Five takeaways from a year's reporting on fitness, and why this journalist says it's time to go easier on yourself. Shannon Palus is a features editor at Slate covering heath, science, and human interest. In 2023, she edited Slate's year-long fitness column, Good Fit, about exercise. Her writing has also appeared in the New York Times' Wirecutter, Scientific American, and the Atlantic. In this episode we talk about: How this conversation changed the way Dan thinks about exercise Why you sh...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep 783•Transcript available on Metacast After an intense day, try this simple meditation to decompress and de-stress by getting comfy and putting your feet up. About Jeff Warren: Jeff is an incredibly gifted meditation teacher. He's trained in multiple traditions, including with renowned teacher Shinzen Young. Jeff is the co-author of NY Times Bestseller "Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics," and the founder of the Consciousness Explorers Club, a meditation adventure group in Toronto. He has a knack for surfacing the exact meditation that...
Jun 14, 2024•6 min•Ep 782•Transcript available on Metacast How to overcome inertia and research-backed plans that actually work. Dr. Gary G. Bennett is Dean of the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences at Duke University. He is also a professor of psychology & neuroscience, global health, medicine, and nursing, and is the founding director of the Duke Digital Health Science Center. He has authored nearly 200 scientific papers and is a past president of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. T. Morgan Dixon is the co-founder and CEO of Girl T...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 781•Transcript available on Metacast Insights from the places on the planet where people apparently live the longest and healthiest lives. Dan Buettner is an explorer, National Geographic Fellow, and journalist. He has written a series of bestselling books, including The Blue Zones of Happiness and The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes for Living to 100 . He is also the host of the Netflix show, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones . This is the kickoff official interview of our Get Fit Sanely series. (If you missed it, go back and...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep 780•Transcript available on Metacast Mindful movement is an excellent way to integrate and even invigorate mindfulness while cultivating the power of curious awareness. About Dawn Mauricio: Dawn Mauricio discovered the practices of Buddhist meditation in 2005, and from then on, did what any well-intentioned perfectionist would do — plunge in head first! Since then, she's graduated from several teaching programs, including Spirit Rock's four-year Teacher Training. Her teaching style is playful, dynamic, and heartfelt, and she teache...
Jun 09, 2024•6 min•Ep 779•Transcript available on Metacast How to pursue fitness without succumbing to the “subtle aggression of self-improvement.” The kickoff episode for the latest installment of an occasional series we do here on the show, called Get Fit Sanely ( listen to past – and future – episodes here ). In this candid conversation, managing producer DJ Cashmere talks with Dan about how they manage their mindsets on these issues, and how the interviews we’re doing on the subject have and have not impacted them. We’ll also preview the guest...
Jun 07, 2024•49 min•Ep 778•Transcript available on Metacast Using your senses to reduce overthinking, turn down the voice in your head, and get out of what these scientists call "the house of habit." Dr. Zindel Segal is Distinguished Professor of Psychology in Mood Disorders at the University of Toronto Scarborough and a cofounder of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Professor Norman Farb, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where he directs the Regulatory and Affective Dynamics laboratory. ...
Jun 05, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep 777•Transcript available on Metacast The radical shift in perspective that can come when we change our question from “what’s wrong with you” to “what happened to you?” Dr. Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. is the Principal of the Neurosequential Network and a Professor (Adjunct) at the School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia. Over the last thirty years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences ...
Jun 03, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep 776•Transcript available on Metacast When you feel anxious about a difficult decision, meditation can help take the edge off and put you in touch with your own wisdom as a guide. About Oren Jay Sofer: Oren Jay Sofer teaches mindfulness, meditation and Nonviolent Communication. He has practiced meditation since 1997, beginning his studies in Bodh Gaya, India and is a long-time student of Joseph Goldstein, Michele McDonald, and Ajahn Sucitto, and is a graduate of the IMS/Spirit Rock Teacher Training program. Oren teaches retreats acr...
May 31, 2024•7 min•Ep 775•Transcript available on Metacast Radical advice on rethinking success, individualism, and the American dream. Mia Birdsong is a pathfinder, culture change visionary, and futurist. She is the founding Executive Director of Next River , a think tank and culture change lab for interconnected freedom. In her book How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community , Mia maps swaths of community life and points us toward the promise of our collective vitality. In this episode we talk about: How to build community What...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep 774•Transcript available on Metacast The surprisingly common experience of near death experiences and what science still can't explain about them. Sebastian Junger is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of The Perfect Storm , Fire , A Death in Belmont , War and Tribe , and In My Time of Dying . As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world, and has received both a National Magazine Award and a P...
May 27, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep 773•Transcript available on Metacast Explore the preciousness of a new day with greater joy and ease while giving plenty of space to feel grumpy about it all. About Alexis Santos: Alexis has practiced and taught Insight Meditation in both the East and West since 2001. He has been a long-time student of Sayadaw U Tejaniya (a well respected meditation teacher in Burma whose teachings have attracted a global audience), and his teaching emphasizes knowing the mind through a natural and relaxed continuity -- a style of practice that's p...
May 24, 2024•7 min•Ep 772•Transcript available on Metacast How to find your voice when you need to be heard, learn when it's smart to choose silence, and communicate better with the people who matter most. Elaine Lin Hering is a former Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School. She works with organizations and individuals to build skills in communication, collaboration, and conflict management. She has served as the Advanced Training Director for the Harvard Mediation Program and a Managing Partner for Triad Consulting Group. She has worked with coal miners...
May 22, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep 771•Transcript available on Metacast An acclaimed science writer on how to upgrade your mind by using more than your head. When you think about thinking, most of us think of it as a supremely solo pursuit. You’re in your head, concentrating and cogitating, all by yourself. But the science shows that if you want to improve your thinking, you need to get out of your head. Today we’re going to talk about a concept called “the extended mind.” Your mind isn’t just in your skull: it’s in your body, it’s in the people around you, it’s in ...
May 20, 2024•57 min•Ep 770•Transcript available on Metacast Connecting to self-compassion can be really tough. Ease the struggle by imagining your loved ones sending care & support your way. About Jess Morey: Jess Morey is a lead teacher, cofounder and former executive director of Inward Bound Mindfulness Education which runs in-depth mindfulness programming for youth, and the parents and professionals who support them across the US, and internationally. She began practicing meditation at age 14 on teen retreats offered by the Insight Meditation Soci...
May 17, 2024•8 min•Ep 769•Transcript available on Metacast Practical advice from a straight-talking former criminal and occasionally profane dharma teacher. Vinny Ferraro is the Guiding Teacher of the Big Heart City Sangha in San Francisco and has led a weekly sitting group for almost two decades. As a fully empowered Dharma Teacher thru Spirit Rock/IMS, he has taught residential retreats at Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, and the Esalen Institute. Currently, he leads Spirit Rock's Year to Live course and teaches retreats and daylongs through B...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep 768•Transcript available on Metacast Actionable advice on working with one of the few socially acceptable vices. Whilst striving for perfection might seem logical on some level, it’s not actually attainable. And the research shows it can lead to burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, reduced productivity, and reduced resilience. Thomas Curran is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics and is the author of The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power o...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 767•Transcript available on Metacast What is happiness? Investigate how happiness is created, what it’s really like, and learn to access the simple happiness of right now. About Jay Michaelson: Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson is the author of ten books, including his newest, The Secret That Is Not A Secret: Ten Heretical Tales . In his “other career,” Jay is a columnist for The Daily Beast, and was a professional LGBTQ activist for ten years. Jay is an ordained rabbi and has taught meditation in secular, Buddhist, and Jewish context for e...
May 12, 2024•7 min•Ep 766•Transcript available on Metacast Talking creativity and sanity with one of the world’s biggest pop stars. British-Albanian singer-songwriter Dua Lipa emerged as a global pop sensation with her captivating blend of sultry vocals, empowering lyrics, and infectious beats. Born in London in 1995 to Albanian parents, Lipa's musical journey began at a young age, inspired by her father's own musical career. She hosts the podcast Dua Lipa: At Her Service, and her latest album is Radical Optimism . In this episode we talk about: W...
May 10, 2024•58 min•Ep 765•Transcript available on Metacast A research-backed plan for getting your sh*t together in every possible sphere. We’re going to talk about some smart strategies today with Emma Seppälä, Ph.D. She is a psychologist and research scientist, with an expertise in the science of happiness, emotional intelligence, and social connection. She is the Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education and she also teaches executives at the Yale School of Management. She’s been on this show ...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep 764•Transcript available on Metacast The creator of somatic experiencing shows Dan how to heal trauma through the body. Peter A. Levine, Ph.D., has spent the past 50 years developing Somatic Experiencing. He holds a doctorate in Biophysics from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology from International University. His work has been taught to over 30,000 therapists in over 42 countries. He is the author of the new book, An Autobiography of Trauma. Content warning: This episode includes discussions of rape and violence. In t...
