S9E9: Communicating to Connect with Keshawn Hughes

Neuroscience strategist Keyshawn Hughes joins Laura to explain what’s actually happening in the brain when we communicate, and why so many of us feel more connected online yet lonelier than ever. The founder of Neuro Savvy Leadership breaks down her memorable framing of a world running on “dopamine hits” while starving for “oxytocin drips,” the slow, in-person bonding that real relationships require. She and Laura explore how threat and reward show up in our tone and body language, what happens neurologically when Black women go silent or shrink in unsafe rooms, and how to build the self-awareness and strategy to communicate with confidence. A fascinating, practical bridge between brain science and everyday connection.

In this episode:

Dopamine hits versus oxytocin drips: why digital busyness leaves us lonely, and how to rebuild real connection
What fight, flight, freeze, and fawn look like at work, and how to move out of them safely
Practical tools to communicate clearly and advocate for yourself without shrinking or over-explaining

About Keshawn

Keshawn Hughes, M.S. is a NeuroLeadership Strategist, Executive Coach, and Founder of NeuroSavvy® Leadership, equipping HR and corporate leaders with neuroscience-backed tools to boost productivity, retention, and engagement. With a Master’s in Strategic Communication, she has facilitated over 400 leadership engagements since 2021, helping organizations build thriving cultures. Keshawn’s upcoming book, NeuroSavvy® Storytelling, shares strategies that move people to believe, align, and take action. Based in Atlanta, she brings the same heartfelt approach to life with her husband and child who inspire her daily.

Connect with Keshawn

Website: http://www.keshawnhughes.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeuroLeaderKHughes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keshawnhughes/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshawnridgelhughes/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keshawnhughes1576

BWL Resources: