Freedom Pact | Joseph and Lewis

Dr Anna Lembke is a Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, Medical Director of Stanford Addiction Medicine, and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. Dr Lembke is an internationally recognised expert on addiction, she is the bestselling author of Dopamine Nation - Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, which explores the neuroscience of pleasure, pain and compulsive consumption. Her clinical and academic work examines how our pursuit of pleasure, control and certainty can paradoxically contribute to psychological suffering, and what we can learn from the science of addiction and recovery. Why is it that getting everything we want so often fails to make us happy? In this episode of Freedom Pact, Dr Anna Lembke returns to discuss her new book, Radical Surrender, and the hidden psychological costs of trying to control our lives. We explore why success can leave us feeling empty, how our obsession with self-improvement can fuel anxiety and shame, and why avoiding painful emotions may ultimately prolong our suffering. Anna also shares the deeply personal experience of losing her son, and how grief transformed her understanding of control, uncertainty and what it means to live a meaningful life. Together, we examine why surrender is not the same as giving up, and how letting go of what we cannot control might allow us to live more fully.Timestamps:00:00 Why We Struggle to Accept Uncertainty03:32 From Dopamine Nation to Radical Surrender06:07 Are We More Obsessed With Control Than Ever?09:09 Why We Need Mystery in Our Lives10:52 The Psychological Benefits of Letting Go14:42 Why Success Can Leave Us Feeling Empty18:41 Why We Pursue Things That Don't Make Us Happy21:30 Surrender vs. Learned Helplessness25:03 Why Surrender Isn't Giving Up28:19 Just Because We Can, Should We?29:17 Anna's Personal Experience of Grief and Loss36:26 Finding Meaning in Suffering41:12 Have We Lost Our Right to Be Unhappy43:07 The Hidden Cost of Avoiding Pain46:01 What Steven C. Hayes Taught Me About Suffering48:05 Can Wisdom Be Learned Without Experiencing Tragedy?50:27 Can Surrender Become Another Form of Control?53:02 The Psychology of Prayer and Humility55:27 Has Modern Psychotherapy Become Too Self-Focused?59:07 When Caring for Someone Becomes Controlling Them1:06:17 The Problem With Trying to Be a Perfect Parent1:07:49 Anna's Final Advice for Living DifferentlyConnect with Dr Anna Lembke:Website: https://www.annalembke.com/New Book – Radical Surrender: https://sites.prh.com/annalembkeStanford University Profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/anna-lembkeConnect with usWebsite: https://www.freedompact.co.uk/Newsletter: https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedompactpodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreedomPactEmail: [email protected] on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/freedom-pact-joseph-and-lewis/id1411593229Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1R0aL3nQYXcYFc0FaNai08Disclaimer: The Freedom Pact Podcast is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to constitute, nor should it be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. Listeners should not disregard, delay, or substitute professional medical advice because of information discussed on the podcast or associated materials.guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Freedom Pact.

Alex Proctor is an ultra-runner, course record holder, and recently finished second at the Kodiak 100. Fresh off his experience of crewing Mark Dowdle at the Bigs Backyard Ultra Team World Championships, Alex joins the show to discuss:00:00 Lessons from crewing Mark Dowdle at the BYU World Team Champs03:09 Alex's Ultra-Running Dream05:52 How to deal with doubt07:30 Bouncing back from the verge of quitting15:00 Motivations as a super power17:30 Quitting his job to go all in22:40 What are you willing to put in to achieve your dreams?24:40 A full week of training31:10 Entering the 'Last Soul' backyard ultra33:40 Backyard Ultra tips37:40 The solitude of running39:10 What running can give to you40:30 How to stay disciplined when you don't feel motivated43:00 Everyone is more capable than they believe45:00 Why the Backyard Ultra will be the next major sport48:10 Last Soul Ultra Goals52:00 What makes life worth living?Links:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter​ (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompactEmail: [email protected]

What is the price of being human?Our capacity for language, imagination and self-reflection has given us extraordinary possibilities. Yet these same abilities allow us to revisit painful memories, anticipate futures that may never arrive, and struggle against experiences we cannot entirely control.In this episode, I speak with Professor Steven C. Hayes, the psychologist who co-developed Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), about the origins of psychological suffering and what it means to live a meaningful life.We explore why attempts to avoid pain can deepen our suffering, the relationship between love and vulnerability, and the science of psychological flexibility. We also consider the limitations of contemporary psychological research, the promise of personalised psychotherapy, and why understanding human individuality may be essential to the future of mental healthcare.If there's one idea that stuck with me from this conversation, it is this: a meaningful life is not necessarily one without suffering, but one in which we are willing to experience pain in the service of what matters.I hope you enjoy the conversation.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:21 Is psychological suffering the price of the human mind?09:00 How language creates suffering20:19 Why avoiding pain makes life worse27:28 Has modern psychology failed us?29:24 What actually makes psychotherapy work?37:02 Why a meaningful life requires pain46:44 Finding hope in a suffering world50:42 What is psychological flexibility?54:38 How parents influence children's mental health59:24 Why everyone needs a different approach to therapy1:04:00 The problem with traditional psychological research1:07:19 Why personality tests might be misleading1:15:15 The future of personalised psychotherapy1:19:29 What our body language reveals about mental health1:24:55 How Steven C. Hayes wants to be rememberedConnect with us:Our Links:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter​ (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompactpodhttps://ww.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: [email protected] with Professor Hayes:Website: https://stevenchayes.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevenchayesX (Twitter): https://x.com/stevenchayesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/drstevenchayesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StevenCHayes-yo7diBooks, articles and resources: https://stevenchayes.com/tools/Disclaimer: The Freedom Pact Podcast is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to constitute, nor should it be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. Listeners should not disregard, delay, or substitute professional medical advice because of information discussed on the podcast or associated materials.

Dr. Kirk Honda is a psychotherapist, professor, and host of  @PsychologyInSeattle  . In this episode, we discuss:07:55 When Being “The Good Child” Shapes You 11:24 What Happens When You Put Your Needs Last? 14:52 Why Do We Pull Away From Closeness? 19:41 Can Different Relationship Needs Work? 24:04 What’s Really Beneath a Recurring Argument? 30:10 What Makes an Apology Effective? 36:28 What If the Same Hurt Keeps Happening? 39:55 Boundaries and the Three Phases of Assertiveness 46:06 Does Healing Require Forgiveness? 51:50 You Deserve to Take Care of Yourself 53:13 What Makes Life Worth Living? 54:13 Where to Find Dr. Kirk HondaLinks:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter​ (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompactpodwhttps://ww.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: [email protected]: The Freedom Pact Podcast is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The content is not intended to constitute, nor should it be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. Listeners should not disregard, delay, or substitute professional medical advice because of information discussed on the podcast or associated materials.

Ian Gillan is a singer and rock legend, most notably known as the lead singer and lyricist of Deep Purple, considered to be one of the pioneers of rock and heavy metal having been inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In this interview, Ian & I discuss:00:00 Childhood curiosity, infinity and humanity’s future02:15 Thinking for yourself in a rapidly changing world04:42 Creativity, storytelling, and God and Darwin in a pub06:23 Finding a thread that connects your ideas07:57 Turning fear into art: the story behind “Child in Time”10:54 How a teenage dream became a career13:15 Taking the first step towards your dream14:40 Realising you’re already living your dream16:12 Pressure, chance and the making of “Smoke on the Water”19:08 What makes life worth living? Planning beyond your lifetime20:00 Ian’s “Talking Gib’rish” tourFind more at Ian's website: https://www.gillan.com/Our Links:https://freedompact.co.uk/newsletter​ (Healthy, Wealthy & Wise Newsletter)https://www.Instagram.com/freedompactwhttps://ww.twitter.com/freedompactpod Email: [email protected]