
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

4 snips
Jun 13, 2018 • 24min
Ep. 23: Stop Punishing Yourself
Our negative reactions to the painful experiences of life that are often more harmful than those experiences themselves. Dr. Hanson and Forrest explore how we can avoid these “second darts."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:0:40: What are the first and second darts?2:50: An example of first and second darts.5:15: Finding where you have influence.7:15: Avoiding adding second darts.12:30: Not fueling second darts.15:00: Changing the channel on second darts.15:50: Managing second darts in relationships.18:55: Sticking to first darts when communicating.21:10: Recap
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8 snips
Jun 4, 2018 • 43min
Ep. 22: Secure and Insecure Attachment
Attachment Theory is one of the most important frameworks in psychology. Dr. Hanson and Forrest explore why this theory is so relevant for everyday life, and how adults who may have had challenging childhood relationships can become more securely attached in the here and now.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:1:00: The spectrum of confidence.2:10: How does confidence “get into” the brain?4:30: Learning confidence.5:45: Why do we care so much about the opinions of other people?10:30: The link between social and physical pain.12:45: Secure and insecure attachment.20:00: Attaching differently to different kinds of people.23:50: How to become more securely attached.30:30: Why does creating a coherent narrative help us become more securely attached?35:50: Being someone others can securely attach to.40:40: Recap
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May 28, 2018 • 25min
Ep. 21: How to Be Happy for Other People
Discover how happiness for others serves as a powerful antidote to envy and disappointment. The hosts delve into the psychological benefits of celebrating others, even those with whom we struggle. They discuss the importance of mending relationships through altruistic joy and how it can enhance emotional well-being. Furthermore, learn practical strategies to overcome blocks to genuine happiness for others, fostering compassion and connection. Embrace the art of joyfully supporting others to cultivate a healthier, more resilient mindset.

4 snips
May 14, 2018 • 22min
Ep. 19: Take in the Good
So many good things happen to us that we don't take the time to fully take in. Dr. Hanson and Forrest look at the role fully taking in the good things in life has in the process of building mental strengths.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:0:20: Why focus on taking pleasure.1:45: The many little opportunities to take pleasure.4:05: The psychological benefits of pleasure.6:50: Why do so many people struggle with taking pleasure?9:45: Consumption vs. appreciation13:00: How can we get better at taking pleasure?16:00: Finding pleasure through relating.19:30: Recap
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May 7, 2018 • 33min
Ep. 18: Why Gratitude Is a Gift to Yourself
We think of gratitude as a gift to others, but it's often a wonderful gift to ourselves. Dr. Hanson and Forrest move on to the fifth of the twelve strengths they’ll be covering during this series: Gratitude. During this episode they explore the role of positive emotions generally, and particularly the value of “thankfulness.”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:1:00: Why use “gratitude” as a blanket term for positive emotions?1:45: What benefits do positive emotions have for mental health?5:55: Why did you choose to focus your work on increasing positive experiences rather than reducing negative ones?8:15: What are the psychological benefits of “thankfulness?”12:20: Critiques of telling people to ‘just be grateful for what they have.’17:00: Dealing with blocks to thankfulness.23:30: How can we become more thankful?28:25: Using gratitude to move into agency.31:00: Recap
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18 snips
May 5, 2018 • 33min
Ep. 20: Forming a Healthy Relationship with Goals
How can we set and stick to our goals without getting overly attached to them or punishing ourselves if we backslide? Dr. Hanson and Forrest explore how we can feel more successful by noticing the many small goals we accomplish each day, and fully internalizing that experience so it becomes a lasting resource.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:0:50: Why is having a healthy relationship with our goals so important for mental health?4:30: How can we achieve a more healthy relationship with our goals?6:35: The social pressures that help us feel unsuccessful.8:30: What are process goals?9:55: What are outcome goals?10:20: The many opportunities to meet our goals.11:40: Hacking the natural pleasure systems in the brain.14:25: If we have so many opportunities to experience success, why don’t we?17:50: What about when we aren’t successful? How can we better manage those feelings of failure?21:30: Risking the “dreaded experience.”24:30: Isn’t the fear of failure really motivating though?29:50: Recap
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Apr 30, 2018 • 25min
Ep. 17: Relating to Your Body
Explore the powerful link between physical vitality and mental grit. Discover how body acceptance is essential for nurturing self-esteem and resilience. The discussion tackles societal beauty standards and their impact on self-image, offering strategies for redefining personal beauty. Listeners will learn the importance of valuing their body’s capabilities, as well as practical exercises for fostering appreciation. Plus, gain insights on creating healthy habits and the role of community support in enhancing overall well-being.

8 snips
Apr 23, 2018 • 31min
Ep. 16: Using Your Fierceness
Dr. Hanson and Forrest talk about a particularly challenging aspect of the strength of determination: fierceness. They explore how the ‘feral’ parts of our mind can be a powerful resource, and how we can use that inner strength rather than be used by 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: What does “fierceness” mean?3:20: How fierceness fuels determination.5:20: Is how we think about fierceness defined by our individual experience?6:20: Different ways to think about the ‘feral’ experience.8:45: The difficulty in articulating this material.9:15: Using all the material in the psyche as a potential resource.12:00: Pitfalls relating to fierceness.16:20: The burden of proof when being fierce.18:00: The two pitfalls related to fierceness.19:30: Increasing our comfort with fierceness.24:50: Strengthening our own cores.27:25: Taming the beast by allowing it to run.28:55: Recap
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21 snips
Apr 18, 2018 • 26min
Ep. 15: How to Become More Determined
On today’s episode of the Being Well Podcast, Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest continue their focus on the strength of Grit with determination. Particularly, they look at the different aspects of determination, and explore how we can grow each of them over time.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:0:35: How “determination” relates to grit.2:00: Being determined to a fault.2:50: What determination is made up of.3:55: Being resolved toward a goal.8:00: Balancing patience with agency.9:30: Realistic expectations enabling patience.11:45: How much patience is too much?12:30: The marshmallow test.15:00: Distress tolerance.16:25: How can you help yourself enjoy persistence?21:30: What do we mean by “fierceness?”23:15: Issues with fierceness.24:15: Recap.
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9 snips
Apr 9, 2018 • 27min
Ep. 14: The Power of Agency
On today’s episode of the Being Well Podcast, Dr. Hanson begins a new focus on the fourth of the twelve strengths he’ll be covering throughout this series: Grit. Particularly, this episode explores how to grow agency – an aspect of grit where we feel like a cause rather than an effect.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: What is grit?0:50: How does physical grit support psychological grit?4:45: Can we grow grit?5:45: Why agency is important for growing grit.6:45: How agency fights against “learned helplessness.”9:30: How can we “unlearn” learned helplessness?16:10: What can we do when we ACTUALLY are helpless?18:00: Being realistic about the amount of power we have over our lives.19:30: Finding small ways to express agency.21:00: Focusing on causes rather than effects.24:55: Recap.
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