Dan Harris, podcast host, author of 10% Happier and former ABC News anchor, shares his journey from covering war zones to discovering mindfulness and meditation. He discusses the toll of high-stress journalism on mental health, including his on-air panic attack, and how meditation became a transformative tool. Harris also addresses misconceptions about meditation, its benefits for managing anxiety, and why it doesn’t mean losing your edge.

Harris opens up about leadership and entrepreneurship, reflecting on the challenges of co-founding a business, managing adversity, and learning to lead with greater emotional awareness. He explains how tools like therapy, mindfulness, and building strong relationships have helped him navigate life’s ups and downs, both personally and professionally.

The conversation also explores modern masculinity, the epidemic of loneliness, and the importance of friendships. Harris shares insights on how vulnerability and connection can improve well-being and why relationships are the key to a healthier, happier life.

 

Episode chapters:

(00:04:34 ) - Dan Harris on his early journalism journey

(00:09:06 ) - Ambition, anxiety and success as a young reporter

(00:13:32 ) - War reporting, big-T vs. little-T trauma, and industry support

(00:20:19 ) - From panic attack to discovering meditation

(00:25:35 ) - Misconceptions about meditation

(00:30:25 ) - Meditation and maintaining your edge

(00:37:57 ) - The pantheon of no brainers: Other tools for mental health and well-being

(00:44:23 ) - Never worry alone

(00:48:56 ) - Navigating the split with the Ten Percent Happier app co-founders

(00:55:25 ) - Handling criticism as a leader

(01:02:37 ) - Maintaining your team’s well being

(01:06:53 ) - Masculinity, male friendships and emotional openness

(01:15:39 ) - Rapid-fire questions

 

Listen to the episode here:

Links:

• Show notes

• Dan Harris: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter

• Mentioned

• ABC News

• Good Morning America

• PBS NewsHour

• Writing Broadcast News — Shorter, Sharper, Stronger by Mervin Block

• New England Cable News (NECN)

• World News Now

• No Time to Panic by Matt Gutman

• The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté

• Gabor Maté on 10% Happier

• Mark Epstein

• Jeff Warren

• Amishi Jha

• Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

• After the Ecstasy, the Laundry by Jack Kornfield

• Sister True Dedication

• Brené Brown

• Harvard Study of Adult Development

• Esther Perel

• Lewis Howes

• Reboot by Jerry Colonna

• Local recommendation (New York)

• Hotel Chelsea

• Local News Matters: Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

• Colorado Press Association: Website, Twitter, Facebook

• Tim Regan-Porter: Bio, Twitter 

For show notes, transcripts, newsletter sign-up and past guests on the Local News Matters podcast, please visit localnewsmatterspodcast.com or lnmpod.com.

Past guests on the Local News Matters podcast include: Samantha Ragland (American Press Institute), Randy Picht and Andrew Finlayson (RJI Burnout Report), Laura Frank (COLab), Jennifer Larino (Lede New Orleans), Katherine Ann Rowlands (Bay City News), Jim O’Rourke (O’Rourke Media Group), Teri Finneman, Nick Mathews and Pat Ferrucci (Reviving Local News), Nic Dawes (THE CITY), Allison Taylor Levine (Local News Initiative Delaware), Crystal Good (Black by God),  Lisa Snowden (Baltimore Beat), Karen Rundlet (INN), Jim Brady (Knight Foundation), Candice Fortman (Exit interview, Outlier Media), Jean Friedman-Rudovsky (Resolve Philly), Jay Rosen (NYU), Sue Cross (Exit interview, INN), Mar