Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

Breathing is something we all do automatically, so it's easy to assume we're doing it well. But what if one of the simplest ways to improve your sleep, energy levels and stress wasn't a gadget, a retreat, or a prescription. 

Today’s Bitesize is from episode 644 of the podcast with science journalist and author James Nestor.

In this clip, James explains why the way we breathe may be affecting our stress levels, energy and sleep, and some simple changes that could make a real difference.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about this conversation is how simple and accessible everything we discuss is. The foundations of healthy breathing don’t cost a thing. You just need to unlearn some key habits and start making small changes – for big results.

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Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/644

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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A note from Dr Chatterjee: this episode includes descriptions of the

How do you help a child heal while they’re living in a war zone? And what can those methods teach the rest of us about caring for the people we love? My guest this week has spent nearly two decades finding out.

Dr Alexandra Chen is a Harvard-trained trauma psychologist and psychotherapist who has worked in around 15 different conflict zones across the world. Her Early Light Foundation charity provides ‘a haven of trauma healing and hope for war-affected children and families worldwide’.

We begin with the realities of her work, including the invisible wounds war leaves behind, and why her team’s first rule is never to make promises they can’t keep. Alexandra shares the moving patient stories of a seven-year-old dancer learning to carry an unbearable loss, and a torture survivor who asked her to document his suffering, so he would never have to speak it again. He carried that written testimony across borders and later told her it had saved his life.

She takes us back to how it all started: an affluent childhood in Hong Kong, grandparents who never spoke of their trauma, and a trip to a refugee camp at 18 that changed the course of her life. We talk about the role of dance and movement as therapy, why we must trust children to set the pace for their healing, and the conversation with one mother that led Alexandra to start her project connecting therapists, interpreters and children in desperate need.

Alexandra also explains why some therapeutic techniques don’t work in a war zone – because it’s only post traumatic stress disorder when the danger has passed – and what that reveals about how our nervous system protects us. There’s an important discussion on what it really means to be resilient and the hidden cost of having to be strong for a lifetime. And I ask Alexandra how she protects her team and manages to keep an open heart herself, after everything she’s witnessed.

Towards the end, we talk about how overwhelming the news is. Alexandra explains that empathy needs action and gives some practical suggestions for how to turn feelings of helplessness into something useful. And we close with two stories of connection that will leave you feeling hopeful.

At its heart, this is not a political conversation. It is about compassion, kindness, our shared humanity and the life lessons that can apply to anyone, at any time. I hope it leaves you feeling more connected to the world and the people you share it with – and more confident in the difference you can make.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised, Samaritans are

If you'd like to write a Letter of Love you can submit a letter here https://bit.ly/HFG-LettersfromtheWorld.

To donate or find out about volunteering you can find our more here https://healingforgaza.org/.

Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/693

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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We live in a culture that often celebrates the ‘perfect’ relationship but does little to prepare us for the reality of long-term commitment. Modern life is filled with idealised images of love and marriage – but the truth, as today’s guest suggests, is far more human, messy and ultimately hopeful.

Today’s Bitesize is from episode 574 of the podcast with author, internationally renowned philosopher, and founder of The School of Life, the wonderful Alain de Botton.

In this clip, Alain shares a refreshing perspective on relationships, why he believes love is a skill rather than just a feeling, and how changing our expectations could help us build deeper, more lasting connections.

There’s something deeply reassuring in knowing that love doesn’t have to look like the stories we grew up with. And by letting go of these cultural myths and by embracing each other’s flaws, we improve not only our relationships, but also how happy and contented we feel.  

Thanks to our sponsor https://heights.com/livemore

Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/574

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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Are you in control of your nervous system – or is it in control of you? It's a question that deserves your attention, because the answer affects everything from how well you sleep to how you react when life is hard. And my guest this week believes most of us have more agency than we realise.

Dr Kristen Holmes is Global Head of Human Performance and Principal Scientist at the wearable-tech company WHOOP. She’s also a former US national field hockey player and one of the most successful coaches in Ivy League history. In her new book, Aligned, she argues that a well-regulated nervous system is the foundation for our health, performance and relationships.

We start by exploring what a balanced nervous system looks like in daily life, why some people need to begin with their body and others with their mind, and why Kristen prefers the word agency to control.

Kristen then talks me through a study she led with WHOOP, in which 39,000 of its members tried four simple, free daily behaviours, and what happened to their sleep and heart health as a result. She explains why most of us have no idea when our body naturally wants to fall asleep, why sleep consistency predicts health more strongly than sleep quantity or quality – and the single metric she believes reveals most about someone’s health.

We also cover why variety matters in how we move, why eating earlier suits our metabolism, and why so many of us fall ill as soon as we go on holiday. And Kristen shares a powerful 72-hour exercise for auditing your daily actions against your values.

In the second half, the conversation becomes deeply personal. Kristen talks about growing up around alcoholism, the trauma she experienced as a child, and how she found her way to forgiveness through curiosity. We discuss emotions rooted in trust versus fear, the role of nostalgia, and how joy differs from happiness. She also shares the meditation practice that helped her learn to love herself, and the science showing how it benefits the body.

This is a conversation for anyone who wants practical, evidence-based steps to better sleep, energy and resilience. But, perhaps more importantly, it’s for anyone who senses that lasting change also requires some inner work. Kristen brings both the data and the lived experience – and I think everyone will find something here to carry into their own life.

The Thrive Tour: Transform Your Health and Happiness, a live show: Book Your Tickets https://drchatterjee.com/live

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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/691

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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You probably already know that your diet can hugely influence how well you feel, but how much power do your food choices really have over your health? 

Today’s Bitesize is from episode 376 of the podcast with physician and author, Dr William Li.

In his book, Eat To Beat Your Diet, Dr Li explores some of the science around how we can harness the power of food to activate our innate fat-burning systems and transform our health.

In this clip, he shares some common foods that aren't necessarily as healthy as we might think, the important role that our gut bacteria play in our metabolism, and reveals some of his favourite foods that have fat-burning potential.

Dr Li is really keen not to villainise any food – there are many reasons why humans choose to eat certain foods and drink certain drinks, from our innate sweet tooth to cultural, social or religious traditions. He just wants us to be mindful of what we’re consuming, how and why.

Show notes and the full podcast are available at ⁠drchatterjee.com/376⁠

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠https://thewayapp.com/livemore 

Built To Thrive Community https://drchatterjee.com/community

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore⁠⁠

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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What happens when the boundary between you and the world around you dissolves? It’s something I experienced myself recently, and this week I sat down with Zen Master Henry Shukman to try and make sense of it. What results is a conversation that moves from the practicalities of a sitting practice, to the outer edges of what meditation can reveal about who we really are.

Henry has been meditating for almost 40 years and is the guide behind The Way, the meditation app I use myself and have long recommended to you. He’s Director of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, an award-winning poet and the author of several books. This is his third appearance on the podcast, but our conversation this time goes somewhere we've never been before.

We begin by talking about how meaning, purpose and happiness are found within us, not externally. Our culture may measure worth through outward achievement, but meditation can show us a deeper reality beneath the striving – a natural, open heart that doesn't need to prove itself.

I share the deeply affecting experience I had at a retreat earlier this year –

Our conversation also touches on ageing and independence, prompted by reflections on my own parents and what they taught me about serenity in circumstances that looked far from peaceful. And in the second half, I invite Henry to answer some of your most-asked questions. Among many useful topics, we cover building a consistent meditation habit, fitting it into family life, coping with shame, cravings and addiction, and how to stay grounded in a difficult relationship.

This episode moves effortlessly between the practical and the profound, and I think it will mean something different depending on where you are in your own life right now. But whether you're new to meditation or have been practising for years, rest assured there's a powerful message here for you.

The Thrive Tour: Transform Your Health and Happiness, a live show: Book Your Tickets https://drchatterjee.com/live

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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/689

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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Today’s guest brings warmth and wisdom to every conversation we have. 

Today’s Bitesize is from episode 440 of the podcast with fellow physician, author, speaker and friend, the incredible Dr Gabor Maté. 

Gabor is respected the world over as an expert on trauma, stress, addiction and childhood development. He has worked as a family doctor as well as in palliative (end of life) care.

In a previous episode, I had a wonderful conversation with Bronnie Ware, author of The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

And, in this clip, I explore some of those life regrets with Gabor, and he offers some thought-provoking insights into what they can teach us about the way we live our lives.

We also talk about regret. Gabor says that living life with ‘no regrets’ is about learning and understanding from your perceived mistakes, but not being unkind to who you were then. Instead we should recognise that we did the best we could do at the time.

Like all of my previous episodes with Gabor, this is a conversation full of compassion, knowledge and wisdom. I hope you enjoy listening.

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠https://drinkag1.com/livemore

Show notes and the full podcast are available at ⁠drchatterjee.com/440⁠

Feel Better, Live More Bitesize is your weekly dose of inspiration, insights and practical ideas to help you live well and thrive. Each episode brings you some of my favourite moments, useful tools and inspiring ideas from the many incredible conversations I’ve had on my podcast.

