The Brain’s Predictions: Wine, Snakes, and Everyday Life | EP 010

09/18/24 • 11 min

In this episode, we dive into Chapter One of Yucky, Yummy, Savory, Sweet: Understanding the Flavors of Emotions. This chapter, titled Opus One, Two-Buck Chuck, and the Wine Snob, explores the predictive nature of our brains. Drawing on real-life stories, including a humorous anecdote about wine tasting and an insightful parable of a monk mistaking a rope for a snake, we examine how our brain’s expectations shape our reality.

Our brain is constantly predicting and responding to the world around us, often based on past experiences and memories. Whether it’s food, wine, or perceived threats, our mind is ahead of us, creating a version of reality before we fully engage with it. By understanding this, we can begin to question our initial reactions and become more conscious of how we interact with the world.

Tune in to explore the fascinating ways our brain shapes our perceptions and learn how to take a second look—or a second sip—at life’s experiences.
Listen to the full chapter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm4d5wz_gQQ3tn8IGFd99g-o0pFNMM4Hs

Key Takeaways:

• The brain operates on a time delay, always predicting what’s coming based on past experiences.

• Expectations shape how we perceive the world—whether it’s wine tasting or facing fears.

• Our brains create predictions not just with objects, but with people, food, and emotions.

• By challenging these automatic predictions, we can broaden our perspectives and make better, more informed choices.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Our brain is always predicting what to do ahead of our experience, and that’s good—it helps us get up, act, and engage with the world.”

• “The first sip was Bob’s expectation, but the second was a more conscious experience.”

• “Once a snake is a rope, it can never be a snake again.”

Next Week’s Episode:

In next week’s episode, we’ll dive into Chapter 2, The Ingredients for How We Feel, Think, and Behave. We’ll talk about how our sensory experiences shape our emotional lives and explore the concept of syncing up our sensory inputs with our body for greater self-awareness and agency.

Additional Resources:

• Visit the YouTube channel Flavors of Emotions Playlist for the full chapter and more content.

Follow the Podcast:

• Subscribe for weekly episodes covering each chapter of Yucky, Yummy, Savory, Sweet.

Follow Kim for weekly insights, emotional recipes, and a whole lot of curiosity served with a side of sass.

Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/thekimkorte
Thank you so much for listening to my show!

Send us a text

Key Takeaways:

• The brain operates on a time delay, always predicting what’s coming based on past experiences.

• Expectations shape how we perceive the world—whether it’s wine tasting or facing fears.

• Our brains create predictions not just with objects, but with people, food, and emotions.

• By challenging these automatic predictions, we can broaden our perspectives and make better, more informed choices.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Our brain is always predicting what to do ahead of our experience, and that’s good—it helps us get up, act, and engage with the world.”

• “The first sip was Bob’s expectation, but the second was a more conscious experience.”

• “Once a snake is a rope, it can never be a snake again.”

Next Week’s Episode:

Additional Resources:

• Visit the YouTube channel Flavors of Emotions Playlist for the full chapter and more content.

Follow the Podcast:

• Subscribe for weekly episodes covering each chapter of Yucky, Yummy, Savory, Sweet.

Follow Kim for weekly insights, emotional recipes, and a whole lot of curiosity served with a side of sass.

Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/thekimkorte
Thank you so much for listening to my show!

Previous Episode

Cooking Up Emotions: Introduction to "Yucky, Yummy, Savory, Sweet” | EP 009

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Welcome to the first episode of a special 12-part series where I dive into my book, “Yucky, Yummy, Savory, Sweet: Understanding the Flavors of Emotions.” In this episode, I share the introductory chapter of my book and explain how I use cooking metaphors to make emotions more relatable and easier to understand.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why Emotions and Cooking? – Discover the connection between emotions and culinary concepts, like how perceptions are ingredients and past experiences are recipes.

• Emotions as Flavors – Learn how different emotions can be thought of as flavors and how this analogy can help you better understand your emotional experiences.

• Interoception and Emotional Awareness – Find out why understanding the sensory system of interoception is key to developing emotional awareness.

• Blame the Chef! – A fun approach to managing emotions by thinking of them as dishes prepared by a chef in your mind.

• What to Expect – A sneak peek into the chapters to come, each offering a deeper exploration of how emotions are “cooked up” in our brains.

Join me on this journey as we explore the flavors of our emotions and learn how to cook up a more emotionally aware life. Don’t forget to subscribe, and stay tuned for the next episode where we dive into Chapter 1!

Thank you for listening, and I appreciate you taking the time to join me on this exciting new chapter!

Follow Kim for weekly insights, emotional recipes, and a whole lot of curiosity served with a side of sass.

Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/thekimkorte
Thank you so much for listening to my show!

Next Episode

Perception Recipes: What’s in the Mix of How We Think, Feel, and Behave | EP 011

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Welcome back to the Flavors of Emotions podcast! In today’s episode, we dive into Chapter Two of Yucky Yummy Savory Sweet: Understanding the Flavors of Emotions. I discuss the ingredients that shape how we think, feel, and behave—yes, ingredients! Our brains take in perceptive input, much like a chef uses ingredients in a recipe. Sometimes, though, the brain can get things wrong—misinterpreting what we see, hear, or feel.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
* Perception Isn't Always Perfect: Ever thought you saw something or someone, but after a second glance, realized it wasn’t what you thought? This happens because the brain can make prediction errors, which I discuss in my book’s second chapter, Ingredients for How We Feel, Think, and Behave.
* The Role of Focus in Emotions: Whether it’s fear or love, your focus can limit the input you get from the world around you. When you’re afraid, your brain is on high alert, and you focus solely on the perceived threat—blocking out everything else. Love does something similar, making you overlook flaws in favor of keeping that emotional high.
* Internal Dialogue and Listening: Our internal voice can interrupt our ability to truly listen to others because we’re too busy predicting what they’re going to say! I shared a personal example of how this can affect communication in relationships.
* Human Agency: One of the main reasons I wrote this book is to help you develop more agency—your ability to take control of your thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. By better managing your perceptions, you can improve how you interact with the world.
Next Episode Preview:
In the next episode, we’ll explore interoception—a sensory system that helps you sync up the signals from the world to your body. It’s critical to both emotional and physical well-being, so stay tuned!
Additional Resources:
• Yucky Yummy Savory Sweet: Understanding the Flavors of Emotions – Chapter Two
• Link to the YouTube video on the McGurk effect
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might find it helpful! You can find the link to today’s chapter in the show notes.

Follow Kim for weekly insights, emotional recipes, and a whole lot of curiosity served with a side of sass.

Connect with me: https://linktr.ee/thekimkorte
Thank you so much for listening to my show!