Planet Em

In this episode of Planet Em, Emily breaks down what “the pursuit of greatness” actually looks like in real life, not just what you want, but who you’re becoming. She talks about how trying to balance everything at once sets you up to fail, why “work-life balance” can be a trap, and how balance tends to happen across seasons instead. Emily also gets practical: how she uses weekly notes and brain dumps to capture ideas, how to stop overthinking the effort (effort discounting), why dopamine often comes after you start, and how intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation changes the way you chase goals. Plus: a simple focus reset (move your phone out of your field of view) and a question she uses when she’s torn between rest and discipline: “What would future Emily appreciate me doing right now?” Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast?igsh=NDYwZmtrZzRveHQz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@planetempod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDvOOWaXWgFhRNB8DkW9Pww/ 

In this episode of Planet Em, Em shares one of her core life philosophies: letting luck meet preparation. She breaks down why “luck” isn’t something you wait for, it’s what happens when you create space for opportunity to land by getting clear on what you want and removing the fear that blocks you from receiving it. Em explains how preparation helps your brain filter for opportunities (instead of missing them), how fear of the unknown quietly drives procrastination and avoidance, and why a lot of people subconsciously fear success more than they realize. She shares real examples including how preparing for a book deal made her ready to say yes when the opportunity showed up. Then she walks you through a simple two-part “preparation workshop” you can do for any goal: planning the how (all the possible paths) and preparing for the after (what happens when it works out). The result is clarity, safety in your nervous system, and a brain that’s trained to notice what you’ve been asking for. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast?igsh=NDYwZmtrZzRveHQz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@planetempod

This episode is all about how to absolutely slay 2026, with a simple reflection + forecasting practice and a habit tracker that keeps you accountable. Em walks through the exact prompts she uses to reflect on the past year (biggest wins and what got her there, biggest “losses” and what led to them, and the people/habits that supplied her energy). Then she shows how to forecast the next 6 months: visualize what it feels like to be your best self, choose 1–5 priorities, and list the habits/behaviors that bring those goals and that “highest self” energy to life. She also breaks down why consistency isn’t doing the same thing every day, it’s what you do on average. Finally, Em explains her monthly habit tracking system (grid notebook or digital): write your habits across the top, track days 1–31 down the side, and check boxes as you go so the things that make you feel your best don’t “silently slip through the cracks.” The core idea: discipline and consistency create predictability, and predictability makes your brain feel safe which is regulation.

Em shares a real “identity upgrade” moment: going on Jay Shetty’s podcast was a dream, but it also scared her more than she expected. After filming, she felt the classic post-event spiral—overthinking what she said, second-guessing everything, and feeling like her performance wasn’t as good as everyone else said it was. From that, she breaks down what was actually happening in her brain and nervous system: stress distorts perception, fight-or-flight makes your mind scan for threats, and your experience of reality changes depending on your state. She also shares a simple reframe for the “I should’ve said this” feeling (planting seeds for the future), plus the difference between guilt and shame—and why making things “about you” can turn a moment into an identity label. To help you apply it, Em lays out her 5-step upgrade formula: do the hard thing (even messy), extract the lessons before the results, regulate your nervous system, reenter with appreciation, and anchor in the new identity. It’s a practical playbook for interviews, big conversations, speaking moments, or anything that scares you—so you don’t just survive it, you actually level up from it

In this episode of Planet Em, Emily breaks down the visualization methods that actually create real results not the fluffy “picture it and hope” version. She explains why your brain can’t fully tell the difference between imagined experience and real experience, and how that’s exactly why visualization can rewire your identity, shift your baseline mood, and change how you show up day to day. Emily walks through three specific visualization approaches: visualizing your goals with your full body and emotions, using visualization to train resilience by rehearsing hard moments before they happen, and using a “future self” style practice to shift your self-concept. The focus is on training the feeling and the state first, because your actions and outcomes follow that. If you’ve been stuck in the same patterns, defaulting back to the same version of you, or feeling like motivation comes and goes, this episode gives you a practical way to retrain your brain so your focus, confidence, and choices start matching the life you keep saying you want.

In this episode of Planet Em, Emily McDonald (Em on the Brain) shares The 10 Laws of Emism — the principles she lives by to stay grounded, aligned, and intentional. These aren’t strict “rules to follow perfectly.” They’re a framework: take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and use them to build a life that feels authentic and sustainable. Emily covers identity, intuition, belief rewiring, energy protection, divine timing, and what it actually looks like to live as a higher version of yourself without slipping into perfectionism. Chapters 00:00 Intro 04:28 #1 Take what resonates (leave what doesn’t) 08:07 #2 Never betray yourself for validation 11:25 #3 Live as the highest version of you 13:01 #4 Build identity from intuition, not imitation 14:27 #5 Treat beliefs like upgradable software 17:47 #6 Romanticize your own experience 20:42 #7 Protect your energy (because it matters) 24:55 #8 Trust divine timing + take aligned action 27:13 #9 Don’t fear being misunderstood 29:31 #10 Remember: you are the lightning bolt 33:10 Wrap up Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast?igsh=NDYwZmtrZzRveHQz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@planetempod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KV6h0wWN1Jh9t6qUPYIuQ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-em/id1852168666 

