My guest today is Dr. Steven C. Hayes. Steven Hayes is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno and President of the Institute for Better Health, a 45-year old charitable organization dedicated to better mental and behavioral health. With 47 books and nearly 700 scientific articles published, Dr. Hayes is one of the most cited psychologists in the world as he continues to innovate in the field of psychology. He is the developer of Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).Some of the topics we explore include: - The launching of the PsychFlex and Mindgrapher apps- How this opens the potential for 24/7 integration of treatment- The ways we can better attend to often ignored client issues - The limitations of the DSM and its history- Moving away from a one size fits all approach to treatment- The current development of new data sets and statistical methods- Hope for the future of behavioral health and helping people—————————————————————————Dr. Steven Hayes’ Website: https://stevenchayes.com/PsychFlex: https://psychflex.com/signup/A Liberated Mind: https://a.co/d/aGBpF8S—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today is Anna Lembke, MD. Dr. Lembke is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, keeps an active speaking calendar, and maintains a thriving clinical practice.Her new book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence was an instant New York Times Bestseller,  and explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world.Some of the topics we explore include:- Dr. Lembke’s path through medical school and psychiatry training- Early lessons learned about substance use and addiction- The neurobiological overlap between addictive and compulsive behavior- How Dr. Lembke navigates some of the highly stimulating parts of the modern world- Childhood development and technology - The way compulsive overconsumption can lead to a dopamine deficit state- What it’s like having Dopamine Nation be so well known - What matters most to Dr. Lembke in her life today—————————————————————————Dr. Lembke’s Website: https://www.annalembke.com/Dopamine Nation: https://a.co/d/5VQODAp—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today is Dr. Jud Brewer. Dr. Jud is a New York Times best-selling author, neuroscientist, addiction psychiatrist, and thought leader in the field of habit change. He is the Director of Research and Innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, where he also serves as an associate professor. He is the executive medical director of behavioral health at Sharecare Inc. and a research affiliate at MIT. Dr. Jud has developed and tested novel mindfulness programs for habit change, including treatments for smoking, emotional eating, and anxiety. His new book is called The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop, which we discuss in the episode.Some of the topics we explore include: - How all urges converge in one place in the brain- How our biological drives around food cause challenges in the modern context- The way we  use food to numb ourselves from difficult emotions- The healing potential of curiosity- Challenges with mindless eating- The difference between hunger and craving—————————————————————————Dr. Jud’s Website: https://drjud.com/The Hunger Habit: https://a.co/d/5VQODAp—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today is Dr. Sarah Pegrum. Sarah is a Clinical Psychologist and ACT Peer-Reviewed Trainer who has been working in the field of body image, weight stigma, and eating disorders for over 15 years. Dr. Pegrum is the outgoing president of the Atlantic Canada Chapter of ACBS. She is also the author of the new book, Break the Binds of Weight Stigma: Free Yourself from Body Image Struggles Using Acceptance and Commitment TherapySome of the topics we explore include: - Dr. Pegrum's move from Australia to Canada- How she was first introduced to ACT- How ACT helped Sarah moved through loss and grief - Challenges people face related to body image and weight stigma- Some of the unhelpful messages we receive about our bodies- And how seeing our bodies as problems can keep us from what is most important—————————————————————————Dr. Pegrum's Website: https://drsarahpegrum.com/Break the Binds of Weight Stigma: https://a.co/d/9jq1A5L—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today is Steve Haberlin, PhD. Steve is a researcher and academic who has studied mindfulness and meditation in higher education settings for the past decade. As an assistant professor in the College of Community Innovation & Education at the University of Central Florida, he currently researches meditation practices with undergraduates. Steve’s most recent book is called Meditation in the College Classroom, which we discuss in this episode.Some of the topics we explore include: - How Steve first got into meditation and mindfulness- The benefits of meditation on unhelpful mind wandering - Why only a small percentage of people regularly meditate - Some nuances using meditation in a clinical setting- What led Steve to research meditation in the college classroom- The need for education systems to  focus on the development of a whole person- And how teachers to start integrating meditation into the classroom—————————————————————————Steve’s Website: https://www.stevehaberlin.com/Meditation in the College Classroom: https://a.co/d/2jwzVMr—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today is Oliver Burkeman. Oliver is the author of the New York Times bestseller Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, which is about embracing the finite nature of life and finally getting around to what matters most. He is also the author of  The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking and Help!: How to Be Slightly Happier, Slightly More Successful and Get a Bit More Done. For many years Oliver wrote a popular column on psychology for The Guardian called, This Column Will Change Your Life. He currently writes a newsletter called, The Imperfectionist, where he discusses productivity, mortality, and building a meaningful life in an age of distraction. Oliver is also a contributor to Sam Harris’ meditation app, Waking Up. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: - How Oliver’s work overlaps with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Oliver’s background and how it helped him understand what doesn’t work regarding time management- The idea of paying yourself first with time- Making our peace with not being able to do everything that matters- The importance of finding value in experiences themselves - How our limitations are connected to distraction and impatience - Oliver’s new book that he is currently writing—————————————————————————Oliver’s website: https://www.oliverburkeman.com/4000 Weeks: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374159122Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliverburkeman—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today is Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman. Scott is a cognitive scientist and humanistic psychologist  He is among the top 1% most cited scientists in the world for his groundbreaking research on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. He is the founder and director of the Center for Human Potential and the author of several books, including “Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization.” Scott is also the host of The Psychology Podcast, which frequently ranks as the #1 psychology podcast and has over 30 million downloads.Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: - The influence of individuals like Alan Watts and Abraham Maslow- Scott’s latest book “Transcend” and his sailboat metaphor to understand the hierarchy of needs- How the full vitality of life requires discomfort- Areas of Scott’s personal growth- Vulnerable Narcissism - What it’s been like doing The Psychology Podcast for almost 10 years- The difference between being-love and deficiency-love- And the connection between transcendence and spirituality —————————————————————————Scott’s website: https://scottbarrykaufman.com/Transcend: https://a.co/d/79Lrh83Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottbarrykaufman/?hl=en—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today is Ben Eckstein, LCSW. Ben is a therapist specializing in the treatment of OCD, Anxiety, and OC-Spectrum Disorders. He is the owner and director of Bull City Anxiety & OCD Treatment Center in Durham, North Carolina. In addition to his clinical work, Ben is also an accomplished speaker, trainer, and is the author of the new book, Worrying is Optional: Break the Cycle of Anxiety and Rumination That Keeps You Stuck. He also serves on the board of OCD North Carolina, the state affiliate of the International OCD Foundation.Some of the topics we explore in this episode include: - How Ben ended up writing Worrying is Optional- The overlap between Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - How worrying can get in the way of other areas of life that are more important - Understanding the habitual nature of worry- The power of choosing what not to do- The role of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in addressing worry and rumination- Ben’s background working in residential treatment for OCD—————————————————————————Worrying Is Optional: https://a.co/d/aE4FjqKBen’s practice: https://www.bullcityanxiety.com/Instagram: @bullcityanxiety—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:You can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today Jill Stoddard, PhD. Jill is a psychologist, writer, TEDx speaker, award-winning teacher, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, and co-host of the popular Psychologists Off the Clock podcast. She is the author of three books: The Big Book of ACT Metaphors, Be Mighty, and Imposter No More: Overcome Self-doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career. Jill’s writing has appeared in places like The Washington Post and Psychology Today, and she regularly appears on podcasts and other media outlets. Some of the topics we explore include:- Jill’s new book, Imposter No More- How and why she opens up about her own struggles in the book- Learning that can come from our fears coming true - The history of “Imposter Syndrome” and why it makes sense- The different strategies people use to try to cover up their imposter thoughts and feelings- The challenge and value of being vulnerable in a public way- Skills and exercises to help work on imposter related challenges- And the importance of learning how to accept discomfort —————————————————————————Jill’s Website: https://jillstoddard.com/Imposter No More: https://a.co/d/iDJsikJJill’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/jillastoddardPsychologists Off The Clock: https://offtheclockpsych.com/—————————————————————————If you find value in the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests. I also love reading them! Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth

My guest today is Dr. Patricia Zurita Ona, or 'Dr Z' as she is commonly known. She a clinical psychologist specializing in children, adolescents, and adults struggling with OCD, anxiety, and emotion regulation problems. Dr Z is the founder of East Bay Behavior Therapy Center, a therapy practice, where she runs an intensive outpatient program integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). She is the creator of “ACT beyond OCD,” an online class for people that want to augment their ACT and ERP skills for tackling OCD. In addition to her clinical work, Dr Zurita Ona supervises and teaches doctoral students at The Wright Institute, a private graduate school for psychology. She has also authored several books and workbooks which I can leave links for belowSome of the topics we explore include:- The importance of behavioral flexibility in the face of adversity- The difference between harmonious passions and obsessive behaviors- How perfectionism can show up in a range of life areas- Common challenges related to decision making, regret, and the fear of failure - How a connection to a deeper awareness can help us move through difficulty- The role of psychedelic-assisted therapy in cultivating an observer self—————————————————————————Dr. Z’s website: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/OCD Workbook: https://www.thisisdoctorz.com/act-workbook-for-adults-with-ocd/Twitter: https://twitter.com/drz_behaviorist—————————————————————————If you find value in the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests. I also love reading them! Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truth