
Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson
Forrest Hanson is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson and a world-class group of experts to explore the practical science of lasting well-being. Conversations focus on the key insights from psychology, science, and contemplative practice that you need to build reliable inner strengths, overcome your challenges, and get the most out of life. New episodes every Monday.
Latest episodes

Oct 29, 2018 • 30min
Ep. 42: Repairing Relationships
At even the best of times, our relationships require a natural process of correction – let’s call it repair – to clear up little misunderstandings and ease points of friction. Doing that skillfully is the focus of today's episode.If you'd like to start making real, positive changes to your brain and your life, but you don't have a lot of extra time, then you may want to check out Rick Hanson's new program: Just One Minute. Use the code BEINGWELL at checkout for 10% off the purchase price.Sponsor Message: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Connect with the show:
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The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:1:15: What are the common things that require repair?3:25: The problem of resisting repair.9:00: Checking our attributions and understandings.15:30: Negotiating relevant values.17:40: Know that your needs matter.20:50: Expressing your needs clearly.22:15: Scaling your relationships.23:40: Repair as an expression of caring.25:45: Leading with the good.27:00: Recap
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Oct 22, 2018 • 39min
Ep. 41: How to Assert Yourself Effectively
Relationships go smoothly when everyone wants the same thing. But how common is that? On this episode, Forrest and Dr. Hanson continue the strength of Courage by exploring how we can assert ourselves effectively.If you'd like to start making real, positive changes to your brain and your life, but you don't have a lot of extra time, then you may want to check out Rick Hanson's new program: Just One Minute. Use the code BEINGWELL at checkout for 10% off the purchase price.Sponsor Message: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Connect with the show:
Visit us on the web
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Subscribe on iTunes
The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:1:15: Why do people struggle to assert themselves effectively?3:10: Setting the stage for asserting yourself.8:45: Keeping your eyes on the prize.11:50: Commenting on process.16:10: Focusing on the future.18:15: What would it look like if you got what you wanted?24:00: Make requests, not demands.25:50: Making requests with dignity.28:50: Consolidating your gains.30:45: Make clear agreements.32:15: How can I help you do this?37:10: Recap
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Oct 15, 2018 • 46min
Ep. 40: Speaking from the Heart
Think about the weight of what’s been unsaid in your relationships. What have the effects been on you and other people? Today we’ll explore how to express those undelivered communications, and "speak from the heart" with kindness and skill.If you'd like to start making real, positive changes to your brain and your life, but you don't have a lot of extra time, then you may want to check out Rick Hanson's new program: Just One Minute. Use the code BEINGWELL at checkout for 10% off the purchase price.Sponsor Message: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Connect with the show:
Visit us on the web
Follow us on Instagram
Follow Rick on Facebook
Follow Forrest on Facebook
Subscribe on iTunes
The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:1:25: What do you mean by speaking from the heart?3:00: What do we gain by speaking from the heart?5:10: Speaking the positive as well as the negative.6:20: The different dangers in speaking from the heart.8:00: Establishing safety.11:45: Being clear about our own facts.15:30: What are the results you’re aiming for?16:30: Talking about process.21:20: Knowing your line in the sand.22:30: Start by joining.26:00: Leading with “I feel.”28:15: Wise speech.35:20: Continuing to practice empathy.37:15: Nonviolent communication.40:15: Honoring other people’s fundamental questions.43:00: Recap
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Oct 8, 2018 • 23min
Ep. 39: People Aren't Dependable. Now What?
We have a natural desire for a reliable world - but life happens, and no person or organization is perfectly dependable. Dr. Hanson and Forrest explore how we can learn to manage that natural undependability.If you'd like to learn more about Dr. Hanson's online program The Foundations of Well Being, follow this link! Use the code BEINGWELL10 for 10% off the purchase price.Connect with the show:
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The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:2:00: Our expectations of dependability.5:00: The undependability of experience.7:30: The inevitability of disappointment.12:30: Centering amidst disappointment.17:00: Seeing what IS dependable.20:40: Recap.
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Oct 2, 2018 • 37min
Ep. 38: How to Keep Your Eyes On the Prize
It’s easy to spend more time dwelling on the faults of others than reflecting on the room for improvement in oneself. Dr. Hanson and Forrest explore how "unilateral virtue" helps us focus on our side of the street, and keep our eyes on the prize.If you'd like to start making real, positive changes to your brain and your life, but you don't have a lot of extra time, then you may want to check out Rick Hanson's new program: Just One Minute. Use the code BEINGWELL at checkout for 10% off the purchase price.Sponsor Message: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Connect with the show:
Visit us on the web
Follow us on Instagram
Follow Rick on Facebook
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Subscribe on iTunes
The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:1:10: Where does unilateral virtue come from?3:15: Being virtuous without becoming a doormat.7:20: Fulfilling expectations and creating a framework of trust.12:20: Doing things out of the kindness of our heart.14:50: How can we establish our personal code?18:00: Ways to set and keep personal commitments.20:10: The difference between inner and other directed.24:00: Other tactics for maintaining unilateral virtue.25:30: Staying calm during an irritating interaction.29:00: Staying humble about how righteous you are.31:35: Feeling “at choice.”34:15: Recap.