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore⁠⁠

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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Twenty years ago, leading psychotherapist Esther Perel asked whether desire could survive marriage and children. Today, she highlights a new relationship threat: our frictionless, convenient lives – and offers a wealth of wisdom to keep love alive.

This conversation was recorded live on stage at SXSW London, where Esther was speaking to mark the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking bestseller, Mating in Captivity. It’s her third time on the podcast and I was honoured that she asked me to interview her for this wide-ranging episode – to which the audience reactions add a real energy.

Esther is one of the world’s most insightful and original voices on modern love. And it’s her parents, Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives through relationships, whom she credits for the idea that underpins her work: that our relationship quality ultimately determines our life quality.

We begin with something simple: the habit of appreciation, and why we tend to be better at criticising the people we live with than thanking them. Esther reminds us that a romantic partner is simply ‘on loan, with an option to renew’, so we need to make each other feel valued. She makes the case for ditching relationship checklists, explains why perfectionism and a lack of obstacles are starving modern intimacy, and defines the ‘digital lag’ that’s destroying our ability to be physically present with others.

We also talk about eroticism as a form of vitality and curiosity, while loneliness is more about societal failings than individual malaise. And Esther makes a key point that wanting our partners to be ‘our village’, instead of looking to a wider community, is a modern pressure that’s too much for any relationship to bear. To illustrate this, she reveals what happened during her therapy session between a human and their ‘perfect’ AI companion. It was a threshold moment for her industry – and it’s a lesson for us all.

This warm and witty episode is packed with quick-fire Q and As as well as deeper observations and meaningful advice. Esther offers a way of thinking about desire, connection and expectations that carries well beyond romantic relationships, touching on friendships, family and the way we show up for everyone around us.

The Thrive Tour: Transform Your Health and Happiness, a live show: Book Your Tickets https://drchatterjee.com/live

Thanks to our sponsors:

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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/687

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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Most of us walk every day without really thinking about it – but this episode is guaranteed to change that. Because this simple, free, radical act is one of the most powerful things you can do for your body, your brain and your longevity.

Today’s Bitesize is from episode 660 of the podcast with movement specialist and co-author of the brilliant book ‘Walk: Your Life Depends On It’, Dr Courtney Conley.

We unpack how many steps a day the research shows we really need to make a difference to our mood and our health. Courtney shares simple ways to get more from every walk, and reveals how something as simple as walking together could strengthen our relationships as well as our health.

All of us, whatever our age or starting point, can benefit from walking more or better – and this episode will help you do that, one step at a time.

Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠https://thewayapp.com/livemore 

Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/660

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore⁠⁠

For other podcast platforms go to ⁠⁠https://fblm.supercast.com.

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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Why do we grab our phones the moment we feel bored, lonely or overwhelmed, even when we know it’s unlikely to help? Returning guest, Nir Eyal, breaks down the psychology behind distraction and reveals a surprisingly simple truth: the pull isn't coming from your phone. It's coming from inside you.

Nir is a behavioural design expert who writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and human potential. He’s a former Stanford lecturer and is the author of the international bestsellers Hooked and Indistractable, alongside his latest book, Beyond Belief. This is his third appearance on Feel Better, Live More.

In this conversation, Nir explains the remarkable truth that only around 10 per cent of phone checks are triggered by an external notification. The other 90 per cent come from within, from stress, fatigue or discomfort we're trying to escape. We discuss why treating technology as inherently addictive lets us off the hook, and what to do instead: his easy, repeatable four-step framework for noticing your internal triggers before they take hold.

Nir believes that the real opposite of distraction isn’t focus, it’s traction – a

We talk about children and screentime. Nir introduces the idea of psychological nutrients, the basic needs for competency, autonomy and connection that every child requires to thrive. When these needs aren't met in daily life, children look for them elsewhere, often in the digital world. Understanding this changes the conversation around kids and technology, moving it away from blame and towards something far more useful: giving children what they truly need.

We also explore why to-do lists can make us feel like failures – and why scheduling your time (including your rest and leisure) is the antidote to distraction. Plus, Nir reveals why a small, low-effort commitment made in advance can be more powerful than willpower alone, when it comes to living intentionally.

This is a powerful and reassuring conversation for anyone who’s ever questioned their ability to focus, worried about phone addiction, or who simply wants a more meaningful, values-led life.

The Thrive Tour: Transform Your Health and Happiness, a live show: Book Your Tickets https://drchatterjee.com/live

Thanks to our sponsors:

https://boncharge.com/livemore

https://drinkag1.com/livemore

Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/685

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices