Fewer Things Better
Life is noisy, but your brain doesn't have to be. This quick weekly conversation offers smart, simple ways to retrain your brain to hack your productivity and communicate better. Brain-science-meets-word-nerd host Kristin Graham offers shortcuts on how to navigate our cluttered digital world so you can spend more time enjoying life offline. She's done the research and tried-the-things, so you get the headlines and hacks without all the homework.
Episodes
Are you asking your brain to carry too much information instead of doing the work in front of you?
In this episode, Kristin Graham breaks down why trying so hard to get organized can drain the exact energy you need to complete a task. We look at researcher Sophie Leroy's concept of attention residue, why cognitive tabs stay open when you switch tasks, and how setting up a ready to resume plan lets you jump back into projects without...
Criticism doesn't have to be a social threat, despite how your brain might react in the moment. Kristin Graham unpacks the science behind handling criticism, emphasizing the importance of seeing feedback as information, not instruction. Tune in to understand how to filter criticism effectively and how to reframe your own delivery when providing feedback.
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Can doing less actually help you achieve more? Kristin Graham shares insights from neuroscience on how pausing and doing fewer things better can lead to greater productivity and satisfaction. Dive into the science of slow productivity and discover practical strategies that challenge hustle culture norms. This episode explores the power of selah, a word that invites us to slow down and savor life.
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Your words can become a powerful gift when the brain's reward centers are activated. In this episode Kristin Graham shares how giving a compliment that's short, specific, and sincere can create a lasting impression. This episode dives into the science of praise and the profound impact it has on both the giver and receiver.
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Why does life feel so unfair, and what can you do about it?
In this episode, Kristin Graham explores how our brains process unfairness and the emotional toll it takes. By understanding how the brain interprets these moments, we can better equip ourselves to let go and move on. Kristin offers actionable steps to have conversations with yourself and reframe the mental narratives that keep you stuck.
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How often do you find yourself editing that email one too many times or over-analyzing decisions? This episode is all about shifting from proving yourself to trusting yourself. Kristin Graham explores how we can move past the stage of constant preparation and embrace our competence.
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What if the easiest way to make progress is to make the task smaller? In this episode of Fewer Things Better, I explore the power of “micro” actions, tiny steps that lower resistance and make it easier for your brain to get started. From unloading just one rack of the dishwasher to squeezing in 30 seconds of movement, sending a quick voice note to a friend, or learning something in bite-sized pieces, small actions still...
Procrastination isn’t always a sign that you need to try harder. Sometimes, your brain needs you to stop trying for a minute. In this episode, Kristin Graham shares the brain science behind what happened when she stepped away from a project she’d been procrastinating on and finally gave her brain some space. A simple walk activated a different kind of thinking and helped the answers she’d been forcing finally come...
How do you transform a commitment into a habit that truly sticks?
Committing to something is only the first step; making it a lasting habit is where the real work begins. Kristin Graham explores the often-overlooked connection between consistency and meaningful habits, sharing why some habits don't stick and offering insights into the role of repetition in habit formation.
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Are you open to the idea that easy isn't lazy?
In this episode, we explore why accepting ease might actually be a sign of progress, and why our brains are wired to resist it anyway. We look at how to recognize when that resistance is getting in your way, why taking the win matters more than you think, and how welcoming ease into your life doesn't mean you're taking shortcuts. Sometimes easy doesn't mean lucky. It means human.
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What can we learn from America's imperfect journey towards its 250th birthday?
Kristin Graham shares a special episode from Michael O'Brien's podcast series, "A Perfectly Imperfect Union," where she discusses the complexities and beauties of America's progress. Listen in as they explore themes of personal growth, national identity, and the power of connection.
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What would you do with an extra hour in your day if you could buy it?
Decision fatigue is a common struggle linked to brain chemistry, not personal failure.
We make about 30,000 decisions daily, leading to mental exhaustion.
Anticipation of tasks often causes more stress than the tasks themselves.
The concept of "Lego pieces" helps break down overwhelming tasks into manageable actions.
Progress in small steps signals to the brain th...
How much sleep did you get last night, the real number between sheets, not just bedtime? Two nights of less-than-six-hours can leave you sluggish for up to six days. Even staying up an extra hour affects your brain’s night shift, which sorts data crucial for memory and empathy. Skip the gadgets; protect that 30-minute pre-sleep window like it’s your most important meeting. Revenge bedtime procrastination may feel reward...
Are you changing what needs fixing or just working around it? Sometimes the fastest way forward is to address what's been holding you back. In this episode of Fewer Things Better, Kristin Graham breaks down how small fixes can lead to big improvements in your daily life. She shares relatable stories and encourages you to identify and tackle your own workarounds, whether they involve outdated tech, longstanding habits, or personal c...
What if the money you're losing isn't from bad spending decisions — it's from things you stopped noticing? In this episode of Fewer Things Better, Kristin shares a surprisingly relatable confession about paying the same bill twice, and unpacks why the most diligent, productive people among us are often the most vulnerable to this kind of money drift. A neuroscience-backed, judgment-free look at attention, autopilot, and the r...
You have tried the routine. You saved the Instagram post. You bought the thing. So why are you still staring at the ceiling at midnight?
What if the problem is not your willpower or your bedtime — but the fact that you have been borrowing somebody else's sleep setup?
In this episode of Fewer Things Better, Kristin digs into the biology of sleep through the lens of your five senses. It turns out your body has been dropping clues...
What if the most interesting part of your story isn't the wound — it's the healing?
In this episode of Fewer Things Better, Kristin gets personal about a new scar from a skin cancer removal and the surprisingly deep rabbit hole it opened up. Because if you've lived any amount of life, you've collected a few scars along the way — some visible, some not. And every single one tells two stories: where it came from, and how y...
After 200+ episodes, I’m making some exciting changes to the podcast — and honestly, change is still not exactly my love language. In this episode, I’m sharing why shorter “brain snack” episodes are coming, the move to YouTube, and what neuroscience teaches us about novelty, growth, and getting comfortable being uncomfortable. Same mission, just a new season of learning, adapting, and doing fewer thing...
Your brain might be more motivated by a three-minute karaoke session than another productivity hack. In this episode of Fewer Things Better, we will explore why music can be such a powerful mental reset — and how pairing one favorite song with one small task can help create momentum, reduce overwhelm, and make it easier to get started. A lighthearted, neuroscience-backed approach to productivity that feels a lot more human.&n...
Some relationships don’t explode. They slowly expand until they start taking up more emotional space than they should. In this episode of Fewer Things Better, we’re talking about the quiet skill of resizing relationships, setting healthier boundaries, and recognizing when connection starts to feel more like obligation. Because protecting your peace isn’t selfish. It’s smart n...
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