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

In this powerful continuation of our sleep series, we move from science to strategy — exploring practical, evidence-based tools that help you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up restored.

If sleep has been a challenge, this episode will help you understand how even small improvements in sleep hygiene can create major shifts in your energy, mood, and cognition.

In This Episode:

Dr. Michael and May break down five key areas of sleep optimization:

1. Body Clock & Routine: How your circadian rhythm is regulated by light exposure and sleep consistency.
2. Mind-Body Connection: Why breathwork, prayer, and gentle movement activate your body’s parasympathetic (rest and digest) state.
3. Nutrition & Timing: How balanced blood sugar, meal timing, and caffeine awareness impact sleep quality.
4. Sleep Environment: The importance of darkness, temperature, and sensory cues to signal rest.
5. Advanced Tools & Functional Approaches: How wearables, QEEG brain mapping, neurofeedback, photobiomodulation, and PEMF therapy can enhance deep restorative sleep.

Episode Highlights:

• “Sleep is not a reward — it’s a non-negotiable part of healing.”
• “Always go to sleep the same day you woke up. That’s one of the simplest ways to protect your circadian rhythm.”
• “Sleep debt is not recoverable — you can’t make it up later.”
• “Overactive stress responses delay deep sleep. Breathwork helps rewire the nervous system toward rest.”
• “Your sleep is your body’s built-in healing system — but you are in charge of optimizing it.”

Key Takeaways:

Sleep impacts every aspect of health — mental, metabolic, and emotional.
By aligning your routine, mindset, nutrition, and environment, you can transform how your body heals each night.

Remember: sustainable sleep is not about perfection. It’s about consistency and awareness.

Listen now to learn actionable steps to rebuild your sleep and reclaim your energy — because you can heal, and we can help.

Learn more at bagnellbraincenter.com

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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.

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In this powerful conversation, Marilyn Ehrhardt sits down with May Bagnell to explore how 21st century technology, Artificial Intelligence, and the human brain intersect—and where they collide.

From May’s calling into Life Coaching and Integrative Health to her passion for helping women transform their lives, this episode highlights how true transformation requires more than data and algorithms. It takes authentic intelligence—faith, compassion, and human connection.

Marilyn shares her own roots in NASA’s space shuttle program and her unique perspective on how AI has evolved from its early days into the massive force it is today. Together, they raise essential questions about the future of humanity, the limits of AI, and why the human brain remains unmatched in creativity, memory, and adaptability.

Episode Highlights:

• May’s calling into Life Coaching & Integrative Health, and her passion for helping women transform.
• Marilyn’s background in NASA and early work with technology and AI.
• How neuroplasticity drives healing at Bagnell Brain Center.
• The risks of technology overuse on mental health and brain function.
• Why AI can never replicate authentic intelligence.
• A vision of the “third way”—blending science, compassion, faith, and innovation.

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Ever felt like your thoughts were trapped in a haze—sluggish, unfocused, and just out of reach? You’re not alone. In this episode, we take a deep dive into brain fog—what it really is, why it happens, and most importantly, how you can clear it.

From hidden metabolic patterns like thyroid issues, anemia, and blood sugar imbalances to lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, and gut health—brain fog is a signal, not a life sentence. You’ll discover:

• The difference between common and normal brain fog
• The role of thyroid, anemia, and autoimmune conditions
• The impact of stress, inflammation, and poor sleep
• Actionable brain fog busters: nutrition, hydration, eye training, red light therapy, and more

This conversation blends clinical insights with personal experiences, offering you a roadmap to lift the mental haze and reclaim clarity. Whether you’re navigating fatigue, cognitive sluggishness, or simply want a sharper brain—this episode is filled with practical steps and hope.

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In this episode of the NeuroCollective Podcast, Dr. Michael & May Bagnell sit down with Dr. Roman Velasquez to explore the fascinating world of neurocognitive performance training. From his years in the Marine Corps and law enforcement to his transition into neurobiology and performance coaching, Dr. Roman shares his journey of resilience, healing, and transformation.

Discover how visualization, mindfulness, and advanced brain training techniques are helping athletes—from UFC fighters to world champions—optimize their brain speed, reaction time, and cognitive flexibility. You’ll also hear powerful insights on PTSD, the impact of repeated concussions, and why baseline brain testing is essential for both recovery and performance.

This conversation dives deep into the science of the brain, the psychology of healing, and how training the mind can redefine both health and human potential.

Highlights of this episode:

• Dr. Roman’s origin story from the Marine Corps to neurocognitive coaching
• The role of visualization and mindfulness in championship performance
• How brain training helps athletes recover from injury and trauma
• The importance of baseline testing and protecting long-term brain health
• Why mindset and psychology are key to sustainable healing

Tune in for a powerful discussion that bridges the gap between recovery and performance—a must-listen for athletes, coaches, and anyone passionate about the brain.

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In this Doctor’s In episode of The Neuro Collective Podcast, Dr. Michael & May Bagnell answer a powerful question from one of our clients:

“Can a concussion from more than 10 years ago still affect me today, even if I feel fine?”

The discussion uncovers:

• Long-term impacts of concussions and why symptoms can resurface years later
• The nervous system’s compensation and how it eventually breaks down
• The importance of baseline testing (balance, stability, eye tracking, brain mapping, EEG)
• Why eye tracking is a key marker for hidden brain injury
• How athletes (and even students) use tests like IMPACT, and why they aren’t always enough
• Real client case insights showing how subtle changes in frontal lobe and cerebellum function reveal past trauma

Whether you’re a parent of an athlete, someone who’s had a head injury years ago, or simply curious about brain health, this episode gives you clarity on how the brain heals — and when it doesn’t.

Key takeaway: A concussion is a brain injury. Even if symptoms fade, testing your brain function can protect your future health.

Listen now on Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Dr. Michael & May Bagnell bring hope, answers, and strategies so you can heal and thrive.