The mindbodygreen Podcast

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  666: Is wellness culture making us less healthy? | Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, MsC 13.09.2026 41dk

  “I don't need to track it. I just listen to my body,” says Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D., Ph.D., Ms.C.  Dr. Emanuel is an oncologist and world leader in health policy and bioethics. He is the Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds appointments in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy in the Perelman School of Medicine and the Department of Health Care Management in the Wharton School. He is Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was founding chair of the Department of Bioethics at the NIH. He served as a Special Advisor on Health Policy to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council. In this role, he was instrumental in drafting the Affordable Care Act. He served on the Biden-Harris Transition Covid Advisory Board. Dr. Emanuel is the most widely cited bioethicist in history with over 350 publications. He has authored or edited 16 books. His newest book, Eat Your Ice Cream, is out now.  00:00 - When tracking our health goes overboard 06:19 - The health markers worth testing 08:03 - Daily nutrition habits 09:34 - What it means to “eat your ice cream” 14:15 - The importance of social connection 19:12 - Why willpower fails & habits win 24:47 - Everest, introverts, & grip strength 27:52 - How purpose is linked to health 31:06 - Why & how the Emanuel brothers succeeded  35:21 - Rethinking retirement for brain health 36:42 - Age-old health wins (& that’s a relief) 40:10 - Favorite ice cream shops Referenced in the episode:  For more about Emanuel, visit his website: https://www.ezekielemanuel.com/  Buy Eat Your Ice Cream here: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Your-Ice-Cream-Healthy/dp/1324117532/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  Find our episode on the rabbit cholesterol here: https://youtu.be/er3k40nlCh8?si=MxeG7IxEVnirxIoX We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  660: Why adding more to your diet beats eliminating | Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, MA, RDN 08.09.2026 42dk

  "The diet you'll stay on is a diet that's enjoyable and not too hard,” says Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, MA, RDN.  Bazilian is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Doctor of Public Health. She's authored multiple bestselling books, as well as contributed to a New York Times bestseller and a James Beard-nominated cookbook. She’s a spokesperson for Avocados – Love One Today and a frequent nutrition expert cited in mindbodygreen articles.  00:00 - The value of the food we consume 03:06 - Why dietary fat was misunderstood for decades 07:47 - Nutrient density vs. calorie counting 09:56 - Why 94% of us fall short on fiber 14:26 - Heart health, satiety, & blood sugar control 16:48 - Why the best diet is one you enjoy 18:50 - Food synergy & nutrient absorption 21:51 - Unexpected ways to cook with avocados 26:58 - The glycemic load effect 31:28 - Serving size vs. portion size 35:41 - How to store avocados properly 40:06 - 3 rules for moving the needle on health Referenced in the episode:  The HAT trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34496276/  Glycemic load study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299126000557  For more about Bazilian, visit her website: https://www.wendybazilian.com/  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  Status, Sex, & Sports Cars: What Science Says 06.09.2026 11dk

  What does driving a sports car actually do to your hormones? In this episode, we break down a surprisingly revealing 2009 study in which researchers had men drive a bright red sports car and a beige sedan and measured changes in their testosterone before and after. The results weren't what anyone expected. And the real finding had nothing to do with speed, horsepower, or even the car itself. We dig into the evolutionary biology behind status signaling, why social context drives hormonal responses, and what this study quietly reveals about how we chase external validation in modern life. Ever seen someone rev a Ferrari at a stoplight and thought "midlife crisis"? This one's for you. 00:00 - Introduction 00:53 - The Experiment 01:44 - The Results (And Why They're Surprising) 02:41 - The Evolutionary Biology Behind Status Signaling 03:34 - Why the Audience Mattered More Than the Car 04:26 - What "Borrowed Status" Costs Us 05:33 - What Actually Sustains Us Long-Term Read the study here: ⁠https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749597809000442⁠ We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on ⁠YouTube⁠! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: ⁠[email protected]⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  665: Is Zone 2 training a waste of your workout time? | Kristi Storoschuk, exercise scientist 30.08.2026 45dk

