Joining me in this episode to dig deeper into the benefits of first times and new experiences on learning and memory is James M. Hyman, PhD, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at UNLV.

"Being in new situations helps us be in new situations" Dr. Hyman explains how non-specific learning through exposing ourselves to novelty benefits us because we are constantly updating what we know about the world for future use, and learning to regulate our emotional states.

In this episode, I share with you the key highlights of how I've tremendously changed and benefited from my journey of first times and new experiences.

The reason I do what I do is because of how impactful and powerful it's been in my own life and this is an attempt to help you understand that.

In this episode, I explained what the five types of first times are and which ones you should add to your #365FirstsChallenge list as part of the journey of first times and new experiences. The five types are: spontaneous/random/opportunistic firsts, planned firsts, earned firsts, unexpected firsts, and next level firsts.

Please support the crowdfunding campaign with whatever amount you can: https://ifundwomen.com/projects/365firstschallenge-movement

In this episode of the First Time Story series, my guest was Jake Gallen, the host of the popular Las Vegas podcast & talk show, The Guest List, and he shared the story of going to his first electronic music festival.

Going to EDC for the first time is one of three life changing events to take place in his life. Jake explains why this first time was so impactful and why everyone should go at least once in their lives.

Next, we played the first time lightning round and discovered an interesting place where Jake went skinny dipping.

Joining me in this episode is Mary Rensel, MD, the owner of Brain Fresh, and Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine to dig deeper into the benefits of first times and new experiences on the health of our brains.

In this episode of the First Time Story series, my guest was Ed Sullivan. Ed shared the story of his first time "making the leap" from a comfortable life at a "real job" into the entrepreneurial fray selling the first laser for lasik eye surgery he engineered.

Ed Sullivan is serial entrepreneur who has built several successful companies each over $30M in revenue. Most recently he founded Trust Exchange and Aria Systems. He started a newsletter and online community for like-minded entrepreneurs: edsull.substack.com

Joining me in this episode is Paula 'Must Try Harder' McGuire to dig deeper into the benefits of first times and new experiences to overcome anxiety. Her story is insanely inspirational!

Paula is an adventurer, author, motivational speaker and life coach – but above all, she's a trier. After 30 years of surviving with chronic social anxiety and depression, Paula started to really live with it in 2012, using adventure as her means to recovery. She has since been a wing-walker, an athlete, a pilot, and even a trainee astronaut, and spends what spare time she has encouraging others to turn barriers into climbing frames.