Heartbreak & the Founder Brain: Rebuilding the Self with Self-Dating

Founder Unfiltered with Joanna Trojak

Heartbreak doesn’t just make you miss them—it can make you miss yourself. In this episode of Founder Unfiltered, I unpack what really happens to your brain and identity after a breakup and why “just give it time” isn’t enough. We dive into the neuroscience of romantic loss (why rejection lights up pain and craving circuits), how identity gets entwined in relationships, and the founder-specific ripple effects on leadership, decision-making, and self-worth.

I share a practical, research-informed playbook for rebuilding the self—what I call self-dating—from day-one nervous-system safety to values reconnection and future-self integration. Expect concrete rituals (micro check-ins, expressive writing, gentle solo dates, self-trust anchors) and a 30-day arc you can actually follow. You’ll also hear how these principles shape the self-dating app I’m building—no streaks, no guilt loops—just technology that holds space for presence over performance.

If you’re a founder navigating a breakup (romantic or co-founder), this is your field guide to reclaiming clarity, stability, and creative energy—so you can lead from wholeness, not withdrawal.

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