Dhru Purohit Podcast

A woman’s hormonal landscape changes dramatically throughout her life. Because of this unique biology, understanding her menstrual cycle and its rhythm can be incredibly useful for optimizing productivity, weight, sex drive, energy, and mood. On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Dr. Stephanie Estima, an expert in female metabolism and body composition. She is a doctor of chiropractic with a special interest in functional neurology, brain metabolism, and the specific application of the ketogenic diet and fasting to female physiology. Using her framework, The ESTIMA Method™, she is particularly focused on distilling strategies in nutritional proxies, movement, posture, and mindset to actualize human potential, healthspan, longevity, and achievement.In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Estima talk about how to eat according to your menstrual cycle, and why women are not meant to calorie restrict over the long term or be in ketosis over the long term. They discuss when women’s bodies best tolerate fasting and the different types of fasts across a women’s cycle. They also talk about how to change your exercise routine based on your menstrual cycle and the importance of taking the time to recover and slow down.In this episode, we dive into: -Why men and women respond differently to a ketogenic diet (6:55)-Why a woman shouldn’t be on a ketogenic diet all the time (13:57)-Why resistant starches are so important and how to incorporate them into your diet (15:49)-What is a ketogenic diet and why has it become so popular (17:20)-The four phases of a women’s menstrual cycle (25:31) -How to eat during the different phases of your cycle (38:03)-The two ways you build muscle in the body (40:43)-Outcome goals vs. behavioral goals (58:54) -Why orgasms should be part of your self-care regime (1:09:57)-Nutrition, fasting, and exercise considerations if you are in menopause (1:12:06)-Setting boundaries and prioritizing your health (1:14:55)-Where to learn more about Dr. Estima (1:19:42)For more on Dr. Stephanie Estima, you can follow her on Instagram @dr.stephanie.estima, on Facebook @drestima, and through her website here. Listen to her podcast, Better with Dr. Stephanie, here.Also mentioned in this episode:-Better with Dr. Stephanie, Ask Me Anything Episode #5-Better with Dr. Stephanie, Ask Me Anything Episode #6-The Clue app for tracking your menstrual cycle: https://helloclue.com/-The Pleasure Zone: Why We Resist Good Feelings & How to Let Go and Be Happy by Stella Resnick: https://amzn.to/2VFip92For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by our partnership with the AirDoctor Air Filter. To get exclusive access to this deal visit www.brokenbrain.com/filter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The first time neurosurgeon Mark McLaughlin cut open a patient's skull, he found himself confronting a powerful force that his fellow brain surgeons agreed was best never spoken of— fear.On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Dr. Mark McLaughlin, a practicing board-certified neurosurgeon, a national media commentator, thought leader in performance enhancement, and author of the book, Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon’s Quest to Outthink Fear.In this episode, Dhru and Dr. McLaughlin talk about how so much of what we perceive as fear is wrapped up in a story. They discuss what prevents people from seeking help or counsel about a problem or fear they have. They also talk about tools and strategies for overcoming fear. In this episode, we dive into: -The first time Dr. McLaughlin was introduced to fear (2:09)-What wrestling taught him about fear (3:59)-The fear freakout (12:52)-How to map out your fear (15:42)-Where fear lives in the brain (21:14) -The fear of vulnerability (27:23) -The misconception that we have to get over our fears (30:10)-The power of taking tiny actions to overcome fear (44:32)-The importance of partnership when dealing with a challenge (49:57)-Where to learn more about Dr. McLaughlin (1:09:53)For more on Dr. Mark McLaughlin, you can follow him on Instagram @mmclaughlinmd, on Facebook @markmclaughlinmd, on Twitter @mmclaughlinmd, and through his website here. You can find his book, Cognitive Dominance: A Brain Surgeon’s Quest to Out-Think Fear, right here. Take the Cognitive Dominance Assessment here, and check out his blog here.Also mentioned in this episode:-Maps of Meaning: The Architect of Belief by Jordan B. Peterson-12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson-Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work by Steven Pressfield-Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb-10% Happier Revised Edition: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works--A True Story by Dan Harris-10 Percent Happier Meditation appFor more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Big Idea Tuesday!On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host, Dhru Purohit talks to us about the five hidden mental addictions that hold you back:1) The addiction to prioritizing everyone else at the expense of your deepest work2) The addiction to certainty and avoiding the unknown3) The addiction to being let down, and expecting the worst in others4) The addiction to blame and criticism5) And most importantly, the addiction to being hard on yourselfFor more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the U.S., maternal mortality and morbidity disproportionately affect Black women at a rate four