10% Happier With Dan Harris

Our guest argues that looking back on those who came before us can help us understand who we are and why we do the things we do. Plus, a very special request from Dan. Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. In this episode we talk about: How Spring came to write about Harriet Tubman’s life Her work with plant medicine and the shamanic tradition The dream and the “conversations” Spring had with Tubman Why we are all so interested in ancestry How we can deepen our

We asked listeners to tell us about some of their favorite episodes from our Get Fit Sanely series, and we’ll be bringing you some excerpts of those episodes on Fridays this month. Today, we’re hearing from listener Abby, who experienced a game-changing moment in our episode on mobility with Kelly and Juliet Starrett. Paid subscribers of DanHarris.com will have exclusive access to a set of all-new guided meditations, led by friend of the show Cara Lai, customized to accompany each episode of the Get Fit Sanely series. We're super excited to offer a way to help you put the ideas from the episodes into practice. Learn all about it here.   Related Episodes: An Owner’s Manual for Your Body | Juliet and Kelly Starrett How To Take Care of Your Body Without Losing Your Mind Get Fit Sanely: the podcast playlist 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.co

What muscles are for, how to get them, and why it’s never too late to start building them. Bonnie Tsui is a longtime contributor to The New York Times and the bestselling author of Why We Swim, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and a Time magazine and NPR Best Book of the Year. Her work has been recognized and supported by Harvard University, the National Press Foundation, the Mesa Refuge, and the Best American Essays series. Her newest book is called On Muscle. This episode is part of our ongoing Get Fit Sanely series.    In this episode we talk about: The connection between our muscles and mental health  The many benefits of strength training  How society, culture, and history have shaped the way we think about beauty standards and strength  Misconceptions about the six-pack  Running as a tool for healing  The psychological impact of realizing your own physical potential  The symbolism and science of the push-up  The connection between our muscles and our longevity Practical advice for beginni

Why it matters for mental health; how to make improvements without succumbing to snake oil; and why you should be looking at your poop.   Dr. Robynne Chutkan is a board certified gastroenterologist and the author of the four books Gutbliss, The Microbiome Solution, The Bloat Cure, and The Anti-Viral Gut. She’s also the host of The Gutbliss Podcast.   Paid subscribers of DanHarris.com will have exclusive access to a set of all-new guided meditations, led by friend of the show Cara Lai, customized to accompany each episode of the Get Fit Sanely series. We're super excited to offer a way to help you put the ideas from the episodes into practice. Learn all about it here. In this episode we talk about: The relationship between gut health and mental health The microbiome, why it’s important, and how you can view the microbiome through a Buddhist lens A crash course on the digestive system How to navigate the snake oil – and why some supplements you are taking could be making your gut worse  We go deep on acid refl

We asked listeners to tell us about some of their favorite episodes from our Get Fit Sanely series, and we’ll be bringing you some excerpts of those episodes on Fridays this month. Today, we’re hearing from listener Traci who was introduced to the transformative concept of intuitive eating through our episode with dietician Christy Harrison.  Paid subscribers of DanHarris.com will have exclusive access to a set of all-new guided meditations, led by friend of the show Cara Lai, customized to accompany each episode of the Get Fit Sanely series. We're super excited to offer a way to help you put the ideas from the episodes into practice. Learn all about it here. How To Embrace the Anti-Diet | Christy Harrison The Anti-Diet | Evelyn Tribole How To Take Care of Your Body Without Losing Your Mind Get Fit Sanely: the podcast playlist 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

A roadmap for a more balanced life. Claudia Hammond is an award-winning broadcaster, author, and psychology lecturer. In her work she shares the ways that psychological and medical research can help us in our everyday lives, whether through radio, TV, podcasts, public events or books.  This episode is part of our ongoing Get Fit Sanely series.    In this episode we talk about: How to define rest The health risks of fatigue  Why your rest is more effective if you don’t feel guilty about it Why watching TV is so restful (in moderation)  Why taking breaks shouldn’t be considered a reward  How to create your own personal prescription for rest Why a "resting state" for the brain is actually quite active The restful act of daydreaming (when it doesn’t lead to ruminating)  Heat therapies for reduced cortisol levels Why some forms of movement and exercise can be restful The #1 most restful activity based on her research And practical advice for incorporating more rest into your busy life   Paid subscribers of DanHa

