Super Brain

Dr Sabina Brain offers no nonsense, practical suggestions for getting through winter lockdown restrictions, Pulling no punches about alcohol and diet she gives pointers on taking control, finding joy and losing yourself in a good way. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sabina Brennan chats to international best-selling author Shiela O'Flanagan about her women, literary snobbery, childhood dreams and saying yes. To learn more about and her books visit her website You can purchase Shiela's latest book The Women Who Ran Away Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Talking about trans issues can be a bit of a minefield especially on social media. Mis-gendering or using the wrong or out-dated terminology can get you in a bit of bother or prevent you from engaging in conversation at all. Misconceptions and misinformation really can contribute to transphobia and even trans abuse and violence. In this episode Dr Sabina Brennan clarifies the meaning of some key trans terms using helpful definitions prepared by Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI). Special thanks for Sara Phillips Chair of TENI for granting permission to read from the Helpful Terms and Definitions https://www.teni.ie/resources/trans-terms/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sabina Brennan chats to her friends Philippa and Helen Ryder an inspirational couple who speak openly and honestly about the impact that Philippa's transition has had on their lives, their dreams and their love. Support If you have been affected by any of the content in this issue please consider contacting the support organisations below or if you simply need a listening ear or would like to share your story please email Sabina at info@superbrain.ie United Kingdom To Find a transgender support group near you https://www.transunite.co.uk/ Ireland For a list of supports https://www.belongto.org/youngpeople/help/ Europe For a list of where to find supports nationally across Europe https://www.ilga-europe.org/mental-health/help About Philippa & Helen Philippa is a Dubliner and a longtime activist, avid cyclist, science fiction fan and mapping surveyor. Philippa has served on the board of Transgender Equality Network Ireland, on the steering committee of Transgender Europe and at present she is the chair of the LGBT Diversity committee for the Property Registration Authority. In 2019 with two colleagues she became a director of Under The Rainbow, a social enterprise company which provides both individual counselling, and corporate and community training in diversity and inclusion across all spheres.  Married to Helen for over 34 years, Philippa knew since childhood that her assigned gender didn’t align with her inner true self and over the past 20+ years she moved towards transitioning. Despite the challenges of this change, Philippa and Helen are still a strong family unit with their adult daughter. Helen is a radiographer who enjoys crafts (especially embroidery), dolls houses and researching her family history for family and friends. Originally from Yorkshire, Helen moved to Ireland when she became engaged to Philippa and they are still very much in love after 40 years. Helen is a strong supporter of human rights especially LGBTQI rights and was part of the Dublin Southwest canvassing team during the marriage equality referendum campaign. Trans Terminology Confused by the multiple terms associated with sex and gender? Have a listen to Super Brain Booster #19 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is ageing really is just about the number of years since birth? Does your brain really start to shrink at 30? Can you stop your brain shrinking? Dr Sabina Brennan answers these questions and more in this weeks Super Brain Booster Shot. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sabina Brennan talks to Anne Griffin through the lens of her brilliant debut novel When All is Said about kindness, self-love, loneliness, ageing, dyslexia, pursuing happiness, eschewing perfection and our own special brand of guilt.  To earwig (verb): to secretly listen to a conversation. The Booster Shot Sabina mentioned in this episode is Booster 5 Loneliness is a Killer Sabina also promised to share the link to The Little Book of Kindness by Bernadette Russell Anne Griffin is the author of When All Is Said, the number 1 Irish bestseller, and winner of the Newcomer of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. When All Is Said has been published in the US and Canada and translated into nineteen foreign languages. Anne's short story works have featured in, amongst others, The Irish Times and The Stinging Fly and read on Radio 4. Anne has worked in Waterstones Booksellers in both Dublin and London and for various charities. Born in Dublin, Anne now lives in Westmeath, Ireland. Follow Sabina Brennan & Super Brain Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sabina_Brennan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabinabrennan/ and https://www.instagram.com/superbrainpodcast/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sabina Brennan reads an except from her No 1 best-seller 100 Days to a Younger Brain which explains the many ways in which exercise benefits your brain. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sabina Brennan chats to John Boyne about love, desire, ambition, creativity, social media and their mutual love of excel sheets and order. Bio John Boyne is a muliti-award-winning novelist. He has published 12 books for adults and 6 novels for younger readers including the New York Times No 1 Best-seller The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. You can read more about John and his books on his website  His latest novel Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom is the story of all of us. It is a tale of human nature and how we are all linked regardless of time or space. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sabina Brennan explains that the radical remodelling of the human brain that occurs during the teenage years underlies much of the typical and often troublesome behaviour observed in teenagers from emotional outbursts to risky behaviours. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this fun episode Sabina Brennan chats to Richard Roper, author of Something to Live a compelling and surprisingly uplifting novel about loneliness. shares experiences of loneliness, the importance of friends and his lovely dad’s diary. He also gives some sage advice about happiness and contentment.  Booster #5 Loneliness is a Killer Bio Richard Roper grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and now lives in London, where he works as a non-fiction editor. Something To Live For, is his first novel. It has been translated into 19 languages. He is currently working on his new novel, out in Summer 2021. This is Barter Books that Richard says everyone must visit. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sabina Brennan explores gender bias in psychologica research Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sabina Brennan, host of Super Brain, investigates the impact of COVID19 on the human brain Special thanks to Helen Brennan, Maddie Culling, Carolyn Gunther, Barbara Melville and Caroline O'Brien, for sharing their personal stories and to Dr Lucy Cheke, Dr Ron Daniels, Dr Patricia Mc Namara and Dr Adrian Owen their expert insights on the neurological and cognitive complications of COVID-19 A HUGE thank you to my very special and talented editor Emily Burke for going above and beyond to help me to get this special and important episode to you.   If you would like to learn more about brain fog and how to minimise it check out Super Brain Booster #8 'What is Brain Fog? Brain Health Advice As mentioned in the podcast leading a brain healthy life is the best thing that you can do to counteract brain fog symptoms and also to build brain resilience You will find links lots of free scientifically-grounded brain health resources developed by Dr Sabina Brennan on www.superbrain.ie You can purchase the UK edition of Sabina's book on Brain Health: 100 Days to a Younger Brain on Amazon, W.H. Smith or wherever you buy books You can purchase the US edition of Sabina's book on Brain Health: 100 Days to a Younger Brain on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or wherever you buy books Her new book Beating Brain fog is available for pre-order Support If you are living with lingering symptoms post-COVID you may find the Patient Support Programme created by the UK Sepsis Trust which was founded by Dr Ron Daniels https://sepsistrust.org/covid-19-recovery-response/ How to Take Part in Research Dr Adrian Owen's COVID-19 Brain Study is open to anyone experiencing brain fog symptoms https://www.cambridgebrainsciences.com/studies/covid-brain-study Dr Lucy Cheke's study on COVID and memory is currently in "sign-up" stage. Click the link for information and the signup form. https://www.camblab.psychol.cam.ac.uk/participate-in-research   Neurological Complications Download this pdf of the paper co-authored by Dr PatriciaMcNamara - The emerging spectrum of COVID-19 neurology: clinical, radiological and laboratory findings Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Sabina Brennan and fellow neuroscientist Dr Pragya Agarwal place a multitude of human biases under the microscope and unpick unconscious bias using insights from brain science. This is Tim Urban's Ted Talk on procrastination that Pragya mentioned during the show This is the height graph with the biased scale that we spoke about in the episode Dr Pragya Agarwal is a behavioural and data scientist, and a freelance journalist and author of Sway, Unravelling Unconscious Bias Her New Book Wish We Knew What To Say: Talking With Children about Race is out 15th October 2020 She is a winner of Diverse Wisdom award from Hay House, was named as one of the 100 influential women in social enterprise in the UK, and one of 50 people creating change in the UK-India corridor on the High and Mighty list.  Twitter @DrPragyaAgarwal  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Super Brain host Dr Sabina Brennan explores whether laughter can really boost resilience? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sabina Brennan chats to international best-selling author and fosterling Anna McPartlin who has survived more than her share of tragedy about shining the light in dark places and lightening life with laughter. Anna's latest book Below the Big Blue Sky was published in July 2020 Anna's mum was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when Anna was a child www.brainhealth4ms.com is a website with easy-to-understand information about brain health for people living with MS that I developed with an educational grant. About Anna McPartlin Anna McPartlin an international bestselling author Anna has been writing heart-breaking yet uproariously uplifting novels since 2006. Anna's book The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes was a Richard and Judy book club pick and in the USA it was a Barnes & Nobel Book of the Month. In recent years she has turned her attention to scriptwriting for TV serial dramas featured on BBC UK, RTE Ireland and A&E America. Anna’s first children’s book and a labour of love ‘Fearless Five,’ is due to be published by Bonnier Zaffre in May 2019. Anna describes herself as a feeder and a lazy workaholic. She’s happily married to a very loud musician named Donal and is mammy to four spoiled and flatulent dogs. Anna started out briefly as an actress and stand-up comedian but although her heart wasn’t in performance, she revels in storytelling and shining a light in dark places. Anna’s USP is in tackling difficult subjects with understanding, empathy and humour that spills onto every page. Follow Sabina Brennan & Super Brain Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sabina_Brennan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabinabrennan/ and https://www.instagram.com/superbrainpodcast/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.