The Earbuds That Hack Your Brain: Sleep, Stress, and the Neurotech Debate with Caitlin Shure of NextSense

Biohacking with Brittany

Health technologist and science communicator Caitlin Shure (NextSense) joins me to unpack brainwave-measuring earbuds that can both read and change your mental state—starting with sleep.

We dive into why "Gen-1" wearables overwhelm you with charts but don't help you in the moment, how earbud-EEG works (yes, with just three electrodes), the messy truth on EMF fears, and why women—especially moms—need "do-it-for-me" tools, not just dashboards.

This episode is for women—especially busy moms and high-achievers—who want better sleep, calmer days, and science-backed wearables that actually help (not just track).

WE TALK ABOUT:

05:00 - Caitlin's origin story: From "not a science person" to neuroscience and science communication

06:20 - Making complex brain science click for everyday life (and why wearables help)

09:55 - Why "one new idea at a time" beats info overload in health education

10:20 - Early neurotech (Muse), then Apple Watch, Oura, CGM—what worked and what didn't

13:20 - Why "wearable must be wearable": Rings, watches, now earbuds near your brain

14:30 - Starting with sleep: The lowest-hanging lever for memory, mood, and cognition

19:40 - Neurons, synchrony, and how three earbud electrodes capture EEG

24:50 - Women's health use-cases: Pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause

29:05 - "Numbers, not judgments": Why NextSense won't label your sleep 'good' or 'bad'

34:30 - What's next: Adaptive Focus and Relaxation sessions (neurofeedback-like audio)

36:30 - Binaural beats: Mixed evidence, likely responders vs non-responders

SPONSORS:

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RESOURCES:

Trying to conceive? Join my Baby Steps Course to optimize your fertility with biohacking.

Free gift: Download my hormone-balancing, fertility-boosting chocolate recipe.

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Shop my faves: Check out my Amazon storefront for wellness essentials.

NextSense website and Instagram

Caitlin Shure's website

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