Episodes
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This week we have our friend Cassidy Daniels on the pod, and we are so excited for you to hear this one.
Cassidy is an incredible singer-songwriter who you may recognize from Dutton Ranch, where she performed her song “Heartshaped Necklace.” We talk about that experience, the power of music placement, and what it’s been like watching her career grow.
In this episode, we get into:
Cassidy’s childhood and growing up in a military family
ADHD and how music became her outlet
Why songwriting became her superpower
Moving to Nashville at 16
Meeting Liz Rose and learning the craft of songwriting
Trusting your gut and following intuition
The reality behind “overnight success”
Comparison, body image, and the pressure of Nashville
Her experience on The Road
Staying true to your own sound
Cassidy is the kind of artist who reminds you why storytelling matters. Her music is honest, emotional, and completely her own — and this conversation is such a beautiful look into the journey behind it.
Make sure you follow Cassidy Daniels, check out “Heartshaped Necklace,” and keep an eye out for her upcoming music.
🎙 Hosted by Ellis Melillo & Dr. Robert Melillo
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After a little break, we’re back — and this week we’re talking about the connection between movement, mental health, brain development, and overall wellness.
In this episode, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo discuss why physical activity is so important for the brain, especially in childhood, and how the rise of digital technology and sedentary lifestyles may be connected to changes in cognitive scores, social development, obesity, diabetes, anxiety, and depression.
We get into:
Why movement is foundational for brain developmentHow physical fitness impacts mental healthThe connection between screens, sedentary behavior, and childhood healthWhy kids need outdoor play, sports, and physical challengesThe return of the Presidential Fitness TestHow exercise can improve anxiety, mood, and emotional regulationEllis’s experience doing 75 HardWhy building healthy habits young can shape adulthoodThis episode is not about judgment — it’s about awareness.
Movement matters.
Exercise matters.
And taking care of your body can deeply impact your brain.Welcome back. We missed you 🤍
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode, we’re talking about pathological demand avoidance and task avoidance — what they look like, why they get confused, and what may actually be happening in the brain.
A lot of people use these terms interchangeably, but they are not always the same thing.
We get into:
What pathological demand avoidance (PDA) means
How it overlaps with autism
How task avoidance can look similar but come from something very different
The difference between right-brain dominant and left-brain dominant patterns
How OCD can drive these behaviors in completely different ways
Why asking someone to do something can trigger panic, rage, or shutdown
Why this is so often misunderstood by parents, teachers, and even professionals
We also talk about:
Why simple things can feel way more overwhelming than they “should”
The hidden mental spiral behind procrastination and avoidance
Why some people avoid tasks because of fear, overwhelm, or criticism
Why others react aggressively when interrupted or redirected
Why understanding the brain matters so much if you actually want to help
This episode is especially for:
parents dealing with extreme resistance in their kids
people who struggle with task avoidance themselves
anyone trying to better understand PDA, OCD, autism, and emotional regulation
As always, the goal is not just to label behaviors — it’s to understand them.
If this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs it.
#PathologicalDemandAvoidance #PDA #TaskAvoidance #Autism #OCD #ADHD #Neurodivergent #Parenting #MentalHealth
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In this episode, we’re talking about something so many people struggle with but don’t fully understand: Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD).
If you’ve ever:
Taken criticism really hardFelt like one comment ruined your entire weekConstantly worried people are mad at youNeeded reassurance in relationshipsFelt like rejection hits you way deeper than others…this episode is for you.
We break down:
What rejection sensitivity dysphoria actually isWhy it’s often misunderstood (and mislabeled as ADHD)The brain science behind why rejection can feel so intenseHow this connects to anxiety, empathy, and attachment stylesWhy right-brain dominant, creative people feel this the mostThe link between rejection, shame, and fear of abandonmentWhy performers and artists often struggle with this deeplyWe also get personal and talk about:
Middle school rejection and how it sticks with youPeople pleasing and anxious attachmentBeing hyper-aware of others’ emotionsWhy some people “don’t care”… and others feel everythingThis conversation is emotional, validating, and honestly healing — especially if you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive.”
You’re not crazy. There’s a reason your brain works this way.
If this resonates, send this episode to a friend who needs to hear it 🤍
#RejectionSensitivity #RSD #ADHD #MentalHealth #Empath #Anxiety #Overthinking #AttachmentStyles -
This week we have our friend Sydnee Washington on the pod, and this episode is everything we hoped it would be: hilarious, honest, chaotic, vulnerable, and completely unforgettable.
