Neuroscience now shows us that human connection changes the brain.

Walking high above the forest floor on the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk in Western Australia, I felt what real strength looks like.

The giant tingle trees reach for the light, but their power doesn’t come from standing alone. Under the soil, their roots and fungi form a living web, sharing water, nutrients, and information. Each tree depends on the health of the whole forest.

That is what thriving organisations do too.

Leadership as Connection

After that walk, I gave a presentation at the Optus Stadium to early childhood educators, as part of the Child Australia conference. They reminded me that leadership isn’t about control. It’s about creating the right conditions for others to grow.

They help children learn through safety, play, and connection. They build trust first, then learning follows.

It’s the same in every organisation. When people feel safe, supported, and seen, they do their best work.

Leadership is no different. It’s not about control, it’s about connection. When people feel seen and supported, they bring their best ideas forward. When leaders make space for visibility, empathy, and trust, the whole system begins to flow.

A healthy organisation works like an ecosystem: it doesn’t rely on one strong trunk, but on many connected roots.

Leaders who create these conditions don’t need to push growth, it happens naturally. Like the forest, their teams become alive with creativity and flow.

When people feel seen, their stress circuits quiet down, and the brain’s higher networks — for creativity, empathy, and problem-solving turn on. That’s how safety becomes innovation.

Minimize image

Edit image

Delete image

Creating Conditions for Flow

Walking among those ancient trees reminded me that growth doesn’t come from control. You can’t force a tree to grow, and you can only create the right light, water, and soil.

Leadership works the same way. Our role is to build the conditions where people feel trusted and visible. When they do, they begin to synchronise, share ideas, and thrive together.

This happens in great conversations, in creative teams, and in organisations where leaders listen more than they direct. The result? Collective intelligence. Decisions become faster, ideas flow freely, and people feel energised rather than exhausted. Most importantly people feel free to say where there are problems and why the idea might fail.

Boundaries protect us. But being seen transforms us.

Read Visible: Rewiring Your Brain for Love, Resilience, and the Courage to Be Seen

https://www.amazon.com.au/VISIBLE-Rewiring-Brain-Resilience-Courage/dp/0999099744

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com

Today on Thriving Minds, I’m sharing a special replay of my conversation with Dr. Renee White on her Science of Motherhood podcast, where we explored what I wish I knew then—now that I know this—about screens, resilience, and protecting our kids’ mental health in the digital age.

Screens are part of everyday life, but learning how to manage them while protecting our children’s mental health can feel like an uphill battle. In this candid conversation, Professor Selena Bartlett shares the lessons she wishes she knew earlier as a parent—now backed by decades of neuroscience research into stress, resilience, and brain plasticity.

You’ll hear practical, science-informed strategies to help you:

• Set and hold screen time boundaries (without constant battles)
• Support your child’s resilience through the power of neuroplasticity
• Understand how technology impacts kids’ mental health
• Reduce family stress and strengthen connection
• Make everyday changes that protect wellbeing

This isn’t about removing technology altogether—it’s about using it mindfully, while safeguarding what matters most: your child’s mental health and your family’s connection.

Resources & Links

• Follow Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
  
  
• Learn more about The Science of Motherhood and Fill Your Cup services

🌿 Connect with Professor Selena Bartlett:

• Website: profselenabartlett.com
  
  
• Instagram: @prof_selena_bartlett
  
  
• Explore more at womenrise.com.au
  
  

If this replay sparks an “I wish I knew that earlier” moment for you, share it with another parent navigating the same challenges—and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes of Thriving Minds.

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com

“The brain wave is not just a scientific object—it’s a cultural one.” – Dr. Caitlin Shure

What is a brain wave? How “brain waves” became a metaphor for mind control, telepathy, and spiritual resonance. That’s the question we explore in one of the most surprising and thought-provoking episodes of the Thriving Minds podcast to date—with science journalist and technologist Dr. Caitlin Shure, whose PhD work traced the strange cultural journey of the brainwave from telepathy and spiritualism to modern neurotech and wellness wearables. Link to Episode #202: Brainwaves, Culture, and the Future of Healing.

It turns out this simple question—"What is a brain wave?"—unlocks a much deeper one:

A deceptively simple question—yet one that opens a portal into 150+ years of science, culture, and imagination.

The Rise (and Risk) of Neuroscience/Brain-Based Everything
Today, brainwaves are everywhere—from EEG sleep trackers and meditation headbands to marketing slogans and Instagram therapists. And yet:

• Most people don’t know what a brain wave is
• Many companies use “neuroscience” language without scientific rigour
• Consumers are caught between hope, hype, and helplessness

Caitlin and I discussed how this confusion reflects a crisis in our time:

👉 A loss of trust in science

👉 The exploitation of wellness culture

👉 The seductive myth that the mind can be “optimized” or “uploaded”

👉 And a growing yearning for something beyond both clinical reductionism and magical thinking

💡 Why This Matters Now
As someone who has studied the brain for three decades, I’ve seen how easily science can become siloed—or exploited. I've also seen how desperately people are searching for hope, healing, and clarity in an overwhelming world.

We’re overstimulated, overtired, and often overpromised.

But there's a way forward. And it’s not at either extreme.

🔄 The Middle Way is emerging as a necessary path. One that honours science and soul. Logic and lived experience. Data and deep feeling. This is how we build real health systems—ones that don’t just treat symptoms, but restore agency, belonging, and meaning.

🔗 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Have you ever used neurotech? Do you think science is losing (or gaining) trust in your community? What does a “Middle Way” look like in your work?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Join the conversation in the comments or on LinkedIn

#Neuroscience #ThrivingMinds #ScienceCommunication #MiddleWay #EEG #BrainWaves #Healing #BrainHealth #WellnessCulture #Neuroplasticity #ScienceMeetsSoul #CaitlinShure #SelenaBartlett #TeamFlow #Syntony #Neurotech #HealthLiteracy

Support the show

Subscribe and support the podcast at
https://www.buzzsprout.com/367319/supporters/new
Learn more at www.profselenabartlett.com