How To Rewire Your Brain For Happiness with Dr. Shauna Shapiro

Scott and Warren welcome Dr. Shauna Shapiro—clinical psychologist, author, TED Talk speaker, and one of the leading researchers on mindfulness and the neuroscience of wellbeing—for a powerful conversation on how we actually rewire the brain for greater peace, resilience, and happiness.

The episode begins with real life: Warren shares the grief of losing his dog, Otis, and Shauna offers grounded, compassionate tools for meeting grief without suppressing it or trying to “get over it.” From there, the conversation expands into the science of neuroplasticity, why our brains are wired for negativity, and how simple daily practices can shift our baseline emotional state over time.

With warmth, clarity, and deep research-backed insight, Shauna reframes mindfulness as mental fitness training—a practice that helps us create space between stimulus and response, break habitual thought loops, and cultivate more freedom in the way we live.

In this episode, we explore:

• Shauna’s personal story: injury, depression, and discovering mindfulness as a lifeline

• Why happiness isn’t external—and how to redefine what it actually means

• The neuroscience of neuroplasticity and why change is always possible

• Negativity bias, fight-or-flight, and why high achievers get trapped in restlessness

• “Glimmers” and the nervous system: micro-moments that create safety and joy

• Gratitude as a tool for shifting neurochemistry (and why receiving gratitude matters most)

• The “name it to tame it” method for calming anxiety and fear in real time

• Embodied mindfulness: how to feel gratitude instead of intellectualizing it

• How mindfulness supports grief, emotional regulation, and self-compassion

• Why shame shuts down learning centers in the brain—and blocks real change

• The idea of “mental hygiene” as essential daily care, like brushing your teeth

About Dr. Shauna Shapiro

Dr. Shauna Shapiro is a clinical psychologist, professor, and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and compassion science. She is the author of Good Morning, I Love You and has spent decades researching how mindfulness changes the brain and supports resilience, emotional wellbeing, and healing. Her work bridges ancient contemplative practices with modern neuroscience, offering practical tools for transformation rooted in evidence-based research.

About the Evexia Exchange

A podcast by Club Evexia—a wellness community in Southern Marin focused on fitness, longevity, and belonging. Founders Scott Raymond & Warren Gendel interview practitioners, members, and thinkers on living well together. Produced by Resonate Studio, LLC.

If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who’s navigating stress, grief, or burnout—and ready to build a more grounded, resilient inner life.

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