Habits and Hustle

What if changing your face has nothing to do with how you feel about yourself?
Plastic surgery has become more normalized, more accessible, and more visible than ever. We watch people document facelifts, nose jobs, injectables, and cosmetic procedures in real time, which can make major medical decisions feel as casual as booking a facial. But the polished before-and-after photo rarely shows the full story. 
Social media, filters, Zoom, and constantly seeing ourselves in photos and on video have changed the way we evaluate our appearance. We notice every angle, compare our real faces to edited ones, and start believing that changing one feature will finally make us feel more confident. But a procedure can alter your appearance without changing the way you see yourself. If the insecurity underneath it is never addressed, you may simply find something new to criticize.
The real question is not always "What should I change?" Sometimes it is "Why do I believe changing this will make me feel better?" Cosmetic procedures are personal decisions, but they should never be treated casually. Understanding the risks, researching the doctor, asking specific questions about recovery, and being honest about your expectations matter far more than following a trend or choosing the surgeon with the biggest social media following.
In this episode of Habits and Hustle, I share how social media and filters are changing the way we see ourselves, why plastic surgery may not fix the insecurity underneath it, what people rarely tell you about complications and recovery, and why online popularity does not necessarily make someone the best surgeon for the job.
What's Discussed:
(02:15) Why plastic surgery has become more normalized, accessible, and visible than ever.
(03:55) How a nose job led to breathing problems, complications, and multiple corrective procedures.
(05:41) Why the polished before-and-after rarely shows the full risks of cosmetic surgery.
(07:03) Why researching a surgeon's aesthetic style and medical expertise matters.
(08:42) Why cosmetic procedures are far more invasive than social media makes them appear.
(10:36) How confidence and the way you carry yourself can shape how attractive you feel.
(12:00) Why constantly seeing ourselves on cameras, Zoom, and social media may damage self-image.
(13:11) How filters and edited photos are changing what people ask surgeons to create.
(14:05) Why natural-looking plastic surgery has become the newest status symbol.
(17:28) Why a surgeon's social media popularity does not necessarily reflect their skill.
(20:29) Why fixing one insecurity may only give you something else to criticize.
 
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Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off.
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Find more from Jen Cohen:
Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements

Is a lack of motivation a personality flaw, or a signal from your brain that something needs attention?
We tend to think brain decline begins with memory loss, but changes in motivation, behavior, attention, and decision-making can show up much earlier. Apathy can look like laziness. Poor sleep can feel like memory loss. Doom scrolling gets blamed on dopamine, even though the science does not support many of the claims people repeat online. And the habits we rely on for brain health are often based more on trends than evidence.
This matters because your brain is constantly deciding whether a reward is worth the effort. When that calculation becomes harder, doing even simple things can feel overwhelming. Understanding how motivation works can help you reduce friction, take action before you feel ready, build routines that support your brain, and pay closer attention to changes in yourself or someone you love. Purpose matters. Curiosity matters. Relationships matter. And movement may be one of the most effective tools we have for protecting cognitive health.
Dr. Masud Husain is one of the world's leading neurologists studying memory, motivation, attention, and cognitive decline. He is a professor of neurology at Oxford University, co-leads Dementia Research at Oxford University, and serves as editor-in-chief of Brain, one of the most respected journals in neurology. He is also the author of Our Brains, Ourselves, which explores how the brain shapes our behavior, identity, relationships, and sense of self.
What's Discussed:
(06:01) Why losing motivation can appear before memory problems and signal early cognitive decline.
(08:07) How apathy differs from depression, even when the behavior looks almost identical.
(12:14) What two tiny strokes revealed about the brain circuit responsible for motivation.
(20:55) How purpose, curiosity, and strong relationships help protect the aging brain.
(22:23) Why unmotivated people may use more brain energy deciding whether something is worth the effort.
(24:54) What dopamine actually does and why it is not the brain's pleasure chemical.
(26:31) Why the idea that social media gives you constant dopamine hits is not supported by evidence.
(34:50) Whether Alzheimer's can be reversed and what current treatments can realistically accomplish.
(45:17) How breaking tasks into smaller steps, starting before you feel ready, and building routines can create motivation.
(57:12) Whether relying on AI is making our brains lazier and changing how we think.
(01:01:36) How loneliness and isolation affect cognitive performance and long-term brain health.
(01:07:22) How poor sleep, anxiety, and low mood can create memory problems that feel like dementia.
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Magic Mind: Head over to magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% off your first subscription. 
Therasage: Visit therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% off your order. Your skin
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.
Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off.
Tru Niagen®: For supplements that are rigorously tested, third-party verified, and actually deliver what's on the label, head to truniagen.com

