How a Buddhist Monk Deals With Anxiety | Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Anxiety has long been a massive societal issue that spiked during the pandemic, and many of us are still feeling it in 2025. In this episode, renowned Buddhist monk Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche talks in detail about how he personally works with anxiety and panic and the practices he draws upon when dealing with these states. Mingyur began doing long retreats in his teens and now teaches all over the world. He’s written the books The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness and In Love with the World: A Monk's Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying. He also oversees the Tergar Meditation Community, a global network of Buddhist meditation centers. This episode was originally published in July 2022. In this episode we talk about: Working with strong emotions using sound and the breath Deconstructing your reality to make it workable Understanding what awareness is in a Buddhist sense How to make meditation free-range and available to you all times The simple but also tricky advice of, “stop doing and just be” When to take a step back or even take a break from meditation What Mingyur Rinpoche says is the true purpose of the practice. This interview was recorded in person at the TED conference in April of 2022, where both Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Dan Harris spoke. Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
30 Apr 55min
Never Worry Alone | Dr. Robert Waldinger
Dr. Robert Waldinger talks about his new book The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, which explores lessons from the longest scientific study of happiness. Dr. Robert Waldinger is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development at Massachusetts General Hospital, and co-founder of the Lifespan Research Foundation. He is also a Zen master and teaches meditation in New England and around the world. His TED Talk is one of the most viewed of all time, with over 43 million views. He’s the co-author, along with Dr. Marc Schulz, of The Good Life. In this episode we talk about: What the Harvard Study of Adult Development is and how it got started How much of our happiness is really under our control Why you can’t you be happy all the time The concept of “social fitness” Why you should “never worry alone” How having best friends at work can make you more productive And why, in his words, it’s never too late to be happy Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
28 Apr 1h 3min
Meditate on the Breath (Without Driving Yourself Nuts) | Bonus Meditation with Joseph Goldstein
You don’t have to focus too maniacally on your breath; your body is part of the process, too. Our good buddy Joseph Goldstein shows you how to balance. Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of many books including, most recently, Dreamscapes of the Mind. This meditation is part of a new series on the Eightfold Path. The rest of the series is available on Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you’ll get a 30-day free trial—and you’ll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. Sign up for Dan’s newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
25 Apr 12min
Status: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How To Get It Without Driving Yourself Crazy | Will Storr
Plus more surprising information on this fundamental human drive. Will Storr is a multi award-winning writer and Sunday Times bestselling author. His latest book is A Story is a Deal: How to use the science of storytelling to lead, motivate and persuade. Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you’ll get a 30-day free trial—and you’ll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: The key elements of a properly deployed story The different ways to measure status The three main ways humans compete for status The benefits of altruism as a source of status The balance between self interest and altruism How mindfulness factors into the status drive Managing our relationships with social media Related Episodes: Why You Can’t Pay Attention - And How to Think Deeply Again | Johann Hari 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
23 Apr 1h 7min
Stoic Advice for Handling Setbacks, Insults, and Death | William Irvine
How to boost your psychological immune system, the stoic way. William “Bill” Irvine is the emeritus professor of philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of eight books that have been translated into more than twenty languages, including Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy and Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher’s Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient. Bill is one of many great teachers featured on Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you’ll get a 30-day free trial—and you’ll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: How Bill was first introduced to Stoicism (the story involves a midlife crisis and a banjo.) The comparison between Stoicism and Buddhism Psychological strategies for attaining equanimity The practice of negative visualization Stoic approaches to handling anger and insults How to reframe setbacks as tests Stoicism VS emotional suppression Tools for navigating the challenges of our digital age What Stoics say about pursuing fame and status And why death is the “ultimate exam” Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources: Links to Bill’s Waking Up content Links to Bill’s books
21 Apr 1h 14min
Alisyn Camerota On: Surviving the News, Surviving the Teenage Years, and the Concept of Home
From punk rock to broadcast journalism. A veteran journalist shares her story. Alisyn Camerota is an award-winning journalist and author. She recently wrote the memoir, Combat Love: A Story of Leaving, Longing, and Searching for Home. In this episode we talk about: Our mutual dislike of covering breaking news How her turbulent teenage years helped her prepare for life’s chaos What “home” actually means How her childhood informed her own parenting style The delicate balance between giving your children too little or too much freedom What it means for a journalist to center themself in a story Surviving the news Coping with anxiety and media consumption And much more Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources: Alisyn Camerota on Substack Sanity Podcast
18 Apr 1h 10min
How To Deal With Difficult Emotions, Difficult Feedback, and Difficult Parts of Your Own Mind | Diane Musho Hamilton
Cross-training for your mind. Diane Musho Hamilton is an author, award-winning mediator, and teacher of Zen. She is the author of three books on conflict resolution, relationships, and communication. Her latest book is Waking Up and Growing Up: Spiritual Cross-training for an Evolving World, co-authored with Gabriel Wilson. Diane is one of many great teachers featured on Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you’ll get a 30-day free trial—and you’ll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: What Diane means by spiritual cross training and waking up Cultivating emotional maturity Foundations of Zen practice Integrating shadow and psyche The key aspects of living with purpose The value of intention setting Ethical action and community 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 Additional Resources: Dan’s panic attack on live TV
16 Apr 1h 7min
Sam Harris On: Equanimity in Turbulent Times; Compassion for Difficult People; And Dualistic vs Non-dualistic Mindfulness
An old friend (and my spiritual brother) discusses some of the most important things he’s ever learned. Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, author, podcaster and the proprietor of Waking Up, a top-notch meditation app with amazing teachers and a ton of courses for all levels. If you subscribe via this link: wakingup.com/tenpercent, you’ll get a 30-day free trial—and you’ll be supporting the 10% Happier team, too. Full and partial scholarships are available. In this episode we talk about: How to maintain equanimity in shitty situations How to have compassion – or at least non-hatred – for people you disagree with politically The illusion of free will and its relationship with compassion The difference between dualistic and non-dualistic mindfulness The concept of having no head Why meditating with your eyes open can be super helpful And much more Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources: On Having No Head
14 Apr 1h 32min
