The Make Your Brain Work Podcast - Episode 17 - Feedback as Fuel: Transforming Critique into Growth

Ever received feedback that made you bristle? The one comment that lingers, outweighing all the positives? Or perhaps you’ve dismissed feedback entirely, convinced that they just don’t get it.

In this episode, we explore why feedback feels so personal — and what’s really happening inside your brain when criticism lands. Drawing on neuroscience and behavioural science, we unpack how feedback can activate the same neural pathways as physical pain, and how cognitive biases quietly shape the way we interpret, distort, or reject input that could help us grow.

From confirmation bias to the Dunning–Kruger effect, we break down the hidden mental shortcuts that turn well-intentioned feedback into friction. More importantly, you’ll learn practical strategies to retrain your response, reduce defensiveness, and turn feedback into a powerful tool for learning, performance, and personal growth.

If you’re ready to stop fearing feedback and start using it as fuel, this episode is for you.