In this deeply personal and transformative episode of Unified Purpose, host Shannon speaks with Due Quach, founder of Calm Clarity, about how neuroscience can empower individuals—and entire communities—to thrive through adversity. Due shares her powerful journey from growing up as a refugee in inner-city Philadelphia to attending Harvard and Wharton, all while navigating trauma, mental health challenges, and the disconnect between external success and internal suffering. Her lived experience, combined with years of neuroscience research, led her to develop the concept of Brain 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0—a framework for understanding how we operate in stress, in pursuit of happiness, and in alignment with our higher self. You’ll learn how nonprofits, community leaders, and individuals can build what Due calls a “strong inner foundation” by strengthening four brain systems: attention, resilience, meta-awareness, and connection. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking healing, clarity, and purpose in their work and life.
Episode Notes Three Things You’ll Learn: The 3 Brain States—and How to Shift into the Best One Discover the difference between Brain 1.0 (survival mode), Brain 2.0 (dopamine-driven pursuit), and Brain 3.0 (inner sage)—and why most of us live in the first two without realizing it. Why Burnout and Scarcity Are Contagious Learn how nonprofit workers, community leaders, and even well-meaning systems unintentionally pass on stress, and how healing at the individual level can transform collective outcomes. How Meditation, Science, and Community Can Rewire the Brain From silent retreats in Dharamsala to applying contemplative neuroscience in Philadelphia schools, Due explains how we can train our minds—regardless of background—to foster well-being, creativity, and connection.