Best Seth J. Gillihan Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 238: Dr. Paul Kesselman — How to Have Great Communication with Your Kids at Any Age 44:20

21d ago44:20

44:20

My guest this week is Dr. Paul Kesselman, a clinical psychologist and close friend of mine. It was Paul’s second time on the podcast (the previous episode is here) and another great discussion. This time we focused on how to keep open lines of communication with our kids. Topics we discussed included: The advantages of keeping open dialogue with ou…

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237: Dr. Nadia Colburn — Your Life Is Not a Task to Complete 43:02

1M ago43:02

43:02

My guest this week is Dr. Nadia Colburn, a poet and author of a new book of poetry entitled I Say the Sky (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: Developing greater interest in poetry later in life Turning to poetry as a spiritual or devotional practice The ability of poetry to express or point to things that are difficult to capture The em…

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Ep. 236: Dr. Carla Naumburg — How to Handle Tough Emotions Without Freaking Out 27:13

2M ago27:13

27:13

My guest this week is Dr. Carla Naumburg, a clinical social worker and author with a brand new book called How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic. This is an excellent guide for young people who are struggling with overwhelming emotions. Topics we discussed included: The defining features of a freak-out…

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Ep. 235: Diane Manser — How to Make Peace with the Joys and Pains of Being a Teacher 36:48

3M ago36:48

36:48

My guest this week is Diane Manser, a long-time high school teacher with an important message that she shares in her recent book, I Didn’t Sign Up for This: One Classroom Teacher’s Journey Through Emotional Fatigue to Personal Empowerment (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: What led Diane to become a teacher The best and hardest aspects…

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Ep. 234: Dr. Scott Rick — How Tightwads and Spendthrifts Can Build Better Spending Habits 46:48

3M ago46:48

46:48

My guest this week is Dr. Scott Rick, an associate professor of marketing and author of a great book called Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: Why our relationship with money is often complicated, no matter how much we have Where our attitudes toward money…

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Ep. 233: Dr. Samir Chopra — How to Find Peace Even When You're Anxious 51:34

3M ago51:34

51:34

My guest this week is philosopher and counselor Dr. Samir Chopra, author of the fascinating new book, Anxiety: A Philosophical Guide (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: The extent to which we are experiencing unique levels of anxiety in human history Philosophical inquiry that springs from anxiety The unconscious cognitive work we do to…

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Ep. 232: Dr. Marla Deibler — Hope for Healing from Hair Pulling, Skin Picking, and Other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors 34:03

4M ago34:03

34:03

My guest this week is Dr. Marla Deibler, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety. We discussed her excellent new book, The BFRB Recovery Workbook (affiliate link). Check out the publisher’s website where you can download many free worksheets and resources. Topics we discussed included: When a body-focused repetitive behavior bec…

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Ep. 231: Dr. Alissa Jerud — Effective Ways to Manage Anxiety Related to Pregnancy and Miscarriage 41:57

5M ago41:57

41:57

My guest this week is Dr. Alissa Jerud, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety. Topics we discussed included: The anxiety conditions Alissa treats Anxiety related to pregnancy and fertility The difficulty of experiencing miscarriage My guest’s own experience of two miscarriages The conditioned anxiety after the first loss Pregn…

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Ep. 230: Ethan Nichtern — Mindful Awareness 5. A Better Way of Working with the Mind You Have 44:27

5M ago44:27

44:27

My guest this week for part 5 of our series on mindful awareness is Ethan Nichtern, author of a new book called Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: Confidence as trusting we can navigate our own minds Making friends with our inner experience Equanimity as realizing that ev…

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Ep. 229: Amanda Knox — Mindful Awareness 4. What If There Is Nothing Between You and Your Well-Being? 54:46

6M ago54:46

54:46

My guest this week is Amanda Knox, author of the New York Times bestselling book Waiting to be Heard (affiliate link). Amanda’s name is probably familiar to you because she was in the news a lot over a decade ago when she was tried for murder in Italy. Even though she was convicted, it turned out the charges were completely false, and eventually sh…

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Ep. 228: Brett Larkin — Mindful Awareness 3. How Yoga Can Elevate Every Part of Your Life 52:49

6M ago52:49

52:49

My guest this week is Brett Larkin, yoga instructor and author of Yoga Life: : Habits, Poses, and Breathwork to Channel Joy Amidst the Chaos (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: Practicing yoga with awareness The appeal of yoga for helping us remember that we’re more than our minds and brains Yoga as a “science laboratory” to observe wha…

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Ep. 227: Dr. Steve Taylor — Mindful Awareness 2. Cultivating the Conditions for Spiritual Awakening 38:13

6M ago38:13

38:13

My guest this week is psychologist Dr. Steve Taylor, author of the new book, The Adventure: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Awakening (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: The practical components of “enlightenment” or “spiritual awakening” Commonalities across different spiritual traditions The unease and anxiety created by a sense of sep…

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Ep. 226: Dr. Beth Kurland — Mindful Awareness 1. Finding Peace of Mind When Life Is Difficult 46:23

7M ago46:23

46:23

My guest this week is psychologist Dr. Beth Kurland, author of the new book, You Don’t Have to Change to Change Everything: Six Ways to Shift Your Vantage Point, Stop Striving for Happy, and Find True Well-Being (affiliate link). We begin with a calming guided meditation that Beth led. Topics we discussed included: The assumption that not feeling a…

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Ep. 225: Dr. Peter Levine — The Transformative Power of Healing from Trauma 55:36

7M ago55:36

55:36

My guest this week is Dr. Peter Levine, who is well-known for being the developer of Somatic Experiencing. He’s also the author of a new book: An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey (affiliate link), which we focused on in this very enjoyable and meaningful discussion. Peter shared about how his own wounds from early in life were a big part …

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Ep. 224: Dr. Tim Windsor — Midlife 4. How to Have the Best Possible Second Half of Life 55:55

8M ago55:55

55:55

My guest this week for part 4 of our series on midlife is Dr. Tim Windsor. Tim has done many research studies on adult development and how we change in midlife and older age. I took so much from this conversation as Tim described what we know about how to have a great second half of life. Things we discussed included: My guest’s research in lifespa…

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Ep. 223: Nick Davies — Midlife 3. Waking Up to the Life That Wants to Be Lived Through You 38:23

8M ago38:23

38:23

My guest this week is Nick Davies, back for his third time on the podcast. This time we focused on issues related to midlife, as this is part 3 of our series on that topic. Things we discussed included: Nick’s personal backstory and his decision to make a big change in his mid-thirties Asking the right questions that can lead us to fulfillment The …

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Ep. 222: Dr. Kieran Setiya — Midlife 2. How to Think More Clearly About What Life Can and Can't Offer 55:02

8M ago55:02

55:02

My guest this week is Dr. Kieran Setiya, a philosophy professor at MIT and author of Midlife: A Philosophical Guide (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: The extent to which midlife is a time of crisis Elliott Jaques’s coining of the term “midlife crisis” in 1965 Data showing that life satisfaction is U-shaped, with a low in middle age Co…

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Ep. 221: Dr. James Hollis — Midlife 1. Discovering What the Gods Are Asking of You in Midlife 56:44

9M ago56:44

56:44

My guest this week is Dr. James Hollis, a therapist and author of many books, including Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: Common struggles one tends to experience in midlife The part of our psyche (soul) that knows us better than we know ourselves The agenda of…

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Ep. 220: Dr. Joel Minden — Therapy 4. How Men Can Get the Most Out of Psychotherapy 41:54

9M ago41:54

41:54

My guest this week is Dr. Joel Minden, a clinical psychologist, therapist, author of Show Your Anxiety Who’s Boss (affiliate link), and frequent guest on the podcast. This conversation focused on men in therapy. Topics we discussed included: The extent to which men tend to be interested in and open to psychotherapy Fears that men might bring to the…

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Ep. 219: Dr. Michelle Drapkin — Therapy 3. How to Overcome Common Barriers to Behavior Change 44:25

9M ago44:25

44:25

My guest this week is Dr. Michelle Drapkin, a clinical psychologist, therapist, and author of an excellent new workbook called The Motivational Interviewing Path to Personal Change: The Essential Workbook for Creating the Life You Want (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: What motivational interviewing (MI) is and why the name is mislead…

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Ep. 218: Dr. Regine Galanti — Therapy 2. How Anxious Parents Can Help Their Anxious Kids 35:51