  “As your time commitment goes down, the importance of intensity goes up,” says Kristi Storoshuk. Storoschuk is a PhD candidate in Muscle Physiology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Her research focuses on the relationship between skeletal muscle metabolism and whole-body metabolism, with an emphasis on how nutrient–exercise timing influences physiological adaptations to exercise. Storoschuk has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and is passionate about translating complex scientific findings into practical, evidence-based recommendations. Outside of her academic work, Kristi is the founder of a women’s health coaching program focused on improving metabolic health through sustainable nutrition and exercise, particularly in the context of preconception health.  00:00 - What is Zone 2 training?  08:14 - The limitations of Zone 2 training 11:18 - Prioritizing intensity when time is limited 15:56 - All about interval training 19:16 - The truth about building your aerobic base 21:02 - We shouldn’t train cardio like elite athletes 24:48 - Fat burning & Zone 2 26:10 - Talking weekly cardio protocol 30:03 - Storoschuk’s habits 33:03 - Unpacking exercise culture & trends  37:22 - Recovery, wearables, & intuition  43:10 - HIIT above all else Referenced in the episode:  Read Storoschuk’s research about Zone 2: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-025-02261-y  For more about Storoschuk, visit her website: https://krististoroschuk.com/  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  664: High-achiever? Here’s how to prevent burnout | science writer Elizabeth Svoboda 23.08.2026 51dk

  "It's way better to pull yourself back from the brink of burnout before it hits than to let yourself fall all the way in,” says Elizabeth Svoboda. Svoboda is an award-winning science writer and contributor to Scientific American, Discover, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and other publications. Elizabeth is a winner of the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award for Young Science Writers, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. She lives in San Jose, California, with her husband and young sons. Her new book, The Art of Pacing, is available now. 00:00 - Why high performers always push to 110% 05:58 - Physical signs of burnout 09:14 - Getting more comfortable with recovery 12:16 - Pacing & how to take advantage of energy rhythms  16:00 - What an Olympic runner taught her about rest 18:32 - Modulation & the importance of breathwork  28:30 - Why it’s so hard recover from burnout 31:48 - Boom-bust cycles 35:12 - Gold star culture & unsustainable achievement 40:34 - Why early sports specialization backfires 44:08 - How to pace yourself with rigid flexibility 50:32 - The next wise choice Referenced in the episode:  For more about Elizabeth Svoboda, visit her website: https://elizabethsvoboda.com/  Buy The Art Of Pacing here: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Pacing-Balancing-Short-Term-Long-Term/dp/1668022419/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  Find the Maslach Burnout Inventory here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fecb650c2646617cb1e0599/t/6320f5325f757e4ad8bc0062/1663104306195/Maslach-Burnout-Inventory.pdf  For more about Joe Arpaia: https://www.centerfortransformativehealing.org/joseph Follow runner Ajeé Wilson: https://www.instagram.com/ajeelenee/?hl=en  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  663: Daily choices that shape brain health in your 30s, 40s & beyond | David Perlmutter, MD 17.08.2026 47dk

  “We can choose our brain’s destiny,” says David Perlmutter, MD. Perlmutter is a Board-Certified Neurologist and six-time New York Times bestselling author whose work focuses on the intersection of neurology, nutrition, and brain health. He is on the Board of Directors of the American College of Nutrition and the Editorial Board of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. His books, including the #1 bestseller Grain Brain, has been published in 32 languages and sold over a million copies. Perlmutter lectures globally at leading institutions and has been featured on major media outlets including 20/20, CNN, The Today Show, and Oprah. His new book, Brain Defenders, focuses on the pivotal role of microglia, the brain’s immune cells, in protecting, repairing, and reprogramming the brain for lifelong resilience, and is now available for pre-order. 00:00 - Treating the symptoms, not the cause  02:37 - Microglial cells & their evil twin state  05:44 - How metabolism affects the brain  08:00 - Gut bacteria, inflammation, & brain degeneration  11:38 - Why lifestyle beats the APOE4 gene  16:25 - Perlmutter’s daily routine 23:55 - Loneliness & oxytocin  26:21 - The effects of long COVID on the brain 32:18 - Glyphosate & other environmental factors  39:20 - Reprogramming microglia & mitochondrial transplants  41:35 - Own your brain's destiny Referenced in the episode:  For more about Perlmutter, visit his website: https://drperlmutter.com/  For more about Perlmutter's upcoming book, visit: https://braindefenders.com/ Alzheimers & UPFs study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjpad.2024.100042  POINTER study - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2837046  20-week Alzheimer’s study:  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13195-024-01482-z  Golf course & Parkinson’s study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833716  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  662: The truth about peptides, NAD, & other longevity treatments | Rachele Pojednic, Ph.D. 09.08.2026 51dk

  "If you don't get those foundational behaviors down, there ain't nothing a peptide's gonna do for you,” says Rachele Pojednic, Ph.D. Pojednic is a professor of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Stanford University and is the Chief Science Officer at Restore. Her work examines nutrition, supplementation and physical activity interventions on muscle physiology, performance and recovery, as well as muscle related chronic disease, with a particular focus on women. Pojednic  holds a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification from National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is board certified Health Coach from the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC). She has a particular passion for science communication and has been a consultant and writer for many prominent news outlets, including NPR, Time, The Washington Post, and Popular Science. Show notes: 00:00 - The difference between science & wellness  06:30 - The big vs. little levers of health 08:40 - What we do & don’t know about peptides  11:45 - A study on supplement stacking gone wrong 13:55 - Next-gen peptides (BPC-157 & more) 18:20 - All about NAD, NR, & NMN 29:57 - Creatine for muscle & brain health 33:48 - Looking at leucine & amino acid profile in protein 36:48 - Why fasting advice for women often backfires 40:24 - Stop chasing perfection 43:45 - How to use wearables & lab testing 50:13 - Bridging science & wellness Referenced in the episode: For more about Pojednic, visit her website: https://www.rachelepojednic.com/  mindbodygreen’s creatine brain supplement: https://shop.mindbodygreen.com/products/creatine-brain  mindbodygreen’s whey protein: https://shop.mindbodygreen.com/products/clear-whey-protein  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  661: Why structure is good for your brain | journalist David Epstein 02.08.2026 53dk

  "I think structure is more liberating than it is stifling, and it often takes people losing it to sort of realize that,” says David Epstein. Epstein is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Range and the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He has master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and as an investigative reporter for ProPublica. He lives in Washington, DC. His newest book, Inside The Box, is out now.  00:00 - Why constraints drive creativity 06:35 - How mnemonics help you memorize 10:31 - The power of low-stakes practice 12:25 - The problem with youth sports  18:56 - The constraints-led approach in elite sports 22:25 - Good vs bad constraints 25:39 - Constraints at NASA & Pixar 31:07 - Why we always add instead of subtract 35:02 - The dizziness of freedom 41:29 - Experimentation as a practice 45:19 - The importance of self-reflection 49:02 - How to fix your fractured attention Referenced in the episode:  Read The Athletic’s article about the constraints-led approach: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6665943/2025/09/29/sports-training-cla-coaching-wembanyana-ohtani For more about David Epstein, visit his website: https://davidepstein.com/  Buy Inside The Box here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNDSKWMY/?/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  Buy Range here: https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214506/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  659: How to build a flourishing mind in 5 minutes | Richard Davidson, Ph. D. 19.07.2026 50dk

  “Every human being comes equipped with the capacity to flourish,” says Richard Davidson, Ph.D.  Davidson is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Founder and Director of the Center for Healthy Minds. He is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought after expert and speaker, leading conversations on wellbeing on international stages such as the World Economic Forum, where he served on the Global Council on Mental Health.  In 2014, Davidson founded Humin (formerly Healthy Minds Innovations), a global nonprofit on a mission to make wellbeing real by translating science into action. 00:00 - What it means to flourish 05:48 - Using your mind intentionally 09:46 - Why informal practice works just as well 11:50 - A mindful walk 14:21 - The biology of loneliness 17:15 - The narrative you carry about yourself 20:38 - Mental reps & neuroplasticity 23:54 - Connecting purpose to small tasks 28:25 - The free Healthy Minds app 31:02 - How fast the brain actually changes 36:48 - Inflammation, dementia, & longevity 38:53 - Davidson's morning & evening ritual 43:13 - Setting kids up to flourish 44:43 - How a volleyball team connects Referenced in the episode:  The Healthy Minds app: https://www.humin.org/wellbeing-tools/app For more about Davidson, visit: https://www.richardjdavidson.com/  Purchase his book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668066238/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  658: The most efficient path to better cardio | sports scientist Fraser Thurlow, Ph.D. 12.07.2026 53dk

  "When it comes to high-intensity interval training work, quality is much more important than quantity,” says Fraser Thurlow, Ph.D.  Thurlow is a high-performance coach, researcher, and lecturer with over a decade of experience helping people improve their fitness and performance. He holds a PhD in Human Performance, has published extensively on training, and has lectured at leading Australian universities in sport and exercise science. His work focuses on translating science into practical, evidence-based strategies that improve health, fitness, and athletic performance. 00:00 - How to actually raise your VO2 max 05:26 - Long vs short interval training 09:00 - Heart rate vs. perceived exertion 11:13 - Accurately monitoring heart rate  13:12 - The sprint interval training protocol 19:07 - A sample weekly plan 23:58 - Working exercise into the day-to-day 28:24 - Making the most out of supersets 31:58 - VO2 max mistakes 34:32 - How to train for HYROX 39:17 - Foot strength & barefoot lifting 43:37 - Overrated & underrated fitness 45:35 - Fraser's sprint research 50:40 - VO2 max vs. muscle for longevity Referenced in the episode:  For more about Thurlow & his personal training, visit: https://stan.store/drthurlow  Jan Helgerud sprint study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17414804/  Vollaard analysis of VO2 max studies: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28079707/  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  657: The science of art as medicine | behavioral scientist Daisy Fancourt 05.07.2026 46dk

  “When we engage in the arts, it exposes us to a lot of emotions, which can have a tangible impact on the neurotransmitters released in our brains, the stress hormones in our bodies, and even the levels of inflammation in our immune system,” says Daisy Fancourt.  Fancourt is a Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London where she heads the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, and serves as the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health. She is one of the most highly cited scientists in the world, having published 300 scientific papers and won over two dozen academic prizes. She is a multi-award-winning science communicator and has been named a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and BBC New Generation Thinker.  00:00 - Art as the fifth pillar of health 01:21 - The benefits of arts engagement 08:10 - Your daily & weekly arts prescription 09:35 - Why attention is the key ingredient 11:12 - Visual vs. audio art 14:56 - Making the most of a museum visit 18:11 - Art for stress & mood regulation 19:09 - Using art to wind down 21:04 - Art & the brain 27:44 - Prescribing art for anxiety & depression 32:08 - Reconnecting with childhood creativity 34:14 - Finding art in the every day 36:45 - Biological evidence of art’s impact 40:14 - Art for joy & exercise 44:54 - The creative commute Referenced in the episode:  Greece’s art program for mental health: https://artonprescription.gr/en/   For more about Fancourt & her research, visit: https://sbbresearch.org/  Buy Fancourt’s book here: https://a.co/d/03ypycB7  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  656: The connection between pain & the brain | Rachel Zoffness, Ph.D. 28.06.2026 54dk

  “Anatomy and physiology always matter when it comes to pain. They're just not the whole story,” says Rachel Zoffness, Ph.D. Zoffness is a pain scientist, pain psychologist, and thought-leader revolutionizing the way we understand and treat pain. She's an assistant clinical professor at UCSF, lectures at Stanford, and consults on the development of pain management programs around the world. Dr. Zoffness’s new book, Tell Me Where It Hurts, is out now, and in the process of being translated into over 25 languages. 00:00 - Everything we know about pain is wrong 05:48 - Pain is biopsychosocial 09:45 - Building your personal pain recipe 15:00 - Emotions can turn pain volume up & down 18:14 - Your thoughts affect your physiology 25:29 - How cancer cured a kidney stone 31:51 - Optimism & letting go of outcomes 37:47 - What the placebo effect really is 39:45 - A daily protocol for pain resilience 44:35 - Why friends are medicine 48:05 - When words make pain worse 51:00 - Rachel's own pain story Referenced in the episode:  For more about Zoffness, visit her website: https://www.zoffness.com/  Buy her book here: https://a.co/03dKuChz  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  655: A cardiac surgeon had a heart attack—here’s what he missed | Jeremy London, M.D. 21.06.2026 54dk

  "Making the effort earlier totally changes the trajectory for the rest of your life,” says Jeremy London, MD. London is a board-certified cardiovascular surgeon with more than 25 years of clinical experience caring for patients across the full spectrum of heart disease — from prevention to advanced intervention. Dr. London received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his general surgery residency at Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado. He completed a general vascular and thoracic surgical fellowship at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. To deepen his understanding of medicine, he completed the Institute of Functional Medicine core program. 00:00 - When a cardiac surgeon has a heart attack 10:46 - Waking up with different priorities 13:49 - Missed signals 18:35 - The CGM experiment that revealed pre-diabetes 21:43 - The 5 tests that actually matter 25:44 - Diving into Lp(a) 30:36 - Target numbers for primary prevention 32:26 - Why taking medication isn't failure 38:24 - Atherosclerosis starts in childhood 41:19 - Why a zero calcium score doesn't mean you're safe 45:40 - What we don't know 48:41 - GLP-1s & the future of prevention For more about London, visit his website: https://drjeremylondon.com/  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  654: Why your 40s & 50s are your most powerful years yet | psychologist Margie Lachman, Ph.D. 14.06.2026 49dk

  "Midlife is a perfect time for you to think about where you've been & where you want to go,” says Margie Lachman, PhD.  Lachman is professor of psychology at Brandeis University and director of the Lifespan Lab. A leading expert on adult development and aging, Lachman is one of a small group of scholars who study midlife from a lifespan developmental perspective. Her honors include research awards from the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Gerontological Society of America. Lachman was a member of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Midlife Development, which launched the landmark Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. She is a coinvestigator on MIDUS and several other projects exploring cognition, health, and well-being in midlife and later adulthood.  00:00 - Why midlife is actually prime time 04:37 - The hinge moment & the pivot point 08:08 - Looking back vs. looking ahead 11:16 - The midlife crisis myth, explained 14:24 - Stability, identity, & personality change 18:42 - Traits of people who thrive in midlife 22:55 - What to do in retirement 26:53 - No one wants to look older 29:00 - Emotional regulation gets better with age 31:20 - Resilience, optimism, and sense of control 35:52 - Giving vs receiving in midlife relationships 38:36 - The U-shaped happiness curve is overstated 41:32 - Cognitive peak in midlife 40:36 - How your mindset can be anti-inflammatory 44:30 - Exercise as a panacea for health  Referenced in the episode:  Buy Lachman’s book here: For more about the MIDUS study, visit: https://midus.wisc.edu/ Patent holder study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048733322001500  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  653: A neurologist's honest take on Alzheimer's blood tests | Richard Isaacson, MD 07.06.2026 45dk

