The Write Brain

This episode starts with a birthday month conversation… and somehow ends with chromosome 7, universal consciousness, autism, astral projection, and mushroom chocolate.We’re diving into something that sounds “woo” — but may actually have scientific grounding.In this episode, we explore:• Published research on a potential “psychic gene” • The role of chromosome 7 in intuitive abilities • Whether psychic ability could function like a biological sense • Right brain vs left brain differences in intuition • Autism, hyperconnectivity, and telepathic claims • The theory of universal consciousness (and what physics says about it) • Dreams, premonitions, and altered statesIs psychic ability genetic? Are intuitive people neurologically different? Is consciousness produced by the brain — or accessed through it?We’re not telling you what to believe. We’re inviting you to think bigger.Open your mind. Question everything. And maybe don’t eat the chocolate in someone else’s cabinet.🎙 Welcome back to The Write Brain podcast.

Abby Anderson joins The Write Brain podcast for a raw, honest conversation about creativity, anxiety, control, and what it really means to be gifted.In this episode, Abby opens up about:Growing up feeling “too sensitive”Why creative people struggle with anxiety and self-doubtThe neuroscience behind right-brain dominanceHow control and perfectionism can turn into coping behaviorsHer experience navigating the music industry at 19Why artists often crash emotionally after showsTurning pain into purpose through songwritingLearning that nothing was “wrong” with her — her brain just works differentlyThis episode blends real-life vulnerability with brain science, offering language and understanding for creatives who’ve always felt deeply but never knew why.If you’re an artist, songwriter, or someone who’s ever thought “why am I like this?” — this conversation will make you feel seen.

Memory isn’t what most people think it is.In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, Ellis and her dad dive into how memory actually works — and why so many creative, right-brained people feel like they “don’t remember anything.”We talk about:The difference between right brain and left brain memoryWhy some people remember feelings but not detailsHow trauma and stress affect memoryWhy forgetting can actually be a strengthThe connection between creativity, anxiety, and memory lossWhy most people who think they’re “losing their memory” actually aren’tHow memory relates to identity, learning disabilities, and ADHDPractical ways to improve memory and protect your brain long-termIf you’ve ever felt embarrassed because you can’t remember names, dates, or events — but you can remember emotions, songs, or moments — this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, we sit down with Stephen Astephen, founder of The Familie, a sports and music management agency, to talk about right brain entrepreneurship, dyslexia, insecurity, and vision.Steve shares his story — struggling in school, growing up with instability, never graduating high school, and being labeled “bad at academics” — and how those same traits became the foundation for building multiple groundbreaking businesses.This conversation explores:Why so many entrepreneurs are right-brain dominantDyslexia, attention issues, and struggling in traditional school systemsHow insecurity and anxiety can become fuel instead of failureSeeing a vision before it exists — and building it anywayManifestation as identity, not wishful thinkingLeadership, empathy, and managing creatives, athletes, and artistsMental health, depression, and the emotional weight of responsibilitySteve opens up about building the first snowboard shop of its kind, becoming the first agent in action sports, helping build one of the largest sports agencies in the world, and why he ultimately chose to relaunch The Family on his own terms.This is a raw, honest conversation about work ethic, vision, failure, mental health, and what it really means to be right-brain wired in a world built for left-brain systems.If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit in school, didn’t think the traditional path was for you, or knew you were meant to build something different — this episode is for you.

In this first episode of the year, we’re talking about manifestation, identity, and the right brain way of creating a life.We dive into why so many creatives, entrepreneurs, and big-picture thinkers struggled in traditional school systems — and how those same traits often become their greatest strengths later on. From dyslexia and daydreaming to questioning authority and creating something out of nothing, this conversation reframes what “success” actually looks like.We talk about:Why entrepreneurs are often deeply right-brain dominantThe difference between hoping for the future and seeing it already happenedIdentity, backward visualization, and the law of assumptionHow fear, anxiety, and overthinking block creativity — and how certainty changes everythingWhy kids (and adults) who feel “different” are often wired for something biggerThis episode is part science, part lived experience, and part real-life conversation — including stories about music, performance anxiety, creativity, parenting, and what it means to trust the way your brain works.If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit the mold, struggled in school, or knew you were meant to create something that didn’t exist yet — this one’s for you.

