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Host Andrea Samadi welcomes Dr. Anna Lembke to explain how pleasure and pain share the same neural circuitry and how dopamine governs motivation. The episode explores why overconsumption of easy rewards dulls motivation, creates withdrawal-like deficits, and shifts the brain toward pain. Through clear takeaways—delay borrowed rewards, try temporary abstinence, create friction for temptations, and practice purposeful effort—the episode shows how recalibrating the brain's reward system restores enjoyment in ordinary activities and builds sustainable motivation. Welcome back to Season 15 of the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast. I'm Andrea Samadi, and on this podcast, we bridge the science behind social and emotional learning, emotional intelligence, and practical neuroscience so we can create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. Season 15 Orientation This season, we're exploring what I call: The Brain's Operating System for Human Performance. Instead of looking at neuroscience, health, learning, motivation, and emotional intelligence as separate topics, (like we did for the past 14 seasons) we're exploring how these systems come online in sequence. Each phase builds on the one before it: ✔ Phase 1 — Regulation & Safety Is the nervous system safe enough to learn? ✔ Phase 2 — Neurochemistry & Motivation What drives behavior, focus, and sustained effort? ✔ Phase 3 — Movement, Learning & Cognition ✔ Phase 4 — Perception, Emotion & Social Intelligence ✔ Phase 5 — Integration, Insight & Meaning By the end of this year my hope is that we can step back and ask: Where am I out of alignment? Is it regulation? Is it my thinking? Is it my focus? Or Belief? Is it how I'm learning or connecting with others? Or do I need some work with integration, insight and meaning? Because once we can see our gap… We can begin to close it. “The goal is not more effort—it's better alignment.” “And when these systems are aligned… Effort feels easier Learning becomes faster And results become more consistent Because peak performance is not about doing more. It's about aligning the systems that drive our results. Recap Where We've Been In EP 392[i], we introduced the Motivation Loop and explored how the brain decides what is worth doing. In EP 393[ii], we looked at how our beliefs trigger neurochemistry that drives action, feedback, and repetition. In EP 394[iii] we looked at how our thought patterns impact our neurochemistry and results with Dr. Caroline Leaf. Then in EP 395[iv], reviewing Dr. John Medina's work on Theory of Mind, we explored something equally important: The brain pays attention to what it believes matters. Dr. Medina showed us that attention and reward are deeply connected. When the brain predicts something will be valuable, relevant, or meaningful, attention increases. And when attention and reward align: ✔ Learning improves ✔ Memory strengthens ✔ Motivation increases ✔ Behaviors become repeatable But that leaves us with an important question: What creates that sense of reward in the first place? What makes the brain continue pursuing something? What makes us stay motivated and what makes us lose interest? And why can effort sometimes feel rewarding—and other times feel exhausting? Today's Episode To answer those questions, we're turning to Dr. Anna Lembke, author of the book: Dopamine Nation who we first met September 2021 on EP 162.[v] Her work helps to explain the neurochemical engine underneath the Motivation Loop that we've been covering. While John Medina helped us understand how attention and reward influence learning, Dr. Lembke helps us understand: ✔ Why the brain seeks reward ✔ How dopamine drives motivation ✔ Why pleasure and pain operate on the same neural system ✔ And what happens when the balance gets disrupted Because the real goal isn't simply just feeling good. The goal is understanding how the brain learns to associate effort with reward. And when that happens, something powerful occurs: Effort itself becomes rewarding. That's where sustainable motivation begins. EP 393 — Motivation Loop ↓ EP 394 — Belief triggers neurochemistry ↓ EP 395 — Theory of Mind: Attention + Reward determine what matters ↓ EP 396 — Dopamine Nation: Why the brain seeks reward and how effort becomes rewarding It keeps the loop intact and shows listeners that Medina answered "What gets our attention?" while Lembke answers "Why does the brain keep pursuing it?". CLIP 1: The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Pain Based on Dr. Anna Lembke's Dopamine Nation CLIP SUMMARY Let's see what Dr. Anna Lembke has to say about the neuroscience of pleasure and pain. In this clip, Dr. Lembke explains one of the most important concepts in modern neuroscience: Pleasure and pain are processed in the same brain system and work like opposite sides of a balance. Whenever we experience something pleasurable—whether it's social media, sugar, shopping, gaming, alcohol, or even achievement—the brain's balance tips toward pleasure. But the brain is always seeking equilibrium. To restore balance, it responds by tipping the scale in the opposite direction, creating a corresponding feeling of discomfort, craving, dissatisfaction, or pain. The more often we seek quick pleasure, the harder the brain works to compensate. Over time, this can leave us in what Lembke calls a "dopamine deficit state" where we need more stimulation just to feel normal. The surprising solution? Activities that require effort and involve manageable discomfort—exercise, cold exposure, fasting, learning difficult skills, and meaningful human connection—can help restore balance and rebuild motivation. KEY TAKEAWAYS & HOW TO PUT THEM INTO ACTION 1. The Brain Is Always Seeking Balance IMAGE CREDIT: Dr. Anna Lembke Dopamine Nation. Dr. Lembke explains that pleasure and pain are not separate systems. They operate like opposite sides of a seesaw. When we repeatedly tip the brain toward pleasure, (you can see an image in the show notes with some examples like with eating chocolate, shopping or using social media) the brain compensates by tipping toward pain to restore balance. Brain Rule: Every pleasure has a neurobiological cost. Put This Into Action Ask yourself: Where am I getting large rewards with very little effort? Examples might include: ✔ Social media ✔ Sugar ✔ Constant news consumption ✔ Streaming ✔ Or Online shopping The goal isn't to eliminate pleasure. The goal is just with our awareness. Because what we measure, we can begin to manage. 2. Overconsumption Changes the Brain What feels exciting today becomes normal tomorrow. The brain adapts to repeated dopamine spikes through a process called neuroadaptation. Over time: ✔ Rewards feel weaker ✔ Cravings increase ✔ Motivation decreases ✔ More stimulation is needed to create the same feeling Put This Into Action Choose one highly stimulating habit and observe it for a week. Notice: ✔ How often you engage in it ✔ What triggers it ✔ How you feel afterward Simply collecting data can reveal patterns you didn't realize existed. 3. Not All Dopamine Is Created Equal: Borrowed vs. Earned Dopamine (we have covered this topic previously). Dr. Lembke's pleasure-pain balance helps explain an important distinction: Borrowed Dopamine Borrowed dopamine comes before effort. Examples include: ✔ Scrolling social media ✔ Energy drinks before a workout ✔ Sugar when stressed ✔ Online shopping ✔ Gaming ✔ Endless entertainment These rewards feel good immediately. But because they require little effort, they often weaken motivation over time. The brain begins expecting reward before work. Earned Dopamine Earned dopamine comes after effort. Examples include: ✔ Finishing a difficult workout ✔ Completing a challenging project ✔ Climbing to the summit of a hike ✔ Finishing a podcast episode (for me) ✔ Learning a new skill ✔ Solving a difficult problem These rewards feel different. The brain learns: Effort leads to reward. And over time: Effort itself becomes rewarding. This strengthens the Motivation Loop. Put This Into Action Ask yourself: Where am I borrowing dopamine? And where am I earning it? For the next week, look for opportunities to delay rewards until after effort. Examples: Instead of: Reward → Effort Try: Effort → Reward Instead of checking your phone before starting work... Complete one task first. Instead of rewarding yourself before your workout... Reward yourself after the workout. Instead of seeking immediate comfort... Lean into a small challenge. Each time you do this, you're teaching your brain: "Reward follows effort." And that's how motivation becomes sustainable. 4. Temporary Abstinence Reveals the Truth One of Dr. Lembke's most powerful strategies is taking a break from a highly rewarding behavior. When we step away from constant stimulation, the brain's reward system has an opportunity to recalibrate. Only then can we see whether a behavior is serving us—or controlling us. Put This Into Action Consider a short experiment. Choose one behavior that may be overstimulating your reward system and reduce or eliminate it temporarily. Notice: ✔ Energy ✔ Focus ✔ Motivation ✔ Mood ✔ Cravings The goal isn't punishment. The goal is information. 5. Lasting Change Requires Systems, Not Willpower Many people believe success comes from discipline alone. Dr. Lembke argues that creating the right environment is often more powerful. Instead of relying on willpower every day, create barriers that make unwanted behaviors harder to access. Put This Into Action Ask yourself: How can I create more friction between myself and temptation? Examples include: ✔ Turning off notifications ✔ Keeping unhealthy foods out of sight ✔ Scheduling device-free time Small environmental changes often produce large behavioral results. CLIP 2 How Chronic Overstimulation Creates a Dopamine Deficit State When The Motivation Loops Breaks In this clip, Dr. Anna Lembke explains why many people struggling with depression, anxiety, insomnia, low motivation, or emotional distress may actually be experiencing the consequences of chronic overstimulation. Her first recommendation is often surprisingly simple: Remove the "drug of choice" for a period of time. The "drug" isn't necessarily alcohol or drugs. It can be social media, gaming, shopping, sugar, constant entertainment, or any behavior that repeatedly floods the brain's reward pathways. Lembke explains that people often feel worse before they feel better because the brain has adapted to high levels of dopamine stimulation. When the stimulation is removed, the brain temporarily experiences withdrawal-like symptoms as it works to restore balance. Over time, however, the brain's pleasure-pain system recalibrates, allowing people to experience pleasure from ordinary, everyday rewards again. Her larger message is: We live in a society with unprecedented access to pleasure, and many of us have unintentionally shifted our pleasure-pain balance toward pain. The solution is not necessarily more pleasure. The solution is restoring balance. How Chronic Overstimulation Creates a Dopamine Deficit State KEY TAKEAWAYS & HOW TO PUT THEM INTO ACTION 1. Feeling Worse Can Be a Sign of Healing One of the biggest misconceptions about behavior change is that improvement should feel good immediately. The brain doesn't work that way. When a highly stimulating behavior is removed: ✔ Cravings increase ✔ Discomfort rises ✔ Mood may temporarily decline This is often the brain recalibrating rather than failing. Put This Into Action When reducing an overstimulating habit, don't judge success by how you feel in the first few days. Instead ask: "Could this discomfort be evidence that my brain is adjusting?" Sometimes the discomfort isn't a sign you're moving backward. It's a sign you're recovering. 