The Write Brain

• 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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• Kylie Frey on Music, Motherhood & Nerves

  Country artist Kylie Frey joins us to talk rodeo roots, panic attacks, songwriting as therapy, and her new duet with Randall King—plus the upcoming EP Half a Mind (out Oct 23). We get into right- vs left-brain creativity, mom life, and why a horse can be the best therapist.🎵 Kylie Frey – “Half a Mind” EP drops Oct 23 🎙️ The Write Brain Podcast — father/daughter conversations about brain health, creativity, and real life.

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• What Autism Really Is (and Isn’t): A Functional Neurology Deep Dive

  In this episode of The Write Brain Podcast, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo unpack one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in the world of child development and mental health: autism. With headlines circulating about Tylenol use during pregnancy, they dive deep into the real science behind risk factors, gene expression, brain development, and why blame-based narratives aren’t just inaccurate — they’re harmful.Dr. Melillo, who wrote one of the definitive books on autism science, explains:Why correlation ≠ causation in autism researchWhat autism actually looks like in the brainThe role of preconception health in both parentsWhy folic acid, gut health, and the immune system are downstream, not root causesHow the Brain Driver and functional neurology help restore balance gently and effectivelyEllis also shares how tools like red light glasses and her Brain Driver (thebraindriver.com) are helping her manage anxiety during her 41 days sober, while calling out media oversimplification — with her usual dose of comedy and side tangents (yes, Miami Vice and karate class make cameos).This episode is an empowering reminder that you’re not broken — you’re just imbalanced, and there are ways to get back to center.

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