Bridging

#104 Özlem Ôzkan: Why You Doubt Yourself | The Neuroscience of Self-Trust

In this short solo episode, Özlem explores why struggling with self-trust has nothing to do with confidence, strength, or personality.She explains how self-doubt and the inner critic are often learned patterns rooted in the brain’s survival wiring. When we grow up in environments where mistakes felt unsafe or approval felt conditional, the nervous system learns to stay alert, cautious, and self-monitoring.Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience, Özlem shows how self-trust is not built through logic or achievement, but through safety. When the nervous system feels regulated, the inner critic softens and self-trust becomes steadier and more natural.This episode is an invitation to understand self-doubt with compassion and to begin rebuilding trust with yourself, one small moment at a time.In this episode, you will learn about• Why self-doubt is often a learned neural pattern• How the inner critic develops as a protective mechanism• What happens in the brain under stress and uncertainty• Why success does not automatically create self-trust• How safety, not certainty, rebuilds trust in yourself• Small daily practices that help the nervous system update🎙️ Host: Özlem Özkan✧ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozkanozlem/✧ Website: www.ozkanozlem.com✧ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozlemozkan/

#103 Özlem Özkan: CHILDREN need SAFETY before succes

In this short solo episode, Özlem speaks to parents who want to support their children during exams and school pressure while protecting their confidence and emotional wellbeing.She explains why learning is not only about intelligence or discipline, but about nervous system safety. When a child feels safe, the brain can focus, remember, and stay curious. When a child feels pressured or afraid of failure, learning becomes much harder.Drawing from neuroscience and her experience as an educator, Özlem invites parents to shift from pressure to presence and to support their children in a way that builds trust, resilience, and confidence over time. In this episode, you will learn about• Why emotional safety supports learning• How pressure interferes with focus and memory• The difference between support and pressure• Simple ways to help your child feel safe during exams 🎙️ Host: Özlem Özkan✧ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozkanozlem/✧ Website: www.ozkanozlem.com✧ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozlemozkan/ 

#102 Özlem Özkan: Why Your Smile Matters

In this short solo episode, Özlem reflects on the quiet power of a simple smile and how small, unintentional gestures can create unseen ripples in the lives of others. This episode is a reminder that kindness is contagious, that presence matters and that even when you don’t know it, your way of being can soften someone else’s day. A gentle invitation to smile, for yourself and for the people you may never realize you’re helping. 🎙️ Host: Özlem Özkan ✧ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozkanozlem/ ✧ Website: www.ozkanozlem.com ✧ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozlemozkan/

#101 Özlem Özkan: Why Your Body Says No Before You Do

In this short episode, Özlem explores why your body often says “no” long before your mouth does — and how ignoring your limits slowly disconnects you from yourself. She explains why saying yes can feel safer than saying no, how this pattern forms in the nervous system, and why physical pain or exhaustion can become the body’s final attempt to get your attention. Through science, psychology, and lived experience, Özlem guides you toward understanding boundaries not as rejection, but as regulation and self-respect. This is a solo episode inviting you to pause, feel your own capacity, and give yourself permission to choose what is true — gently, clearly, and without shame. In this episode, you will learn about: • Why saying yes feels safer than saying no • How overgiving becomes a nervous system habit • What happens in the body when you override your limits • Why resentment is a physical signal, not a character flaw • Two simple practices to create honest, grounded boundaries 🎙️ Host: Özlem Özkan ✧ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozkanozlem/ ✧ Website: www.ozkanozlem.com ✧ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozlemozkan/

#100 Özlem Özkan: Why CHEAP DOPAMINE Drains You

In this short episode, Özlem explores the difference between cheap dopamine and meaningful dopamine, and how these habits shape your energy and wellbeing. She explains why quick hits leave you empty, while intentional choices create real strength and clarity. With simple examples from daily life, Özlem shows how to shift from instant gratification to actions that nourish you. This is a solo episode inviting you to observe your habits with compassion and choose what supports the person you want to become. In this episode, you will learn about: • The difference between cheap dopamine and meaningful dopamine • Why quick pleasure often leads to emptiness • Everyday habits that drain your energy • How intentional choices build presence and confidence • Practical ways to shift toward long-term wellbeing 🎙️ Host: Özlem Özkan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozkanozlem/ Website: www.ozkanozlem.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozlemozkan/