Untangle

Today’s guest is Dr. Rick Hanson — a Psychologist and NY times Best Selling author of several books, including the book we discuss in this interview “Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence." He shares how we can hardwire our brains for happiness using practices that help us cultivate and experience the good in our lives while reducing our natural negativity biases.He shares why is it easier to ruminate over hurt feelings, negative feelings rather than to bask in the warmth of being appreciated or positive feelings. ? The negative stuff is like velcro…it sticks to us. But it doesn’t have to. He says we can build our inner strengths and capacity to override the brains habit of defaulting to pessimism. He suggests a simple method that uses the hidden power of everyday experiences to build new neural structures full of happiness, love, confidence, and peace. Encore.Visit rickhanson.net to see what he’s up to. And don’t forget to check out your free 30 days with the meditation studio app. Go to choosemuse.com/meditation studio. Reach us with ideas and suggestions at untangle@choosemuse.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Judson Brewer, a Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist and Author who specializes in the field of mindfulness and addiction. He is widely recognized for his work on understanding the mechanisms of craving and developing effective strategies to overcome addictive behaviors. One of his notable contributions is his research on the "Hunger Habit." He discussed this in his book, The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop.The Hunger Habit is a concept that explores the parallels between overeating and other forms of addiction. Brewer's research suggests that the root cause of many addictive behaviors, including overeating, lies in the craving and reward-based learning processes of the brain.Brewer's approach to breaking the Hunger Habit revolves around mindfulness. He believes that by bringing mindful awareness to our eating behaviors, we can develop a deeper understanding of our cravings and make more conscious choices. Mindfulness allows us to observe our thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment, enabling us to break the automatic and unconscious patterns of overeating.Overall, Judson Brewer is known for bridging the fields of mindfulness, neuroscience, and addiction, offering a unique perspective on breaking free from addictive patterns and fostering behavioral change through these mindfulness-based interventions.Want more from Judson? Go to drjud.com.Get the EatRightNow app at the App Store. Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.Transform your brain's potential with 15% of Muse. Use code UNTANGLE15 at checkout or visit choosemuse.com/UNTANGLE15.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is David Nichtern, a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 40 years. He is also a highly regarded, award winning composer, producer and guitarist, as well as the founder of two record companies. David has recorded and played with Stevie Wonder, Jerry Garcia, Paul Simon and many others. And to round out his background, he’s also a business consultant and author of the book, Creativity, Spirituality and Making a Buck — which is what we discuss today. David’s grasp of spirituality, mindfulness, music and entrepreneurship make him a unique animal, so to speak. The underlying principle of this book is that it’s possible to move toward balance, prosperity, happiness, and basic sanity in our lives as human beings. The core of the operating system that will get us there is recognizing how our minds work and how the world works to deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. He shares useful advice and practical tools for integrating all of who we are. Check out his programs at dharmamoon.com More on David. His mix of buddhism and music give him a unique perspective on creativity. He looks at the different ways that we humans define success. The principles he lays out in the book include cultivating clarity, intention and effort; success and contentment; surviving vs. thriving; authenticity and integrity. He also suggests many interpersonal skills that will support ‘right livelihood’ or ethical conduct. When offering insights on creativity in his book he says: Be daring, master your craft and consider a balance between patience, exertion and disciple and know when to let go. His book is available at all major book sellers. Get your 30 days of free meditations at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is one of my favorites of all time. When I first interviewed Parker Palmer, the writer, teacher, poet and all around wise and soulful human — it was near a birthday that was giving me some pause as I was feeling the weight of time passing. I felt such a rush of pure humanity from listening to his words. It was the best birthday gift. The book we discussed is called On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old. It’s one of 10 amazing books that he’s authored. He says we must accept all of who we are…our wholeness and our brokenness. Wholeness involves integrating your imperfections along with whatever degree of perfection you may have achieved. It means embracing brokenness as an important part of our lives. It all belongs. I loved when he said that our hearts stay supple when we learn to embrace the little heartbreaks of everyday life. Eventually, he says, we can say...Yes, I am my strengths and my weaknesses. I am my successes and my failures. I am a source of light and I can be dark. It's all there. Welcome it all as a part of being human. Parker has reached millions worldwide through his books, including the best-selling Healing the Heart of Democracy, Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, and A Hidden Wholeness. He also holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley and 13 honorary doctorates. He has won numerous awards, which are listed in our show notes. Encore Episode. SPECIAL OFFER: The Meditation Studio App is now FREE for 30 days. Unlock hundreds of meditations here: (⁠https://choosemuse.com/meditationstudio⁠) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrés González is a Puerto-Rican American teacher, author, and musician. He has taught yoga and meditation to diverse populations worldwide for twenty years and is a Co-Founder of the Holistic Life Foundation, founded in 2001. Andrés is a certified Health Coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and maintains a B.S. in Marketing and an MBA from the University of Maryland. His teaching and music center around the liberation of marginalized individuals and communities through personal