A podcast to help you be well.
A human-forward podcast for those of us who want to feel better and don’t know where to start. Brain Health Besties brings practical tools, thoughtful conversations, and small moments of care into everyday life.
- Science-backed conversations
- Everyday brain-health tools
- Be Well moments on demand
All Podcast Episodes
Be Well Moment: Creating Enough Structure to Feel Better
No need to scratch your entire routine just because some parts of it are not working. Building on the last episode's conversation around routine and stress, this Be Well Moment offers a guided practice to help you create a simple daily routine map. Starting with small, consistent steps can help us find a routine we can rely on when life becomes less structured.
Hosts: Bailey Pyle, Nia Howard, Shelby Schneider
Why Things Feel Harder When Life Loses Its Routine
Have you ever noticed that everything can feel a bit harder when your routine is interrupted? In this episode, licensed clinical counselor and former foster parent Stephanie Duckworth joins the Be Well Besties to explore why our brains crave routine and gentle ways to feel steady again when structure falls apart. Next up, join us for Episode 20 to learn how building a daily routine map can help when life feels less predictable.
Hosts: Bailey Pyle, Nia Howard, Shelby Schneider
Be Well Moment: A Listening Practice for Focus
When our minds wander and focus feels hard to find, listening to nature can help bring our attention back to what matters. In this Be Well Moment, Bailey introduces a short nature listening practice designed to gently reset our attention when we are overstimulated. Inspired by Episode 17’s conversation about nature and focus, this practice uses sound as a simple way to pause, notice the world around us, and give our overworked focus centers a chance to rest.
Hosts: Bailey Pyle, Nia Howard, Shelby Schneider
How Nature Helps Us Refocus
When our brain is overstimulated it's difficult to focus, even on the most important things we need to do. In this episode, the Be Well Besties explore attention fatigue, Attention Restoration Theory, and why natural environments can gently engage our brains in a way that supports clarity, focus, and emotional well-being. And for the Besties who are more “outsidesy” than outdoorsy, this episode includes simple ways to connect with nature, even when a hike, trail, or perfect weather is not available.
Hosts: Bailey Pyle, Nia Howard, Shelby Schneider
Be Well Moment: A Free Practice for Self-Care
One of the most effective self-care tools is free, accessible, and already with you: your breath. In this Be Well Moment, the Besties practice cyclical sighing, a simple breathing technique that can be used during moments of stress, overwhelm, or fatigue. This short guided practice invites us to slow down, notice our breath, and return to it as many times as we need. For more on meaningful self-care without a price tag, start with Episode 15.
Hosts: Bailey Pyle, Nia Howard, Shelby Schneider
Why Self-Care Isn’t Something You Buy
Buying self-care is not the same as practicing it. In this episode, the Be Well Besties are joined by Brittany McCrady, Director of Clinical Services with Centerstone of Illinois, for a conversation about what self-care really looks like when life is full, stressful, and hard to regulate. Together, they explore why the self-care you can buy may be the smallest part of what actually helps, and how boundaries, personal values, and preparation can help us build care that actually supports our real lives.
Hosts: Bailey Pyle, Nia Howard, Shelby Schneider
