This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker and Birch mattress by Helix.

Today on The Dhru Purohit Podcast, Dhru sits down with Dr. Elissa Epel to discuss how we can break free from the bonds of chronic stress. They share practical strategies for coping with stress when things go wrong, the importance of social support, spending time in nature, and cultivating true, restorative practices.

Dr. Epel is an internationally renowned health psychologist who focuses on how to live well and thrive with existential stress, despite the challenges we face personally and globally. She is a professor at UCSF and the director of UCSF’s Aging, Metabolism, and Emotion Center. She is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Telomere Effect, which has been translated into 30 languages.

In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Epel dive into:

- What happens when chronic stress is pervasive in our lives (0:07)

- Why having the goal of an anxiety-free life is not practical (6:32)

- Reframing your mindset when things go wrong in life (19:10)

- The mental blocks that get in the way of understanding that things are going to go wrong (22:02)

- Identifying and becoming aware of your personal cues for stress (26:42)

- Practical ways to step into creating purpose for yourself (32:40)

- The top practices that can help you reset when you’re feeling stressed(39:08)

- Using walks in nature to connect and check in with ourselves (54:15)

- The difference between “relaxing” and “restorative” (1:00:30)

- Why the media can be an unforeseen source of stress in our lives (1:05:29)

Also mentioned in this episode:

-New York Times article, How Loneliness Is Damaging Our Health

-The Roseto effect: a 50-year comparison of mortality rates

-Dr. Epel’s new book, The Stress Prescription

For more on Dr. Elissa Epel, follow her on Instagram @elissa.epel, Facebook @TelomereEffect, and Twitter @Dr_Epel. Get her new book, The Stress Prescription, here.

InsideTracker provides detailed nutrition and lifestyle guidance based on your individual needs. Right now, they’re offering my podcast community 20% off. Just go to https://www.insidetracker.com/DHRU to get your discount and try it out for yourself.

Birch mattress by Helix is made out of organic latex, organic cotton, New Zealand wool, and American steel springs. To get $200 off your Birch Living mattress plus two free eco-rest pillows, head over to https://www.birchliving.com/dhru today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1097: November 15, 2025

Knowledge Fight

New Listeners and Shoutouts

The AI-powered Podcast Player