In this snippet, Ndu Uchea, CEO of Word on the Curb and Google-sponsored 2024 Founder of the Year, dives into the motivations behind modern impatience and the critical importance of understanding people. He discusses how to cultivate this skill for improved relationships and explores the current state of media, questioning whether it intentionally fuels fear. Ndu also touches on the evolving landscape of influence and the vital need for creative energy in today's world.

Listen to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXfxkxQwTcg

We're told creativity is just for artists, but neuroscience reveals it's essential for problem-solving, mental health, and human flourishing. So why do modern environments and habits systematically shut down our creative networks? What's really happening in our brains when we create—and how can we redesign our lives to unlock it?

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg

Saskia Wheeler is a science communicator specializing in neuroscience as applied to mental wellbeing. She translates neuroscience research into practical, human-centered tools that support healthier minds and environments. At Kyan Health, she collaborates with organizations to foster cultures emphasizing psychological safety, collective resilience, and long-term wellbeing.

Her academic background combines Neuroaesthetics and Creativity (MSc, Goldsmiths) with Philosophy of Mind and Aesthetics (MA, Trinity College Dublin), bridging neuroscience, design, and human experience to apply science-led strategies in workplace wellbeing and environmental influence on cognition, emotion, and performance.

Today, expect to learn:

• What the three brain networks involved in creativity actually do and why they rarely work together

• Why creative people have "attenuated latent inhibition" and can't filter out irrelevant information like others

• How this relates to ADHD and why neurodivergent minds often show enhanced creativity

• Why survival mode brain states completely shut down creative thinking• How AI tools might be rewiring our brains in concerning ways by reducing cognitive effort

• What "neuroaesthetics" reveals about how our physical environment affects our mental state

• Practical methods to regulate your nervous system and shift from survival to creation mode

• How psychological safety helps you to better regulate emotions and how that can support better creativity

• How to redesign your environment and habits to support your brain's creative networks

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://www.saskiawheeler.co.uk

LINKEDIN: https://linkedin.com/in/saskiawheeler

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/neuro.aesthetic

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com

SUBSTACK: https://sevenjacobs.substack.com

SOCIALS: https://sevenjacobs.com/links

SHOW LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908

Sources & Further Reading:

[1] Neuroscience communication research on public engagement and accurate messaging

[2] Studies on the intersection of AI and neuroscience in mental health applications

[3] Academic research on neuroplasticity, creativity networks, and environmental neuroscience

[4] Neuroaesthetics research on how design impacts brain function and wellbeing

Jargon Buster:

• Default Mode Network: Brain network active during rest and daydreaming, crucial for creative thinking

• Executive Control Network: Brain system responsible for critical thinking, planning, and decision-making

• Salience Network: Neural network that determines what captures our attention and feels meaningful

• Attenuated Latent Inhibition: Reduced ability to filter out irrelevant stimuli, common in creative individuals

• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life

• Neuroaesthetics: The study of how aesthetic experiences affect the brain and behaviour

We're obsessed with instant results and quick fixes. But what if the real transformation happens when we stop chasing the next shiny object and start trusting our own process? What if the key to sustainable success isn't balance, but intentional imbalance? Ivor Stratford quit alcohol, ran marathons, and built a thriving company—all while questioning everything we're told about work-life balance.

👉 Find the full playlist of episodes HERE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6l9CNQoSFdYrSofAAHBcTdsnpYk8iYg ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ivor Stratford is the Co-Founder and Director of Morpheus Group, a specialist talent partner focusing on high-growth and venture-backed companies across the US and Europe. With over a decade of experience in talent acquisition and executive search, he helps founders build world-class teams in competitive markets.

Beyond business, Ivor has maintained over 1,000 days alcohol-free, is a marathon and ultra-marathon runner, and a scratch golfer. This dedication to health and discipline informs his approach to sustainable high performance in both life and business.

Today, expect to learn

- Why quitting alcohol gave Ivor 252 hours of his life back each year and transformed his mental clarity.

- How consistency beats intensity when building lasting habits and why most people give up too early.

- Why the traditional work-life balance model might be incompatible with ambitious goals and what to do instead.

- How to find fulfillment in the process rather than chasing end goals like exits or revenue milestones.

- Why trusting your own path is more important than following conventional wisdom about success.

- How to maintain intense work demands without burning out by aligning ambition with personal values.

- What it means to stop feeling "lost and searching" and finally feel content with your progress.

- Why small, cumulative wins are more powerful than expecting quick transformations.

- How to build a company culture that balances speed with teamwork and clear communication.

W H A T T O D O N E X T :

GUEST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: https://www.morpheus-group.com

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivor-stratford

HOST LINKS ~

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSTACK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

SOCIALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com/links

SHOW LINKS ~

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sevenjacobs.com/lost-and-searching

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@lostandsearchingpodcast

ALL EPISODES (Spotify): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/lostandsearching

ALL EPISODES (Apple): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lost-and-searching/id1771369908⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

JARGON BUSTER:

● Alcohol Abstinence Benefits: Medical research showing improved cognitive function, sleep quality, and sustained energy levels

● Habit Formation: The 2-3 month timeline for behavioural change to become automatic

● Work-Life Balance vs. Integration: The difference between traditional balance and intentional life design

● Presenteeism: Being physically present at work but mentally impaired due to factors like hangovers