This podcast episode explores the intricate relationship between learned behaviors, animal cognition, and human mental health, highlighting how habitual coping mechanisms, like procrastination and smartphone reliance, can negatively impact well-being. With a personal touch, the speaker shares his journey as a father, illustrating the importance of shaping mental fitness and self-confidence in children. He discusses the challenges posed by technology and stressful events that drain mental resilience, urging the need for self-reflection and open dialogue about mental health. Ultimately, the episode offers hope by emphasizing the brain's capacity to change and the potential to unlearn harmful habits through self-awareness and new strategies.