In this episode of Planet Em, Emily breaks down why so many people struggle with focus, attention, and concentration — and why it’s not a willpower problem. She explains how focus is actually a nervous system state, and why chronic stress, overstimulation, anxiety, and constant dopamine hits make deep focus nearly impossible. Emily walks through how your brain prioritizes safety over productivity, why a dysregulated nervous system keeps you scanning for threats instead of locking in, and how modern environments train your brain to stay distracted. She also explains the role of dopamine, attention switching, and why multitasking fragments your ability to concentrate. The episode closes with practical ways to rebuild focus by regulating your nervous system, reducing stimulation, and creating internal safety so your brain can sustain attention again. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast?igsh=NDYwZmtrZzRveHQz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@planetempod Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1KV6h0wWN1Jh9t6qUPYIuQ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-em/id1852168666

In this episode of Planet Em, Emily breaks down one of her core philosophies: life is a game, and everything you experience, your triggers, your environment, your challenges, your relationships, is part of the map. She shares the five strategies she uses to navigate the “game of human,” including seeing every trigger as an opportunity to level up, understanding how your brain rewires itself in response to challenges, and using discomfort intentionally to grow. Emily also talks about impostor syndrome, why it shows up when you reach a new level, and how to see it as a sign that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. She dives into the neuroscience behind environment, mirror neurons, brainwave synchronization, chemo signals, context, and why changing your surroundings can shift your mood, motivation, and creativity in seconds. Toward the end, she explains the respawn mindset, the idea that failure is never final and the fastest path to success is increasing your willingness to be seen trying. If you want to feel more empowered in your journey, stop taking life so seriously, and start playing the “game” with strategy, this episode will resonate.

In this episode of Planet Em, Emily breaks down her top three science-backed secrets to success—your environment, your identity, and your core beliefs. She explains how everything you consume rewires your brain, why the people around you shape your nervous system, and how your physical surroundings, media, music, and daily habits become mental anchors that either hold you back or help you grow. Emily also dives into identity shifting, the default mode network, and why your brain works to keep you consistent with who you believe you are. She shares personal examples from her own life, including moving cities, leveling up in her business, writing her book, and how she uses confidence work, affirmations, and evidence-building to rewire her self-concept. Finally, she breaks down the “success mindset trilogy”: belief in yourself, belief in your worthiness, and belief in the possibility—explaining how each one changes your motivation, dopamine, resilience, and the direction of your life.

In this episode of Planet Em, Emily breaks down why being “delusional” is actually a pro-level brain hack. She shares how delusional belief helped her build the life she has now, why realistic thinking is usually just fear in disguise, and how the brain responds when you normalize big goals instead of shrinking them. Emily explains the three beliefs that shape your ability to manifest: belief in yourself, belief in the possibility of your goals, and belief in your worthiness. She also dives into the neuroscience behind dopamine, motivation, confidence, and why your brain sabotages you when a dream doesn’t feel “safe.” This episode covers identity work, subconscious fears, confirmation bias, the “algorithm” of your brain, and why becoming the version of you who achieves your goals is what actually collapses the timeline. If you’re ready to think bigger, normalize your delusional dreams, and rewire your brain for success, this one’s for you. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast?igsh=NDYwZmtrZzRveHQz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@planetempod   

In this episode of Planet Em, Emily breaks down the neuroscience of reality and how your brain constructs every experience you’ve ever had. She explains why what you see isn’t actually “out there,” how color is created in the brain, why your beliefs shape what you perceive, and why your mindset, memories, conditioning, and self-talk all affect the version of reality you experience. Emily shares examples from her time in visual system research, explains why optical illusions prove that the brain is guessing and filling in the gaps, and walks through how sound, color, and even self-image are constructed internally. She also talks about the subconscious mind, shadow work, the role of programming and beliefs, and why you are always manifesting based on the way your brain is wired. She ends with her top three tips for creating your reality: reprogramming beliefs, changing your self-talk, and regulating your nervous system so your brain can build the version of life you actually want to experience. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast?igsh=NDYwZmtrZzRveHQz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@planetempod 

In this first episode of Planet Em, Emily walks through the full story of how she went from being sick, overwhelmed, and labeled with every diagnosis in the book… to finding neuroscience, changing her brain, and building a life she never thought was possible. She shares what her childhood and teen years were like, her mental and physical health struggles, how she accidentally fell into neuroscience, the moment she realized she could change her brain, why she started posting online, and the major turning point that pushed her to leave her PhD and step fully into her purpose. This episode sets the foundation for everything this podcast is about: understanding your brain, regulating your nervous system, leveling up your mindset, and becoming the version of you that you know is waiting. If you’re ready to rewire your brain and step into your next level, this one is for you Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planetempodcast?igsh=NDYwZmtrZzRveHQz TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@planetempod 

Welcome to Planet Em New episodes every Monday Hosted by Emily McDonald