Master Stress with Dr. S

Master Stress with Dr. S

Welcome to Master Stress with Dr. S, the podcast that empowers high-achievers to unlock their full potential by mastering stress and achieving burnout-proof success. Hosted by Dr. Safia Debar, a renowned stress expert, medical doctor, speaker and coach. Each episode dives deep into the neuroscience of stress, blending logic and intuition to give you practical tools for thriving in a fast-paced world. Whether you’re navigating the pressures of leadership, striving for peak performance, or yearning for a life of balance and freedom, Dr. Safia Debar will guide you through powerful strategies, expert insights, and personal stories to help you regain control, nurture your well-being, and live authentically. Tune in to discover how to stop stress from holding you back and start living your best, empowered life.

Episodes

September 22, 2025 26 mins

In this debut episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar introduces her podcast focused on transforming stress from a burden into a superpower. Aimed at high achievers, leaders, and anyone feeling overwhelmed, the podcast merges science with practical strategies to master stress and unlock potential. Dr. Debar debunks common myths about stress, emphasizing its neutral nature and the importance of proper respon...

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In this episode of Master Stress, Dr. S explores the pre-perimenopause phase, a decade before perimenopause that often starts in the mid to late 30s. Despite regular menstrual cycles and normal blood tests, women may start experiencing subtle hormonal shifts that affect their mood, sleep, and overall well-being. Dr. S explains the importance of not dismissing these symptoms as mere stress and discusses how to support optimal hormon...

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In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. S dives deep into the comprehensive changes experienced during puberty, extending beyond mere physical transformations to neurological and hormonal rewiring that influence emotions, behavior, and decision-making. Designed for parents, teachers, and teenagers, this episode emphasizes the critical need to understand the tumultuous changes happening in adolescent brains. Dr....

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In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' we delve into the hormonal lifecycle of women. Dr. S maps out the significant hormonal phases, from puberty through to postmenopause. She highlights the profound neuroendocrine shifts that happen at each stage, including puberty, premenopause, perimenopause, and postmenopause. Emphasizing the importance of understanding these phases, Dr. S also covers the impact of these horm...

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August 25, 2025 28 mins

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Debar dives into the foundations of hormone health, explaining the critical role hormones play in our bodies. She outlines the four major hormonal axes: HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal), HPT (hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid), HPG (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal), and HPI (hypothalamic-pituitary-insulin) and their respective functions. Dr. S simplifies complex hormonal ...

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August 18, 2025 28 mins

In this final episode of the neuroscience-informed leadership series, Dr. S explores the often-overlooked issue of female leadership burnout due to menopause. She sheds light on the neurological and physiological impacts of menopause, emphasizing its relevance to everyone in the workplace. Dr. S insists on the importance of awareness, tracking symptoms, and normalizing discussions around menopause to foster a supportive work enviro...

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August 11, 2025 19 mins

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. S delves into the often overlooked aspects of HR leadership and overall wellbeing. The episode titled 'What They Didn't Teach You and Why It All Starts With You' explores the gaps in traditional HR education, emphasizing the importance of understanding and regulating one's nervous system as a leadership tool. Dr. S highlights the significance of person...

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August 4, 2025 23 mins

In this thought-provoking episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' we dive into the often overlooked causes of systemic burnout within organizations. Dr. S challenges the traditional focus on individual resilience, exploring how toxic corporate cultures and unsustainable workloads are the real culprits. We discuss the importance of truth and validation from leadership, the systemic role in burnout, and what truly effective ...

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In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar discusses how to optimize corporate wellness budgets for genuine impact. Dr. S highlights the gap between wellness offerings and their actual utilization while providing a blueprint on where to invest for the best return on investment. Key recommendations include ongoing programs with accountability, leader-led initiatives, science-backed tools, and embedding ...

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July 21, 2025 15 mins

Mastering Leadership Through Breath Work with Dr. S

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar delves into the power of breath work as a strategic tool for executive performance, clarity, and culture change. Emphasizing the critical role of the nervous system in leadership effectiveness, Dr. S shares personal anecdotes and practical applications of breath work in the workplace. She introduces ...

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In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar delves into the concept of resilience, debunking common myths and highlighting why many wellness strategies fail. She introduces the 40/60 rule, which attributes 40% of burnout to individual traits and 60% to systemic issues within organizations. Dr. Debar shares insights from neuroscience and her extensive experience working with high achievers, emphasizing t...

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In this episode of Master Stress with Dr. S, we delve into the impact of poorly organized meetings on your team’s productivity and mental clarity. Dr. S shares a personal story highlighting the cognitive and emotional toll of ineffective meetings. He emphasizes that inefficient meetings not only waste time but also deplete focus and trust within a team. Dr. S outlines a gold standard for brain-friendly meetings: they should be purp...

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In this episode of Master Stress with Dr. S, Dr. Safia Debar, stress expert and founder of RQ Wellness, explores how to transform workplaces using neuroscience. Aimed at HR leaders and executives, this podcast dives into practical strategies for reducing cognitive load, managing mental fatigue, and establishing brain-friendly work cultures. Dr. Debar discusses the science behind cognitive fatigue, illustrates its impact through rea...

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How to stay in your PFC when managing difficult people and conflicting demands.

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar, a stress expert and founder of RQ Wellness, discusses how HR leaders and executives can lead with clarity, control, and performance without succumbing to stress and burnout. She delves into the concept of crisis reactivity, explaining how high-stress situations trigger the amygdala...

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Neuroscience-backed strategies to unlock creativity, logic, and calm.

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar addresses HR leaders and executives on how to lead effectively without burning out. The series focuses on leveraging neuroscience to tackle workplace stress and burnout. Dr. Debar discusses the challenges of dealing with unsupportive leadership, the importance of internal control, and provide...

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Your team isn’t lazy—they’re just stuck in survival mode.

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' Dr. Safia Debar continues a series called 'Lead Without Losing Your Mind and Thrive Instead.' This neuroscience-informed series is designed for HR leaders, executives, and managers seeking real solutions to stress without burnout. Dr. Debar explains the two brain states—survival mode and executive mode—and the...

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What every HR Director needs to know about cognitive overload and burnout.

In this episode of Master Stress with Dr. S., Dr. Safia Debar introduces 'Lead Without Losing Your Mind and Thrive Instead,' a neuroscience-informed series for HR leaders and executives aimed at providing real solutions without burnout, chaos, or compromise. Dr. Debar emphasizes the importance of sustainable high performance and retaining top talent...

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May 19, 2025 45 mins

Unlocking the Power of Stress: Turning Chaos into Clarity with Dr. Safia Debar

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S' titled 'Chaos to Clarity,' Dr. Safia Debar explores the concept that stress, often seen as detrimental, can actually be harnessed as a powerful tool for achieving peak performance. Driven by experiences with her coaching clients, she addresses common misconceptions about stress, e...

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Micro Movements for a Healthier Lifestyle

In this episode of Master Stress with Dr. S, we explore how to integrate consistent movement into a busy schedule. Dr. S discusses the importance of redefining our relationship with exercise, emphasizing that even micro movements have significant benefits. Through patient anecdotes and scientific insights, the episode debunks the myth that extensive time and effort are required for...

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Listening to Your Body: Rethinking Movement and Exercise

In this episode of 'Master Stress with Dr. S,' we dive into a new paradigm of movement and exercise, exploring how to align physical activity with the body’s natural rhythms and needs. Dr. S examines the neurobiological aspects of movement, emphasizing the importance of tuning into the nervous system and adapting exercise routines accordingly. The discussio...

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