How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend

Neuroscientist Rachel Barr joins Dr. David Friedman to discuss her book How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend, exploring how we can retrain our minds to reduce negativity, stress, and self-criticism. Drawing from personal loss and professional insight, she emphasizes the power of sleep, real-life social connection, creativity, and small daily joys—or “microdoses of delight”—to improve mental health. Instead of chasing constant productivity or perfection, she encourages embracing imperfection, novelty, and presence to build a brain that supports rather than sabotages us.

Link to book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/773408/how-to-make-your-brain-your-best-friend-by-rachel-barr/

Featured Speaker:

Rachel Barr

Rachel Barr is a neuroscientist and science communicator with a prominent social media following of over a million followers across platforms. She holds a master’s degree in molecular neuroscience and is nearing completion of her PhD, which explores the electrophysiology of memory formation during sleep. Outside the lab, Rachel aims to demystify the fundamental principles of brain science, making them accessible and engaging for a wide audience. Her social media videos, reaching millions, bridge the gap between academic research and everyday understanding, empowering her audience to make informed decisions about their mental health. Her ability to weave fun, playful narratives through the principles of neuroscience makes Rachel a standout voice in science communication. Her first book How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend will be published in the US and the UK in 2025 (DK).

Instagram: @drrachelbarr
Tiktok: @drrachelbarr
Facebook: Rachel Barr
Link to book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/773408/how-to-make-your-brain-your-best-friend-by-rachel-barr/