  "There is no one magic test for brain health,” says Richard Isaacson, MD.    Isaacson is a Harvard-trained neurologist who directs the Precision Prevention Program at Atria Health and Research Institute and founded the world's first Alzheimer's Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian. A leader in precision-medicine approaches to Alzheimer's risk reduction, he has served as principal investigator for multiple research initiatives focused on individualized care. He recently led an NIH-funded clinical trial showing that a free online tool (RetainYourBrain.com) reduced Alzheimer's risk by 16% in six months, and is working to democratize brain health testing through an at-home, lower-cost blood biomarker test (AlzLabs.org). Show notes: 00:00 - What we don’t know about Alzheimer’s 04:49 - Where to start with Alzheimer’s risk 06:55 - Lifestyle first: optimizing what you can control 10:39 - Using wearables & health tech for brain health 16:19 – Why there's no perfect blood test for the brain 29:06 - Cutting through the information noise 31:10 - Steps to take when symptoms appear 35:37 - Is it actually memory loss? 38:54 - The future of Alzheimer’s testing Referenced in the episode:  Free cognitive risk & assessment tools: retainyourbrain.com Free information about blood biomarkers: ind.org/bloodtest   Free information about home testing: alzlabs.org We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  652: A guide to healthy pooping | Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH 31.05.2026 44dk

  "You shouldn't be spending more than five minutes in there at a time,” says Trisha Pasricha, MD, MPH. A graduate of Harvard College, Pasricha earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her training includes an internal medicine residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and gastroenterology and motility fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, Pasricha is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Institute for Gut-Brain Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an NIH-funded research laboratory at the forefront of gut-brain science. Her book, You've Been Pooping All Wrong, is out now.  00:00 - What actually makes a bowel movement healthy 07:55 - The Bristol Stool Chart explained 10:50 - The case for bidets 14:49 - What hemorrhoids actually are 17:44 - The smartphone-hemorrhoid study 20:33 - Fiber timing & psyllium husk 24:03 - The rise in early-onset colorectal cancer 27:43 - Microbiome testing 30:03 - The future of gut health 32:33 - Why we can't poop when traveling 35:40 - How much gas is actually normal 38:01 - Runners with the runs 41:10 - How to overhaul your gut in 30 days Referenced in the episode:  For more about Pasricha, visit her website: https://www.trishapasricha.com/  Buy Pasricha’s book here: https://a.co/d/0gZZImBR  Smartphone usage on the toilet study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12407481/  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  651: 36 years of happiness research points to this | Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D. 24.05.2026 45dk

  "Almost all of the interventions that make us happier work because they make us feel more connected and more loved,’ says Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D. Lyubomirsky is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the bestselling author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness—and her latest, How to Feel Loved (Harper Collins, 2026), paired with a mainstage TED talk. A Harvard and Stanford-trained scientist whose research has been featured in the New York Times, on podcasts, and in documentaries worldwide, she is one of the world's leading experts on the science of happiness 00:00 - What connects every happiness practice 03:24 - Why you should talk to strangers 04:41 - Kindness changes your DNA 08:32 - Money, power, & fame are overrated 10:36 - The case for reaching out to old friends 13:49 - Why 70% don't feel loved enough 17:03 - The walls we walk around with 18:52 - The radical curiosity mindset 23:55 - How to really listen  28:19 - AI as a companion 31:05 - The relationship SEAsaw 39:00 - When introverts act extroverted 43:40 - The conversation to have tomorrow Referenced in the episode:  For more about Lyubomirsky & her research, visit her website: https://sonjalyubomirsky.com/  Buy her new book: https://a.co/d/04sCyQSj  Listen to her mainstage TED talk: https://youtu.be/pdRWeK9f02w?si=1vV8cwwsSHeCMZ3y  For more about Nicholas Epley’s research & upcoming book, visit his website: https://www.nicholasepley.com/ We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  650: Is spirituality medicine? | Joshua W. Brown, Ph.D. 17.05.2026 52dk

  “Placebo effects are real and mind-body effects are real, and there's a fairly large scientific literature on these things,” says Joshua W. Brown, Ph.D. Brown is a professor of Psychological and Brain Science at Indiana University, where he directs the Cognitive Control Lab. He also co-founded the Global Medical Research Institute With decades of experience in computational neuroscience and over 79 peer-reviewed publications, he brings the same rigorous scientific methodology to extraordinary claims of healing that he applies to understanding the brain. 00:00 - A neuroscientist's brain tumor diagnosis 07:29 - Prayer with expectation 10:43 - The biology of belief 12:13 - Inside the Global Medical Research Institute 17:14 - Even known placebos still work 20:27 - The science of miracles  24:10 - Conversion disorders & the mind-body line 32:02 - The brain is a prediction machine 38:02 - How chronic stress writes itself into the body 41:18 - Why "just believe" doesn't work 43:22 - Healing happens in community 47:16 - When neuroscience met the Dalai Lama 50:26 - The morning practice that grounds his day Referenced in the episode:  To learn more about Brown, visit his website: https://joshbrownneuro.com/  Buy Brown’s book here: https://a.co/d/07qL3LKj  To learn more Brown’s research, or to report your own miracle, visit the Global Medical Research Institute website: https://www.globalmri.org/ We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  649: Why “in range” lab results aren’t the solution to longevity | Florence Comite, M.D. 10.05.2026 53dk

  "What we don't know CAN really hurt us, " says Florence Comite, M.D.  Comite is a Yale University School of Medicine and National Institutes of Medicine trained physician-scientist, endocrinologist, and the leading voice in the field of precision medicine and healthy longevity. She was founder of the first global women only health center at Yale three decades ago and is founder of the Comite Center for Precision Medicine & Healthy Longevity in 2005, in New York, with satellite offices in Palo Alto and Miami Beach. Her new book, Invincible: Defy Your Genetic Destiny to Live Better, Longer, was published by Little, Brown Spark in April 2026.  Catch this week’s episode of mindbodygreen podcast, created in sponsorship with Toyota. For vehicles designed for all that life has to offer, check out the 2026 RAV4, Sienna, Highlander, and Grand Highlander. Hop in, turn on the episode, and enjoy every mile.  00:00 - Aging starts in your thirties 01:55 - The decline of testosterone 07:29 - How genetics dictate aging 10:08 - Increasing testosterone  12:30 - Hormone therapy 17:59 - A DHEA story 20:37 - Metabolic markers 26:11 - Using a continuous glucose monitor 33:13 - Heart medication & testing 36:06 - Personalized medicine & prevention 39:56 - The Alzheimer's spectrum 42:38 - Genetic variables & testing 49:00 - The trouble with AI in medicine For more about Comite, visit her website: https://florencecomite.com/  Buy her book here: https://a.co/d/0cnOvaH8  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  648: How to walk to optimize your health | Courtney Conley, D.C. 03.05.2026 45dk

  "I want people to start thinking of walking as a physiological necessity, not simply as a form of exercise,” explains Courtney Conley, D.C. Conley is a renowned foot and gait specialist, chiropractic physician, and founder of Gait Happens and Total Health Solutions clinic and Total Health Performance gym in Lakewood, She is a founding member of the Healthy Foot Alliance and coauthor of Walk, a new book about the power of walking. 0:00 - Walking is fundamental 03:34 - Debunking 10,000 steps 05:37 - The power of a microwalk 08:15 - Steps vs heart rate 09:46 - Weighted vests & step counters 13:26 - Walking to reset the nervous system 16:07 - The 15-minute post-meal walk 19:53 - How walking unlocks teenagers  22:41 - Why uneven terrain matters  26:55 - The mechanics of good walking  32:15 - Calluses are good for you 34:00 - Conley’s favorite footwear 37:08 - Why you should lift barefoot Referenced in the episode:  Find Conley at her website: ⁠https://www.drcourtneyconley.com/⁠  Buy her book here: ⁠https://a.co/d/0eEvaiGi⁠ Study on how brisk walking reduces cancer risk (2025): ⁠https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12885-025-14258-x⁠  Study on how 5,000 steps a day reduces depression (2024): ⁠https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2828073⁠  We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on ⁠YouTube⁠! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices