In today’s episode, host Barbara Hannah Grufferman talks with a leading psychologist and Zen monk about karma and happiness.

What is karma, anyway? Do good and good will come back to you, right? Behave badly and well . . . suffer the consequences. But karma, as Dr. Douglas Gentile will explain, is a bit more complicated than that, and in fact, plays a starring role in getting unstuck and – hopefully – finding true happiness.

Dr. Douglas Gentile is Distinguished Professor in Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University, and is considered one of the top experts on the positive and negative effects of media on children and adults. He is not only a renowned psychologist, expert on the media, was named one of the Top 300 Professors in the United States by the Princeton Review, is an accomplished jazz musician, but is also a Zen monk.

Dr. Gentile approaches the discussion with Barbara through two distinct but connected lenses: as a psychologist, and also as a practicing Buddhist and Zen monk who believes in the power of karma to help people achieve happiness.

His very thoughtful and thought-provoking book, Finding the Freedom to Get Unstuck and be Happier, delves into the many ways we all have a tendency to repeat negative patterns of behavior, very often which started way back in our childhoods, while offering ideas on how harnessing the power of karma can help reverse a lot of that negativity, and bring . . . perhaps . . . some freedom and some happiness.

Books by Dr. Douglas Gentile:

Finding the Freedom to Get Unstuck and Be Happier

Game On! Sensible Answers About Video Games and Media Violence

Learn more here.

Connect with Barbara Hannah Grufferman here. 

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