Human Potential Lab

Today we welcome Caroline Leaf to the podcast. Dr. Caroline Leaf is a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist with a Masters and PhD in Communication Pathology and Logopaedics. Since the early 1980s, she has researched the mind-brain connection, the nature of mental health and the formation of memory. Dr. Leaf is also the bestselling author of Switch on Your Brain, Think Learn Succeed, and Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess. Her latest book is called How to Help Your Child Clean Up Their Mental Mess. 

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Caroline Leaf about managing the mind. The world is a crazy place and our minds can get disorderly trying to keep up with it! But according to Dr. Leaf, to have a messy mind is to be human. We don’t have to pathologize our emotions and thoughts. Instead, we can embrace them and implement strategies that allow us to better direct ourselves. Dr. Leaf shows us how to make sense of the messy mind and the scientific research behind those steps. We also touch on the topics of self-compassion, consciousness, trauma, and neuroplasticity. 

Website: drleaf.com & mentallyresilientkids.com

Instagram: @drcarolineleaf

Topics

02:10 Dr. Leaf’s background and expertise

08:23 Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess

16:14 Managing the mind

23:47 Emotions are warning signals 

30:26 Intrusive rumination

34:40 Detox from trauma

42:24 The Neurocycle 

46:22 Where CBT works best 

49:13 Dr. Leaf’s research 

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Today we welcome Gabe Howard to the podcast. Gabe is an award-winning podcast host, author, and sought-after speaker. He hosts the Inside Mental Health podcast and is the author of Mental Illness is an Asshole and Other Observations. He’s been featured in numerous publications including Bipolar Magazine, WebMD, Healthline.com, and the Stanford Online Medical Journal. Among his many awards, he is the recipient of Mental Health America’s Norman Guitry Award and received a resolution from the Governor of Ohio naming him an “Everyday Hero.” 

In this episode, I talk to Gabe Howard about living with bipolar disorder, an illness that is characterized by emotional highs and lows. Gabe shares what phases of mania and depression are really like and how the sudden shifts feel so jarring. Even though the disorder has its own set of challenges, Gabe is a staunch believer in taking responsibility for his actions. He opens up about his journey of recovery and the coping strategies that have benefited him. We also talk about the common misconceptions about people with bipolar disorder and public figures who may have had this mental illness.

Website: gabehoward.com

Twitter: @gabehoward29

Topics

03:22 Gabe’s childhood and diagnosis

05:36 Experiencing a wide range of moods

11:31 True mania is not productive 

14:47 Bipolar disorder does not control me

22:03 Hypersexuality 

30:28 Feeling dead inside

32:49 Mania changes what you see

36:07 Working on coping skills

39:53 Everyday mindfulness

42:03 Perception is reality

45:09 The dangers of bipolar disorder

48:01 Public figures with bipolar disorder

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Today we welcome Eric Zimmer to the podcast. Eric works as a behavior coach and has done so for the past 20 years. He has coached hundreds of people from around the world on how to make significant life changes that serve them well in achieving the goals they’ve set for themselves. He also hosts the award-winning podcast, The One You Feed. With over 30 million downloads, the show features conversations with experts across many fields of study about how to create a life that has less suffering and more fulfillment and meaning. His story and his work have been featured in the media including TedX, Mind Body Green, Elephant Journal, the BBC and Brain Pickings.

In this episode, I talk to Eric Zimmer about how to have a meaningful engagement with life. When we feel connected to what matters, it becomes easier to create an action plan that gets us moving in the right direction. At times, our emotions can get in the way but Eric believes that focusing on behavior changes can help us re-train our thoughts while leading us to our desired outcomes. Eric combines principles from religion, philosophy, and psychology to give us tips on how we can live out our values more mindfully day by day. We also touch on the topics of spirituality, agency, self-love, addiction, and emotions. 

Website: oneyoufeed.net

Twitter: @oneyoufeed

Topics

02:35 Eric’s background and expertise

06:25 Behavioral activation

11:47 Be on your own side

17:54 Recovering from addiction

21:15 Spirituality is connection

26:02 Victimhood and agency

33:43 The Middle Way

40:00 The emotional storm model

45:06 Creating feels spiritual

49:00 Kenshō awakening

51:44 Spiritual direction 

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Today we welcome Niall Breslin to the podcast. Niall is one of Ireland’s most formidable and inspiring mental health advocates and public speakers. He is the lead singer and songwriter for “The Blizzards”, and was a coach on “The Voice of Ireland”. His award-winning mental health charity “A Lust for Life” teaches young people to be effective guardians of their own minds. He works with a diverse range of clients, including Apple, Google, international NGOs, and The European Parliament. Niall hosts the ‘Where Is My Mind’ and “Wake Up Wind Down” podcasts, both of which are regularly in the UK and Ireland’s top podcast charts. 

In this episode I talk to Niall Breslin about mental health. During his early days as an entertainer and athlete, Niall has always tried to put his best foot forward. But behind this confident exterior, he was silently suffering. It was only after he came forward about his struggles that he sought the help he needed. Instead of avoiding negative emotions, Niall encourages us to face them bravely, either through therapy or mindfulness. We also touch on the topics of education, introspection, resilience, community, and empowerment.

Website: niallbreslin.com

Instagram: @bressie

Topics

02:07 Niall’s background and upbringing 

09:12 Surviving a panic attack on TV 

14:41 Opening up about mental health

18:40 You can run, but you can't outrun

27:36 Buddhist meditation practice

33:57 Re-conceptualizing masculinity 

39:09 Community values

42:31 Living bravely with mindfulness

50:33 Vitamin P

54:01 The Chill Skill

58:44 Where is My Mind?

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Today we welcome Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris to the podcast. 

Daniel Simons is a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois where he heads the Visual Cognition Laboratory. His research explores the limits of awareness and memory, the reasons why we often are unaware of those limits, and the implications for our personal and professional lives.

Christopher Chabris is professor and co-director of the Behavioral and Decision Sciences Program at Geisinger Health System. He is also faculty co-director of Geisinger's Behavioral Insights Team. From 2014 to 2017, he wrote a monthly column called GAME ON for The Wall Street Journal. His essays have been published in several media outlets.

Daniel and Christopher met at Harvard University in 1997, where they began to collaborate on research. In 2004 they shared the Ig Nobel Prize in Psychology, awarded for The Invisible Gorilla experiment. Together, they co-authored the New York Times bestselling book of the same name. Their latest book is called Nobody's Fool: Why We Get Taken In and What We Can Do About It.

In this episode I talk to Daniel and Christopher about scams and how NOT to get scammed! With enough information and persuasion, anybody can fall for a scheme. According to Daniel and Christopher, certain cognitive biases can make us vulnerable to deception. To help us outsmart con artists, they elaborate the different types of scams and how they work, all the while giving us tools to navigate shady situations. 

Website: dansimons.com & chabris.com

Twitter: @profsimons & @cfchabris

Topics

03:20 Nobody’s Fool

07:54 Using AI for deception

10:13 The truth bias

12:42 Fixed belief bias

16:40 The possibility grid

22:27 Scamming through social media

24:21 The Nigerian email scam

27:19 Scam baiting

29:01 Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme 

35:16 Are mediums scammers?

36:47 Why do people ignore red flags?

38:59 The Tinder Swindler and romance scams

44:05 Highly successful people get scammed too

47:17 When to be skeptical

54:37 Accept less, check more

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Today we welcome George Mumford to the podcast. George is a globally recognized speaker, teacher, and coach. Since 1989, he’s been honing his gentle, but groundbreaking mindfulness techniques with people from locker rooms to boardrooms. Michael Jordan credits George with transforming his on-court leadership, helping the Bulls to six NBA championships. George has also worked with Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and countless other NBA players, Olympians, executives, and artists. He is the author of The Mindful Athlete and Unlocked. 

In this episode, I talk to George Mumford about peak performance. How does one consistently perform at a high level? Whether it be work, sports, art or any other craft, George believes that everyone has the potential to excel. To unlock greatness, we must cultivate mental toughness, love, and learn to stay in the flow state. George talks about his experience coaching the Chicago Bulls, helping the team thrive on and off the court. We also touch on the topics of mindfulness, resilience, forgiveness, and joy.

Website: georgemumford.com

Twitter: @gtmumford

Topics

01:47 George’s background & expertise

06:53 Basketball with Julius Erving 

09:36 Performance whisperer

14:01 Being unlocked

23:55 Coaching the Chicago Bulls 

31:01 Staying in the flow state

35:04 Mental toughness, love, forgiveness

36:56 The Mamba Mentality

41:02 Being breathed

45:37 No struggle, no swag

49:58 Recover your true self

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Today we welcome Jean Twenge to the podcast. Jean is professor of psychology at San Diego State University. She frequently gives talks and seminars on generational differences and technology based on a dataset of 39 million people. Her audiences have included college faculty and staff, parent groups, military personnel, camp directors, and corporate executives. Her work has been repeatedly featured by the media. She has authored more than 180 scientific publications and books including iGen, Generation Me, and The Narcissism Epidemic. Her latest book is called Generations. 

In this episode, I talk to Jean Twenge about the real differences between the generations. Did you know that our current time has the most number of living generations to co-exist? Unfortunately, there is often conflict and miscommunication between them. According to Jean, this is largely due to how the advancement of tech has shaped major life experiences. She shares interesting statistics about each cohort and debunks common misconceptions about baby boomers, millennials, gen z, and others. We also touch on the topics of narcissism, polarization, mental health, gender identity, and compassion. 

