SuperPsyched with Dr. Adam Dorsay

At some point in our lives—perhaps in science class—most of us have run an experiment. But how many of us have used ourselves as experimental subjects in our own studies? My guest on this episode, New York Times Bestselling author, AJ Jacobs (www.ajjacobs.com), has conducted experiments with himself as the subject numerous times and he writes about them in hilarious and often profound ways. For example, here are some of the experiments he describes in his outstanding books: · In a quest for superior knowledge, he read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. Yes, all 32,000-plus pages! · In a quest for superior health, he spent a year delving into a large number of health fads to find out if they were helpful. · In a quest to better understand religion, he spent a full year trying to live by the strict rules of the Bible and to the letter. · In a quest to better understand gratitude, he ventured out to thank the more than 1,000 people who were responsible for providing his morning cup of coffee. That meant tracking down and thanking the growers of the coffee beans in South America, the makers of the coffee cup, the people who kept rodents out of the coffee itself, and so many otherwise-invisible people who contributed to his morning cup. · And in a quest to find the interconnectedness of humanity all over the globe, AJ attempted to create the largest family reunion gathering ever by contacting thousands of people distantly related to him through DNA tests. In this interview, AJ unpacks the many benefits of having an experimental life mindset. It can increase curiosity causing you to think differently and more flexibly. It can keep you physically healthier. And it can certainly give you great ideas to improve your life in unexpected ways. On a personal note, I have read all of AJ's work and I am a huge fan. As it happens, I am not alone. His work has garnered scores of overwhelmingly positive reviews, and one that really resonates with me comes from People Magazine that stated AJ’s work is, “Both laugh-out-loud funny and enlightening.” I am thrilled to have AJ as a guest and I'm sure you will find this to be a highly informative and entertaining exchange about the benefits of life as an experiment. www.viacharacter.org Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743291484/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_WG0XM0H1QGKSE6YRRJH7?linkCode=ml2&tag=superpsyche0b-20 This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

Cults…they’re scary, predatory, and life-sucking. Perhaps you know someone who was in a cult. These days, with loneliness at an all-time high, our basic human desire to feel connected and belong can make us vulnerable.  Pair that with the nefarious and novel ways cults can reach out through the Internet, we are more threatened than ever by their presence. Truly, anyone can be a victim of a charismatic, malignantly narcissistic, and delusional leader. HBO’s documentary series, The Vow, is one of many shows that go into great depth showing us that smart, well-intentioned people can be manipulated badly. Knowledge is power and my expert guest on this episode, Daniel Shaw (www.danielshawlcsw.com), is the perfect person to teach us about cults. For many years, he was a member of a cult and, fortunately, he found his way out. Today, Dan is a highly-regarded author, psychoanalyst, clinical supervisor, and teacher. His brilliant book, Traumatic Narcissism, has been described by a colleague at Harvard Medical School as a “must-read for any of us who have worked with victims of traumatizing narcissists or been their victims ourselves.” So, listen in as Dan and I have a lively and informative discussion about cults and what you need to know. https://www.icsahome.com Book Link: https://amzn.to/465fCII This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

Have you ever noticed that even though childhood was a long time ago, on some level, it feels like it was yesterday? In some cases, we recall positive experiences. In others, we remember our hurts and, even worse, our traumas. On this episode, we will be talking about trauma and some ways you can help reduce its harmful effects. Dr. Mark Forman is a psychologist and the author of a book called “The Monster’s Journey” that details both clinical aspects of trauma as well as Mark's own personal experience with it. Mark’s idea to use themes of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and, instead, transpose a monster, is profound and he will explain what that means and how it can be helpful to anyone who has experienced trauma. On a personal note, I have collaborated with Mark on various projects over the years. I have been impressed with Mark’s clinical skills as well as his ability to articulate useful ideas that people can put into their own lives to improve their healing processes. So, join Mark and me as we delve into healing trauma through his lens, also known as the Monster’s Journey. You can find the Monster’s Journey here: https://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Journey-Trauma-Connection-ebook/dp/B08DHPDRGR/ref=pd_sim_351_1/141-9914724-7762615?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B08DHPDRGR&pd_rd_r=581f392b-b979-445c-9d4d-379d47b45e4c&pd_rd_w=iufuq&pd_rd_wg=M9NQk&pf_rd_p=37f7dfa1-8c4e-4106-9502-a190ed3a2f4f&pf_rd_r=7MKNEA35SJ9DN7EYPDD4&psc=1&refRID=7MKNEA35SJ9DN7EYPDD4 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Quiz: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean Book Link: https://amzn.to/43ETuTS This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