2. The Brain Adapts to Excess Dopamine The brain is remarkably efficient. When exposed to constant stimulation, it reduces its sensitivity to reward. What once felt exciting becomes normal. What once felt normal may eventually feel boring. This is why people often need more stimulation to achieve the same feeling. Put This Into Action Identify your "drug of choice." Ask yourself: What do I consistently turn to when I'm stressed, bored, anxious, or uncomfortable? Examples: ✔ Social media ✔ Sugar ✔ Streaming ✔ Shopping ✔ Gaming ✔ Constant notifications Awareness creates choice. 3. Modern Life Makes Overstimulation Easy This is one of the central themes of Dopamine Nation. For most of human history, pleasure was scarce. Today: ✔ Entertainment is unlimited ✔ Food is always available ✔ Social media never stops ✔ Information is endless The challenge is no longer finding pleasure. The challenge is regulating access to it. Put This Into Action Look for places where you can create friction between yourself and temptation. Examples: ✔ Turn off notifications ✔ Keep unhealthy foods out of sight ✔ Schedule screen-free time ✔ Create boundaries around technology use Small barriers often create significant behavioral change. 4. Sustainable Motivation Lives Near Baseline The goal isn't to feel intensely excited all the time. The goal is to restore the ability to enjoy ordinary rewards. IMAGE CREDIT: Dr. Anna Lembke Dopamine Nation Put This Into Action Reconnect with activities that once felt naturally rewarding. Ask yourself: What activities did I enjoy before constant digital stimulation? Examples: ✔ Reading ✔ Walking ✔ Meaningful conversation ✔ Learning something new ✔ Creative work As the reward system recalibrates, many people discover these activities become enjoyable again (if the pleasure for them had disappeared). 5. Doing Hard Things Strengthens the Brain One of the most exciting findings in neuroscience involves the Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex (AMCC), sometimes called the "Do Hard Things" circuit. This region appears to strengthen when we voluntarily engage in difficult activities. Examples: ✔ Exercise ✔ Learning challenging skills ✔ Delayed gratification ✔ Difficult conversations ✔ Endurance challenges The brain learns: "I can handle discomfort." Put This Into Action Ask yourself each morning: What's one hard thing I can do today on purpose? Because we've learned that doing hard things is valuable. Every time you choose effort over comfort, you're strengthening the circuits that support resilience, persistence, and long-term motivation. REVIEW & CONCLUSION To review and conclude this week's EP 396, Clip 1 taught us that pleasure and pain share the same neural circuitry. Clip 2 teaches us what happens when that balance is disrupted. The lesson isn't that pleasure is bad. The lesson is that when pleasure becomes too easy and too abundant, the brain stops valuing effort. But when we reduce overstimulation, embrace manageable discomfort, and begin earning our dopamine instead of borrowing it, something remarkable happens: Motivation returns. Effort feels worthwhile. And the Motivation Loop begins working the way it was designed to work. As we close today's episode, let's return to our Phase 2 roadmap. If you're looking at this graphic, you'll notice that Dr. Anna Lembke sits right in the center. And that's intentional. Because everything we've covered so far in Phase 2 flows through this central motivation system. We began with Bob Proctor and the power of belief. Belief creates expectation. Expectation shapes what we think is possible. Then Dr. Caroline Leaf showed us how our thoughts influence our neurochemistry. The thoughts we repeatedly think shape the chemical signals that influence our behavior and performance. Last week, Dr. John Medina helped us understand attention and reward. The brain pays attention to what it believes matters. And what gets rewarded gets repeated. Today, Dr. Anna Lembke helped us understand the missing piece. She showed us that dopamine is not simply about pleasure. It's about motivation. It's about anticipation. It's about pursuit. And ultimately, it's about what the brain decides is worth the effort. When dopamine becomes disconnected from effort through constant stimulation and easy rewards, the Motivation Loop begins to break. But when reward becomes connected to effort, challenge, growth, and progress, the loop strengthens. And that's where sustainable motivation begins. THE "DO HARD THINGS" CONNECTION One final insight from today's episode. Dr. Lembke's work helps explain why doing hard things matters so much. Every time we choose effort over immediate gratification... Every time we choose growth over comfort... Every time we voluntarily do something difficult... We strengthen the brain circuits that support persistence, resilience, and long-term motivation. The brain begins learning: Effort is worth it. And eventually: Effort becomes rewarding. That's when motivation becomes self-sustaining. Not because the work gets easier. But because the brain learns that the effort itself has value. Dr. Anna Lembke isn't just another stop in the loop—she's the core motivation system that sits in the center of everything. But there's 2 more pieces still to cover in the Motivation Loop we haven't explored yet. We've learned that belief shapes expectation. Thoughts shape neurochemistry. Attention and reward determine what matters. And dopamine helps the brain decide what is worth pursuing. But once we're motivated... How do we turn that motivation into action? That's where we'll turn next. Next Week: Dr. Chuck Hillman Movement, Motivation, and Brain Activation We'll explore: ✔ How exercise activates the brain ✔ Why movement improves attention and learning ✔ The connection between physical activity and motivation ✔ How movement strengthens cognitive performance ✔ Why action often comes before motivation ✔ And how movement helps keep the Motivation Loop moving forward Because in Phase 2, we're not just asking: What makes effort feel worth it? We're also asking: What helps us take action once motivation is present? And Dr. Chuck Hillman's research shows that movement may be one of the most powerful ways to activate the brain for learning, performance, and sustained effort. Until next time, I'm Andrea Samadi, reminding you that when we understand how the brain works, we can align our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and actions to create measurable improvements in well-being, achievement, productivity, and results. Thanks for listening, and I'll see you next week. RESOURCES: Full Interview with Dr. Lembke from Sept 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pu82wZRZwo CLIP 1: The Neuroscience of Pleasure and Pain CLIP 2 How Chronic Overstimulation Creates a Dopamine Deficit State REFERENCES: [i] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 392 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/belief-first-the-neuroscience-of-motivation/ [ii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 393 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/belief-first-the-neuroscience-of-motivation/ [iii]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 394 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/thoughts-as-biology-how-your-mind-shapes-neurochemistry/ [iv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 395 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/theory-of-mind-the-missing-link-between-attention-reward-and-motivation/ [v]Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE 162 https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/medical-director-of-addictive-medicine-at-stanford-university-dr-anna-lembke-on-dopamine-nation-finding-balance-in-the-age-of-indulgence/
Many of us ask the question if phone addiction is similar to other addictions. In this episode, Cal is joined by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Anna Lembke to explore this question. They dive deep into her book, Dopamine Nation, that captivated readers. Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). Get your questions answered by Cal! Send an email to podcast@calnewport.com. Video from today's episode: youtube.com/calnewportmedia (0:00) Am I addicted to my phone (w/ Anna Lembke) (1:04:41) Digital minimalism and good uses for your phone (1:14:31) AI in academic publishing (1:20:35) What I read (1:24:10) What's coming up Books: What to Make of a Life: Cliffs, Fog, Fire and the Self-Knowldge (Jim Collins) Links: Buy Cal's latest book, “Slow Productivity” at www.calnewport.com/slow Get a signed copy of Cal's “Slow Productivity” at https://peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/cal-newport/ Cal's monthly book directory: bramses.notion.site/059db2641def4a88988b4d2cee4657ba? https://internetaddictsanonymous.org/guide-for-newcomers/ Thanks to our Sponsors: https://www.shopify.com/deep https://www.monarch.com/deep (Use code “DEEP”) https://www.expressvpn.com/deep https://www.cozyearth.com/deep (Use code “DEEP” for 30% off) Thanks to Jesse Miller for mastering and production, Jay Kerstens for the intro music, and Nate Mechler for research and newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dr. Anna Lembke on Addiction, Dopamine, and the Joy of RecoveryIn this episode, Isaac sits down with Dr. Anna Lembke — Stanford psychiatrist, bestselling author of Dopamine Nation, and leading voice in addiction medicine — for a wide-ranging conversation about how she found her calling treating addiction, the science behind why we struggle to stop, and why she believes this work is one of the most rewarding in medicine.Dr. Lembke shares her winding path from Yale to China to Stanford, a pivotal clinical mistake involving a patient addicted to heroin she never thought to ask about, and what that experience taught her about the failures of medical education. Together, she and Isaac discuss the rise of poly-addictions and designer drugs, how to help patients understand cannabis is driving their anxiety, the case for radical self-disclosure in clinical care, and why people in long-term recovery are — in her words — "modern-day prophets."Whether you're a future physician, a curious mind, or someone who has struggled with addiction personally, this conversation will shift how you think about dopamine, healing, and what it means to truly help another person.Topics covered:Dr. Lembke's circuitous path from pathology to psychiatry to addiction medicineEmerging addiction patterns: digital media, kratom, designer drugs, and poly-substance useHow to diagnose addiction using the "Four Cs"The 80/20 rule: why stopping often resolves psychiatric symptomsHelping patients experiment with abstinence to test their own beliefsIntegrating addiction care across medicineAdvice for medical students choosing a specialtyThe power of self-disclosure in the doctor-patient relationshipWhat she'd keep — and what's evolved — since writing Dopamine NationYou can check out Dr. Lempke's book at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dopamine-Nation-Finding-Balance-Indulgence/dp/152474672XMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/cruen/city-streetsLicense code: 2JJVCBQKEE2GJH5N
