Mark Epstein, M.D. is a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City and the author of a number of books about the interface of Buddhism and psychotherapy. Mark discusses the ways in which trauma weaves its way through the story and life of the Buddha, the difference between discipline and control and how narratives and feelings intersect and why both are useful. We also chat about the importance of integrating pain and grief into our lives and the fallacy of thinking that things ever "return to normal".

Find out more about Mark at markepsteinmd.com and on Facebook.

Mark's Book Recommendations: The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson, Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala and the 6 volumes of My Struggle by Karl Ove Knausgaard.

Songs featured: "Eyes Closed and Traveling" by Peter Broderick and "Tiny Apocalypse" by David Byrne

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#52 Buddhism, Psychology & The Trauma of Everyday Life with Mark Epstein