Is intuition really just a “woo woo” concept, or is there evidence to support it?
In this episode of Rewired Woman Podcast, Kat and Mads explore how neuroscience, psychology, and spirituality overlap when it comes to trusting your gut.
We talk about what makes intuition different from impulsivity and insight, how the insula and vagus nerve help explain gut feelings, and why women are often better at reading nonverbal cues. We also unpack Dr. Joel Pearson’s SMILE framework for using intuition wisely and reflect on where science stops and spirituality begins.
Along the way, you’ll hear personal stories about love, relationships, and even adopting a soul-dog, plus practical ways to strengthen your intuition through mindfulness, journaling, and dancing.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
These science girlies have come to a verdict. Intuition is not some pie-in-the-sky concept. It is a blend of unconscious pattern recognition, interoception, and emotional evaluation (with a little dash of mysticism if you ask us).
Understanding how to harness your intuition can help you make better decisions, deepen relationships, and strengthen your confidence.
💬If you enjoy this episode, subscribe wherever you listen, leave a review, and share it with a friend. It helps us grow and reach more women who are ready to rewire their lives with science and soul.
Follow us on Instagram @rewiredwomanpod for more behind-the-scenes, journaling prompts, and neuroscience-meets-girl-chat conversations.
🧾 References:
Bechara, A., Damasio, H., & Damasio, A. R. (2000). Emotion, Decision Making and the Orbitofrontal Cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 10(3), 295–307. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/10.3.295
Bush, G., Luu, P., & Posner, M. I. (2000). Cognitive and emotional influences in anterior cingulate cortex. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 4(6), 215–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1364-6613(00)01483-2
Craig, A. D. (2009). How do you feel — now? The anterior insula and human awareness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(1), 59–70. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2555
Critchley, H. D., Mathias, C. J., Josephs, O., O’Doherty, J., Zanini, S., Dewar, B.-K., Cipolotti, L., Shallice, T., & Dolan, R. J. (2003). Human cingulate cortex and autonomic control: converging neuroimaging and clinical evidence. Brain: A Journal of Neurology, 126(Pt 10), 2139–2152. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awg216
Dunn, B., Galton, H., Morgan, R., Evans, D., Oliver, C., Meyer, M., Cusack, R., Lawrence, A., & Dalgleish, T. (2010). Psychological Science Listening to Your Heart : How Interoception Shapes Emotion Experience and Intuitive Decision Making On behalf of: Association for Psychological Science. Psychological Science, 21(12). https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610389191
Headspace. (2025, September 15). The Neuroscience of Intuition: How to Rewire Your Brain to Trust Yourself | Radio Headspace. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w1oj4zamDM
Kotler, S., Parvizi-Wayne, D., Mannino, M., & Friston, K. (2025). Flow and intuition: a systems neuroscience comparison. Neuroscience of Consciousness, 2025(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/nc/niae040
Lufityanto, G., Donkin, C., & Pearson, J. (2016). Measuring Intuition. Psychological Science, 27(5), 622–634. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616629403
McCrea, S. (2010). Intuition, insight, and the right hemisphere: Emergence of higher sociocognitive functions. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 1. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s7935
Modinos, G., Ormel, J., & Aleman, A. (2009). Activation of Anterior Insula during Self-Reflection. PLoS ONE, 4(2), e4618. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004618
Parisi, G. (2023, July 19). Nobel Prize-winning physicist explains the power of intuition in scientific discovery. Big Think. https://bigthink.com/thinking/power-intuition-science/
Tisserand, A., Philippi, N., Botzung, A., & Blanc, F. (2023). Me, Myself and My Insula: An Oasis in the Forefront of Self-Consciousness. Biology, 12(4), 599–599. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040599
Volz, K. G., & von Cramon, D. Y. (2006). What Neuroscience Can Tell about Intuitive Processes in the Context of Perceptual Discovery. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 18(12), 2077–2087. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2006.18.12.2077