May 06, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep 763•Transcript available on Metacast Tap into your ADHD superpowers with a meditation that celebrates your unique wiring. Embrace exploration and self-acceptance. About Jeff Warren: Jeff is an incredibly gifted meditation teacher. He's trained in multiple traditions, including with renowned teacher Shinzen Young. Jeff is the co-author of NY Times Bestseller "Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics," and the founder of the Consciousness Explorers Club, a meditation adventure group in Toronto. He has a knack for surfacing the exact meditatio...
May 03, 2024•7 min•Ep 762•Transcript available on Metacast Buddhist strategies for taming that nagging voice in your head. Ofosu Jones-Quartey , a meditation teacher, author, and musician hailing from the Washington DC area brings over 17 years of experience in sharing mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion practices with the world. Holding a bachelor’s degree from American University and certified by the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, Ofosu is a graduate of the Teleos Coaching Institute and is the male voice on the Balance m...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep 761•Transcript available on Metacast How self compassion works, how to practice it, and what the research says about the benefits. GUEST BIO: Dr. Serena Chen is Professor of Psychology and the Marian E. and Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. Distinguished Chair for Innovative Teaching and Research at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on the self and identity, interpersonal relationships, and social power and influence. She is a Fellow of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, American Psychological Associ...
Apr 29, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 760•Transcript available on Metacast Cara introduces you to the magic of doing less. These gentle no-frills instructions get right to the heart of meditation practice. About Cara Lai: Cara Lai spent most of her life trying to figure out how to be happy, or at least avoid total misery, which landed her on a meditation cushion for the majority of her adulthood. Throughout many consciousness adventures including a few mind-bendingly long meditation retreats, she has explored the wilderness of the mind, chronic illness, the importance ...
Apr 26, 2024•6 min•Ep 759•Transcript available on Metacast Debating the cliche: Does everything happen for a reason? Plus, the Meditation Party crew tackles equanimity, work/life balance, and meditation vs napping. Sebene Selassie describes herself as a “writer, teacher, and immigrant-weirdo.” She teaches meditation on the ten percent happier app and is the author of a great book called You Belong . She’s based in Brooklyn. Jeff Warren is also a writer and a meditation teacher. He and Dan co-wrote the book, Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics . He als...
Apr 24, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep 758•Transcript available on Metacast Digging into the nuts and bolts of Stoicism with one of its best-known modern proponents. Ryan Holiday is a prolific author, whose books include The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and Discipline is Destiny. His newest book , Right Thing, Right Now, comes out in June, and is available for pre-order now. Ryan is also the host of the Daily Stoic Podcast. In this episode we talk about: The history and theory of Stoicism, and some of its big names (including a former Vice Presidential candida...
Apr 22, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep 757•Transcript available on Metacast New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Get comfortable with uncertainty and cultivate trust in life, even in the most turbulent times. About Sebene Selassie: Growing up, Sebene felt like a big weirdo. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and raised in white neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., she was a tomboy Black girl who loved Monty Python and UB40. She never believed she belonged. Thirty years ago, she began studying...
Apr 19, 2024•7 min•Ep 756•Transcript available on Metacast Death isn’t the most appetizing topic, but contemplating mortality can be a massive source of motivation, perspective, and even stress relief. In this episode, life lessons from a death doula, who helps people at the end. Description: There seems to be one clear bug in the human operating system — most of us do not like talking about death. Yet when we do talk about it, it can genuinely upgrade the quality of our lives. Our guest today is Alua Arthur, a former attorney who is now what’s c...
Apr 17, 2024•51 min•Ep 755•Transcript available on Metacast Professor and writer Arthur Brooks on his recent book (co-authored with Oprah Winfrey): Build The Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier . Arthur has seen the themes of this book play out in his own life. He started his career as a classical French horn player, then got his PhD in public policy analysis, and went on to run a think tank called the American Enterprise Institute . He is currently a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School . He also does wor...
Apr 15, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep 754•Transcript available on Metacast 