10M ago35:51

35:51

My guest this week is Dr. Regine Galanti, a licensed psychologist and author of the amazing new book, Parenting Anxious Kids: Understanding Anxiety in Children by Age and Stage (affiliate link). It was Regine’s second time on the podcast and we had another great conversation. Topics we discussed included: Regine’s fantastic new book Less-frequently…

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Ep. 217: Dr. David Tolin — Therapy 1. What Is the Best Way to Treat Hoarding? 47:59

10M ago47:59

47:59

My guest this week is Dr. David Tolin, a clinical psychologist, researcher, author, and expert on effective treatments for many psychological conditions. In this conversation we focused on hoarding disorder, and then segued into a more general discussion about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other treatment approaches. Topics we discussed in…

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Ep. 216: Nir Eyal — Easy Skills to Help You Overcome Distraction 40:22

10M ago40:22

40:22

My guest this week is Nir Eyal, author of the excellent book Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: The connection between Nir’s first and second books Nir’s own history of distraction and needing the techniques of Indistractable Using psychological principles to create pos…

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Ep. 215: Oren Jay Sofer — How to Find More Peace and Less Suffering in Your Life 44:57

10M ago44:57

44:57

My guest this week is Oren Jay Sofer. Topics we discussed included: Oren’s new book, Your Heart Was Made for This The ways that our minds and hearts are shaped by the world Scarcity Separation Depletion Understanding the roots of suffering and how to relieve suffering Our mistaken belief and wish that consumption will finally provide ultimate fulfi…

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Ep. 214: Dr. Paul Kesselman — Why Healing Is Better Than Curing in Psychotherapy 38:51

11M ago38:51

38:51

My guest this week is Dr. Paul Kesselman, a clinical psychologist in private practice in Devon, Pennsylvania. Topics we discussed included: The difference between healing and curing My own experience of illness and curing vs. healing A therapy scene from the Oscar-winning movie “Good Will Hunting” Validating pain and then pivoting to what is produc…

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Ep. 213: Dr. Steve O'Brien — Helping Anxious Kids Build Resilience Through Empathic Empowering 40:27

11M ago40:27

40:27

My guest this week is Dr. Steve O’Brien, author of the excellent new book, The Essential Guide to Treating Child and Adolescent Anxiety (affiliate link). Topics we discussed included: The ongoing epidemic of anxiety among young people Greater anxiety responses to smaller triggers Falling levels of resilience Overstimulation of kids’ bodies and mind…

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Ep. 212: Rob Bell — The Joy of Discovering That Your Interest and Curiosity Lead to Firdus 50:08

12M ago50:08

50:08

My guest this week is Rob Bell. I was so happy that I got to speak with Rob. I’ve been a fan of his work for quite a while now—I listen to his podcast all the time and have read a few of his books, and I’ve just found his work so helpful. I actually had an opportunity to spend a couple of days at the Rodale Institute where Rob was hosting one of h…

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Ep. 211: Yemado — How to Reduce Stress and Improve Mental Habits Through Mindful Breath and Movement 51:13

12M ago51:13

51:13

My guest this week is Yemado. He’s the director of the Boston School of Boabom, and he’s been teaching Boabom for over 20 years. As you’ll hear, Boabom is a Tibetan system of meditation, relaxation, and self-defense, and this was such an interesting discussion. The topics Yemado and I explored were really familiar ones, and they were also in a whol…

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Ep. 210: Brent Franson — How to Be Kind to Yourself While Making Your Life Better 40:39

1y ago40:39

40:39

My guest this week is Brent Franson, an entrepreneur and founder and CEO of a company called Most Days. I met Brent a while back when he had me on his podcast. I really wanted to talk with him after I listened to an episode of his podcast where he described the things that led him to the work he does now, which is focused on helping people make pos…

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Ep. 209: Dr. Mitch Abblett — More Peace and Less Anxiety by Mastering Each Moment of Your Life 40:17

1y ago40:17

40:17

My guest this week is Dr. Mitch Abblett. Mitch and I talked about how we can move through anxiety and stress by what he calls “owning the moment.” We explored what that means, how to do it, and maybe most important of all, how to remember to do it. The process itself is really simple—we just bring our attention to the present and let things be as t…

