Welcome to the BrainSMART Living Project
A place for conversation. A resource to help cut through the noise and help simplify. Created by two friends to explore the research, test ideas, & share trusted resources. Focussed on adapting to life's inevitable changes - both personal & the world at large.
Our Approach
Insights prioritized from three perspectives:
Modern science - what helps us test, understand & predict.
Ancient traditions - 1000's of years of natural experiments.
Individual experience - our N-of-1 life experiments.
Our Priorities
Brain-First Living
Protecting our brain to strengthen body, mind, mood & connection
BrainSmart Tactics
Rewiring & working with our brain to create lasting new habits & traits
Present Living
Preparing for the future while not allowing tomorrow to steal today
Your Engagement Options
Finding Your Path Forward
There is no single path that works for everyone. We share what we're learning to give you a useful place to start - then encourage you to question, explore, and personalize from there.
Choose what works for you:
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Explore on your own: Browse our blog, Playbooks, and favorite resources for ideas worth investigating.
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Continue the conversation with friends and family: Share a Playbook or resource links as a starting point for discussing what might fit your lives.
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Explore with your favorite AI: Drop in a PDF set of notes from our Playbooks or an article link, or an idea and ask how it might - or might not - apply to your circumstances, needs, and priorities.
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Join the public conversation: Share questions, experiences, and perspectives in blog comments and future conversation groups.
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Connect with us privately: Email us (connect@brainsmartliving.com) with a question, suggestion, experience, or resource you think is worth exploring.
We provide starting points. You decide where the conversation goes next.
Our Playbooks
We keep topic specific detail and links to our favorite resources in Playbooks:
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JC's Notes with Key-Takeaways we choose to prioritize and some examples of how we've tailored the evidence to meet our individual needs. All downloadable.
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Curated posts related to the topic.
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Resource links to detail direct from the experts: primarily podcasts.
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Quick Bytes: <= 15 minutes
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Knowledge Builders: 15-60 minutes
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Deep Dives: 1-2+ hours
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Essential Reads: Books and the occasional 3rd party post or paper.
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Meet Your Hosts
Host, Writer & Investigator
Janice Cunningham, MPH
Vancouver, Canada
Why I'm Here
BrainSMART Living is an evolving project - built to grow as we learn, test ideas, and share what genuinely helps cut through the noise to what really deserves our time and attention.
I spent many years in new health-tech communications infrastructure and early consumer health platforms - identifying early signals of new insights and opportunity.
My father’s Alzheimer’s shifted my attention to brain health. I went deep into the research, where one truth became clear: the habits that protect brain cognition are the same habits needed for physical and emotional wellbeing - for energy, strength and resilience.
Now I ask...How do we support and work with our brain so we can live life fully today, yet still prepare for the future? A question now all the more relevant in our fast changing world.
What Informs What I Share
My approach and priorities are driven by one guiding principle: When you support the brain, the body and mind will follow.
I also believe we are best served when we consider different sources of wisdom, from the ancient arts and philosophers to modern science and our own N-of-1 experience.
Be safe. Be well.
Janice
PS
I try to be accurate and clear about the limits of what I'm sharing. Call me out if you notice something that doesn't look right!
Mentor, Writer & Reality Check
Sibel Tunali
London, England
Greetings from London
It’s easy for all of us to believe what we want to believe, so my role at ASL is to bring a skeptical lens and practical guidance to the journey.
My Role as Skeptic
My perspective complements Janice’s. I focus on the reality check: what is truly doable in everyday life. I live the reality of juggling life as a mother, business executive, and, more recently, a cancer survivor rebuilding energy and resilience.
My Role as Mentor & Reality Check
In Sibel's Corner I share reflections on resilience and navigating life’s challenges.
You may also book a complimentary mentoring session to discuss your goals and how we might support you.
What Informs My Approach
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Years of cancer treatment gave me a new perspective on health, energy, and resilience.
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Being the mother of twins reshaped my priorities and sense of balance.
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My background as an engineer turned telecom executive informs how I mentor and support startups in food, wellness, and technology.
I invite you to join the conversation and help me in this role through comments, the occasional survey, or contacting me through Connect@agesmartliving.com
Wishing you well,
Sibel
Join the Conversation
Add your voice through post comments on the blog
or
Email connect@brainsmartliving.com
to share more private thoughts, suggestions or questions.
