The Wise Effort Show

How do we keep our hearts open in our complicated and loving relationships with our parents, especially with our dads? In this “real play” episode, Diana steps out of interview mode and into conversation with her long-time friend Isa Hendry Eaton. Isa shares how she found forgiveness for her late father and how she continues to practice heart-opening in relationships with her teenage kids, friends...

According to Kimberley Wilson, our brains are in trouble. Your brain needs certain nutrients for membrane fluidity, to send messages from one cell to another, and to manage inflammation. However, your brain may not be getting the nutrition needed to thrive across your lifespan. In this episode, Diana Hill talks with Kimberley Wilson about eating to maximize brain health and how we can intervene at...

To evolve, we need variability! Diana’s back with Season 5, mixing it up by chatting about change, relationships, and taking leaps with her good friend and positive psychology professor, Dr. Alexis Karris Bachik. Related Resources Get enhanced show notes for this episode Become a Wise Effort Community member Sign up for my newsletter Order my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on W...

Attachment to ego becomes problematic when it gets in the way of your relationships, growth, and life satisfaction. In today’s episode of Your Life in Process, Diana Hill and Dr. Joseph Ciarrochi discuss the practice of non-attachment and how letting go of ego might help you perform better. Non-attachment allows for deeper connection and a feeling of interconnection. Related Resources Get enhanced...

Are you interested in learning quick ways to focus better, be more creative, and improve your mood? In this episode, Diana Hill talks with Elizabeth Ricker about how to use science-backed self-experimentation to upgrade your brain. Elizabeth discusses a new type of IQ that includes executive functioning, emotion regulation, learning and memory, and creativity. She also debunks some myths about neu...

In this bonus live talk and guided mediation, Dr. Diana Hill explores the concept of Wise Effort from a psychological and Buddhist perspective. Related Resources Get enhanced show notes for this episode Become a Wise Effort Community member Sign up for my newsletter Order my book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most , and receive special bonus gifts. Diana's Events Se...

When faced with life’s challenges, it’s all too easy to get “stuck” in your own thoughts and emotions, unable to move forward and reach your goals. But there are simple tools you can use to handle stress, make the most of each moment, and act on your deepest values. In this episode, Dr. Diana Hill joins forces again with Dr. Debbie Soresen to talk about the ACT Daily Card Deck, sharing skills such...

When we think of movement, we often think of exercise. We overlook that all day long, we are positioning and moving our bodies in ways that impact our muscles, joints, and even our cells. In this episode, Katy Bowman joins me to discuss why we should “rethink our position” and how we can move our body parts in more nutritious ways. We explore everything from tech neck to chair sitting to movement...

Our worldview shapes our perceptions and actions towards each other and the world around us. In this special Earth Day episode, Diana Hill talks with Four Arrows and Darcia Narvaez about the core precepts of an indigenous worldview. Together these precepts can guide us to live more harmoniously with each other and the earth. We explore the indigenous worldview’s emphasis on community welfare, resp...

Shame is a universal experience, but according to Dr. Marcela Matos’s research, it can be mitigated with compassion. In this episode, Dr. Marcela Matos shares her research on shame, common fears of self-compassion, and how to grow your compassionate mind to navigate life’s inevitable stressors better. Dr. Matos also guides us through a compassionate mind training and shares how she is applying her...

Sonya Looney wears many impressive hats. She’s a world-champion mountain bike racer, an international speaker and coach, a mom of two, and my new friend! In this episode, we talk about how to show up as working moms, the importance of balancing values and strengths, competition and collaboration, values-based eating, and strategies we’ve used in building our friendship. You are going to love this...

According to Jai Uttal, singing enlivens the heart and the power of kirtan can uplift us and inspire us. Psychological science supports this sentiment with research showing that when you sing in a group it benefits your mood, reduces stress, and stimulates your vagus nerve. In this episode, Diana talks with Grammy-nominated Kirtan singer, Jai Uttal about the power of this ancient form of Bhakti yo...

According to organizational psychologist Dr. Mike Rucker, “happiness is a state of mind, but fun is something you can do.” Many of us have put fun habits to the side as we pursue our careers, parenting, and daily to-dos. In this episode, Dr. Rucker and Diana Hill talk about how to increase activities that bring you vitality and pleasure so that you can make fun an actionable and natural habit in y...

Psychological well-being and physical health are not separate. Your relationships, values, and strengths can help you heal physically and grow emotionally. In this episode, Dr. Jordyn Feingold introduces the concept of Positive Medicine, which supports doctors in integrating positive psychology interventions into their medical practice. Her REVAMP model highlights relationships, engagement, vitali...

The teenage years are an exciting time of development. Teens are exploring their relationship values, sexual identity, and sense of self-worth. In this episode, Diana talks with social workers Leah Aguirre and Geraldine O’Sullivan about how caregivers, parents, and therapists can best support teens in consent, sexuality, body image, and healthy communication. Related Resources Get enhanced show no...

According to Rick Hanson, there are things we can do every day to make our romantic relationships better. Whether you are looking for a new relationship or have been in one for decades, relationships take wise effort. In this episode, Dr. Rick Hanson shares about the early days with his wife, what worked to get them started and what keeps them going. There are things you can do that are authentic,...

Paradoxes are everywhere and natural and part of living a nuanced life. Often we limit ourselves by trying to fix paradoxes with Either/Or thinking. With Both/And Thinking we can move beyond duality into innovative, creative, and integrative solutions by reframing our questions and rethinking outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Diana Hill and Dr. Marianne Lewis explore paradoxes in our relationships, o...

This is a Bonus episode that accompanies  Episode #54 Feed Your Inner Demons with Lama Tsultrim Allione . I suggest you listen to episode #54 first before listening to the bonus meditation. In this Bonus episode, you'll do a Meditation In Feeding Your Inner Demons guided by Lama Tsultrim Allione. Related Resources Get enhanced show notes for this episode Become a Wise Effort Community member...

We all have inner “demons” that we wish we could get rid of such as jealousy, anger, anxiety, addictions, and feelings of not being good enough. What would happen if instead of fighting your demons you asked them what they really need? How can you transform your inner demons into allies? In this out-of-the-box episode, Lama Tulstrim Allione describes the meditation practice of Feeding Your Demons...

The Harvard Study of Adult Development is the longest scientific study of happiness and health that's ever been conducted. The results? Strong relationships make you feel better and live longer. Dr. Diana Hill sits down with psychiatrist and Zen priest Dr. Robert Waldinger to discuss his research findings and strategies you can use to make your friendships, partnerships, work relationships, and ev...

According to neuropharmacology professor Dr. David Nutt, you must think before you drink. In this fascinating interview, Dr. Nutt takes a science-based look at drinking to unpack what happens in your brain and body when you drink and why you should reconsider your alcohol use. Learn the impact of alcohol on your neurotransmitters, microbiome, and hormones, the best way to drink if you choose to, a...

According to Dr. Stephen Porges, Polyvagal theory is about the science of safety and the biology of trust. Your physiology impacts your behavior more than you think and when you feel safe, you are better able to connect with others, be bold, and be free to be yourself. In this episode, Dr. Porges and Diana Hill explore everything from how the pandemic re-tuned our nervous systems, to the intersect...

We think a lot about changing our eating habits, drinking habits and exercise habits. But what about our mental habits? If you are stuck in habits of self-criticism, avoidance, worrying, or resisting what is, you won’t get very far on your New Year’s goals. In this episode, Dr. Diana Hill takes a fresh perspective on habit change by exploring 5 science-backed mental habits that will make your...

This episode is an extra special one! One of Diana’s best friends, Dr. Alexis Karris Bachik joins her to reflect on the New Year. Together they explore what values they lived out in 2022, their health routines, difficulties with letting go, and the behind-the-scenes of their friendship, book writing, and more! Related Resources Get enhanced show notes for this episode Become a Wise Effort Communit...

We are all swimming in a sea of stress. In this episode, world expert on aging and stress Dr. Elissa Epel discussed the impact of stress on our telomeres, mitochondria, and cell aging and evidence-based strategies to stress better. We explore 7 practices to build stress resilience including the benefits of Wim Hof breathing, cold exposure, retreats, and mindset. You can’t eliminate stress, but you...