10% Happier With Dan Harris

Today we're gonna talk about some Buddhist hacks for two deeply related and all too common ailments: anxiety and overthinking. Most of us have struggled with one or both of these, and one of the people who has helped Dan the most is Joseph Goldstein. Regular listeners to this podcast will be familiar with Joseph and his very direct, very down-to-earth style, but if you don't know – let us introduce you. He's one of the foremost Buddhist teachers in the west, he's been Dan's teacher for about 15 years, and Dan's recently convinced him to write a book together, using a collection of these little phrases that he's cooked up over the years. Dan's been keeping a list of around a hundred or so tiny, useful phrases – bite-sized wisdom for meditation practice and for daily life. The book won't be out for a few years, but we're conducting a series of interviews with him, each one covering a few phrases, and we'll be releasing those here on the podcast.  The first installment of these interviews about Joseph's phrases

You may have noticed that your mind is out of control. It's filled with racing thoughts, ancient neuroses and grudges, revenge fantasies… So why are we like this and what can be done about it? Today, we're talking to one of our favorite people and also one of the most prominent meditation teachers in the West, Joseph Goldstein, about how "ridiculous" our minds are – that's a word he uses a lot to describe the mind – and some really compelling ways to train the mind. Spoiler: having a sense of humor is crucial here. Just by way of context: this is the first in a series of episodes with Joseph, focusing on the phrases he uses while he's teaching Buddhism and meditation. Dan and Joseph are collaborating on a book that will be a compilation of these phrases and how to use them. This book won't be out for several years, but as Dan conducts a series of interviews with Joseph, we'll release them here on the podcast. There's another part coming out this Sunday, January 4th.  Just to give you a little taste, here are

Buddhist strategies for taming that nagging voice in your head. Ofosu Jones-Quartey, a meditation teacher, author, and musician hailing from the Washington DC area, brings over 17 years of experience in sharing mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion practices with the world. Holding a bachelor's degree from American University and certified by the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, Ofosu is a graduate of the Teleos Coaching Institute and is the male voice on the Balance meditation app, reaching over 10 million subscribers.  Ofosu leads meditation classes and retreats nationwide, having taught and led retreats at the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, The Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock, Brooklyn Zen Center, Cleveland Insight, Inward Bound Mindfulness and more. As an accomplished hip hop artist under the name "Born I," Ofosu released the mindfulness-themed album "In This Moment" in 2021. Born I's most recent album, "Komorebi" (2025), has been hailed by listeners as "a

Radical advice on rethinking success, individualism, and the American dream.   Mia Birdsong is a pathfinder, culture change visionary, and futurist. She is the founding Executive Director of Next River, a think tank and culture change lab for interconnected freedom. In her book How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community, Mia maps swaths of community life, and points us toward the promise of our collective vitality.  In this episode we talk about: How to build community What it looks like in her own life Mutuality vs reciprocity  How to work with resentment and rejection  The etymological connection between friendship and freedom  The transformative power of asking for help And why she thinks the idea of bootstrapping—or going it alone—is a kind of self-hatred   This episode originally aired on May 22nd, 2024.   Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, co

What if the problem isn't you—but the idea that there's only one "right" way to meditate? In this episode, DJ Cashmere talks with meditation teacher Jeff Warren about how to build a mindfulness practice that actually fits your brain, nervous system, and life. Drawing from Jeff's experience with ADHD and bipolar disorder—and DJ's reflections on OCD and neurodiversity in his family—they explore why there's no such thing as a truly neurotypical mind, and why one-size-fits-all meditation advice often falls short. Rather than prescribing a single approach, Jeff emphasizes experimentation: noticing what settles you, what feels intolerable, and what helps you come back to presence. That might mean focusing on the breath, opening awareness, moving the body, journaling, or simply taking a walk. They return repeatedly to a simple litmus test for any practice: Is this helping me be here? And they frame that question through three core skills of mindfulness—clarity, concentration, and equanimity—which can be cultivated i

Worry has a way of sneaking into everything—even gratitude, loving-kindness, and joy. In this episode, Dan Harris sits down with meditation teacher and psychologist Christiane Wolf to explore how to work skillfully with worry without suppressing it, indulging it, or turning meditation into yet another way to beat yourself up. Together, they unpack some of the most common pain points meditators face: Why trying to force certain feelings (gratitude, calm, compassion) often backfires Whether worry is ever actually helpful—and how to tell when it's not How to work with fear while waiting for a health diagnosis What to do when gratitude or loving-kindness practice triggers sadness or anxiety How consumerism (hello, holiday season) fuels craving and unease When mindfulness is enough—and when psychological work is needed to avoid spiritual bypassing Christiane offers practical tools for meeting worry with kindness, curiosity, and clarity—including how to "name it to tame it," how to gently redirect att

How to find your voice when you need to be heard, learn when it's smart to choose silence, and communicate better with the people who matter most.   Elaine Lin Hering is a former Lecturer of Law at Harvard Law School. She works with organizations and individuals to build skills in communication, collaboration, and conflict management. She is the author of the book Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully.   In this episode we talk about: How we learn silence and self-editing  How we often miscalculate the cost-benefit when it comes to speaking up or staying silent Elaine's four steps to learn how to speak up and find your voice How we can unintentionally silence others, especially those closest to us, and what to do about it    This episode originally aired on May 15th, 2024. Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel   Thanks to our sponsors:  AT&T: Happy H

Your blindspots and biases block your success and happiness. Here's how to navigate that. Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM is an award-winning leadership expert, author and columnist, ranked among the top 50 management thinkers in the world. Her career began in the Royal Australian Air Force and includes roles as CEO of a global consultancy and Acting Chair of the ABC. She holds a PhD in leadership and culture, writes the popular 'Got a Minute?' column in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and is a Member of the Order of Australia.  In this episode we talk about: The concept of blindspotting – what it is and how to do it The power of intellectual humility and how to practice it The difference between seekers and knowers – and when each mindset is useful The three major thinking traps How to disentangle ego from identity, manage defensiveness, and turn feedback into growth The role of curiosity in finding truth, building psychological safety, and leading more effectively How to "read the room" in workplaces, relati

In this episode, our Teacher of the Month Jeff Warren guides you through a meditation practice inspired by Zen and the Diamond Sutra: "Don't Know Mind." Sometimes the need to know—certainty about what's true, what's coming next, or how things "should" be—can create tension, anxiety, and overthinking. The antidote? Letting go of that need, resting in curiosity and openness, and cultivating a mind that dwells nowhere. To get more meditations from Jeff and our other teachers — plus join our weekly live sessions (every Tuesday at 4pm ET) — you can sign up at DanHarris.com. Related episodes: Working With a Brain That Doesn't Behave | Jeff Warren   Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris  

In this short solo episode, Dan shares a major update: after hearing from listeners and subscribers, he and the team have built a brand-new meditation app — 10% with Dan Harris. He explains why he returned to the app world, what makes this offering different, and how it's designed to help you build (and keep) a practice through community, live sessions, guided meditations, and more. Dan also announces a 30-day free trial and a special upcoming New Year's challenge with Joseph Goldstein. Important links: Download the new app: iPhone/iPad: App Store  /  Android: Google Play Store Step-by-step guide for existing subscribers Contact support: support@danharris.com (hi, Roy!)   Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris  

It is okay—and even beautiful—to be the idiot you are. Jiryu Rutschman-Byler is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, with dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman. Jiryu has trained residentially in Zen temples since 1996, and currently serves as a co-Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center through his role as Abiding Abbot of Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. Jiryu is the final editor of legendary Zen master Shunryu Suzuki's Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life.   In this episode we talk about: The legacy and teachings of legendary Zen master Shunryo Suzuki. What is Zen How to work with your day to day problems — and also life and death problems  How to soften the mind Whether to meditate with your eyes open or closed What does it really mean to become "one" with everything  Why life isn't something to be "figured out" The connection between the oft-misunderstood concept of "allowing" and being more effective in your life   The concept and practice of faith

A Darden School of Business professor explains how to use doubt to your advantage.   Bidhan (Bobby) Parmar, PhD, MBA, is the Shannon G. Smith Bicentennial Professor of Business Administration and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He teaches courses on business ethics, collaboration, and creative and critical thinking.    In this episode we talk about: The common human allergy to discomfort and uncertainty The benefits of doubt The difference between choice fatigue and 'analysis paralysis' The nine subtle signs of analysis paralysis Why we need to be paying more attention to process vs. outcome  How to have confidence in the face of doubt  The role of rupture and repair in relationships The crucial final steps in the decision-making process – specifically one Bobby calls "After Action Reviews" And much more Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources:  9

Meditation can be gorgeous… and it can be absolutely bewildering. If you've ever wondered, "Am I doing this right?" or "Why does this feel so intense?", this conversation is for you. In this vintage conversation from 2016, Dan sits down with legendary dharma teacher Steve Armstrong for a clear, compassionate walkthrough of the progress of insight—including why meditation sometimes gets harder before it gets easier, how to navigate the so-called "dark night" phases, and how to keep going without getting lost in the weeds of self-doubt. Steve has guided thousands of students through the twists and turns of practice with uncommon precision, humor, and heart. And now, the community has the chance to support him in return. Steve is currently living with a brain tumor, and he and his wife Kamala Masters (a formidable dharma teacher in her own right, who has also been a guest on this show) are facing significant medical and caregiving costs. If you feel moved, you can find the GoFundMe at this link. Our company has

An NBC Nightly News anchor shares insider tips from the belly of the beast.   Tom Llamas is anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas and anchor of Top Story with Tom Llamas, a daily streaming primetime newscast on NBC News NOW. He has been in broadcast journalism for over 25 years. In this episode we talk about: How to be a better listener Practices for continued growth and curiosity as you get older The role of both faith and meditation in Tom's life The role of exercise The role of friendship His family's dramatic history and the impacts of becoming the first Latino anchor of a weekday evening news broadcast And much more Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources:  The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life    To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris   Thanks to our sponsor:  Airbnb: Your home might be worth more than y

The case for love and compassion in a world that's filled with hatred and division. Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is among the first to bring mindfulness & lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture fifty years ago. She has written many books, including her latest, a kids book called Kind Karl.    In this episode we talk about: How the quality of metta, or loving kindness, can be an antidote to fear The wisdom of having a loving mindset in the face present dangers Love Can love be a strength?  The different flavors of "loving kindness" The four types of enemies, which include the outer enemy, the inner enemy, the secret enemy and the super secret enemy Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel   Additional Resources:  Dan's son teaching Loving Kindness Meditation Metta Hour Podcast Donate to the Insight Meditation Society's Fundraiser  Sharon

Everything you want to know about cannabis, but were afraid to ask.   Dr. Riley Kirk is a cannabis research scientist and educator with a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, specializing in natural product chemistry. Her new book is Reefer Wellness: Understanding Cannabis Science, Culture, and Medicines.   In this episode we talk about: The endocannabinoid system – and how it works in the body The science-backed health benefits of cannabis The risks of cannabis use – including questions about psychosis, schizophrenia, and specific risks for adolescents The fascinating history of the cannabis plant  The criminalization, racism and propaganda machine within that history The legality of cannabis now in the US Different modes of use Where to source your products And much more Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources:  Bioactive podcast @cannabichem The Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP) Thanks to our sponsors:  AT&a

If you've ever found yourself immediately abandoning your adult composure the second someone around you gets upset, we've got your back. In today's episode, the inimitable Jeff Warren returns with a practice to help you stop absorbing everyone else's stress and start holding healthy boundaries without turning into a jerk. Jeff — who is both a dear friend of Dan's and one of the funniest meditation teachers alive — walks you through how to stay grounded in your own body even when the people around you are melting down. This meditation is especially helpful if you tend to: Fix other people's problems without being asked Rush to make everything okay the instant someone frowns Get overwhelmed by other people's moods Lose your boundaries around demanding or sensitive humans (including the tiny ones) To get more meditations from Jeff and our other teachers — plus join our weekly live sessions (every Tuesday at 4pm ET) — you can sign up at DanHarris.com. Related episodes: Working With a Brain That Doesn't

Today we're talking about how to calm your mind in a chaotic world. What you're about to hear is an interview with Dan, conducted by his new friend Hoda Kotb, another morning news veteran. Hoda was, for many years, the co-anchor of the Today Show on NBC. Now, among other things, she hosts a podcast called Making Space.  You'll hear Dan and Hoda talk about: A practical framework for staying sane when the news, your inbox, or your personal life goes sideways Why joy is a skill (and not a personality trait you either have or don't) How to set boundaries without feeling like a jerk How to let go of the self-improvement fantasy you've been carrying around for years Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris  

Plus: Saying thank you to your anxiety and the opportunity in the dumpster fire.   Jack Kornfield, who trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India and Burma, then returned to the US, where he became one of the leading voices in Buddhism in the West. He co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein, then he went on to start the Spirit Rock Medication Center in Woodacre, California. He's written many books, including his latest, All In This Together, which is the focus of the conversation you're about to hear, along with a new online course he just posted, called Stand Up for Compassion – which is about staying steady in difficult times.   In this episode we talk about: The causes of happiness  The opportunities (And this is a counterintuitive notion, but…) The opportunities in the suffering we're experiencing today How to stand up for what you care about while staying calm and steady Ways to zoom out and see the bigge

Practical tools to turn down the volume on fawning.   Dr. Ingrid Clayton is a licensed clinical psychologist with a master's in transpersonal psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Her book is FAWNING: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves—and How to Find our Way Back.   In this episode we talk about: What is fawning, actually  Chronic vs situational fawning The physiological ramifications of fawning How power plays into all of this Ways to get clarity around unseen bruises and wounds that drive your behavior Owning your anger – and how to express it in healthy ways  How to know if you're a fawner  Practical steps to unfawn   Accessible approaches to regulating your nervous system How to set boundaries Fawning and un-fawning in a work context, specifically  And her observation, which I've been thinking about a lot, that wounding happens in relationships… but so does healing   This holiday season, 10% Happier is teaming up with dozens of podcasts for an ambitious goal: to lift three entire