Think Act Be Podcast
273 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 days ago - ★★★★★ - 55 ratingsThe Think Act Be podcast features conversations about finding happiness, peace, and connection. Each week your host, psychologist Seth Gillihan, talks with his guests about effective ways to face life’s challenges: What thoughts serve us well? What actions promote well-being? How can we practice mindful presence? Guests from a wide range of backgrounds share their expertise on ways to nourish our minds, bodies, and spirits.
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Episodes
Ep. 43: Alejandra Costello — How to Improve Your Life by Organizing Your Home
May 22, 2019 10:30 - 41 minutes - 31.8 MBMy guest this week is Alejandra Costello, a professional organizer with over one million YouTube subscribers. We explore the many positive effects of tidying up, from the obvious improvement in your living space to the deeper mental and emotional benefits. Alejandra also shared key principles for decluttering your home and getting organized.
Ep. 42: Dr. Polly Young-Eisendrath — How to Grow in Your Loving Relationships
May 15, 2019 10:30 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBMy guest this week is psychologist Dr. Polly Young-Eisendrath. We talked about the big ideas from her recent book, Love Between Equals: Relationship as a Spiritual Path. Polly presents an inspiring view of committed relationships—while she acknowledges the challenge in sharing life with another person, she also points to the possibilities that await us in truly relating to someone over time. Her ideas might change how you think about and how you experience your own relationships.
Ep. 41: Skip Prichard — How to Avoid the Biggest Obstacles to Happiness and Success
May 08, 2019 10:30 - 49 minutes - 35.4 MBWhat is the surest path to success and contentment in life, and what are the mistakes to avoid along the way? My guest this week is Skip Prichard, who has thought a lot about these questions for many years. He's distilled his insights into his Wall Street Journal bestselling book, The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future. We explored some of the nine secrets and we discussed his book, and the many benefits of avoiding these mistakes.
Ep. 40: Dr. Sharon Prentice — Finding New Life through a Shared Death Experience
May 01, 2019 10:30 - 1 hour - 38.9 MBYou're probably familiar with "near death experiences." My guest this week is Dr. Sharon Prentice, who describes a related journey called a "shared death experience." This was a new concept for me, as I'm sure it will be for a lot of listeners. It made for a really fascinating discussion as we explored the ways it changed Sharon's understanding of God and what it means to die, and to live.
Ep. 39: Dr. Ross Greene — A Better Way to Help Kids Solve Problems
April 24, 2019 10:30 - 49 minutes - 36.1 MBPsychologist and author Dr. Ross Greene encourages parents to let go of unhelpful parent-imposed solutions when kids aren't meeting our expectations, such as rewards and punishment. His approach focuses instead on solving problems collaboratively with our children, using a straightforward three-step method.
Ep. 38: Jon Hershfield — How to Find Relief from Unwanted Violent Thoughts in Harm OCD
April 17, 2019 10:30 - 53 minutes - 43 MBMy guest this week is therapist and OCD specialist Jon Hershfield. Jon is doing an incredible amount of work to improve the lives of those who struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder through his therapy practice, writing, and public talks. In this episode we discussed his excellent new book, Overcoming Harm OCD: Mindfulness and CBT Tools for Coping with Unwanted Violent Thoughts.
Ep. 37: Oren Jay Sofer — How to Improve Your Relationships with Better Communication
April 10, 2019 10:30 - 1 hour - 50.1 MBDo you ever feel like you and someone else just aren't hearing each other? My guest this week is Oren Jay Sofer, who is passionate about helping people to improve their relationships through his mindful approach to nonviolent communication. Discover how true presence can help us to listen and express ourselves more effectively.
Ep. 36: Charlie Gillihan — How to Survive the Challenges of Medical Training
April 03, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 77.5 MBMy guest this week is my brother Charlie Gillihan, who will graduate from medical school soon. We explored the slow evolution of medical training in the US, what it takes to become a doctor, the high rates of burnout and suicide among physicians, and what to look for in a great primary care doctor.
