In this episode of "Coffee with a Neuroscientist," host Shonté Jovan Taylor delves into the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and musical theater, using the Broadway show and now movie "Wicked" as a focal point. With her new OZ vibes Starbucks coffee mug in hand, Shonté explores how the storytelling and music of "Wicked" impact the brain, fostering empathy, connection and compassion.

Shonté discusses how watching Elphaba’s journey in "Wicked"—from being labeled as the Wicked Witch to understanding her struggles and humanity—challenges viewers to question preconceived narratives and consider multiple perspectives. She explains the role of mirror neurons in creating empathy, how oxytocin helps deepen trust and social bonds, and how music activates the limbic system (aka emotional brain) for emotional engagement.

Additionally, Shonté highlights how engaging the prefrontal cortex during such performances helps in perspective-taking and understanding complex social situations. She also underscores the broader societal lessons we can derive from musical theater:

- questioning divisive narratives,

-bridging divides through shared emotional experiences, and

-embracing self-worth and resilience.

Listeners are encouraged to apply these insights in their own lives to build empathy and strengthen connections. Shonté concludes by inviting listeners to continue the conversation and share their own experiences with musical theater and its impact on their lives.

This episode is a blend of personal reflection, scientific explanation and practical application, making it a thought-provoking exploration of how the arts can enrich our understanding of ourselves and others.

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🚀 Elevate your performance with Julie Lowe, the high performance coach on the latest ☕️"Coffee with a Neuroscientist" podcast episode!

🔎 Explore the power of habits and discover a few good habits that can transform your life in ways you never imagined. 🌟

Join Neuroscientist & host Shonté Jovan Taylor in a captivating conversation with Julie Lowe as they dive deep into her book "A Few Good Habits." Discover how these habits can reduce stress, increase energy, boost creativity, and improve relationships.

Tune in to this mind-expanding episode and unlock the secrets to unlocking your full potential. Don't settle for average or burnout when you can achieve greatness!

Listen now to gain valuable insights and practical tips from Julie Lowe, the high performance coach who will guide you on the path to success. 🎯

Start building your habits arsenal today! 🚀

#Podcast #Neuroscience #HighPerformance #Habits #Transformation #UnlockYourPotential

About Julie

Julie Lowe is an Author, Speaker, and Certified High Performance Coach. Using neuroscience-backed practices, she teaches ambitious professionals how to prioritize their mindset, health, and relationships without sacrificing the quality of their work.

Julie's expertise has been featured on Good Morning Washington, The List, Huffington Post, and Yahoo! Life, to name just a few, and her first book, A Few Good Habits, debuts October 5th.

Grab your copy (or 5!) of "A Few Good Habits" on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/46xg02a

Are you a creative, healer, educator, leader or activist who is feeling the nudge to take the leap and start your own business? Today’s episode with my special guest is a call for you to listen to your intuition, that voice that is calm, still, non-judgmental and loving, inside of you.

In 2010, Jen Shultz, Founder of The Non-Nine-to-Five™ found herself battling anxiety and depression. During this dark time, she received an intuitive persistent message urging her to create a business and generate an income on her own terms. That year, Jen went against all "safe norms", followed the call, and quit her full-time teaching job to become self-employed.

For over 9 years, Jen has been educating, training, and coaching conscientious high-level women who have a deep knowing they are not meant for the 9-5. She leads her clients (creatives, healers, educators, activists, leaders) into successful self-employment tapping into their unique skills and strengths so they can make a difference in the lives of others, generate an income on their own terms, and never go back to a 9-5 job.

Jen is a master coach and a highly intuitive educator as well as a workshop facilitator and keynote speaker who has spoken on stages across the nation including Google, Wix, The University of Texas. She holds a BA in Communication (University at Albany), MA in Special & General Education (New York University) and is a Certified Professional Coach through iPEC (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching).

In this episode, Jen reveals how to identify the intuitive nudges that you may be feeling and the ways to turn the nine-to-five mindset into what really lights you up. Let us know what inspired you the most from this powerful conversation that I had with Jen, and we can’t wait to hear how today’s show resonates with you.

Sign up for Shonte’s ‘OptiMind Blog’ to get neuroscience updates to optimize your expertise & life at ShonteJTaylor.com.