This week on The Write Brain, we sit down with for a real, unfiltered conversation about creativity, childhood, and what it means to be honest in your work.We talk about growing up, school, family dynamics, and the early signs of feeling different — long before there was language for it. The conversation naturally moves into creativity as a place of refuge, songwriting as truth-telling, and the complicated relationship between vulnerability, shame, and connection.we open up about the creative process, the emotional cost of honesty, and how writing songs has changed over time — especially in environments where collaboration, expectations, and success can blur the original reason you started.This isn’t a how-to or a highlight reel. It’s a conversation about being human, staying present with discomfort, and letting the work say what you can’t always explain.Toward the end, we ask a question we always come back to on The Write Brain: what would you say to your younger self — or to a younger creative who’s struggling in the same ways you once did?Thanks for being here.

In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, we sit down with Dallas Alexander — world-record-holding sniper, country music artist, and devoted father.Dallas opens up about his military career, losing his brother to cancer, and the unexpected healing he experienced through music and psilocybin. We explore PTSD, grief, right-brain healing, parenting in a digital age, and how creativity can help us process life’s hardest moments.This is a raw, honest conversation about masculinity, emotional intelligence, and finding peace after trauma.🎧 Topics include:    •    Life in special operations    •    Losing a sibling and processing grief    •    Psilocybin and right-brain healing    •    Music as therapy    •    Fatherhood, freedom, and raising resilient kids    •    Creativity, boredom, and imagination

This might be one of the most vulnerable episodes we’ve ever done.Today on The Write Brain podcast, we sit down with actor Johnathon Schaech to talk about dyslexia, shame, Hollywood, sexual abuse, addiction, and what real healing has looked like for him.Johnathon opens up about growing up as a creative, right-brained kid in Baltimore, excelling in art, dance, and sports while secretly struggling in school. He shares how he went from drawing and “breaking” to booking a Franco Zeffirelli film in his early 20s… and then reveals what really happened behind the scenes during that movie — including the night Zeffirelli came into his room.For years, Johnathon didn’t have language for what happened to him. It wasn’t until the Me Too movement — and reading Rose McGowan’s story — that he realized he was a survivor of the same thing. He talks about how that one minute of his life shaped decades of shame, self-destruction, substance abuse, and sabotaged opportunities… and how EMDR, brain-based work, and 12-step recovery helped him finally get free.⚠️ Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual abuse, trauma, addiction, and self-destructive behavior. Please take care of yourself while listening.In this episode, we talk about:Johnathon’s childhood as a creative right-brain kidDyslexia, remedial classes & the shame of “feeling stupid”Creating games, drawing, dancing, and discovering actingThe wild path from Baltimore to Wilhelmina Models to LALanding a Franco Zeffirelli film — and the casting story behind itThe night Zeffirelli came into his room and how it changed everythingDissociation, the freeze response, and how trauma lives in the brainHow shame drove addiction, bar fights, and self-sabotage in HollywoodLosing a huge role opposite Meryl Streep because of drinkingGetting sober, finding AA, and learning he’s not “broken,” he’s an addictEMDR, brain-spotting & making the unconscious consciousHow healing trauma changed his acting, relationships, and self-worthFinally working shame-free on his TV series Blue RidgeAdvice to survivors: it wasn’t your fault, and you’re not alone

We finally did it — after 50 episodes, we’re revealing The Right Brain Box. This is the kit we’ve spent years talking about, experimenting with, and using in real life… and now we’re putting it into one place so anyone can start balancing their brain at home.In this episode, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo walk through everything inside the new Right Brain Box (and the upcoming Left Brain Box): vibration tools, TENS units, visual stimulation glasses, essential oils, brain-specific vitamins, primitive reflex tools, smell integration, and even The Brain Driver.Whether you struggle with anxiety, shame, dyslexia, ADHD, gut issues, overthinking, sensory overwhelm, or mood swings—this episode explains why these tools work and how they fit into right- vs. left-brain dominance.In this episode, we cover:• Why we built the Right Brain Box after 50 episodes • What each tool does — vibration, TENS, smell, vision, vitamins & more • How right-brain dominance shows up (anxiety, dyslexia, shame, sensitivity) • How left-brain deficits affect mood, memory & development • Using sensory tools to activate one hemisphere and calm the other • Why couples should know their brain dominance before having kids (!?) • How gut issues, chronic stress & neurodevelopment are all connected • Early signs of imbalance—and what you can do at homeThe Right Brain Box Includes:• TouchPoint vibration tools • TENS unit for hemisphere-specific activation • Essential oils for smell-based stimulation • Left/Right brain vitamins & digestive support • Eyelights (visual stimulation) • Dry brush for primitive reflex work • The Brain Driver (top-down stimulation device)Why this matters:Most people struggle with symptoms—anxiety, mood swings, gut issues, focus problems—without ever realizing the root cause is an imbalance between the hemispheres. These tools are designed to help you balance your brain, support your nervous system, and improve emotional regulation at home.

