The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast
Neurosurgeon and award-winning author Dr. W. Lee Warren, MD delivers weekly prescriptions from neuroscience, faith, and common sense on how to lead a healthier, better, happier life. You can’t change your life until you change your mind, and Dr. Warren will teach you the art of self-brain surgery™ to get it done. His latest book, Hope Is the First Dose, is available everywhere books are sold.
Episodes
July 28, 2025 • 53 mins
(Make sure to listen to the first two parts in this series if you missed them!)
In neurosurgery, we change our approach to a case if the plan we had isn't producing the outcome we want. Good surgeons look objectively at their outcomes, and we're willing to change our approach to do the best thing for our patient.
In self-brain surgery, you are both the patient AND the surgeon, so being unwilling to change approaches is a form of...
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July 25, 2025 • 71 mins
Introducing a new, recurring series of episodes, The Brain Surgeon and The Therapist," where I connect with therapist Gina Birkemeier to explore the intersection of mental health, wellness, and resilience.
We discuss the concept of self-brain surgery to help listeners rethink their mental processes for a healthier life. Key themes include resilience, purpose, and navigating challenges such as chronic illness and trauma, as well a...
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July 21, 2025 • 51 mins
Life inevitably brings trauma and hardships that create mental blocks. I've been studying these challenges for years, and I've discovered that understanding how to actively engage with our minds can significantly alter our life trajectories.
A principal takeaway is that negative experiences do not define us, our responses to those experiences do. The concept of self-brain surgery revolves around this transformative idea of harnes...
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July 18, 2025 • 72 mins
Join me for a conversation with world-renowned psychiatrist and neuroscience pioneer, Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz.
We discuss the mind-brain relationship, the stunning amount of control that people have over their thoughts, particularly in managing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Schwartz challenges materialistic neuroscience views with his book You Are Not Your Brain, advocating for mindfulness and metacognition as tools for perso...
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July 14, 2025 • 49 mins
This episode provides a re-introduction for new listeners into the transformative concept of self-brain surgery, a revolutionary approach that combines neuroscience with faith to empower individuals to reshape their mental health and life experiences. If you've been listening for a while, this will remind you of where we start on our journey to change our minds and change our lives.
I reflect on how our conversations on the podc...
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July 11, 2025 • 55 mins
In this episode, I explore the themes of grief, hope, and healing with Mattie Jackson Smith, an author who opens up about her journey following the loss of her husband.
We discuss her new book, Through the Valley of Grief, a 365-day devotional meant to support those navigating grief. Mattie shares her personal story and emphasizes the complexity of grief while detailing her grief management course designed for those beginning to ...
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July 7, 2025 • 50 mins
In this special episode, we cover what to do when massive things happen to someone else. Inspired by a friend's question about how to help someone she loves who lost a child in the devastating South Texas floods, this one will give you some practical tools to help you know:
What to do
When to do it
What to say and not say
A simple rule for what to do when you yourself are on the holy ground of helping someone when God ...
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July 4, 2025 • 45 mins
In this episode, I chat with Zach Windahl, a popular author and content creator, about his latest book, The Bible Simplified: Learn the Story, Live the Story.
Zach reflects on his journey of faith, shares insights on overcoming the complexities of the Bible, and the importance of direct engagement with Scripture. We explore the implications of faith deconstruction among younger generations, and discuss practical approaches to Bib...
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June 30, 2025 • 62 mins
In this episode, we learn the transformative practice of anticipatory metacognition, or AMP, a groundbreaking approach I'm excited to share as a key component of self-brain surgery.
This concept combines neuroscience and faith, demonstrating that we hold the power to influence and reshape our minds, ultimately leading to profound life changes. By engaging in anticipatory metacognition practice, we can anticipate risks, direct our...
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June 27, 2025 • 49 mins
In this episode, I reunite with Steve Mesler, the 2010 U.S. Olympic gold medalist in bobsled, as he shares his journey through unexpected mental health challenges post-Olympics.
We discuss the impact of professional stagnation and health issues on his mental state, including the sobering realization of suicidal thoughts.Steve emphasizes the importance of vulnerability in dismantling the stigma around mental health and highlights ...