Hey BillOReilly.com Premium and Concierge Members, welcome to the No Spin News for Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Stand Up for Your Country. Talking Points Memo: Bill breaks down why the FCC is now looking into Disney programs, including The View and Jimmy Kimmel. Dr. Anna Lembke, Professor of Psychiatry and Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, enters the No Spin Zone to discuss whether violence on social media and pop culture is contagious, and whether people act on hate speech. What polls say about where Americans stand if the congressional election were held today and whether the country is on the right or wrong track. BP's first-quarter earnings show profits doubled as oil prices rose due to the Iran war. Why former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted again and whether Bill thinks he will be convicted. Final Thought: A preview of this week's We'll Do It LIVE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Stanford addiction psychiatrist Anna Lembke explains the neuroscience of dopamine and why our brains respond to social media the same way they respond to drugs. Drawing from her book Dopamine Nation, she shares how a dopamine fast can reset reward pathways and why the solution requires both individual discipline and systemic change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ste se kdaj zalotili, da samo še »na hitro« preverite telefon, nato pa uro pozneje še vedno drsite po zaslonu? Zakaj nas digitalni svet tako močno potegne vase? In kdaj se nedolžno brskanje sprevrže v odvisnost? V tokratni Frekvenci X gostimo priznano psihiatrinjo in avtorico uspešnice Dopaminska omama Anno Lembke, ki je bila ekspertna priča v odmevnem kalifornijskem primeru, v katerem je porota podjetji Meta in YouTube spoznala za krivi povzročanja odvisnosti pri mlajših uporabnikih.Gostja: psihiatrinja in avtorica uspešnice Dopaminska omama Anna Lembke, profesorica na Univerzi Stanford V Xpertizi (od 40. minute in 19 sekund) je gostja mlada raziskovalka na Pravni fakulteti v Mariboru Živa Šuta, ki preučuje vprašanje dostopa do stanovanj v Evropski uniji. Brala sta Mateja Perpar in Igor Velše. Vir fotografije: Osebni arhiv Poglavja: 00:00:02 Kako hitro in za kako dolgo vas posrkajo telefoni? 00:02:03 Odmevna sodba: Meta in YouTube kriva za povzročanje odvisnosti 00:07:13 Kaj naredi neko snov ali vedenje zasvojljivo? 00:12:17 Lembke: Družabna omrežja so droga 00:17:57 Kaj je dopamin? 00:20:27 Kako se razvije toleranca? 00:26:48 Možgani se izčrpajo zaradi stalnih "dopaminskih udarcev" 00:28:46 Abstinenca ali o boju proti zasvojenosti 00:34:46 Bolečina ni le nekaj negativnega, ampak nujen pogoj za dobro počutje. 00:40:19 Xpertiza: Živa Šuta
Anna Lembke, Stanford University professor and psychiatrist, talks about her testimony in the victorious lawsuit against Meta and YouTube - and marks 65 years since the signing of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, laying the foundation for mass incarceration.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
Thanks to Cozy Earth for sponsoring this video. Go to cozyearth.com/LOVERS for up to 20% off!—----------------------- In this episode of Lovers, I share something personal: the ways my own social media habit began affecting my presence, my focus, and ultimately my intimacy. Jared joins the conversation to reflect on the intervention he had with me when he realized my relationship with my phone wasn’t just a habit, it was beginning to shape our connection. Then we’re joined by psychiatrist and Dopamine Nation author Dr. Anna Lembke, who explains why addiction today looks different than it did even a generation ago. We live in a world where high-dopamine substances and behaviors, from alcohol and porn to social media, smut, gaming, and endless scrolling, are instantly accessible and socially normalized. Dr. Lembke breaks down how these habits rewire the brain’s reward system, dull pleasure, increase craving, and quietly erode intimacy. We talk about porn addiction, phone addiction, alcoholism, erotic content consumption, and the broader crisis of overconsumption that defines modern life. Most importantly, Dr. Lembke offers practical tools, many of which she teaches in her class on MasterClass and outlines in Dopamine Nation, to help us reset our dopamine systems and reclaim our relationships. This isn’t just an episode about addiction. It’s about presence, connection, and what it takes to love well in the most addictive era in human history. To Watch Dopamine on MasterClass go to http://masterclass.com/lovers (this link will get you 15% off an annual plan to watch over 200 classes there including mine)Follow Dr. Anna Lembke Dr. Anna Lembke is a Stanford psychiatrist and New York Times bestselling author specializing in addiction, dopamine science, and behavioral health. Official Website → https://www.annalembke.com Bestselling Book → Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/?ean=9781524746728 Stanford Profile → https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/Anna_Lembke Watch her class on MasterClass → http://masterclass.com/lovers Want more Lover?Receive the weekly Love Letter → http://loversbyshan.com/newsletterJoin the Lovers Community → https://www.loversbyshan.com/communityExplore quizzes and worksheets → http://loversbyshan.com/quizzes If you haven’t subscribed to Lemonada Premium yet, now’s the perfect time → lemonadapremium.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This Day in Legal History: Wesberry v. Sanders On February 17, 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Wesberry v. Sanders, one of the most consequential voting rights cases in American history. The dispute arose from Georgia's congressional districts, where vast population disparities meant that some districts had two or even three times as many residents as others. In practical terms, this imbalance diluted the voting power of citizens in more populated, often urban, districts. James P. Wesberry challenged the system, arguing that it violated Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, which provides that members of the House of Representatives are chosen “by the People.”In a 6–3 decision, the Court agreed. Writing for the majority, Justice Hugo Black concluded that the Constitution requires congressional districts to be drawn so that “as nearly as practicable one man's vote in a congressional election is to be worth as much as another's.” The ruling established the principle of “one person, one vote” for federal elections. It rejected longstanding districting schemes that favored rural regions at the expense of growing urban populations. The decision forced states to redraw congressional maps to ensure substantially equal populations across districts.Wesberry was part of the broader reapportionment revolution of the 1960s, alongside cases addressing state legislative districts. Together, these decisions reshaped American democracy by making representation more closely tied to population equality. By insisting that each vote carry roughly equal weight, the Court strengthened the constitutional promise of representative government. February 17, 1964, marks a turning point in election law and the modern understanding of political equality.A federal judge in New York has ruled that discrimination claims brought by a group of NFL coaches will proceed in court rather than in arbitration. U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni denied the league's request to compel arbitration, finding that the NFL's arbitration system was not fair or neutral. The lawsuit was filed by former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores, later joined by Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, who allege racial discrimination and retaliation in hiring practices. The case has been stalled for several years while the parties disputed whether it belonged in federal court or before an arbitrator.Judge Caproni relied heavily on a 2025 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which concluded that the NFL's arbitration structure was fundamentally flawed. The appellate court criticized the system because the NFL commissioner served as the default arbitrator and controlled the procedures, raising concerns about neutrality. It held that such an arrangement did not allow Flores to effectively vindicate his statutory rights. Based on that reasoning, Judge Caproni determined that the arbitration clause could not be enforced for the remaining claims. She also declined to delay the case further while the NFL considers seeking review from the U.S. Supreme Court.The coaches argue that requiring them to arbitrate before the league's own commissioner would deprive them of a fair forum. Their attorneys praised the ruling, saying it affirms that employees cannot be forced into a process controlled by the opposing party's chief executive. The NFL has not publicly responded to the latest order. The case will now move forward in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.NFL Found To Fumble Arbitration Over Bias, Must Go To Court - Law360Ruling says Brian Flores lawsuit vs. NFL, teams can go to court - ESPNA Stanford psychiatry professor testified in a California bellwether trial that research supports the existence of social media addiction and its harmful effects on young people. Dr. Anna Lembke told jurors that peer-reviewed studies show heavy use of platforms such as Instagram and YouTube can contribute to depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts. She cited a National Institutes of Health study tracking more than 11,000 minors, which found that children who were not initially depressed were more likely to develop depression after significant social media use. According to Lembke, the study undermines the argument that already-depressed teens simply gravitate toward social media.Her testimony contrasts with statements from Instagram's CEO, who told the jury he does not believe social media addiction is real. The case is the first of several bellwether trials arising from thousands of consolidated lawsuits claiming platforms intentionally designed addictive features. The companies are accused of using tools such as autoplay, notifications, and infinite scrolling to encourage compulsive use. The claims focus on whether these design features are addictive, rather than on third-party content posted by users. Plaintiffs assert negligence, failure to warn, and concealment.During cross-examination, defense attorneys questioned Lembke about passages in her book describing her own compulsive reading of romance novels, attempting to challenge her views on addiction. She responded that her examples were meant to show how modern systems increase vulnerability to compulsive behavior, not to trivialize serious substance addictions. Defense counsel also argued that platform features are easy to disable, but Lembke maintained her analysis centered on their addictive qualities, not on user settings. Outside the courthouse, families held a rally memorializing children whose deaths they attribute to social media harms. The trial will continue next week.Stanford Prof Tells Jury Studies Confirm Social Media Addiction - Law360In a piece I wrote for Forbes this week, I argue that the IRS's decision to expand tax relief for Americans held hostage abroad is both correct and incomplete. The agency currently freezes collections, halts enforcement notices, and abates penalties when taxpayers are physically incapable of complying due to foreign captivity. I contend that this relief is grounded not in diplomacy, but in a simple principle: incapacity makes compliance impossible. If that principle justifies relief abroad, it should apply equally when the U.S. government wrongfully detains someone at home.I explain that the IRS already has administrative authority to provide this type of relief, as confirmed in a recent Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report. When notified by the State Department or FBI, the IRS places a “hostage indicator” on an account, pausing automated enforcement and suspending penalties during captivity and for six months after release. Although TIGTA identified some administrative flaws in how the system operates, the broader framework demonstrates that the agency can act without new legislation.By contrast, taxpayers subjected to wrongful domestic detention—particularly in immigration contexts—receive no comparable safeguard. The compliance system continues to generate notices, penalties, and interest even when individuals are cut off from mail, income, and legal assistance. I argue that this disparity undermines fairness and weakens the legitimacy that voluntary tax compliance depends on. Congress may move to formalize relief for foreign hostages, but the IRS does not need to wait to address domestic cases.I propose that the agency adopt a parallel framework for wrongful domestic detention, triggered by certification from a federal authority or court. Such a system would temporarily suspend collection activity and abate penalties during detention and a reasonable transition period after release. The goal is consistency: a tax system should not distinguish between foreign and domestic incapacity when the result is the same inability to comply.IRS Suspends Tax Obligations For Hostages Abroad—Do The Same At HomeIn my column for Bloomberg this week, I argue that Massachusetts' proposed regulation on taxing standardized software creates a rigid and impractical apportionment system for multistate businesses. Under the draft rule, any company seeking to allocate tax based on actual in-state use must register through MassTaxConnect and obtain a software apportionment certificate. At the time of purchase, the buyer must also submit a transaction-specific statement explaining its allocation percentage and supporting rationale. I contend that this framework imposes significant administrative burdens on businesses that operate across multiple states.Even companies willing to overpay rather than calculate precise usage would not have an easy option. If they decline to complete the required documentation, they must pay tax on 100% of the purchase price, regardless of how little of the software is actually used in Massachusetts. I argue that this approach effectively turns multistate buyers into compliance agents who must track usage, justify percentages, and retain records for possible audits. At the same time, the Department of Revenue would assume the role of reviewing and policing each allocation.I point out that enterprise software usage is often fluid and difficult to track, especially when licenses are pooled, accessed remotely, or bundled into broader contracts. Proving precise state-by-state use may be costly or even unworkable. Instead of forcing every buyer into this detailed regime, I propose a safe harbor option. Businesses could elect a fixed in-state percentage, such as 25%, and accept taxation on that amount without additional paperwork or registration.I explain that this alternative would not eliminate full apportionment for those seeking precision or refunds, but would provide a simpler path for others. The safe harbor could even operate on a transitional basis while the state evaluates how the broader certification system functions. Ultimately, I argue that modernization should not mean added complexity, and that a fixed-percentage election would promote voluntary compliance, reduce administrative strain, and provide greater certainty for both taxpayers and the state. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
Landschaften, Stillleben, Gesichter, Kinderbilder – Paula Modersohn-Becker hat gemalt, wie sie die Welt sah. In ihrer Zeit war die junge Künstlerin eine Ausnahmegestalt. Stur und willensstark hat sie sich als Frau mit ihrer Leidenschaft für die Kunst und Malerei, auch gegen familiäre Skepsis, durchgesetzt. Ihre Bilder zeigen Menschen und Natur neu, modern, anders, schonungslos und ungeschönt. Bahnbrechend wurde ihr weiblicher Selbstakt von 1906. Bereits 1907, kurz nach der Geburt ihrer Tochter, starb die junge Künstlerin im Alter von 31 Jahren.Wer war diese unangepasste, selbstbewusste Pionierin des deutschen Expressionismus? Das Landesmuseum Hannover beherbergt eine der weltweit größten Sammlungen von Werken Modersohn-Beckers. Aus Anlass des 150. Geburtstages der Künstlerin, am 8. Februar 2026, ist Katja Lembke, Direktorin des Landesmuseums, zu Gast in NDR Kultur à la carte. Sie hat als Archäologin und Ägyptologin auch einen besonderen Blick auf die weniger bekannten Zeichnungen und Skizzen von Paula Modersohn-Becker, die während ihrer Paris-Aufenthalte im Louvre entstanden.
In today's episode, you'll learn how to get motivated, even when you don't feel like it. If you feel unmotivated, scatter brained, or exhausted… If you keep reaching for your phone, wine, or the remote even when you want to stop… If you're frustrated with yourself for lacking discipline…. This conversation will help you stop wasting time and finally understand why it's so hard to do the things you know you should do. Joining Mel today is Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, who is the world's leading expert on dopamine and compulsive behavior. Dr. Lembke is a professor of psychiatry and addiction medicine at Stanford University, chief of Stanford's Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dopamine Nation and the upcoming Radical SurrenderShe has served on the boards of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, and has testified before the United States House of Representatives and Senate.But even with all of her knowledge, she will share with you: she also falls into the same traps you do!In this episode, Dr. Lembke explains the truth most people don't understand: Modern life has trained your brain to chase constant dopamine hits, and that's why motivation, focus, and joy feel harder than ever. But here's the good news: you can reset your brain. Dr. Lembke walks you through the science of dopamine, pain, pleasure, and motivation, and shares a practical protocol for rebuilding focus, energy, and self-control in a world designed to hijack your attention. In this episode, you'll learn: -The “pleasure–pain seesaw” that explains why you keep reaching for the thing you swear you're done with -How dopamine really works (and why chasing pleasure backfires) -The hidden reason scrolling, snacking, and multitasking make you feel worse, not better -The simple but powerful way to rebalance pleasure and pain -What to do when you feel stuck in compulsive habits you “can't quit” This is not a conversation about shame, addiction labels, or self-control. It's about taking your brain back. If you want more energy, clarity, and motivation, and if you're ready to stop fighting yourself and start working with your brain, this episode is for you. For more resources related to today's episode, click here for the podcast episode page. If you liked the episode, check out this one next: How to Create a Successful Mindset: The Science of Passion and PerseveranceConnect with Mel: Order Mel's new product, Pure Genius ProteinGet Mel's newsletter, packed with tools, coaching, and inspiration.Get Mel's #1 bestselling book, The Let Them TheoryWatch the episodes on YouTubeFollow Mel on Instagram The Mel Robbins Podcast InstagramMel's TikTok Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-freeDisclaimer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Fitness mit M.A.R.K. — Dein Nackt Gut Aussehen Podcast übers Abnehmen, Muskelaufbau und Motivation
Das kühle Bier nach Feierabend, die Tüte Chips, noch eine Folge Deiner Lieblingsserie. Harmlos, oder?Was, wenn genau diese kleinen Belohnungen der Grund sind, warum Du Dich morgens antriebslos fühlst?In dieser Folge erfährst Du:Warum Dein Gehirn wie eine Wippe funktioniert – und kleine „Gremlins" Dich ins Dopamin-Defizit treibenWas eine Stanford-Psychiaterin aus ihrer eigenen Sucht nach Liebesromanen gelernt hatWie 80% der Teilnehmer einer Studie ihre Depression verloren – ohne Therapie, ohne MedikamenteWarum Training, Kälte und bewusstes Unbehagen Dich langfristig glücklicher machen (Stichwort: Hormesis)5 konkrete Strategien für Deinen eigenen Dopamin-ResetDas Paradoxe: In unserer Gesellschaft ist es einfacher denn je, Unbehagen aus dem Weg zu gehen. Genau das macht uns unglücklich. Die Lösung? Du bezahlst für Dein Dopamin im Voraus – durch Anstrengung statt durch schnelle Belohnung.____________*WERBUNG: Infos zum Werbepartner dieser Folge und allen weiteren Werbepartnern findest Du hier.____________Erwähnte Ressourcen:„Looking Good Naked – Die Gesamtausgabe" von Mark Maslow„Die Dopamin Nation" von Dr. Anna LemkeInterview mit Dr. Iris Zachenhofer (#484)
Dopamine: the most famous neurotransmitter that regulates pleasure, motivation, and (perhaps most importantly) addiction. When examining why our society is hooked on consuming more and more of everything – food, clothes, videos, news, vacations – it's imperative to look at how our modern environments hijack our brain's dopamine, sending it into overdrive at nearly every turn. Could taking a closer look at how our societal norms make us more vulnerable to addiction help us transition to more balanced and mindful lifestyles? In this episode, Nate is joined by New York Times bestselling author and professor of psychiatry, Anna Lembke, to explore how modern society has "drugified" our lived experience through digital media, processed foods, and instant gratification, resulting in an environment that propagates addiction. She explains how dopamine works as our brain's reward signal and why our ancient wiring is mismatched for today's level of high-dopamine stimuli in everyday life – leading to tolerance, withdrawal, and even anhedonia. Ultimately, Anna emphasizes that addiction is not a personal failing but a predictable response to an environment designed to take advantage of our brain's neurochemistry. What are the key practices individuals can use to reduce their addictive tendencies, even as our culture continues to prioritize quick dopamine hits and consumption? How long does it take to see the positive effects after moving away from the stimulus related to our addictive behavior? Lastly, if we acknowledge that information alone isn't enough, what cultural shifts can we make to foster more connection, digital mindfulness, and authenticity, in order to return to a slower, lower throughput way of living? (Conversation recorded on November 18th, 2025) About Anna Lembke: Anna Lembke is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. As a clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, and maintains a thriving clinical practice. In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It's So Hard to Stop, which was highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic. Dr. Lembke also appeared on the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives. Her most recent book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world and is a New York Times Bestseller. Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on YouTube Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie. --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Hylo channel and connect with other listeners
