Loretta G. Breuning, PhD, is Founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and Professor Emerita of Management at California State University, East Bay. She is the author of many Personal Development books, including Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin and Endorphin Levels.
As a teacher and a parent, she was not convinced by prevailing theories of human motivation. Then she learned about the brain chemistry we share with earlier mammals and everything made sense. She began creating resources that have helped thousands of people make peace with their inner mammal. Dr. Breuning's work has been translated into twelve languages and is cited in major media. Before teaching, she worked for the United Nations in Africa. Loretta gives zoo tours on animals behavior, after serving as a Docent at the Oakland Zoo. She is a graduate of Cornell University and Tufts. The Inner Mammal Institute offers videos, podcasts, books, blogs, multimedia, a training program, and a free five-day happy-chemical jumpstart. Details are available at InnerMammalInstitute.org.
Loretta is thrilled to have 3 grandchildren.
Books Authored By Loretta Breuning
Courses offered by Loretta Breuning
Recent Content
You have probably noticed that my explanation of serotonin is not what you hear elsewhere. This episode explains why, and gives you the raw biology of your serotonin so you can find your power over it…
You have probably no…
You have probably noticed that my explanation of serotonin is not what you hear elsewhere. This episode explains why, and gives you the raw biology of your serotonin so you can find your power over it.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel …
Love feels spectacular because it sparks all four happy chemicals, but you end up disappointed if you expect the good feelings to last. Here’s how to build realistic expectations about love so you c…
Love feels spectacul…
Love feels spectacular because it sparks all four happy chemicals, but you end up disappointed if you expect the good feelings to last. Here’s how to build realistic expectations about love so you can relieve that disappointment.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Tr…
Excuse me for bringing up this harsh topic, but you can relieve Stress with these 4 new and scientific ways to think about death.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in h…
Excuse me for bringi…
Excuse me for bringing up this harsh topic, but you can relieve stress with these 4 new and scientific ways to think about death.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/course — 10% off with the …
Our brain is designed to have life-or-death feelings about social recognition, so locking up phones and deleting social accounts will not end bad feelings. Our only option is to learn to manage our qu…
Our brain is designe…
Our brain is designed to have life-or-death feelings about social recognition, so locking up phones and deleting social accounts will not end bad feelings. Our only option is to learn to manage our quirky brain. https://InnerMammalInstitute.org The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new v…
Politics sparks dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin so we keep wanting more, but it makes us feel bad in the long run. Here’s how to relieve your addiction to politics.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps yo…
Politics sparks dopa…
Politics sparks dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin so we keep wanting more, but it makes us feel bad in the long run. Here’s how to relieve your addiction to politics.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinst…
Here are 3 simple steps to feel good despite the inevitable negativity of family, friends, coworkers, and public affairs.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy w…
Here are 3 simple st…
Here are 3 simple steps to feel good despite the inevitable negativity of family, friends, coworkers, and public affairs.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/course — 10% off with the code Rea…
Dr. Sirota founded the Ruthless Compassion Institute to teach people to be “kind” instead of “nice,” because the latter is often dysfunctional. (https://marciasirotamd.com/ruthless-compassion-…
Dr. Sirota founded t…
Dr. Sirota founded the Ruthless Compassion Institute to teach people to be “kind” instead of “nice,” because the latter is often dysfunctional. (https://marciasirotamd.com/ruthless-compassion-institute)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal…
A substitute teacher asks me how the inner-mammal perspective can help him manage the bad behavior he observes in the classroom.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in he…
A substitute teacher…
A substitute teacher asks me how the inner-mammal perspective can help him manage the bad behavior he observes in the classroom.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/course — 10% off with the c…
“Fat Burning Man” chats with me about how we can wade through the avalanche of conflicting claims about food and wellness. (https://abeljames.com/fatburningman/)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you s…
“Fat Burning Man…
“Fat Burning Man” chats with me about how we can wade through the avalanche of conflicting claims about food and wellness. (https://abeljames.com/fatburningman/)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitu…
Andrew Hartz created the Open Therapy Institute to help people find therapists who respect their world view, and to help therapists respect people who are disparaged by their politicized credentialing…
Andrew Hartz created…
Andrew Hartz created the Open Therapy Institute to help people find therapists who respect their world view, and to help therapists respect people who are disparaged by their politicized credentialing programs.. https://www.opentherapyinstitute.orgThe HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our ne…
Dr. Attia Ansari tells me how her patients in Pakistan "just want a pill” instead of working to improving their wellbeing and Lifestyle. Here’s the Emotional Eating link that was mentioned.The H…
Dr. Attia Ansari tel…
Dr. Attia Ansari tells me how her patients in Pakistan "just want a pill” instead of working to improving their wellbeing and lifestyle. Here’s the Emotional Eating link that was mentioned.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good N…
Nir Eyal explains his model for becoming “indistractable” instead of feeling overwhelmed by external stimuli. (nirandfar.com)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in h…
Nir Eyal explains hi…
Nir Eyal explains his model for becoming “indistractable” instead of feeling overwhelmed by external stimuli. (nirandfar.com)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/course — 10% off with the co…
The founder of Myelin Leadership tells me how he teaches people to find their child circuits and rewire them into “wise advocate” circuits.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain …
The founder of Myeli…
The founder of Myelin Leadership tells me how he teaches people to find their child circuits and rewire them into “wise advocate” circuits.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/course — 10% o…
I’m skeptical of magic bullets, but my guest helps people strap on a device that trains you to change your brainwaves, and it sounds reasonable. (https://www.neuroflex.tech)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST h…
I’m skeptical of m…
I’m skeptical of magic bullets, but my guest helps people strap on a device that trains you to change your brainwaves, and it sounds reasonable. (https://www.neuroflex.tech)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermamm…
My guest is a Ukrainian-Israeli who just read my book and is putting it into practice right now.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta…
My guest is a Ukrain…
My guest is a Ukrainian-Israeli who just read my book and is putting it into practice right now.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/course — 10% off with the code ReaderDiscount at the checkout…
My guest was an elite athlete until she trained too much, and her story can help you make good decisions about whatever you’re training for.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain c…
My guest was an elit…
My guest was an elite athlete until she trained too much, and her story can help you make good decisions about whatever you’re training for.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/course — 10% of…
The author of No Willpower Required tells me about strategies that worked for him after years of alcohol dependence. (hardenbrook.com/no-willpower-required)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your…
The author of No Wil…
The author of No Willpower Required tells me about strategies that worked for him after years of alcohol dependence. (hardenbrook.com/no-willpower-required)The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/cou…
A horse expert tells me how she guides the animal, and it’s amazingly relevant to guiding our inner mammal.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your ho…
A horse expert tells…
A horse expert tells me how she guides the animal, and it’s amazingly relevant to guiding our inner mammal.The HAPPY BRAIN PODCAST helps you spark your happy brain chemicals in healthy ways. Your host is Loretta G. Breuning PhD, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of "Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain your brain to boost your serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphin levels.” Details at: https://innermammalinstitute.org. Check out our new video course, Train Your Inner Mammal to Feel Good Now.(https://innermammalinstitute.org/course — 10% off with the code ReaderDiscount at…