Mind Body Health & Politics

Journalist Abbie Rosner spent several years interviewing thirty-six older adults, most in their sixties, seventies, and eighties, about psychedelic experiences they had quietly, outside the clinic. She and Richard talk about elderhood, conscious aging, what changes when these medicines meet a long life rather than a young one, a disagreement over when "elder" begins, and her pilot vision for small...

Dr. Jud Brewer, a Brown University neuroscientist and Yale-trained addiction psychiatrist, joins Richard to lay out a habit-loop model of anxiety. From his own residency panic attacks to the smoking-cessation work that produced five times the standard quit rate, to a randomized trial of his anxiety program, the throughline is one mechanism: pay attention to what a behavior actually does, and the b...

In this episode — Carl Honoré, the journalist whose 2004 book In Praise of Slow named the global Slow Movement, returns with the thesis sharpened. He and Richard work through what “slow” actually means, why busyness has become a measurable chemical addiction, the myth of multitasking, loneliness as a mortality risk, the acceleration that precedes burnout, and the four prescriptions any of us can s...

In this episode—Dr. Ellen Langer, the Harvard psychologist who has studied mindfulness and mind-body unity for nearly fifty years, joins Richard to explain why mindfulness is not meditation, what the counterclockwise study revealed about aging, why the placebo is our strongest medicine, and how a diagnosis can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Richard shares his own recovery from two terminal dia...

Dear Friends, I want to introduce you to someone I have known for years and admire a great deal. Jamie Joyce came on Mind Body Health & Politics this week. She is running for Congress in California’s 12th district, she founded the Society Library, and she is an artist (I keep one of her pieces that she made with a particle accelerator on my dresser). She is the real deal. You know how I open this...

In this episode — Investigative journalist Robert Whitaker returns for his fourth conversation with Richard. They trace the antidepressant story from the 1980 DSM-III rebrand through the reanalysis of the largest antidepressant trial ever run, the long-term data on children and stimulants, and — at the end — what Whitaker learned from the people who actually recovered. Guest: Robert Whitaker — inv...

Sam Believ came to Colombia as a Latvian oil-and-gas engineer with a depression he could not name. Today he runs LaWayra, the highest-rated ayahuasca retreat in South America, and has served close to 3,000 people. I asked him the question I have been trying to answer for my forthcoming book: what does the safety data actually look like when you are not a clinical trial, but a jungle with a shaman...

In this insightful interview, Dr. Richard Miller discusses the pervasive issues of loneliness, anxiety, and community with Dr. Ellen Vora. They explore practical habits, the role of spirituality, and innovative models like urban communes to foster connection and well-being. Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Community in Healing 02:57 Understanding Anxiety: A New Perspective 08:55 Differentiating An...

In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller and Tania De Jong explore the growing crisis of mental health and the profound role that connection plays in healing. They discuss the rise of psychedelic assisted therapies and why these treatments are offering new possibilities for people who have not found relief through conventional approaches. Tania shares insights from her work in Australia, whe...

In this solo episode, Dr. Richard Louis Miller reflects on the value of life, health, and daily habits that sustain well-being. Drawing on more than fifty years of clinical experience—and his own life at age 87—he shares why exercise, clean living, and human connection remain essential foundations for a meaningful life. Responding to growing pessimism about the future, he offers a simple message:...

In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller and Light Watkins explore the significance of community and tribal living, especially in challenging times. They delve into the concept of presence, emphasizing its role in personal fulfillment and the importance of inner work. Watkins shares insights on how to cultivate presence through mindfulness and meditation, highlighting the necessity of rest f...

In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller and Dr. Daniel Kruger discuss the importance of community living for well-being, the adverse effects associated with psychedelic medicine, and the significance of harm reduction strategies. They explore the nature of psychedelic experiences, the role of guides, and the future of psychedelics in therapy. The conversation emphasizes the need for practic...

In this episode, Dr. Richard Louis Miller reflects on burnout through the lens of more than six decades in the helping professions. He explores why burnout is not a personal failure, but a predictable outcome of caring without boundaries — and why learning to care for oneself is essential for sustaining care for others. Drawing from clinical experience and personal stories, Dr. Miller speaks about...

Why Exercise Changes More Than the Body A reflection from Dr. Richard Louis Miller In this solo episode, Dr. Richard Louis Miller reflects on the psychological, emotional, and physical impact of exercise — not as a fitness goal, but as a lifelong tool for emotional regulation, resilience, and well-being. Drawing from personal experience and decades of clinical practice, Richard explains why moveme...

Summary In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller reflects on the importance of human connection, the historical rise of dominators in society, and the interplay between religion and governance. He emphasizes the need for community and collaboration to counteract the divisive forces in the world, expressing hope for humanity's ability to unite and thrive together. Takeaways Connection with ot...

Summary In this episode of Mind, Body, Health and Politics, Dr. Richard Louis Miller engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Eric Anderson about the complexities of monogamy and the psychological underpinnings of cheating. They explore the concept of cognitive dissonance, particularly how societal expectations of monogamy clash with biological impulses. Professor Anderson argues...

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller and Laura Eiman explore the profound impact of community on health and well-being, the journey of overcoming addiction to sugar, and the importance of strength training at any age. Laura shares her inspiring story of transformation, emphasizing the significance of mindset, nutrition, and empowering others, particularly women, to take charge o...

Summary In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller reflects on the importance of human connection, the historical rise of dominators in society, and the interplay between religion and governance. He emphasizes the need for community and collaboration to counteract the divisive forces in the world, expressing hope for humanity's ability to unite and thrive together. Takeaways Connection with ot...

Why Meditation Is About Relationship, Not Escape Susan Piver on breath, awareness, and strengthening human connection Episode Summary In this episode of Mind Body Health & Politics , I speak with Susan Piver , meditation teacher and author of The Wisdom of a Broken Heart , about what meditation truly offers in a distracted, isolated world. Susan shares how her online meditation community grew orga...

Three Simple Tools to Calm Anxiety and Quiet the Mind Episode Summary In this week’s episode of Mind Body Health & Politics , I speak directly to you about anxiety and intrusive thoughts—two of the most common struggles I’ve encountered in over 65 years of clinical practice. I share three simple, practical tools that require no special equipment, no long meditation sessions, and no expense. These...

Dr. Susan Campbell on Inconvenient Pain, Triggers & The Pause Why conflict is normal — and how learning to “pause” can transform your closest relationships. Psychologist, author, and renowned couples therapist Dr. Susan Campbell returns to Mind Body Health & Politics for a powerful conversation about emotional pain, conflict, and the skills most of us were never taught. She and Dr. Richard Louis M...

What BDSM Can Teach Us About Happiness & Human Connection Inside Dr. Alicia Walker’s research on BDSM, stigma, and deep community. Sociologist Dr. Alicia M. Walker joins Mind Body Health & Politics to discuss one of the most surprising findings in her career: people involved in BDSM report strikingly high levels of emotional well-being, connection, and life satisfaction. Drawing from the largest B...

Dr. Kristin Neff on the Science of Self-Compassion How self-kindness rewires your emotions, your health, and your ability to cope. Dr. Kristin Neff — pioneering researcher, psychologist, and author of Self-Compassion — joins Mind Body Health & Politics for a deep exploration into the one skill most of us were never taught: how to treat ourselves with warmth instead of judgment. She and Dr. Richard...

In this short episode, Dr. Richard Miller explains why comparison quietly damages your peace—and the simple mental shift he teaches to break the habit before it steals your joy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe

How to Create Meaning When Life Stops Making Sense A conversation on mood, purpose, community, and the pressures of modern life with Eric Maisel. Psychologist and author Eric Maisel joins Mind Body Health & Politics to explore one of the deepest struggles of modern life: how to create meaning in a world that feels increasingly overwhelming, isolating, and disconnected. Together, he and Dr. Richard...