Ep. 35: Prof. Mary Jo Salter — The Powerful Effects of Poetry on the Human Spirit
March 27, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBMy guest this week is highly acclaimed poet Mary Jo Salter, whom Dan Chiasson described as “one of America’s most accomplished formalists” in the New York Review of Books. In this conversation we explored the drive to create poetry and its unique effect on our psyches.
Ep. 34: Jonni Pollard — How to Experience Life as a Sacred Expression of Love
March 20, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 71.9 MBMy guest this week is Jonni Pollard, who specializes in teaching the art of embodying our true nature to live the most meaningful life possible. In this episode we explored his inspiring vision of our deepest nature, our true purpose, and our capacity for fulfillment.
Ep. 33: Dr. James Kelley — Adversity as a Pathway to Personal Growth
March 13, 2019 04:00 - 1 hour - 47.6 MBDr. James Kelley and I discuss the sometimes surprising effects of adversity, or what James calls the "crucible's gift." Life's challenges may offer the opportunity to grow in strength and compassion, ultimately allowing us to become the person we were meant to be.
Ep. 32: Dr. Mark Powers — The Best Tested Ways to Treat Anxiety and Trauma
March 06, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 49.5 MBMy guest this week is psychologist Dr. Mark Powers, who specializes in research on anxiety and PTSD. Mark and I discuss the latest research on treatments for trauma, including EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga, and exercise, as well as the general principles of effective therapy.
Ep. 31: Dr. Jodi Mindell — How to Help Your Baby Sleep through the Night
February 27, 2019 05:00 - 56 minutes - 43.7 MBMost new parents will wish at some point that their baby were sleeping more soundly. Thankfully there are proven techniques for helping young children to sleep through the night. My guest this week is psychologist and pediatric sleep specialist Dr. Jodi Mindell, who has done a tremendous amount of work to bring compassionate, science-based sleep guidance to parents who need it.
Ep. 30: Dr. Omid Naim — Telling a Better Story about Health and Healing
February 20, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBWe usually think of healing as something that comes from the outside—from doctors, medications, supplements, the right diet.... According to integrative psychiatrist Dr. Omid Naim, however, healing comes from within. In this episode Dr. Naim describes an holistic approach that not only integrates many healing traditions like medicine, yoga, and talk therapy, but that seeks to integrate mind, body, and spirit.
Ep. 29: Dr. Julia Rucklidge — Can Nutrition Prevent Depression and Promote Resilience?
February 13, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 51.7 MBThe rates of conditions like anxiety and depression continue to rise, despite extremely high rates of psychiatric medication use. This week I spoke with Dr. Julia Rucklidge, a pioneer in the field of nutrition and mental health, about the role of micronutrients like vitamins and minerals in treating and preventing common psychological problems.
Ep. 28: Dr. Mitch Greene — Training the Mind for Better Athletic Performance
February 06, 2019 05:01 - 55 minutes - 43.8 MBAnyone who's played competitive sports knows that the mental game is at least as important as the physical one. My guest this week is clinical and sport psychologist Dr. Mitch Greene, who specializes in helping athletes manage doubts, cultivate courage, improve performance, and reach their goals. Mitch and I talked about several key issues in sport psychology, including: How mind games get in the way of a person’s goals Dealing with “mind chatter” Making peace with self doubt Real v...
Ep. 28: Dr. Mitch Greene — Training the Mind for Better Athletic Performance
February 06, 2019 05:00 - 55 minutes - 43.8 MBAnyone who's played competitive sports knows that the mental game is at least as important as the physical one. My guest this week is clinical and sport psychologist Dr. Mitch Greene, who specializes in helping athletes manage doubts, cultivate courage, improve performance, and reach their goals.
Ep. 27: Dr. Martha Farah — Can Manipulating the Brain Make You Smarter?
January 30, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 48.1 MBMany people are looking for ways to gain a mental edge. My guest this week is psychologist Dr. Martha Farah; as a brain scientist and pioneer in the field of neuroethics, Martha has thought a lot about ways to enhance our cognitive ability. She shares her insights on the effectiveness of stimulant medications, drugs for Alzheimer's, and direct stimulation of the brain to make healthy brains function even better. We also explore natural ways to enhance our mental abilities.
Ep. 26: Nora Whittaker Jones — How to Keep Your Voice Healthy and Strong
January 23, 2019 05:00 - 41 minutes - 30.4 MBMy guest this week is Nora Whittaker Jones, a Speech Language Pathologist who is intimately acquainted with the human voice. Nora and I discussed common vocal problems like muscle tension dysphonia and the stress they can cause, especially among professionals like teachers who depend on their voice every day. Nora shared her perspective on how to care for one's voice, and how to find help when necessary.
Ep. 25: Dr. Bryce Carter — How to Build Strength and Resilience in Martial Arts
January 16, 2019 05:00 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MBMy guest this week is Dr. Bryce Carter, who has a fascinating background as both a highly trained practitioner and instructor of martial arts and a practicing clinical psychologist. We explored the intersection of these two disciplines, including how training in the martial arts can improve our confidence, resilience, emotional equilibrium, and relationships.
Ep. 24: Dr. Brett Steenbarger — Using the Tools of CBT to Be a Better Trader
January 09, 2019 05:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBFinancial trading is challenging work, requiring a high degree of focus, discipline, and analytical ability. In this week's episode I spoke with psychologist Dr. Brett Steenbarger, who specializes in the psychology of trading. Brett describes the habits of thought and action—many of them drawn from cognitive behavioral principles—that help traders perform at consistently high levels.
Ep. 23: Dr. Belinda Seiger — Helping Individuals and Families Affected by OCD
January 02, 2019 05:00 - 58 minutes - 42.6 MBMillions of people are affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD—not just those who have the condition, but their family and other loved ones. My guest this week is psychologist Dr. Belinda Seiger, who specializes in evidence-based treatment of OCD. She describes how OCD affects families, and how effective treatment can improve relationships.
Ep. 22: August Turak — How to Transcend Selfishness and Live a Life of Purpose
December 26, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBEver wonder what's the right way to live your life? Author August Turak contends that deep down, you already know. In this week's episode we explore the message of his recent book, Brother John: A Monk, a Pilgrim, and the Purpose of Life. August shares his insights on how to move through the fear that prevents us from finding self-transcendence.
Ep. 21: Dr. Joel Minden — How to Stop Anxiety from Controlling Your Life
December 19, 2018 05:01 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBEveryone experiences anxiety at times, and it can actually be quite useful. But when it dominates a person's life, anxiety can be debilitating. My guest this week is Dr. Joel Minden, who specializes in the treatment of anxiety, including panic, generalized anxiety, and social phobia, as well as the related conditions of posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorder. [Click on the link to download my free guide, 10 Ways to Manage Stress and Anxiety Every Day.] Joel's primary approac...
Ep. 21: Dr. Joel Minden — How to Stop Anxiety from Controlling Your Life
December 19, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBAnxiety can be extremely debilitating when it dominates a person's life. My guest this week is Dr. Joel Minden, who specializes in the treatment of all kinds of anxiety and related conditions, from panic and generalized anxiety to social phobia, PTSD, and OCD. Hear from Joel how three powerful approaches can help to loosen the grip of overwhelming emotion.
Ep. 20: Dr. Jessica Breland — Latest Findings on the Obesity Epidemic Among US Veterans
December 12, 2018 05:01 - 40 minutes - 31.3 MBRecent research has identified an epidemic of obesity among US veterans. Dr. Jessica Breland has been at the forefront of this research, having recently published data on the prevalence of overweight (nearly 80%) and obesity (~40%) among nearly 5 million patients in the Veterans Health Administration. In this week's episode I explored this and other findings from Jessica's research. Among the topics we discussed were: The VHA services available to address the obesity epidemic Unique cha...
Ep. 20: Dr. Jessica Breland — Latest Findings on the Obesity Epidemic Among US Veterans
December 12, 2018 05:00 - 40 minutes - 31.3 MBRecent research has revealed startlingly high rates of obesity among the men and women who have served our country in the military. In this week's episode, I speak with Palo Alto VA psychologist Dr. Jessica Breland about her latest research on obesity, disordered eating, and military sexual trauma among US veterans—and how she's using social media to spread the word about her findings.
Ep. 19: Megan MacCutcheon — Keys to Women’s Confidence and Healthy Self-Esteem
December 05, 2018 05:01 - 54 minutes - 39.9 MB Countless people struggle to see themselves in a positive light, and women face specific challenges to their self-esteem. In this week's episode I talk with licensed professional counselor Megan MacCutcheon about her Self-Esteem Workbook for Women. Self-esteem has become a rather polarizing idea, in part because high self-esteem is often portrayed as "believing you are perfectly awesome," as this article in the Harvard Business Review says. But it all depends on how you define self-esteem...
Ep. 19: Megan MacCutcheon - Keys to Women's Confidence and Healthy Self-Esteem
December 05, 2018 05:00 - 54 minutes - 39.9 MBCountless people struggle to see themselves in a positive light, and women face specific challenges to their self-esteem. In this week's episode I talk with licensed professional counselor Megan MacCutcheon about her Self-Esteem Workbook for Women, including what healthy self-esteem looks like, how it's different from narcissism, and how anyone can take steps toward greater self-love.
Ep. 18: Dr. Jay Fournier – Looking at the Brain to Better Understand Depression
November 28, 2018 05:01 - 1 hour - 49.4 MBIt's a near certainty that in your lifetime, you or someone you love will experience major depressive disorder. This common condition is on the rise in recent years, and while awareness and the availability of treatment are greater than ever, countless individuals struggle to find relief. My guest this week is Dr. Jay Fournier, a clinical psychologist working at the frontier of depression research. Jay's work is focused on understanding the many varieties of depression, with the aim to maxim...
Ep. 18 Dr. Jay Fournier - Looking at the Brain to Better Understand Depression
November 28, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 49.4 MBMajor depression is a common condition that can severely limit a person's life. In this week's episode clinical psychologist Dr. Jay Fournier discusses his efforts to better understand the many varieties of depression by studying the brain and behavior—with the goal of maximizing treatment effectiveness.
Ep. 17: Brian Lies – Finding Hope After Loss and Grief
November 21, 2018 05:01 - 1 hour - 51.6 MBAt some point each of us will lose something we care about: a loved one, a relationship, our job, our health. My guest this week, author and illustrator Brian Lies, explores the arc of loss, grief, and renewal in his new book, The Rough Patch. In Brian's words, this book is "a meditation on grief and the anger which sometimes accompanies it ... and on hope." The Rough Patch tells the story of Evan and his dog, who enjoyed a blissful life together. And then suddenly Evan's world is shattered ...
Ep. 17: Brian Lies - Finding Hope After Loss and Grief
November 21, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 51.6 MBAll of us at some point will experience the pain of loss and the grief that follows. In this week's episode, author and illustrator Brian Lies discusses his new book, The Rough Patch, which beautifully captures the complex feelings and behaviors that follow a devastating loss—and the hope that is possible.
Ep. 16: Dr. Stephanie Sarkis — How to Spot, Manage, and Avoid Gaslighters in Your Life
November 14, 2018 05:01 - 51 minutes - 41 MBLast year I kept seeing posts on PsychologyToday.com about gaslighting. They were often among the most popular posts, and I kept wondering, What the heck is "gaslighting"? Finally I Googled it and found a succinct definition: "to manipulate (someone) by psychological means into questioning their own sanity." The most popular post is the first hit in a Google search for "gaslighting," and it was written by my guest for this week, Dr. Stephanie Sarkis: I was really happy to have the chance t...
