You’re Not Broken — Here’s What’s Really Going On in Your Brain | Emotional Longevity Podcast
October 22, 2025
What if your brain was never broken — just misunderstood?
In this deeply insightful episode of the Emotional Longevity Podcast, Dr. Elisha Goldstein sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Alex Korb — author of *The Upward Spiral* — to unpack what’s really happening inside your brain during depression, anxiety, and emotional spirals.
Together, they explore how your brain’s natural circuitry can trap you in self-criticism, overthinking, and paralysis — and how tiny, science-backed actions can rewire you toward calm, motivation, and joy.
You’ll also learn the surprising reason why high achievers often struggle more with downward spirals, and how acceptance and self-compassion activate healing at the neurological level.
What if your brain was never broken — just misunderstood?
In this deeply insightful episode of the Emotional Longevity Podcast, Dr. Elisha Goldstein sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Alex Korb — author of *The Upward Spiral* — to unpack what’s really happening inside your brain during depression, anxiety, and emotional spirals.
Together, they explore how your brain’s natural circuitry can trap you in self-criticism, overthinking, and paralysis — and how tiny, science-backed actions can rewire you toward calm, motivation, and joy.
You’ll also learn the surprising reason why high achievers often struggle more with downward spirals, and how acceptance and self-compassion activate healing at the neurological level.
In this deeply insightful episode of the Emotional Longevity Podcast, Dr. Elisha Goldstein sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Alex Korb — author of *The Upward Spiral* — to unpack what’s really happening inside your brain during depression, anxiety, and emotional spirals.
Together, they explore how your brain’s natural circuitry can trap you in self-criticism, overthinking, and paralysis — and how tiny, science-backed actions can rewire you toward calm, motivation, and joy.
You’ll also learn the surprising reason why high achievers often struggle more with downward spirals, and how acceptance and self-compassion activate healing at the neurological level.
🎧 In this episode, we cover:
✅ The real neuroscience of feeling “stuck”
✅ How to interrupt downward spirals and start upward ones
✅ Why there’s nothing ‘broken’ about your brain
✅ The role of self-criticism and emotional reactivity
✅ Practical brain-based tools for calm and clarity
✅ The connection between self-compassion and motivation
✅ The real neuroscience of feeling “stuck”
✅ How to interrupt downward spirals and start upward ones
✅ Why there’s nothing ‘broken’ about your brain
✅ The role of self-criticism and emotional reactivity
✅ Practical brain-based tools for calm and clarity
✅ The connection between self-compassion and motivation
⏱ Chapters:
00:00 — What’s Really Going On in Your Brain
06:00 — Why Nothing Is Broken in Depression
12:00 — The Story That Changed Everything
18:00 — Understanding the Brain’s Loops
25:00 — Why You Can’t ‘Think’ Your Way Out
33:00 — Acceptance and Emotional Safety
42:00 — Small Shifts That Rewire Your Brain
55:00 — How to Start an Upward Spiral
00:00 — What’s Really Going On in Your Brain
06:00 — Why Nothing Is Broken in Depression
12:00 — The Story That Changed Everything
18:00 — Understanding the Brain’s Loops
25:00 — Why You Can’t ‘Think’ Your Way Out
33:00 — Acceptance and Emotional Safety
42:00 — Small Shifts That Rewire Your Brain
55:00 — How to Start an Upward Spiral
🌟 Learn more about Dr. Alex Korb:
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/alex-korb-phd-14794413/
- Website: https://alexkorbphd.com
- This is a a quick guide to stop overthinking (The Mental Clarity Blueprint): https://alexkorbphd.click/blueprint-1
- Get a copy of Alex Korb’s “The Upward Spiral 2nd edition“ https://amzn.to/4q6mBv6
Special Presale Offer (Through November 8th):
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📕 Get on the Early Access List for the new book Tiny Shifts (+Access to the Tiny Shifts Mini-Guide):
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