What is consciousness, really — and how does your brain build your reality?In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo dive into the trippy but practical side of consciousness: how your brain stitches together sight, sound, memory, and emotion into a “movie” of your life… and what happens when that timing gets thrown off (anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, false memories, and more).They get into gamma waves (40 Hz), quantum entanglement, parallel realities, why two people can remember the same moment totally differently, and how brain timing tools like the Interactive Metronome can actually help rebalance perception.All of that… plus Jackie’s pastries and Ellis’s croissant cravings as B-plot. 🥐In this episode, we talk about:What consciousness actually is (and why it’s the #1 question in neuroscience)How the brain “binds” sight, sound, memory, and emotion into one realityWhy your brain is really a reality emulatorHow timing issues between the hemispheres can warp perceptionFalse memories, paranoia & “filling in the blanks”Quantum entanglement & the idea of a collective consciousnessHow tools like Interactive Metronome help sync the brain’s timingWhy big life changes (moving cities, quitting drinking) can feel like “timeline jumps”Timestamps00:00 Intro, fasting, pastries & live audience energy 02:30 What is consciousness? Self-awareness & subjective experience 06:30 The “binding problem”: how the brain turns fragments into a single reality 10:30 40 Hz gamma waves & the brain as a reality emulator 14:30 When reality in your head doesn’t match the outside world 19:30 False memories & the left brain “filling in” stories 23:30 Right-brain big-picture paranoia (texts, tone, overthinking) 27:30 Quantum entanglement & universal/collective consciousness 33:00 Timelines, “quantum leaping” & changing your reality 38:00 Interactive Metronome, timing, and balancing the hemispheres 42:30 Wrap-up: how all of this connects back to mental health

Can sound actually balance your brain? In this episode, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo break down the science of sound: high vs. low frequencies, why one ear can stimulate the opposite hemisphere, bone-conduction hacks, and how music choice (yes, even Mozart vs. jazz) can shift mood, focus, anxiety, and reading/rhythm issues. We also share quick at-home tests and everyday listening tweaks you can try safely.What you’ll learnHigh vs. low frequency sound and which hemisphere they stimulateWhy listening in your right ear targets the left brain (and vice versa)Bone conduction vs. air conduction (and when bone wins)Dissonance vs. resonance: turning brain “noise” into flowMusic types that tend to be more left- or right-brain activatingEasy daily tweaks: one-ear listening, volume biasing, playlist swapsTimestamps 00:00 Cold open & dinner debrief (Nashville updates) 02:15 Sound ≈ frequency—how the brain “hears” waves 05:40 High vs. low notes: which side of the brain they hit 08:55 Bone conduction headphones 101 (why they help vertigo/reading) 12:20 Jazz, classical, sad songs & what they say about your wiring 16:45 DIY tests: the one-ear trick, volume bias, tuning forks 21:10 Anxiety triggers (honks, dryers) & the startle/Moro reflex 25:30 Building a smarter playlist for focus or calm 30:10 Quick recap & how to experiment safelyTry these quick experimentsRun with one earbud in your right ear for focus (left-brain boost).Swap to lower-frequency, slower music when you feel overstimulated.Test bone-conduction headphones if you struggle with motion/reading rhythm.Notice which genres soothe vs. spike your nervous system—keep notes for a week.Resources mentionedDisconnected Kids (chapter on sound & color) – Dr. Robert MelilloBrain-balance music concepts & left/right-leaning playlists (Ellis’s notes)

In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, Ellis and Dr. Melillo sit down with singer-songwriter and viral bird-watcher Bonner Black to talk about ADHD, maladaptive daydreaming, and the brutal emotional comedown after big performances and life wins.Bonner opens up about panic attacks, self-harm, and growing up as a homeschooled, right-brained kid on a Tennessee farm—plus how bird-watching unexpectedly became one of the most powerful tools for calming her nervous system and activating her left brain.They break down right-brain vs left-brain ADHD, why creatives often feel intense shame and self-loathing after being in the spotlight, and the hopeful reality that you can retrain your brain without losing your gifts.

Ellis and Dr. Melillo go deep on COLOR & LIGHT—how different wavelengths (red/orange/yellow vs. blue/indigo/violet) nudge left/right brain networks, impact reading, focus, anxiety, and even motion sensitivity. We cover practical tools (tinted & hemifield lenses, flashing-light glasses) and why some lights (hello, flickery fluorescents) can make you feel off. Plus: what 40 Hz “gamma” is and why meditators love it, and where laser/photobiomodulation fits in—without the woo.What you’ll learnRight vs. left brain: why warm colors often lift left-brain functions; cool colors often lean right-brainIrlen-style tinting & hemifield tricks: when colored overlays/lenses help reading and trackingFlicker matters: why certain room lights spike anxiety or fatigue40 Hz basics: how rhythmic light can entrain brainwaves (pros/cons, safety notes)Photobiomodulation (laser/red light): what it is, what it isn’t, and where the science is headedEasy self-checks: color in your room/wardrobe, quick one-eye/half-field experiment, safer swaps you can try todayTry this (safe, simple)Swap one environment to earth/neutral or warmer tones for a week; note mood/focus.Reading issues? Test a colored overlay or tinted display (warm vs. cool) and see if line-skipping eases.Sensitive to lighting? Replace harsh fluorescents with full-spectrum, low-flicker bulbs.Quick visual-field check: briefly cover one eye and the inner half of the other while looking straight ahead—notice if calm/focus changes. If it does, you might benefit from targeted visual work.Curious about devices (tinted/flash glasses or light therapy)? Work with a qualified clinician—wrong settings can feel worse even if they’re not harmful.Chapters  00:00 Nashville dinner + setup 02:00 Color frequencies & brain networks 06:40 Irlen lenses, reading & eye tracking 12:50 Hemifields and mood/anxiety 19:40 Fluorescent flicker & sensitivity 24:30 40 Hz gamma & entrainment 29:50 Photobiomodulation (laser/red light) 40:30 What to try at home (safely) 44:50 Wrap & next episode teaserListen on: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • iHeartRadio • YouTube Follow: @thewritebrainpodcast | @ellismelillo | @drrobertmelillo Booking/partners: thewritebrainpodcast@gmail.comEducational only; not medical advice. If symptoms are significant or new, see a clinician.Hashtags: #RightBrain #ColorTherapy #Irlen #Photobiomodulation #BrainWaves #40Hz #ADHD #Anxiety #Reading #Wellness #Nashville

From Nashville writer rounds to the science of the brain–gut loop, Ellis and Dr. Melillo unpack why there’s no one-size-fits-all diet—and how to tell what YOUR body actually needs. We dig into food sensitivities (what blood tests really measure), “leaky gut” (and why it actually begins in infancy), chemicals/dyes (Red 40, etc.), and the TikTok trends around parasites, mold, and candida. Plus: how tools like the Brain Driver and Interactive Metronome help balance the system so digestion, mood, and focus improve.What you’ll learnTest, don’t guess: real food-sensitivity panels & how to do a true 6-week elimination + reintroductionLeaky gut 101: the role of the parasympathetic (vagal) system & why brain balance mattersTH1/TH2 immunity, antibodies, and why creatives can be extra sensitiveDyes, chemicals & heavy metals: when to care, when to ignore the noiseParasites/mold/candida: how to confirm (stool/blood), and the why behind susceptibilityEllis’ stack: Brain Driver + Interactive Metronome to support timing, vagal tone & metabolismTry thisGet a reputable antibody panel (foods + common additives).Eliminate strictly for 6 weeks, then re-challenge one item at a time.If you suspect parasites/mold—test first, then treat.Support the brain–gut loop: sleep, breathwork, gentle vestibular/balance drills, timing work.Listen on: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • iHeartRadio • YouTubeFollow: @thewritebrainpodcast | @ellismelillo | @drrobertmelilloContact: thewritebrainpodcast@gmail.comDisclaimer: Educational only; not medical advice. Always consult your clinician.Hashtags: #RightBrain #BrainGutConnection #FoodSensitivity #FunctionalNeurology #LeakyGut #ADHD #Anxiety #Wellness #Nashville #TheWriteBrain