empowerment, healing, and love. Let Your Light Shine is his first book. Ali Smith is a teacher and author, born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Ali’s life-long study of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness has served as the impetus for his pioneering work bringing trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness to underserved youth–and influencing education curriculum worldwide. He is the longtime Executive Director of the Holistic Life Foundation, a non-profit organization he co-founded in 2001 that brings yoga and mindfulness to schools and is the Co-Owner of The Involution Group, founded in 2019. Let Your Light Shine is his second book. Atman Smith is a teacher and author, born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. A lifelong student of yoga and meditation, his teaching focuses on empowering marginalized communities through yoga and meditation, transforming the minds and hearts of individuals who face racism, poverty, drugs, and oppression. For fifteen years, Atman has served as Director of Programming and Development for the Holistic Life Foundation, a non-profit organization he co-founded in 2001 that brings yoga and mindfulness to schools. He is also the Co-Owner of The Involution Group, founded in 2019. His lifework centers around reclaiming black masculinity as a path of peace, justice, freedom, and joy. Let Your Light Shine is his first book. Resources:Website: ⁠https://holisticlifefoundation.org⁠Book Website: ⁠https://letyourlightshinebook.com⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/holisticlifefoundation/⁠hlfinc.org Contact: ⁠info@hlfinc.org⁠You are encouraged to donate, or volunteer to be a teacher in your community Find them on Instagram, twitter, facebook @HolisticLifeFoundation.Muse, the brain sensing headband that helps you meditate is great for teens who want to meditate, and beginners as well as advanced meditators: ⁠www.choosemuse.com⁠ use the discount code Untangle15A study by Kansas State University showed that using Muse with teens lead to a 72% decrease in being sent to the principals office for behavioral correction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Stein Greenberg is Executive Director of Stanford University's d School (Design School) and is the author of the book, “Creative Acts for Curious People. How to Think, Create and Lead in Unconventional Ways’’. A quote from the book sums it up: “In an era of ambiguous, messy problems, as well as extraordinary opportunities for positive change, it’s vital to have both an inquisitive mind and the ability to act with intention. This book is filled with ways to build those skills with resilience, care, and confidence”.The tools and exercises in the book are a gift to the rest of us who’ve not yet had the opportunity to go through their programs designed to spark creativity, foster connection, and solve problems. From her Linkedin profile: Sarah leads a community of designers, faculty, and other innovative thinkers who help people unlock their creative abilities and apply them to the world. Sarah speaks regularly at universities and global conferences on design, business, and education. She holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA in history from Oberlin College. Sarah also serves as a trustee for Rare, a global conservation organization. Among other creative pursuits, she spends her free time as an underwater and wildlife photographer. She lives in San Francisco. Encore. Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.Transform your brain's potential with 15% of Muse. Use code UNTANGLE15 at checkout or visit choosemuse.com/UNTANGLE15.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Angel, author of "Unstoppable, A 90-Day Plan to Biohack Your Mind and Body for Success" shares how his early depression and lack of energy led him to ‘find solutions’ he never imagined would make him feel better. He made it his mission to explore alternatives beyond medicine and ‘self-help.’ His journey paid off! He talks about how you can close the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and shows us how to get fired up and focused with some tools that may have the power to change our lives forever. Encore. Check out the Meditation Studio App to get meditations for performance, focus and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monique Billings is a professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association. She was drafted into the WNBA in 2018. She shares her personal story about growing up with a strong family foundation, her meditation practice, her commitment to self-care, and her healthy routines. She has an amazing inner compass and an ability to follow her gut, her intuition, and her spirit. All of this makes her a great player...and a great human. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Katy Milkman, Wharton University Professor and author of the national bestseller, How to Change, The Science of Getting from Where you are to Where you Want to Be. The book was named one of the top 8 books for healthy living in 2021 by the NY Times. Katy has devoted her career to the study of behavior change, inspired by the fact that 40% of premature deaths are due to behaviors and habits we can actually change. She discusses the importance of understanding the barriers that stand between you and the change you’re trying to make so that you can find the right solution to each particular roadblock. Turning an uphill battle into a downhill one is one of the keys to success. She goes through the most common barriers which tend to be short-term rewards or instant gratification, procrastination, and forgetfulness. She provides some great research and tools to support habit change. Encore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristin Neff is an expert and pioneer in the field of self-compassion. Her most recent book is called Fierce Self Compassion: How Women can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim their Power and Thrive. She discusses how self-compassion allows us to be tender with ourselves in difficult situations, but also that it sometimes needs to be fierce — like the mama bear energy that comes from a place of love, service, and a desire to reduce harm. We must, she says, act courageously to protect ourselves from harm and injustice — and to motivate necessary change in ourselves and society. Her message…women can be fierce and tender. Best quote from the book: "Tender Self-Compassion harnesses the energy of nurturing to alleviate suffering while fierce Self-Compassion harnesses the energy of action to alleviate suffering." We need both. Encore. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices