Change Your Brain Every Day

Abandoned at birth and handed over to Scientology's paramilitary wing, Jamie Mustard spent his first years in a slum-like "orphanage" where babies were stacked in bunks, starved of human touch, and bathed only once a week in filthy water. Decades later, he's a celebrated author, artist, and survivor. And now, he's exposing the global network of abuse that destroyed thousands of children's lives. In this jaw-dropping conversation with Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen, Jamie reveals how he escaped a billion-year contract, overcame illiteracy and shame, and discovered the neuroscience of healing trauma through brain health. This is one of the most harrowing—and hopeful—survivor stories ever told on the podcast. You'll learn: • What really happened to children inside Scientology's secret compounds • Why he called himself "Child X" • How he survived a pressure-cooker environment "kind of like Lord of the Flies" • How medical neglect nearly cost him his hearing… and his life • How a celebrated author could grow up feeling "stupid" • Why shame kept him silent for decades • How trauma rewires the nervous system… and how to reset it • The radical treatment that erased decades of his anxiety in 20 minutes • Why so many of the kids he grew up with were lost to addiction and suicide Jamie's new book, Child X: https://www.amazon.com/Child-Slavery-Poverty-Celebrity-Scientology/dp/163774708X

All of us know the feeling when stress is running wild through our body. Everything you think about is influenced by the anxiety and worry. It's horrible, right? You can probably relate to this since about 30% of people who visit their primary care physician are actually there as a result of stress-induced symptoms. Things like headaches, muscle tension, stomach and digestive discomfort, anxiety, and depression are tied to stress. The pain that results from these symptoms can produce a deep sense of futility and hopelessness. In fact, people struggling like this often think the pain is permanent. But it's simply NOT true! According to Dr. Amen, you might not be able to eliminate the stressors in your life entirely, but you can start feeling better—immediately! Kill those ANTs! Putting a stop to automatic negative thoughts reduces anxiety and depression symptoms. Gratitude = A Better Attitude. Practicing gratitude actually changes your brain chemistry! Bringing your attention to the good things in your life has a powerful effect. Sweat, Don't Fret. Exercise increases both dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain! Exercise daily to experience radical positive effects on your anxiety symptoms. Eat Smart Carbs. Many of us seek comfort in carbs when we feel stressed or anxious. Eating the right kind of carbs helps stabilize blood sugar for a more balanced mood.

From Heisman glory to brutal truths, former pro football quarterback Tim Tebow opens up like never before. In this deeply intimate conversation with Dr. Daniel Amen, the athlete-turned-humanitarian shares the real story behind his faith, a lifetime of migraines, dozens of concussions, and his calling to stop seeking football MVP trophies and start fighting for the world's MVPs (Most Vulnerable People). Today, he goes into the hardest, darkest places in the world bringing faith, hope, and love. You'll see a side of Tim Tebow that's rarely revealed — raw, humble, and on fire for purpose. In this episode, you'll learn: The miracle story of Tim's birth and why doctors said it was "impossible." The day he decided to accept Jesus into his heart and how it changed his life. How a childhood diagnosis made him feel "less than." The tackle that led to a brain bleed and nearly broke his neck. How years of football and head trauma seriously impacted his brain, and what he's doing to heal it. The powerful moment in the jungles of the Philippines that redefined his purpose. Why his genetics put him at greater risk for dementia. Why he wants to show up to Heaven "exhausted." Tim's new book, Look Again: https://www.amazon.com/Look-Again-Recognize-Worth-Confidence/dp/1400254205

Explore the fine line between helping and hindering your child's growth. Discover how overhelping can damage their self-esteem and competence. Learn about allowing affordable consequences to foster responsibility and independence. Hear about effective strategies like Coaching Kids to Solve Their Own Problems. Dive into Love and Logic's four-step problem-solving method and how it empowers kids. Ultimately, understand that genuine self-esteem stems from self-efficacy, encouraging kids to tackle their challenges confidently.

Can't sleep? Anyone who does shift work, travels across time zones, or simply can't get the deep rest you want needs to listen to this! If you want a sharper mind, stronger memory, better mood—and even a younger-looking brain—it starts with getting your ZZZs. In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen sit down with world-renowned sleep psychiatrist Dr. Shane Creado to reveal the surprising science of how sleep impacts every part of your brain and body. Discover why even one lost hour can raise your risk of heart disease, dementia, and depression, and how alcohol, anxiety, and irregular bedtimes secretly sabotage your brain health. Dr. Creado shares his proven strategies for better rest—used by Olympic athletes, CEOs, and patients at Amen Clinics—to help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up truly restored. You'll learn: · Why "just one bad night" can age your brain by years · The #1 mistake sabotaging your deep sleep · Why you need to know your sleep type · The sleep robbers stealing your rest · Natural, drug-free ways to beat insomnia and jet lag · The truth about the 20-minute "power nap" · How to train your brain to rest, recover, and repair overnight

Dr. Daniel Amen and actress/model Nikki Leigh demonstrate a technique to break a panic attack in 2 minutes. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder in which a person experiences recurrent panic attacks. A panic attack involves sudden feelings of intense fear and worry combined with overwhelming physical symptoms even though there is no real danger present. Panic attacks themselves are not life-threatening, but they can make you feel like you can't breathe like you're having a heart attack, or like you might die. Panic attacks tend to come on suddenly and without warning. They can hit you anywhere at any time—even in places you would expect to feel safe. For example, a panic attack can wake you from a sound sleep in your own bed, hit you when you're on vacation at the beach, or strike you while you're in church. The distressing feelings can linger long after the initial onset of the panic attack. You may begin to live in fear of having another attack and begin avoiding places or situations where you think it might happen again. This can ruin your quality of life and cause problems at work, at school, and at home.

Is what we call "normal" actually healthy—or just common? In this powerful episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen sit down with world-renowned physician and bestselling author Dr. Gabor Maté to explore how trauma, stress, and childhood experiences shape our health, addictions, and even our immune system. Dr. Maté explains why depression and anxiety aren't simply "diseases," how suppressed emotions harm the body, and why addictions are not about the drug or behavior—but about unhealed pain. You'll hear deep insights on boundaries, the hidden costs of saying "yes," why so many of us struggle in silence, and how true healing begins with connection. This conversation will challenge everything you think you know about mental health—and give you hope for change. Dr. Maté's new book, The Myth of Normal: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Normal-Illness-Healing-Culture/dp/0593083881

When Heather Wyatt lost her bubbly 13-year-old daughter Aubreigh to suicide after relentless bullying, her world shattered. But instead of letting grief consume her, Heather turned her pain into purpose. In this deeply emotional and inspiring episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen sit down with Heather to talk about the warning signs parents often miss, how antidepressants can affect young brains, and practical ways to protect kids from social media bullying. Heather shares her journey through trauma, faith, and advocacy—and how the "Live Like Aubreigh Wyatt" (#LLAW) movement is helping families across the country heal and find hope again. This episode is heartbreaking, raw, and ultimately redemptive—a must-listen for every parent, teacher, and teen.

Actress and mom Odette Annable sits down with Dr. Daniel Amen for a raw look inside her brain scan—and what it reveals about her struggles with ADHD, perfectionism, criticism, and the pressure to be "the strong one." Odette shares what it's like to feel hyper-productive yet scattered, zigzagging through her day only to end up frustrated—like there's a cap on her potential she can't break through. From growing up in pageants to navigating marriage and parenting a child with ADHD, Odette shares how her brain wiring fuels reactivity, stress, and self-doubt—and what she's learning to do differently to create a healthier brain and a stronger family.

Actor Dave Annable opens up to Dr. Daniel Amen in this candid brain scan session that's as raw as it is eye-opening. Dave shares his lifelong struggles with ADHD, insomnia, and self-medication with unhealthy substances—and how they affect his marriage. With Dr. Amen's insights, Dave discovers how brain health impacts not only focus and productivity, but also intimacy, parenting, and long-term happiness. Dr. Amen also reveals the surprising brain patterns shaping Dave's life and explains why he should see a functional medicine doctor. Whether you're married, a parent, or simply curious about how your brain impacts your relationships, this episode is both deeply relatable and full of practical hope.