Heart Rate Variability Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Fred Shaffer returns to discuss the frequency domains of heart rate variability and what they tell us about the health of our nervous system and bodies. Fredric Shaffer, PhD, BCB-HRV is a biological psychologist and professor of Psychology and former Department Chair at Truman State University, where he has taught since 1975 and has served as Director of Truman’s Center for Applied Psychophysiology since 1977. In 2008, he received the Walker and Doris Allen Fellowship for Faculty Excellence. In 2013, he received the Truman State University Outstanding Research Mentor of the Year award. Dr. Shaffer was the principal co-editor of Evidence-Based Practice in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback (3rd ed.) and authored 12 of its chapters. He was a co-editor with Donald Moss of Foundations of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback: A Book of Readings. He co-authored with Mark S. Schwartz a chapter on entering the field and assuring competence in Biofeedback: A Practitioner's Guide (4th ed.). He co-authored with Donald Moss, a chapter on biofeedback in the Textbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2nd ed.). He co-authored with Rollin McCraty and Christopher Zerr, the Frontiers in Psychology review article "A healthy heart is not a metronome: An integrative review of the heart's anatomy and heart rate variability." He co-authored with Jack Ginsberg, the Frontiers in Public Health review article “An Overview of heart rate variability (HRV) metrics and norms.” He is a contributing editor for the journal Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. His current research focuses on techniques to increase heart rate variability. Dr. Shaffer is a BCIA Senior Diplomate in Biofeedback. Dr. Shaffer is the Past-Chair of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA), director of its Biofeedback and HRV Biofeedback Task Forces, and member of its Neurofeedback Task Force, and Treasurer for the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB).  https://www.truman.edu/faculty-staff/fshaffer/

HRV nerds rejoice! Dr. Fred Shaffer, a friend of the show, returns to geek out about HRV time-domain measures. Fred and Matt deeply dive into the nature of metrics and what they tell us about nervous system functioning. Fredric Shaffer, PhD, BCB-HRV is a biological psychologist and professor of Psychology and former Department Chair at Truman State University, where he has taught since 1975 and has served as Director of Truman’s Center for Applied Psychophysiology since 1977. In 2008, he received the Walker and Doris Allen Fellowship for Faculty Excellence. In 2013, he received the Truman State University Outstanding Research Mentor of the Year award. Dr. Shaffer was the principal co-editor of Evidence-Based Practice in Biofeedback and Neurofeedback (3rd ed.) and authored 12 of its chapters. He was a co-editor with Donald Moss of Foundations of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback: A Book of Readings. He co-authored with Mark S. Schwartz a chapter on entering the field and assuring competence in Biofeedback: A Practitioner's Guide (4th ed.). He co-authored with Donald Moss, a chapter on biofeedback in the Textbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2nd ed.). He co-authored with Rollin McCraty and Christopher Zerr, the Frontiers in Psychology review article "A healthy heart is not a metronome: An integrative review of the heart's anatomy and heart rate variability." He co-authored with Jack Ginsberg, the Frontiers in Public Health review article “An Overview of heart rate variability (HRV) metrics and norms.” He is a contributing editor for the journal Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. His current research focuses on techniques to increase heart rate variability. Dr. Shaffer is a BCIA Senior Diplomate in Biofeedback. Dr. Shaffer is the Past-Chair of the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA), director of its Biofeedback and HRV Biofeedback Task Forces, and member of its Neurofeedback Task Force, and Treasurer for the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB).  https://www.truman.edu/faculty-staff/fshaffer/

Matt Bennett shares his thoughts on the recent Netflix documentary Untold: The Liver King in this current event episode. This cautionary story warns about influencer culture and how we talk about and promote valid practices like HRV biofeedback. 

Deb Borne joins Matt to discuss how she is integrating HRV into her work in addiction and medicine  Deb obtained her master’s degree in social work at Columbia University and her medical training at Brown University and UCSF. As both a social worker and a physician, she has worked with highly marginalized communities, including homeless persons, drug users, psychiatric patients, and incarcerated and recently released individuals. Deb is very interested in how research can inform and assist with community-based clinical work. HIV prevention is one of her personal and professional passions. https://cfar.ucsf.edu/people/deborah-borne

In this episode, Matt Bennett uses his expertise in motivation to help people start a successful and lasting HRV biofeedback practice habit. 

Discover the journey of integrating heart rate variability tracking into wellness practices and its effects on self-care. The discussion reflects on the early days of HRV biofeedback and the excitement of personal experiments. Dive into the role of self-disclosure in therapy, enhancing client comfort through shared experiences. Mindfulness emerges as a transformative tool, improving emotional regulation and daily interactions. Explore how posture and mindfulness practices influence heart rate variability, emphasizing self-compassion and adapting routines for busy lifestyles.

In this episode, Steven Paliakas joins Matt Bennett to discuss how his training and life experience with chiroprotic therapy, acupuncture, dry needling, and red light therapy inform his thinking and practice about his own health. We explore the role heart rate variability and HRV biofeedback played in his journey.

In this episode, Dr. Janell Mensigner joins Matt Bennett to discuss her recent research on eating pathology and interoceptive sensibility. We discuss the role of heart rate variability and HRV Biofeedback on interception and disordered eating. Read Janell's paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00223891.2024.2445706#abstract

In this episode, Dr. Seth Rose joins Matt Bennett to discuss his work with athletes and the military. We discuss his use of HRV and HRV biofeedback to support cognitive, mental, and physical health and what he has learned from those working to excel in stressful circumstances. 

Inspired by the recent documentaries Don't Die and Instagram's Worst Con Artist, Matt Bennett explores the intersection between HRV, influencers, and biohacking and how sometimes this world combines for good but holds potential dangers.