Website: jeantwenge.com

Twitter: @jean_twenge

Topics

01:38 The real differences between generations

05:50 The silent generation

09:08 Conflict between cohorts

13:33 Narcissism in different generations

21:09 Generation Z

27:34 The income inequality between boomers and millennials

30:42 Are we coddling students?

36:38 The political trajectory of generations

42:10 The Greatest Generation 

43:49 Generation Alpha

45:05 Uniting all generations

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Today we welcome Ken Wilber to the podcast. Ken is the developer of Integral Theory. He is also the founder of the Integral Institute, which was formed in collaboration with over 200 scholars and experts, specializing in education, politics, business, medicine, psychology, spirituality, law and criminal justice. His 25 books have been translated into 30 foreign languages, making Ken one of the most widely translated academic writers in America. At age 74, he is still very much active as a philosopher, author, and teacher, with all of his major publications still in print.

In this episode, I talk to Ken Wilber about his Integral Theory. Instead of trying to tackle it in all its complexity, Ken hones in on the application of his theory to intelligence, consciousness and transcendence. He believes that development in these areas follows a predictable path, such as in the case of enlightenment. Borrowing from Zen Buddhism, Ken talks about what it’s like to awaken to the truth of reality. We also touch on the topics of psychological research, diversity, artificial intelligence, and social media. 

Website: https://integrallife.com/

Twitter: @TheKenWilber

Topics

03:17 Integral Theory and its applications

09:50 Components of spiritual intelligence

17:41 Maslow’s influence on Ken

21:41 Critique of stage theories 

30:49 Spiritual narcissism

44:12 The process of enlightenment

48:42 Individual differences in unitive consciousness

58:09 Integral Theory research

1:03:44 Is society progressing?

1:09:39 Diversity beyond physical attributes

1:13:03 Improving modern-day psychology research

1:18:06 Is life just a test run?

1:22:22 What would an integral social media look like?

1:26:36 Addressing Integral Theory critiques

1:33:00 Does objective reality exist?

1:38:52 Development of artificial intelligence

1:43:08 Awakening to reality

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Today we welcome Alisa Cohn to the podcast. Alisa is an executive coach who has worked with C-suite executives at prominent startups such as Venmo, Etsy, and The Wirecutter, as well as Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Google and Pfizer. Her clientele also includes leaders from around the world, including the first female minister of the transition state of Afghanistan and the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. She is the author of From Start-up to Grown-up, which won the 2022 Independent Press Award, and the creator and host of a podcast of the same name. 

In this episode, I talk to Alisa Cohn about the journey of leadership. Before we can guide others, Alisa believes we need to lead ourselves first. There are days when we don’t feel up to the task, but Alisa gives us practical advice on how to show up on those difficult days. Drawing on her coaching experience with executives, she shares with us that even the most successful entrepreneurs experience imposter syndrome and negative self-talk—but these can be overcome with the right management tools.   

Website: www.alisacohn.com/

Twitter: @AlisaCohn

Topics

02:59 What is executive coaching?

06:17 What makes a great master coach?

09:45 Managing your self 

15:33 Combat negative self-talk

18:12 Deal with imposter syndrome

26:33 Leadership is an unnatural act

30:59 The co-founder prenup

33:23 The journey of entrepreneurship

36:42 Three questions for productive meetings

39:17 From Start-up to Grown-up Podcast

42:25 Lead yourself

45:18 The experiences of different leaders

53:04 Alisa’s leadership journey

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Today we welcome Hal Hershfield to the podcast. Hal is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. The recipient of numerous teaching awards, Hal was named one of “The 40 Most Outstanding B-School Profs Under 40 In The World” by business education website Poets & Quants. He publishes in top academic journals and also contributes op-eds to the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, and other outlets.  His latest book is called Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today.

In this episode I talk to Hal Hershfield about meeting your future self. Decisions are trade-offs between the present and the future. Oftentimes, it's easier to choose what feels gratifying now, than to choose what's more beneficial in the years to come. Hal believes this is because we feel disconnected to our future selves. Hal shows us the mental mistakes we commit when thinking about the future. He shares with us how to visualize who we want to become, so we can make choices that are better for us now and later. 

Website: www.halhershfield.com

Twitter: @HalHershfield

Topics

03:21 Hal’s expertise and background

05:40 Your Future Self

13:12 How much do we change over time?

17:25 Mental mistakes when thinking about the future 

24:20 Productive prospection 

28:48 Why do we fail in our long-term goals?

34:33 Time travel mistakes

40:35 Visualizing your future self

42:53 Making present sacrifices feel easier

45:42 How to get people to follow through 

47:37 The future selves of organizations

50:17 Facing an uncertain future 

54:03 The collective self

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