HOW CHRONIC STRESS REWIRES THE BRAIN (AND HOW TO REVERSE IT) | Dr. Dave Rabin - E146

About this episode

Kristin Weitzel interviews Dr. David Rabin about the impact of chronic stress on the brain and methods to retrain the nervous system for resilience.

Kristin sits down with Apollo Neuro co-founder, Dr. David Rabin, as they dive deep into the science of safety, nervous system regulation, and the future of trauma healing. From PTSD and fear learning to wearable technology that helps the body shift out of fight-or-flight in real time, this conversation explores how stress reshapes the brain—and how we can retrain the nervous system toward resilience. Dr. Rabin breaks down the connection between vagus nerve activity, heart rate variability, sleep, emotional regulation, and psychedelic-assisted therapy in a way that feels practical, grounded, and deeply human. The discussion also touches on elite athletic performance, trauma integration, meditation, ketamine and MDMA-assisted therapy, and why true healing starts with restoring a sense of safety in the body. Through powerful personal stories, cutting-edge neuroscience, and actionable tools, this episode reveals how technology, breath, and awareness can work together to help us feel calm, present, connected, and fully alive again. KEY TAKEAWAYS: • How does fear learning shape trauma responses, and can the nervous system truly be retrained for safety? • What role do vagus nerve…

People in this episode

Host: Kristin Weitzel

Guest: Dr. David Rabin

Topics covered

• chronic stress
• nervous system regulation
• trauma healing
• vagus nerve
• wearable technology
• psychedelic therapy
• emotional regulation

Keywords

• chronic stress
• nervous system
• trauma
• vagus nerve
• heart rate variability
• psychedelic therapy
• breathwork

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Apollo Neuro

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