What if your stress, comparison habits, and need for validation weren’t personal flaws—but ancient survival wiring doing exactly what it was designed to do?
In this episode, I mind-blended with Dr. Loretta Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of Habits of a Happy Brain, to unpack how our brain chemistry drives everyday behavior, emotions, and decisions—often without us even realizing it.
We dove into how neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins evolved to help mammals survive—and how those same chemicals influence how we chase rewards, build relationships, seek approval, and experience happiness (or not) in today’s modern world.
🔍 In this episode, we explore:
Why your brain constantly scans for rewards and threats—even when you're safe
How dopamine fuels motivation—and why chasing it endlessly can backfire
The subtle but powerful role of serotonin in social hierarchy and confidence
Why oxytocin (the connection chemical) is easily disrupted in digital life
How short bursts of endorphins (like during laughter or exercise) boost well-being
Why your brain clings to habits—even unhealthy ones—and how to rewire them
Daily practices you can try to create more natural, sustainable happiness
Loretta also shares practical strategies for retraining your brain—not to suppress your instincts, but to understand them and work with them. If you’ve ever felt stuck in habits that don’t serve you, or frustrated by emotions you can’t explain, this episode offers a refreshingly science-backed lens into why we are the way we are—and how to shift it.
Give it a listen and discover how to partner with your inner mammal.
About Loretta Breuning, PhD
Loretta is the author of Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin and Endorphin Levels. She founded the Inner Mammal Institute to help people build new neural pathways to turn on their happy chemicals in new ways.
As Professor of Management at California State University, and a mom, Loretta was not convinced by prevailing theories of human motivation. While researching alternatives, she uncovered the brain chemistry we share with animals. She learned that each happy chemical evolved to motivate a specific survival behavior, not to make you feel good all the time for no reason. Then everything made sense, and she began creating resources to spread this knowledge: books, videos, blogs, podcasts, infographics, slide shows, social media and a training program. Loretta's work has helped thousands of people "make peace with the animal inside." And she still marvels every day at the overlap between a wildlife documentary and the lyrics to a love song.
You can connect with Loretta on LinkedIn and find out more about her work on Inner Mammal Institute. If you’re interested in having a coaching session with Loretta, mention you learned about her from the podcast Mind Blend and you’ll get special pricing.
Mind Blend is all about real experiences and meaningful conversations—through sharing these insights, I hope to inspire and empower you as you navigate your unique journey.
I’d also love to hear from you! What resonated with you today? What topics or guests should we feature next? Let’s keep the conversation going—connect with me on LinkedIn @ karenkchong and @Mind-Blend
Follow Mind Blend to get notified when new episodes are released!
Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and let’s continue to blend our minds and discover what’s possible.
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