Podcast Explores the Neuroscience of Resilience with Dr. Deborah Gilboa

In the latest "What Matters Now" podcast, host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaks with Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a family physician and author specializing in resilience and navigating change. Based in Pittsburgh, Gilboa, author of "From Stressed to Resilient: The Guide to Handle More and Feel It Less," begins by defining resilience, emphasizing that it is a skill that can be developed and strengthened.

“

We learn that it can be exercised and strengthened to be employed when we are presented with unexpected choices, positive or negative.

Gilboa shares deeply personal accounts of resilience. She discusses finding inner strength after her son, a lone soldier, was injured in Gaza in October 2023, enabling her to support him. She also reflects on her Squirrel Hill community's coping mechanisms following the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting, where 11 people were killed. The community's response, including setting boundaries and uniting through tragedy, aligns with resilience tactics.

“

Gilboa, whose son served and was injured as a lone soldier in Gaza, shares how she personally found inner fortitude following his deployment in October 2023 and was able to be the mother he needed when called upon.

The conversation highlights how resilience helps individuals manage unexpected choices, both positive and negative. Gilboa explains that resilience is not about avoiding stress but about developing the capacity to handle it effectively. The podcast aims to provide listeners with actionable strategies to "hack their own resilience muscle" when facing difficult circumstances.

“

We learn that the community’s response to US President Donald Trump’s visit lines up with resilience tactics, including drawing boundaries and uniting through tragedy.