Sydnee is currently on tour with her show My Black Barbie Story, and while she was in Nashville, we got to sit down and talk about everything from childhood and comedy to anxiety, stage fright, people pleasing, and learning how to finally be yourself.
In this episode, we talk about:
Sydnee’s childhood and what she was like as a kid
Growing up with older caregivers and feeling different
Learning struggles, embarrassment, and being hyper-aware
How comedy became an outlet
Anxiety, stage fright, and self-doubt
People pleasing and anxious attachment
Why the funniest people are often the most sensitive
Her one-of-a-kind storytelling style
The truth behind My Black Barbie Story
Sydnee is one of the funniest people we know, but what makes this conversation so special is how open she is. She shares her story in a way that is both deeply real and unbelievably funny — and we know so many of you are going to relate to her honesty.
If you love comedy, storytelling, and conversations about how creative minds actually work, this episode is for you.
Make sure you check out Sydnee Washington on tour and follow along with My Black Barbie Story.
#SydneeWashington #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #Anxiety #Storytelling #MentalHealth #CreativeBrains
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Welcome back to The Write Brain podcast.
With Autism Awareness Month approaching in April — and World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd — we wanted to create an episode that gives a clear, big-picture understanding of autism and neurodivergence.
There is so much confusion around autism today.
This episode is about simplifying it.Dr. Robert Melillo shares decades of clinical experience and neuroscience research to explain:
• What autism actually is (from a brain-based perspective)
• The role of the right brain vs left brain
• Why autism exists on a spectrum
• What “neurodivergence” really means
• Why autism may be increasing
• Common misconceptions about diagnosis and development
• How understanding the brain can change outcomesInstead of focusing on labels, this conversation focuses on function, development, and possibility.
Whether you’re a parent, someone on the spectrum, or just trying to understand the topic better — this episode is meant to bring clarity to something that is often misunderstood.
📍 Live Lecture – New York City (March 31st)
Dr. Melillo will be hosting a live lecture focused on autism, brain development, and treatment approaches.Two sessions available:
• 11:00 AM
• 6:30/7:00 PMFor more details, visit: www.drrobertmelillo.com
We’ll be doing more episodes like this — diving deeper into autism, neurodivergence, and the brain.
If this episode helped you, share it with someone who needs it.
🎙 Hosted by Ellis Melillo & Dr. Robert Melillo
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In this episode, we sit down with country artist Sadie Bass to talk about her new single “F You, I’m ADHD” — and the deeper reality behind what ADHD actually feels like.
This conversation goes way beyond the label.
We get into:
• The difference between ADD vs ADHD (and why it matters)
• Right brain vs left brain — and how it affects learning & creativity
• Why ADHD isn’t really an “attention deficit”
• Growing up with ADHD and navigating school
• The connection between creativity, empathy, and anxiety
• Stage fright, overthinking, and performing under pressure
• Depression, brain chemistry, and finding what works for you
• Misophonia (why certain sounds can trigger intense reactions)
• Why so many artists struggle with mental healthSadie also shares her personal journey — from writing songs as a kid to building a career in music — and how being different actually became her biggest strength.
This episode is honest, funny, and incredibly relatable — especially if you’ve ever felt like your brain just works… differently.
If you’ve ever:
Overthought everything
Felt overwhelmed by your own mind
Struggled with focus, anxiety, or emotions
You’re not alone.
And you might just be wired for something special.
🎙 Hosted by Ellis Melillo & Dr. Robert Melillo
🎧 Listen to Sadie Bass’s new single: “F You, I’m ADHD”
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In this episode we talk about a growing concern researchers are starting to notice around the world:
For the first time in recorded history, a generation may be declining on certain cognitive measures compared to their parents.
Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath has pointed to a surprising factor — the widespread introduction of digital technology in schools and childhood development.
So what’s actually happening to our brains?
Dr. Robert Melillo and Ellis break down:
• Why Gen Z may be struggling with attention, memory, and learning
• The impact of screens and digital technology on brain development
• Why humans are wired to learn from other humans
• The connection between technology and the “dating recession”
• How social media may be affecting confidence and relationships
• The role of the right brain in imagination, creativity, and social connection
• Why kids need movement, play, and real-world interactionWe’re not here to criticize Gen Z — in fact, many young people are incredibly creative and innovative.
But this episode explores an important question:
What happens when technology replaces imagination, movement, and human interaction?
And more importantly:
How can we fix it?
Sometimes the answer might be simpler than we think:
Go outside. Talk to people. Get bored. Use your imagination. -
In this episode of The Write Brain Podcast, we dive into one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in autism:
What if non-speaking autistic individuals understand everything?