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June 23, 2025 • 46 mins
In this episode of the Self Brain Surgery Podcast, Dr. Lee Warren discusses the power of metacognition and how rewiring your brain starts with thinking about rewiring your brain. He introduces the 'patchbay' concept to illustrate how you can direct your thoughts to make structural changes in your brain.
The episode delves into the scientific basis of neuroplasticity and how microtubules in the brain respond to our thoughts and int...
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June 20, 2025 • 35 mins
In this episode, Dr. Lee Warren discusses the importance of setting the right goals and targets in life.
Using metaphors from sports and personal stories, he illustrates how pursuing the wrong objectives can lead to dissatisfaction and penalties. He emphasizes the significance of internal joy and spiritual goals over transient pleasures and external validations.
Click here for the transcript
Chapters
Introduction and Overv...
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June 16, 2025 • 36 mins
What if not every thought you have is true?
In this powerful episode, Dr. Lee Warren takes you into the mental operating room to practice the Thought Biopsy, a self-brain surgery procedure that helps you examine automatic thoughts before you let them dictate your emotions, choices, and behaviors.
With neuroscience, scripture, and a surgeon’s clarity, Dr. Warren guides you through a practical, life-saving mindset shift: you ar...
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June 13, 2025 • 46 mins
In this episode of the Self Brain Surgery Podcast, Dr. Lee Warren explores the intricate relationship between physical and emotional pain, showcasing how the brain processes both in similar ways.
Drawing inspiration from personal experiences and scientific research, Dr. Warren sheds light on why heartaches can feel as intense as physical injuries. He provides listeners with practical tools and strategies to reframe their grief, i...
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June 8, 2025 • 66 mins
In this episode of the Self-Brain Surgery Podcast, Dr. Lee Warren hosts Dr. James Tour, a world-renowned synthetic chemist and Christian evangelist, to discuss the intersection of faith and science.
Dr. Tour, named one of the top 50 most influential scientists globally, shares insights from his extensive research in chemistry, including advancements in brain and spinal cord injury repair, cancer treatments, and AI technology.
B...
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June 6, 2025 • 27 mins
In this powerful episode of the Self-Brain Surgery podcast, Dr. Lee Warren discusses the overarching mission of his show, which combines neuroscience and faith to transform lives.
Dr. Warren explains the concept of 'resistance' (inspired by Steven Pressfield) as a force that inhibits personal growth, drawing parallels to the devil from a spiritual perspective. He explores the difference between the brain and the mind, the signifi...
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June 2, 2025 • 59 mins
In this episode of the Self Brain Surgery Podcast, Dr. Lee Warren welcomes neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Egnor (written with Denyse O'Leary), who discusses his new book, The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon's Case for The Existence of the Soul.
Dr. Egnor shares his journey from atheism to faith, emphasizing the distinction between the mind and the brain. They delve into scientific evidence, including functional MRI studies and split-brai...
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May 30, 2025 • 52 mins
In this episode, Dr. Lee Warren welcomes Rick Burgess, New York Times bestselling author and celebrated radio host (Rick and Bubba, The Rick Burgess Show), who shares invaluable life lessons and stories from his new book, Men Don't Run in the Rain.
Rick talks about his father's enduring influence as a legendary Alabama football coach, his own journey through personal and professional highs and lows, and how faith and resilience s...
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May 26, 2025 • 53 mins
Overcoming Sexual Addiction & Rebuilding Trust: A Journey with Matthew & Joanna Raabsmith
In this episode of the Self-Brain Surgery podcast, Dr. Lee Warren delves into a sensitive yet critical topic—sexual addiction, infidelity, and pornography.
Featuring Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith, professional therapists specializing in sexual addiction and betrayal trauma from Memphis, TN, the conversation explores their personal story of b...
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May 23, 2025 • 45 mins
In this episode of the Self-Brain Surgery Podcast, Dr. Lee Warren introduces a Science Spotlight special focused on the molecule sulforaphane, known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
Dr. Warren interviews David Roberts from Mara Labs, who shares the sad but inspiring story of how the company was founded and the journey of creating a stabilized form of sulforaphane.
They discuss the benefits of sulforaphane, ...
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