The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology

Dr. James Cooke is a neuroscientist, writer and speaker, focused on consciousness, meditation, psychedelic states, and science.

He studied Experimental Psychology and completed his PhD in Neuroscience at Oxford University.

He holds research positions at University College London and Trinity College Dublin where he investigates how the brain creates our experience of the world.

In this episode, we dive into the concept of nonduality, why our brains construct an ego, the nature of consciousness, psychedelic states and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Shauna Shapiro, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and an expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. She has spent two decades studying the benefits of mindfulness and compassion. Her TEDx Talk on this topic has been viewed over 2 million times.

Dr. Shapiro is a professor of psychology at Santa Clara University. She graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, and received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona. She's published over 150 journal articles and 3 books. Her most recent book is Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity, and Joy.

We dive into the science supporting self-compassion, the exciting overlap between modern neuroscience and ancient wisdom, where the mindfulness movement might be headed, and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Elliot Roe is a leading expert in mindset optimization for high performers.

In just the last 3 years his poker clients have won over $150,000,000 and nearly every major tournament title, including the World Series of Poker Main Event. His clientele also includes Olympic medalists, UFC Champions, Hollywood actors, business executives, and Wall Street traders.

He also Co-Founded the mobile mindset app Primed Mind and hosts the A-Game Advantage Podcast. Elliot holds a graduate degree in Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy.

We discuss his work with the world's top poker players and other mental peak performers, the psychology of hypnotherapy, and his advice for forming your own optimal mindset.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Dr. Massimo Pigliucci is Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, former co-host of the Rationally Speaking Podcast, and one of the most influential modern Stoics.

He's published several books including How to Be a Stoic, Nonsense on Stilts, and A Field Guide to a Happy Life. Professor Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology and also a PhD in Philosophy.

We go in-depth on Stoicism, what it is, and how to apply it in everyday life.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Sharon Salzberg is a world-famous meditation teacher and NY Times bestselling author.

She's largely responsible for popularizing mindfulness in the West.

Sharon co-founded the Insight Meditation Society with Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein and has been leading meditation retreats around the world for over three decades.

Her books include Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, A Heart as Wide as the World, Real Happiness - The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program; Real Happiness at Work, and Real Change.

We discuss her training with legendary teachers in Asia, the most sublime states of mind and how to achieve them, handling the "inner critic," the psychology of real love, and how this differs from conditional love.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Dr. Lustig is an endocrinologist, professor emeritus of pediatrics at UCSF, and bestselling author of Fat Chance.

He also wrote The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains. Dr. Lustig holds a BS from MIT, an MD from Cornell, and a Masters of Studies in Law from UC Hastings College of Law.

We discuss the basic brain mechanisms behind various addictive products that are hacking our reward centers, the 7 key differences between pleasure and happiness, neuromarketing, and what to do about all this.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Dr. Roger Walsh has a unique background that makes him one of the world's leading experts on the mind. He graduated from Australia's Queensland University with degrees in psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and medicine and then came to the US as a Fullbright Scholar. He's now a professor of psychiatry, philosophy, and anthropology at the University of California Irvine.

Dr. Walsh has written several books and collectively, Dr. Walsh's writings and research have received over two dozen national and international awards and honors, while his teaching has received one national and six university awards. He's a close friend and confidant of The Dalai Lama, Ken Wilber, Stan Grof, and other legends in the field.

We discuss altered states, stages of adult psychological development, shamanism, the power of rituals, and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Dr. Adam Gazzaley is a neuroscientist, author, photographer, entrepreneur, and inventor. He's the Founder and Executive Director of Neuroscape, a lab that bridges technology and neuroscience to enhance brain function. His team invented the first video game approved by the FDA as a medical treatment.

Dr. Gazzaley is also the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry at UCSF. He's the Co-Founder and Chief Science Advisor of Akili Interactive Labs, JAZZ Venture Partners, and Sensync.

In addition to entrepreneurial endeavors, Dr. Gazzaley's also an active scientist, having authored over 150 scientific articles. He holds MD and PhD degrees in neuroscience from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He's been profiled in the NY Times, The New Yorker, WSJ, TIME, and many other publications.

We discuss the current distraction crisis, Dr. Gazzaley's video game for improving ADHD, the new psychedelics division of Neuroscape, and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Dr. Robynne Chutkan is the Founder of Gutbliss, an integrative gastroenterologist, microbiome expert, and bestselling author. She did her undergrad pre-Med at Yale and went on to get an MD from Columbia.

Here we dive deep into a relatively recent discovery and surprising area of mental fitness—your second brain, the gut. Dr. Chutkan describes the incredible research showing just how intimately connected our mental health is with the bacteria in our guts. She also gives her top tips for creating a healthy microbiome.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com

Mantak Chia is a Taoist meditation master who has taught millions of students worldwide for over 45 years. He's authored 57 books and founded the Universal Healing Tao Center in Thailand. Master Chia has also studied Western anatomy and medicine.

In this episode, we discuss the ancient tradition of mind training called Taoism and its methods, like meditation and dark rooms. Master Chia explains how to stop wasting mental and sexual energy and start cultivating more of it for a happier and healthier life.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com