Reclaiming YOU: Learn how your mind works and work with your mind

They say, “We become what we repeatedly do.” Our daily actions form our habits, and our habits ultimately shape who we are. Understanding this connection is the key to reclaiming your life, reshaping your mind, and unlocking your fullest potential.

In this episode of the Thrive State Podcast, we’re joined by Judson A. Brewer, a world-renowned neuroscientist, addiction psychiatrist, and thought leader in the field of habit change. Dr. Brewer unpacks the science behind how our minds work, how habits are formed, and, most importantly, how to harness this knowledge to reclaim control over your behavior, emotional states, and wellbeing.

Dr. Brewer is a New York Times best-selling author and director of research and innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, where he also serves as an associate professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the School of Public Health. He is the executive medical director of behavioral health at Sharecare, a digital health company, and a research affiliate at MIT.

Over his career, Dr. Brewer has developed and tested groundbreaking mindfulness programs designed to help people break destructive habits—from smoking and emotional eating to anxiety and other compulsive behaviors. He is the author of two influential books: “Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind” and “The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love, Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits.”

"Our thinking brain is not nearly strong as our feeling body. We feel cravings and urges in the body, and that's where all habits are learned—act out and acted out." - Dr. Jud Brewer
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In this episode, you’ll discover:

How habits form in the brain and how to break unwanted patterns.

Practical mindfulness techniques to reduce anxiety, stress, and cravings.

How to master your emotional states and prevent compulsive behaviors.

The science behind addiction and habit change, explained in actionable steps anyone can use.

Whether you’re looking to break bad habits, improve mental resilience, or gain more control over your emotional wellbeing, this conversation provides cutting-edge insights grounded in science—along with practical tools to apply in your daily life.

Join us on the Thrive State Podcast with Dr. Judson Brewer and learn how the power of habits can be leveraged to transform your life, reclaim your mind, and thrive like never before.

Timestamps

3:19
How habits form
4:59
Default Mode Network
9:05
Seeking comfort and avoiding pain is in our subconscious
10:45
Habits are not only behavior, but also personality
13:05
The thinking brain is not nearly as strong as our feeling body
15:20
Awareness and mindfulness vs Negative Loop of Anxiety
24:47
Apps for your habits
25:40
Psychedelics may help quiet down the Default Mode Network
30:28
Default Mode Network is a marker for flow
" Be mindful of the trigger—the sensations it's giving to your body and then be mindful of the reward or the lack thereof it's giving you." - Dr. Jud Brewer
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