As we step into a new year, I’m joined by Dr. Gina Anderson, learning scientist, TEDx speaker, and founder of Luma Brighter Learning, for a conversation that will help you rethink everything you have ever believed about resolutions, self growth, and connection.

Instead of chasing perfection or pressuring ourselves with rigid goals, Gina invites us into a gentler and scientifically grounded approach to change: one daily connection and one daily moment of learning.

Together, we explore what connection actually looks like (and why it often needs to start with yourself), how to access your “true self” through quiet reflection, and why the brain lights up differently when we learn or feel seen in community. Gina also shares powerful insights on neuroplasticity, internal warmth as a signal of emotional safety, and why your breath is the one thing you can always return to.

If you have ever struggled with resolutions, self esteem, nervous system regulation, or feeling disconnected after trauma, this episode offers a compassionate roadmap for rebuilding your inner world one small moment at a time.

Key Takeaways:

• Resolutions often set us up for self judgment. Replacing them with learning and connection creates sustainable growth.

• Connection does not always require other people. One of the most powerful forms is connecting with your own mind.

• Emotional “warmth” can be a real physiological signal that you are tapping into your true self.

• Neuroplasticity shows that your brain can change, even after trauma, through intentional practice and connection.

• Three simple practices can transform your year: connect with one person, get your body moving, and give yourself a daily “sunshine message.”

Connect with Dr. Gina Anderson:

TEDx Talk: The power of being present

Website: lumabrighterlearning.com

Personal Website: learningwithgina.com

Sunshine Project: ripplesofsunshine.com

Instagram: gina.anderson.ceo

LinkedIn: Dr. Gina Anderson

Connect with Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

In this compassionate and eye-opening episode, Amelia sits down with breakup and relationship coach Cole Zesiger, who has helped millions online learn how to navigate heartbreak with clarity, emotional safety, and self-respect. Cole shares the deeply personal story of his early divorce, the patterns of anxious attachment that shaped his relationships, and the unexpected journey that led him to rebuild his life and help thousands do the same.

Together, Amelia and Cole break down why breakups feel neurologically like withdrawal, what “euphoric recall” has to do with your ex, why the holidays intensify loneliness, and how to make the no-contact rule actually work without feeling like you are losing your mind. Cole also explains the biggest mistakes people make right after a breakup, the surprising science behind why your brain becomes obsessed with your ex, and how to rebuild a life that feels bigger, safer, and more meaningful than the one you are grieving.

Whether you are in the early shock, the confusing in-between, or trying to stop the cycle of “one more text,” this episode offers compassionate insight, grounded strategies, and the hope you might not realize you need right now.

Key Takeaways:

• Why your brain treats heartbreak like survival mode and how evolutionary wiring makes you want to chase your ex even when you logically know better.
• The real reason no-contact is so hard and how to create a plan that protects your emotional and neurological energy.
• What euphoric recall is and why your brain only replays the good memories plus how to ground yourself in the full truth of the relationship.
• How to rebuild your life after a breakup by focusing on the pillars that shape your sense of identity, connection, and purpose.
• Why the holidays intensify heartbreak and practical ways to lean on safe relationships, structure, and self-compassion to get through the season.

Connect with Cole Zesiger:

Website: coachcolezesiger.com

Instagram: @coachcolezesiger

TikTok: @colezesiger

YouTube: Cole Zesiger

Book: Exes & No’s - available for pre-order (bonus course included)

Connect with Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram

This week on The Sensitivity Doctor, Dr. Amelia Kelley sits down with TEDx speaker and filmmaker Mark Hulsewé for a courageous and necessary conversation about the root causes of school shootings and what must change if we want to protect our children.

Mark’s work focuses on the emotional, social, and systemic breakdowns happening inside our schools, and how our long-standing “kids will be kids” mindset is allowing cycles of humiliation, abuse, and violence to escalate into tragedy. Together, Amelia and Mark dive into the uncomfortable realities of bullying, the unspoken social hierarchy within schools, and why traditional approaches to school safety completely miss the heart of the problem.

This episode offers a rare blend of honesty, hope, and actionable solutions. Amelia challenges Mark’s ideas, Mark challenges the system, and both reveal complementary paths that can truly change the future. Whether you're a parent, educator, mental-health professional, or someone who cares deeply about the wellbeing of children, this conversation will reshape the way you think about school safety and mental health.

Key Takeaways:

• Why “child on child abuse” is a more accurate term than bullying.
• How the unspoken social hierarchy inside schools fuels violence and despair.
• What alternative education models like Montessori, Waldorf, and RULER get right.
• How early emotional intelligence education can prevent long-term harm.
• Why simple, low-cost wellness screeners can identify struggling students before crisis.

Connect with Mark Hulsewé:

TEDx Talk: “Ending School Shootings”

Connect with Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram