The Mindful Hustle
The Mindful Hustle is the podcast for high-achieving entrepreneurs ready to scale their business by mastering their mindset, identity, and energy. Hosted by Donnie, each episode features raw, insightful conversations that explore the inner world behind outer success. If you’re driven, growth-minded, and ready to become the version of yourself who effortlessly attracts results—this is your space.
The Mindful Hustle
Episode 26 – Why Your Brain Keeps You Stuck My Conversation with Loretta Breuning on Dopamine
What if your self-doubt, procrastination, or craving for validation isn’t a flaw—but a survival mechanism wired into your brain?
In Episode 26 of *The Mindful Hustle*, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Loretta Breuning Ph.D.—founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of *Habits of a Happy Brain*. This conversation blew me away. Loretta breaks down the *real* science behind the emotional rollercoasters we ride daily—and reveals how we can actually retrain our brains to feel good, grounded, and in control.
We dive deep into how our limbic brain is still wired for a tribal, scarcity-based world, where everything from social comparison to fear-based leadership once served a purpose. But in today’s world, those ancient habits are keeping us anxious, overworked, and disconnected from joy.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The 4 key “happy chemicals” and how to build habits that activate them
How your brain’s *inner mammal* is sabotaging your growth (and how to tame it)
Why “bad” feelings like jealousy or anxiety are normal—and how to move through them
The myth of constantly feeling good—and what true emotional management looks like
Real, practical tools to rewire your thought patterns and reclaim your peace
Loretta’s wisdom is science-backed, refreshingly honest, and filled with “aha” moments that will help you understand *why* you do what you do—and how to change it.
If you're a conscious entrepreneur, coach, or high performer constantly striving for more—but secretly burning out or battling imposter syndrome—this episode is your roadmap to sustainable emotional freedom.
Her approach isn’t about “positive vibes only.” It’s about understanding the primitive brain you’re working with so you can stop judging yourself and start building better, soul-aligned habits.