Stanford psychologist Fred Luskin, PhD, discusses the science of forgiveness, emphasizing the need to process grief as a foundation for emotional healing. He explores practical ways to teach forgiveness to children and how adults can approach societal challenges with acceptance and meaning. Luskin also introduces his 9 Steps to Forgiveness, a research-based framework for releasing resentment and fostering gratitude, offering listeners actionable tools for resilience and well-being. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.org Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Dr. Fred Luskin 3:23 | Link to 30 Days of Meditation, Science & Bliss course: https://bit.ly/30-day-course 3:33 | Forgiveness is the Forgotten Step 5:44 | Forgiveness Defined 12:30 | Resolving Grievances 16:22 | Choosing Where to Put Your Attention 18:50 | Grief Precedes Forgiveness 26:40 | Power of Forgiveness Anecdotes 38:40 | 9 Steps to Forgiveness 46:11 | Revenge is a Life Well Lived 51:49 | Repainting Your Life Picture 59:02 | Modeling Forgiveness for Children 1:06:00 | Forgiveness of Global Issues 1:10:40 | Next Steps
In this episode, Dr. Andrew Litchy recounts his journey from life as a monk to becoming a naturopathic doctor. He shares his insights on how meditation helped him manage ADHD and how it has become integral to both his personal life and professional practice. The conversation spans topics from the daily life of a monk and the experience of ordination to practical tips on integrating mindfulness into a busy life. Dr. Litchy also discusses practical strategies for training the mind in a hectic world and provides top wellness tips, making this episode a rich resource for anyone interested in meditation and holistic health. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.org Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Andrew Litchy 9:02 | ADHD in Meditation 12:18 | How Meditation Clicked 13:25 | Straight Mindful Vipassana 19:05 | Jhanas Defined 23:42 | Experience of Ordaining as a Monk 27:40 | Day in the Life of a Monk 45:25 | From Monk to Med School 47:20 | Study on Meditation and HRV 55:20 | How to Train the Mind in a Busy Life 1:02:14 | Sticky Notes 1:10:17 | Homebase for the Mind 1:13:32 | “Waking From the Dream” 1:21:10 | Time Is a Construct 1:25:44 | Meditation Training for Children 1:31:05 | Top Wellness Tips 1:36:40 | Most Common Problems Treated in a Naturopathic Doctor’s Office
How does the mind shape our reality? What happens when the conceptual mind turns off? The answers might be found in the depths of meditation. Doug Kraft has delved into the complexities of the mind from various perspectives: as a psychotherapist, writer, minister, meditation teacher, and through the lenses of bio-energetics and neuroscience. In this episode, we discuss consciousness and the mind's role in constructing our reality. We explore how to train our brains to achieve lasting contentment. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.org SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Introduction to Doug Kraft 1:20 | Home Retreat Experience 8:15 | Dependent Origination 14:23 | What is Consciousness? 23:31 | How the Mind Constructs Reality 36:24 | The Man Who Lost $100,000 45:04 | Exercise for Glimpsing Deep Awareness 47:48 | Practice Insight - Redirecting Attention LINKS Doug's website: https://easingawake.com/ Doug's retreat talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DutrLDZo1Yk&t=2403s
How does the brain work at its deepest levels? And to what extent can we radically upgrade it, creating neuroplastic changes? Ruben Laukkonen, PhD is a cognitive neuroscientist, contemplative, speaker, and poet. His eclectic background includes competing semi-professionally in Muay Thai Kickboxing, founding two businesses (including the first online market for bitcoin in Australia), and intensive meditation training. Dr. Laukkonen is currently a principal investigator and lecturer at Southern Cross University and holds honorary fellowships at VU Amsterdam and The University of Queensland. He uses methods such as behavior, neuroimaging, machine learning, and phenomenology to empirically investigate some of the rarest states of human consciousness. This episode is a full tour of the mind, including a deep dive into some of those rare states of consciousness and what they reveal about achieving the highest levels of human happiness. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Introduction to Ruben Laukkonen, PhD 2:02 | Early Experience 10:45 | How the Mind Makes Itself 22:18 | Predictive Processing & Agitation 25:30 | Why There's Always Something Wrong 31:28 | Chain of Causality in the Mind 36:00 | The Mind Rebuilding After Deepest Levels of Meditation 38:25 | Meditation for Reconditioning the Mind 52:06 | Doing Nothing Very Well 53:14 | Stages of Meditation & Predictive Processing 1:08:28 | Cessation & Awakening Research 1:17:12 | Jhanas - Stages of Deconstruction 1:24:22 | Rapid Fire Questions LINKS https://rubenlaukkonen.com https://fitmind.com/give