Find more from Jen Cohen:
Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements
 
Find more from Dr. Masud Husain: 
Website: masudhusain.org
X: @MasudHusain
Instagram: @masudhusainoxford
Book: Our Brains, Our Selves
LinkedIn: Masud Husain

Can being obsessed with other people's lives distract you from living your own?
Reality TV can feel like harmless entertainment. You watch the drama, follow the relationships, and debate who was right or wrong. But when people become deeply invested in edited storylines, compare themselves to strangers, or attack contestants online, it reveals something bigger about where we are putting our attention. The more time we spend watching other people live, the less energy we may have for building a life of our own.
Entertainment can be a way to unwind, but your attention is still one of your most valuable resources. Reality shows are designed to manipulate emotions, create villains, and keep audiences coming back. We rarely see the full story, yet people make sweeping judgments based on a few edited moments. The better question may be: Is this helping me recharge, or is it pulling me further into comparison, distraction, and negativity?
In this episode of Habits and Hustle, I break down why Love Island has become such a cultural phenomenon, what reality TV reveals about modern dating and self-respect, how edited storylines influence the way we judge people, why online audiences have become so cruel, and why we need to spend less time watching other people live and more time investing in our own lives.
 
What's Discussed:
(02:12) Why "I do not have time" often means something is not a real priority.
(04:51) Why women are often held to a higher standard and expected to answer for men's behavior.
(07:12) Why Love Island's constant stream of new episodes keeps audiences deeply invested.
(10:42) How reality TV became a launchpad for fame, brand deals, and influencer careers.
(11:43) Why audiences are easily manipulated by edited storylines and manufactured drama.
(13:21) What Love Island reveals about self-respect, dating standards, and knowing when to walk away.
(15:25) Why reality dating shows mirror the confusion and unhealthy patterns of modern dating.
(16:38) Why people are drawn to honesty when so much media and social content feels performative.
(18:04) How producers turn nonstop footage into emotional storylines designed to provoke viewers.
(19:45) How comparison and consuming other people's lives can distract you from building your own.
 
Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Magic Mind: Head over to magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% off your first subscription. 
Therasage: Visit therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% off your order. Your skin
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.
Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off.
Tru Niagen®: For supplements that are rigorously tested, third-party verified, and actually deliver what's on the label, head to truniagen.com

 
Find more from Jen Cohen: 
Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements

Are your thoughts helping you move forward, or are they quietly running your life?
We talk a lot about positivity, discipline, leadership, and good habits, but very few people understand how those things actually work together. Negative thoughts can feel true simply because they show up fast. Bad habits can undo years of progress. Leaders can have a great vision and still lose their team because they do not communicate, connect, or create trust. And being hardworking is not always enough if people do not want to follow you.
This matters because success is shaped by what you believe, what you repeat, and how you show up around other people. Real confidence comes from learning how to challenge your own thinking, remove friction before a habit begins, communicate with clarity, and become the kind of person who strengthens the environment instead of being controlled by it. Positivity is a skill. Likability is a skill. Leadership is a skill. And all of them can be practiced.
Jon Gordon is one of the most influential leadership authors and speakers in the world. He has worked with CEOs, professional athletes, championship teams, coaches, and major organizations across business, sports, and education. He is the author of 32 books, including The Energy Bus, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Coffee Bean, and his latest book, The Power of Positive Habits. His work focuses on helping people build stronger mindsets, better habits, healthier cultures, and teams that perform at a higher level.
What's Discussed:
(03:05) How The Energy Bus went from 30 publisher rejections to selling more than three million copies.
(09:05) Why positivity is a skill you develop, especially when negativity comes naturally.
(14:43) How connection and disconnection affect anxiety, clarity, focus, and performance.
(18:39) Why physical habits like lifting weights can build discipline, confidence, and mental strength.
(24:40) How choosing one word for the year can create more focus than setting another resolution.
(33:16) Why becoming a better leader starts with addressing your own wounds, habits, and mindset.
(36:21) How communication gaps create negativity and confusion inside teams.
(37:46) The culture-building question every leader should ask before hiring someone.
(43:16) How the "habit before the habit" removes friction and makes consistency easier.
(45:43) Why one destructive habit can undermine all the positive habits you are trying to build.
(01:03:37) Why you should talk to yourself instead of automatically listening to every negative thought.
(01:05:15) Why optimism may matter even more than discipline.
(01:06:39) How likability helps leaders challenge people, build trust, and demand more from their teams.