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Ep. 208: Drs. Kelly Yanek & Michele Kinderman — More Joy and Less Burnout with the Dual Therapist Model 39:10

1y ago39:10

39:10

My guests this week are Drs. Kelly Yanek and Michel Kinderman. I was truly excited to learn more about their dual therapist model where they see each client together—two therapists with a single client. They described how this approach keeps them interested and engaged at work, and makes them look forward to Monday mornings. I think you’ll find thi…

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Ep. 207: Dr. Jill Stoddard — A Better Way to Overcome Self-Doubt When You Feel Like an Imposter 38:16

1y ago38:16

38:16

My guest this week is psychologist and author Dr. Jill Stoddard, who recently wrote a book called Imposter No More: Overcome Self-Doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career. Jill and I had a great discussion about feeling like an imposter—why it happens, who’s likely to have the experience, and most important, how to deal with those tho…

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Ep. 206: Seth Gillihan — Finding Courage to Move Through Uncertainty and Anxiety 11:32

1y ago11:32

11:32

I’m all alone for this episode. This week I wanted to talk with you about finding the courage you need to take a bold step forward in your life. It could be anything, from continuing your education to changing jobs or starting to date. Anxiety and uncertainty often hold us back when we know we need to make an important change. But they don’t have t…

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Ep. 205: Seth & Joel — The Best and Worst Therapists in Popular Media 52:55

1y ago52:55

52:55

This week I'm continuing my series with Dr. Joel Minden, and we discussed a fun and interesting topic: psychotherapists in popular media, including film, TV, and comic strips. We explored what these depictions get right, the challenges of presenting therapy accurately, and why therapists so often are portrayed as buffoons. Specific topics we touche…

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Ep. 204: Seth & Joel — How to Worry Less So You Can Live More 58:39

1y ago58:39

58:39

This week I'm continuing my series with Dr. Joel Minden, and there's no one I'd rather talk with about how to handle worry. Joel is a true expert on this topic. He offers a compassionate, realistic, and effective set of tools for worrying less so you can redirect your energy toward living well. Specific topics we touched on included: Anxiety vs. wo…

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Ep. 203: Seth & Joel — How Much Can Be Accomplished in One Therapy Session? 46:08

1y ago46:08

46:08

This week I’m continuing my series with Dr. Joel Minden. This time we discussed how much can be accomplished in a single psychotherapy session. Joel and I explored single-session interventions, one-session treatments for phobias, and sudden gains. Topics we touched on included: Goals for the first therapy session The hope that often follows a first…

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Ep. 202: Seth & Joel — What Gives Psychotherapy the Power to Make Life Better? 49:22

1y ago49:22

49:22

My guest once again this week is Dr. Joel Minden. This time we discussed psychotherapy, drawing on the years that each of us has been a therapist. Good therapy has the power to improve thinking patterns, relationships, habits, and even personality, so we explored the unique aspects of the therapy relationship that facilitate these changes. This con…

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Ep. 201: Seth & Joel — What If You Don't Need to Fix Yourself? 1:18:38

1y ago1:18:38

1:18:38

My guest this week is Dr. Joel Minden, a regular on the Think Act Be podcast. This time we switched roles and Joel interviewed me, mostly about my approach to therapy that I describe in my latest book, Mindful Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (affiliate link). This conversation is the first in a series of several episodes with Joel, so stay tuned for m…

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Ep. 200: Matt Zemon — How Psychedelics Can Transform the Mind and Improve Well-Being 40:48

1y ago40:48

40:48

My guest this week is Matt Zemon, editor of the excellent new book Psychedelics for Everyone: A Beginner’s Guide to These Powerful Medicines for Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Expanding Consciousness (affiliate link). Matt also contributed several chapters to this book. This conversation is a great introduction to the world of psychedeli…

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Ep. 199: Thomas Moore — How Can Emptiness Make Your Life More Fulfilling? 57:54

1y ago57:54

57:54

My guest this week is Thomas Moore, a psychotherapist and author of a new book entitled The Eloquence of Silence: Surprising Wisdom in Tales of Emptiness (affiliate link). I was so pleased to have the opportunity to speak with Thomas, since I’ve appreciated his work for about 25 years, going back to Care of the Soul. Topics we discussed included: T…

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Ep. 198: Dr. Noam Shpancer — Why Are So Many Young People Struggling, and What Can Be Done? 44:15