Simple and realistic strategies from an ultra-endurance athlete. Rich Roll is a vegan ultra-endurance athlete and full-time wellness & plant-based nutrition advocate, podcast host, public speaker, and inspiration to people worldwide as a transformative example of courageous and healthy living. This episode is part of our ongoing Get Fit Sanely Series.    In this episode we talk about: How to harness the power of momentum  The importance of intrinsic motivation What being “in shape” actually means  Practical tips for people who aren’t ultra-endurance athletes Why so many people hate vegans and why you should eat more plants anyway Unhealthy obsessions with being healthy and the dangers of orthorexia Addiction, recovery, and healing childhood wounds What Rich’s exercise regime looks like now Psychedelics and non-duality And much more   Paid subscribers of DanHarris.com will have exclusive access to a set of all-new guided meditations, led by friend of the show Cara Lai, customized to accompany each episod

We asked listeners to tell us about some of their favorite episodes from our Get Fit Sanely series, and we’ll be bringing you some excerpts of those episodes on Fridays this month. Today, we’re hearing from listener Cynthia who had a vivid takeaway from our episode on exercise and the brain with neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki.    Paid subscribers of DanHarris.com will have exclusive access to a set of all-new guided meditations, led by friend of the show Cara Lai, customized to accompany each episode of the Get Fit Sanely series. We're super excited to offer a way to help you put the ideas from the episodes into practice. Learn all about it here. Related Episodes: The Neuroscience of Exercise | Wendy Suzuki How To Take Care of Your Body Without Losing Your Mind Get Fit Sanely: the podcast playlist 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/10Happi

Including: “exercise snacking,” prioritizing play, and overcoming “revenge bedtime procrastination.” Marielle Segarra is a reporter and the host of NPR's Life Kit, the award-winning podcast and radio show that shares trustworthy, nonjudgmental tips that help listeners navigate their lives. In this episode we talk about:  How and why Marielle got interested in this stuff  Exercise and sleep tips that Marielle has incorporated into her own life.  Something called, “revenge bedtime procrastination” – and how to work with it Some key learnings from Marielle’s experience with cancer The link between fitness and play—and why play is so important for human flourishing How to assess how much play you’re getting and tips for getting more of it The very subtle but important question of letting go of outcomes—in other words, not pursuing all of this stuff with so much of an agenda— and actually enjoying the process  Paid subscribers of DanHarris.com will have exclusive access to a set of all-new guided meditations, le

Beyond the cliché: listening to your body. Christiane Wolf, MD, PhD is a former physician and internationally known mindfulness and Insight (Vipassana) meditation teacher. She is the author of “Outsmart Your Pain” and the coauthor of “A Clinician’s Guide to Teaching Mindfulness”. She is also a senior teacher at InsightLA in Los Angeles. And in her spare time, she runs ultramarathons. In this episode we talk about: How to develop and hone interoception How to do practices like a body scan — and how helpful it can be for all aspects of life How to shift how we relate to our body The four foundations of mindfulness — one of the crucial discourses of the Buddha  What a healthy relationship to the body looks like  Translating monastic practices to our modern day lives  How to reduce stress and suffering in the body  Indifference vs equanimity / serenity  Helpful questions to ask yourself in cultivating a new relationship with your body  The four sources of reluctance or resistance to exercise  Discipline vs self-

Behind the scenes of this year’s Get Fit Sanely series with ace producers Eleanor Vassili and Marissa Schneiderman.  Today we’re kicking off the third annual iteration of a very popular series we do, called Get Fit Sanely. It’s all about how to take care of your body without losing your mind. This is a dynamic tension many of us struggle to manage. This is our most ambitious version of Get Fit Sanely. We’re dedicating the whole month of June to the topic, with an incredible array of guests, on everything from gut health to importance of rest to how to operationalize the old cliché around listening to your body. In this episode we talk about: Selecting guests and topics for this year’s iteration of the series  How our producers let curiosity guide their thinking How this year’s episodes build on what we’ve covered in the past Where our producers’ personal stories come into play  And an exciting new component we’re finally able to offer (hint: it’s guided meditations) Paid subscribers of DanHarris.com will ha

An often overlooked secret to improving your meditation practice. Sebene Selassie, an author and meditation teacher. She writes the popular newsletter remind me to love and her first book is called, You Belong.  Jeff Warren is also an author and meditation teacher. He writes the popular Substack newsletter Home Base and is the coauthor, along with me, of a book called Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics. And he is the co-host of the mind/bod adventure pod. Register for Meditation Party at the Omega Institute, Oct 24–26, 2025.   In this episode we talk about: The perks of meditating with friends The importance of friendship in chaotic times  How to have difficult conversations  Authenticity vs wanton oversharing Working with the thorny stuff that can come up in relationships Advice for people pleasers Building meaningful relationships in the age of social media Sign up for Dan’s newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favor

