This week we talk to Steve Almond about the good and bad in all of usSteve Almond spent seven years as a newspaper reporter in Texas and Florida before writing his first book, the story collection My Life in Heavy Metal. His books, Candyfreak, and Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life: A Book by and for the Fanatics Among Us were New York Times Bestsellers. His short fiction has been included in The Best American Short Stories and Pushcart Prize anthologies, and his collection, God Bless America, won the Paterson Prize for Fiction. Almond writes commentary and journalism regularly for The New York Times Magazine and The Boston Globe. A former sports reporter and play-by-play man, his latst book is called Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto.He is also the co host of the popular Dear Sugar podcast that he co-hosts with Cheryl Strayed.  Our Sponsor this Week is Athletic GreensClick here to get 50% off your first order!!  In This Interview Steve and I Discuss...The beginnings of the Dear Sugar columnBeing funny and poignant at the same timeWhat makes good writingHow to make an advice column goodThe culture of treating everything like a joke or with ironyKurt VonnegutLanguage, storytelling and humor as a way to fight of despairThe declining American cultureThe One You Feed parableThe two stories that we are constantly telling the worldHow the two wolves keep fighting all our livesThe flattening out of character in American discourseHow we all contain great and terrible qualitiesHow our culture makes a god out of convenienceFor more show notes visit our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

© Noel Cianci, 2012[powerpress] This week we talk to don Miguel Ruiz about the stories we tell ourselvesDon Miguel Ruiz is a renowned spiritual teacher and internationally bestselling author. He has spent the past three decades guiding students to personal freedom through his profound insights regarding the nature of human reality. His forthcoming book is called THE TOLTEC ART OF LIFE AND DEATH: A Story of Self Discovery written with Barbara EmrysCombining Toltec mythology and scientific perspectives, don Miguel has been able to merge ancient wisdom with modern physics and practical common-sense, forging a new philosophy for seekers of truth and personal authenticity.  His landmark bestselling book, The Four Agreements, contains practical steps for long-term, personal transformation and has been read by millions around the world.First published in 1997, The Four Agreements has since sold over five million copies in the United States and seven million worldwide. It has been translated into 38 languages, appeared on the New York Times bestseller for over seven years, and was the 36th bestselling book of the decade. Don Miguel is also the author of The Mastery of Love, The Voice of Knowledge, and the New York Times bestseller, The Fifth Agreement, a collaboration with his son, don José Ruiz.  Each of his books are international bestsellers.Our Sponsor this Week is Spirituality and Health Magazine. Click here for your free trial issue and special offer. In This Interview Miguel and I Discuss...The One You Feed parableHis new bookThat truth is life engergy, the force that moves matterHow we don't need to believe in the truth, it just existsThe fact that we are all artists and the greatest creation we have is the story of our livesHis near death experienceThe fifth agreementWe learn to love by how others love us - with conditionsHow we can start to love ourselves and others unconditionallyThe fact that we are not responsible for other people's minds or other people's actionsHow suffering is really in the mind and of the mindThat if we change our attitude, everything will changeThe wonderful truth that you have control of your own lifeThe lesson that has taken him the longest to learnWhy he likes Popeye the Sailor Mandon Miguel Ruiz Links don Miguel Ruiz Homepage don Miguel Ruiz Twitter don Miguel Ruiz Facebook don Migue Ruiz YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we talk to Mike PetersMike Peters is a Welsh musician, best known as the lead singer of The Alarm. Between 2011 and 2013, Peters was the vocalist for Big Country as well as The Alarm.A two time cancer survivor he founded the Love Hope Strength Foundation. The Foundation has found close to 1000 potentially life saving bone marrow donor matches; built the first ever children’s cancer center in Tanzania; supported the Bhaktapur Cancer Center in Nepal with life saving equipment and registered over 60,000 donors through it’s ‘Get On the List’ program.Eric caught up with Mike in Akron on his tour supporting the 30th anniversary of the classic Strength album.     Our Sponsor this Week is Athletic GreensClick here to get 50% off your first order!!  In This Interview Mike and I Discuss...The One You Feed parableFeeding the positive side of our personalityTreating people the way we want to be treatedSeeing both sides of the storySeeing The Clash and The Sex Pistols in 1977Meeting Johnny Rotten and Joe StrummerJoe Strummer teaching Mike to be positiveCreating an empowering message for the audienceWhat the song Strength means to him 30 years laterHis 20 year battle with cancerThe Love Hope Strength FoundationHis approach to handling cancerThe power of musicWhere he turns when he is struggling internallyThe meaning of the song Blaze of Glory For more show notes visit our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we talk to Michael Taft about better mediation Michael W. Taft is an author, editor, meditation teacher, and neuroscience junkie. He is currently a meditation coach specializing in secular, science-based meditation training in corporate settings and one-on-one sessions. Michael is the author of several books, including  The Mindful Geek, and Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept, Ego (which he co-authored), as well as the editor of such books as Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson and the upcoming The Science of Enlightenment by Shinzen Young. He has taught at Google and worked on curriculum development for SIYLI. Michael is also an official advisor to the Therapeutic Neuroscience Lab. He was previously editor-in-chief of Being Human, a site for exploring what evolution, neuroscience, biology, psychology, archeology, and technology can tell us about the human condition, and was editorial director of Sounds True.   Our Sponsor this Week is Spirituality and Health Magazine. Click here for your free trial issue and special offer.  In This Interview Michael and I Discuss... The One You Feed parable How it takes awareness to know what wolf we are feeding Learning to meditate on emotional states Defining meditation The difference between meditation and mindfulness Making the unconscious conscious The misconceptions of meditation How meditation does not mean having no thoughts The Teletubbies That meditation is not always supposed to be blissful How there are more ways to meditate than just following the breath His teacher Shinzen Young The pillars of concentration, acceptance and sensory clarity Meditation and the Flow state For more show notes visit our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we talk to Casey Schwartz about the science of neuropsychoanalysisCASEY SCHWARTZ is a graduate of Brown University and has a Masters Degree in psychodynamic neuroscience from University College London. She has worked as a staff writer at Newsweek/The Daily Beast, where she covered neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry. Her writing has also appeared in The New York Times and The New York Sun. She lives in New York City.Her first book is called In the Mind Fields: Exploring the New Science of Neuropsychoanalysis         Our Sponsor this Week is Athletic GreensClick here to get 50% off your first order!! In This Interview Casey and I Discuss...The One You Feed parableWhat neuropsychanalysis isBattling self doubtThe importance of asking others for helpThe Don Draper approach to creativityTaking a "mind bath"The divide between neuroscience and psychoanalysisFreud's Boldest Idea: TransferenceMapping transference in the brainThe resurgence of the unconscious in current neuroscience researchAvoiding the temptation to boil us down to chemicalsHonoring the mystery of human life and behaviorReductionism vs holism in scienceThe fantasy of the easy answerThe oversimplification of the role of the amygdalaThe dangers of extrapolating animal studies to humansPsychoanalysis on patients who have had brain damageThe uneven pathway of recoveryStarving neural pathways that separate thought from feelingFor more show notes visit our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy Banks, M.D., has devoted her career to understanding the neurobiology of relationships. In addition to her work at the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute (JBMTI), she was an instructor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She is the first person to bring relational-cultural theory together with neuroscience and is the foremost expert in the combined field.Amy is the creator of the C.A.R.E. Program, an easy to use, practical guide that helps clinicians and laypeople assess the quality of their relationships and strengthen their neural pathways for connection. Amy also has a private practice in Lexington, MA, that specializes in relational psychopharmacology and therapy for people who suffer from chronic disconnection. Most recently, Amy has joined the core group of Harville Hendrix’s Relationships First, a small group of prestigious scientists and cultural leaders who promote the idea that “healthy relationships are non-negotiable in a healthy society.”Her latest book is: Four Ways to Click: Rewire Your Brain for Stronger, More Rewarding Relationships Our Sponsor this Week is Casper MatressesVisit casper.com/feed and use the promo code "feed" to get $50 off!!In This Interview Amy and I Discuss...The One You Feed parableHow feeding neurons means stimulating themHow culture can feed our bad wolfThe power of isolation & how it can lead to more sicknessHow humans work best in healthy connection & interdependence with one anotherThe importance of identifying and building healthy relationshipsThe "5 good things" that exist in a healthy relationshipHow boundaries in relationships are overratedThe 1 sign that you are at a 340% higher risk of premature deathThe 4 neural pathways that function in the relationship realmFor more show notes visit our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Breel is a 21-year-old writer, comedian, and activist for mental health. His work has been featured by NBC, CBS, The Huffington Post, MTV, CNN, The Today Show, Mashable and The Wall Street Journal.  His passionate TEDx talk entitled "Confessions of a Depressed Comic" went instantly viral online- amassing millions of viewers and being featured on more than 200+ media outlets. Mashable called it "one of the moments that brought the world together" and the Huffington Post said the talk was "simply amazing." As a comedian, he’s performed in venues all across the globe; including the House of Blues, Rogers Arena and the historic Colosseum.  As a mental health activist, he's a National Spokesperson for the Bell LET'S TALK Campaign and has been a guest speaker at Ivy League schools and billion dollar companies. His first book, available now, is called Boy Meets Depression: Or Life Sucks and Then You Live Our Sponsor this Week is Spirituality and Health Magazine. Click here for your free trial issue and special offer.  