In this episode, I sit down with Michael Treadway, a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist whose work focuses on how the brain makes decisions about effort and reward. We explore why motivation sometimes feels elusive and how conditions like depression and anxiety can shift the way people weigh costs and benefits. Michael explains how his lab uses tasks and brain imaging to study the decisions we all make about whether something is "worth the effort," and what this tells us about both healthy behavior and mental health challenges.

Our conversation moves between the lab and everyday life—why following through on goals often feels harder than setting them, how motivation is tied to brain circuits that evolved to help us survive, and why mental health struggles can make effort feel overwhelming. Michael also reflects on how understanding the neuroscience of motivation can shape new treatments for depression and anxiety, as well as practical strategies for daily living.

By the end of the discussion, we not only examine the science behind effort and persistence but also look at what it means for education, work, and personal growth. It’s a chance to see how the brain’s decision-making processes influence everything from simple daily choices to long-term goals.