The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology

FitMind: Neuroscience, Meditation & Mental Fitness Training
  • 4.8 (318)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology

Expert insights on the science of mental fitness. Topics include psychology, neuroscience, mental health, mindfulness meditation, productivity, brain technologies, Stoicism, happiness hacking, and more. Liam McClintock, the Founder of FitMind, talks with leaders in their fields, from neuroscientists and psychologists to Buddhist monks and professional athletes. At FitMind, we believe that the next great human frontier is the mind. FitMind combines ancient techniques with western psychology to provide mental fitness training that is taught at Fortune 500 companies, addiction centers, schools, government organizations, and on the FitMind meditation app. Liam McClintock received a B.A. from Yale and worked in finance before traveling to Asia to study meditation full-time. He is currently completing an MS in Applied Neuroscience at King’s College London. Liam is an RYS Certified Yoga & Meditation Instructor and has trained in various meditation styles. He has been featured in Time, Vice, Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, NBC, and Men’s Health.

  1. 12/17/2024

    #97: Predictive Processing & Ultimate Well-Being - Shamil Chandaria, PhD

    In this episode, Dr. Shamil Chandaria, an expert in consciousness, neuroscience, and AI, shares insights from his work on human experience and the intersection of technology and well-being. He discusses the Bayesian brain theory and the free energy principle, explaining how the brain constructs reality by predicting and updating perceptions to reduce uncertainty and surprise. Chandaria also explores how meditation helps break habitual thought patterns, offering a deeper awareness of how the brain shapes our experience and revealing profound insights into consciousness. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.org   Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Dr. Shamil Chandaria 3:38 | Spiritual Awakening in Human Flourishing 4:31 | How the Brain Predicts Reality - Bayesian Brain Explained 9:26 | AI & the Human Brain 21:33 | Free Energy Principle in Wellbeing 37:30 | Befriending Difficult Emotions 43:30 | Boundless Awareness 54:00 | Effortless Action 57:17 | Psychedelics & Bayesian Brain 1:07:29 | Default Mode Network & Predictive Processing 1:13:12 | Gamma Brain Waves in Long-Term Meditators Research

    1h 19m

  2. 11/15/2024

    #96: The Science of Forgiveness - Fred Luskin, PhD

    Stanford psychologist Fred Luskin, PhD, discusses the science of forgiveness, emphasizing the need to process grief as a foundation for emotional healing. He explores practical ways to teach forgiveness to children and how adults can approach societal challenges with acceptance and meaning. Luskin also introduces his 9 Steps to Forgiveness, a research-based framework for releasing resentment and fostering gratitude, offering listeners actionable tools for resilience and well-being. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.org Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Dr. Fred Luskin 3:23 | Link to 30 Days of Meditation, Science & Bliss course: https://bit.ly/30-day-course 3:33 | Forgiveness is the Forgotten Step 5:44 | Forgiveness Defined 12:30 | Resolving Grievances 16:22 | Choosing Where to Put Your Attention 18:50 | Grief Precedes Forgiveness 26:40 | Power of Forgiveness Anecdotes 38:40 | 9 Steps to Forgiveness 46:11 | Revenge is a Life Well Lived 51:49 | Repainting Your Life Picture 59:02 | Modeling Forgiveness for Children 1:06:00 | Forgiveness of Global Issues 1:10:40 | Next Steps

    1h 15m

  3. 08/06/2024

    #95: Mental Wellness & Monk Training - Andrew Litchy, ND

    In this episode, Dr. Andrew Litchy recounts his journey from life as a monk to becoming a naturopathic doctor. He shares his insights on how meditation helped him manage ADHD and how it has become integral to both his personal life and professional practice. The conversation spans topics from the daily life of a monk and the experience of ordination to practical tips on integrating mindfulness into a busy life.  Dr. Litchy also discusses practical strategies for training the mind in a hectic world and provides top wellness tips, making this episode a rich resource for anyone interested in meditation and holistic health. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.org   Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Andrew Litchy 9:02 | ADHD in Meditation 12:18 | How Meditation Clicked 13:25 | Straight Mindful Vipassana 19:05 | Jhanas Defined 23:42 | Experience of Ordaining as a Monk 27:40 | Day in the Life of a Monk 45:25 | From Monk to Med School 47:20 | Study on Meditation and HRV 55:20 | How to Train the Mind in a Busy Life 1:02:14 | Sticky Notes 1:10:17 | Homebase for the Mind 1:13:32 | “Waking From the Dream” 1:21:10 | Time Is a Construct 1:25:44 | Meditation Training for Children 1:31:05 | Top Wellness Tips 1:36:40 | Most Common Problems Treated in a Naturopathic Doctor’s Office

    1h 47m

  4. 07/02/2024

    #94: Exploring Consciousness & Deep Awareness - Doug Kraft

    How does the mind shape our reality? What happens when the conceptual mind turns off? The answers might be found in the depths of meditation. Doug Kraft has delved into the complexities of the mind from various perspectives: as a psychotherapist, writer, minister, meditation teacher, and through the lenses of bio-energetics and neuroscience. In this episode, we discuss consciousness and the mind's role in constructing our reality. We explore how to train our brains to achieve lasting contentment. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.org SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Introduction to Doug Kraft 1:20 | Home Retreat Experience 8:15 | Dependent Origination 14:23 | What is Consciousness? 23:31 | How the Mind Constructs Reality 36:24 | The Man Who Lost $100,000 45:04 | Exercise for Glimpsing Deep Awareness 47:48 | Practice Insight - Redirecting Attention  LINKS Doug's website: https://easingawake.com/ Doug's retreat talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DutrLDZo1Yk&t=2403s

