What's Really Going On Inside Your Brain? How Social Media, AI, & Modern Life Is Reshaping Us - Dr Lila Landowski (Leading Neuroscientist)

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Feb 3, 2026

Dr Lila Landowski, neuroscientist and lecturer who translates brain science into practical advice, digs into attention, habits, social media, AI and brain health. She explains why habits form, how dopamine shapes reward and routine, why multitasking is draining, how social media fragments attention, and practical rules to protect focus and preserve cognitive resilience as we age.

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ADVICE

Write Distracting Thoughts Down

Keep a notepad beside you and write distracting thoughts down instead of checking your phone.
Return to the task knowing you'll handle the note later to avoid context-switching costs.

INSIGHT

Social Media Trades On Your Attention

Social media is engineered to erode attention because attention is the commodity advertisers buy.
The platforms train rapid context switching through intermittent rewards similar to gambling.

INSIGHT

Online Time Replaces Brain-Beneficial Activities

Heavy social media use displaces exercise, sleep, and face-to-face skills that nurture brain health.
Reduced real socialising and green time correlates with more anxiety, depression, and poorer body image.

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In this episode of Tea with Jules, Jules sits down with one of Australia’s leading
neuroscientists, Dr Lila Landowski, for a fascinating, eye-opening conversation about what’s really going on inside our brains - and how modern life, social media, habits, multitasking, and AI are quietly reshaping the way we think, feel, focus, and connect.

If you’ve ever wondered why your attention feels scattered, why habits are so hard to stick to, or why scrolling leaves you exhausted but oddly unsatisfied - this episode will make you feel deeply seen (and a lot more informed).

Together, Jules and Lila break down complex brain science into practical, relatable moments.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Why your brain craves shortcuts and how habits are actually formed at neurological level
The real reason motivation drops off when there’s no immediate reward
How dopamine works as both a reward and a habit-builder
Why multitasking feels productive but is actually draining your brain’s energy
How social media is designed to fragment attention and keep you scrolling
Why face-to-face connection gives us brain chemicals that texting never can
What boredom actually does for creativity (and why kids need it)
How exercise, silence, and green space physically improve brain health
Why AI worries neuroscientists and how to use it without outsourcing your thinking
What happens to the brain as we age (and how to protect it)
The powerful science of belief effects and how mindset literally changes physiology

Disclaimer:
This podcast episode is intended for general information and personal reflection only. The content shared is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or mental health advice. If you are experiencing ongoing distress or mental health concerns, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional.

Connect with Dr Lila Landowski

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Credits:
Sound Engineer & Music: @kailesh_reitmans
Videographer & Editor: @nathan_niguidula
Producer: @lisajohnston_ @julessebastian

Welcome to Tea with Jules hosted by Jules Sebastian. Here we spill the tea and learn life lessons from honest conversations with experts, celebrities and friends.