In This Interview Kevin and I Discuss... Still wrestling with depression His viral Ted talk Learning to build the skill set to handle depression Defining our emotional landscape The benefits of waking up early The power and stabilizing force of a routine The importance of honest conversations with others Taking care of the physical body to help with depression Learning to recognize when were taking a turn for the worse and knowing how to respond For more who notes visit our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[powerpress] This week we talk to Tony Horton about the law of consistencyTony Horton is the master behind the best-selling fitness series: P90X®, P90X2®, 10-Minute Trainer®, his latest 30-minute dynamo P90X3® and the brand new “X” series prequel; P90. Tony is a world-class motivational speaker and author of the top selling books “Bring It,” “Crush It,” and the incredibly motivating “The Big Picture.” He has appeared on countless television and radio programs as a fitness and lifestyle expert and is sought after to appear at Fortune 500 corporate events, health and wellness expos, universities and over 40 military bases throughout the world.For the past 25 years, Tony has used his unique brand of humor to change the lives of over 8 million people through his powerful fusion of motivation, physical exercise, nutrition and discipline. From world class athletes, pro sports teams, congressmen, celebrities and the U.S Military, to corporate executives, couch potatoes and busy moms and dads alike, Tony has what it takes to reach and teach them all.Our Sponsor this Week is Emeals.   Try eMeals risk free for 14 days. Head to EMEALS.COM to sign up today—it only takes a few minutes to solve your dinnertime dilemma. Simply choose a food style and you’ll be ready to experience the power of planning with your 14-day free trial.With eMeals, you’ll never again have to ask yourself, “what’s for dinner.” That’s EMEALS.COM (Remember to tell them you heard about them from us when you check out.) In This Interview Tony and I Discuss...The One You Feed parableHow Tony used to feed his bad wolfHow we all need different approaches to changing our livesThe importance of the right teacherStarting with the physical aspect of changeWorking on the things we can controlThe mental benefits of physical actionThe downside of shortcuts to feeling betterDoing your best and forgetting the restFor more show notes and links to Tony visit us at our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sharon-Salzberg the one you feed  This week we talk to Sharon Salzberg about the essential questionSharon Salzberg is one of the worlds best know Buddhist teachers and has been leading meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. She teaches both intensive awareness practice (vipassana or insight meditation) and the profound cultivation of lovingkindness and compassion (the Brahma Viharas). She is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts and The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.She is the author of many books including the New York Times Best Seller, Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program, Love Your Enemies: How to Break the Anger Habit & Be a Whole Lot Happier with Robert Thurman, Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness. Sharon's latest book is Real Happiness At Work: Meditations for Accomplishment, Achievement, and Peace.Our Sponsor this Week is Spirituality and Health Magazine. Click here for your free trial issue and special offer. In This Interview Sharon and I Discuss...The One You Feed parableHer view on Lovingkindness after teaching about it f0r 20 yearsUnderstanding the ways that we are all connected to each otherThe difference between lovingkindness and compassionIdiot CompassionThat lovingkindness and compassion don't equate to weaknessThe fundamental teaching "Everyone wants to be happy"How it's never to late to make a changeLife lessons manifesting during meditationAvoiding the all or nothing mindsetHow nothing stays the same, especially our mindsetHow the mind is naturally radiant and pureThe "visitors" that obscure our mindHow what we resist persistsThe essential question to ask ourselvesBalancing repression and indulgence in our emotionsHow mindfulness is sometimes called "The Place In The Middle" For more show notes and links to Sharon's work please visit our webpageSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we talk to BJ Fogg about changing our behavior Dr. BJ Fogg directs the Persuasive Tech Lab at Stanford University. A psychologist and innovator, he devotes half of his time to industry projects. His work empowers people to think clearly about the psychology of persuasion — and then to convert those insights into real-world outcomes. BJ is the creator of the Fogg Behavioral Model, a new model of human behavior change, which guides research and design. Drawing on these principles, his students created Facebook Apps that motivated over 16 million user installations in 10 weeks. He is the author of Persuasive Technology: Using Computers to Change What We Think and Do, a book that explains how computers can motivate and influence people.  BJ is also the co-editor of Mobile Persuasion, as well as Texting 4 Health. Fortune Magazine selected BJ Fogg as one of the  “10 New Gurus You Should Know”. Our Sponsor this Week is Spirituality and Health Magazine. Click here for your free trial issue and special offer.  In This Interview BJ and I Discuss... The One You Feed parable The wolf you pay attention to is the one you feed The two main limits in life: time and attention The Fogg Behavioral Model- Motivation, Ability and Triggers How behavior change is about more than motivation Designing effective behavior change Managing the Ability part of the behavioral model Designing behavior to fit into our every day routines  For  more show notes and BJ Fogg links visit our websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.