to five times greater than white women. On top of higher fatality rates, Black women are also statistically more likely to experience pregnancy complications, including hypertension, placental disorders, gestational diabetes, blood disorders, and preeclampsia.On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Latham Thomas, a Celebrity Doula and Maternity Wellness Expert. Latham Thomas supports women in embracing optimal wellness and spiritual growth as a pathway to empowerment. Latham is leading a revolution in radical self-care, guiding women everywhere to “mother themselves first.” Latham is the founder of Mama Glow, a global women’s health and education brand serving women along the childbearing continuum. Mama Glow supports women and families during the fertility period, pregnancy, birth, as well as during postpartum offering hand-holding through their bespoke doula services. Latham is also one of Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100, and the author of, Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen. In this episode, Dhru and Latham talk about how a system that is designed to help people actually ends up causing them harm when it comes to adverse birth outcomes. They discuss how a doula supports women during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They also talk about reaffirming our children’s capacity for freedom during this time of racial unrest.In this episode, we dive into:-Racial disparities in adverse birth outcomes (6:53)-The history of racial disparities in childbirth among Black women (17:27)-Latham’s story of getting into birth work and what it means to have an advocate (27:30)-Why you should consider having a doula help you through your childbirth (30:38)-Why birth is really a meditative state and the importance of feeling safe during labor (32:12) -Latham’s early experience supporting women in birth (33:45)-What informed consent looks like and standing up for your rights in childbirth (44:10)-How to support the process of education and access for marginalized communities when it comes to doula trainings (52:15)-How Latham is helping her son navigate the world when it comes to the racial unrest and protests (1:02:58)-Where to learn more about Latham (1:12:59)For more on Latham Thomas, you can follow her on Instagram @glowmaven, on Facebook @lathamthomasglowmaven, on Twitter @glowmaven, and through her website here. You can find her book, Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen, here. Learn more about her Doula Training Program here.Also mentioned in this episode:-Op-ed in Cosmopolitan, America Was Already Failing Black Mothers. COVID-19 is Making It More Dangerous Than Ever-CDC report on racial and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related deaths-NPR article: Black Mothers Keep Dying After Giving BirthFor more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by our partnership with the AquaTru Water Filter. To get exclusive access to this deal visit www.brokenbrain.com/filter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Are you a participant or bystander? It’s a very important question at this time, because as we look around the world we see history is happening right in front of us. You have to ask yourself, are you participating in the unfolding of this history, are you bystanding, or are you getting in the way? This is our opportunity to overcome separation and division and step into our power as one.On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Reverend Michael Beckwith, an author and Founder and Spiritual Director of the Agape International Spiritual Center, a trans-denominational community headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Reverend Beckwith is regarded for his teachings on the science of inner transformation which include vehicles like a practical approach to spirituality utilizing meditation, affirmative prayer, and Life Visioning, a process he originated.His teachings and the work that the Agape International Spiritual Center brings to the world, help people take the experience of inner peace and awakened awareness into their everyday lives. In 2012, Reverend Beckwith addressed the UN General Assembly during its annual World Interfaith Harmony Week. As co-founder and president of the Association for Global New Thought, he hosts conferences featuring harbingers of world peace including His Holiness the Dalai Lama.Three of his most recent books—Life Visioning, Spiritual Liberation, and TranscenDance Expanded are recipients of the prestigious Nautilus Award. Reverend Beckwith has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Network’s SuperSoul Sunday, Dr. Oz, CNN, Larry King Live, Tavis Smiley, and in his own PBS Special, The Answer Is You. In this episode, Dhru and Reverend Beckwith talk about how we are in the ending of one world, and the beginning of the other, and what the possibility of this new world is. They discuss the true meaning of sacrifice, and what role it plays during these times. They also talk about what it means to participate in the unfolding of change that is happening in the world right now, and what we can do to make a difference.In this episode, we dive into:-The true meaning of the apocalypse (10:01) -Creating change for racial injustice (24:15) -What it’s like to live as a person of color in America (25:46)-How we create our own internal violence and harm (34:24) -How many of us have "perfected the practice of worry" which shapes our vision of the future (37:57)-The