10% Happier With Dan Harris

A smarter way to think about disease prevention. Dr. Tara Narula is a board-certified cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and Chief Medical Correspondent for ABC News. Her new book is The Healing Power of Resilience: A New Prescription for Health and Well-Being. In this episode we talk about: What resilience really is, why most of us already have it, and how it can be strengthened The overlooked link between mental health, physical health, and recovery from illness Why mindset and acceptance matter as much as medical treatment when facing health challenges How resilience applies to major life changes, trauma, and chronic disease. Practical psychological tools for working with anxiety, fear, and repetitive thought patterns Why flexible thinking matters How to adapt when life doesn't go according to plan How beliefs, mindset, and the mind–body connection shape stress, healing, and resilience Why movement, sleep, and facing fear are essential ingredients in building real resilience How reframing id

A conversation with Jay Michaelson, our Teacher of the Month for February, about his path to meditation, navigating multiple identities, and why he calls himself a "cynical, sarcastic bitch." Jay Michaelson is a meditation teacher, journalist, rabbi, and author. In this conversation with executive producer DJ Cashmere, Jay gets candid about his unconventional path into meditation—driven initially by greed for mystical experiences rather than a desire to reduce suffering—and how his practice has evolved over 25 years. We talk about: Why Jay identifies as a "greed type" in Buddhist psychology (and what that means) How to balance worldly activism with contemplative practice without getting "hollowed out" The concept of creating a "permission structure" to live the life you actually want That moment of spaciousness between stimulus and response (and how it saved Jay when he got heckled during LGBTQ activism) Whether meditation can help save humanity—and why Jay is both cynical and hopeful about this H

A conversation with celebrated author George Saunders about his new novel, Vigil, and what fiction can teach us about empathy, self-awareness, and mortality. George Saunders is the bestselling, award-winning author of Lincoln in the Bardo, Tenth of December, and many other books. His new novel, Vigil, tells the story of a woman who died in 1976 and has spent the decades since comforting the dying—until she encounters a former oil executive responsible for early climate change denial. In this conversation, Dan and George talk about: Why George keeps writing about ghosts and the afterlife (hint: it's not just about mortality dread) The lavish empathy at the heart of Vigil—and whether we should extend that empathy even to people doing civilizational damage What George calls "warm metacognition"—the practice of dropping back out of your thought loops to examine what kind of goggles you're wearing How fiction can turn your mind into a "reconsideration machine" (and why that matters in real life) The diff

Practical techniques for dealing with all of life's curveballs.   Maya Shankar is a cognitive scientist and creator of the podcast A Slight Change of Plans, previously named "Best Show of the Year" by Apple. She served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Obama White House and was also appointed as the first Behavioral Science Advisor to the United Nations. She is the author of The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans. In this episode we talk about: The two major life events that caused her to study the topic of change How to build a more expansive sense of self Practical tools for navigating change  Cognitive biases such as  "the end of history illusion" The utility of distraction and denial Tools for getting unstuck from rumination And much more Related Episodes:  The Science of Handling Uncertainty | Maya Shankar   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 adv

How to have fewer regrets (and utilize the ones you already have).   Daniel Pink is the author of seven bestselling nonfiction books on a range of topics, from human motivation to the science of timing to a graphic novel career guide. His books include the New York Times bestsellers The Power of Regret, A Whole New Mind, and When—as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell is Human.  In this episode we talk about: The myth of the "no regrets" philosophy  What a regret actually is  The very real benefits of regret The four core regrets people tend to have  Tools for dealing with regrets The importance of talking or writing about your regrets How to  create a "failure resume"  The Regret Optimization Framework  The crucial role of self-compassion and self-distancing And much more Related Episodes: 'When' Can Make a Big Difference   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 Ad

A conversation with self-described "worry warrior" Bart van Melik about working skillfully with everyday anxiety. Bart is a guiding teacher at the Community Meditation Center in New York and our Teacher of the Month for January. In this conversation with executive producer DJ Cashmere, he gets refreshingly honest about his own tendency to worry — and shares a bunch of practical tools for when your mind won't stop spinning through worst-case scenarios. We talk about: Why mindful breathing sometimes doesn't work (and what to do instead) The practice phrase "this wants to be seen right now" How to work with your aversion to worrying (which can be worse than the worry itself) Why talking about your fears with other people is so crucial The question "what is this?" as a low-barrier entry point to awareness How the Buddha's teaching on clinging shows up in anxious thinking Why community and sangha aren't optional extras If you want more from Bart, check out the 10% with Dan Harris app where he's got

Secrets to self-preservation in an age of burnout.   Tim Ferris is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers, including The 4-Hour Workweek and Tools of Titans. He's also the host of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast. Most recently, he has collaborated with Exploding Kittens to create COYOTE, a fast and hilarious card game.  In this episode we talk about: Tim's Antidotes to isolation Past-year reviews The perils of self-optimization His meditation practice Escaping rumitive loops  The role of Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) The ketogenic diet  Talking to chatbots about your health And much more 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 Additional Resources:  The New Frontiers of Mental Health — Brain Stimulation, Rapid-Acting Tools for Depression, and More All Things Ketones, How to Boost Cognition, Sardine Fasting, Diet Rules, & More — Dr. Dom D'Agostino TED: Why y

A road map for taking the pressure off.    Claudia Hammond is an award-winning writer and broadcaster. She is Visiting Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Sussex and is the presenter of BBC Radio 4's All in the Mind. Her latest book is Overwhelmed: Ways to Take the Pressure Off.   In this episode we talk about: How to define "overwhelm" – and modern causes for its existence Why the search for perfection is futile  Claudia's three-part recipe for handling overwhelm Antidotes for the comparing mind  What we should all know about procrastination  How to not let the news overwhelm you  What we learn from regret – and how to stop beating up on your past self A key technique for worrying less The case for nostalgia How to get into a "flow state"   Related Episodes: If You Want To Be More Productive, You Need More Rest. Here's How To Get It. | Claudia Hammond   Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, Tik

What does success look like? A neuroscientist wants you to question your cognitive scripts.  Anne-Laure Le Cunff conducts research into the neuroscience of learning and curiosity at King's College London, and also runs Ness Labs. She is the author of Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World.  In this episode we talk about: Her critique on our cultural obsession with "finding your purpose" The value of knowing your "cognitive scripts" Practical tools to live a more purposeful, curious, and fulfilled life Her mini-protocol for experimentation (based on the scientific method) Mindful productivity — and how it builds on moving us into an experimental mindset  Whether procrastination is actually the enemy? And tools to work with it. The upside of making space for your imperfections  Tips for navigating uncertainty  Why you want to avoid having too many experiments at the same time The main difference between a habit and an experiment How to learn alongside with other people — and why this mat

A short, gentle body scan meditation from Bart van Melik, our Teacher of the Month for January. This isn't about fixing anything or achieving some special state. It's about finding one small place in your body that feels okay—not great, just okay—and seeing what happens when you meet that experience with a little bit of kindness. Bart is a meditation teacher and psychotherapist who has trained in Insight Meditation and Buddhist psychology. He's worked extensively in clinical settings with people dealing with stress, anxiety, and harsh self-talk. He's the guiding teacher for the Community Meditation Center in New York City. Check out more meditations from Bart throughout January in the 10% with Dan Harris app. Related episodes: Buddhist Strategies for Protecting Yourself from Everyday Chaos | Bart van Melik   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.c

Plus, much more from the famed late-night TV show host. Seth Meyers is the host of Late Night with Seth Meyers. Before that, he was a cast member on Saturday Night Live for 13 seasons. In recent years he has released two standup specials: Lobby Baby, on Netflix and Dad Man Walking, on HBO. He wrote a children's book called, I'm Not Scared, You're Scared. And he co-hosts two podcasts, Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers and The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast. In this episode we talk about: How Seth maintains sanity while hosting a late-night show amid the firehose of news Joy and humor as resilience His early struggles with self-doubt  How raising children is potentially harder than hosting a late night TV show The upside of anxiety The art of listening Friendship, loyalty, and the emotional sustenance of creative partnerships. 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 sh

A deep dive on Ayurveda, a sophisticated system for health that's been refined over millennia. Nidhi Bhanshali Pandya is a renowned NAMA-certified Ayurvedic Doctor, the bestselling author of Your Body Already Knows (2025), and international speaker/educator known for her modern approach to women's health and longevity. In this episode we talk about: What Ayurveda actually is beyond TikTok trends  How ancient Ayurvedic principles align with (and differ from) modern medicine  How to brace yourself in the face of an imbalanced ecosystem The human tragedy of overoptimization The value of awe, fascination, and pattern-seeing as more effective than discipline or force  The three codes of life The framework to come back into our own intelligence in the kindest way  How modern life (especially electricity) disrupted our biological rhythm and created chronic imbalance The concept of balance and the Buddhist middle path as echoed in Ayurvedic texts The "inner climate" framework  Practical tools for sleep, including co

A toolkit for bringing more movement into your life.   Katy Bowman is a biomechanist who runs a movement education company, called Nutritious Movement. She's the author of 11 books, and her most recent is I Know I Should Exercise, But...: 44 Reasons We Don't Move and How to Get Over Them. In this episode we talk about: What a biomechanist does  What Katy means by "movement as nutrition"  How to determine your "movement diet" The distinction between movement and exercise  Why people don't exercise Strategies for consistency  The role of values and attention How to move if you don't like sweating  How to find time to move  The technique of "stacking your life" Overcoming embarrassment and shame related to movement  Strengthening your "so what" muscle Getting comfortable with discomfort What to do when you're addicted to your screen And much more Additional Resources: Katy's Substack   Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subs

Ever lie awake at night replaying all the moments you lost it with your kids, your partner, or your co-workers? You're not alone. Bart van Melik is back on the show (his first appearance was four years ago) as our Teacher of the Month for January. Bart has one of the more interesting origin stories in the meditation world: from a small town in the Netherlands to Kenya on an exchange program (where he met his wife of 30 years), to studying in Thailand, to teaching meditation to teenagers in juvenile detention in the South Bronx. In this conversation with executive producer DJ Cashmere, we talk about: The difference between being mindful and knowing you're mindful (and why this matters when your 11-year-old is pushing every button) Why awareness feels like protection How to stop the cycle of: snap, regret, repeat What Bart learned teaching meditation to kids in juvie who told him his meditation was "lit" Why your kids might be your fiercest Zen teachers The surprising power of saying "no" without av

Practical ways to upgrade your narrative. Melissa Febos is the national bestselling author of five books, including Girlhood, Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative, and a new memoir, The Dry Season. She is the recipient of awards and fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and others. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, The New Yorker, The Best American Essays and others. She is a professor at the University of Iowa. In this episode we talk about: How to "audit" your personal narrative with simple questions Melissa's five-step method for rewriting unhelpful stories Why community, and vulnerability are required for real change; in other words, why it's harder to do this work alone Melissa's own experiences running this playbook with regard to her relationships and her addictions. 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 s

How psychology and spirituality can work together. Amita Schmidt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Hawaii. She has taught Vipassana meditation for over thirty years, and was the Resident Teacher at Insight Meditation Society for six years. She is the author of the book Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master. Amita currently teaches and practices non-dual meditation and is a certified IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapist. In this episode we talk about: How psychology and spirituality can work together The basics of Internal Family Systems (or IFS) Amita's personal path through trauma, depression, and a pivotal insight that changed everything Why states like depression aren't as solid as they feel How to work with the inner critic Simple ways to access the sanest, wisest version of yourself The shift from psychological healing to spiritual insight The value of acceptance and surrender Simple pointers for sensing "aware presence" beneath all the mental noise Related Episodes: How (and Why

The legendary psychotherapist unpacks the concept of "hostile dependency" and explains why cutting people off doesn't always work. Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is a leading voice on modern relationships, known for her widely viewed TED Talks, bestselling books and the hit podcast. She runs a New York–based therapy practice and advises global organizations and platforms on the complexities of contemporary relationships. Follow Esther Perel's podcast Where Should We Begin? on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and subscribe to Entre Nous with Esther Perel on Substack for exclusive bonus content. In this episode we talk about: What Esther Perel really means by eros How modern life quietly depletes our sense of feeling alive Why aliveness can coexist with grief, pain, and difficulty  The danger of numbness  Introverts, extroverts, and the many non-social ways we experience vitality Vital sources of connection and meaning Co-regulation, touch, presence, and why words alone

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