Dr Maciej Zatonski and Dr Sara Farwell cut through the noise with science-driven conversations on brain health, behaviour change, and personal and professional performance.
Each episode blends medicine, neuroscience, and real insights for solutions that actually work and help make lasting change.
zatonski.substack.com (https://zatonski.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Being adopted does not automatically mean unresolved issues. Yet, familiar narratives can influence how adoptees interpret their experiences and how support is sought or given. Rather than leaving someone feeling defined by a label, support starts with understanding as an individual.
Drawing on Sara’s lived experience and Maciej’s parental and clinical perspectives, they explore the adoption triad, the complexities of reunion, the subjectivity of trauma and personal challenges, and the risks of imposing explanations and labels. They also discuss how having curiosity and trusted help to shed old baggage past is life changing for anyone who is ready to move forward.
Links:
Attachment Theory (https://zatonski.substack.com/p/attachment-theory)
Quick Tips Series - Trauma (https://zatonski.substack.com/p/quick-tips-series-2730-trauma)
UK PAC Adoption Report (https://family-action.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PAC-UK-Big-Consult-of-Adopted-People-v1.1-FINAL.pdf)
Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. So we made one! The Solutions Manual Podcast is where Drs Sara Farwell and Maciej Zatonski explore the solutions to living a healthier, more fulfilling life. Join us to discover where science and medicine meet real life as we talk through the tough, the taboo, and the transformative topics for your personal growth and development. More episodes here (https://zatonski.substack.com/podcast).
Get full access to Solutions Manual at zatonski.substack.com/subscribe (https://zatonski.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
30 Sept 2026
Episode 48 – The Sound of Music with Rob Stephenson
Rob Stephenson is a wellbeing practitioner, keynote speaker and… a working DJ. He works with founders, leaders and organisations on sustainable performance, bringing together science, storytelling and music.
In this very special episode, we talk about how music and sound can be used intentionally to change our mood, improve our productivity and decision-making, and enjoyment of the present.
Rob guides us through a bespoke piece to show how we can help our brain go from overstimulated and busy to grounded and calm, ready for the next task or endeavour.
His new book, Music Is the Answer: Practical Ways to Manage Stress, Sleep Better, and Live Brighter, argues that intentional listening is one of the most powerful and accessible wellbeing tools we have. Alongside the book, Rob creates Guided Listening sessions, which use original music and voice to help people move from one state to another, such as from overstimulated to grounded.
Rob is also the founder of Wellbeing Foundations, a practical framework that helps individuals and teams build small, high-impact habits into their working lives. He is a TEDx speaker and speaks openly about his own mental health and describes himself as thriving not because life is optimised, but because it is intentionally supported.
Thank you Rob for sharing this space and hope for the future.
Connect with Rob:
Rob Stephenson - LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robstephenson/)
Rob Stephenson - Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/robstephenson.music/)
Music is the Answer (website) (https://musicistheanswer.live/)
Rob Stephenson (website) (https://www.iamrobstephenson.com/)
Choose Your Three (website) (https://www.chooseyour3.com/)
Get full access to Solutions Manual at zatonski.substack.com/subscribe (https://zatonski.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
17 Sept 2026
Episode 47 – Managing the Spend
In this episode we talk about the importance of our personal energy flow and why we should care (a lot) about our own individual energy drains and ways of recharging all of our energy tanks.
We know how much money we have.
One hour for us is the same as one hour for you.
Energy is one of our personal resources that we can truly manage – if we build the self-awareness and intentionality around it.
Instead of trying to “manage” your time, take an audit of your energy. What drains you? What fills you up? You can do our free Cognitive Capacity Test (https://solutionsmakers.com/b/DbRTe).
You’ll learn why managing energy matters for your physical and mental health, decisions, professional career, relationships, and future.
You might also like:
Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. So we made one! The Solutions Manual Podcast is where Drs Sara Farwell and Maciej Zatonski explore the solutions to living a healthier, more fulfilling life. Join us to discover where science and medicine meet real life as we talk through topics like leadership, emotions, decision-making, longevity, resilience, self-improvement, and much more. More episodes here (https://zatonski.substack.com/podcast).
Get full access to Solutions Manual at zatonski.substack.com/subscribe (https://zatonski.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 35 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
71
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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