    1 hr

  5. 09/06/2022

    #93: Neuroplasticity, Meditation & the Predictive Brain - Ruben Laukkonen, PhD

    How does the brain work at its deepest levels? And to what extent can we radically upgrade it, creating neuroplastic changes? Ruben Laukkonen, PhD is a cognitive neuroscientist, contemplative, speaker, and poet. His eclectic background includes competing semi-professionally in Muay Thai Kickboxing, founding two businesses (including the first online market for bitcoin in Australia), and intensive meditation training. Dr. Laukkonen is currently a principal investigator and lecturer at Southern Cross University and holds honorary fellowships at VU Amsterdam and The University of Queensland. He uses methods such as behavior, neuroimaging, machine learning, and phenomenology to empirically investigate some of the rarest states of human consciousness. This episode is a full tour of the mind, including a deep dive into some of those rare states of consciousness and what they reveal about achieving the highest levels of human happiness. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com   SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Introduction to Ruben Laukkonen, PhD 2:02 | Early Experience  10:45 | How the Mind Makes Itself 22:18 | Predictive Processing & Agitation 25:30 | Why There's Always Something Wrong 31:28 | Chain of Causality in the Mind 36:00 | The Mind Rebuilding After Deepest Levels of Meditation 38:25 | Meditation for Reconditioning the Mind 52:06 | Doing Nothing Very Well 53:14 | Stages of Meditation & Predictive Processing 1:08:28 | Cessation & Awakening Research 1:17:12 | Jhanas - Stages of Deconstruction 1:24:22 | Rapid Fire Questions   LINKS https://rubenlaukkonen.com https://fitmind.com/give

    1h 31m

  6. 06/21/2022

    #91: The Science of Creativity & Imagination - Anna Abraham, PhD

    Dr. Anna Abraham is a psychologist and neuroscientist who investigates creativity and how we can optimize this key trait. She’s also a leading scholar on the study of human imagination. On this episode, we discuss the key ingredients of a creative mind, how to become more creative, and how the brain can tell the difference between real and imaginary worlds. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Intro to Anna Abraham, PhD 1:44 | Imagination More Important Than Knowledge? 4:45 | Imagination Defined 7:53 | How We Experience Real vs. Imaginary Worlds 17:20 | Fiction Crossing Into Reality 21:35 | Overlap of Memory & Imagination 29:28 | Ingredients of a Creative Mind 42:08 | Ways to Build Creativity 48:35 | Predictors of Creativity 58:12 | Rapid Fire Questions

    1h 2m

  7. 05/17/2022

    #90: Master of Sleep - Nick Littlehales

    Nick Littlehales has been an elite sport recovery coach for nearly a quarter-century and is the bestselling author of Sleep: The Myth of 8 Hours, the Power of Naps... and the New Plan to Recharge Your Body and Mind. On this episode, we uncover the common myths and misunderstandings about sleep. We also discuss the circadian rhythm, chronotypes, polyphasic sleep, and treating sleep as recovery. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com SHOW NOTES 0:00 | Intro to Nick Littlehales 1:42 | Sleep Tips 3:45 | Becoming a Sleep Coach 7:28 | How the Pros Optimize Sleep 9:38 | What to do Before You Sleep 19:36 | Understanding Circadian Rhythm 26:10 | Polyphasic Sleep: Importance of Naps 28:58 | 7 Key Sleep Recovery Indicators 37:27 | How to Improve Sleep 43:54 | Microrest 45:20 | Rapid Fire Questions

    50 min

  8. 04/19/2022

    #89: Consciousness, Perception & Reality - Donald Hoffman, PhD

    Donald Hoffman, PhD is a cognitive scientist and author of The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes. He is currently a professor at UC Irvine, where he studies consciousness, visual perception and evolutionary psychology. On this episode, we “take the red pill” and hear Dr. Hoffman’s theory on why reality is not what it seems. He explains this complex topic by comparing reality to a user interface. We discuss many topics, such as his mathematical theory of consciousness, questioning beliefs, and how the mind forms new mental models. FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind Website: www.fitmind.com Show Notes 0:00 | Introduction to Donald Hoffman, PhD 2:23 | Why Reality Isn’t as It Seems 7:30 | Reality as a User Interface 13:51 | Adapting to Evolving Technology 16:06 | Creating New Mental Models 18:31 | Moving Beyond Spacetime 23:06 | Consciousness is Fundamental 25:26 | Ancient Wisdom & Science of Consciousness 30:00 | Conversation with the Dalai Lama (starting at 54:40) 30:15 | Reality Transcends Concepts 36:39 | Questioning Beliefs 38:56 | A New Worldview 45:04 | Mathematical Theory of Consciousness 45:39 | Rapid Fire Questions

    51 min
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4.8
out of 5
318 Ratings

About

Expert insights on the science of mental fitness. Topics include psychology, neuroscience, mental health, mindfulness meditation, productivity, brain technologies, Stoicism, happiness hacking, and more. Liam McClintock, the Founder of FitMind, talks with leaders in their fields, from neuroscientists and psychologists to Buddhist monks and professional athletes. At FitMind, we believe that the next great human frontier is the mind. FitMind combines ancient techniques with western psychology to provide mental fitness training that is taught at Fortune 500 companies, addiction centers, schools, government organizations, and on the FitMind meditation app. Liam McClintock received a B.A. from Yale and worked in finance before traveling to Asia to study meditation full-time. He is currently completing an MS in Applied Neuroscience at King’s College London. Liam is an RYS Certified Yoga & Meditation Instructor and has trained in various meditation styles. He has been featured in Time, Vice, Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, NBC, and Men’s Health.

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