Épisodes

  • How to Create Meaning When Life Stops Making Sense

    How to Create Meaning When Life Stops Making Sense
    Nov 18 2025
    How to Create Meaning When Life Stops Making SenseA 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 Louis Miller discuss why so many people feel lost, how meaning is made rather than found, and why community—and creative connection—are essential for our emotional well-being.Eric shares insights from his decades of work with creative and performing artists, describing a new global initiative he’s helping build: the International Association of Creative and Performing Artists, a worldwide community designed to support creatives through loneliness, rivalry, depression, and the unique pressures of artistic life.Richard and Eric also talk about authoritarian family systems, the decline of the arts, the crisis of loneliness, existential wellness coaching, mood regulation, and why human beings must learn to “matter while we are here.”This conversation is a rich exploration of purpose, creativity, and the inner life we’ve forgotten to nurture.GuestEric Maisel — Psychologist, creativity coach, and author of more than 60 books including Redesign Your Mind, The Van Gogh Blues, Rethinking Depression, and The Power of Daily Practice.Key TopicsWhy meaning is a feeling—not something you “find”The modern crisis of loneliness and alienationWhy creative minds face unique psychological challengesRivalry, comparison, and depression in the artsThe International Association of Creative and Performing ArtistsHow community protects mental healthExistential wellness coaching and life purposeAuthoritarianism inside familiesThe role of moods and how we can influence themStoicism, existentialism, and internal agencyHow sleep thinking boosts creativityThe pressures on artists in the age of AIWhy “doing the next right thing” anchors purposeCreating personal meaning through valuesDesigning the “room of your mind” to change your thoughtsWhy many people feel they don’t matter—and how to reclaim inner worthTimestamps00:00 — Why human beings are tribal animals and need community01:10 — Introducing Eric Maisel: psychologist, author of 60+ books01:50 — Eric’s radar: a new global community for creative and performing artists03:37 — What the ideal worldwide organization would look like05:45 — Challenges creatives face: loneliness, rivalry, anxiety, depression06:40 — What artists truly need: hope, connection, meaning08:00 — Are the arts under attack?12:22 — Power outage pause — resuming the conversation13:00 — Do artists have unique sensitivities? The creative personality15:40 — Creative identity vs. the “almost-artist” (artist manqué)16:03 — Eric’s next radar theme: multiple life purposes vs. a single purpose17:20 — Meaning as a feeling, not a destination18:24 — Learning from past meaningful experiences20:00 — Creating value-based meaning; the Churchill example22:02 — Do we choose our moods? Richard and Eric debate24:00 — Richard’s story of surviving a life-threatening accident25:54 — The high bar of mood control — but it is possible26:18 — A second real-life example: childbirth without a C-section27:04 — Richard’s current AFib episode — choosing the mood anyway28:27 — Can most people handle modern life? The overwhelm of the mind29:50 — Stoicism and existentialism: ancient tools for modern crises31:27 — Why mainstream psychiatry avoids existential issues31:55 — Label culture and the limits of the DSM33:19 — Coaching creative clients: guilt, pressure, and overwhelm34:30 — Eric’s daily routine: writing at 5:30 a.m.35:14 — The importance of “sleep thinking” for creativity37:28 — Writing in chunks: completing one thousand-word piece38:41 — Afternoons, rest, cooking, and life rhythm39:46 — Richard proposes a new term: “accumulated intelligence”40:30 — Using AI to assist the writing process41:16 — Accumulated intelligence as humanity’s collective memory42:10 — How the new artist organization will include global suffering communities43:21 — Richard’s Ukrainian heritage and the role of war in creativity44:26 — Introducing Timothy Snyder and the book On Tyranny45:59 — Family authoritarianism and childhood wounds47:48 — Why the only solution is often to leave the authoritarian48:25 — Gender dynamics, dominance, and archaic biases49:07 — Leadership, archetypes, and political psychology49:20 — Break: Richard invites listeners to explore MBHP archives51:06 — Returning: Richard promotes Eric’s work51:33 — Redesigning the “room of your mind” — the core of Redesign Your Mind53:59 — Life purpose statements — doing the “next right thing”55:20 — Creating a personal life-purpose icon55:56 — Closing ...
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    51 min
  • Comparison Is a Form of Self-Harm We Don’t Recognize

    Comparison Is a Form of Self-Harm We Don’t Recognize
    Nov 14 2025

    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
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    1 min
  • The Future of Healing May Not Come from a Pill

    The Future of Healing May Not Come from a Pill
    Nov 11 2025

    Psychotherapist Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold joins Dr. Richard Louis Miller to discuss a groundbreaking psilocybin-assisted therapy study for young adults with anorexia nervosa at the University of California, San Francisco.

