A conversation with Dr Lara Boyd - Harnessing Neuroplasticity & Mastering Change in Uncertain Times

A conversation with Dr Lara Boyd - Harnessing Neuroplasticity & Mastering Change in Uncertain Times

From Don't Quit on Me by Nick C

March 20, 2026 · 52 min · Season 3 · Episode 2

About this episode

Dr Lara Boyd discusses the brain's capacity for change and the importance of behaviour in achieving lasting transformation.

"The brain is always capable of change ... behaviour is the price of admission." How much can the brain really change - and what does it take to make that change last? In this episode, Dr Lara Boyd shares her winding journey from sport and physical therapy into neuroscience, sparked by a deep fascination with how the brain adapts through learning and recovers after damage. Along the way, she unpacks how advances like MRI and brain stimulation helped overturn the old idea that the brain is "hardwired," revealing instead a lifelong capacity for functional, chemical, and structural change. We explore why change is still possible at any age, but often requires more effort later in life, especially when it involves unlearning long‑held habits. A key message runs through the conversation: behaviour is the true driver of brain change , and there's no shortcut or pill that can replace it. Sleep, movement, and how we spend our attention matter more than we think, also breaks down how exercise supports learning by boosting brain‑derived neurotrophic factor and lowering cortisol, a stress hormone that can block learning and damage health when chronically elevated. We discuss device…

People in this episode

Host: Nick C

Guest: Dr Lara Boyd

Topics covered

  • neuroplasticity
  • brain change
  • mental health
  • exercise and learning
  • stress management
  • behaviour change

Keywords

  • neuroplasticity
  • brain health
  • exercise
  • stress
  • learning
  • behaviour change
  • meditation

More episodes of Don't Quit on Me

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Don't Quit on Me podcast page.