Distraction is making you anxious and sleepless. Here’s how to fix it.   Adam Gazzaley, M.D., Ph.D. is the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry, and Founder & Executive Director of Neuroscape at UCSF. He co-authored the 2016 book “The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World”.    In this episode we talk about: The impact of multitasking on our attention, relationships, emotions, anxiety, and memory The difference between top-down and bottom-up attention What it means to have cognitive control—and some practical tools for restoring your own cognitive control.  Controversial technologies that could eventually help us have a stronger brain The impact of music and rhythm on the mind And how to use technology for your brain’s benefit   Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel  

We asked not too long ago in the chat on our Substack community – which you can find at DanHarris.com – about what kinds of things you’d find useful as Friday bonus episodes, and one of the things we heard was: more guided meditations, please. So today, we are happy to oblige with this short meditation that I led, as part of our semi-regular live gatherings of the Renegade Sangha on Substack. Twice a month, paid subscribers are invited to join me, live, for a little guided meditation, then I take your questions. It’s been so much fun to hear from you, and to help you hear from each other.  Today’s guided meditation is taken from our sangha gathering on April 23. It’s super simple and good for both beginners and experienced meditators alike.  If you enjoyed that and would like more opportunities to meditate together, here’s what we’ve got coming up for you in June:  on the podcast, we’re bringing back our series Get Fit Sanely, where we talk about how to take care of your body without losing your mind – you’l

This episode explores a compelling Buddhist question: does self-hatred, or self-love, make sense if the self is an illusion? Matthew Brensilver, PhD, is a clinical social worker and experienced teacher of meditation retreats. He also worked at an organization called Mindful Schools, which teaches teachers how to teach meditation.  This episode also explores: How and why to view your anger with skepticism The relationship between self-love and personal ethics What to do if you think you’re a good person but have no interest in changing your behavior to get better How to handle a nagging sense of moral un-justifiability And how Matthew has arrived at a place of relative peace with his own mortality. Join Dan’s online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel  

How to beat perfectionism without lowering your standards.   Dr. Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist who will help you calm your anxiety and be your authentic self. She serves on the faculty at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD) and is the author of HOW TO BE ENOUGH: Self-Acceptance for Self-Critics and Perfectionists and HOW TO BE YOURSELF: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety.   In this episode we talk about: The relationship between perfectionism and anxiety The definition of perfectionism–and why the word is actually a misnomer Dr. Hendriksen’s own struggles with perfectionism, and how they manifested physically The difference between healthy perfectionism and unhealthy perfectionism Changing your relationship with your inner critic  Shifting from rigid rules to flexibility Keeping high standards while making room for mistakes Overcoming procrastination Navigating social comparison And much more   Related Episodes: Strategies for Social Anxie

We’re excited to share with you an episode of the new podcast Proxy, produced by Yowei Shaw. Today: the case of Mic, who feels like he defied his fate and now has no purpose in life. For her new podcast Proxy, Yowei Shaw finds someone uniquely able to help Mic break out of his regret loop. Proxy is a show that investigates niche emotional conundrums through conversations with strangers who have relevant experience. New cases every other Tuesday. You can binge episodes now in the Proxy feed.   

A few ideas for staying sane in insane times, regardless of your political leanings or who you voted for. Related episode: Joseph Goldstein On: Impermanence, Impersonality, And How To Use Mindfulness To Be More Creative Joseph Goldstein’s book of poetry: Dreamscapes of the Mind   Sign up for Dan’s newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Plus how to speak up and challenge your own tribe, how to successfully engage with people you disagree with, and more.   Jenara Nerenberg is a journalist and author. Her latest book is called Trust Your Mind: Embracing Nuance in a World of Self-Silencing. She holds degrees from the Harvard School of Public Health and UC Berkeley. She lectures widely on rhetoric, psychology, neurodiversity, sensitivity, innovation and communication.  In this episode we talk about: The phenomenon of groupthink—and its health implications The health implications of self-censoring Vulnerability in the age of social media The role of comedy in pushing back against social norms Sign up for Dan’s newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes  

On psychoanalysis, which we haven’t talked about much on this show.   Dr. Orna Guralnik is a psychoanalyst and writer. Her writing centers on the intersection of psychoanalysis, dissociation, and cultural studies. She has completed the filming of several seasons of the docu-series Couples Therapy. In this episode we talk about: The relationship between happiness and truth  How to cultivate love from within Practices to support us in being more open-minded (to avoid what she calls a “splitting” mindset) Trans-generational history, and how it impacts our personal lives and relationships (in other words, how the ghosts of your ancestors operate in you now) One single, powerful question to ask yourself when you get annoyed The overlap between Buddhism and psychoanalysis Related Episodes: Why Your Brain Turns The Miraculous Into The Mundane—And How To Fix It | Maria Popova George Saunders on: “Holy Befuddlement” and How to Be Less of a “Turd” The Profound Upside of Self-Diminishment | George Saunders Sig