Anxiety, Craving, Clinging, Mindfulness...and way more... get inspired with ‪@DrJud‬ !Jud Brewer, MD, PhD (“Dr. Jud”), is a New York Times best-selling author and a leading authority on habit change and the science of self-mastery. With over 25 years of mindfulness training combined with scientific research, he serves as the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center and as a professor at Brown University. An internationally recognized psychiatrist specializing in mindfulness for addiction, Dr. Jud has developed innovative mindfulness programs—both in-person and app-based—for smoking cessation, emotional eating, and anxiety. He has investigated the neural mechanisms of mindfulness using standard and real-time fMRI and EEG neurofeedback. He has trained U.S. Olympic athletes, coaches, and foreign government ministers. His work has been featured on “60 Minutes,” TED (one of the most-viewed talks of 2016 with over 20 million views), The New York Times, Time magazine, Forbes, BBC, NPR, Al Jazeera, Businessweek, and more. Dr. Jud founded MindSciences—now part of Sharecare Inc.—to bring his discoveries directly to consumers. He also co-founded Mindshift Recovery, a nonprofit aiding those suffering from addiction. He is the author of The Craving Mind (Yale University Press, 2017), the New York Times bestseller Unwinding Anxiety (Avery/Penguin Random House, 2021), and The Hunger Habit (Avery/Penguin Random House, 2024). For more information, visit www.drjud.com.#motivation #inspirationalstory #cravingcontrol #unwindinganxiety

Quantum psychology meets transpersonal psychology, Eurocentric psychology, and modern life. Let’s wake up to this! Valerie Varan is a Colorado Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. As a lifelong spiritual experiencer and quantum psychology pioneer, she is bridging the latest in quantum/information science with psychology and spirituality. She is author of the self-help book, Living in a Quantum Reality: Using Quantum Physics and Psychology to Embrace Your Higher Consciousness, and is co-author on a new book with quantum engineer Doug Matzke, PhD. Currently, Valerie is residing in Florida, where she offers holistic coaching and specializes in helping others integrate their transpersonal experiences.

The Most Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi shares his journey into Buddhism, beginning with encounters that led him to practice and eventually ordain as a monk. We had a chance to discuss his work translating Buddhist texts and his interpretation of key teachings like dependent origination, while sharing personal experiences with managing chronic pain through equanimity and mindfulness and much more. Take a peak!Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk originally from New York City. He holds a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate University (1972). After completing his university studies he traveled to Sri Lanka, where he received novice ordination in 1972 and full ordination in 1973, both under Most Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Maha Nayaka Thera. From 1984 until 2002 he was the editor for the Buddhist Publication Society in Kandy, and its president from 1988 until 2010. Ven. Bodhi has many important publications to his credit, either as author, translator, or editor. His most recent publication is Noble Truths, Noble Path: The Heart-Essence of the Buddha’s Original Teachings (2022). Ven. Bodhi lives and teaches at Chuang Yen Monastery in upstate New York. In 2008, together with several of his students, he founded Buddhist Global Relief, a nonprofit supporting hunger and poverty relief for poor communities around the world.

In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of compassion in healthcare with Olivia, who previously served as the Assistant Dean of Resident Affairs and co-director of a pediatrics program at the Montreal Children's Hospital. After stepping away from these roles, Olivia has dedicated herself to studying compassion practice and embodiment training. Her mission is to reinvigorate healthcare by integrating these essential practices back into clinical settings, particularly for the benefit of both providers and patients.Olivia discusses her journey, highlighting the challenge of being fully present amidst the demands of medical responsibilities. She emphasizes the pressing need for an awareness of compassion in the healthcare environment, noting common misconceptions about what compassion truly entails. With plans to introduce a session for hospital leaders focused on the importance and science of compassion, Olivia aims to foster a deeper understanding among physicians and healthcare professionals about the benefits of compassionate care for patient outcomes and provider wellbeing.We explore the concept of compassion as a multifaceted process that includes emotional and cognitive dimensions. Olivia clarifies what differentiates wise compassion from ignorance, emphasizing the importance of awareness and true listening. She introduces the term "empathy fatigue," a critical distinction made in the context of compassion fatigue, led by insights from neuroimaging studies. These studies show that engaging in compassionate responses can activate positive emotions, providing a buffer against the negative emotional toll often associated with empathic resonance.Throughout our conversation, Olivia explains the complexity of empathy, both in its emotional and cognitive forms, and how these contribute to our understanding of suffering. She articulates the ways in which compassion training can alleviate burnout among healthcare professionals by fostering deeper connections with patients and enhancing emotional resilience against the rigors of medical practice.Olivia also discusses the principle of common humanity, emphasizing our shared aspirations as individuals to find happiness and avoid suffering, despite external differences. This notion is particularly pertinent in today's divisive climate, where she encourages listeners to adopt a "just-like-me" practice to cultivate empathy and understanding for others.0:07 Introduction to Compassion3:13 Defining Compassion5:09 Wise vs. Ignorant Compassion6:50 Understanding Compassion Fatigue9:34 The Role of Empathy12:01 Preventing Burnout with Compassion16:51 The Concept of Common Humanity19:30 Personal Transformations Through Compassion28:29 Advocating for Compassion in Oppressive Systems32:12 Embodying Compassion for TransformationDr. Olivia Tse, a pediatrician trained at McGill University, has worked to provide care for children both in Montreal and in First Nations and Inuit communities of northern Quebec. She has also educated and mentored physicians-in-training for over 20 years. As a Director of the Pediatrics Residency Training Program and then as Assistant Dean of Resident Affairs in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University, she has taught the skills of mindfulness and compassion to medical and surgical trainees. Olivia has also facilitated seminars for practicing physicians and is a certified teacher of both Compassion Cultivation Training© and Mindful Practice® in Medicine. She is currently focused on teaching CCT to individuals while concurrently advocating for a top-down approach to compassion education within healthcare organizations.She travels extensively to learn about the natural world and different cultures, and maintains a love of singing, contributing at fundraisers and special events. #oliviatse #mcgilluniversity #compassioninaction

This interview features medical anthropologist, Dr. Sue Schneider, discussing the intersection of mindfulness, community health, and cultural healing practices. The speaker emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation and meditation in awakening inner wisdom and compassion. They share experiences from their research in Mexico and their long-term commitment to mindfulness practices, addressing common barriers such as societal distractions.The conversation explores the integration of mindfulness into public health initiatives in academic settings and examines the relationship between Western medicine and alternative healing traditions. The speaker advocates for a holistic approach to health that transcends symptom relief and highlights the transformative power of mindfulness in fostering self-awareness. The discussion concludes with reflections on the role of anthropology in understanding diverse cultural practices and the significance of internal observation for personal healing..

.

.0:05 Health and Healing Perspectives2:50 Personal Journey into Mindfulness5:41 Integrating Mindfulness and Community Health9:18 Overcoming Hurdles to Meditation12:51 Implementing Mindfulness Programs17:09 Understanding Healing Beyond the Physical18:53 Grounding Practices for Self-Awareness23:25 The Role of Medical Anthropology26:39 Trusting Instincts in Modern Culture30:04 Mindfulness in University Systems34:26 Healing in the Dying Process36:41 Anthropology's Broader Impact

.

.

.

Who is Sue?

Sue Schneider, Ph.D., is a medical anthropologist, integrative health coach, certified meditation instructor, and author with a passion for supporting individuals and communities in their pursuit of health and healing. 

She leads community health and wellness initiatives across Colorado as an Extension Professor and Sate Health Specialist with Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension. Sue has taught mindfulness meditation to thousands of students in university and community settings over the last 12 years and she is the author of Meeting the Moment with Kindness: How Mindfulness Can Help Us Find Calm, Stability, and an Open Heart published by Collective Ink. Sue lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, teenage son, and two dogs.

Ever wondered what makes one a real #madscientist or a real #madman ?!You might be surprised to find out it’s part of you. 👀Professor Robert Harris has been Academic Vice President for Doctoral Education since 2019 at Karolinska Institutet (KI). Prof. Harris completed his undergraduate training at Portsmouth Polytechnic (UK) in 1987, his postgraduate training at University College London (UK) in 1991 and was named Professor of Immunotherapy in Neurological Diseases at KI in 2013. Harris has previously served as Central Director of doctoral education at KI (2008-2018), working specifically with developing quality control for KI doctoral education through a variety of teaching and organisational activities, and also teaches widely at national and international institutions. He has also served as Director of doctoral education for the Department of Clinical Neuroscience (2005-2018). He was and Chairperson of the International Advisory Council at KI from 2019-2023. In 2014 he was one of two recipients of the KI pedagogy prize, the first to receive it for a contribution to doctoral education. Prof. Harris was also President of ORPHEUS (2015-2022; Vice-President 2013-2015), The Organisation for PhD Education in Biomedicine and Health Sciences in the European System, which aims to stimulate quality assurance of PhD research and education and to strengthen career opportunities for PhD graduates. In 2024, he was named the inaugural recipient of the FEBS Education award (Federation of European Biochemical Societies). Within ORPHEUS and FEBS, he has conducted workshops in PhD supervision training and leadership development at universities and research organizations all over the world Prof. Harris leads the research group Applied Immunology and Immunotherapy at the Centre for Molecular Medicine, a designated translational medicine centre at Karolinska Institutet. They conduct a strongly interconnected research programme aimed at using knowledge gained from projects in basic science to applications in a clinical setting, with focus on understanding why chronic inflammatory diseases of the nervous system occur, and then devise ways to prevent or treat them. Current focus is on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Multiple Sclerosis. Prof. Harris has served as consultant to the Swedish biotechnology company Dia amyd Medical AB with whom he has numerous patents and developed a vaccine for treatment of Type 1 diabetes to Phase III clinical trials.

Panu Pihkala takes us on a rollercoaster through the waves of emotion in an ecological crisis. Panu is an adjunct professor (Title of Docent) of environmental theology at the Faculty of Theology in the University of Helsinki, Finland. Pihkala is the leading Finnish scholar in eco-anxiety research, and he is known internationally as an expert in interdisciplinary eco-emotion studies. Many of his research articles from the 2020s have over 40000 views and several hundred citations each. Pihkala has published two books in Finnish about eco-emotions and he was awarded several prizes for them, including the National Prize for Adult Education (Sivistyspalkinto) in 2018 by The Finnish Lifelong Learning Foundation (Kansanvalistusseura) and a national environmental education award in 2019 by FEE. Pihkala’s dissertation from 2014 focused on Religion and Ecology, and he has worked on the intersections of spirituality and environmental matters. Pihkala is a sought-after keynote speaker and often gives interviews to various media. He serves as an advisor in many projects, including the Finnish national eco-anxiety project for social and health sectors (2020-) and Climate Mental Health Network, with whom he worked on the popular Climate Emotions Wheel. Pihkala hosts the international podcast Climate Change and Happiness together with leading environmental psychologist Dr. Thomas Doherty (https://climatechangeandhappiness.com/). He lives in Helsinki with his family.

Dr. Rick Hanson sheds light into his own practice, the influence it’s had on himself, and teaches you what it means to live in a state of peace with wholesome means. Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a #psychologist, Senior Fellow at ​⁠‪@UCBerkeley‬ ‘s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages, and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone. He's the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well Podcast – which has been downloaded over 15 million times. His free newsletters have over 260,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those in need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive #neuroplasticity , his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in Northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.

There are some things we just don’t know. What’s your inner cathedral look like? #spiritualexperience #spiritualjourney #spiritualpath Anthony Battle’s journey spans multiple worlds, from Division I football and overseas teaching, to tech sales, television, and advanced studies in literature, philosophy, and consciousness. Each environment has served as a cornerstone in what he calls his Inner Cathedral, a personal architecture forged through physical and spiritual discipline. As an Integral Guide and Strategist, Anthony supports individuals in constructing their own inner cathedrals and consults with organizations seeking to reintegrate soul into their structural foundations. He is honored to share his presence and practice.

In this conversation, we sit down with Dr. Nicholas Van Dam, founding director of the Contemplative Studies Center at the University of Melbourne. We talk about the gap between authentic contemplative practice and what the West has turned mindfulness into. Nicholas shares hard-earned insights about navigating institutional resistance, the need for discomfort in real growth, and why dialogue is essential in this field. We explore the tension between academic research, lived experience, and traditional wisdom, and why commodified quick fixes are failing us. This one’s for anyone questioning the surface-level stuff and yearning for a deeper, more honest, and more human perspective from a scholar-practitioner lens.

Associate Professor Nicholas Van Dam is the inaugural Director of the Contemplative Studies Centre in the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences at The University of Melbourne. Nicholas is a highly regarded global leader in contemplative research and practice with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue and empirical rigour. His research explores the ways that meditation and mindfulness practices can support wellbeing, in pursuit of a better understanding of the human condition. He completed a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY (USA), and has worked at New York University, the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, and the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.