Jul 22, 2025
On episode 704 of the 40 Plus Fitness
podcast, Coach Allan sits down with Dr. Kyra Bobinet, author
of Unstoppable Brain: The New Neuroscience That Frees Us
from Failure, Eases Our Stress, and Creates Lasting
Change.
Dr. Bobinet brings nearly three decades of expertise in
neuroscience and behavior change, and together they explore the
concept of "failure disease"—that sense of being stuck or losing
motivation, especially when it comes to health and fitness over
40.
In their conversation, Dr. Bobinet reveals the groundbreaking
science behind what really drives our habits and why so many of us
feel like we’re destined to fail—spoiler alert: it’s not just a
lack of willpower!
You’ll learn about the role of the brain’s “motivation kill
switch,” the habenula, and get practical tools for working
with your brain instead of against it.
Whether you struggle with all-or-nothing thinking, motivation loss,
or the weight of past failures, this episode is packed with
actionable strategies to help you break the cycle and create
lasting change.
Time Stamps:
05:35 Learned Helplessness Misunderstood
06:49 "Learned Helplessness in Elephants"
12:30 Addiction Swap Ineffectiveness
15:40 Status and Ego on the Leaderboard
18:07 "SMART Goals and Workplace Deception"
21:07 Marginal Gains in Elite Sports
24:05 "Rethinking Failure in Goal Setting"
28:32 Understanding Brain Patterns and Negativity
33:07 Adapting and Iterating with AI
35:33 Idea Generation & Iteration Tool
38:11 Introducing Change Through Friction & Spice
41:23 Keys to Iterative Success
https://drkhirabobinet.com