Ep. 16: Dr. Stephanie Sarkis - How to Spot, Manage, and Avoid Gaslighters in Your Life
November 14, 2018 05:00 - 51 minutes - 41 MBGaslighting is a sinister form of emotional abuse in which a person is made to doubt their own reality. In this episode I speak with Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, a therapist, author, and authority on gaslighting. We explore the ins and outs of this pattern of behavior, including how to recognize it, avoid it, and break free from it.
Ep. 15: Dr. Richard Summers – Finding the Best Psychotherapy for Each Individual
November 07, 2018 05:01 - 53 minutes - 40.3 MBThere are many types of psychotherapy available, and it can be hard to know which one might be most helpful to an individual at a specific point in his or her life. In this week's episode I spoke with psychiatrist Dr. Richard Summers about an approach called psychodynamic (or dynamic) psychotherapy, which is a direct descendant of Sigmund Freud's school of thought. Rick has been practicing psychotherapy for many years, and has given a lot of thought to the nuances of therapy and what makes i...
Ep. 15: Dr. Richard Summers - Finding the Best Psychotherapy for Each Individual
November 07, 2018 05:00 - 55 minutes - 41.4 MBThere are countless forms of psychotherapy available—how is a person to choose among them? In this week's episode I speak with psychiatrist Dr. Richard Summers, who specializes in psychodynamic psychotherapy. We explore the strengths and limitations of this approach, its relationship to other popular forms of therapy (especially CBT), and how it has evolved since the time of Sigmund Freud.
Ep. 14: Arlene B. Englander – How to Let Go of Emotional Overeating and Love Your Food
October 31, 2018 04:01 - 50 minutes - 38.5 MB Eating is one of life's most fundamental and pleasurable activities. However, many of us have a complicated relationship with food, particularly when we're prone to emotional overeating. We may be preoccupied with food on the one hand, and feel guilty for the kinds or amounts of food we eat on the other. Arlene B. Englander knows the ins and outs of emotional overeating, not only from her practice as a therapist but from her own history of a troubled relationship with food. She has distill...
Ep. 14: Arlene B. Englander - How to Let Go of Emotional Overeating and Love Your Food
October 31, 2018 04:00 - 50 minutes - 38.5 MBMany of us have a complicated relationship with food that takes away from our enjoyment of it, particularly when we're prone to emotional overeating. In this episode Arlene B. Englander shares her expertise on what leads to emotional overeating, how mindful presence can help us break the habit, and the importance of filling our lives with good things.
Ep. 13: Dr. Rob DeRubeis — Latest Research from the Frontier of Depression Treatment
October 24, 2018 04:01 - 1 hour - 70.4 MBThere’s a lot of “received wisdom” in the field of depression treatment, such as: Medication is more powerful than talk therapy. Psychotherapy plus medication is the best treatment approach. Depression is caused by a “chemical imbalance” involving low serotonin. Antidepressant medication is better than placebo for most people with depression. Are these ideas well-supported by research data? To explore these issues I spoke with Dr. Rob DeRubeis, a clinical psychologist and expert in ...
Ep. 13: Dr. Rob DeRubeis - Latest Research from the Frontier of Depression Treatment
October 24, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 69.9 MBWhat's the best way to treat major depressive disorder? Psychologist Rob DeRubeis has been asking this question through more than three decades of research, and has arrived at some surprising answers. In this episode we explore the pros and cons of treating depression with medication or psychotherapy, and some of the possible downsides of combining therapy and meds.
Ep. 12: Dr. David Richo – The Mindful Path Toward Greater Love and Connection
October 17, 2018 04:01 - 49 minutes - 35.4 MBRelationships are the biggest factor in our well-being, and yet we often struggle to have the quality of connections that we need. In this episode I talk with Dr. David Richo about his excellent book, How to Be an Adult in Relationships: The 5 Keys to Mindful Loving. As we discussed, mindful loving consists of what Dave calls "the Five A's": attention, acceptance, appreciation, affection, and allowing. When we provide these essential ingredients, we help others (and ourselves) feel valued an...
Ep. 12: Dr. David Richo - The Mindful Path Toward Greater Love and Connection
October 17, 2018 04:00 - 49 minutes - 35.4 MBHow can we move toward more loving relationships with others, and a friendlier stance toward ourselves? Dr. David Richo discusses the practices of mindfulness that help us to love with our whole hearts.
Ep. 11: Dr. Alice Boyes — How to Create the Best Life Possible, One Habit at a Time
October 10, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 52.9 MBIn this week's episode, Dr. Alice Boyes discusses her proven strategies from The Healthy Mind Toolkit for breaking out of self-sabotaging behaviors. We explore antidotes to perfectionism, the power of creating efficient systems for managing your tasks, and the ability of small changes to produce surprisingly big improvements in our lives.
Ep. 10: Dr. Matt Kayser – Using Powerful Animal Models to Help Humans Sleep Better
October 03, 2018 04:01 - 1 hour - 48.3 MBWhat can we learn about human sleep from studying fruit flies? A lot more than you might think, as psychiatrist and researcher Matt Kayser explains this week. Matt and his colleagues are deepening our understanding of what drives the profound changes in sleep patterns across development—for example, newborns sleep all the time (except when their parents want them to), college students become nocturnal, and aging adults struggle to sleep soundly. His research promises to reveal the pathways i...
Ep. 10 Matt Kayser - Using Powerful Animal Models to Help People Sleep Better
October 03, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 48.3 MBSleep-related problems like insomnia are very common among adults, and yet little is understood about the basic mechanisms that govern sleep. Psychiatrist and sleep expert Dr. Matt Kayser is pushing the frontier of research on the brain processes that promote and disrupt sleep, and how effective insomnia treatments work.
Ep. 09: Dr. Ben Hunter – Love and Relationships Through the Lens of Attachment
September 26, 2018 04:01 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBEach of us has a predominant way of connecting with others, which relationship scientists call our attachment style. It's exactly what it sounds like—our habitual way of relating to people. Some of us seem to have an easy time in relationships, enjoying connecting to the people around us, while others are wary of getting too close, even to romantic partners. Still others have a hard time feeling secure in their relationships, always craving a closer connection and worrying that they'll be aba...
Ep. 9: Dr. Ben Hunter – Love and Relationships Through the Lens of Attachment
September 26, 2018 04:01 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBEach of us has a predominant way of connecting with others, which relationship scientists call our attachment style. It's exactly what it sounds like—our habitual way of relating to people. Some of us seem to have an easy time in relationships, enjoying connecting to the people around us, while others are wary of getting too close, even to romantic partners. Still others have a hard time feeling secure in their relationships, always craving a closer connection and worrying that they'll be aba...
Ep. 9: Dr. Ben Hunter - Love and Relationships Through the Lens of Attachment
September 23, 2018 00:13 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBPsychiatrist Ben Hunter shares his insights about the science of attachment, which is the habitual way each of us relates to others. Are we secure? Anxious? Avoidant? The answer will color our closest connections, and understanding attachment styles can help us in all our relationships.
Ep. 8: Mark Moliterno – Strengthening the Voice Through Mind, Body, and Spirit
September 19, 2018 04:01 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBThe voice is our primary way of expressing ourselves, and vocal problems can have a profound impact on our well-being and relationships. If you've ever been unable to speak for a while, like during laryngitis, you know how challenging it is not to have a voice. I found out for myself just how important the voice is when I experienced vocal difficulties that turned out to be related to a benign growth in my larynx. I had surgery to remove the growth, and then completed vocal training to pract...