Elizabeth Smart shares her powerful journey after being kidnapped at age 14 in 2002, revealing how she turned unimaginable adversity into hope and posttraumatic growth. Join Dr. Amen and Elizabeth as they review her brain scans and discuss the brain’s response to trauma, the resilience factors that foster growth, and the actionable steps you can take to heal and thrive after life’s toughest challenges.

00:00 Intro

01:30 Sponsor

02:38 Elizabeth

05:39 Before the Kidnapping

07:07 The Kidnapping

13:18 The First Days

19:46 The Kidnappers

32:25 Mental State During Captivity

39:10 Rescue

53:15 The Aftermath/Panic Attacks

58:45 Processing the Trauma

1:04:24 Post-Traumatic Growth

1:09:50 The 4 Circles/BRIGHT MINDS Risk Factors

1:16:00 Elizabeth’s SPECT Brain Scans

1:23:12 Final Impressions

1:24:36 Sponsor

1:26:02 Wrap Up

Psilocybin—the active compound in magic mushrooms—is being hailed as a game-changer for mental health. But what’s the truth behind the buzz? In this must-see episode, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen share brain imaging insights, discuss the potential benefits for depression, and raise important questions about safety and long-term risks. Is this psychedelic drug the breakthrough people hope for—or another psychiatric misstep?

00:00 Intro

00:43 Psilocybin

05:00 Why Take Mushrooms?

8:44 Transcendental Experiences

11:15 The Negative Effects of Psilocybin

15:06 Sponsor

16:20 The Neuropsychological Effects of Nicotine

21:19 What are the Drawbacks?

23:23 Second Hand Smoke

27:33 Quitting Smoking

29:09 Wrap Up

Cannabis is often hailed as a natural remedy for stress, anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and chronic pain. But is it the miracle cure it’s made out to be? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Amen and Tana Amen reveal the darker side of marijuana no one’s talking about. Discover what SPECT scans show about its effects on brain health, mental well-being, and mood regulation—and learn why it’s important to know the full story before you decide if it’s right for you.

00:00 Intro

00:48 Cannabis

02:03 Why Do People Use?

10:41 Sponsor

12:00 The Trouble with Marijuana

18:48 The Psychological Consequences

22:53 The Risk Factors Associated with Cannabis

24:42 Taking Action

25:16 Dr. Amen’s 12 Steps

28:11 Your Why

29:31 Supplements

31:20 Habit Replacement

36:30 Wrap Up

You lied to me! Dr. Daniel and Tana Amen introduce a new miniseries of podcasts with a focus on misinformation. In this episode, the Amens discuss some of the truths (and misconceptions) of alcohol, including how it affects the brain.

00:00 Intro

00:40 You Lied to Me

02:53 Society Programming

8:46 Alcohol

11:10 Why Do People Drink?

14:19 Sponsor

14:42 How Alcohol Works

22:36 The Social Factor

25:37 Spiritual Connection

26:23 What’s the Trouble with Alcohol?

34:26 Alcohol Risk Factors

40:13 Alcohol Effects in SPECT Scans

42:08 Wrap Up

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain shares the deeply personal story of how he survived a deadly fire at his Catholic school that claimed the lives of 93 classmates and three nuns—a trauma that left an indelible mark on his life and, as Dr. Amen explains, his brain.

00:00 Intro

01:50 Sponsor

03:10 Jonathan’s Journey/Goals

06:35 Jonathan’s History

08:03 Chicago Fire Tragedy

21:32 BRIGHT MINDS Risk Factors

24:39 Head Trauma

27:27 Mold Exposure

28:45 BRIGHT MINDS Continued

30:11 SPECT Scan Analysis (Surface)

37:16 SPECT Scan Analysis (Active)

39:23 The Plan

42:17 Bad Days, Good Data

44:45 Sponsor

46:12 Wrap Up

In this week's episode, the Amens discuss the impact of childhood trauma on the brain and how it can set the stage for long-term physical and mental health problems. Tana also shares deeply personal insights into her own traumatic upbringing and healing journey.

00:00 Intro

00:42 Overcoming the Lasting Impact of Childhood Trauma

01:48 ACES Study

03:56 The ACES Questionairre

09:44 Overcoming Trauma

11:44 EMDR

16:45 ACES/SPECT Study

19:09 Sponsor

19:32 Face Recognition Study

20:45 Trauma and the 4 Circles

25:58 The Most Important Lessons from Trauma

29:19 Post-Traumatic Growth

30:06 Comparing Traumas

31:51 Resources/Wrap Up

EMDR International Association:

https://www.emdria.org

In this week's episode, Dr. Amen and Tana share 10 bad parenting habits that hold kids back from being their best. Plus, they reveal the best parenting strategies to help kids become more resilient, respectful, and mentally strong.

00:00 Intro

00:48 10 Things Parents Should Never Do

1:21 Ignore Their Brain

07:55 No Bonding

12:51 Don’t Listen

16:08 Sponsor

17:17 Rescue Your Kids

23:08 Do Too Much for Them

27:39 Fail to Supervise

31:25 Model Unhealthy Behavior

32:57 Forget What You Were Like at That Age

35:31 Tell Kids They’re Smart

39:41 Focus on What They’re Doing Wrong

41:37 Wrap Up

In Part 2 of their series on how to ruin your relationships, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana reveal five additional relationship killers and how they’re often linked to bad habits or unhealthy brain activity. Discover these common relationship issues, as well as simple brain health strategies to overcome them and strengthen your connection with loved ones.

00:00 Intro

00:43 How to Ruin Your Relationships Pt. 2

01:14 Alcohol & Substance Abuse

05:53 Not Dealing With Childhood Trauma

07:55 Untreated Brain Health Problems

12:30 Sponsor

13:56 Hormones

20:59 Say Everything You Think

23:48 Focus/One Page Miracle

29:49 Devices

31:57 Wrap Up