Ep 76: Your Second Brain: How Gut Health Shapes Focus, Mood, and Executive Function (ft. Dr. Anastasia Galanopolous

Today’s episode is a fascinating look at the connection between our guts and our brains. This powerful two-way communication between our digestive system and our mind influences everything from mood and sleep to focus and decision-making. My guest is Dr. Anastasia Galanopoulos, is a developmental psychologist and parent coach who is passionate about teaching people about how our gut health shapes our mental health and executive functioning. Anastasia’s interest in this field began with her own health struggles - experiences that led her to connect the dots between nutrition, stress, and brain function in both children and adults. In our conversation, we talk about the science of the gut-brain connection (I have to admit, it sounds pretty unbelievable to me but it’s a thing people, it’s a thing), how to recognize signs that your microbiome might be out of balance, and what kinds of foods and daily habits can help restore it - including fermented foods, plant-rich meals, and stress management. Thanks for tuning in! Here are the show notes from today’s episode: Learn More about Dr. Anastasia Galanopoulos Learn More about the Gut-Brain Connection Resource Sheet Shared by Dr. Galanopoulos Gut-Brain Connection: Microbiome, Gut Barrier, and Environmental Sensors The gut-brain connection: What the science says Recipes Easy-to-make kimchi by Maangchi Fermented Hot Sauce The Simple Guide to Kickass Kombucha Fermented Pickles Learn More About Our MAP Program Learn More About 1:1 Coaching Get in Touch podcast@beyondbooksmart.com Instagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching

You can listen to Ep 76: Your Second Brain: How Gut Health Shapes Focus, Mood, and Executive Function (ft. Dr. Anastasia Galanopolous online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Ep 76: Your Second Brain: How Gut Health Shapes Focus, Mood, and Executive Function (ft. Dr. Anastasia Galanopolous is an episode from Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast by Tricia Butler.

This episode is 43:06 long.

This episode was published on Nov 12, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.