 
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Magic Mind: Head over to magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% off your first subscription. 
Therasage: Visit therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% off your order. Your skin
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.
Kion: Visit getkion.com/habits for 20% off.
TruNiagen: For supplements that are rigorously tested, third-party verified, and actually deliver what's on the label, head to truniagen.com

Find more from Jen Cohen: 
Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements
 
Find more from Jon Gordon: 
Website: jongordon.com
Instagram: @jongordon11
Books: jongordon.com/books
Facebook: Jon gordon
YouTube: @jongordon11
LinkedIn: Jon Gordon

What if manifestation is keeping you focused on the life you want while distracting you from the work required to build it?
Manifestation has become one of the biggest trends in personal development. Visualize the outcome, believe it is coming, raise your vibration, and trust the universe to deliver. There can be value in believing in yourself and getting clear on what you want, but belief without action quickly becomes wishful thinking.
Your thoughts can influence your focus, confidence, and behavior, but they cannot control every external outcome. Health challenges, financial circumstances, psychological struggles, timing, and access all play a role. When manifestation culture ignores those realities, people can end up blaming themselves for circumstances they were never fully able to control. It also creates an opportunity for self-help coaches to sell false hope, expensive programs, and promises they cannot realistically guarantee.
In this episode of Habits and Hustle, I break down what manifestation gets right, where it becomes harmful, why mindset must be paired with a real plan, and the warning signs to look for when someone is selling you a fantasy instead of practical guidance. Because believing in yourself matters, but nothing replaces action, effort, and good old-fashioned hard work.
What's Discussed:
(00:39) Why manifestation has become one of the biggest and most controversial trends in self-help.
(01:19) How belief, confidence, and positive self-talk can support the pursuit of a goal.
(02:25) Why visualizing an outcome means very little without effort, action, and struggle.
(03:50) How manifestation can make people overestimate their ability to control external circumstances.
(05:18) Why the useful ideas behind manifestation cannot stand on their own without real work.
(07:32) How social media and online coaches have distorted manifestation into a larger self-help subculture.
(08:36) Why parts of the coaching industry prey on people's insecurities and vulnerable moments.
(09:24) How misguided hope can become dangerous when it replaces practical tools and realistic guidance.
(09:54) Why manifestation needs a clear plan and how it can lead to self-blame when outcomes do not go as expected.
(11:23) How to identify coaching red flags, including constant upselling, expensive retreats, flashy lifestyles, and promises of material success.

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Magic Mind: Head over to magicmind.com/jen and use code JEN at checkout.
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Momentous: Ready to try supplements that actually do what they claim? Head to livemomentous.com and use code JEN for 35% off your first subscription. 
Therasage: Visit therasage.com and use code JEN to get 15% off your order. Your skin
Prolon: Prolon is offering listeners 30% off sitewide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit prolonlife.com/JENNIFERCOHEN and use code JENNIFERCOHEN to claim your discount and your bonus gift.

 
Find more from Jen Cohen: 
Website: jennifercohen.com

Instagram: @therealjencohen
Books: jennifercohen.com/books
Speaking: jennifercohen.com/speaking-engagements