What Distraction Does to Your Brain—and How To Regain Cognitive Control | Adam Gazzaley
Distraction is making you anxious and sleepless. Here’s how to fix it. Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D. is the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry, and Founder & Executive Director of Neuroscape at UCSF. He co-authored the 2016 book “The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World”. In this episode we talk about: The impact of multitasking on our attention, relationships, emotions, anxiety, and memory The difference between top-down and bottom-up attention What it means to have cognitive control—and some practical tools for restoring your own cognitive control. Controversial technologies that could eventually help us have a stronger brain The impact of music and rhythm on the mind And how to use technology for your brain’s benefit Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
26 Touko 1h 13min
A Simple Guided Meditation from Dan | Live from the Renegade Sangha
We asked not too long ago in the chat on our Substack community – which you can find at DanHarris.com – about what kinds of things you’d find useful as Friday bonus episodes, and one of the things we heard was: more guided meditations, please. So today, we are happy to oblige with this short meditation that I led, as part of our semi-regular live gatherings of the Renegade Sangha on Substack. Twice a month, paid subscribers are invited to join me, live, for a little guided meditation, then I take your questions. It’s been so much fun to hear from you, and to help you hear from each other. Today’s guided meditation is taken from our sangha gathering on April 23. It’s super simple and good for both beginners and experienced meditators alike. If you enjoyed that and would like more opportunities to meditate together, here’s what we’ve got coming up for you in June: on the podcast, we’re bringing back our series Get Fit Sanely, where we talk about how to take care of your body without losing your mind – you’ll hear about nutrition, exercise, rest, and more, all with a lens of self-compassion and we’re super excited about this: friend of the pod and ace meditation teacher Cara Lai will be creating a month of bespoke meditations, each one tailored to an episode of the podcast, exclusively for paid subscribers at DanHarris.com. This is something we’ve been wanting to offer for a long time and I’m thrilled that we’re finally doing it. Visit DanHarris.com for all the details
23 Touko 13min
Why Self-Hatred Makes No Sense | Matthew Brensilver
This episode explores a compelling Buddhist question: does self-hatred, or self-love, make sense if the self is an illusion? Matthew Brensilver, PhD, is a clinical social worker and experienced teacher of meditation retreats. He also worked at an organization called Mindful Schools, which teaches teachers how to teach meditation. This episode also explores: How and why to view your anger with skepticism The relationship between self-love and personal ethics What to do if you think you’re a good person but have no interest in changing your behavior to get better How to handle a nagging sense of moral un-justifiability And how Matthew has arrived at a place of relative peace with his own mortality. Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
21 Touko 1h 4min
That Feeling of “Always-Behind and Never-Enough”—Here’s the Antidote | Ellen Hendriksen
How to beat perfectionism without lowering your standards. Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist who will help you calm your anxiety and be your authentic self. She serves on the faculty at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) and is the author of HOW TO BE ENOUGH: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists and HOW TO BE YOURSELF: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety. In this episode we talk about: The relationship between perfectionism and anxiety The definition of perfectionism–and why the word is actually a misnomer Dr. Hendriksen’s own struggles with perfectionism, and how they manifested physically The difference between healthy perfectionism and unhealthy perfectionism Changing your relationship with your inner critic Shifting from rigid rules to flexibility Keeping high standards while making room for mistakes Overcoming procrastination Navigating social comparison And much more Related Episodes: Strategies for Social Anxiety | Ellen Hendriksen Ellen Hendriksen, Rising Above Social Anxiety The Voice in Your Head | Ethan Kross How To Move Into The Future With Optimism Instead Of Anxiety | Frederik Pferdt Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources: Ellen Hendriksen on Substack
19 Touko 1h 6min
From Proxy: Mic Chooses the Wrong Life
We’re excited to share with you an episode of the new podcast Proxy, produced by Yowei Shaw. Today: the case of Mic, who feels like he defied his fate and now has no purpose in life. For her new podcast Proxy, Yowei Shaw finds someone uniquely able to help Mic break out of his regret loop. Proxy is a show that investigates niche emotional conundrums through conversations with strangers who have relevant experience. New cases every other Tuesday. You can binge episodes now in the Proxy feed.
18 Touko 51min
If You’re Freaking Out About Politics | Bonus Episode with Dan
A few ideas for staying sane in insane times, regardless of your political leanings or who you voted for. Related episode: Joseph Goldstein On: Impermanence, Impersonality, And How To Use Mindfulness To Be More Creative Joseph Goldstein’s book of poetry: Dreamscapes of the Mind Sign up for Dan’s newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
16 Touko 11min
How To Improve Critical Thinking, Embrace Uncertainty, and Stop Self-Censoring | Jenara Nerenberg
Plus how to speak up and challenge your own tribe, how to successfully engage with people you disagree with, and more. Jenara Nerenberg is a journalist and author. Her latest book is called Trust Your Mind: Embracing Nuance in a World of Self-Silencing. She holds degrees from the Harvard School of Public Health and UC Berkeley. She lectures widely on rhetoric, psychology, neurodiversity, sensitivity, innovation and communication. In this episode we talk about: The phenomenon of groupthink—and its health implications The health implications of self-censoring Vulnerability in the age of social media The role of comedy in pushing back against social norms Sign up for Dan’s newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes
14 Touko 1h 7min
If It’s Hysterical, It’s Historical: The Liberating Power of Understanding Your Past | Dr. Orna Guralnik
On psychoanalysis, which we haven’t talked about much on this show. Dr. Orna Guralnik is a psychoanalyst and writer. Her writing centers on the intersection of psychoanalysis, dissociation, and cultural studies. She has completed the filming of several seasons of the docu-series Couples Therapy. In this episode we talk about: The relationship between happiness and truth How to cultivate love from within Practices to support us in being more open-minded (to avoid what she calls a “splitting” mindset) Trans-generational history, and how it impacts our personal lives and relationships (in other words, how the ghosts of your ancestors operate in you now) One single, powerful question to ask yourself when you get annoyed The overlap between Buddhism and psychoanalysis Related Episodes: Why Your Brain Turns The Miraculous Into The Mundane—And How To Fix It | Maria Popova George Saunders on: “Holy Befuddlement” and How to Be Less of a “Turd” The Profound Upside of Self-Diminishment | George Saunders Sign up for Dan’s newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes
12 Touko 1h 11min
