Changing Minds with Owen Fitzpatrick

In this episode of Changing Minds, I sit down with neuroscientist and author Dr. Nicholas Wright to explore the fascinating connections between the brain, moral decision-making, and war. We dive into: Why does every side believe they’re morally justified in war? How Culture and Identity Shape Nations and Conflicts. The neuroscience of metacognition, and how “thinking about thinking” can make us wiser. Lessons from World War II, Ukraine, and today’s global risks. How to stay informed in a world of misinformation and bias. If you’re curious about the intersection of neuroscience, history, and leadership, this conversation is for you.  

Join Alex Edmans, a finance professor at London Business School and author of 'May Contain Lies', as he delves into decision-making and the quirks of human bias. Discover how confirmation bias and black-and-white thinking distort our views. Alex unveils his Ladder of Mis-Inference and offers practical strategies to combat bias, like imagining opposing outcomes and embracing critical feedback. He also emphasizes recognizing AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, human insight. A must-listen for anyone seeking clarity in a noisy world!

In this episode of Changing Minds, I speak with James Kimmel Jr., J.D., lawyer, author of The Science of Revenge, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. James is a leading researcher on revenge, addiction, and forgiveness, and he was the first to identify compulsive revenge seeking as an addiction. He developed the behavioral and brain disease models of revenge addiction as public health approaches to prevent violence. James is also the creator of the Nonjustice System and the Miracle Court App, innovative tools that help people manage grievances, control revenge cravings, and embrace forgiveness. We also explore the difference between true justice and revenge, the neuroscience of forgiveness, and how forgiveness can rewire our brains. If you’ve ever struggled with anger, resentment, or the temptation to seek revenge, this conversation will provide you with powerful insights into how to move from pain toward peace. https://www.jameskimmeljr.com/  Miracle Court App available at https://www.miraclecourt.com Visit my website: https://owenfitzpatrick.com/ Join my Newsletter: https://owenfitzpatrick.com/newsletter/    

Dive into the fascinating world of mindset as belief effects reveal how expectations shape our experiences. Discover the brain's prefrontal cortex role in interpreting situations and physiological reactions. Owen shares eye-opening studies on how our perceptions of exercise, food, and sleep can drastically alter outcomes. Explore the growth mindset concept, and learn actionable strategies to cultivate positive change. Plus, find out how culture influences our mindsets and the surprising power of the placebo effect.

Your mind is incredible, but it isn’t always as objective as you think. In this rerun episode of Changing Minds, I explore 21 of the most common cognitive biases that quietly shape your decisions every single day—whether in your career, relationships, or personal growth. Why do first impressions stick with us? (Anchoring Bias) Why are we more attuned to potential risks than potential rewards? (Negativity Bias) And why does simply seeing something repeatedly make us feel more positively about it? (Mere Exposure Effect) By understanding these mental shortcuts, you’ll be better equipped to recognize hidden patterns in your thinking and make wiser, more intentional choices. Listen in and discover how to outsmart your brain’s blind spots. Visit my website: owenfitzpatrick.com Join my Newsletter: owenfitzpatrick.com/newsletter  

In this rerun of the Changing Minds Podcast, we explore the remarkable power of dopamine—the brain’s motivation molecule. Far more than just a “feel-good” chemical, dopamine shapes our habits, fuels our ambitions, and even influences how we see ourselves and the world. In this episode, I break down the science of how dopamine drives desire, learning, and belief change, and why it plays such a central role in both short-term behaviors and long-term goals. You’ll also learn practical strategies to boost, balance, and make the most of your dopamine levels—so you can sharpen your focus, strengthen your motivation, and create lasting change. If you’ve ever wondered why dopamine gets so much attention in neuroscience, or how you can harness it to improve your life, this episode is for you.  

In this classic episode of Changing Minds, I dive deep into the fascinating science of habit change. Drawing from over 30 years of helping people worldwide transform their routines, I unpack the psychology, history, and neuroscience behind how habits are formed and how to break or build them effectively. You’ll learn research-backed strategies from groundbreaking works like Atomic Habits and Tiny Habits, discover how dopamine drives your behavior, and explore practical techniques to create lasting change. Whether you want to finally drop a bad habit or lock in a powerful new one, this episode will give you the tools to make it happen. Visit my website: https://owenfitzpatrick.com/Join my Newsletter: https://owenfitzpatrick.com/newsletter/ Subscribe 🔴  

Dive into the layers of negative thinking and its surprising roots. Discover how cognition affects both mental and physical health. Explore the brain's inclination toward pessimism and the science behind it. Learn about common cognitive distortions that fuel negativity and practical strategies to change your mindset. From gratitude journaling to redefining your identity, find actionable tools to cultivate optimism. Plus, understand when negative thoughts can actually serve as motivation.

Rerun: How to Read a Person Like a Book This week I’m bringing back one of our most popular episodes because understanding people never goes out of style. Have you ever wished you could tell when someone is lying or sense what they’re truly feeling? While mind-reading isn’t real, this episode is packed with real-world tools to help you read people more accurately and intuitively. I’ll explore: How body language, voice tone, and micro-expressions offer hidden clues Why empathy and curiosity are your secret weapons How to avoid common biases and misreads in social interactions Ways to build stronger relationships and spot manipulation early If you want to connect better, listen deeper, and navigate conversations with more clarity, this one’s worth a replay. 🎧 Subscribe, share, and drop a comment—I’d love to hear what stood out for you. Visit my website: https://owenfitzpatrick.com/ Join my newsletter: https://owenfitzpatrick.com/newsletter/ #ChangingMinds #ReadingPeople #EmotionalIntelligence #BodyLanguage #Empathy #CommunicationSkills