    Together, they explore how psychedelics can help restore connection between mind, body, and community—and how true healing extends beyond the individual to include family, culture, and environment.

    The study, led by UCSF’s Tripper Lab, is one of the first in the world to focus on the developing brain and the inclusion of families in psychedelic therapy. Gisele explains how this approach moves away from blame and control toward empowerment, self-awareness, and compassionate healing.

    She and Richard also discuss the cultural factors that shape body image, the impact of social media, the rising rates of eating disorders since the pandemic, and why anorexia remains one of the deadliest mental health conditions.

    “Recovery isn’t just gaining weight. It’s gaining yourself.” — Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold

    This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing is not isolation—it’s reconnection.

    Guest

    Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold — Director of Facilitation for Psychedelic Therapy at the University of California, San Francisco; faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies; and researcher at the Tripper Lab, UCSF.

    Key Topics

    The UCSF psilocybin study for young adults (ages 18–25) with anorexia nervosa

    Why including family in therapy can support long-term healing

    How psilocybin-assisted therapy reduces cognitive rigidity and self-critical thought loops

    Understanding anorexia beyond weight—seeing it as a disorder of identity and control

    Trauma, intergenerational pain, and the importance of family systems

    The role of social media in shaping self-image and body dysmorphia

    How the pandemic amplified isolation and eating disorders among adolescents

    Shifting from authoritarian treatment models to trauma-informed care

    Why “non-directive” therapy helps patients rediscover their own motivation to heal

    A new paradigm of recovery centered on autonomy, compassion, and community

    Timestamps

    00:00 — The importance of community and connection02:00 — Introducing Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold and the UCSF Tripper Lab03:30 — Inside the psilocybin-assisted therapy study for anorexia nervosa06:00 — Understanding anorexia as a life-threatening mental health disorder08:30 — Why the study includes diverse participants and families11:00 — The impact of anorexia on families and caregivers15:00 — Family inclusion as a healing model18:00 — Psilocybin therapy protocol and study design23:00 — The psychology of “parts work” and the path to self-integration29:00 — How psilocybin reduces rigid, self-destructive thought loops32:00 — The influence of culture, media, and pandemic isolation35:00 — Understanding suffering and motivation in eating disorders40:00 — Extending psychedelic research toward obesity and body image45:00 — How to apply for the UCSF clinical trial47:00 — Redefining success: recovery as engagement with life50:00 — Trauma-informed, patient-centered therapy54:00 — Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day” — a poetic close on life’s preciousness



    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
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    51 min
  • Beyond Profit: The Human Cost of Capitalism — with David McNally

    Beyond Profit: The Human Cost of Capitalism — with David McNally
    Nov 4 2025

    Beyond Profit: The Human Cost of Capitalism — with Dr. David McNally

    Historian Dr. David McNally joins Dr. Richard Louis Miller to explore the deep relationship between capitalism, slavery, and community — and why the path forward may depend on reclaiming our capacity for cooperation and hope.

    Together, they trace how capitalism evolved from feudal systems, how slavery became its brutal engine, and how modern life still reflects those same dynamics of exploitation and insecurity. They discuss the moral cost of wealth built on oppression, the erosion of academic freedom, and the possibilities for new forms of collective ownership and economic justice.

    Through it all, McNally reminds us that hope is more powerful than anger and fear, and that history shows our greatest progress comes when people act together in community.

    Guest:

    Dr. David McNally — Cullen Distinguished Professor of History and Business at the University of Houston, and author of Slavery and Capitalism, Blood and Money, and Monsters of the Market.

    Key Topics:

    How capitalism emerged from feudalism through the expulsion of peasants from common lands

    Why slavery was not a premodern system but central to modern global capitalism

    The immense wealth generated by enslaved labor

    The psychological and moral consequences of exploitation

    Living paycheck to paycheck as a modern form of economic bondage

    How fear and insecurity maintain systems of control

    The importance of academic freedom and independent thought

    Collective action as the most powerful form of resistance

    Reviving the commons and exploring alternatives to capitalism

    Why hope remains the foundation of social transformation

    Timestamps:

    00:00 — The Importance of Community and Connection02:22 — Understanding Capitalism and Its Historical Context07:20 — The Shift from Feudalism to Capitalism13:00 — Slavery in the Context of Capitalism20:11 — The Moral Dilemma of Enslavement24:07 — The Wealth Generated by Slavery24:47 — Exploring Alternatives to Capitalism29:00 — The Monopoly Game of Capitalism30:53 — The Power of Collective Action34:56 — Living Paycheck to Paycheck: A Modern Form of Slavery40:45 — The Assault on Academic Freedom50:19 — Freedom Dreams and Cultural Resistance



    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
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    55 min
  • Modern Psychedelics and the Lost Art of Community

    Modern Psychedelics and the Lost Art of Community
    Oct 28 2025

    The Psychology of Love and Connection with Dr. Rick Hanson

    Psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson joins Dr. Richard Louis Miller to explore how compassion, community, and love can rewire the human brain — and why our survival as a species may depend on it. Together, they discuss the “two wolves within us,” how positive neuroplasticity turns fleeting moments of kindness into lasting change, and what it takes to heal both personally and collectively in a divided world.

    Guest: Dr. Rick Hanson – Psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and author of Hardwiring Happiness, Resilient, and Buddha’s Brain

    Key Topics:

    The duality of human nature: love vs. hate

    How to “feed the wolf of love” through daily practice

    Positive neuroplasticity and the science of emotional rewiring

    Building compassion in polarized times

    Why community is essential to mental health

    How wealth inequality and power distort human connection

    The link between poverty and psychological suffering

    Simple daily tools for calm, resilience, and empathy

    The surprising role of playfulness in healing

    Timestamps:

    00:00 — Introduction: Humanity’s tribal nature and the need for connection02:15 — Meet Dr. Rick Hanson03:44 — The parable of the two wolves06:42 — Feeding the wolf of love vs. the wolf of hate08:07 — The power of brain science and compassion10:03 — Physical health as the foundation for mental well-being13:18 — The father-son dynamic and emotional intelligence17:04 — Keeping your “dad hat” on in relationships20:33 — How to stay in touch with the wolf of love under pressure21:33 — The longing for a better world22:05 — Rick’s top psychological tools for well-being24:38 — Getting on your own side25:38 — Taking in the good and letting it land29:18 — Linking positive experiences to old wounds34:35 — Why painful memories persist36:12 — How the media exploits our negativity bias38:33 — Vulnerability to manipulation and fear42:33 — Wealth concentration and its social consequences46:10 — From individual healing to collective action47:58 — Poverty as the biggest factor in mental health50:04 — Lessons from other nations’ social models53:14 — Why one in three adults in America isn’t registered to vote55:08 — The limits of traditional psychotherapy59:36 — What separates high responders from low responders01:02:21 — Repetition, practice, and rewiring behavior01:05:21 — Breathing as the foundation of change01:10:22 — Stop whining, start climbing: love as action

    Links & Resources:

    🌐 Website — rickhanson.net📘 Books — Hardwiring Happiness, Resilient, Buddha’s Brain🎧 Podcast — Being Well with Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson



    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
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    57 min
  • The Psychology of Love and Connection with Dr. Rick Hanson

    The Psychology of Love and Connection with Dr. Rick Hanson
    Oct 21 2025

    The Psychology of Love and Connection with Dr. Rick Hanson

    Psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson joins Dr. Richard Louis Miller to explore how compassion, community, and love can rewire the human brain — and why our survival as a species may depend on it. Together, they discuss the “two wolves within us,” how positive neuroplasticity turns fleeting moments of kindness into lasting change, and what it takes to heal both personally and collectively in a divided world.

    Guest: Dr. Rick Hanson – Psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and author of Hardwiring Happiness, Resilient, and Buddha’s Brain

    Key Topics:

    The duality of human nature: love vs. hate

    How to “feed the wolf of love” through daily practice

    Positive neuroplasticity and the science of emotional rewiring

    Building compassion in polarized times

    Why community is essential to mental health

    How wealth inequality and power distort human connection

    The link between poverty and psychological suffering

    Simple daily tools for calm, resilience, and empathy

    The surprising role of playfulness in healing

    Timestamps:

    00:00 — Introduction: Humanity’s tribal nature and the need for connection02:15 — Meet Dr. Rick Hanson03:44 — The parable of the two wolves06:42 — Feeding the wolf of love vs. the wolf of hate08:07 — The power of brain science and compassion10:03 — Physical health as the foundation for mental well-being13:18 — The father-son dynamic and emotional intelligence17:04 — Keeping your “dad hat” on in relationships20:33 — How to stay in touch with the wolf of love under pressure21:33 — The longing for a better world22:05 — Rick’s top psychological tools for well-being24:38 — Getting on your own side25:38 — Taking in the good and letting it land29:18 — Linking positive experiences to old wounds34:35 — Why painful memories persist36:12 — How the media exploits our negativity bias38:33 — Vulnerability to manipulation and fear42:33 — Wealth concentration and its social consequences46:10 — From individual healing to collective action47:58 — Poverty as the biggest factor in mental health50:04 — Lessons from other nations’ social models53:14 — Why one in three adults in America isn’t registered to vote55:08 — The limits of traditional psychotherapy59:36 — What separates high responders from low responders01:02:21 — Repetition, practice, and rewiring behavior01:05:21 — Breathing as the foundation of change01:10:22 — Stop whining, start climbing: love as action

    Links & Resources:

    🌐 Website — rickhanson.net📘 Books — Hardwiring Happiness, Resilient, Buddha’s Brain🎧 Podcast — Being Well with Dr. Rick Hanson and Forrest Hanson



    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
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    1 h et 5 min
  • Building Community with MDMA: Charley Wininger's 20-Year Experiment

    Building Community with MDMA: Charley Wininger's 20-Year Experiment
    Oct 14 2025

    Building Community with MDMA: Charles Wininger's 20-Year Experiment

    Psychotherapist Charles Wininger shares 20 years of experience leading group MDMA sessions in New York, detailed protocols for creating safe communal experiences, and his vision for a nationwide simultaneous experience to rebuild community connections.

    Guest: Charles Wininger - Psychotherapist for 35 years, psychonaut for 50 years, author of "Listening to Ecstasy: The Transformative Power of MDMA"

    Key Topics:

    Why community is literally life or death

    Complete protocols for group MDMA experiences

    The "serious fun" middle way between therapy and raves

    Ground rules: consent, boundaries, and safety

    Why mixing substances changes everything

    Couples using MDMA 2-3x weekly at micro-doses

    Planning a nationwide simultaneous experience

    The Fireside Project's 24/7 psychedelic support

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction - Tribal animals need community

    01:01 Meet Charles Wininger

    01:59 "Community is the medicine"

    03:55 MDMA as the "chemical of connection"

    06:22 Healing a 7-year rift between friends

    10:12 Structuring safe group experiences

    12:14 "Serious fun" - the middle way

    13:55 Selecting participants carefully

    15:02 Ground rules and safety protocols

    18:45 Respecting boundaries and consent

    20:50 What people fear most: safety

    24:04 Creating "chill space" for solitude

    25:10 No mixing substances policy

    27:16 Saturday sessions with Sunday integration

    29:04 Managing the "Tuesday blues"

    31:33 Lowering doses with age

    33:31 Coming out of the "chemical closet"

    38:17 Why not mix ketamine or cannabis

    40:29 Psilocybin combinations in therapy

    43:03 Community ripple effects

    48:09 Couples using MDMA 2-3x weekly

    52:21 One day weekly for relationship

    57:52 Fireside Project's free support line

    01:00:40 Helicopter rides during earthquakes

    01:03:38 Connect with Charles

    Links:

    Website: higherpurpose.community

    Book: listeningtoecstasy.com

    Contact: charles@higherpurpose.community



    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
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    1 h et 3 min
  • The Poem That Made a Room Full of Men Cry

    The Poem That Made a Room Full of Men Cry
    Oct 7 2025

    The Poem That Made a Room Full of Men Cry

    Dr. Jed Diamond joins Dr. Miller for a conversation about isolation, authoritarianism, and why building community may be our only defense against tyranny. Includes the Father Earth poem by Clarissa Pinkola Estés.

    Guest: Dr. Jed Diamond - Author of 17 books, men's health advocate, in the same men's group for 46 years

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction - Tribal living and community

    01:33 Meet Dr. Jed Diamond

    04:10 Same-sex groups and intergenerational wisdom

    08:06 Isolation and loneliness since COVID

    12:12 Why Jed predicted Trump's presidency in May 2016

    17:21 Military on American streets

    18:02 The scapegoating pattern

    23:27 Father Earth poem introduction

    24:22 Father Earth by Clarissa Pinkola Estés (full reading)

    31:22 Depression epidemic warning

    36:07 The Zen community response to violence

    42:06 Jed's daily walking practice for community

    44:00 The 10,000 step community walks

    47:39 MenAlive.com and Jed's work



    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
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    49 min