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Sep 24, 2018 • 26min
Ep. 37: Become Kinder and More Compassionate
One would think it would be obvious, but the importance of warming the heart, and developing greater compassion and kindness as personal traits, is often overlooked in our important relationships. Dr. Hanson draws on 35+ years of couples counseling experience to teach us how to do just that.If you'd like to start making real, positive changes to your brain and your life, but you don't have a lot of extra time, then you may want to check out Rick Hanson's new program: Just One Minute. Use the code BEINGWELL at checkout for 10% off the purchase price.Sponsor Message: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Connect with the show:
Visit us on the web
Follow us on Instagram
Follow Rick on Facebook
Follow Forrest on Facebook
Subscribe on iTunes
The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:0:45: The less obvious reasons to be compassionate and kind.5:00: The difference between compassion and kindness.9:00: Loving at will.11:30: Ways we can increase our capacity for compassion and kindness.14:00: Respecting the boundaries of others.16:30: Compassion and kindness while maintaining clear boundaries.18:10: The protection of warmheartedness.19:35: The difference between doing a negative thing and receiving a negative response.20:45: Being loving inside yourself.21:35: Two equally valuable ways to be loving and kind.22:40: Loving others helps heal our wounds around love.24:15: Recap
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Sep 17, 2018 • 35min
Ep. 36: How to Become More Empathic
One of the most important interpersonal skills is empathy, which allows us to tune into and understand other people. Dr. Hanson and Forrest continue their discussion on Intimacy by exploring how we can grow this key strength.If you'd like to start making real, positive changes to your brain and your life, but you don't have a lot of extra time, then you may want to check out Rick Hanson's new program: Just One Minute. Use the code BEINGWELL at checkout for 10% off the purchase price.Sponsor Message: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Connect with the show:
Visit us on the web
Follow us on Instagram
Follow Rick on Facebook
Follow Forrest on Facebook
Subscribe on iTunes
The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:0:30: Why do we need to be empathic in order to be intimate?1:50: Where does empathy come from biologically?5:15: Summary of the three ways we can show empathy.5:50: Is empathy a trait that can be developed?8:15: Sustaining your attention to other people.10:35: Letting yourself be truly affected by another person.12:30: Empathic joining vs. problem solving.13:55: Having empathy for perspectives very different from your own.18:45: Ways to have empathy in the moment.20:00: Feeling felt.21:20: Using empathy responsibly.22:00: Empathic imagination.24:15: How to avoid playing the psychologist.26:00: Being aware of true intentions.27:40: Managing tone and using empathy to communicate.30:25: Finding me and we through empathy.
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Sep 10, 2018 • 37min
Ep. 35: Developing Intimacy and Autonomy
Rick Hanson, a renowned expert in neuroscience and personal development, joins the discussion to explore the delicate balance between intimacy and autonomy. They delve into how maintaining independence can enhance emotional connections and the importance of establishing healthy boundaries. The conversation also touches on the impact of childhood experiences on adult emotional expression, revealing how societal pressures can overshadow authentic communication. Listeners will gain insights into fostering self-awareness to nurture deeper, more satisfying relationships.

Sep 5, 2018 • 31min
Ep. 34: Learn to Pursue Your Goals
On this unique episode, Forrest interviews Dr. Hanson about his personal story of motivation – including how to transform from someone who lacks a natural feeling of motivation to someone who can diligently pursue their goals.If you'd like to start making real, positive changes to your brain and your life, but you don't have a lot of extra time, then you may want to check out Rick Hanson's new program: Just One Minute. Use the code BEINGWELL at checkout for 10% off the purchase price.Sponsor Message: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Connect with the show:
Visit us on the web
Follow us on Instagram
Follow Rick on Facebook
Follow Forrest on Facebook
Subscribe on iTunes
The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:2:00: Learning how to naturally motivate yourself.5:00: Valuing your unique gifts.6:30: Adding up an extra two hours.8:30: Sustaining motivation through a long day.11:45: Reducing the friction in your life.14:10: The importance of taking decisive action.17:00: The difference between motivation and discipline.19:20: The feeling of commitment toward your goals.26:00: Recognizing how limited our time is.
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Aug 27, 2018 • 50min
Ep. 33: How to Motivate Yourself
We all have things we know would be good to do, but it’s hard to do them. On this episode, Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest focus on a key aspect of motivation: how we can incline our minds to break bad habits, and want the things that are good for it.If you'd like to start making real, positive changes to your brain and your life, but you don't have a lot of extra time, then you may want to check out Rick Hanson's new program: Just One Minute. Use the code BEINGWELL at checkout for 10% off the purchase price.Sponsor Message: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link.Connect with the show:
Visit us on the web
Follow us on Instagram
Follow Rick on Facebook
Follow Forrest on Facebook
Subscribe on iTunes
The material in this podcast comes in large part from our book Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. If you like the podcast, you'll love the book!Timestamps:0:40: Why doesn’t just knowing that something is bad stop us from doing it?2:55: How does motivation work biologically?7:00: The importance of connecting good behaviors to direct rewards.8:50: Becoming good at imagining rewards.12:40: Internalizing reward along the way.14:20: Imbuing simple tasks with meaning.17:30: Bringing playfulness to what you do.19:30: Is there genetic variation in how easily motivated people are?23:35: Having empathy for biological differences between people.27:40: The relationship between nature and nurture.33:35: The value of fulfilling expectations.37:25: Identifying novelty.39:40: Finding the fun factor.41:00: Self-nurturance vs. self-criticism.46:15: Recap
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