Dr. Anna Abraham is a psychologist and neuroscientist who investigates creativity and how we can optimize this key trait. She’s also a leading scholar on the study of human imagination. On this episode, we discuss the key ingredients of a creative mind, how to become more creative, and how the brain can tell the difference between real and imaginary worlds. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Intro to Anna Abraham, PhD 1:44 | Imagination More Important Than Knowledge? 4:45 | Imagination Defined 7:53 | How We Experience Real vs. Imaginary Worlds 17:20 | Fiction Crossing Into Reality 21:35 | Overlap of Memory & Imagination 29:28 | Ingredients of a Creative Mind 42:08 | Ways to Build Creativity 48:35 | Predictors of Creativity 58:12 | Rapid Fire Questions
Nick Littlehales has been an elite sport recovery coach for nearly a quarter-century and is the bestselling author of Sleep: The Myth of 8 Hours, the Power of Naps... and the New Plan to Recharge Your Body and Mind. On this episode, we uncover the common myths and misunderstandings about sleep. We also discuss the circadian rhythm, chronotypes, polyphasic sleep, and treating sleep as recovery. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Intro to Nick Littlehales 1:42 | Sleep Tips 3:45 | Becoming a Sleep Coach 7:28 | How the Pros Optimize Sleep 9:38 | What to do Before You Sleep 19:36 | Understanding Circadian Rhythm 26:10 | Polyphasic Sleep: Importance of Naps 28:58 | 7 Key Sleep Recovery Indicators 37:27 | How to Improve Sleep 43:54 | Microrest 45:20 | Rapid Fire Questions
Donald Hoffman, PhD is a cognitive scientist and author of The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes. He is currently a professor at UC Irvine, where he studies consciousness, visual perception and evolutionary psychology. On this episode, we “take the red pill” and hear Dr. Hoffman’s theory on why reality is not what it seems. He explains this complex topic by comparing reality to a user interface. We discuss many topics, such as his mathematical theory of consciousness, questioning beliefs, and how the mind forms new mental models. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Donald Hoffman, PhD 2:23 | Why Reality Isn’t as It Seems 7:30 | Reality as a User Interface 13:51 | Adapting to Evolving Technology 16:06 | Creating New Mental Models 18:31 | Moving Beyond Spacetime 23:06 | Consciousness is Fundamental 25:26 | Ancient Wisdom & Science of Consciousness 30:00 | Conversation with the Dalai Lama (starting at 54:40) 30:15 | Reality Transcends Concepts 36:39 | Questioning Beliefs 38:56 | A New Worldview 45:04 | Mathematical Theory of Consciousness 45:39 | Rapid Fire Questions
Andrew Holecek is an author and meditation teacher with decades of intensive practice experience, including a 3-year silent retreat in the Tibetan tradition. Andrew’s work combines ancient wisdom with modern science. We discuss the insights gained from his lengthy silent retreat, the 2 vectors of enlightenment, how our minds construct our realities, and much more. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Intro to Andrew Holecek 4:55 | In the Presence of Meditation Masters 10:10 | 3-Year Silent Retreat Experience 18:58 | Insights Gained from 3-Year Retreat 22:50 | Unsticking the Mind 30:06 | Enlightenment Defined 38:58 | Waking Up & Growing Up 44:23 | How Our Minds Construct Our Realities 54:20 | Deconstructing Mental Constructs 62:23 | Rapid Fire Questions
