Change Your Brain Every Day

What if your greatest trauma could literally reshape your brain and your life for the better? After surviving a shark attack that took her arm at just 13 years old, Bethany Hamilton became a global symbol of resilience. But what actually happened inside her brain? In this powerful conversation, Bethany sits down with renowned psychiatrist and brain imaging expert Dr. Daniel Amen, alongside Tana Amen, to explore the science behind her extraordinary post-traumatic growth.
For the first time, Bethany examines her brain through advanced imaging, uncovering how faith, purpose, resilience, and intentional habits may have transformed her mind after unimaginable adversity. Together, they dive into the neuroscience of trauma, healing, grit, motherhood, high performance, and why some people don't just recover—they grow stronger. Whether you've experienced loss, trauma, or simply want to build a healthier brain, this episode offers hope backed by both science and an inspiring real-life story.
In this episode:
Bethany Hamilton's brain scan results with Dr. Daniel Amen

The science of post-traumatic growth

How trauma can change the brain—for better or worse

Faith, resilience, and the mindset behind extraordinary recovery

Practical habits for building a healthier, more resilient brain

Why purpose is one of the brain's greatest healing tools

 
This isn't just a story of survival; it's a masterclass in becoming stronger because of what you've been through.

For decades, medicine has treated memory loss, brain fog, and neurodegenerative disease as inevitable — but what if the real battle is happening at the cellular level, inside your brain's own immune system? In this episode, six-time New York Times bestselling author and neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter joins Dr. Amen & Tana to unpack the findings from his groundbreaking new book, Brain Defenders. We explore microglia — the brain's immune cells that can act as either warriors of protection or agents of destruction, depending on how we live. Dr. Perlmutter breaks down the overlooked role of inflammation in conditions ranging from dementia to long COVID and lays out practical, evidence-based strategies to counter threats such as poor diet, environmental toxins, and lack of restorative sleep. If you've ever wondered whether cognitive decline is truly inevitable — or whether you have more control over your brain's future than you think — this conversation will change how you think about aging, disease, and prevention.
 
Purchase Brain Defenders: https://a.co/d/00qR4E3Y

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Amen sits down with Stanley Cup and NHL champion Erik Johnson for a groundbreaking look inside Erik's concussion recovery. Using advanced SPECT imaging, Dr. Amen scans Erik's brain to reveal the hidden impact of his traumatic brain injury and maps areas of damage, dysfunction, and remarkable resilience that standard imaging often misses.
 
Together, they walk through the results in real time, translating complex brain scans into a clear picture of what TBI actually does to blood flow, activity, and function. Erik gets an unflinching look at his own recovery — the progress made, the challenges still ahead, and what the science says is possible from here.
 
This isn't just a conversation about brain injury. It's a rare, visual journey into what healing looks like from the inside out — offering hope, clarity, and actionable insight for anyone navigating their own recovery.

In this throwback episode, Dr. Daniel Amen performs eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with Tish Cyrus in order to help her process past traumas and pave the way to move on from these negative thoughts. EMDR is a gold-standard treatment method for lessening the impact that past traumas can have on your life. For more information about EMDR Therapy, visit https://www.amenclinics.com/services/.... #emdr #emdrtherapy #tishcyrus Want to schedule a visit? Our highly trained specialists can guide you through the process so you and your loved ones can get the help you deserve.
 
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After a life-threatening medical emergency during a performance, professional dancer Hayley Erbert faced a recovery few could imagine. This podcast is a previous conversation that follows her journey — the surgery, the uncertainty, and the moment she sits down with Dr. Daniel Amen to see her own brain scan, confronting the physical reality of what she survived. It's a conversation about resilience, memory, and what it means to rebuild a life and a career after coming face-to-face with mortality. Raw, honest, and unflinching.