The Thinking Brain: Dr. Delia McCabe on Neuroplasticity, Nutrition, and the Neuroscience of Leadership

The brain is your most powerful strategic tool—if you know how to use it.

In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones talks with Dr. Delia McCabe—neuroscientist and expert in nutritional neuroscience—about how neuroplasticity, nutrition, and stress shape leaders’ ability to think, decide, and adapt. They dive deep into the biology of creativity, the traps of mental fatigue, and why the structure of your brain determines the structure of your strategy.

Dr. McCabe explains how chronic stress, poor sleep, and cognitive overload literally close down creativity—while the right nutrients, rest, and mental frameworks can rewire your brain for better decision-making. From “additive thinking” and uncertainty fatigue to the dangers of believing what you feel, this is a masterclass in how to think better, not just faster.

🔍 In this episode:

• How brain structure shapes creative thinking
• Why stress kills neuroplasticity and creativity
• The additive problem—and why leaders avoid subtraction
• Information overload and the myth of productivity
• How to build resilience to uncertainty
• Changing minds through emotion and safety
• The “feeling of knowing” and decision-making traps
• The delicate balance between human cognition and AI

🎧 Keywords: Neuroplasticity, brain health, leadership, neuroscience, cognitive load, uncertainty, stress, nutrition, decision-making, creativity, mental resilience, emotional intelligence, organisational change, AI and cognition

📘 Learn more about Dr. Delia McCabe:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-delia-mccabe/
Substack: https://deliamccabe.substack.com/

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🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast

📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/