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Make Life Less Difficult

"What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?" - mary anne evansThis quote summarizes my life purpose. Life isn't easy. It's complex, filled with the unexpected, and sometimes really hard. While life is full of challenges, I believe there are myriad things we can do to help make life less difficult for each other.On this podcast we'll share stories, struggles, and successes that help us know we're not alone. And knowing we're not alone is one way to make life less difficult.

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Make Life Less Difficult

Alex Korb, PhD, Author, Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression

July 16, 2024 • Lisa Tilstra • Episode 175

My guest today is Dr. Alex Korb, author of the book Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time.

Dr. Korb is a neuroscientist, writer, and coach. He has studied the brain for over 20 years, having earned his undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Brown University and then later completed his Ph.D. in neuroscience at UCLA. He has published over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles on depression, neuromodulation, and other topics. He is currently an adjunct assistant professor at UCLA in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences.

Outside of the lab he writes a popular blog on how the tendencies of your brain can ruin or enrich your life. As a speaker he educates, motivates, and inspires organizations to understand the neuroscience of wellbeing and put it into practice. As a consultant he works with companies and organizations to help them improve communication about neuroscience and enhance employee wellbeing. He has coached the UCLA Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team for over 15 years and is a 3 time award winner for USA Ultimate’s Coach of the Year. His expertise extends into leadership and motivation, mindfulness, physical fitness, and even stand-up comedy.

I first heard about Dr. Korb’s book through another podcast guest, Linda Hoopes. The name of the book, Upward Spiral, immediately grabbed my attention and within a couple of days I was reading it. Upward Spiral has two parts to it: the first is a description of what is understood about the neuroscience of depression (written in a language that’s mostly understandable for the lay person like myself) and the second is focused on actions we can take to lessen the negative impacts of depression in our lives and how each of those actions cause changes in the brain.

I love that combination as I find it gives me greater motivation to know the why behind recommended behavior changes!

I’m delighted to share this conversation with you and hope it’ll be as inspiring to you as it has been for me. There are links in the shownotes to Dr. Korb’s website and the book Upward Spiral.

Dr. Korb – thank you for this fantastic and motivating conversation. Thank you for the work you do in the world and for sharing it in a way that’s understandable and applicable for all of us who aren’t neuroscientists but who want to help our brain be in its best functioning state!

Website: https://www.alexkorbphd.com
Book: Upward Spiral

Make Life Less Difficult