Miguel Nicolelis, MD, PhD is a Brazilian neuroscientist and physician famous for his pioneering work in the field of brain-machine interface (BMI) technology. Dr. Nicolelis’s extensive research with brain-machine interfaces blurs the lines between real life and science fiction. In the episode, we discuss neuroprosthetics, monkeys controlling robots, brain-to-brain communication, and the key implications of these wild, futuristic technologies for us all. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Intro to Dr. Miguel Nicolelis 4:20 | Monkeys Controlling Robots 10:30 | Mirror Neurons & Brain-Machine Interface (BMI) 13:02 | Advances & Applications of BMIs 17:50 | BMIs for Parkinson’s Disease 21:36 | Upgrading the Human Mind? 24:50 | Why Machines Will Never Think Like a Human 29:56 | Brains are Changed by Digital Systems 32:50 | Limitations of Computers 37:07 | How Nature Shaped the Brain 40:15 | We Only Experience a Sliver of Reality 49:45 | Viruses of the Mind 59:30 | Rapid Fire Questions
Edward Slingerland, PhD, is a Professor of Philosophy and Associate Member in the Asian Studies and Psychology Departments at the University of British Columbia. He's an expert on the cognitive science of ancient philosophies. On this episode, we discuss the science of ancient concepts like Wu Wei (”effortless action”), hot vs cold cognition, ways to alter consciousness, the paradox of trying not to try, and much more. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Intro to Edward Slingerland, PhD 1:39 | Wu Wei & Flow State 9:34 | Hot vs. Cold Cognition 13:45 | How to Get into State of Wu Wei 17:35 | When to Not Use Wu Wei 19:30 | Paradox of Trying Not to Try 26:40 | Wu Wei in Daily Life 30:10 | Microdosing Psychedelics 32:28 | Alcohol and Ways to Alter Consciousness 38:06 | How Much Effort is Needed to Become Effortless? 40:00 | Rapid Fire Questions
Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde and Dr. Stephen Macknik are neuroscientists who specialize in the science of magic and illusion. Both are professors of ophthalmology, neurology, and physiology & pharmacology at the Downstate Medical Center. Together they pioneered the study of various aspects of magic such as perception, cognitive illusion, and attentional misdirection. On this episode, we discuss how magic tricks fool the brain, why everyday life is an illusion, what neuroscientists and magicians can learn from each other and much more. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com Show Notes 0:00 | Intro to Stephen Macknik, PhD & Susana Martinez-Conde, PhD 8:00 | How Magic Hacks Our Minds 13:00 | What Neuroscientists Learn from Magicians 15:54 | What Magicians Learn from Neuroscientists 17:24 | Testing Attention Manipulation 22:25 | Cognition & Calculation 25:36 | How Our Brains Construct Reality 28:27 | Vision Produces Our Changing Realities 29:53 | Microsaccades Explained 32:58 | Brain on Autopilot 35:50 | Expertise as an Unconscious Process 40:46 | Magic for Kids vs. Magic for Adults 43:43 | Is Magic Still Enjoyable When You Know the Tricks? 48:24 | Rapid Fire Questions
Dr. Elena Antonova is a neuroscientist and senior lecturer in psychology at Brunel University London. Her research focuses on the effects of long-term mindfulness meditation practice in the hope of promoting mental wellbeing in the general population. On this episode, we dive into the different approaches to meditation and the 4 levels of meditation practice development. We also discuss what goes on in the brains of elite meditators and what it takes for the average person to reap the benefits from a meditation practice. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Elena Antonova, PhD 4:28 | Categorizing Meditation Practices 7:15 | Why Breath Focus is Fundamental 10:19 | Constructivist vs. Innateist Approach to Meditation 12:08 | 4 Levels of Meditation Practice Development 17:12 | Mental Fitness Defined 20:19 | Brains of Mental Olympians 24:10 | Default Mode Network Differences 32:00 | Field of Awareness Described 35:45 | Habituation of the Attention System 46:45 | Eye Movement Paradigm Study 54:00 | Balancing Brain’s Predictive Nature with the Present Moment 57:10 | Measurable Changes with Just 10 Minutes a Day 59:14 | Rapid Fire Questions
Dr. Antonio Damasio is a neurologist, psychologist and best-selling author. He's the Founder & Director of the Brain and Creativity Institute, which researches human emotions, memory, communication, and decision-making, and is regarded as one of the most influential psychologists of the modern era. On this episode, we discuss the evolution of the mind, the surprising role of feelings in consciousness, and why we have a brain in the first place. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Antonio Damasio, MD, PhD 2:07 | Why Do We Have a Brain? 4:00 | Brain & Nervous System Are One 6:08 | Evolution of the Mind 10:28 | Minds are Representation Machines 16:51 | Distinguishing Between Feeling & Emotions 19:04 | Feelings are the Beginning of Consciousness 22:38 | Nervous Systems Produce Feelings/Consciousness 29:30 | Understanding Feelings is of Utmost Importance 34:34 | How Feelings Impact Culture, Politics, Relationships, & Everything Really 39:37 | Building Conscious Machines with Vulnerability 43:30 | Rapid Fire Questions
Dr. Sidarta Ribeiro is an award-winning neuroscientist, author, and Founder of the Brain Institute at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, where he is also a professor of neuroscience. In this episode, we discuss how dreams have influenced human evolution, the connection between sleep and learning, and how to cultivate a rich dream life. He gives his top tips for how to get a better night’s sleep and stresses the importance of sharing our dreams with others. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Sidarta Ribeiro, PhD 3:09 | History of Sleep and Dreams 5:56 | Problem with Not Paying Attention to Dreams 7:27 | Purpose of Dreams 13:45 | How Sleep Made Humans a Dominate Species 22:17 | How to Cultivate a Dream Life 27:38 | Interpreting Meaning of Dreams 36:23 | Collective Dreams Have Changed During Covid 37:48 | Sleep Tips - How to Get a Better Night’s Sleep 41:43 | Are Naps Good? 42:55 | Connection Between Sleep, Memory and Learning 46:13 | Too Much Sleep? 49:51 | Rapid Fire Questions
Ramses Alcaide, PhD is an electrical engineer, neuroscientist, and CEO of Neurable, an innovative brain-computer interface company. At Neurable, he is the inventor and primary developer of a brain-computer interface technology that is designed to turn human biometrics into actionable insights. On this episode, we discuss his work at Neurable, how thoughts can be read by machines, and the benefits, ethical concerns, and future of brain-computer interface technology. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Ramses Alcaide, PhD 3:20 | What is a Brain-Computer Interface? 5:34 | How a Brain Interfaces with a Machine 9:48 | How Thoughts are Read by Machines 13:48 | Enten EEG Headphones - How They Work 23:18 | Addressing BCI Concerns and Ethics 26:30 | Future of BCIs 35:28 | Can People Become too Reliant on BCIs? 40:33 | Rapid Fire Questions
Dr. Amishi Jha is a neuroscientist and professor of psychology at the University of Miami. She's the Director and Co-Founder of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative. Dr. Jha leads research on the neural basis of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion, resilience, and performance, working with the military, educators, elite athletes, and children. We discuss the 3 main subsystems of attention, the evolutionary reason for mind wandering, and recommended practices to sharpen your attention. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com 0:00 | Introduction to Amishi Jha, PhD 4:48 | The Attention Problem 6:30 | 3 Main Subsystems of Attention 11:06 | How Subsystems of Attention Work Together 13:20 | Meta Awareness and Meta Cognition 15:30 | Evolutionary Reason for Mind Wandering 18:58 | What Makes a Thought “Sticky” 24:18 | High Stress and Attention 31:33 | Can You Undo Benefits of Mindfulness? 36:28 | Different Definitions of Mindfulness 40:18 | Recommended Practices to Train Attention 43:58 | Rapid Fire Questions
Apkar V. Apkarian, PhD is a professor of physiology, anesthesiology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. He has been studying pain for more than two decades and is a pioneer in the use of fMRI to study the neurochemistry of the brain. Dr. Apkarian's research has increasingly focused on chronic pain, including the strategic use of placebo treatment. In this episode, we discuss the placebo effect, how pain works in the brain, and susceptibility to chronic pain and placebo response. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com
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
Khosro Masoumi
very insightful and helpful indeed. keep up good work👍
Ali
I have sleep problem this days and three months a go i got prescribed to get some pills that could help me sleep.actually I think I shouldn’t take that drug because it is really hard to quit taking it
Jenna Vaughn
awesome episode. I really appreciated Gretchen's energy and view points.
Perfit Choreo
Hebrew's thoughtful questions about our new place