Dr. Robert Melillo shares 35 years of neuroscience research and clinical experience working with children and adults on the autism spectrum — including those who have never spoken a word.
We discuss:
• What is actually preventing some autistic individuals from speaking
• The role of the right brain and interoception
• Why many non-speaking individuals may be exceptionally gifted
• The controversy around spelling and letter boards
• What research says about motor control vs. language ability
• Why we must “assume competence”
• Powerful real stories from familiesMany of the individuals discussed in this episode have demonstrated advanced reading levels, deep emotional intelligence, and profound insight — despite being previously labeled “low functioning.”
Could it be that we’ve misunderstood the autistic brain?
This episode is about awareness, compassion, neuroscience, and giving a voice to those who have one inside — but struggle to express it outwardly.
If you know someone with autism, especially a non-speaking individual, please share this episode.
April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day.
For more information about Dr. Melillo’s upcoming lecture in New York City, visit his Instagram: @DrRobertMelillo or drmillo.comAssume competence.
Presume intelligence.
Lead with respect. -
This episode starts with a birthday month conversation… and somehow ends with chromosome 7, universal consciousness, autism, astral projection, and mushroom chocolate.
We’re diving into something that sounds “woo” — but may actually have scientific grounding.
In this episode, we explore:
• Published research on a potential “psychic gene”
• The role of chromosome 7 in intuitive abilities
• Whether psychic ability could function like a biological sense
• Right brain vs left brain differences in intuition
• Autism, hyperconnectivity, and telepathic claims
• The theory of universal consciousness (and what physics says about it)
• Dreams, premonitions, and altered statesIs psychic ability genetic?
Are intuitive people neurologically different?
Is consciousness produced by the brain — or accessed through it?We’re not telling you what to believe.
We’re inviting you to think bigger.Open your mind.
Question everything.
And maybe don’t eat the chocolate in someone else’s cabinet.🎙 Welcome back to The Write Brain podcast.
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Abby Anderson joins The Write Brain podcast for a raw, honest conversation about creativity, anxiety, control, and what it really means to be gifted.
In this episode, Abby opens up about:
Growing up feeling “too sensitive”
Why creative people struggle with anxiety and self-doubt
The neuroscience behind right-brain dominance
How control and perfectionism can turn into coping behaviors
Her experience navigating the music industry at 19
Why artists often crash emotionally after shows
Turning pain into purpose through songwriting
Learning that nothing was “wrong” with her — her brain just works differently
This episode blends real-life vulnerability with brain science, offering language and understanding for creatives who’ve always felt deeply but never knew why.
If you’re an artist, songwriter, or someone who’s ever thought “why am I like this?” — this conversation will make you feel seen.
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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 memory
Why some people remember feelings but not details
How trauma and stress affect memory
Why forgetting can actually be a strength
The connection between creativity, anxiety, and memory loss
Why most people who think they’re “losing their memory” actually aren’t
How memory relates to identity, learning disabilities, and ADHD
Practical ways to improve memory and protect your brain long-term
If 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.
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In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, we sit down with Stephen Astephen, founder of The Familie, a sports and music management agency, to talk about right brain entrepreneurship, dyslexia, insecurity, and vision.
Steve shares his story — struggling in school, growing up with instability, never graduating high school, and being labeled “bad at academics” — and how those same traits became the foundation for building multiple groundbreaking businesses.
This conversation explores:
Why so many entrepreneurs are right-brain dominantDyslexia, attention issues, and struggling in traditional school systemsHow insecurity and anxiety can become fuel instead of failureSeeing a vision before it exists — and building it anywayManifestation as identity, not wishful thinkingLeadership, empathy, and managing creatives, athletes, and artistsMental health, depression, and the emotional weight of responsibilitySteve opens up about building the first snowboard shop of its kind, becoming the first agent in action sports, helping build one of the largest sports agencies in the world, and why he ultimately chose to relaunch The Family on his own terms.
This is a raw, honest conversation about work ethic, vision, failure, mental health, and what it really means to be right-brain wired in a world built for left-brain systems.
If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t fit in school, didn’t think the traditional path was for you, or knew you were meant to build something different — this episode is for you.
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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 dominant
The difference between hoping for the future and seeing it already happened
Identity, backward visualization, and the law of assumption
How fear, anxiety, and overthinking block creativity — and how certainty changes everything
Why kids (and adults) who feel “different” are often wired for something bigger
This 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.
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This week on The Write Brain, we sit down with for a real, unfiltered conversation about creativity, childhood, and what it means to be honest in your work.
We talk about growing up, school, family dynamics, and the early signs of feeling different — long before there was language for it. The conversation naturally moves into creativity as a place of refuge, songwriting as truth-telling, and the complicated relationship between vulnerability, shame, and connection.
we open up about the creative process, the emotional cost of honesty, and how writing songs has changed over time — especially in environments where collaboration, expectations, and success can blur the original reason you started.
This isn’t a how-to or a highlight reel. It’s a conversation about being human, staying present with discomfort, and letting the work say what you can’t always explain.
Toward the end, we ask a question we always come back to on The Write Brain: what would you say to your younger self — or to a younger creative who’s struggling in the same ways you once did?
Thanks for being here.
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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 -
This might be one of the most vulnerable episodes we’ve ever done.
Today on The Write Brain podcast, we sit down with actor Johnathon Schaech to talk about dyslexia, shame, Hollywood, sexual abuse, addiction, and what real healing has looked like for him.
Johnathon opens up about growing up as a creative, right-brained kid in Baltimore, excelling in art, dance, and sports while secretly struggling in school. He shares how he went from drawing and “breaking” to booking a Franco Zeffirelli film in his early 20s… and then reveals what really happened behind the scenes during that movie — including the night Zeffirelli came into his room.
For years, Johnathon didn’t have language for what happened to him. It wasn’t until the Me Too movement — and reading Rose McGowan’s story — that he realized he was a survivor of the same thing. He talks about how that one minute of his life shaped decades of shame, self-destruction, substance abuse, and sabotaged opportunities… and how EMDR, brain-based work, and 12-step recovery helped him finally get free.
⚠️ Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual abuse, trauma, addiction, and self-destructive behavior. Please take care of yourself while listening.
In this episode, we talk about:
Johnathon’s childhood as a creative right-brain kid
Dyslexia, remedial classes & the shame of “feeling stupid”
Creating games, drawing, dancing, and discovering acting
The wild path from Baltimore to Wilhelmina Models to LA
Landing a Franco Zeffirelli film — and the casting story behind it
The night Zeffirelli came into his room and how it changed everything
Dissociation, the freeze response, and how trauma lives in the brain
How shame drove addiction, bar fights, and self-sabotage in Hollywood
Losing a huge role opposite Meryl Streep because of drinking
Getting sober, finding AA, and learning he’s not “broken,” he’s an addict
EMDR, brain-spotting & making the unconscious conscious
How healing trauma changed his acting, relationships, and self-worth
Finally working shame-free on his TV series Blue Ridge
Advice to survivors: it wasn’t your fault, and you’re not alone
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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.
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What is consciousness, really — and how does your brain build your reality?
In this episode of The Write Brain podcast, Ellis and Dr. Robert Melillo dive into the trippy but practical side of consciousness: how your brain stitches together sight, sound, memory, and emotion into a “movie” of your life… and what happens when that timing gets thrown off (anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, false memories, and more).
They get into gamma waves (40 Hz), quantum entanglement, parallel realities, why two people can remember the same moment totally differently, and how brain timing tools like the Interactive Metronome can actually help rebalance perception.
All of that… plus Jackie’s pastries and Ellis’s croissant cravings as B-plot. 🥐
In this episode, we talk about:
What consciousness actually is (and why it’s the #1 question in neuroscience)How the brain “binds” sight, sound, memory, and emotion into one realityWhy your brain is really a reality emulatorHow timing issues between the hemispheres can warp perceptionFalse memories, paranoia & “filling in the blanks”Quantum entanglement & the idea of a collective consciousnessHow tools like Interactive Metronome help sync the brain’s timingWhy big life changes (moving cities, quitting drinking) can feel like “timeline jumps”Timestamps
00:00 Intro, fasting, pastries & live audience energy
02:30 What is consciousness? Self-awareness & subjective experience
06:30 The “binding problem”: how the brain turns fragments into a single reality
10:30 40 Hz gamma waves & the brain as a reality emulator
14:30 When reality in your head doesn’t match the outside world
19:30 False memories & the left brain “filling in” stories
23:30 Right-brain big-picture paranoia (texts, tone, overthinking)
27:30 Quantum entanglement & universal/collective consciousness
33:00 Timelines, “quantum leaping” & changing your reality
38:00 Interactive Metronome, timing, and balancing the hemispheres
42:30 Wrap-up: how all of this connects back to mental health -
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 learn
High 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 experiments
Run 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 mentioned
Disconnected Kids (chapter on sound & color) – Dr. Robert MelilloBrain-balance music concepts & left/right-leaning playlists (Ellis’s notes) - Show more
