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Welcome back to The Neuro Collective Podcast with Dr. Michael & May Bagnell, IHP.

In this episode, we explore the fascinating science behind sleep — what truly happens when your body and brain rest. Sleep isn’t passive; it’s one of the most active and restorative processes your brain performs. It governs memory, hormone balance, emotional regulation, and detoxification through the glymphatic system, your brain’s natural cleaning system.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series on sleep. In this conversation, Dr. Michael and May discuss:

• The brain’s night shift: what happens neurologically while you sleep
• Memory consolidation and neural pruning
• The glymphatic system and its detoxifying role
• How REM sleep supports emotional balance
• The body-wide benefits of deep rest — including metabolism, immune recovery, and hormone health
• Common sleep disruptors such as blue light, cortisol imbalance, and inconsistent routines

Episode Highlights:

• “Sleep is not passive — it’s an active, restorative process that determines how well your brain and body function.”
• “Your brain cleans itself while you sleep — the glymphatic system literally ‘washes’ toxins away.”
• “Lack of sleep impairs memory, mood, and metabolism.”
• “Emotional stability depends on REM sleep — poor sleep equals poor stress response.”
• “Sleep is the original biohack — no supplement can replace it.”

Key Takeaway:

Sleep is not just rest — it’s repair.
It supports memory, detoxification, emotional regulation, hormone balance, and immune health.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where Dr. Michael and May share actionable strategies to improve sleep quality through daily habits, nutrition, and brain-based approaches.

Listen now and discover why prioritizing sleep could be the most powerful step toward better brain health and emotional balance.

Learn more at bagnellbraincenter.com

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In this inspiring episode of The Neuro Collective Podcast, Mae Bagnell sits down with Orlanda Bettison, a children’s book author, educator, and passionate advocate for teaching kids about their brains in playful and empowering ways.

Through her beautifully illustrated books, Orlanda transforms complex neuroscience into simple, relatable stories that help children (and their parents!) understand their emotions, brain function, and resilience. From characters like the guard dog (amygdala) and the professor wise (prefrontal cortex) to the lovable hippo (hippocampus), her work makes brain science accessible and fun for the whole family.

🔑 Highlights from this episode:

• The power of storytelling in teaching emotional intelligence and mental health.
• How Orlanda’s personal journey with postnatal depression and anxiety led to the birth of her books.
• Why brains are not fixed — the myth of “set wiring” and the truth of neuroplasticity.
• Practical tools from her book My Brain is a Home — including the Problem Scale for teaching kids resilience.
• How parents and teachers can use her books to nurture self-compassion, regulation skills, and empathy.
• A live breathing exercise to calm the nervous system and activate the vagus nerve.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or simply someone curious about brain health, this episode will leave you with actionable tools and a fresh perspective on supporting children’s unique, distinctive brains.

📚 Learn more about Orlanda’s books and how they’re changing the way kids (and adults) view the brain!

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In this powerful episode of The Neuro Collective Podcast, we dive deep into the world of mental health, trauma, and healing with our guest, Dr. Jeff Rice—veteran, professor, and mental health professional.

Dr. Rice shares his remarkable journey from skepticism about therapy to finding healing through counseling and ultimately answering a calling to help others. Together with May and Dr. Michael Bagnell, we unpack:

• The difference between Big “T” Trauma and Small “t” Trauma
• Why talking through experiences matters in recovery
• How therapies like EMDR and exposure therapy reshape the brain
• The truth that PTSD is 100% treatable thanks to neuroplasticity
• The concept of Post-Traumatic Growth—turning pain into purpose

We also explore the brain–body connection, the role of the amygdala and hippocampus in trauma, and how addressing mental health is vital not only for individuals but also for future generations.

This episode is an inspiring reminder that your past does not define your future—healing is possible, growth is possible, and transformation is real.

🔗 Tune in, take notes, and discover new ways to support yourself and those you love on the journey to better brain health and mental health.