protected] only; not medical advice. If symptoms are significant or new, see a clinician.Hashtags: #RightBrain #ColorTherapy #Irlen #Photobiomodulation #BrainWaves #40Hz #ADHD #Anxiety #Reading #Wellness #Nashville

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• Brain–Gut Truths (No Fads, Just Facts)

  From Nashville writer rounds to the science of the brain–gut loop, Ellis and Dr. Melillo unpack why there’s no one-size-fits-all diet—and how to tell what YOUR body actually needs. We dig into food sensitivities (what blood tests really measure), “leaky gut” (and why it actually begins in infancy), chemicals/dyes (Red 40, etc.), and the TikTok trends around parasites, mold, and candida. Plus: how tools like the Brain Driver and Interactive Metronome help balance the system so digestion, mood, and focus improve.What you’ll learnTest, don’t guess: real food-sensitivity panels & how to do a true 6-week elimination + reintroductionLeaky gut 101: the role of the parasympathetic (vagal) system & why brain balance mattersTH1/TH2 immunity, antibodies, and why creatives can be extra sensitiveDyes, chemicals & heavy metals: when to care, when to ignore the noiseParasites/mold/candida: how to confirm (stool/blood), and the why behind susceptibilityEllis’ stack: Brain Driver + Interactive Metronome to support timing, vagal tone & metabolismTry thisGet a reputable antibody panel (foods + common additives).Eliminate strictly for 6 weeks, then re-challenge one item at a time.If you suspect parasites/mold—test first, then treat.Support the brain–gut loop: sleep, breathwork, gentle vestibular/balance drills, timing work.Listen on: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • iHeartRadio • YouTubeFollow: @thewritebrainpodcast | @ellismelillo | @drrobertmelilloContact: [email protected]: Educational only; not medical advice. Always consult your clinician.Hashtags: #RightBrain #BrainGutConnection #FoodSensitivity #FunctionalNeurology #LeakyGut #ADHD #Anxiety #Wellness #Nashville #TheWriteBrain

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• Understanding Vertigo, Motion Sickness & Balance

  Ever felt the room spin, gotten car sick, or had that wobbly “boat” feeling out of nowhere? In this episode, we break down the three different kinds of dizziness — and why it matters. Vertigo, motion sickness, and lightheadedness come from different systems in the brain, and knowing which one you’re experiencing is the key to actually helping it.Ellis shares her Brain Driver routine + 68 days alcohol-free, while Dr. Melillo explains how the inner ear, neck, eyes, and brain work together to keep us balanced. We also talk color therapy, why some right-brain dominant creatives feel things more strongly, and simple ways to support your own system at home.What we cover:• Vertigo vs. dizziness vs. lightheadedness• Why the side you turn your head matters• Car + bed hacks to reduce motion sickness• The Brain Driver (and how Ellis uses it daily)• Right-brain sensitivity, empathy & overthinking• Why there’s no “one-time fix” — just balanceIf you’ve ever said:“I get dizzy in cars.”“The room spins when I lie down.”“My stomach drops when I stand up too fast.”…this episode is for you.

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