Is Your Brain Holding You Back? Dr. Daniel Amen & Lisa Bilyeu Reveal How to Optimize Your BrainIs Your Brain Holding You Back? Dr. Daniel Amen & Lisa Bilyeu Reveal How to Optimize Your Brain
The Brain Warrior's Way Podcast
Dr Daniel Amen reviews Lisa Bilyeu’s brain scan while discussing ADD, marijuana use and how everyday habits affect brain health. The conversation blends personal experience with practical strategies for protecting the brain and reducing reliance on substances.
15:48•2 Nov 2026
Is Your Brain Helping or Hurting Your Recovery?
Episode Overview
- Substances that feel calming can actually increase stress and reduce healthy brain activity.
- ADD symptoms often go undiagnosed in women, despite clear signs from childhood.
- Spect imaging can highlight areas of the brain that are overactive or underactive and guide treatment.
- Natural supports like theanine, ashwagandha and magnesium may help replace evening marijuana use.
- Viewing bad days as "good data" encourages learning from triggers rather than self-blame.
“Never want to use something that changes your brain to need it in order for you to feel normal.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation between psychiatrist Dr Daniel Amen and entrepreneur Lisa Bilyeu zeroes in on how brain health can quietly shape mood, focus, addiction and everyday habits. The episode centres on Lisa having her brain scanned and reviewed, with Dr Amen walking through what the images show about her attention, emotional patterns and use of marijuana and nicotine.
He explains why symptoms like being late, easily distracted and "all over the place" fit undiagnosed ADD, and points out how women often slip through the net compared with boys in childhood. A big focus is on the idea that substances which feel like stress-relievers may actually be "stress creators".
Lisa openly shares using weed mixed with nicotine as her end-of-day way to "chill and watch crappy TV", while Dr Amen gently but firmly challenges how this habit affects her brain’s blood flow and long-term risk.
As he puts it, "Never want to use something that changes your brain to need it in order for you to feel normal." You’ll hear practical strategies too: spect imaging to understand how the brain works, supplement protocols aimed at repairing and boosting brain function, and natural options like theanine, ashwagandha and magnesium to help calm the mind without relying on substances.
Dr Amen introduces his "brain warrior" mindset and the idea of "brain envy" – wanting a big, healthy brain enough to change daily choices. For anyone questioning their relationship with nicotine, cannabis or other habits, this episode offers a mix of science, straight talk and humour, all wrapped around the message that you can love your life and still protect your brain.
Could reframing your bad days as "good data" be the first step toward treating your brain with more care?
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