We are increasingly acknowledging how psychological well-being is more than the absence of distress. There are other aspects such as optimism, gratitude and purpose which greatly impact how we experience life. In this episode we learn more about the current research on this subject and how you can actually increase your psychological well-being even if your distress level remains the same. We also talk about the connections between psychological well-being, physical health and longevity. Professor Trudel-Fitzgerald has extensive experience in this field and is working on solutions to implement this knowledge into the public health debate and further on into people's lives.

As social beings the way we interact with others is hugely important to us. Professor Crocker has developed a unique expertise in social psychology and through her research, now spanning over decades, she has contributed with important insight into the costs and benefits of being more focused on ourselves or including others in our intentions. In this episode we learn about the psychology of giving and receiving and how both can have either a positive or negative impact depending on how it is approached. We also learn that there is more to self-esteem than just aiming to have lots of it. The way we pursue self-esteem has actually shown to be the most important part for our health and happiness.

Research on longevity and how to live a healthier life longer is increasingly gaining momentum. In this episode we sit down with Quinn Conklin, one of the people moving research on this topic forward and we learn about telomeres, a form of internal clock for cellular ageing. Here she tells us what they have found when looking at meditation retreat participants to see how meditation might affect our longevity. Join us to learn more about this fascinating aspect of human life and ageing as we seek answers to whether it might be possible to turn back the clock.

In this episode, philosophy and neuroscience meet to complement each other. Professor Levy drew inspiration and knowledge from his experience in both fields as he created a framework called neural holism. This episode is filled with interesting and thought provoking material so sit down, relax and get ready for a neuroscientific explanation of the concept of free will.

In this episode we learn about a vitally important aspect of our health, but one that doesn't seem to get the attention it deserves. The topic is social connection and I sit down with Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad who is one of the worlds most renowned experts on the subject. Here she explains how social connection can be defined and measured and what the research says about its impact on our health and wellbeing. We also learn how you can evaluate and reflect on your own level of connection and we go on to discuss different ways to use this knowledge to grow and nurture your own social life.  

In this episode we learn about self-regulation, willpower and goal pursuit. Michael Inzlicht is a professor of psychology with a specific interest in understanding the underlying mechanisms of self-control. Here he talks about different models to describe the self-regulatory process and we discuss which components makes for a more successful pursuit of goals. Through this episode you can learn ways to reflect on and develop your own process of creating, working on and achieving goals in your life. 

Dr. Cortland Dahl and his team have done extensive research on what science says about psychological well-being and compiled this data into a framework with four distinct dimensions. Here we will learn about awareness, connection, insight and purpose. We will look at how these components affect our health and happiness and more importantly we will learn what we can do ourselves to increase the quality of our life experience. 

In this episode we learn the difference between empathy and compassion, how empathy can sometimes lead to distress and how strengthening compassion functions as the antidote. Professor Klimecki has extensive knowledge on the subject and here she shares her research findings on how social emotions can be changed and cultivated in the mind through intentional effort. We also discuss how cultivating these mental states can benefit us both as individuals and as a society. 

In this episode we talk about stress and how you can combat the negative effects of longterm stress through meditation. Dr. Michaela Pascoe has extensive knowledge on the subject due to many years of scientific research on the stress response and she has a specific interest in how lifestyle interventions such as physical activity and meditation can counteract the harmful effects of chronic stress. 

This is the podcast where we dive deep into the latest research on brain health, meditation and psychological well-being.  My name is Maria Sundell, I am a clinical neurologist working in cognitive medicine and with this podcast I hope to demystify personal development and the cultivation of a healthy mind by looking at the scientific evidence behind it. I am really excited to start this journey into the mysteries of the brain and hope you are enthusiastic to join me.