{"podcast":{"title":"The Dr. Leaf Show","slug":"the-dr-leaf-show-439288","podcast_index_feed_id":439288,"rss_url":"https://rss.introcast.io:443/1334767397/anchor.fm/s/236705fc/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://drleaf.com","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/8705d012-d087-11f0-95a1-77eb84342f73/image/0e8eed49c0c099e6596f6678eefc6110.jpeg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Dr. Caroline Leaf","episode_count":720,"summary":"Hi! I’m Dr. Caroline Leaf. I’m a cognitive neuroscientist, author, & mental health expert. Whether you are struggling in your personal life or simply want to learn how to understand and use your mind to live your best life, this podcast will provide you with practical & scientific tips and tools to help you take back control over your mental, emotional, and physical health. Visit: https://drleaf.com*DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with your personal physician if you have any personal medical questions. For ad inquiries, please reach out to: Network+DLS@yapmedia.com","last_synced_at":"2026-07-08T18:19:33.997340+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dr-leaf-show-439288"},"episode":{"title":"The Emotional Affair Starts Before You Notice — 5 Steps to Stop It","slug":"the-emotional-affair-starts-before-you-notice-5-steps-to-stop-it","published_at":"2026-04-22T14:38:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dr-leaf-show-439288/the-emotional-affair-starts-before-you-notice-5-steps-to-stop-it","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dr-leaf-show-439288","url":"https://prefix.up.audio/s/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/YAP3670505085.mp3?updated=1776869438","audio_url":"https://prefix.up.audio/s/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/YAP3670505085.mp3?updated=1776869438","summary":"Nearly half of people in committed relationships admit they've had feelings for someone else. A 2024 meta-analysis found that over 70% consider an emotional affair as painful — or more painful — than a physical one. So why does it still feel harmless in the moment? In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf breaks down the neuroscience of emotional affairs: why intimacy builds in the brain long before anything physical happens, why secrecy runs on the same chemistry as addiction, and how to use her 5-step Neurocycle practice to rebuild what she calls \"intimacy integrity.\" You'll learn why your brain doesn't separate emotional connection from romance — it runs on the same dopamine, oxytocin, and adrenaline loop. How \"we're just talking\" becomes neurological loyalty through repetition. And why the myths that make emotional cheating feel harmless — \"it's not physical,\" \"we're just close\" — are exactly what make it so hard to stop. Plus: a concrete 5-step practice to redirect meaning and rebuild loyalty before the connection deepens. 📚 Resources: 🔗 Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com 🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1 🔗 Help in a Hurry Course: https://drleaf.com/courses 🔗 Neurocycle App: https://theswitch.app 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next one — new episodes every Wednesday. Sponsors making this show possible: BETTERHELP: Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/drleaf. SHOPIFY: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/leaf BROOKLYN BEDDING: Get 30% OFF with code DRLEAF at Brooklynbedding.com VERACITY: So make the switch to GLP-1s the natural way. Head to VeracityHealth.co and use code DRLEAF for up to 60% off your order. HELLOFRESH: Go to HelloFresh.com/drleaf10fm to get 10 fr…","meta_description":"Nearly half of people in committed relationships admit they've had feelings for someone else. A 2024 meta-analysis found that over 70% consider an emotion…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3360,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-dr-leaf-show-439288/episodes/the-emotional-affair-starts-before-you-notice-5-steps-to-stop-it/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-dr-leaf-show-439288/the-emotional-affair-starts-before-you-notice-5-steps-to-stop-it.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}