Are you a fan of art? Do you enjoy going to museums or appreciate the wonder of a sunset? Do you knit, sing, doodle, hum, dance, paint, sculpt, or make art in some way? Do you believe that is art is just for people who are good at it? What if you knew that participating in some form of art once a month or more could extend your life by a decade? It turns out it can! There is a field called Neuroaesthetics which is the study of how the arts and aesthetic experiences, in all forms, measurably change the body, brain, and behavior improve well-being. “The arts are a superpower with the ability to address physical and mental health issues, learning, flourishing and community building.” As you’ll hear in this interview we are hardwired for art as our birthright. This is a fascinating conversation with two female leaders, Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, who wrote Your Brain on Art to educate people about the transformative power of the arts. This is an invitation to incorporate art to live healthier and happier lives based on the science-backed research showing the many benefits to you, your community, and the planet. You are going to love this conversation! Show notes can be found at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/242 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: What is neuroaesthetics. The transformative power of art and their mission with the book. How profound art is in our well-being. We can extend our life by participating in one art experience or more per month. How art rewires the brain and how the senses are involved. How the arts are being used to address health disorders, illnesses and mental health. They share stories relating to Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s. The kinds of activities people can explore who don’t see themselves as artists. (Hint – all of them). How the arts can help with mental health and much more. RESOURCES MENTIONED Book: Your Brain on Art Website: https://www.yourbrainonart.com/ https://neuroartsblueprint.org/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/yourbrainonartbook/ Michele on Instagram GUEST BIOS: Ivy Ross is the Vice President of Design for Hardware Products at Google, where she leads a team that has created over fifty products, winning over 225 design awards. An artist with work in over ten international museums, Ivy is also a National Endowment for Arts grant recipient, and was ninth on Fast Company’s list of the 100 most creative people in business in 2019. Susan Magsamen is the Founder and Director of the International Arts + Mind Lab Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at the Pedersen Brain Science Institute of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she is a faculty member in the department of neurology. She is also the Co-Director of the NeuroArts Blueprint with Aspen Institute. Please be sure to share it with your friends who would benefit from this information.  Also be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts so you don’t miss an episode.