Beliefs, Behaviors Communication, and the Brain: Communicating What Matters

In this episode of Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication, and the Brain, I talk about the connection between grief and growth and why both are often messy, nonlinear experiences. I share personal stories about loss, healing, and single motherhood while exploring how grief can resurface in different seasons of life and how growth often happens beneath the surface. Tune in for a conversation on emotional healing, self-awareness, and lear...

In this episode of Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication, and the Brain, Dr. Maiysha sits down with Madison Butler for a conversation about burnout, career transitions, and the emotional attachment so many people develop with work. Together, they explore how workplace culture, overperformance, and tying identity to productivity can quietly impact mental, emotional, and physical health.

Madison also shares her personal journey of stepp...

In this episode of Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication, and the Brain, I reflect on the power of giving grace, emotional awareness, and keeping conversations open during moments of tension and disagreement. Inspired by a recent trip to Japan with a close friend, I share how accountability, self-reflection, and courageous conversation helped us navigate conflict while deepening trust and connection.

Tune in for a conversation on emot...

In this episode of Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication, and the Brain, I sit down with Desha Dickson, Vice President of Community Wellness at Tower Health, for a conversation on emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and leadership in healthcare. We explore how community wellness goes beyond hospital walls and why understanding people’s lived experiences shapes better care and stronger systems. We also discuss how asking questions, s...

In this episode of Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication, and the Brain, I talk about emotions and what is really behind the way we make decisions, respond, and communicate with others. I explain how our conditioning from childhood to the workplace shapes how we see and express emotions, and why they are often misunderstood.  

Tune in for a conversation about seeing emotions as information, learning how to name what you feel, and using...

In this episode of Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication, and the Brain, we sit down with Ashley Berger, founder of Sweet Pea Lifestyle, to explore how intentional community and everyday connection shape our experience of loneliness and belonging.

We talk about the power of simple gatherings, creating spaces where people feel safe to show up as they are, and how communication rooted in care builds stronger trust in relationships. We al...

In this episode of Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication, and the Brain, I talk about emotional maturity and what is really behind the way we respond, react, and communicate.

I walk through the three phases of emotional bondage, emotional entitlement, and emotional liberation, and how each one shows up in our relationships, leadership, and everyday interactions.

Tune in for a conversation about reconnecting with your emotional intell...

In this episode of Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication, and the Brain, I talk with Jarrod Jones about emotional intelligence and the beliefs men are taught about emotions. We challenge the idea that emotions are a weakness or don’t belong in the workplace, and unpack how these patterns are learned and passed down.

We also talk about why many struggle to express emotions, how unprocessed feelings show up in communication, and what it ...

Thank you for staying with me in every episode, newsflash: we rebranded to Beliefs, Behaviors, Communication and the Brain!

In this special episode celebrating my upcoming birthday, I talk about growth, changing values, and the role of community in that process. I share reflections from my recent TEDx talk and what it taught me about support, connection, and allowing others to show up for you. 

I walk through my journey from being ...

In this episode, we explore the reality of relationship fatigue and what happens when you are always the one going first. We discuss why some relationships feel draining and unreciprocated, how patterns of over-giving can lead to resentment and exhaustion, and how your body often recognizes these imbalances before you can name them.  

Tune in as we discuss the importance of expressing your needs, creating space for others to step u...

In this episode of Behind Beliefs, Behaviors and the Brain, I unpack the critical distinction between discomfort and danger, and how the brain can blur the line between the two. I explore how past experiences and internal narratives shape our survival responses, often causing everyday interactions like conflict, feedback, or boundary-setting to register as threats.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on recognizing what’s happen...

In this episode of Behind Beliefs, Behaviors, and the Brain, I talk about how our bodies communicate with us during times of stress and emotional overload. I explore how survival responses such as fight, flight, freeze, people-pleasing, and fatigue can show up in our daily lives and why learning to recognize these signals matters.

Tune in for a conversation about listening to your body, adjusting your habits, and creating the supp...

In this episode of Behind Beliefs, Behaviors and the Brain, I’m joined by Dr. Nicole Rochester. Together, we explore what psychological safety looks like in real life, how boundaries strengthen relationships, and why trust develops through consistent actions, honest dialogue, and grace for one another’s humanity. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about creating meaningful connections and building relationships where people feel...

In this episode of Behind Beliefs, Behaviors and the Brain, I talk about how to give and receive feedback in a way that builds trust instead of fear. Feedback often triggers anxiety, especially when phrases like “we need to talk” leave people bracing for the worst. I explain how the brain responds to feedback and share simple ways to reduce stress, ask better questions, and balance correction with acknowledgment so feedback feels s...

In this episode of Behind Beliefs, Behaviors and the Brain, the conversation looks at how words can shift meaning and change the tone of a relationship. It covers common moments when what was said gets twisted, when tone sends a different message, or when boundaries are turned into something uncomfortable.

I also explain why these moments are often felt before they can be clearly named and offers simple ways to respond. Grounded i...

In this episode of Behind Beliefs, Behaviors, and the Brain, I explore how joy, love, and connection shape the way we communicate, especially in uncertain and stressful times. Using the Super Bowl halftime show as a real-world example, I unpack why only a small part of communication is about words and how our nervous system responds to what we see, feel, and experience. I also share why being intentional about what we consume menta...

As I continue revisiting trauma and the many ways it shows up in our lives, this conversation focuses on how trauma can influence the roles we unconsciously step into during moments of stress, conflict, or emotional threat. The persecutor. The victim. The rescuer.

These roles are not personality traits. They are learned survival strategies. And when we are under pressure, especially when our nervous system is activated, we can defa...

As we begin a new year that often focuses on hope and forward movement, I talk about the global and personal grief many people are carrying beneath the surface and share why allowing grief is important for our emotional and nervous system health. We also explore how joy and gratitude can coexist with grief, and how community- and trauma-informed communication supports us through complex emotions.

Tune in for an honest conversatio...

In this episode of Behind Beliefs, Behaviors, and the Brain, I sit down with Dr. Amber Banks to explore how trust, trauma, and communication shape our relationships and leadership. Through her work at the Center for Trust and Transformation, Dr. Banks reveals how identity, context, and lived experience influence how we define trust and why it starts with trusting ourselves.  

We discuss embodied communication, the nervous system, a...