Untangle, The Podcast From Meditation Studio

In Todays throwback Thursday episode, we have encore guest. Dr. Tobias Esch. He is a primary care physician, pioneer in holistic general medicine, and expert in the neurobiology of happiness. He shaped mind-body medicine and integrative health in Germany and as Visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School. He has published more than 300 scientific works. His background is in primary care, neurobiology, and positive psychology and his work focus has been on promoting good health, patient activation and behavior change. In this interview we dive into his Happiness Model, and what he calls the U Curve of happiness which is both surprising and fascinating. The good news is that happiness can be shaped through practice. Life satisfaction and happiness are both deep feeling states, but he defines them differently. His wisdom is cultivated through a rich blend of neuroscience, medicine, positive psychology, mindfulness, gratitude, stillness, and acceptance. He believes in listening deeply and connecting with his pat

Today’s guest is James Kimmel Jr., a former litigator of 20 years, currently Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale school of Medicine and Author of the book we discuss today called The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World’s Deadliest Addiction—and How to Overcome It (2025).Here’s the question: What if revenge actually works like a drug—lighting up the brain’s reward system and keeping us stuck in cravings for payback? In this episode we talk about the neuroscience of revenge and why it can become compulsive, engaging similar reward pathways to those associated with craving and addiction. James tells the personal story that launched his life’s work—years of bullying, a devastating loss, and a split-second decision that changed everything. We explore how grievances fuel rumination, how self-control can get hijacked under stress, and what it takes to break the cycle. If you’ve ever replayed an old hurt or struggled to let go, this conversation offers a fresh, brain-based roadma

Today’s throwback Thursday guest is Dr. Shauna Shapiro. Shauna is a best-selling Author, Professor, Clinical Psychologist, and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. She has spent two decades studying the benefits of mindfulness and compassion, publishing over 150 papers and three critically acclaimed books. Her TEDx Talk, What You Practice Grows Stronger, has been viewed over 3 million times, and this concept is key to her philosophy. Her book, Good Morning, I love you encompasses the full range of practices that help us to grow both our meditation and compassion practices. I think you’ll find it interesting to learn how she decided to name her book.Now, onto Shauna. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s Encore episode is with Judson Brewer, a Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist and Author who specializes in the field of mindfulness and addiction. He is widely recognized for his work on understanding the mechanisms of craving and developing effective strategies to overcome addictive behaviors. One of his notable contributions is his research on the "Hunger Habit." He discussed this in his book, The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop.The Hunger Habit is a concept that explores the parallels between overeating and other forms of addiction. Brewer's research suggests that the root cause of many addictive behaviors, including overeating, lies in the craving and reward-based learning processes of the brain.Brewer's approach to breaking the Hunger Habit revolves around mindfulness. He believes that by bringing mindful awareness to our eating behaviors, we can develop a deeper understanding of our cravings and make more conscious choices. Mindfulness allows us to observe our thoughts, em

Welcome to a special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationships stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 75 of the world’s top meditation experts.And best of all…get 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.Resource: Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Untangle, Throwback Thursday. Each week, along with our regular weekly interview, we’ll be releasing an additional encore from our early days. These are some real gems and we hope you like them.Today's encore is with Mark Coleman, Mindfulness Teacher and Author of "Make Peace with Your Mind." He shares how mindfulness and compassion can free us from our inner critic--the one that blasts us with messages that "we’re not good enough." Mark shows us, with wisdom and humour, how we can quell that inner voice and stop beating ourselves up--for good!Check out Muse at choosemuse.com. Use code Untangle15 for your discount.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today I sit down with neurologist and neuroscientist Dr. Majid Fotuhi to unpack the science of neuroplasticity — the brain’s remarkable ability to change, rewire, and grow at any age. He’s adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins and author of the book The Invincible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life. We discuss many things related to his book, from building new connections to strengthening memory-related regions of the brain, to the five pillars of brain health…fitness, sleep, nutrition, mindset and brain training. , Dr. Fotuhi explains why “age-related cognitive decline” and even Alzheimers isn’t as inevitable as we’ve been led to believe. I was particularly intrigued with his concept of "the soup of abnormalities." There’s lot’s of great stuff here.Resource: https://neurogrow.com/https://drfotuhi.com/ A special shout out to our sponsors: Wellco, Fabletics, Quince, Rula, Strawberry.meUse code Untangle15 for a discount on your Muse Brain Sensing Headband at

Welcome to a weekly special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationship stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 70 of the world’s top meditation experts.And best of all, you can now unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Untangle, Throwback Thursday. Each week, along with our regular weekly interview, we’ll be releasing an additional encore from our early days. These are some real gems and we hope you like them. This week it’s one of our favorite guests, Kristin Neff. Kristin is the author of "Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself", and is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion. She teaches several courses, including one with Brene Brown that examines why we’re always our toughest critic. Kristen gives us tools to be kinder to ourselves and teaches us why this is so important.Check out Muse at choosemuse.com. Use code Untangle15 for your discount. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest today is Guryan Tighe, Coach and Author of the book Unmasking Fear, How Fears are our Gateways to Freedom. She refers to herself as a Fear Technician and gives us a great definition of what this is. She poses the question "what if fear isn’t the enemy?" What if, instead, it’s important information and an invitation to better understand ourselves. She gives us a practical look at why fear runs the show for so many of us, and how to change that.She unpacks the somatic nature of fear, why our nervous systems can treat “little fears” like “big fears,” and how our protective patterns get wired over time. She shares how to approach our inner critic (She named hers “Gretchen”), how to separate intuition from fear, and why courage is often just fear properly directed. This episode is packed with tools, reframes, and real-world examples to help you meet fear with curiosity instead of avoidance, and return to what matters most.Resource: Fourage.io. Special thanks to our advertisers: Quince, Str

Welcome to a special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationships stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 75 of the world’s top meditation experts.And best of all…Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today’s encore episode is with Martha Beck, a PhD, Harvard-trained sociologist, world-renowned coach and New York Times bestselling author. She has published nine non-fiction books, one novel, and more than 200 magazine articles.She’s also known as Oprah’s Life Coach . Her most recent book, The Way of Integrity, Finding Your Path to Your Your True Self, is an Oprah book club selection and a NY Times best seller. In The Way of Integrity, Beck presents a process that anyone can use to find a sense of purpose, emotional healing, and a way to be free of mental suffering. Much of what plagues us— negative habits and patterns, too much people pleasing, staying in stale relationships or careers— happen because we are out of touch with our true nature. This signals a split from integrity — which very often is unconscious and fueled by cultural norms and traditions that lead us in directions that aren’t, in fact, right for us. Getting back in sync with what is true for us brings us into alignment and this is where we 

 In today’s conversation, Dr. Shahrzad Jalali, Clinical Psychologist and Author of the book The Fire that Makes Us: Unveiling the Transformative Power of Trauma, shares her personal journey through trauma, exploring the complexities of healing and the impact of unprocessed experiences on our lives. She shares her wisdom on the importance of understanding trauma, how we can heal the nervous system, and the role of meaning-making in reframing our experiences. Whether it’s a big t or little t, trauma depends on how we each experience it and, whether big or little, she believes that trauma can be a powerful catalyst for growth, and that it is possible to free yourself from the grip of negative emotions associated with it. Dr. Jalali introduces her Regulate to Rise program, which offers practical techniques for healing trauma and even dispelling negative emotions. There’s a lot about Jungian psychology here and the significance of mindfulness. She does a beautiful job underscoring th

Welcome to a weekly special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationship stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 70 of the world’s top meditation experts.And best of all, you can now unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to an encore edition of Untangle in honor of Valentines day. Many of us spend hours in the gym, or reading books on personal growth, or at mindfulness retreats working on getting stronger and healthier emotionally and physically. BUT, when it comes to working on our relationships, we simply HOPE that our feelings about our romantic partner will magically freeze in that exciting cocoon of the first year we’re together. Suzann Pileggi, co-author of "Happy Together: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to Build Love that Lasts," shares what it takes to really grow and deepen love. She provides insights on the connection between our overall happiness and our most important relationships. Check out Suzann's website at www.buildhappytogether.com.As always, we’re Untangle, the podcast from Muse, the brain sensing headband dedicated to unlocking your brains potential AND Meditation Studio the five star app. Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.  Learn more about

Today we’re joined by someone whose life journey challenges everything we think we know about reality, consciousness, and what happens after we die. My guest is Suzanne Giesemann, a former U.S. Navy Commander and aide to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—someone who once lived firmly in a left-brained, evidence-driven world.After the sudden and tragic loss of her stepdaughter, Suzanne experienced a profound shift that led her to explore the nature of consciousness and the afterlife. What began as personal grief turned into a mission that has since helped millions find healing, meaning, and peace. Today, Suzanne is an evidence-based Medium, Spiritual Teacher, and Author who bridges the gap between science, spirituality, and personal experience.In this conversation, we explore what mediumship really is, how consciousness extends beyond the physical body, and how connecting with loved ones—and with a deeper sense of awareness—can transform grief into growth. Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or simpl

Welcome to a special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationships stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 75 of the world’s top meditation experts.And best of all…get 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.Resource: Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we’re airing a few of our favorite encore sleep episodes. If it’s dark and cold where you are, cozy up and have a listen. And if you’ve ever felt groggy after what you thought was a good nite sleep, it might be that your deep sleep quality wasn’t great. Muse is addressing this with its brain sensing headband and Deep Sleep Boost, a new feature that uses EEG-timed sound cues to help sustain slow-wave sleep, the brain’s most restorative stage. Check it out at choosemuse.com. It’s built into the Muse S Athena Sleep headband. Use code Untangle 15 for your discount.Today we air an encore episode hosted by Ariel Garten, Co Founder of Muse. Our guest, Dr. Adrian Owen, is a renowned neuroscientist. One of his amazing discoveries is that individuals in a persistent coma could still communicate- and he went one step further - and could understand what they wanted to say. Fascinating! He’s also performed the largest sleep and cognition study in the world, and discovered what we can do to sleep better and

This week, we’re airing a few of our favorite encore sleep episodes. If it’s dark and cold where you are, cozy up and have a listen. And if you’ve ever felt groggy after what you thought was a good nite sleep, it might be that your deep sleep quality wasn’t great. Muse is addressing this with its brain sensing headband and Deep Sleep Boost, a new feature that uses EEG-timed sound cues to help sustain slow-wave sleep, the brain’s most restorative stage. Check it out at choosemuse.com. It’s built into the Muse S Athena Sleep headband. Use code Untangle 15 for your discount.Shelby is a Clinical Psychologist, Board Certified in Behavioural Sleep Disorders, and is a leading expert in the field of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM). Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM) is a branch of clinical sleep medicine and health psychology that focuses on identifying the cognitive and behavioral factors that contribute to sleep disorders. Although commonly thought of for only insomnia, these treatments encompass many differ

This week, we’re airing a few of our favorite sleep episodes. If it’s dark and cold where you are, cozy up and have a listen. And if you’ve ever felt groggy after what you thought was a good nite sleep, it might be that your deep sleep quality wasn’t great. Muse is addressing this with its brain sensing headband and Deep Sleep Boost, a new feature that uses EEG-timed sound cues to help sustain slow-wave sleep, the brain’s most restorative stage. Check it out at choosemuse.com. It’s built into the Muse S Athena Sleep headband. Use code Untangle 15 for your discount.Today's encore guest is Chris Winter, a Neurologist, Sleep Specialist, and Author of the book, "The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It." He explains why we’re a culture of poor sleepers and how we got that way, and includes five things we can do to improve our sleep right now. Spoiler alert: an attitude change might be the best tactic of all. Thanks to our great sponsors. Quince. Rula. Strawberry.me. We're so grateful fo