1+ y ago44:15

44:15

My guest this week is psychologist Dr. Noam Shpancer, author of the novel The Good Psychologist (affiliate link). We explored the ongoing crisis in mental health among young people, and discussed possible ways to address it. I really enjoyed talking with Noam and hearing his insights and nuanced perspective on these issues.…

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Ep. 197: Dr. Steve Hayes 2 — Deliberately Diving into All That Life Holds 1:21:59

1+ y ago1:21:59

1:21:59

My guest this week is Dr. Steve Hayes, one of the most influential psychologists of our time. The first time I had Steve on the podcast back in 2020 we discussed the fundamentals of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This time you’ll see what those ideas look like in action. The second half of our discussion is Steve leading me through a seri…

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Ep. 196: Dr. Mark Gregory Karris — How to Overcome Harmful Beliefs About God, Yourself, and the Afterlife 45:23

1+ y ago45:23

45:23

My guest this week is Dr. Mark Karris, author of the new book, The Diabolical Trinity: Healing Religious Trauma From a Wrathful God, Tormenting Hell, and a Sinful Self. Mark shared about the damaging effects this trio of doctrines can have on people, himself included, and how to heal. Topics we discussed included: How certain religious beliefs them…

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Ep. 195: Thomas Sterner — How to Break Free from Unconscious Mental Programming 37:07

1+ y ago37:07

37:07

My guest this week is Thomas Sterner, whose latest book is It’s Just a Thought (affiliate link). As you know, your thoughts aren’t always helpful or true. In this conversation Tom and I talked about how to change your relationship with thoughts, which I think about a lot as CBT therapist. Just knowing that we’re thinking is a huge part of what’s he…

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Ep. 194: Dr. John Astin — Finding True Freedom in the Mystery of Each Moment 52:49

1+ y ago52:49

52:49

My guest this week is Dr. John Astin, author of the excellent book, This Extraordinary Moment (affiliate link). John has a really mind-blowing way of seeing all of reality, as you’ll hear in this great conversation. We talked about familiar concepts from meditation and mindfulness—for example, awareness of reality and finding equanimity—but John ex…

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Ep. 193: Colin Campbell — Finding Solace After Unfathomable Loss 38:32

1+ y ago38:32

38:32

My guest this week is Colin Campbell. He wrote an amazing book called Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose (affiliate link), about his experience of incredible grief and loss. I really enjoyed talking with Colin—as you'll hear, he's frank, down-to-earth, compassionate. I know you'll get a lot out of this conversati…

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Ep. 192: Dr. Mitch Greene — How to Manage Mind Chatter and Win the Mental Game 37:20

1+ y ago37:20

37:20

My guest this week is Dr. Mitch Greene. Mitch is a sport psychologist and this is his third time on the podcast. This time we talked about his great new book, which I enjoyed reading, called Courage Over Confidence: Managing Mind Chatter and Winning the Mental Game (affiliate link). This is a great conversation for any competitive athlete, at any l…

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Ep. 191: Dr. Brie Turns-Coe — How to Be the Parent Your Child Needs 42:01

1+ y ago42:01

42:01

My guest this week is Dr. Brie Turns-Coe, an associate professor of marriage and family therapy and author of the excellent new book, Parent the Child You Have, Not the Child You Were (affiliate link).By Seth Gillihan

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Ep. 190: Dr. Jonah Paquette — Simple Practices to Build More Happiness in Your Life 41:26

1+ y ago41:26

41:26

My guest this week is Dr. Jonah Paquette, author of Happily Even After (affiliate link), who is back for the fourth time on the podcast. Jonah is the happiness guru I turn to for exploring the science of well-being and flourishing. This time we focused on how to cultivate happiness more consistently in our lives—and why we tend to wait till we're s…

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Ep. 189: Dr. Willa Blythe Baker — Easing into the Natural Wakefulness of the Physical Body 39:37

1+ y ago39:37

39:37

My guest this week is Dr. Willa Blythe Baker, author of an excellent book called The Wakeful Body (affiliate link). Willa and I had a great conversation about how the body draws us into connection with ourselves and with this moment. She had recently arrived in Hawaii, and you can hear the sounds of birds singing in the background!…

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Seth J. Gillihan Podcasts

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