The Neuroscience of Becoming Your Best Self w/ Craig Manning

This might genuinely be my favorite episode I've ever recorded! Dr. Craig Manning completely shifted how I think about stress, fear, and the stories we tell ourselves every single day. I walked away from this conversation seeing my own mind differently, and I think you will too — especially if you're a parent trying to raise kids who talk to themselves with kindness instead of criticism.

Here are a few of my biggest takeaways from our conversation:

Fear isn't real — we create it. Dr. Manning explained that fear doesn't exist in reality; it's something our brain manufactures. Once you understand that, you can start choosing a different response.

Learning is the opposite of fear. The more we're in a state of genuine learning and curiosity, the less room fear has to take over — and chronic stress makes learning (and remembering) so much harder.

Self-talk is neuroscience, not just a buzzword. We hear "self-talk" everywhere on social media, but Dr. Manning breaks down what's actually happening in the brain — and how inaccurate self-talk quietly reshapes our behavior.

Discipline and self-criticism are not the same thing. One builds you up, one tears you down, and most of us have been mixing them up for years.

Kids learn their self-talk from watching us. One small shift in how we speak to ourselves tonight could start rewiring how our kids talk to themselves for life.

Everyone could benefit from listening to this podcast!

Bio of the guest:

Dr. Craig Manning is a Human Performance Consultant and bestselling author of The Fearless Mind: Five Essential Steps to Higher Performance. He's been an Adjunct Professor of Performance Psychology at Brigham Young University for over fifteen years and serves as a Mental Strength Coach for the university's athletic department. His clients include the Milwaukee Bucks, US Ski and Snowboarding teams, Red Bull High Performance, and organizations around the world.

Dr. Manning's research shows that Cognitive Control — the ability to control one's own mind — predicts success better than IQ or family wealth. His formula: Potential + Training – Interference = High Performance. Through his methodology, he helps individuals, teams, and organizations acquire the mental performance skills that show up consistently in high performers, unlocking greater potential at the core.

Connect with Dr. Craig Manning: