The common belief that sheer willpower guarantees success is often contradicted by our actions. We may find ourselves indulging in unhealthy habits or overspending despite our intentions. This suggests a disconnect between our conscious desires and our actual behavior. Psychologist and neuroscientist Emily Falk explores why our minds sometimes work against our own best interests. The conversation aims to understand these internal conflicts and offer strategies to regain control. Listeners are encouraged to share their questions and thoughts with the Hidden Brain audience via voice memo. These submissions should be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “mental barriers.” The podcast also promotes its subscription service, Hidden Brain+. A special 30-day free trial is available on Apple Podcasts during September. Subscribing helps fund the podcast's production and research.