Have you ever wondered what a dog was thinking? I know I have and, amazingly, today's guest has some answers. Dr. Gregory Burns (http://gregoryberns.com/) is a neuroscientist who holds both a doctorate in medicine as well as a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. He is a professor of psychology at Emory University and has found a way to comfortably place dogs in a functional MRI machine to discover what areas of their brains are active in the face of various cues. His book, How Dogs Love Us, is a Wall Street Journal Bestseller and it has been heralded by multiple media outlets, including the Boston Globe, which said it “explains why our two species have lived together so long and happily.”  As for me, I say it is utterly fascinating and highly recommended to anyone who loves dogs or is curious about their behavior. So join Greg and me as we have a lively and highly informative conversation about how dogs think. Book Link: https://amzn.to/43ZzKdk This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

The expert on this episode is the perfect person to explain how and why pets are so good for us. Carol Novello was CEO of Humane Society Silicon Valley and now serves as CEO and founder of an organization called Mutual Rescue (https://mutualrescue.org/). Simply put, Carol is amazing. She earned a Harvard MBA, worked for years in the corporate sector, and then pivoted to devote her life to addressing the pet-human bond. She is the author of a fantastic book called “Mutual Rescue” and she has studied how the pet-human bond is reciprocal and her book has a huge bibliography corroborating her work. And on her Mutual Rescue website, she shares films that clearly show the measurable impact pets have had in their humans’ lives. So join Carol and me as we have a lively discussion on how the pets we rescue end up rescuing us right back. Book Link: https://amzn.to/4429VJX This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

Ok, I’ll admit it—I spent a lot of my youth fantasizing about being a Rockstar.  You know, singing with the car stereo and imagining being on stage...it was my dream.  I’m guessing I wasn’t alone. I imagine you too have probably fantasized about being a rock or pop star at least once in your life. But what’s it actually like to be a Rock star?  What goes into writing major hit songs?  As it happens, today’s guest knows firsthand, and he is super generous and straightforward in sharing his story.  Greg Camp is best known as the former lead guitarist and primary songwriter for Smash Mouth.  He wrote All Star, Walking on the Sun, Then the Morning Comes, and nearly everything Smash Mouth released leading to sales in the millions and bringing Smash Mouth to gold and platinum status causing them to tour all over the globe. Although Greg left the band some time ago, music and sound remain front and center in his life.  He continues to write brilliant music for himself, other musicians like the Jonas Brothers and Chainsmokers, and for movies.  You can find links to some of these in the Shownotes and I highly recommend you give them a listen. In the meantime, listen in as Greg and I have a lively, fun, and intimate discussion about life as a Rock star. https://www.instagram.com/greg_camp_music/?hl=en https://music.apple.com/us/album/closer/1530166981?i=1530166984

There are lots of misconceptions about forgiveness. What is it and what is it not? Why is forgiveness an important skill and how do we get good at it? And what if we believe we can’t or don’t want to forgive? These, and many other questions, will be fielded by one of the world’s leading experts in the study and the science of forgiveness. Dr. Frederic Luskin (https://learningtoforgive.com/about/) is a clinical psychologist and the Director of the Stanford Forgiveness Project at Stanford University where he also lectures at its School of Medicine. Fred is also the author of a best-selling book called “Forgive for Good,” which was heralded by Publisher’s Weekly as a “solidly researched and convincing guide,” and he teaches forgiveness all over the world. Fred has taught forgiveness in places as diverse as Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, as well as New York City after the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. So, join Fred and me as we have a lively and informative conversation about how to forgive and what’s in it for you if you do. Book Link: https://amzn.to/3Pchk58 This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

