10% Happier with Dan Harris

Ten Percent Happier

Dan Harris is a fidgety, skeptical journalist who had a panic attack on live national television, which led him to try something he otherwise never would have considered: meditation. He went on to write the bestselling book, 10% Happier. On this show, Dan talks with eminent meditation teachers, top scientists, and even the odd celebrity. Guests include everyone from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Brené Brown to Karamo from Queer Eye. On some episodes, Dan ventures into the deep end of the pool, covering subjects such as enlightenment and psychedelics. On other episodes, it’s science-based techniques for issues such as anxiety, productivity, and relationships. Dan's approach is seemingly modest, but secretly radical: happiness is a skill you can train, just like working your bicep in the gym. Your progress may be incremental at first, but like any good investment, it compounds over time.

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Listen to 10% Happier on the Wondery App or wherever you listen to your podcasts. You can listen early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting https://wondery.com/links/ten-percent-happier-with-dan-harrisnow.

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Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness

Episodes

Six Buddhist Practices To Stay Calm In A Tumultuous World | Kaira Jewel Lingo, Valerie Brown and Marisela Gomez
Yesterday
Six Buddhist Practices To Stay Calm In A Tumultuous World | Kaira Jewel Lingo, Valerie Brown and Marisela Gomez
This stuff can be done by anyone, anywhere, anytime.Kaira Jewel Lingo, a frequent flier on this show, was an ordained Buddhist nun for 15 years. Now she lives in New York, writes books, and teaches meditation all over the world. Valerie Brown is a former lawyer and lobbyist who traded in her high-pressure job to teach the dharma. She also works as an executive coach. And Marisela Gomez is a physician, public health scholar and longtime meditator. All three guests come out of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum village tradition. They also are the co-authors of the new book Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teachings on Ancestors, Joy, and Liberation. Related Episodes:3 Buddhist Strategies for When the News is Overwhelming | Kaira Jewel LingoHow to Keep Your Relationships On the Rails | Kaira Jewel LingoThe Medieval Executioner in Your Head | Valerie BrownSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/brown-gomez-lingoAdditional Resources:Download the Happier app today: https://my.happierapp.com/link/downloadSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Optimize This: If You Care About Mental And Physical Health, This May Be The Missing Piece | Kasley Killam
3d ago
Optimize This: If You Care About Mental And Physical Health, This May Be The Missing Piece | Kasley Killam
Up until now, in our culture, we’ve generally talked about physical health and mental health–but there’s an emerging consensus that the missing piece is social health.But what can you actually do to improve your social health? Today we’re going deep with the scientist who has thought a lot about this, and has a ton of good advice.Kasley Killam, MPH, is a leading expert in social health and the award-winning author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier. As a graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health, sought-after advisor and keynote speaker, and founder of Social Health Labs, Killam has been improving global well-being through connection for over a decade. Her collaborations with organizations like Google, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Economic Forum contribute to building more socially healthy products, workplaces, and communities. Killam’s insights can be found in outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, NPR, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and The Washington Post.In this episode we talk about:Why social health is so important, and how it impacts our physical and mental healthHow to figure out what your social style isTips for strengthening your social musclesWhat you can do to boost your social health musclesHow much vulnerability is appropriate How to have a healthy relationship with yourselfHow legislation could help with social healthEmerging industries for social fitnessAnd lastly, how we can work towards creating a society that cultivates connectionRelated Episodes:Self-Compassion Ain’t Always Soft | Kristin NeffKryptonite for the Inner Critic | Kristin NeffRethinking Success | Mia BirdsongSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes:  https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/kasley-killam-839See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What To Do When You’re Angry | Matthew Brensilver, Vinny Ferraro, Kaira Jewel Lingo
Oct 2 2024
What To Do When You’re Angry | Matthew Brensilver, Vinny Ferraro, Kaira Jewel Lingo
A deep dive on one of the thorniest and most destructive states of mind.For this episode, Executive Producer DJ Cashmere interviewed a trio of brilliant Dharma teachers to get their advice about how to handle anger. This is the first in a series of 'correspondent' episodes, in which DJ identifies a pain point in his life and meditation practice, then goes out into the world to report on the best ways to address it.Kaira Jewel Lingo is a former nun in the Plum Village tradition started by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Vinny Ferraro teaches at the Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock, and also in prisons. Matthew Brensilver teaches at many of the same retreat centers, and spent many years working in the field of addiction pharmacotherapy.Related Episodes:3 Buddhist Strategies for When the News is Overwhelming | Kaira Jewel LingoHow to Keep Your Relationships On the Rails | Kaira Jewel LingoThree Buddhist Practices For Getting Your Sh*t Together | Vinny FerraroWhy Self-Hatred Makes No Sense | Matthew BrensilverHow to Actually Be Present | Matthew BrensilverThe Voice in Your Head | Ethan KrossI Just Went Through A Career Earthquake: This Is What's Next.How to Repair the Damage After a Fight | Dr. Becky KennedyGet Happier Without Losing Your Edge | Kamala MastersBest of the Archives: Making it RAIN | Tara BrachKryptonite for the Inner Critic | Kristin NeffAlso, the teachers’ sites:https://vinnyferraro.org/Vinny Ferraro's Course, A Year To Livehttps://www.kairajewel.com/https://www.matthewbrensilver.org/Feedback form: Let us know what you think!https://www.happierapp.com/contactSign up for Dan’s newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/tph/podcast-episode/DJ-Anger-1See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta On The 5 Pillars Of Brain Health
Sep 30 2024
Dr. Sanjay Gupta On The 5 Pillars Of Brain Health
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is the multiple Emmy Award-winning chief medical correspondent for CNN and host of the CNN podcast Chasing Life. Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon, plays an integral role in CNN’s reporting on health and medical news for all of CNN’s shows domestically and internationally. In addition to his work for CNN, Gupta is an associate professor of neurosurgery at Emory University Hospital and associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. He is the author of four New York Times best-selling books, “Chasing Life” (2007), “Cheating Death” (2009), “Monday Mornings” (2012), and “Keep Sharp: Building a Better Brain” (2020).In this episode we talk about:Sanjay’s origin story and how he got interested in the brain in the first placeThe mysteries of consciousnessWe dive into his five pillars of brain healthHow you can grow new brain cells by moving the body (but in certain ways)Key skills for challenging your brainWe hear about some meditation tips Sanjay picked up from the Dalai LamaWhether we should worry alone or with other peopleAnd lastly, why it’s so important for men to have vulnerable conversations with each otherRelated Episodes:The Dalai Lama’s Guide to Happiness#230: The Power of Rest | Alex Soojung-Kim Pang#614. Your Brain on Food | Dr. Uma NaidooThe Science Of Memory: How To Get Better At Remembering And Be Okay With Forgetting | Charan RanganathSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/sanjay-gupta-836See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Tara Brach Has A Counterintuitive Strategy For Navigating Tumultuous Times
Sep 25 2024
Tara Brach Has A Counterintuitive Strategy For Navigating Tumultuous Times
A (potentially challenging) Buddhist recipe handling anxious times.Tara Brach, a legendary meditation teacher, psychologist, and frequent flier on this show. She is the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington and has been active in bringing meditation into schools, prisons and underserved populations. She has also written several books including Radical Acceptance, Radical Compassion and Trusting the Gold. In this episode we talk about:A Buddhist tradition known as the Bodhisattva teachings… which are quite radical… and which Tara thinks can vastly improve your life… and the health of democracy. We also talk about: why some people might think this stuff is too soft4 practices to develop compassion A mindfulness technique known as RAINHow mindfulness can help you see what is beneath your angerLetting distress be a portal—and the amazing phrase, “action absorbs anxiety”How to get active when you have limited timeAnd how to counteract the tendency to numb outTara also recorded a guided meditation based on this conversation, which you can find on www.DanHarris.com.Related Episodes:The Dalai Lama’s Guide To HappinessVitamin E: How To Cultivate Equanimity Amidst Political Chaos | Election Sanity Series | Roshi Joan HalifaxA Counterintuitive Source of Hope | Sebene SelassieBest of the Archives: Making it RAIN | Tara BrachCan You Handle This? | Tara BrachHow to Stop the War Against Yourself | Tara BrachSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/tarabrach-833See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Harvard Scientist Who Says You Can Use Your Thoughts To Improve Your Health | Ellen Langer
Sep 23 2024
The Harvard Scientist Who Says You Can Use Your Thoughts To Improve Your Health | Ellen Langer
The connection between your psychology and your health, and how to work with it.Ellen J. Langer is the author of eleven books, including the international bestsellerMindfulness, which has been translated into fifteen languages, and Counterclockwise:Mindful Health and the Power of Possibility. Most recently, she is the author of TheMindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health.Langer is the recipient of, among other numerous awards and honors, a GuggenheimFellowship, the Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the PublicInterest from the American Psychological Association, the Award for DistinguishedContributions of Basic Science to the Application of Psychology from the AmericanAssociation of Applied and Preventive Psychology, and the Adult Development andAging Distinguished Research Achievement Award from the American PsychologicalAssociation.She is the author of more than 200 research articles and her trailblazing experiments insocial psychology have earned her inclusion in The New York Times Magazine’s “Yearin Ideas” issue. A member of the psychology department at Harvard University and apainter, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.In this episode we talk about:The power of placebosWhy she isn’t a fan of positive thinking as it is talked about in new age circlesHer version of mindfulness, which is quite different from the version we usually talk about here on the show, which comes out of BuddhismPsychological treatments for chronic illness Smart strategies for reframing aging. Why the world would be boring if you knew it allWhat she means by her concept of a “mindful utopia”And her favorite one liners Related Episodes:The Science Of Manifestation: Can This Stanford Neuroscientist Convince A Skeptical Dan To Give It A Shot? | Dr. James R. DotyHow to Get the Wisdom of Old Age Now | Dilip Jeste Tripping Out with a Legend: Jon Kabat-Zinn on Pain vs. Suffering, Rethinking Your Anxiety, and the Buddha's Teaching in a Single SentenceSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/ellen-langer-832See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Natasha Rothwell (White Lotus, How To Die Alone) On: Loneliness, Envy, People Pleasing, And Finding Your “Hell Yes”
Sep 20 2024
Natasha Rothwell (White Lotus, How To Die Alone) On: Loneliness, Envy, People Pleasing, And Finding Your “Hell Yes”
Natasha Rothwell created, executive produced, and stars in the highly anticipated series How To Die Alone. Natasha is best known for her Emmy Nominated performance in HBO’s The White Lotus and is set to reprise her role as Belinda Lindsey in the third season of the series currently in production.She is also known for her critically acclaimed work as a series regular, writer, director, and producer on HBO’s Insecure, for which she has won a Peabody Award and received the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy.Having previously written for Saturday Night Live, and after penning screenplays for Netflix, Paramount, and HBO Max— Natasha’s original screenplay Black Comic-Con was selected for the 2021 Sundance Screenwriters Lab.Her genre-bending feature, along with several other projects, are in development at her production company, Big Hattie Productions—founded in 2020 to focus on creating, producing, and developing projects that champion marginalized voices in subversive ways.In this episode we talk about:Being alone vs being lonelyHow she handles her own tendencies toward people-pleasing and burnoutWorking with doubt, faith and the venerable cliche of “trusting in the universe”Envy (and how it’s a partner to the scarcity mindset)TherapyMeditationWhy she loves RomComs — and her issues with them And we go Behind the scenes in a TV writer’s room — and why it’s even tougher when the character is you Related Episodes:Kryptonite for the Inner Critic | Kristin NeffSelf-Compassion Ain't Always Soft | Kristin Neff Non-Negotiables PlaylistSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/natasha-rothwellSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
I Just Did A 10-Day Silent Meditation Retreat With Joseph Goldstein. Here’s What I Learned
Sep 18 2024
I Just Did A 10-Day Silent Meditation Retreat With Joseph Goldstein. Here’s What I Learned
Meditation retreats are the object of much intrigue and even suspicion. So today, we’re going to take you inside a 10-day silent meditation retreat that Dan recently did with his teacher, Joseph Goldstein. You’ll also hear from Senior Producer, Marissa Schneiderman, who was fresh off a retreat of her own, with meditation teachers Alexis Santos and Andrea Fella. In this episode we talk about:The ups and downs of retreatsSome famous Buddhist listicles, including the five hindrancesThe importance of repetitionWe’ll hear snippets of Joseph answering Dan’s questionsWe find out what “cowboy dharma” isWhat it feels like to wear shit colored glassesHow to stop getting caught in a mind trapAnd lastly, we listen to voicemails and answer audience questions! Related Episodes:Joseph Goldstein On: How Not To Try Too Hard in Meditation, Why You Shouldn't "Waste Your Suffering," and the Value Of Seeing How Ridiculous You Are#377. A More Relaxed Way to Meditate | Alexis SantosEverything You Wanted To Know About Meditation Retreats But Were Afraid To Ask | Spring Washam (And Dan’s Close Friend, Zev Borow)#327 Uprooting Your Delusions | Andrea Fella How to Take Risks (an Experimental Episode) | Marissa SchneidermanSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/retreat-episode-829See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Modern Life Numbs You. Here’s The Neuroscience Of Waking Up | Tali Sharot
Sep 16 2024
Modern Life Numbs You. Here’s The Neuroscience Of Waking Up | Tali Sharot
It’s so easy, especially these days, to numb out. To get bored. To move through life on autopilot. There is even a scientific term for this: habituation.Today we’re talking to a researcher who co-authored a new book about the neuroscience of habit and how to wake up again. To make things exciting. Or as she says, to “re-sparkle”. Tali Sharot is a professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London and MIT. She’s written several books including The Optimism Bias and The Influential Mind. Her latest, co-written with Cass Sunstein, is called Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There. In this episode we talk about:What habituation is and what’s going on in the brain when it happensHow it negatively impacts the joy we feel in life – and inversely – how it can make us stop noticing the bad stuffKey strategies for disrupting habituation and introducing change and variety into your lifeThe interesting relationship between creativity and people who habituate slowlyHow habituation impacts our relationshipsWhy it’s important to break up the good experiences, but swallow the bad whole.How to wake up from a “technologically induced coma”How people emotionally habituate to dishonesty and lyingAnd lastly, we talk about the dangers of habituating to a slow, incremental rise in tyranny – and how dis-habituation entrepreneurs can helpRelated Episodes:#345 How to Change Your Habits | Katy MilkmanHow Turning Habits Into Rituals Can Help You At Home, At Work, And When You’re Anxious | Michael NortonMaking and Breaking Habits, Sanely | Kelly McGonigalSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes:  https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/tali-sharot-828See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How to Avoid the Toilet Vortex of Anxiety | Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren
Sep 13 2024
How to Avoid the Toilet Vortex of Anxiety | Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren
We also talk about: whether it is possible to be a failed meditator; grief versus mourning; and meditation tips for parents.Sebene Selassie is a writer, teacher, and speaker who leads meditation, creativity, and nature-based practices for personal & collective liberation. Using ancient wisdom and modern science mixed with her own relational and relatable style, Sebene helps spiritually curious people explore the profound and sacred truth of belonging. She is trained as a meditation teacher, an integral coach, a practitioner of Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy for Complex Trauma (IFOT), and is a licensed hiking guide in New York State. She has taught classes, workshops and retreats online and in person for almost fifteen years. Sebene is a devoted student of mystic traditions, including astrology, and writes the popular newsletter Ancestors to Elements. Her first book, You Belong: A Call for Connection, is published by HarperOne. Jeff Warren is a meditation instructor and writer, known for his dynamic and accessible style of teaching. He is the co-author of The New York Times best-selling Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, founder of the nonprofit Consciousness Explorers Club, and co-host of the Mind Bod Adventure Pod. Jeff's Do Nothing Project streams for free every Sunday night on YouTube; his guided meditations reach millions of people through the Ten Percent Happier and Calm apps, as well as through his Substack, Home Base. Jeff’s mission is to empower people to care for their mental health, through the realistic, intelligent and sometimes irreverent exploration of meditation and personal growth practices. As someone with both ADHD and bipolar, he is big on destigmatizing mental health issues, and championing a neurodiverse outlook on life and practice.Tascha Schumann is a Buddhist Lama, writer, visual artist, co-host of The Mind Bod Adventure Pod, and Juno-nominated recording artist whose work has been streamed many millions of times around the world.Related Episodes:How to Stay Calm No Matter What’s Happening | Sebene Selassie and Jeff WarrenMeditation Party: The “Sh*t Is Fertilizer” Edition | Sebene Selassie & Jeff WarrenMeditation Party with Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren: Psychedelics, ADHD, Waking Up From Distraction, and Singing Without Being Self-ConsciousMeditation Party: Magic, Mystery, Intuition, Tattoos, and Non-Efforting | Sebene Selassie and Jeff WarrenSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://happierapp.com/podcast/tph/omega-826See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A Buddhist Recipe for Handling Turmoil | Kaira Jewel Lingo
Sep 4 2024
A Buddhist Recipe for Handling Turmoil | Kaira Jewel Lingo
We all know that change is inevitable and impermanence is non-negotiable. But somehow it can feel surprising, maybe even wrong, when we personally hit turbulence. The Buddha had a lot to say about this, and so does our guest. Kaira Jewel Lingo is a Dharma teacher who has a lifelong interest in blending spirituality and meditation with social justice. Having grown up in an ecumenical Christian community where families practiced a new kind of monasticism and worked with the poor, at the age of twenty-five she entered a Buddhist monastery in the Plum Village tradition and spent fifteen years living as a nun under the guidance of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. She received Lamp Transmission from Thich Nhat Hanh and became a Zen teacher in 2007, and is also a teacher in the Vipassana Insight lineage through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Today she sees her work as a continuation of the Engaged Buddhism developed by Thich Nhat Hanh as well as the work of her parents, inspired by their stories and her dad’s work with Martin Luther King Jr. on desegregating the South. In addition to writing We Were Made for These Times: Skilfully Moving through Change, Loss and Disruption, she is also the editor of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children. Now based in New York, she teaches and leads retreats internationally, provides spiritual mentoring, and interweaves art, play, nature, racial and earth justice, and embodied mindfulness practice in her teaching. She especially feels called to share the Dharma with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, as well as activists, educators, youth, artists, and families. Her newest book, co-written with Marisela B. Gomez and Valerie Brown, is  Healing Our Way Home: Black Buddhist Teachings on Ancestors, Joy, and Liberation.In this episode we talk about:waking up to what’s happening right nowtrusting the unknown (easier said than done) A Buddhist list called the five remembrances how gratitude helps us in times of disruptionAnd accepting what is (and why this is different from resignation or passivity)Please note: There are brief mentions of domestic violence, abuse, the suffering of refugees, and war in this episode.Related Episodes:3 Buddhist Strategies for When the News is Overwhelming | Kaira Jewel LingoHow to Keep Your Relationships On the Rails | Kaira Jewel LingoSign up for Dan’s weekly newsletter hereFollow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTokTen Percent Happier online bookstoreSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelOur favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular EpisodesFull Shownotes: https://www.happierapp.com/podcast/tph/kaira-jewel-lingo-390Additional Resources:Download the Ten Percent Happier app today: https://10percenthappier.app.link/installSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.