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Loretta Breuning Professor Emerita

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

By Loretta Graziano Breuning
By Loretta Graziano Breuning
By Loretta Graziano Breuning
By Loretta Graziano Breuning
By Loretta Graziano Breuning

Courses offered by Loretta Breuning

Recent Content

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Trauma And Dating &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Trauma and Dating

My guest is Sasha Hershfeld, creator of TraumaDater.com, which helps people see the link between their early pain and their present patterns of romantic attraction…and grow from it.The HAPPY BRAIN P…

My guest is Sasha He…

My guest is Sasha Hershfeld, creator of TraumaDater.com, which helps people see the link between their early pain and their present patterns of romantic attraction…and grow from 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 Good Now.(https://…

Listen · 41:36
Serotonin And The Natural Urge For Social Dominance &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Serotonin and the Natural Urge for Social Dominance

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 …

Listen · 28:56
Why Doesn'T Love Last &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Why Doesn't Love Last

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…

Listen · 29:56
Can We Talk About Death? &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Can We Talk About Death?

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 …

Listen · 14:24
Don'T Blame Your Phone &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Don't Blame Your Phone

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…

Listen · 19:28
Addicted To Politics &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Addicted to Politics

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…

Listen · 24:11
How To Avoid Getting Sucked Into Other People’s Misery &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
How To Avoid Getting Sucked into Other People’s Misery

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…

Listen · 17:33
Ruthless Compassion &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Ruthless Compassion

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…

Listen · 43:27
When Students Don’t Engage &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
When Students Don’t Engage

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…

Listen · 52:37
Food Panaceas And Food Alarmism &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Food Panaceas and Food Alarmism

“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…

Listen · 51:43
If Your Therapist Isn'T Open To You &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
If Your Therapist Isn't Open to You

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…

Listen · 44:19
Pakistani Doctor On Lifestyle Diseases &Raquo; A5563Df86724D6292F60A07E6Fbb7030
Pakistani Doctor on Lifestyle Diseases

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…

Listen · 38:24