Happy & Healthy with Amy

Why Your Worst Habits Make Complete Sense with Dr. Howie Jacobson (Part 2 of 2)

• Amy Lang • Season 2 • Episode 35

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0:00 | 42:22

Have you ever been halfway through a bag of chips — or a carton of ice cream — before you even realized what happened?

You weren't hungry. You weren't even enjoying it. You were triggered. And by the time your brain caught up, the moment had already passed.

In Part 2 of this conversation, behavior change expert Dr. Howie Jacobson gets into the deeper work — what shame does to your body, why your strongest reactions are actually huge opportunities for growth, and how to build the kind of self-awareness that gets you out of react mode and into respond mode before the damage is done.

We also talk about something that doesn't get nearly enough airtime in the health and wellness space: coherence. Dr. Howie makes the case that understanding why your behavior makes sense — even the behavior you're most ashamed of — is one of the most powerful things you can do for lasting change. And for those of us who carry fear about Alzheimer's, that reframe matters more than you might realize.

If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, start there — this conversation builds directly on it.

In this episode, Amy and Dr. Howie discuss:

  • Why shame is biologically inhibitory — and what to do instead
  • How coherence can erase shame and restore your sense of agency
  • What a disproportionate reaction is actually telling you
  • The RISE Method: a four-step framework for moving from reaction to response
  • How to recognize you've been triggered before it's too late
  • Why brittle beliefs are easy to shatter — and what builds real self-trust
  • The one idea Dr. Howie wants you to carry forward from this entire conversation

Listen if:

  • You feel like your reactions are running the show — and you want that to change
  • You carry shame around habits you haven't been able to break
  • You're in perimenopause or menopause and working to protect your brain
  • You have a family history of Alzheimer's and want to understand why behavior change feels so hard
  • You're ready to move beyond insight and into actual transformation

This is Part 2 of 2.

Resources:

  • 🧠 Take the "Is It Just Brain Fog?" Quiz: moxie-club.com
  • 📖 The Buoyant Leader by Dr. Howie Jacobson — available mid-April 2026
  • 🌐 Learn more about Dr. Howie Jacobson: howiejacobson.com
  • 📻 Dr. Howie's podcast: Plant Yourself — plantyourself.com

About Amy Lang Amy Lang is a Master Health Coach and Brain Health Specialist helping women protect their brains through the menopause transition — with Alzheimer's prevention at the heart of everything she does. She's the author of Thoughts Are Habits Too, founder of the Second Spring Society, and creator of the RESTORED Protocol.

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