Welcome back to the Unf*ck Your Money Show with Nadine Zumot!

How do we leverage our neurocircuitry to create meaningful and long lasting changes to our financial realities?
In this episode, my guest, Behavioral Neuroscientist Dr Val Rytova and I dive into the fascinating intersection of money, trauma, and neuroscience. We explore how financial environments, trauma, and scarcity shape brain chemistry, nervous system responses, and even DNA through epigenetics. The conversation uncovers the neuroscience behind shame, fear of failure, and goal setting, offering actionable insights on how neuroplasticity can help rewire the brain for abundance and financial success. Whether you’re dealing with financial setbacks, money shame, or want to optimize your mindset, this episode provides tools to reorient toward positivity and growth at any age.

Key Takeaways

• Financial environments and trauma impact brain chemistry and DNA, but neuroplasticity allows us to rewire these patterns.
• Shame around money—whether from scarcity, debt, or wealth—has deep roots in the brain but can be transformed using neuroscience tools.
• Setting neuroscience-backed financial goals can make achieving them easier and more sustainable.
• Focusing on positivity, glimmers, and abundance rewires the brain for resilience and growth after setbacks.
• Neuroplasticity is possible at any age, and small, intentional practices support lifelong healing and transformation.

Keywords

epigenetics, neuroplasticity, moneyshame, scarcitymindset, nervoussystemhealing, traumahealing, brainchemistry, financialgoals, abundancemindset, nervoussystemresilience

Connect with Dr Val:

Dr. Val Rytova is a neuroscientist specialising in behavioural neuroscience, with expertise in brain mechanisms related to anxiety and social behaviour. She has a PhD focusing on these areas and is dedicated to promoting brain health and well-being. Her work often explores how lifestyle changes, such as yoga and meditation, can positively impact brain function and overall mental health. On top of this, she's also an amazing kite surfer!

Her mission is to bring Neuroscience out of the lab to the people. Aside from that she's also a mother and an avid kitesurfer.

www.drvalrytova.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/love_of_brain/

⭐️Check out my 1:1 Money Magic Mentorship Program here.
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