Ever felt the room spin, gotten car sick, or had that wobbly “boat” feeling out of nowhere? In this episode, we break down the three different kinds of dizziness — and why it matters. Vertigo, motion sickness, and lightheadedness come from different systems in the brain, and knowing which one you’re experiencing is the key to actually helping it.Ellis shares her Brain Driver routine + 68 days alcohol-free, while Dr. Melillo explains how the inner ear, neck, eyes, and brain work together to keep us balanced. We also talk color therapy, why some right-brain dominant creatives feel things more strongly, and simple ways to support your own system at home.What we cover:• Vertigo vs. dizziness vs. lightheadedness• Why the side you turn your head matters• Car + bed hacks to reduce motion sickness• The Brain Driver (and how Ellis uses it daily)• Right-brain sensitivity, empathy & overthinking• Why there’s no “one-time fix” — just balanceIf you’ve ever said:“I get dizzy in cars.”“The room spins when I lie down.”“My stomach drops when I stand up too fast.”…this episode is for you.

Country artist Kylie Frey joins us to talk rodeo roots, panic attacks, songwriting as therapy, and her new duet with Randall King—plus the upcoming EP Half a Mind (out Oct 23). We get into right- vs left-brain creativity, mom life, and why a horse can be the best therapist.🎵 Kylie Frey – “Half a Mind” EP drops Oct 23 🎙️ The Write Brain Podcast — father/daughter conversations about brain health, creativity, and real life.

In this episode of The Write Brain Podcast, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo unpack one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in the world of child development and mental health: autism. With headlines circulating about Tylenol use during pregnancy, they dive deep into the real science behind risk factors, gene expression, brain development, and why blame-based narratives aren’t just inaccurate — they’re harmful.Dr. Melillo, who wrote one of the definitive books on autism science, explains:Why correlation ≠ causation in autism researchWhat autism actually looks like in the brainThe role of preconception health in both parentsWhy folic acid, gut health, and the immune system are downstream, not root causesHow the Brain Driver and functional neurology help restore balance gently and effectivelyEllis also shares how tools like red light glasses and her Brain Driver (thebraindriver.com) are helping her manage anxiety during her 41 days sober, while calling out media oversimplification — with her usual dose of comedy and side tangents (yes, Miami Vice and karate class make cameos).This episode is an empowering reminder that you’re not broken — you’re just imbalanced, and there are ways to get back to center.

Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo explore the neurological roots of stuttering, Tourette’s, OCD, intrusive thoughts, and what it really means to have a “right-brain imbalance.”In this episode:The real reason why some people stutter — and why singing can stop itLeft vs. right-brain OCD (yes, there’s a difference)How concussion, trauma, and poor therapy protocols can trigger regressionWhy Botox can interfere with reading emotionsTools that help balance the brain (Brain Driver, red light lenses, vestibular therapy)Ellis also shares a candid sobriety update (41 days) and how committing to brain-based tools has helped reduce her anxiety, improved her sleep, and changed her mornings for the better.A brilliant mix of science, vulnerability, and dry humor as always.TheBrainDriver.com

In this episode of The Write Brain Podcast, we sit down with comedian and artist Danae Hays for a vulnerable, insightful, and unforgettable conversation about brain health, trauma, and identity.Danae opens up about her experience with obsessive-compulsive disorder, childhood trauma, and coming out later in life, while Dr. Robert Melillo breaks down the neurological science behind what she’s experienced. Together, they explore how brain imbalance, shame, and concussions can contribute to obsessive thought patterns, and how tools like the Brain Driver ( thebraindriver.com) can support long-term healing.Ellis and Danae also discuss the emotional cost of performance, the spiritual toll of suppressing your truth, and how creative intuition can become your compass once you learn to regulate your nervous system.This episode blends science, story, and sensitivity—offering a grounded, compassionate look at what healing really means.

In this episode of The Write Brain Podcast, we explore the deeper science and philosophy behind chiropractic care and its foundational role in brain development and functional neurology. After Ellis receives a live chiropractic adjustment from her father, Dr. Robert Melillo, the two delve into the origins of chiropractic, its long-standing ties to natural medicine, and how spinal alignment directly influences nervous system function. They also discuss the Brain Driver — a tool used to help regulate and balance brain activity — and how modalities like this can be integrated with other natural approaches to support both physical and mental health. Whether you're familiar with chiropractic or questioning its role in modern wellness, this conversation offers an evidence-based perspective that challenges mainstream narratives and connects the dots between movement, brain health, and holistic healing.