Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

Dr. Jennifer Ashton joins Rick and Forrest to discuss everything you need to know about the current state of the pandemic. This includes what vaccinated people should feel comfortable doing, the J&J vaccine pause, how to think about risk, and how we can support our mental health during the New Normal. About Our Guest: Dr. Ashton is the Chief Medical Correspondent for ABC News, and has appeared on the ABC Network up to 14 hours a day in order to bring viewers important medical information. She is in regular contact with public health officials, including the Surgeon General and Dr. Anthony Fauci. Dr. Ashton is also the bestselling author of six books, including her recently published book The New Normal: A Roadmap to Resilience in the Pandemic Era. Life After COVID Summit: Join Dr. Rick Hanson, Forrest Hanson, and a roster of world-class experts during this FREE three-day online event to explore our life after COVID. Click here to learn more about the Summit and register now.Key Topics:3:10: Why can’t we just go back to the “old normal?”6:10: Being realistic about uncertainty.7:45: The J&J vaccine pause, and why this is encouraging.11:15: How to think about risk.14:30: What should vaccinated people feel comfortable doing?18:30: What else can we do to support our health right now?20:25: The communication challenges of the pandemic.24:40: How to “think like a doctor,” and approach new medical information.27:30: Respecting the common good with our choices.33:50: Mental health during a pandemic.37:00: The RAIN method.40:20: Compassion, grief, and interconnection.44:00: The lack of preparation, and hopes for the future.Forrest has a new YouTube channel! Subscribe to the channel, and watch his newest video over there. Sponsors:From Dr. Hanson: The Foundations of Well-Being brings together the lessons of a lifetime of practice into one year-long online program. Podcast listeners can use the code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for an additional 25% off! Please don't hesitate to apply for a scholarship if you're in need. Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month! Want to sleep better? Try the legendary Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.Start a new healthy habit with Seed! Visit seed.com/beingwell and use code BEINGWELL to get 20% off your first month of Seed’s Daily Synbiotic.Connect with the show: Follow Forrest on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Follow Rick on Facebook Follow Forrest on Facebook Subscribe on iTunes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's the "point" of meditation, and how can we build a practice that works for us? In this episode Rick and Forrest clear up some common misconceptions about meditation, explore major forms of meditation, and share how you can get more out of your practice.Life After COVID Summit: Join Dr. Rick Hanson, Forrest Hanson, and a roster of world-class experts during this FREE three-day online event to explore our life after COVID. Click here to learn more about the Summit and register now.Key Topics:1:15: Forrest’s history with meditation, and some of the benefits of practice.5:30: What’s the “point” of meditation?11:30: Skepticism toward narrow views of meditation.14:10: Do you have to be “spiritual” or “religious” to meditate?14:45: Three breaths practice.16:30: Secular vs. spiritual orientations toward meditation.17:45: The two major tools: insight vs. “calming” meditation. 20:40: Virtue, concentration, and wisdom.23:20: The tendency to “skip” to insight. 26:30: Why Rick meditates.32:30: What does it mean to be an “intermediate” or “advanced” meditator?34:15: What are some of the forms meditation can take?47:45: RecapAs a quick note, there's a little background noise at some moments during the episode.Forrest has a new YouTube channel! Subscribe to the channel, and watch his newest video over there. Sponsors:From Dr. Hanson: The Foundations of Well-Being brings together the lessons of a lifetime of practice into one year-long online program. Podcast listeners can use the code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for an additional 25% off! Please don't hesitate to apply for a scholarship if you're in need. Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month! Want to sleep better? Try the legendary Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.Start a new healthy habit with Seed! Visit seed.com/beingwell and use code BEINGWELL to get 20% off your first month of Seed’s Daily Synbiotic.Connect with the show: Follow Forrest on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Follow Rick on Facebook Follow Forrest on Facebook Subscribe on iTunes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last year we’ve all been through a lot. In addition to the many major costs, there have been smaller, subtler costs as well, including a pervasive feeling of anxiety. In this episode, Rick and Forrest walk through a normal experience of anxiety and offer some suggestions for how to overcome it. Life After COVID Summit: Join Dr. Rick Hanson, Forrest Hanson, and a roster of world-class experts during this FREE three-day online event to explore our life after COVID. Click here to learn more about the Summit and register now.Key Topics:3:30: Accepting the presence of anxiety.6:30: Recognize what’s alright right now.10:00: Finding heart, and connecting with other people.18:30: Take action. 26:30: Appreciating the biological part of anxiety.32:00: Surrendering to what will happen.37:00: What enables surrender?41:20: Recap.Forrest has a new YouTube channel! Subscribe to the channel, and watch his newest video over there. Sponsors:From Dr. Hanson: The Foundations of Well-Being brings together the lessons of a lifetime of practice into one year-long online program. Podcast listeners can use the code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for an additional 25% off! Please don't hesitate to apply for a scholarship if you're in need. Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month! Want to sleep better? Try the legendary Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.Start a new healthy habit with Seed! Visit seed.com/beingwell and use code BEINGWELL to get 20% off your first month of Seed’s Daily Synbiotic.Connect with the show: Follow Forrest on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Follow Rick on Facebook Follow Forrest on Facebook Subscribe on iTunes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senior meditation teacher Stephen Snyder discusses topics like 'not-self,' the true nature of the self, and self-transcendence. He explores why contemplative teachers behave badly, the fear of emptiness, and maintaining practice in everyday life. Snyder also touches on the purpose and limitations of meditation, the threat of change, and practices for self-transcendence.

Nedra Glover Tawwab, clinical psychologist and author who teaches practical boundary skills. She talks about trusting discomfort, spotting codependency, honoring kids’ autonomy, and turning boundaries into tools for closer relationships. Short, actionable approaches and how to handle guilt, anxiety, and people who won’t change are highlighted.

The creator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dr. Steven C. Hayes, joins the show to help us explore how to use techniques from this powerful approach to therapy to address major challenges and improve our wellbeing.About our Guest: Dr. Steven C. Hayes is Nevada Foundation Professor in the Behavior Analysis program at the Department of Psychology of the University of Nevada. He's the creator of ACT, and the  author of 44 books and over 600 scientific articles. His most recent book is A Liberated Mind: How To Pivot Toward What Matters, an essential guide to ACT. Life After COVID Summit: Join Dr. Rick Hanson, Forrest Hanson, and a roster of world-class experts including Dr. Hayes during this FREE three-day online event to explore our life after COVID. Click here to learn more about the Summit and register now.Key Topics:2:25: The basics of ACT.5:30: The Lord of the Rings and psychological flexibility.7:15: Accepting our own history. 10:45: How can we accept painful things?13:45: Language, technology, and how it gets in the way.18:00: Coming into the present moment.21:00: Determinism, autonomy, and agency.26:30: How can we make change last?29:30: Steven’s experience with accepting tinnitus. 34:45: How to keep growing when the world pushes back.45:30: Giving people an opportunity to impress you.49:00: Dealing with anger. 53:30: Pitfalls while using ACT. 56:10: RecapForrest has a new YouTube channel! Subscribe to the channel, and watch his newest video over there. Sponsors:From Dr. Hanson: The Foundations of Well-Being brings together the lessons of a lifetime of practice into one year-long online program. Podcast listeners can use the code BEINGWELL25 at checkout for an additional 25% off! Please don't hesitate to apply for a scholarship if you're in need. Join over a million people using BetterHelp, the world’s largest online counseling platform. Visit betterhelp.com/beingwell for 10% off your first month! Want to sleep better? Try the legendary Calm app! Visit calm.com/beingwell for 40% off a premium subscription.Connect with the show: Follow Forrest on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Follow Rick on Facebook Follow Forrest on Facebook Subscribe on iTunes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Roger Walsh is a distinguished professor of psychiatry, philosophy, and anthropology, with deep insights into the world’s wisdom traditions. He explores the synergy between psychological science and contemplative practices, while discussing how ancient wisdom can be effectively translated into modern life. Dr. Walsh emphasizes the importance of personal growth and the role of community in fostering change. He also highlights the advantages of lifestyle choices over medication for mental health, making a case for wisdom as essential in navigating today's challenges.

Dive into the fascinating world of psychological research as renowned studies, like the marshmallow test and the Stanford prison experiment, face scrutiny for their reliability. Discover how cognitive biases, such as the Dunning-Kruger effect, are often misunderstood. Explore the influence of socioeconomic factors on delaying gratification and the pitfalls of self-diagnosing health issues. Finally, learn about the replication crisis in social sciences and why a critical perspective is essential in interpreting research findings.

In this insightful conversation, psychologist Rick Hanson and mindfulness expert Forrest Hanson delve into the crucial role of attunement in forming genuine connections. They discuss the concept of 'micro attunements' and how small gestures can significantly enhance relationships. The hosts explore emotional availability, the dynamics of co-regulation in parenting, and the importance of active listening. They also emphasize the need to communicate our wants and needs while respecting our own emotional boundaries—all essential for nurturing meaningful interactions.

Explore the pain of unmet needs, the importance of accepting and identifying our core needs, building resources, meeting the needs of others, healthy boundaries, and resilience. Delve into personal stories and practical suggestions for recognizing and fulfilling our needs for happiness and well-being.