The Write Brain

In this episode, we’re talking about red light therapy, lasers, brain stimulation, autism research, and why it matters so much to understand how these tools are actually being used.Dr. Robert Melillo discusses research from his lab involving low-level laser therapy and autism, and explains why tools like red light, infrared light, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and other forms of brain-based therapy can be powerful — but only when used correctly.We get into:What red light therapy and laser therapy actually areHow light can affect the brainThe difference between using lasers on the body vs. the brainWhy brain imbalances matterHow the wrong type of stimulation can make symptoms worseAutism, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and right brain/left brain differencesWhy one-size-fits-all biohacking advice can be misleadingHow to think critically about health advice on Instagram and TikTokThis episode is all about clarity.There are amazing tools out there that can truly help people — but the tool itself is not the magic bullet. The key is knowing who you’re treating, what part of the brain is involved, and how to use the tool properly.As always, the goal is not fear — it’s understanding.🎙 Hosted by Ellis Melillo & Dr. Robert Melillo

Memory isn’t what most people think it is.In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, Ellis and her dad dive into how memory actually works — and why so many creative, right-brained people feel like they “don’t remember anything.”We talk about:The difference between right brain and left brain memoryWhy some people remember feelings but not detailsHow trauma and stress affect memoryWhy forgetting can actually be a strengthThe connection between creativity, anxiety, and memory lossWhy most people who think they’re “losing their memory” actually aren’tHow memory relates to identity, learning disabilities, and ADHDPractical ways to improve memory and protect your brain long-termIf you’ve ever felt embarrassed because you can’t remember names, dates, or events — but you can remember emotions, songs, or moments — this episode is for you.

In this first episode of the year, we’re talking about manifestation, identity, and the right brain way of creating a life.We dive into why so many creatives, entrepreneurs, and big-picture thinkers struggled in traditional school systems — and how those same traits often become their greatest strengths later on. From dyslexia and daydreaming to questioning authority and creating something out of nothing, this conversation reframes what “success” actually looks like.We talk about:Why entrepreneurs are often deeply right-brain dominantThe difference between hoping for the future and seeing it already happenedIdentity, backward visualization, and the law of assumptionHow fear, anxiety, and overthinking block creativity — and how certainty changes everythingWhy kids (and adults) who feel “different” are often wired for something biggerThis episode is part science, part lived experience, and part real-life conversation — including stories about music, performance anxiety, creativity, parenting, and what it means to trust the way your brain works.If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit the mold, struggled in school, or knew you were meant to create something that didn’t exist yet — this one’s for you.

In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, we sit down with Dallas Alexander — world-record-holding sniper, country music artist, and devoted father.Dallas opens up about his military career, losing his brother to cancer, and the unexpected healing he experienced through music and psilocybin. We explore PTSD, grief, right-brain healing, parenting in a digital age, and how creativity can help us process life’s hardest moments.This is a raw, honest conversation about masculinity, emotional intelligence, and finding peace after trauma.🎧 Topics include: • Life in special operations • Losing a sibling and processing grief • Psilocybin and right-brain healing • Music as therapy • Fatherhood, freedom, and raising resilient kids • Creativity, boredom, and imagination

We finally did it — after 50 episodes, we’re revealing The Right Brain Box. This is the kit we’ve spent years talking about, experimenting with, and using in real life… and now we’re putting it into one place so anyone can start balancing their brain at home.In this episode, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo walk through everything inside the new Right Brain Box (and the upcoming Left Brain Box): vibration tools, TENS units, visual stimulation glasses, essential oils, brain-specific vitamins, primitive reflex tools, smell integration, and even The Brain Driver.Whether you struggle with anxiety, shame, dyslexia, ADHD, gut issues, overthinking, sensory overwhelm, or mood swings—this episode explains why these tools work and how they fit into right- vs. left-brain dominance.In this episode, we cover:• Why we built the Right Brain Box after 50 episodes • What each tool does — vibration, TENS, smell, vision, vitamins & more • How right-brain dominance shows up (anxiety, dyslexia, shame, sensitivity) • How left-brain deficits affect mood, memory & development • Using sensory tools to activate one hemisphere and calm the other • Why couples should know their brain dominance before having kids (!?) • How gut issues, chronic stress & neurodevelopment are all connected • Early signs of imbalance—and what you can do at homeThe Right Brain Box Includes:• TouchPoint vibration tools • TENS unit for hemisphere-specific activation • Essential oils for smell-based stimulation • Left/Right brain vitamins & digestive support • Eyelights (visual stimulation) • Dry brush for primitive reflex work • The Brain Driver (top-down stimulation device)Why this matters:Most people struggle with symptoms—anxiety, mood swings, gut issues, focus problems—without ever realizing the root cause is an imbalance between the hemispheres. These tools are designed to help you balance your brain, support your nervous system, and improve emotional regulation at home.

Can sound actually balance your brain? In this episode, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo break down the science of sound: high vs. low frequencies, why one ear can stimulate the opposite hemisphere, bone-conduction hacks, and how music choice (yes, even Mozart vs. jazz) can shift mood, focus, anxiety, and reading/rhythm issues. We also share quick at-home tests and everyday listening tweaks you can try safely.What you’ll learnHigh vs. low frequency sound and which hemisphere they stimulateWhy listening in your right ear targets the left brain (and vice versa)Bone conduction vs. air conduction (and when bone wins)Dissonance vs. resonance: turning brain “noise” into flowMusic types that tend to be more left- or right-brain activatingEasy daily tweaks: one-ear listening, volume biasing, playlist swapsTimestamps 00:00 Cold open & dinner debrief (Nashville updates) 02:15 Sound ≈ frequency—how the brain “hears” waves 05:40 High vs. low notes: which side of the brain they hit 08:55 Bone conduction headphones 101 (why they help vertigo/reading) 12:20 Jazz, classical, sad songs & what they say about your wiring 16:45 DIY tests: the one-ear trick, volume bias, tuning forks 21:10 Anxiety triggers (honks, dryers) & the startle/Moro reflex 25:30 Building a smarter playlist for focus or calm 30:10 Quick recap & how to experiment safelyTry these quick experimentsRun with one earbud in your right ear for focus (left-brain boost).Swap to lower-frequency, slower music when you feel overstimulated.Test bone-conduction headphones if you struggle with motion/reading rhythm.Notice which genres soothe vs. spike your nervous system—keep notes for a week.Resources mentionedDisconnected Kids (chapter on sound & color) – Dr. Robert MelilloBrain-balance music concepts & left/right-leaning playlists (Ellis’s notes)

Ellis and Dr. Melillo go deep on COLOR & LIGHT—how different wavelengths (red/orange/yellow vs. blue/indigo/violet) nudge left/right brain networks, impact reading, focus, anxiety, and even motion sensitivity. We cover practical tools (tinted & hemifield lenses, flashing-light glasses) and why some lights (hello, flickery fluorescents) can make you feel off. Plus: what 40 Hz “gamma” is and why meditators love it, and where laser/photobiomodulation fits in—without the woo.What you’ll learnRight vs. left brain: why warm colors often lift left-brain functions; cool colors often lean right-brainIrlen-style tinting & hemifield tricks: when colored overlays/lenses help reading and trackingFlicker matters: why certain room lights spike anxiety or fatigue40 Hz basics: how rhythmic light can entrain brainwaves (pros/cons, safety notes)Photobiomodulation (laser/red light): what it is, what it isn’t, and where the science is headedEasy self-checks: color in your room/wardrobe, quick one-eye/half-field experiment, safer swaps you can try todayTry this (safe, simple)Swap one environment to earth/neutral or warmer tones for a week; note mood/focus.Reading issues? Test a colored overlay or tinted display (warm vs. cool) and see if line-skipping eases.Sensitive to lighting? Replace harsh fluorescents with full-spectrum, low-flicker bulbs.Quick visual-field check: briefly cover one eye and the inner half of the other while looking straight ahead—notice if calm/focus changes. If it does, you might benefit from targeted visual work.Curious about devices (tinted/flash glasses or light therapy)? Work with a qualified clinician—wrong settings can feel worse even if they’re not harmful.Chapters 00:00 Nashville dinner + setup 02:00 Color frequencies & brain networks 06:40 Irlen lenses, reading & eye tracking 12:50 Hemifields and mood/anxiety 19:40 Fluorescent flicker & sensitivity 24:30 40 Hz gamma & entrainment 29:50 Photobiomodulation (laser/red light) 40:30 What to try at home (safely) 44:50 Wrap & next episode teaserListen on: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • iHeartRadio • YouTube Follow: @thewritebrainpodcast | @ellismelillo | @drrobertmelillo Booking/partners: thewritebrainpodcast@gmail.comEducational only; not medical advice. If symptoms are significant or new, see a clinician.Hashtags: #RightBrain #ColorTherapy #Irlen #Photobiomodulation #BrainWaves #40Hz #ADHD #Anxiety #Reading #Wellness #Nashville

Ever felt the room spin, gotten car sick, or had that wobbly “boat” feeling out of nowhere? In this episode, we break down the three different kinds of dizziness — and why it matters. Vertigo, motion sickness, and lightheadedness come from different systems in the brain, and knowing which one you’re experiencing is the key to actually helping it.Ellis shares her Brain Driver routine + 68 days alcohol-free, while Dr. Melillo explains how the inner ear, neck, eyes, and brain work together to keep us balanced. We also talk color therapy, why some right-brain dominant creatives feel things more strongly, and simple ways to support your own system at home.What we cover:• Vertigo vs. dizziness vs. lightheadedness• Why the side you turn your head matters• Car + bed hacks to reduce motion sickness• The Brain Driver (and how Ellis uses it daily)• Right-brain sensitivity, empathy & overthinking• Why there’s no “one-time fix” — just balanceIf you’ve ever said:“I get dizzy in cars.”“The room spins when I lie down.”“My stomach drops when I stand up too fast.”…this episode is for you.