Hi, I'm Julie
— cognitive neuroscientist by training, storyteller by nature, and someone who believes that when you take care of your brain, you change everything.
I share scientific insights that are practical, relatable, and delivered in quick, five-minute reads (no fluff here).
The 30-second version
I’m obsessed with brain health and wellness.
I’ve spent over a decade researching how to improve cognitive performance and have worked with thousands of people through trainings, research studies, and speaking engagements.
My goal with Better Brain is to give you simple ways to be proactive about your brain health.
My Mission
We have meal plans and workout plans, but somehow… no brain plan?
(And yet, your brain runs the show. Makes you think, right?)
We are living in an incredible era where we know more about the brain than ever before. But between information overload, scientific jargon, and occasional misinformation, it's hard to know what to trust.
That’s where I come in: I make science clear, actionable, and dare I say fun.
My newsletters distill neuroscience to help you:
Think more clearly and creatively
Reduce stress and regulate emotions
Sleep better and increase mental energy
Remember what you walked into the room for (and where you put your keys)
Stay calm and clear-headed under pressure
Build brain healthy habits so you can enjoy a better life
Sign up now — your brain (and your future self) will thank you.
I’m honored to be a Substack bestseller, with over 95,000+ weekly readers who love learning about the brain.
Why invest in Better Brain?
Your brain runs everything - your focus, your mood, your decisions, your life.
It’s your most important asset.
You either invest in it now or pay for it later.
An $80/year subscription is a small investment in taking better care of the thing that takes care of you.
Paid subscribers get:
Weekly newsletters
Podcast versions of the content
Ability to comment on posts
Join my exclusive Substack community
Full access to the library of previous newsletters
Your support allows me to pour hours into research and writing each week — work that truly lights me up.
Whatever you’re able to give helps me bring you more science-backed insights and practical tools for brain health and well-being.
Put a mic in my hand, and I'll probably start talking about neuroplasticity
I've been fortunate to be invited to share my work through news segments, podcasts, and interviews. Here are a few highlights:
How I got here
I was sitting at my kitchen table (working from home during the pandemic), nervously preparing for my first podcast interview about what being digitally connected 24/7 does to our brains.
The episode aired (in Dutch, no less, except for my part), and I doubted anyone would listen. But I shared it anyway.
To my surprise, old friends came out of the woodwork, middle school friends, high school acquaintances, messaging me things like:
"Wow, I learned so much."
"I’m going to try the strategies you shared!"
That was my lightbulb moment. I realized two things:
People are wildly curious about their own brains (and for good reason, it's the control center of everything!).
Most people have never been taught how their brain actually works or how to take care of it.
This epiphany led me to launch my Instagram account, @drjuliefratantoni, and, a few years later, to leave my university position to work for myself full-time.
What started as a desire to share neuroscience and brain health with my friends unexpectedly blossomed into a career in science communication. I had stumbled into my zone of genius.
Confession: Even though I loved the discovery side of research, I never felt fully at home in traditional academic institutions. The slow, grinding pace of research and years between a study and real-world impact left me restless.
I wanted to keep learning, but I also wanted to make an impact with what I learned.
Science communication gave me that bridge.
Now, I get to keep exploring the science but more importantly, translate it into tools and resources people can use today.
I believe knowledge about the brain shouldn't be locked behind academic papers. It should be in your hands, helping you think clearer, feel better, and create a more vibrant life.
That’s why I’m here.
The Resume(ish) Section, for my fellow detail lovers
The brain is the most complex entity in the universe and trying to understand it became my life's work.
My curiosity led me to earn several degrees and certifications, always seeking a more holistic understanding of how the brain shapes our lives.
My roots are in speech-language pathology. I first became fascinated by the brain while working with stroke and traumatic brain injury patients, helping them regain their speech, language, and executive function skills.
That experience drove me to pursue a PhD in cognitive neuroscience from The University of Texas at Dallas. I wanted to understand the brain more deeply and to be part of advancing what’s possible.
Fun fact: I completed my yoga teacher training the same year I started my PhD. I’ve always intuitively understood the brain and body aren’t separate, they’re intricately connected. This belief led me to pursue additional training in mindfulness, breathwork, and biofeedback techniques.
I was fortunate to study and work at the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas — a place that pioneered proactive approaches to brain health long before it became trendy.
During my time at the there, I helped launch and lead a global longitudinal study (The BrainHealth Project) seeking to define, measure, and improve brain performance across the lifespan.
My role sat at the convergence of research, science communication, and behavioral science — implementing the science of habit formation into technology design to help thousands of research participants learn and maintain brain-healthy habits.
Some of the most fun I had was leading a multidisciplinary team to bring the science to life — writing scripts, creating animations, and building interactive training experiences that made neuroscience engaging.
I also led the Center’s Kindness Enterprise. A translational research program focused on harnessing the neuroscience of kindness, empathy, and compassion as key drivers of brain health.
Over the years I've worked on research projects spanning women's brain health, sleep, multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and used techniques like neuromodulation and electroencephalography (EEG).
Clinically, I’ve worked in an adult inpatient rehabilitation hospital but the majority of my experience has been with healthy individuals. I’ve had the privilege of training corporate executives, veterans, athletes, and students on strengthening executive function and building brain-healthy habits.
Connecting the Dots
If you had asked me five years ago where I’d end up, “newsletter author” and “public speaker” wouldn’t have even made the list.
But looking back, I can see how every step — every patient, every research study, every creative project — was quietly preparing me for this. Getting to combine science and storytelling is more fulfilling than I ever could have dreamed.
The best part by far? Getting to connect with you.
The Better Brain community is made up of the most caring, thoughtful people and I’m endlessly grateful you’re here.
If you made it this far, thank you for letting me share my story with you.
This is just the beginning and I’m so excited for everything we’ll learn, grow, and build together.
The best is yet to come.
-Julie
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