At a time when most people set New Year's resolutions but only a few keep them, this episode explains the neurobiology and psychology behind habits—how the striatum, frontal cortex and dopamine create shortcuts that drive behaviour.

Learn the habit loop (cue → craving → response → reward) and the four laws for change: make cues obvious, cravings attractive, responses easy and rewards satisfying. Practical tips include habit stacking, shaping your environment, removing bad cues, and using accountability and gratitude to reinforce success.

This episode explains why joy is not an accident but a learnable skill, blending neuroscience, psychology, and real-life practice.

Listen for clear explanations of the brain systems behind happiness, the role of habits, relationships, and purpose, and simple daily steps you can use to increase contentment and resilience.

This episode reviews an umbrella meta-analysis of randomized trials examining popular diets (Mediterranean, DASH, low-carb, low-fat, high-protein, vegetarian/vegan, low-GI, paleo, intermittent fasting and more) and their effects on weight, BMI, lipids, glucose, insulin, HbA1c and blood pressure.

Key takeaways: the Mediterranean diet showed the most consistent benefits with no reported harms, DASH showed some benefit, while many other diets produced short-term or mixed results. Overall evidence quality was often low and highly variable, so the episode emphasizes sustainable, whole-food, plant-forward eating patterns and long-term adherence over short-term fad diets.

Join us in welcoming back Dr. Elizabeth Jackson for an illuminating discussion on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and its distinction from Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). This episode delves into the hormonal dynamics that lead to PMDD and provides valuable insights into how it differs from PMS, highlighting the psychological and physical impacts on women's lives.

We explore lifestyle and medical interventions that offer relief, including the role of estrogen fluctuations and the potential of hormonal therapies. Dr. Jackson emphasizes the importance of awareness and proactive management, encouraging listeners to consider lifestyle adjustments and consult healthcare professionals for personalized advice.

Listen in to discover the significance of understanding and addressing PMDD, debunk common myths about menstruation, and gain practical advice for taking control of your hormonal health.

This mindful moment meditation is designed to help you reset habits and manage impulses, every day. In this short guided session, we use the power of mindful breathing to create space between impulse and action. Whether you’re tempted to overeat, endlessly scroll, or reach for quick distractions, this practice invites you to pause, reflect, and choose differently. With each breath, you'll strengthen your ability to respond with intention rather than react automatically. Join us as we take a small but powerful step toward lasting change and more mindful living.

Hello, my name is Dr. Lynn Reid and I want to introduce you to the Aurora Wellness Coaching App. I've created this app really in response to what I was practicing day to day and what I felt patients needed to know, learn and then be able to consolidate. And this is lifestyle medicine. It's about making meaningful change in both small ways and big ways to improve your health, longevity and general happiness.

So, Aurora app is about giving you structured guidance, there are daily coaching lessons, reflective journaling, lots of resources and heaps of information to help you guide yourself towards a better healthier future. There is a limited-time only seven day introductory course that allows you to have a bit of a taste of what's available and the different topics that we can cover.

After you do the introductory course, you have the option if you want to deep dive into one of the bigger topics like nutrition, sleep, stress, exercise, menopause, building good habits, breaking bad habits. And these are all available to you and conveniently wrapped up in one place in the Aurora Wellness Coaching app. Have a look and join us on a transformative journey where we're looking to heal, thrive and empower ourselves towards a really healthy future take care and I look forward to seeing you on there.

In this episode, Dr. Lynne Reed explores the surprising benefits of embracing discomfort in our comfort-driven lives. She delves into how our constant chase for pleasure and avoidance of discomfort can lead to mental suffering. By normalizing slight discomfort, such as delaying gratification or digital disconnection, we can build resilience and find a natural state of contentment. Discover practical techniques to integrate small discomforts into daily life and join Dr. Reed in redefining happiness beyond the cycle of desire and dopamine.

In this enlightening episode of the Aurora podcast, we are joined once again by Dr. Elizabeth Jackson, a renowned expert in women's health. This time, Dr. Jackson tackles the intricate topic of fertility and conception. She offers practical advice for women with both regular and irregular periods, explaining the optimal timing for conception and debunking common myths around fertility.

Dr. Jackson provides a formula for identifying the fertility window based on menstrual cycles and discusses the importance of timing and frequency of intercourse. She emphasizes the role of age in fertility and the importance of seeing a gynecologist if conception does not occur within certain timeframes.

Highlighting the multifaceted approach to fertility treatment, Dr. Jackson explores various fertility options, from natural conception to advanced medical interventions such as IVF and ICSI. She underscores the significance of seeking professional advice and avoiding unreliable sources of information.

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for anyone on the journey to starting a family, offering reassurance and actionable insights into the complex world of fertility.