Have you ever done something and then afterwards asked yourself, “Why the heck did I do that?” It can be as if we have an angel and a devil on our shoulders giving us good advice and bad. What if we actually thought of ourselves as having several different parts within us rather than just the two? Some of those parts we like, and some we don’t. For those that we don’t, it can be like a nasty game of whack-a-mole with yourself to try to pat down those parts and even suppress them. If you can relate, then welcome to the human race—we all do it and we all have various parts within us; parts we like and parts we don’t.  The important thing is to get to know these parts, to get curious, and not just pretend they aren’t there by keeping them out of sight and out of mind. You may ask, how do I get to know these parts? And, exactly why is that important? Thankfully, we have just the man to answer these questions and to describe the therapy he has created around that idea.  Dr. Richard Schwartz (https://ifs-institute.com/about-us/richard-c-schwartz-phd) who goes by the name Dick, is the father of a form of psychotherapy called Internal Family Systems, which is also known as IFS.  IFS provides methods for us to know our parts and be more in control of our lives.  IFS has gained international recognition for its effectiveness with a host of mental health conditions including, to name just a few: PTSD, depression, anxiety, phobias, and substance abuse. It’s even been shown as effective with various physical conditions including rheumatoid arthritis! Dick is a luminary in psychology and easily one of the best-known people in the entire field today.  He explains how IFS can help us know our parts and why that is such a crucial thing for us all. So, listen in as Dick and I have a lively and user-friendly exchange about knowing the parts that make you YOU. Book Link: https://amzn.to/3p29S1O This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay).

What does it take to be a great employee? And if we zoom out, what are practices that companies can use to help employees flourish? These, and other questions are answered by my expert Human Resources guest who is the ideal person to address them. Lissa Minkin is VP of People and Workplace at Tile (https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/about-tile). She has played instrumental roles at several companies including eBay and Facebook and has helped the growth of every company she’s touched. Lissa is passionate about her work, a great implementor and sustainer of healthy corporate culture, and fiercely loyal to the people she serves. Also, full-disclosure, I am a shareholder at Tile where Lissa now works, and that had nothing to do with my selecting her as a guest. I chose her because I have known her work for well over a decade and have been a fan of the healthy practices she promotes in the workplace and I believe listeners will benefit. So, join Lissa and me as we have a lively and user-friendly conversation about being happier at work.

When you hear the word “hypnosis,” what do you imagine? Perhaps you imagine a well-dressed doctor with a heavy Viennese accent with a pocket watch swinging back and forth. Perhaps you imagine a person on stage entertaining an audience. But what really is hypnosis? And how can it help us lead healthier and more fulfilling lives? These questions and more will be answered by my guest, Dr. Jeffrey Zeig (www.jeffreyzeig.com), who is one of the world’s top authorities on hypnosis. Jeff has trained people in clinical hypnosis in over 40 countries, he has practiced hypnosis for thousands of hours over the past 40 years, and he has authored multiple books on the topic.  In addition, Jeff was the direct protege of Dr. Milton Erickson who, in my estimation, was the most important person in the advancement of hypnosis. Jeff is the founder and Director of the Milton Erickson Foundation, as well as the architect of one of the most well-attended international conferences of psychotherapy called The Evolution of Psychotherapy, and he works as a psychologist in Phoenix, Arizona. We will address questions like: what can hypnosis do for me? Who should I see if I want to receive hypnotherapy? And what criteria are important in selecting a professional? It is my pleasure to bring Jeff to you as we have a lively and user-friendly conversation about hypnosis. Book Link: https://amzn.to/3JbWPl4 This is an affiliate link. It will provide me with a small commission on purchases made through it and help the podcast (but it won’t affect the price you pay)..