Untangle

A Classic Dan Harris Interview about Anxiety and (how to be) 10% Happier. With Dan Harris.

9 snips
Mar 27, 2026
Dan Harris, former ABC News anchor and author of 10% Happier, talks candidly about anxiety, on-air panic, and turning to secular meditation. He shares how mindfulness helped after war reporting, why retreats can be transformative, and practical tips for skeptical beginners. The conversation mixes humor, humility, and useful starting advice for anyone curious about meditation.
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ANECDOTE

Adrenaline Addiction Led To Self Medication

  • Dan Harris became addicted to adrenaline after reporting in war zones and later self-medicated with cocaine and ecstasy during a depressive period.
  • He connects the drug use to chasing the wartime adrenaline rush and says the panic attack ultimately interrupted that cycle and changed his life.
ANECDOTE

On Air Panic Attack Became Turning Point

  • Dan Harris had an on-air panic attack on Good Morning America where he couldn't breathe and had to hand the segment back to the hosts.
  • He calls that panic attack a gift because it forced him to stop the self-destructive trajectory and eventually seek help.
INSIGHT

Voice In The Head Explained The Pattern

  • Dan Harris says Eckhart Tolle exposed the destructive inner narrator and made the 'voice in the head' intelligible to him.
  • That insight connected his past reckless choices, depression, and drug use to being driven by an unexamined inner commentary.
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