power of prayer (39:11)-Reverend Michael Beckwith’s moment of awakening (42:18)-What it really means to sacrifice something (53:58)-How we can maintain the momentum for change for racial injustice (1:01:45)-Where to learn more about Rev. Michael Beckwith (1:07:48)For more on Rev. Michael Beckwith, you can follow him on Instagram @michaelbbeckwith, on Facebook @michael.b.beckwith, on Twitter @drmichaelbb, and through his website here. Livestream Agape’s Sunday Services here, and watch the Lifting The Veil Series here. Download his app, Take Back Your Life, right here. Lastly, watch the sermons from Rev. Beckwith that Dhru mentioned in the episode here and here.For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.This episode of Broken Brain is brought to you by Thrive Market and Four Sigmatic.I know everyone is trying to stay healthy at home right now, so I wanted to share one of my favorite resources with you for getting healthy food delivered right to my doorstep—it’s Thrive Market. When it comes to what I eat I’m really intentional. It’s super important to me to know exactly what I’m buying so I always take a deep dive into ingredients and company practices before adding anything new to my kitchen. If you join Thrive Market today, you’ll get a $20 shopping credit when you place your first order. Any order over $49 ships free and since sustainability is a huge part of their mission statement it will be delivered with carbon-neutral shipping from one of their zero-waste warehouses. Just go to thrivemarket.com/brokenbrain, sign up, and start filling up your cart. You’ll see the credit automatically deducted at checkout.A new part of my morning ritual that I’ve really been loving is drinking Four Sigmatic’s Ground Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane and Chaga, instead of grabbing a regular cup of coffee. It gives me a ton of energy but also helps me feel calm and focused at the same time. I also find it’s way more gentle on my gut.All Four Sigmatic products are organic, vegan, and gluten-free. Every single batch is tested in a third-party lab for heavy metals, allergens, bad bacteria, yeasts, molds, mycotoxins, and pesticides, to check for purity and safety. And no worries if you don’t love it - Four Sigmatic has a 100% Money-Back Guarantee.I’m excited to share an exclusive offer with you from Four Sigmatic, just for Broken Brain listeners. From now through June 28th, Four Sigmatic is having their biggest sale of the year with savings up to 50% off. Plus Broken Brain listeners receive an extra 20% off with code BRAIN. To take advantage of this great deal go to foursigmatic.com/BRAIN or use code BRAIN at checkout. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Big Idea Tuesday!On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host, Dhru Purohit talks to us about how to find peace through acceptance. Acceptance is such a powerful tool that we have. Eckhart Tolle said, “Whatever you cannot enjoy doing, you can at least accept that this is what you have to do. Acceptance means: For now, this is what this situation, this moment, requires me to do, and so I do it willingly.” When we are at peace with what is in this moment, then we’re truly at peace and we can take inspired action to move us forward and actually make a difference. For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here. To learn more about Byron Katie and The Work visit https://thework.com. You can find her book, I Need Your Love - Is That True?, right here. Lastly, you can watch The Work documentary here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Throughout history, people have sought the heights of human potential—to become as wise and strong, happy and loving, as any person can ever be. And now, recent science is revealing how these remarkable ways of being are based on equally remarkable changes in our own nervous system, making them more attainable than ever before. On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Dr. Rick Hanson, a psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. His books have been published in 29 languages and include Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. Dr. Hanson is an expert on positive neuroplasticity, and his work has been featured on the BBC, CBS, NPR, and other major media. He is also the founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom.In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Hanson talk about how to rewire your brain using both ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience. They discuss the brain-changing effects of mindfulness and meditation practices. They also talk about how to be more present, less distracted, and how to have compassion for yourself and others.In this episode, we dive into:-The importance of establishing a mindfulness practice (2:31)-Mental time travel (10:11)-The nature versus nurture debate (18:24)-The seven fundamental ways of being (30:38)-How we can change the circuitry of our own brain (37:37)-Why negative inputs hijack of our brain (44:40) -How Dr. Hanson incorporates the seven fundamental practices into his life (46:32) -The importance of voting and claiming your power (55:10)-Where to learn more about Dr. Rick Hanson (56:56)For more on Dr. Rick Hanson, you can follow him on Instagram @rickhansonphd, Facebook @rickhansonphd, Twitter @drrhanson, and through his website here. Sign-up for his weekly newsletter here, and learn more about his online program Neurodharma here. You can find his latest book, Neurodharma: New Science, Ancient Wisdom, and Seven Practices of The Highest Happiness, right here.For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by our partnership with the AquaTru Water Filter. To get exclusive access to this deal visit www.brokenbrain.com/filter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How many times have you attempted to start working out consistently, eat more veggies, or incorporate something new into your routine, but struggled to make it stick? I think we’ve all been there. Creating new habits that stick can be daunting. However, with Dr. BJ Fogg’s secret formula, creating new and even tiny habits can not only be easy, but enjoyable and rewarding.On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Dr. BJ Fogg, a behavior scientist with deep experience in innovation and teaching. For the past 20 years at Stanford University, he has directed a research lab. Dr. Fogg also teaches his models and methods in graduate seminars. BJ has personally coached over 40,000 people in forming new habits, using his breakthrough method called “Tiny Habits.” His New York Times bestselling book, Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything, was published in early 2020 and is contracted to be published in over 25 languages.In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Fogg discuss how BJ’s upbringing helped shape his interest in pursuing behavior change and influence. They talk about how one of the most crucial aspects of getting a new habit to stick is celebrating yourself, even though it feels awkward at first. And importantly, they talk about how to make big changes by first focusing on creating tiny habits. In this episode, we dive into:-Dr. Fogg's story growing up and how his early experiences shaped his views (4:14)-Where Dr. Fogg gained influence and interest in behavior changes (12:05)-The first time Dr. Fogg saw his research being used by businesses (17:34)-How he applied behavior change tactics, the Fogg Behavior Model, to himself (21:50)-Common misconceptions behind how to create a habit (25:45)-Three aspects of the Fogg Behavior Model (36:00)-An example for creating a habit using the Tiny Habit Model (37:52)-How the process for creating habits and stopping habits is different (48:32)-How to create new tiny habits (49:10)-How important celebrating yourself is (55:50)-How having high expectations can be holding us back and how to make big changes using the Tiny Habits Method (1:07:53)-Diving deeper into the different approach to stopping a behavior versus starting one (1:15:00)For more on Dr. BJ Fogg, you can follow him on Instagram @bjfogg, Twitter @bjfogg, and through his website here. To learn more about his book, Tiny Habits, click here. Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We are officially in a recession—many people have lost their jobs through the coronavirus pandemic. The interesting thing about a recession is that, as challenging as it is, looking back at the last one we see many people started new businesses during that time. On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, I talk about 5 ideas and practices to think about when starting a new business or any new project that you care about. (1) In most cases, it’s not a good idea to quit your day job or have no income going into a business.(2) Keep expenses low.(3) Your first financial goal should be to cover your base expenses.(4) Focus on your MVP (minimum viable product). (5) In most cases, know that even in the best case scenario, it will take time for things to work out. Be patient and plan for the long term. As Bill Gates said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here. Books mentioned in this episode:-Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey-The Lean Startup by Eric Reis See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Up to 40% of college students report being too depressed to function most days. Over two-thirds say they experience overwhelming anxiety, and the scariest statistic is that more than 1 in 10 college students right now report seriously considering suicide in the past year. On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Dr. Laurie Santos, a Professor of Psychology and the Head of Silliman College at Yale University, as well as the host of the critically acclaimed podcast, The Happiness Lab. After observing a disturbing level of unhappiness and anxiety among her students, she began teaching a course entitled, Psychology and The Good Life, which quickly became the most popular course in Yale's history and has also reached almost 2 million people from all over the world through an online version. In this episode, Dhru and Laurie talk about the misconceptions of happiness and why money or a better job doesn’t create happiness. They discuss the importance of prioritizing our relationships and why they are key to our happiness. They also talk about “time famine” versus “time freedom” and how to think about the way we spend our time and what is really important.In this episode, we dive into:-The current racial pandemic (2:44)-How we measure happiness (5:27)-Why mental health disorders among young people are almost a national epidemic (11:01)  -Societal expectations of happiness (15:11)-How to rewire expectations (23:23)-The importance of prioritizing relationships (32:43)-“Time famine” and how it eats away at our happiness (42:43)-How to maintain a sense of contentment and happiness and be an informed citizen of the world (52:42)-Where to learn more about Dr. Laurie Santos (54:35)For more on Dr. Laurie Santos, you can follow her Twitter @lauriesantos. Check out her podcast The Happiness Lab here. To learn more about her book, The Science of Well-Being, click here. Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your join request here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by our partnership with the AquaTru Water Filter. To get exclusive access to this deal visit www.brokenbrain.com/filter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

“The difference is: loving yourself isn't contingent on making things better, you love yourself regardless. But because you love yourself, you're also going to take action to improve things at the same time.” Dr. Kristin Neff explains how crucial fierce self-love and self-compassion are right now. So often, givers put themselves last. But being fiercely dedicated to taking care of yourself is the only way to have the fuel to truly take care of others.On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Dr. Kristin Neff. Dr. Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, and a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research. In addition to writing numerous academic articles and book chapters on the topic, she is author of the book Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and co-author of The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook as well as Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program: A Guide for Professionals. She is also co-founder and board president of the nonprofit Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Neff dive into the negativity bias and why our brain is like velcro for negative information. They discuss why it is so easy to be overly hard on ourselves and the biggest hurdles that stop us from self-love. They also discuss empirical scientific research on the documented benefits of self-compassion. To wrap up the episode, Dr. Neff leads us through a powerful practice she calls “Working With Difficult Emotions.” In this episode, we dive into:-Dr. Neff and Dhru's background on getting into self-compassion (5:39)-The power of checking in (9:08)-Why beating yourself up or being overly hard on yourself isn't the best approach (15:48)-Where self-criticism comes from (22:53)-Where negativity bias comes from (27:14)-The biggest hurdles that stop people from loving themselves (32:58)-Empirical scientific research on self-compassion (37:50)-The importance of wisdom (44:13)-Breaking down our internal voice (48:42)-Dr. Neff's personal story that led her to research self-compassion (51:08)-How and why to have a dialogue with yourself (57:34)-“Working With Difficult Emotions” practice with Dr. Neff (1:02:05) -Where you can find more about Dr. Neff (1:10:40)For more on Dr. Neff, you can follow her on Twitter @self_compassion and through her website here. To learn more about her books: Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook. To access Dr. Neff’s 5-minute “Self-Compassion Break” practice, go here. To access Dr. Neff’s 15-minute “Soften, Soothe, Allow” practice, which is what today’s exercise was based on, go here. This episode of Broken Brain is brought to you by Thrive MarketI know everyone is trying to stay healthy at home right now, so I wanted to share one of my favorite resources with you for getting healthy food delivered right to my doorstep—it’s Thrive Market. When it comes to what I eat I’m really intentional. It’s super important to me to know exactly what I’m buying so I always take a deep dive into ingredients and company practices before adding anything new to my kitchen. If you join Thrive Market today, you’ll get a $20 shopping credit when you place your first order. Any order over $49 ships free and since sustainability is a huge part of their mission statement it will be delivered with carbon-neutral shipping from one of their zero-waste warehouses. Just go to thrivemarket.com/brokenbrain, sign up, and start filling up your cart. You’ll see the credit automatically deducted at checkout. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Friendships make every area of our lives better. They contribute to a deep sense of belonging in the world, in knowing our place, in having people that count on us and that we can count on. And also, they’re just plain fun!But, if you look at your list of friends on Facebook or group of people you interact with regularly, you’ll notice that the majority are luke-warm friends; those that you know pretty well, but aren’t deeply connected with. Today’s Broken Brain Podcast Big Idea Tuesday episode is all about taking those mediocre friendships and making them great. Turning them from someone you interact with to someone you connect with, build a kindred spirit with, and take this journey of life with.Being a great friend isn’t about being perfect or living up to some crazy ideal of a person who is totally selfless and puts everyone else before them. That’s being a people pleaser.Being a great friend means you’re willing to put in the work and grow together.Sometimes putting in the work means having an honest look at things you might be doing that are hurting your friendships.You probably aren’t doing these things on purpose, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have implications. In today’s episode, Dhru covers 5 things people do regularly that they may not be aware of that are hurting their friendships.By talking about these 5 areas, Dhru challenges you to take a personal look at your own behavior within your friendships to become aware of patterns you might not have seen before. This is the first step to building deep, meaningful, and lasting relationships. Dhru discusses the 5 things people do that hurt their relationships:Number 1: Poor and unclear communicationNumber 2: Complaining instead of opening upNumber 3: SarcasmNumber 4: Withholding or not expressing constructive feedbackNumber 5: Withholding or not expressing gratitudeSelf-reflection doesn’t come easy, but it’s always necessary in order to build connection. I hope you take the time to reflect on your role in your friendships and put in the work to take your relationships to the next level.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your join request here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Some of the biggest and best empires are built by women. However, we don’t hear about them nearly enough. Yasmin Nouri went on a quest to create her own empire by finding inspiration through other powerful women. This is how her new podcast, Behind Her Empire, was born.On today’s special Broken Brain Podcast episode, our host Dhru turns over the mic to his significant other, Yasmin Nouri, to help promote her new podcast, Behind Her Empire. Yasmin has spent most of her life pursuing careers most would consider successful—careers that she thought would bring her happiness. But deep down inside, she still felt unfulfilled and had a deep craving to build an empire on her own terms.This led her to seek out successful, self-made women and mentors whom she admired and who could help inspire her own journey. And now, with the launch of this podcast, she aims to bring that same experience to you.Every week, she dives deep into the personal stories of CEOs, founders, investors, and fearless changemakers, and learns how they’ve mastered business, family life, and money along with key lessons they’ve picked up along the way. It is her hope that this will inspire you to build your own empire too.Yasmin’s first guest is Lavinia Errico, founder of Equinox Fitness Clubs and the Inside Out Movement. In her 20s and 30s, Lavinia built a leading fitness company that forever changed the way Americans think about health and wellness. At the peak of her success, Lavinia sold Equinox for millions and was instantaneously wealthy beyond her needs and dreams.Although she was living the “American Dream,” Lavinia realized that somewhere along the way she had lost the things that were most important to her—her essential self and identity. This experience pushed Lavinia to embark on a completely different path and journey to rebuild her identity from the inside out. Lavinia now inspires individuals and organizations with her unique, disruptive take on how to create a more powerful, authentic and inspiring life.In this episode, Yasmin and Lavinia dive into Lavinia’s unique journey into creating the Equinox empire and more importantly, how she rediscovered her true self. They discuss how to get clear with your goals, find self-love, and create boundaries, and how these topics are all connected. They also talk about the profound impact love, support, and connection play in self-discovery, goal-setting, and creating an empire.In this episode, they dive into:-How Lavinia’s upbringing and mother taught her to create the life she desired (7:15)-The importance of saying “yes” and being open to different career opportunities (22:05)-Lavinia shares why there is no such thing as failure. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about winning and learning (31:00)  -How Lavinia and her brothers started a gym (34:00)-Why Lavinia chose to listen to her gut when she left her high paying job to start a gym (38:00)-Lavinia describes the importance of a team when founding Equinox (41:28)-Lavinia talks about her health scare and the importance of being spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy (52:25)-The importance of being self-aware (55:53)-Lavinia walks through the journey of selling her company (1:00:24)-The lowest point in Lavinia’s life despite making millions (1:06:00)-How to find your purpose, or as Lavinia says, “Your own lane” (1:12:00)-How to create more self-love and self-expression in your life (1:20:38)For more on Yasmin, you can follow her on Instagram @yasminknouri and be sure to follow her new podcast, Behind Her Empire. You can also listen through Apple or Spotify.For more on Lavinia Errico, you can follow her on Instagram @laviniajoy, on Twitter @LaviniaErrico, or check out her Inside Out Movement here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

“One of the most important qualities to develop in life is having a strong determination. At some point you just have to put your foot down and say, ‘I am going to move in this new direction and no person or situation is going to stop me.’ Great transformations always have a beginning.” Author Yung Pueblo (Diego Perez) speaks from his experience of personal rebirth and growth, sharing an ultimate truth: no matter what your goal, you have to start somewhere.On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Diego Perez. Diego is a meditator, writer, and speaker who is known on Instagram and various social media networks through his pen name Yung Pueblo. He reaches millions of people through his written works that focus on personal transformation and building self-awareness. His first book, Inward, was an immediate bestseller that is available in bookstores around the world.In this episode, Dhru and Diego talk about how Diego found himself in a self-inflicted life-or-death situation and how this was the beginning of a major transformation for him. Watching a close friend transform his life at a Vipassana meditation retreat was the life-changing experience he was so desperate for. Dhru and Diego dig into the emotional turmoil around acceptance so many of us experience and how to, as one of his poems guides, "Observe. Accept. Release. Transform." We can use these principles to truly change our lives.In this episode, we dive into:-How Diego is doing through the shelter in place (9:07)-Diego's personal story that led him to meditation (11:58)-How Diego's friend's discovery of meditation transformed his life (25:00)-“Attributes of a Good Friend,” a poem by Diego Perez (27:25)-How Diego's friends responded to his transformation (28:15)-How Diego's relationship with his family shifted (32:13)-Diego's experience with a Vipassana meditation retreat (36:55)-The Four Words that resonate with Diego (41:08)-What it means to "let it be" and find true acceptance of yourself (45:56)-Where release shows up in Diego's journey (51:45)-How to find a meditation modality that works best for you (55:13)-How Diego came to the name "Yung Pueblo" (1:00:17)-“Two of the Greatest Lessons,” a poem by Diego Perez (1:06:40)-How reflections and learnings turned into writing for Diego (1:09:43)-How important it is to put yourself out there (1:19:15)-The importance of intentionally navigating social media, news, and daily routine (1:24:03)-Diego's greatest hope through crisis (1:34:37)-How to learn more about Diego (1:45:08)For more on Diego, you can follow him on Instagram @yung_pueblo, on Facebook @yungpueblo, on Twitter @YungPueblo, and through his website here. To learn more about his book Inward, go here. Also mentioned in this episode is The Diamond Cutter book by Geshe Michael RoachThree resources mentioned in the intro; take the time to educate, learn, and share.Revisionist History Presents: The Limits of Powerhttps://play.acast.com/s/revisionisthistory/a88da1fe-a466-11ea-8510-13f0c0c47fa5Tulsa Race Riotshttps://www.instagram.com/p/CA6G1CtFoQ-/Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracisthttps://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-ibram-x-kendi-on-how-to-be-an-antiracist/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The exact same situation often prompts very different reactions from different people. Bassam Tarazi outlines a range of personas and reactions in his Redefining Optimism Chart: https://www.bassam.com/single-post/2020/04/16/Redefining-OptimismThough this is a spectrum and people can have mixed reactions, one scenario (the Realistic Optimist) experiences the greatest growth. They take a situation, don’t judge it as “good” or “bad,” and figure out how to use it to fuel their personal development. I like to think that I fit really well into this category (but only after years and years of work!)On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Bassam Tarazi. Bassam is the author of In 5 Years You'll Be Wrong, Borders, Bandits, And Baby Wipes and my personal favorite, The Accountability Effect. As an entrepreneur, he co-founded The Nomading Film Festival and The Ignition Lab. A wanderer at heart, he's also traveled to 73 countries and all 7 continents, having had such absurd experiences as getting to Everest Base Camp and the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, convincing Fidel Castro to sign his passport, living on an Alaskan glacier for 8 days, and being hunted by a pig-tailed macaque in the jungles of Borneo. In this episode, Dhru and Bassam talk about the importance of accountability, and how important it is for completing big goals and dreams. They discuss anchor friends and how to have open communication about your (and their) needs. They talk about how to live a fulfilled life and be the person you want to be. And they challenge you not to attempt to change the world, but to change the moment.In this episode, we dive into:-Why "What do you want to be when you grow up?" is not the right question to be asking (2:57)-What the “accountability effect” is (7:40)-Bassam shares a personal story about privilege (11:08)-How to help change the moment (20:08)-Bassam's Eulogy Exercise (23:15)-Redefining optimism essay discussion (26:59)-A time when Bassam struggled to step into accountability (34:27)-How hiding can be the opposite of accountability (37:22)-Outside resources that helped steer Bassam to accountability (40:42)-How important anchor friends are (43:19)-Why it's so important to have open (sometimes tough) communication with our closest tribe (50:23)-How to get from hope to action (58:10)-More about The Accountability Effect book (1:05:28)-More info on Bassam's other books (1:08:33) For more on Bassam, you can follow him on Instagram @bassamtarazi, on Twitter @BassamTarazi, on Facebook @bassam.tarazi, and through his website here. To access his free ebook, The Accountability Effect, click here.To check out Bassam’s free resource: "ChangeX" assessment, go here. Also mentioned in this podcast are Bassam’s other books: In 5 Years You'll Be Wrong and Borders, Bandits, And Baby Wipes, His TedX talk, the book, Poke the Box by Seth Godin, and author Steven Pressfield. Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by our partnership with the AquaTru Water Filter. To get exclusive access to this deal visit www.brokenbrain.com/filter See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.