In her presentation for the IMMH 2023 conference, Dopamine Fasting: An Early Intervention for Compulsive Overconsumption in the Digital Age, Dr. Anna Lembke explains how the pleasure–pain balance in the brain – once an adaptive survival mechanism – has become dangerously dysregulated in modern societies. Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience and decades of clinical experience, she shows how our dopamine-overloaded world of constant stimulation and "drugified" everyday activities have created unprecedented vulnerability to addiction, anxiety, depression, and unhappiness. Through her clear, compassionate teaching, Dr. Lembke reveals how repeated exposure to high-reward experiences alters the brain's reward pathways, driving down our baseline dopamine and contributing to the modern mental health crisis. Dr. Lembke brings a rare combination of scientific depth and clinical wisdom. Her work integrates neuroscience with the insights of recovery communities, and in this talk she introduces practical, accessible strategies for rebalancing the brain's reward circuitry. With characteristic clarity, she explains why dopamine fasting, behavioural recalibration, and the intentional pursuit of "healthy pain" can restore homeostasis and help patients overcome compulsive overconsumption. In this richly informative and hopeful session, Dr. Lembke outlines the Plenty Paradox – her hypothesis that overabundance itself has become a source of physiological and psychological stress – and offers evidence-based tools to help clinicians and patients navigate the modern dopamine ecosystem. By understanding how the brain processes pleasure and pain, and by intentionally engaging in moderate stressors, she shows that we can elevate dopamine in a more stable, sustainable way, improve emotional resilience and mental health, and regain healthy control over habits. In this episode, you will learn: Why overabundance and constant access to reinforcing stimuli have become major drivers of stress, addiction, and mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety. How pleasure and pain operate like opposite sides of a balance within the same brain regions. How repeated exposure to intoxicants or high-dopamine behaviours lowers baseline dopamine and the hedonic set-point. Why modern life has "drugified" everyday experiences, making them more reinforcing and more accessible. Why dopamine fasting (short-term abstinence) is an effective intervention for resetting reward pathways. Why patients often feel worse before they feel better during a dopamine fast. How hormesis – the use of moderate, controlled discomfort – can elevate dopamine sustainably without a crash. Examples of hormetic practices such as cold exposure, exercise, fasting, prayer and meditation. Why "right-sized pain" matters, and how too much or too little discomfort can be counterproductive. Why behavioural activation, mindfulness and insight are crucial tools for restoring balance and supporting recovery. I hope you find Dr. Lembke's wisdom helpful during this age and season of overwhelm, and that you are able to enjoy your family, friends, work and rest with full focus and presence these holidays and beyond.
Send us a textComfort is easy; appetite is sacred. We trace a surprising path to steadier happiness by leaning, gently but deliberately, into friction. Drawing on psychiatrist Anna Lembke's insight that our modern environment is addictogenic, we look at how endless convenience and constant dopamine nudges can flatten mood, fog attention, and leave us restless. Then we put the theory to the test with a cold North Sea dip—short, sharp, and strangely joyful on the other side.Across the conversation, we unpack why the human nervous system needs stress in measured doses. Think hormesis: brief, voluntary challenges like hard exercise, short fasts from alcohol or sugar, or cold exposure that nudge the brain into balance and rebuild resilience. A greenhouse tree grows fast but topples without wind; without resistance, we also lose inner structure. By choosing small hardships, we earn the afterglow—a calmer baseline, cleaner focus, and a renewed appetite for simple pleasures.We also explore practical ways to invite healthy stress without going extreme. Start with one constraint you can keep this week, and notice the shift: food tastes better, sleep deepens, and mornings feel less rushed. The aim isn't suffering for its own sake; it's recalibrating reward so that life's ordinary moments become vivid again. If abundance has dulled your edge, a little voluntary discomfort can turn the volume back down on noise and up on meaning.If this resonates, follow along for more short reflections, share the episode with a friend who needs a reset, and join our Substack community for deeper dives. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what small hardship will you choose this week?Support the show
In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and author of the NYT bestselling book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance […]
In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and author of the NYT bestselling book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. Dr. Lembke explains how dopamine functions in the human brain and contributes to addictive behaviors. She explores how modern American life fuels a culture of addiction, drawing parallels between past waves of opioid and alcohol abuse and today's dependence on the internet and smart phones. Dr. Lembke also examines how overuse of technology is influencing dopamine-driven addiction and contributing to rising rates of teen mental illness. Drawing on her extensive research, she offers practical strategies for people seeking to break addictive habits and be more restrained in using technology. Dr. Lembke concludes the interview by reading an excerpt from Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, offering a valuable lesson on how individuals can find greater fulfillment by living a more balanced life without excessive dopamine.
How does living in a drugified world affect our brains, and what can we about it? Renowned psychiatrist Anna Lembke vulnerably shares her own story of addiction to romance novels and erotica, how digital media hijacks our brains, and what freedom practically looks like. Along the way, you'll learn the meaning of dopamine fasting, self-binding strategies, and prosocial shame. Take notes!Dr. Anna Lembke is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, keeps an active speaking calendar, and maintains a thriving clinical practice.Buy Anna's books:Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of IndulgenceThe Official Dopamine Nation Workbook: A Practical Guide to Finding Balance in the Age of IndulgenceDrug Dealer, MD: How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It's So Hard to StopLearn more about Anna at annalembke.comSupport the showTake the Husband Material Journey... Step 1: Listen to this podcast or watch on YouTube Step 2: Join the private Husband Material Community Step 3: Take the free mini-course: How To Outgrow Porn Step 4: Try the all-in-one program: Husband Material Academy Thanks for listening!
Season 14 Episode 374 reviews neuroscientist Friederika Fabritius on the limits of willpower with tips from Dr. Andrew Huberman's research on how to strengthen the anterior mid-cingulate cortex through deliberate focus and challenging tasks. The episode also reviews the brain's reward system and practical strategies—like Dr. Anna Lembke's 30-day dopamine reset—to protect motivation and long-term self-control. Practical takeaways include conserving willpower by simplifying choices, using meditation and focused exercises to build concentration, deliberately practicing difficult tasks to grow resilience, and rethinking how we reward children to avoid overstimulating their prefrontal cortex. On today's episode #374, we'll learn: ✔ Practical Tips for Building our Willpower/Resilience/Concentration ✔ The Importance of Understanding our Brain's Reward System for Ourselves and Our Children Welcome back to SEASON 14 of The Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast, where we connect the science-based evidence behind social and emotional learning and emotional intelligence training for improved well-being, achievement, productivity and results—using what I saw as the missing link (since we weren't taught this when we were growing up in school), the application of practical neuroscience. I'm Andrea Samadi, and seven years ago, launched this podcast with a question I had never truly asked myself before: (and that is) If productivity and results matter to us—and they do now more than ever—how exactly are we using our brain to make them happen? Most of us were never taught how to apply neuroscience to improve productivity, results, or well-being. About a decade ago, I became fascinated by the mind-brain-results connection—and how science can be applied to our everyday lives. That's why I've made it my mission to bring you the world's top experts—so together, we can explore the intersection of science and social-emotional learning. We'll break down complex ideas and turn them into practical strategies we can use every day for predictable, science-backed results. For today's Episode 374, we continue our journey into our mind (and brain) with PART 2 of our interview review with neuroscientist, Friederike Fabritius, who we covered on our last EP 373[i] and her book The Leading Brain: Neuroscience Hacks to Work Smarter, Better and Happier. VIDEO 1 Click Here to Watch Today we're reviewing a topic we've covered a few times on this podcast — willpower — that Friederike says “is limited and (that she) tries not to waste on people and processes that are just not worth it.” She explains: “To a certain degree, I try to simplify my life—I have five kids, a career, and I write books. So, in order to manage all of that, I say no to almost everything else. If I say yes to everything, by the end of the day I'm exhausted. If I then sit down at my desk to write, the result would be a disaster because my willpower is already depleted and I feel like collapsing on the couch. So, you need to be wise about not wasting your willpower on things that aren't worth it.” On Episode 294[ii], “Beyond Our 5 Senses: Understanding and Using the 6 Faculties of Our Mind,” we explored how to develop and use this important mental faculty. I find all six faculties of our mind fascinating—but the will is one of my favorites. It's what I'm using right now, sitting at my desk on a Saturday, to stay focused long enough to write this episode. YOUR WILL gives you the ability to concentrate. It helps you hold a thought on the screen of your mind, or choose thoughts of success over thoughts of failure. With a highly developed will, you can lock into a task, block out distractions, and accomplish what you set out to do. We also looked at willpower in Episode 344[iii], “The Neuroscience of Resilience: Building Stronger Minds and Teams,” where we explored how grit and mental toughness relate to new research from Dr. Andrew Huberman. His work shows what happens in the brain when we develop strong willpower—the same kind of strength we need to overcome adversity or, as Friederike describes, to sit down and write a book after a long day. This discovery even made one of the world's leading neuroscientists jump out of his chair—and I was right there with him in excitement. I can still remember exactly where I was when I wrote my notes about this—on my cellphone notepad when I learned this brain fact. Did you know there's a part of the brain called the anterior mid-cingulate cortex? It's not just one of the centers for willpower—scientists believe it may hold the secret to the will to live. (Dr. Andrew Huberman)[iv] This region increases in size when we do things we don't want to do—like adding exercise when we'd rather rest, or resisting foods we really enjoy. OR, think about the tasks in your day that you would rather skip over. When you do them anyway, you are strengthening and growing this part of your brain.
Send us a textJoin us for an in-depth conversation with John Lembke, a manufacturing engineering manager with over a decade of experience in factory digitization, lean manufacturing, and ERP integrations. John shares his proven strategies for hiring high-performing engineering teams, scaling production rapidly, and building effective manufacturing processes. From his early days around ice-making machinery to leading 60% capacity increases, John offers practical insights that engineering managers and job seekers alike will find invaluable.Main Topics:Hiring Best Practices: Use skill histograms to identify team gaps and write focused, targeted job descriptions.Interview Strategies: Ask questions that evaluate both technical skills and cultural fit.Common Hiring Mistakes: Avoid hiring people just like yourself and using vague or generic job descriptions.Candidate Advice: Use the STAR method to structure responses and present your experience clearly.ERP & MES Systems: Understand the role of enterprise resource planning and manufacturing execution systems in operations.Production Scaling: Apply practical strategies to rapidly increase production capacity.Manufacturing KPIs: Track key performance indicators to monitor quality and efficiency.Leadership Philosophy: Leverage lessons from endurance sports to build mental resilience and lead with intensity.About the guest: John Lembke is a manufacturing and operations leader with a track record of scaling production and driving process excellence. At Scythe Robotics, he boosted production capacity by 60% in 16 months and led ERP implementation to streamline operations. Previously, as Director of Manufacturing and Scaling at Phantom Auto, he built prototype production systems and integrated advanced hardware into partner vehicles. His earlier experience at Seagate, Ensign-Bickford, and GE honed his expertise in process engineering, KPI development, and cross-functional leadership. With degrees from CU Boulder and RPI, John is committed to continuous learning, mentoring, and applying innovative approaches—balanced by a passion for backpacking and enduClick here to learn more about simulation solutions from Simutech Group.
If you've ever wondered why you can't resist “just one more”—one more scroll, one more drink, one more chapter—this episode is for you.
436. Are You a Dopamine Addict? | Dr. Anna Lembke Dr. Anna Lembke, the Medical Director of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Program, join us to discuss why common fixes for feeling better are actually making us feel worse. Dr. Lembke explains the science behind the brain's pleasure and pain processing and the dopamine balance. -The four C's of dopamine addiction and whether you have one -How to begin to detox from dopamine addiction -The surprising reason you might want to spend an entire day looking forward to nothing Anna Lembke is the medical director of Stanford Addiction Medicine, program director for the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship, and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. She is the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding research in mental illness, for excellence in teaching, and for clinical innovation in treatment. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, keeps an active speaking calendar, and maintains a thriving clinical practice. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In today's moment, renowned neuroscientist and author, Anna Lembke, explores the fascinating science of dopamine and its impact on our behaviour. Discover why dopamine is fundamental to survival, how it drives pleasure and motivation, and why we are more vulnerable to addiction than we think. Neuroscientist Anna Lembke is the author of bestselling book, Dopamine Nation. As a professor of psychiatry and the Medical Director of the Stanford Addiction Medicine program, she has become a leading expert on the brain's reward system. Her work explores how the balance of pleasure and pain in the brain can lead to addiction and what happens when we overstimulate our reward pathways in the modern world. Listen to the full episode here! Spotify: https://g2ul0.app.link/QYBqCgLtgVb Apple: https://g2ul0.app.link/wiYqNPRtgVb Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/%20TheDiaryOfACEO/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
“We're living in this strange day and age when we've essentially bio-hacked all of the things that we do and really come to organize our lives around our little rewards, right? So, we wake up in the morning, we reach for our phones, we have our cup of coffee, we have our favorite muffin.”Dr. Anna Lembke is a psychiatrist, professor, and medical director of addiction medicine at Stanford University. She's the author of “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence.”“This is, of course, the great paradox, that although we want to avoid pain, our efforts to avoid pain actually lead to more pain,” she says.How have technology and modern living led to mass overconsumption in America?Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In this conversation, Anna Lemke discusses the dual nature of dopamine as both a pleasure molecule and a regulator of pain. Find out how modern life, with its abundance of pleasurable stimuli, has led to a 'drugification' of everyday experiences, making individuals more vulnerable to addiction and chronic dopamine deficit states. Learn about fostering resilience in children, and how to follow a mindful approach to pleasure and pain in our lives. ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Training. Find more podcasts, Hunter's books, blog posts, free resources, and more at MindfulMamaMentor.com. Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/ We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: /mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this Huberman Lab Essentials episode, my guest is Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic at Stanford University School of Medicine. We discuss how dopamine drives reward, motivation and addictive behaviors. Dr. Lembke explains the concept of the pleasure-pain balance of dopamine and how this cycle plays a key role in the development and persistence of addiction. We also discuss some of the challenges of addiction recovery, including withdrawal, relapses and the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Wealthfront**: https://wealthfront.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman **This experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients of Wealthfront, and there is no guarantee that all clients will have similar experiences. Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) on cash deposits as of December 27, 2024, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to partner banks where they earn the variable APY. Promo terms and FDIC coverage conditions apply. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Timestamps 00:00:00 Anna Lembke 00:00:15 Dopamine, Reward & Movement 00:01:54 Baseline Dopamine; Genetics, Temperament & Addiction 00:05:24 Addiction, Modern Life & Boredom 00:07:18 Sponsor: AG1 00:08:55 Pleasure-Pain Balance, Dopamine, Addiction 00:14:17 Resetting Dopamine, Substance or Behavior Recovery, Tool: 30-Day Abstinence 00:16:04 Relapse, Addiction, Reflexive Behavior, Empathy 00:20:17 Triggers, Relapse, Dopamine 00:23:15 Sponsor: Wealthfront & BetterHelp 00:26:04 Shame, Truth Telling & Recovery 00:28:26 Addiction, Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, Psilocybin, MDMA 00:33:29 Social Media & Addiction, Tool: Intentionality Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of SHE MD, hosts Mary Alice Haney and Dr. Thais Aliabadi welcome Dr. Anna Lembke, a renowned expert on addiction and professor at Stanford University. Dr. Lembke discusses the concept of "Dopamine Nation" and how our modern world's constant pursuit of pleasure affects our brain chemistry and overall well-being. She delves into the neuroscience of dopamine addiction, the impact of digital media on our dopamine levels, and discusses strategies for managing addictive behaviors. The conversation covers topics ranging from social media addiction to substance abuse, offering insights into how individuals can reset their reward pathways and find balance in a world of constant stimulation.Access more information about the podcast and additional expert health tips by visiting SHE MD Podcast and Ovii. Sponsors: Cymbiotika: Go to Cymbiotikia.com/SHEMD for 20% off your order + free shipping today.Strivektin: Discover the Science Behind Great SkinOpill: Opill is birth control in your control, and you can use code SHEMD for twenty five percent off your first month of Opill at Opill.comSleepMe: Visit www.sleep.me/SHEMD to get your Chilipad at 20% off with code SHEMDNutrafol: Nutrafol is offering our listeners ten dollars off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter promo code SHEMDDavid's Protein: David is giving my listeners an exclusive offer – buy four cartons and get the fifth free at davidprotein.com/shemdAnna Lembke's Key Takeaways:Digital Detox: Set a daily timer for digital media usage. Start with a modest reduction and gradually decrease screen time over several weeks.30-Day Reset: Choose one addictive behavior (e.g., social media, video games, unhealthy snacking) and abstain completely for 30 days. Track your progress daily to maintain accountability.Embrace Discomfort: Incorporate short bursts of activities that challenge your comfort zone, like a 10-minute cold shower or a brisk 20-minute walk. These activities help regulate dopamine levels and reduce cravings.Journaling: Dedicate 5-10 minutes each day to journaling about your digital and non-digital consumption patterns. Note any triggers or situations that lead to addictive behaviors.Family Education: Schedule a family meeting to discuss the importance of balanced digital habits and healthy coping mechanisms. Share resources and create a supportive environment for everyone to practice moderation.In This Episode: (00:00) Introduction(01:25) Dr. Anna Lembke Introduction(02:35) Modern world's addiction to digital media(05:25) What Dopamine Addiction does to your Brain?(09:48) Dopamine addiction and social media's impact to our children(18:35) Genetic factors and parental advice(22:31) Drug addiction and societal approaches(24:40) Benefits of a 30-day dopamine fast(33:27) Hormesis: Using discomfort to reset dopamine(35:27) Parkinson's, dopamine, and potential treatments(37:42) ADHD and its relationship to dopamine(38:36) Starting addiction recovery with data collectionRESOURCES:Dopamine Nation - Anna Lembke's Book: https://www.annalembke.com/GUEST BIOGRAPHY:Anna Lembke, MD is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she is the author of more than a hundred peer-reviewed publications, has testified before the United States House of Representatives and Senate, and has served as an expert witness in federal and state opioid litigation. She is an internationally recognized leader in addiction medicine treatment and education.In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It's So Hard to Stop (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016), highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic (Zuger, 2018). Dr. Lembke appeared in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives. Her book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence (Dutton/Penguin Random House, August 2021) was an instant New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller, has been translated into more than 35 languages, and explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world. Her just released Dopamine Nation Workbook provides a step-by-step guide for dopamine fasting, full of interactive exercises and practical tips for finding balance.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
If you've been caught in that exhausting loop of “I need to take a break” followed by “I need a drink,” this episode will be a game-changer. I asked Dr. Anna Lembke—Stanford psychiatrist, addiction specialist, and author of Dopamine Nation—to help explain the science behind alcohol cravings, why dopamine plays a central role in addiction, and how you can reset your brain to feel better without drinking. Dr. Lembke breaks down how alcohol spikes dopamine in your brain, giving you that initial “ahhh” sensation. But here's the kicker: over time, alcohol actually lowers your natural dopamine levels, leaving you feeling more anxious, depressed, and restless when you're not drinking. It's not just a bad hangover—it's a neurological withdrawal cycle. For the full shownotes, kindly go to this podcast episode link: https://hellosomedaycoaching.com/dopamine-nation-alcohol-social-media-addiction/ 4 Ways I Can Support You In Drinking Less + Living More Join The Sobriety Starter Kit, the only sober coaching course designed specifically for busy women. My proven, step-by-step sober coaching program will teach you exactly how to stop drinking — and how to make it the best decision of your life. Save your seat in my FREE MASTERCLASS, 5 Secrets To Successfully Take a Break From Drinking Grab the Free 30-Day Guide To Quitting Drinking, 30 Tips For Your First Month Alcohol-Free. Connect with me for free sober coaching tips, updates + videos on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and TikTok @hellosomedaysober. Connect with Casey McGuire DavidsonTo find out more about Casey and her coaching programs, head over to www.hellosomedaycoaching.com
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we're exploring some of the most common, yet least understood, mental health challenges. This week, Leah speaks with Dr. Anna Lembke, author of “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence.” Anna shares the science behind compulsive overconsumption and explains how the brain's pleasure-pain balance can lead us into addictive loops — even when it comes to seemingly harmless behaviors. If you liked this episode, you'll also love this one: The Number One Predictor of a Long and Happy Life with Dr. Robert Waldinger
Today, we're diving deep into a topic that shapes our daily lives: how we've become hooked—not just to our screens, habits, and even our thoughts. And who better to lead this conversation than the incredible Dr. Anna Lembke—a Stanford psychiatrist and the bestselling author of Dopamine Nation. Dr. Lembke guides us on a journey to comprehend how dopamine, our brain's pleasure chemical, significantly influences our behaviors. This discussion is truly enlightening, from its role in fueling social media addiction to why we get trapped in unhealthy patterns. The real game-changer? Understanding dopamine empowers you to take back control and live with purpose. Prepare for a transformative conversation that will challenge, inspire, and equip you to rise above the chaos. Let's dive in and discover the power of understanding our brain's chemistry! Timestamps: (02:00) - The Surprising Activity That Secretly Rewires Your Brain for Addiction (06:32) - What Dopamine Really Does (08:20)- Dr. Anna's Eye-Opening Definition of Addiction (13:51) - How to Manage Life Without Relying on Quick Dopamine Fixes (22:59) - How Dopamine Hijacks Your Attention Span (And How to Get It Back) (36:33) - Dr. Anna's Must-Read Book and Movie Recommendations WATCH NOW ON YOUTUBE Links to great things we discussed: Dr. Anna's Book Recommendations - Man's Search for Meaning & Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart Dr. Anna's Movie Recommendations - Galaxy Quest & This is Spinal Tap I hope you loved this episode!
Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and addiction specialist, explains how dopamine affects motivation, addiction, and anxiety — and shares science-backed strategies to find balance in a world of instant gratification. Read her book here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dr. Anna Lembke, Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and author of the bestselling book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, joins Scott to discuss the rise of addiction in the digital age – from drugs to social media – and why our brains are wired to crave more. Plus, Dr. Lembke shares practical solutions to help build a healthier relationship with pleasure. Algebra of Happiness: no is the key to success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Anna Lembke is a psychiatrist, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and the author of "Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence."This is a rebroadcast of episode 35, from 2022.------------Book Dan to do an interview or a meeting------------Keep Talking SubstackSpotifyApple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------(00:00) Intro(00:57) Anna Lembke's interest in studying addiction(04:34) Defining addiction and the "gremlin theory" of addiction(15:19) Characteristics of an addict(23:48) The stigma around addictions(26:46) Characteristics of a healthy person living today(33:50) The importance and role of struggle in a good life(41:04) The impact of modern addictions on society today(46:54) Habit change ideas and the role of struggle in a good life(52:11) How to know if you're becoming an addict(58:45) The effective and ethical way to address addiction(01:03:58) Workaholism as an addiction(01:20:13) The connection between shame and a “never enough” attitude towards work
Dr. Anna Lembke is a Stanford Professor and Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at Stanford University's School of Medicine. Her latest book, Dopamine Nation, is a New York Times bestseller and has been translated into 30 languages. It examines the effects of being surrounded by abundant sources of instant gratification, such as food, social media, gaming, pornography, and drugs. Anna combines the neuroscience of addiction with the wisdom of recovery to explore the problem of compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world. In this episode we discuss the following: Anna learned from her patients in addiction recovery that if they wanted to maintain their recovery, they couldn't tell a single lie. One of the reasons lying hurts ourselves and others is because it denies us access to reality, which of course makes it more difficult to deal with reality. Radical honesty applies to more aspects of life than we may realize. For example, Anna is able to reduce her anxiety before interviews by being radically honest with herself and remembering that she doesn't have to be all things to all people, she doesn't have to be anything more than she already is. Connect on Social Media: X: https://twitter.com/nate_meikle LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natemeikle/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nate_meikle/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nate.meikle
The psychiatrist and author of “Dopamine Nation” wants us to find balance in a world of temptation and abundance.Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The psychiatrist and author of “Dopamine Nation” wants us to find balance in a world of temptation and abundance.
This week Scott is joined by Stanford Psychiatrist and addiction expert, Dr. Anna Lembke. Scott and Dr. Lembke discuss how to reset your dopamine system to take back control of your life and turn the things that you really want into their own reward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
While the term “addiction” is generally associated with the misuse of drugs or alcohol, there is a wide range of substances or behaviors that have the potential to become addictive – including those that are generally considered positive, such as work or exercise. To prevent or heal from addiction of any kind and maintain a balanced relationship with the things you enjoy, it may be helpful to understand the neuroscience behind why we get addicted. Clinician and scholar Anna Lembke, our guest in Episode 223 of The Mindset Game® podcast, is a professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries and is the author of books including “Drug Dealer, MD: How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It's So Hard to Stop” and “Dopamine Nation.” Anna sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, and maintains an active speaking calendar. In this week's episode, Anna shares the following: Why the overwhelming abundance of our modern world may leave us more prone to addiction, as well as other factors that may drive addictive tendencies, including genetics, psychiatric disorders, and the desire for control An in-depth explanation of the science behind addiction, how it differs from a healthy passion or hobby, and why addiction to anything is harmful Practical strategies for avoiding addiction triggers and either reducing or eliminating use of a substance or behavior you may be addicted to, as well as tips for supporting others in your life who may be struggling To learn more, visit https://www.annalembke.com or look for Anna's books on Amazon. To learn more about The Mindset Game®, visit www.TheMindsetGame.com. To subscribe to The Mindset Game podcast or leave a review, please visit https://apple.co/3oAnR8I.
Join Dr. Anna Lembke, a leading expert in addiction medicine, as she delves into the challenges of digital addiction in our hyper-connected world. In this episode, Dr. Lembke explains the neuroscience behind why we get hooked on digital platforms and offers practical advice for managing our digital habits. Discover the concept of "dopamine detox" and how taking breaks from digital stimuli can reset our brain's reward system, leading to improved mental health and well-being.Join Dr. Anna Lembke, a leading expert in addiction medicine, as she delves into the challenges of digital addiction in our hyper-connected world. In this episode, Dr. Lembke explains the neuroscience behind why we get hooked on digital platforms and offers practical advice for managing our digital habits. Discover the concept of "dopamine detox" and how taking breaks from digital stimuli can reset our brain's reward system, leading to improved mental health and well-being. Subscribe for ad-free interviews and bonus episodes https://plus.acast.com/s/the-unmistakable-creative-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
SUMMARY: We live in a society inundated by endless sources of entertainment and cheap dopamine. In today's book, Anna Lembke discusses how we can respond to such dangers, like, for instance, a pool table. Friend, either you're closing your eyes to a situation you do not wish to acknowledge, or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated by the presence of a pool table in your community.Well, ya got trouble, my friend, right hereI say, trouble right here in River CityWhy, sure, I'm a billiard playerCertainly mighty proud I sayI'm always mighty proud to say itI consider that the hours I spendWith a cue in my hand are goldenHelp you cultivate horse senseAnd a cool hеad and a keen eyeJ'evеr take and try to findAn iron-clad leave for yourselfFrom a three-rail billiard shot?But just as I sayIt takes judgment, brains, and maturity to scoreIn a balkline gameI say that any boob can takeAnd shove a ball in a pocketAnd I call that slothThe first big step on the roadTo the depths of deg-ra-day--I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoonThen beer from a bottle!An' the next thing ya knowYour son is playin' for moneyIn a pinch-back suitAnd list'nin to some big out-a-town jasperHearin' him tell about horse-race gamblin'Not a wholesome trottin' race, no!But a race where they set down right on the horse!Like to see some stuck-up jockey boySettin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil?Well, I should sayNow, friends, lemme tell you what I meanYa got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a tablePockets that mark the diff'renceBetween a gentlemen and a bumWith a capital "B,"And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237s-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.
In a world of overindulgence, from drugs, food, news, and social media, Dr. Anna Lembke reveals the science that explains why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain... and what to do about it. She explains how addiction works in the brain and how this plays out on an individual level from the micro decisions we make every single day to the macro. She shares the proven methods to escaping this cycle of suffering and how by intentionally choosing pain through healthy practices like cold plunges, exercise, and meditation, we can reset our dopamine levels in our brain. She explores the concept of delayed gratification as defined by "The Marshmallow Experiment" which discovered a correlation between success in life and ability to delay gratification. This episode is full or practical takeaways for anyone looking to better understand their brain and relationship to dopamine/addiction. Sleep Better with the Birch Mattress & Save 25%: https://birchliving.com/knowthyself André's Book Recommendations: https://www.knowthyself.one/books ___________ 0:00 Intro 2:27 Defining Addiction and Dopamine 8:25 How Pleasure & Pain Work in the Brain 14:01 Our Biology Dooms Us in the Modern World 16:32 The Plenty Paradox: Convenience is Killing Us 22:05 Cold Plunges, Exercise, & Mediation: Healthy 'Pain' that Balances Our Dopamine 25:09 Resetting through Vipassana & Darkness Retreats 34:58 How She Started Doing This Work 37:43 Spectrum of Addiction: From the Intense to the Subtle 41:30 Becoming Resilient to Addiction 44:25 Ad: Sleep Better with Birch Mattress & Save 25% 45:40 Breaking the Cycle of Shame and Guilt 51:23 Shedding an Addiction to Your Identity 56:02 The Pain That's Good For You 58:15 4 Things that Determine Addiction Risk 1:02:00 Danger of Social Media Addiction 1:09:44 Strategies for Overcoming Compulsive Behaviors 1:13:09 How Our Morning Sets Us Up For Success (or failure!) 1:14:37 Delayed Gratification: The Marshmallow Experiment 1:20:05 Practices to Change Negative Behaviors 1:26:11 Your Personal Growth Changes the World 1:28:39 The Beauty that Hides in Pain 1:31:55 Conclusion ___________ Dr. Anna Lembke received her undergraduate degree in Humanities from Yale University and her medical degree from Stanford University. She is currently Professor and Medical Director of Addiction Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine. She is also Program Director of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Lembke appeared in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives. Her latest book, "Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence" (Dutton/Penguin Random House, August 2021) was an instant New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller and has been translated into 30 languages. It combines the neuroscience of addiction with the wisdom of recovery to explore the problem of compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world. Website: https://www.annalembke.com Book "Dopamine Nation": https://a.co/d/ccpgrk4 Dopamine Nation Workbook: https://a.co/d/6vADILi ___________ Know Thyself Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/ Website: https://www.knowthyself.one Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ4wglCWTJeWQC0exBalgKg Listen to all episodes on Audio: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4FSiemtvZrWesGtO2MqTZ4?si=d389c8dee8fa4026 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/know-thyself/id1633725927 André Duqum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter Anna Lembke is the Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic and author of Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. In this episode, Anna dives deep into the biochemistry and neurobiology of addiction, exploring the critical role of dopamine and the prefrontal cortex. She shares her framework for diagnosing and treating addiction, providing real-world examples involving alcohol, gambling, cannabis, social media, and more. Anna outlines the risk factors for addiction, including inherited and nurture-based risks, explores the rise of addictions in younger generations, and discusses effective ways to address these issues with children. Additionally, she touches on healthy coping strategies, the evolution of the “marshmallow experiment,” and provides insights into GLP-1 agonists as a possible tool for addiction treatment. Finally, she reflects on the value of 12-step programs and how she navigates the emotional challenges of her work. We discuss: The role of dopamine and the prefrontal cortex in addiction [3:00]; The clinical definition of addiction and the behavioral criteria for diagnosing it [13:00]; Assessing alcohol use: patterns, risks, and addiction diagnosis [17:15]; Applying the addiction diagnosis framework using gambling as an example [21:45]; Exploring addiction variability: how nature, nurture, and access shape individual vulnerability and drug of choice [25:15]; How abstinence from addictive behaviors can help reset the brain's reward system and improve mental health [41:15]; Safely abstaining from addiction substances, drugs needing medical supervision, and other key considerations [51:30]; Transitioning from abstinence to long-term recovery: tools and considerations [59:00]; Exploring behavioral addictions like sex addiction, and the gender differences in addiction patterns [1:08:30]; Factors contributing to the increasing levels of addiction across the world [1:13:45]; How online pornography can affect young boys' developing brains and lead to addictive behaviors, and strategies for parents to address this issue [1:23:30]; The link between social media use and declines in mental health, potential solutions, and protective measures [1:34:45]; How exercise affects brain chemistry, the role of dopamine and endorphins, and how exercise can become addictive [1:44:00]; Cold-water immersion for mood regulation, and other healthy coping strategies [1:47:15]; The “marshmallow experiment”: how broken promises affect behavior and trustworthy environments help children develop self-control [1:54:00]; Can GLP-1 agonists be useful in treating addiction? [1:58:30]; The benefits of 12-step programs [2:06:00]; Why understanding a patient's story is essential for meaningful psychiatric care [2:11:45]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
What does ADHD *really* look and feel like – and does it manifest differently for women and men? Is it truly a lack of attention, or an “interest based nervous system,” where you have the ability to also hyperfocus where you're truly passionate? Dr. Laura Gouge, a naturopathic physician, dives into both her own lived experience with ADHD and expert insights on how to support ADHD symptoms both physically and emotionally. This episode is a real "put the pieces together" moment for anyone looking to understand their own sensitive nervous system to create a more balanced life. We explore a ton of juicy topics, including ADHD as an adaptation, the pain-pleasure pendulum swing, and why we create chaos in our lives to trigger brain stimulation. Laura beautifully outlines why ADHD can often manifest as a streak of genius and why folks with ADHD can so easily hyperfocus on what they love. HERE'S THE JUICE: How symptoms of ADHD can vary quite a bit between childhood and adulthood The TRUE reason why time blindness is such an obstacle for folks with ADHD and identifying tools to help Why people with ADHD oscillate between hyper-productivity and struggling to get anything done & how to find the middle ground Tangible ways to build up your nervous system Why dopamine plays such an essential role in interest-based nervous systems The idea that ADHD is actually an adaptation How to support ADHD symptoms through diet and managing histamines Why the liver plays a key role in ADHD symptoms Connect with Laura: IG: @drlauragouge Website: Laura Gouge Connect with Olivia: Organic Olivia's IG Olivia's personal IG Organic Olivia's TikTok Read Olivia's blog posts Shop my full line of herbalist-formulated medicinal blends: HERE LINKS MENTIONED: The Man Who Sits with Death on Why Relationships Make a Life | Sah D'Simone ARE YOU ADDICTED TO DOPAMINE? - how to feel human again in a world full of overstimulation + choosing pain as much as pleasure with Dr. Lembke
Dopamine Nation author Anna Lembke helps us understand why it's difficult to resist the temptations of a world designed to exploit our pursuit of pleasure. What We Discuss with Anna Lembke: The neuroscience of addiction and the role dopamine plays in keeping us hooked. How modern society's unrestricted indulgence in pleasurable substances and behaviors can lead to addictive tendencies and the gratification of constant dopamine release. The pros and cons of using psychedelics. The impact of resource scarcity on instant gratification. The need to address underlying conditions for effective addiction treatment. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/951 This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: jordanharbinger.com/deals Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course! Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!
[video available on Spotify] today i'm doing my very first interview. we're getting into serious podcast territory. i'm bringing dr. lembke on the show today because i've been obsessed with the sneaky addictions of our modern day. you know, the addictions that our grandparents and parents are warning us about: social media, food delivery, porn, gaming… all of the addictions that we're sort of in denial of. she describes the time that we're living in now as the age of indulgence, and i've never heard this time be characterized better. it really is this age of indulgence where everything is at our fingertips, and at face value it seems incredible. but there are a lot of scary downsides. i'm going to be discussing all of this and more with dr. lembke. link to dr. lembke's book, dopamine nation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624957/dopamine-nation-by-anna-lembke-md/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices