Brain Fitness Podcast with Dr. Patrick Porter

Are we using technology to enhance our intelligence—or slowly allowing it to replace our ability to think? That’s the question I explore with Dr. Robert Carter III on this episode of the Brain Fitness Podcast. We talk about the convenience trap, the everyday habits we may be putting on autopilot, and what might be worth continuing to do for ourselves in an increasingly automated world. Dr. Carter shares his concept of strategic inconvenience and walks me through his A.L.I.V.E. framework, using everyday examples ranging from GPS to smartphone habits. This isn’t about giving up technology. It’s about asking a more important question: If I hand this over, what am I not getting back? Dr. Robert Carter III, PhD, MPH, FACSM, FAIS, is a leadership strategist, researcher, and international bestselling coauthor of The Morning Mind. A Harvard-trained scientist and Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Army War College, he works at the intersection of human performance, resilience, and organizational excellence, helping mission-driven organizations build capacity for sustained impact. Dr. Carter holds a doctorate in biomedical sciences and medical physiology, a Master of Strategic Studies, and a Master of Public Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Institute of Stress and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. His work has been featured in The Washington Post, Fox News, and USA Today. This conversation is a thought-provoking look at technology, brain health, critical thinking, and how we can use modern tools without allowing convenience to replace our cognitive abilities. Connect with Dr. Robert Carter: https://theconveniencetrap.com/ StackMaster AI learning platform: https://stackmaestroai.com/#home Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter: https://drpatrickporter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/ https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/ https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter Other helpful links & information: http://www.braintap.pro/ *Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition. #braintap #brainfitness #mindfullness #BrainFitness #TechnologyAndTheBrain #StrategicInconvenience

Have you ever understood an emotional pattern logically, but still found yourself reacting the same way? In this episode of the Brain Fitness Podcast, I talk with psychotherapist Deborah Rutt, PhD, LCSW, about nervous system regulation, stress, emotional regulation, and why what’s happening in the body can matter just as much as what we understand in the mind. One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is how Deborah is using BrainTap alongside psychotherapy to support nervous system regulation between sessions. She also shares how NeuralChek measurements are giving her another lens into what may be changing beyond what clients can always put into words. With more than 25 years of experience as a mental health therapist and communication consultant, Deborah’s work grew out of an early passion for communication and human connection. She began as a speech pathologist specializing in early childhood development and mother-child interaction before transitioning into the study of adult relational communication, psychotherapy, and emotional well-being. Today, Deborah integrates traditional Western approaches with Eastern perspectives on transformation, drawing from neurobiology, heart-brain coherence, mindfulness, and the relationship between thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and the body. This conversation offers a fascinating look at the connection between the mind, body, nervous system, and emotional patterns—and how greater awareness may help create meaningful change. Connect with Deborah Rutt, PhD, LCS: https://www.theholdingheart.com/home https://www.heart-brain-health.com/home https://www.theintuitiveheart.com/home Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter: https://drpatrickporter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/ https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/ https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter Other helpful links & information: http://www.braintap.pro/ *Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition. #braintap #brainfitness #mindfullness #NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalRegulation #Psychotherapy #BrainFitnesspodcast

Qigong for beginners doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode of the Brain Fitness Podcast, I talk with Terry J. Hodgkinson, a meditation and mindful movement educator, martial artist, and creator of the Seven Harmonies Qigong System, about seven simple Qigong movements designed to reconnect the mind, body, breath, and nervous system. If you spend most of your day sitting, looking at screens, feeling stressed, or simply disconnected from your body, this conversation is worth watching. Terry explains why Qigong is often described as a moving meditation, why you don’t have to be athletic or flexible to get started, and how simple movement, breathwork, and awareness can become part of a daily mindfulness practice. Terry brings more than four decades of experience in meditation, martial arts, Qigong, hypnosis, and the study of human awareness and behavior. He is also a hypnotherapist and founder of the Chung Fu Martial Arts System. His work is centered around a simple question: How can mindfulness become something we actually live rather than something we practice for only a few minutes each day? That philosophy led to Mindfulness for Life, his structured 21-Day Experience combining guided meditation, practical mindfulness teachings, personal reflection, and mindful movement. Through his Seven Harmonies Qigong System, Terry explores the relationship between movement, breath, awareness, and internal practice. His central philosophy is simple: awareness comes before meaningful change. Try the Mindfulness for Life 21-Day Program: https://integrativewellbeing.institute/embodied-mindfulness/ Explore Terry’s meditations on The BrainTap App: https://braintap.com/ Connect with Terry J. Hodgkinson: http://www.chungfumartialarts.com https://taojourneys.com/ https://positivechangesetobicoke.com/ Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter: https://drpatrickporter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/ https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/ https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter Other helpful links & information: http://www.braintap.pro/ *Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition. #BrainFitnessPodcast #braintap #brainfitness #mindfullness #Qigong #NervousSystem #MovingMeditation #Mindfulness

Do you ever make one mistake during a game and feel like it affects everything that comes after? In this episode of the Brain Fitness Podcast, I talk with Dr. Tom Lankering, a brain-based, bio-energetic chiropractor and expert in brain-body performance, about how athletes can use breathing, visualization, mental rehearsal, and flow-state training to reset faster, stay focused, and stop carrying the last mistake into the next play. We explore the mental side of athletic performance and how these techniques can apply to pickleball, skiing, and other sports. We also discuss BrainTap Sports and Pickleball Flow Mastery, which use guided visualization, relaxation, and mental rehearsal to help athletes develop greater focus, confidence, and flow. Dr. Tom Lankering has practiced chiropractic care in Aspen, Colorado, since 1984. He is the founder of Lankering Chiropractic and Future of Your Health, home of the Regain Your Zest for Life program, and co-author of Wake Up the Happy Brain with Dr. Bruce Lipton and Dr. Joe Dispenza. A longtime BrainTap partner, Tom has developed flow-state training programs including Mastering Skiing: The Mountain Dance and his newest program, Keep Playing Pickleball, grounded in his belief that when the brain works right, the body works right. Whether you're an athlete, weekend warrior, or simply looking to improve your mental game, this episode offers practical insights for staying present, recovering from mistakes, and performing at your best. Explore Dr. Tom Lankering’s BrainTap Sports programs: https://braintap.com/lankeringsports/ *Coming soon: Keep Playing Pickleball — a program designed to help players understand how nagging aches, energy crashes, recovery, and movement compensation may be connected, so they can keep playing with better awareness and longevity.* Connect with Dr. Tom Lankering: https://lankeringchiropractic.com/ Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter: https://drpatrickporter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/ https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/ https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter Other helpful links & information: http://www.braintap.pro/ *Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition. #BrainFitnessPodcast #braintap #brainfitness #mindfullness #SportsPerformance #BrainTraining #MentalPerformance #DrPatrickPorter

Tired but still can’t sleep? In this episode of the Brain Fitness Podcast, I talk with sleep specialist Dr. Shane Creado about why feeling exhausted doesn’t always mean your brain is actually ready for sleep—and what to do when you feel wired, tired, and unable to shut down at night. If you wake up tired, rely on caffeine to get through the day, struggle to quiet your mind at night, or feel like you’re sleeping without actually recovering, this conversation will help you better understand what may be happening and how sleep impacts your brain, recovery, and performance. Shane Creado, MD, is a double board-certified Sleep Medicine physician and Sports Psychiatrist specializing in sleep, performance, recovery, and brain health. He is the founder of Spyndl Sleep, author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Peak Sleep Performance for Athletes, and has worked with organizations including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, NBA Players Association, PGA Tour Europe, and the Australian Football League. He also serves as a sleep consultant for Dr. Daniel Amen at Amen Clinics. Sleep isn’t a luxury—it’s one of the most productive things you can do for your brain, your recovery, and your performance. Learn more about Peak Sleep Performance for Athletes: https://a.co/d/0c9xuk6s Connect with Dr. Shane Creado: https://shanecreado.com/ https://www.instagram.com/peaksleepperformance/ Connect with Dr. Patrick Porter: https://drpatrickporter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drpatrickporter/ https://www.facebook.com/DrPatrickPorter/ https://www.youtube.com/c/drpatrickporter Other helpful links & information: http://www.braintap.pro/ *Our content is for informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or health advice. Please consult with your doctor / healthcare provider if you have any questions about your medical condition. #BrainFitnessPodcast #braintap #brainfitness #mindfullness #SleepBetter #SleepHealth #BrainHealth #SleepOptimization