Self-help for smart people. World-class insights and practices from experts in modern science and ancient wisdom. Hosted by veteran journalist and best-selling author, Dan Harris.
Behind the scenes of this year’s Get Fit Sanely series with ace producers Eleanor Vassili and Marissa Schneiderman. Today we’re kicking off the third annual iteration of a very popular series we do, called Get Fit Sanely. It’s all about how to take care of your body without losing your mind. This is a dynamic tension many of us struggle to manage. This is our most ambitious version of Get Fit Sanely. We’re dedicating the whole month of June to the topic, with an incredible array of guests, on ev...
An often overlooked secret to improving your meditation practice. Sebene Selassie , an author and meditation teacher. She writes the popular newsletter remind me to love and her first book is called, You Belong . Jeff Warren is also an author and meditation teacher. He writes the popular Substack newsletter Home Base and is the coauthor, along with me, of a book called Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics . And he is the co-host of the mind/bod adventure pod. Register for Meditation Party at the Omeg...
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...
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 tak...
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...
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 perfe...
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 ....
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...
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 i...
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” min...
Why even self-help authors can still be messy. Glennon Doyle is the CEO and Founder of Treat Media, an award-winning media company that makes art for humans who want to stay human. She is an author, podcaster, producer, and philanthropist. Her books include the #1 New York Times bestsellers Untamed and Love Warrior; the New York Times bestseller Carry On, Warrior; and Get Untamed: The Journal. Abby Wambach is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, FIFA World Cup champion, six-time winner of the U.S. ...
Upgrade your relationship to your wallet. Lewis Howes is the host of the School of Greatness podcast . He has written several bestselling books. His newest is called Make Money Easy: Your Path to Peace, Freedom, and Financial Abundance . In this episode we talk about: Overcoming setbacks The evolution of podcasting Developing a personal mission to help you persist through challenges Habits and mindset shifts to make money easier Figuring out your money story and money style…and how this can lead...
How journaling can transform negative emotions into meaning and agency. Suleika Jaouad is the author of the instant New York Times bestselling memoir, Between Two Kingdoms , which has been translated into over twenty languages, and her highly anticipated new book, The Book of Alchemy, forthcoming in April 2025. She writes the popular weekly newsletter, the Isolation Journals . In this episode we talk about: Suleika’s new book, The Book of Alchemy On working with fear and vulnerability Journaling...
Dan’s best attempts to answer some listener questions from our Substack community. These questions came from our live Renegade Sangha session on April 8, and all of these sessions are open to paid subscribers. Check out how to join the party at DanHarris.com .
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 ...
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. H...
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 ...
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 a...
William Irvine discusses Stoic techniques for managing setbacks, insults, anger, and the challenges of modern life. He contrasts Stoicism with Buddhism, explains negative visualization, and explores the Stoic approach to fame and death. Irvine emphasizes building resilience and expanding one's comfort zone through Stoic practices, providing practical advice for attaining equanimity and a good life.
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 c...
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 li...
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 mai...
We’re going to give you a taste of the so-called “renegade sangha” sessions on DanHarris.com , which is powered by Substack. In those sessions, Dan usually guides a meditation and then takes questions. In this brief episode, you’re going to hear one of the best, funniest, most relatable questions we have received to date. 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: Anxi...
Dan deconstructs the Dharmic elements of the popular HBO show, with the co-host of The White Lotus Official Season 3 companion podcast. Joshuah Bearman is a writer and film producer in Los Angeles. He has written for Wired, GQ, Harper’s, Rolling Stone, and contributed to This American Life. Along with Jia Tolentino, Josh is the co-host of the The White Lotus Official Podcast . In this episode we talk about: How Josh became interested in Buddhism How Mike White, the writer and creator of The Whit...
They say enlightenment is always an accident. Here’s how to make yourself more accident-prone. Henry Shukman is a poet, author and Zen master in the Sanbo Zen lineage. He is founder of the Original Love meditation program, spiritual director emeritus at Mountain Cloud Zen Center and co-founder of the single-path meditation app The Way . His most recent books are Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening and the Zen memoir One Blade of Grass. In this episode we talk about: Henry’s awa...
The liberation that comes from realizing that you’re never going to get everything done. Oliver Burkeman is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Four Thousand Weeks , The Antidote , and most recently, Meditations for Mortals . His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Psychologies and New Philosopher. He has a devoted following for his writing on productivity, mortality, the power of limits, and building a meaningful life in an age of bewilderment. Oliver is on...
Recorded in January 2025 during the week of the Presidential inauguration, this conversation with CNN commentator Van Jones is less about politics and more about how we react to politics. You’ll hear the questions that Van always asks himself before he goes on air, what he considers to be his purpose on earth, and how he thinks about the future. This conversation was part of a special Inauguration Week series which featured daily gatherings of the “Renegade Sangha,” as Dan calls it, including gu...
One of the foundational Buddhist lists—a kind of GPS for enlightenment. 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 . Sam Harris is a neuroscientist, author, podcaster and the proprietor of the Waking Up app. This episode is the first installment of a new series on the Eightfold Path. The rest of the series is available o...
Make peace with the difficult parts of your personality. Dr. Richard Schwartz is a contemporary psychotherapist, PhD in marriage and family therapy. He founded the Internal Family Systems Model (IFS) therapy system and has authored many books, most recently: The Internal Family Systems Workbook . In this episode we talk about: What Internal Family Systems (IFS) is The relationship between buddhism and IFS How to make peace with our parts without a therapist in the room Dan volunteers as a guinea...
A 10-minute meditation that reminds you that you’re not just a brain: there is also a body. This meditation was originally part of one of Dan’s recent Ask Me Anything sessions on Substack – join us as a paid subscriber at DanHarris.com to be a part of these live online events as Dan guides a short meditation then takes your questions. Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram , TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel...
