Mind Body Health & Politics cover art

Mind Body Health & Politics

By: Richard L. Miller
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • Dr. Richard Louis Miller is an American Clinical Psychologist, Founder of Wilbur Hot Springs Health Sanctuary, and broadcaster who hosts the Mind Body Health & Politics talk radio program from Mendocino County, California. Dr. Miller was also Founder and chief clinician of the nationally acclaimed, pioneering, Cokenders Alcohol and Drug Program. Dr. Miller’s new book, Psychedelic Medicine, is based on his interviews with the most acclaimed experts on the topic. Mind Body Health & Politics radio broadcast is known for its wide ranging discussions on political issues and health. The program’s format includes guest interviews with prominent national authorities, scientists, best-selling authors, and listener call-ins. The programs offer a forum and soundboard for listeners to interact with the show and its guests. We invite you to listen to the latest broadcasts below or visit our many archived programs. We’d love to hear from you on political and health issues!

    www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org
    Dr. Richard L. Miller
    Show More Show Less
activate_primeday_promo_in_buybox_DT
Episodes
  • Peter Coyote on Buddhism's Practical Wisdom for Modern Life

    Peter Coyote on Buddhism's Practical Wisdom for Modern Life
    Jun 25 2024

    Dear Friends,

    How can we find peace and purpose amid the turmoil and distraction of the modern world? Actor, author, and Zen Buddhist priest Peter Coyote believes the answer lies in the timeless wisdom of Buddhism – translated for our modern lives.

    In my latest interview, Peter and I explore:

    * The Buddhist concept of "dependent origination" and its relevance to our interconnected world

    * How meditation can help us contain and investigate our emotions, leading to more dignified living

    * The power of "radical optimism" in the face of life's uncertainties

    * Applying Buddhist principles to navigate personal and societal challenges

    "Buddha discovered that everything in the world is connected to everything else," Peter told me. "He called it dependent origination. You can understand it immediately when you understand that we've never been separate from oxygen, from sunlight, from water, from microbes in the soil."

    This interconnectedness forms the foundation of Buddhist thought and practice. But how does it apply to our daily lives?

    Peter's new book, Zen in the Vernacular, strips away the cultural trappings to reveal the core of Buddhist teachings in accessible, everyday language. He shared with me how these ancient principles can serve as a "creative problem-solving mechanism and moral guide" for the stresses of modern life.

    One key concept is the practice of meditation, which Peter describes not as an escape, but as a tool for facing our inner world head-on:

    "When you meditate, you develop a faith that's based on experience, that you can sit with whatever comes up, investigate it, let it come. You don't have to invite it for tea and let it go. Everything's always changing."

    This ability to sit with our thoughts and emotions without being controlled by them can lead to profound changes in how we interact with the world.

    Perhaps most inspiring is Peter's concept of "radical optimism" – a philosophy born from Buddhist principles:

    "Radical optimism is based on one incontrovertible fact: we never know how things are going to turn out... Keeping my spirits up and my energy up and my shoulder to the wheel keeps me in play."

    While cynicism prevails in much of the media and cultural landsacape, this reminder of the power of hope and action is truly refreshing.

    This week, I invite you to reflect on how Buddhist principles might apply to your own life. How might the concept of interconnectedness change your perspective on a current challenge? Share your thoughts in the comments on YouTube.

    Golden light,

    Dr. Richard Louis Miller

    Mind Body Health & Politics is a reader-supported publication, where I share the tools and insights I've gathered over my 64-year career. To receive my weekly digest, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    Links:

    * Zen in the Vernacular - Peter’s Book

    How to Stop Torturing Yourself with Thoughts of the Past and Future

    The most common way my patients make themselves unhappy is by dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. While it's possible to think about the past and future without causing emotional pain, many people fall into the trap of self-torture.

    They dwell on painful memories, things they wish they had done differently, and moments they criticize themselves for or feel ashamed about. The past is gone, and nothing can be done to change it. Yet, they continue to think about it, causing themselves emotional discomfort.

    Others play the "what if" game with the future:

    * What if the market crashes?

    * What if I get fired?

    * What if my partner leaves me?

    These hypothetical scenarios bring people down and make them feel terrible.

    The best thing to do is practice being in the present moment.

    How do you do it? Practice.

    By staying present and avoiding dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, you can reduce emotional pain and lead a happier life.

    Watch on comment on Instagram:

    My Books:

    * Freeing Sexuality: Psychologists, Consent Teachers, Polyamory Experts, and Sex Workers Speak Out

    * Psychedelic Wisdom: The Astonishing Rewards of Mind-Altering Substances

    * Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca

    * Integral Psychedelic Therapy (co-edited with Jason A. Butler & Genesee Herzberg)



    This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 12 mins
  • From conflict to collaboration with Stewart Levine

    From conflict to collaboration with Stewart Levine
    Jun 20 2024
    Dear Friends,In a world rife with division, how can we turn conflict into collaboration?Lawyer-turned-“resolutionary” Stewart Levine has spent over 35 years mastering the art of transforming breakdowns into breakthroughs. From feuding business partners to disgruntled employees to divorcing couples, he's been in the trenches of impossible situations - and emerged with relationships intact and millions of dollars saved.Now, he's distilled his hard-won wisdom into practical tools anyone can use to resolve and prevent conflict. As the author of the international bestseller Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict Into Collaboration and the founder of Resolution Works, Stewart is on a mission to make the world a more collaborative place.In my latest interview, Stewart and I explore:* The hidden costs of unresolved conflict and the power of "resolutionary thinking"* Why the legal system often impedes real communication and problem-solving* The key principles and skills for authentic, empathetic dialogue* How to craft agreements that foster alignment, trust and shared vision* Improving your most important personal and professional relationships"Conflict lives inside of us as an emotional presence," Stewart told me. "You can't give that to somebody else to resolve. It's something you need to dig into to purge yourself of."In a polarized age, Stewart's message couldn't be more timely."We as human beings are seeking connection," he said. "We want connection. We don't quite know how to do it. But in many ways, it's built into our biology."The problem, he believes, is our adversarial "win-lose" paradigm. "If you get yours, then I'm not going to get mine. And I think that's a great fallacy." Instead, he advocates for an abundance mindset focused on giving people what they need.So how do we get to that magical place called win-win? It starts with resolutionary thinking:"Honoring feelings when we're in a disagreement with other people. Giving people the opportunity to tell their story from beginning to end... Recognizing that the other person was probably trying to do the best they possibly could, just like we were. So giving the opportunity for our compassion, empathy to arise."While the tools are simple, the impact can be profound. "I like to look around and see that I don't have any ongoing conflicts in my life," Stewart reflected. "I pride myself on good relationships, positive relationships over time."This week, I'm inviting my listeners to examine a conflict in your own life. What would it look like to approach it with resolutionary thinking? Share your reflections in the comments on YouTube.Golden light,Dr. Richard Louis MillerMind Body Health & Politics is a reader-supported publication, where I share the tools and insights I've gathered over my 64-year career. To receive my weekly digest, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show NotesStewart’s WebsiteBooks:* Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict Into Collaboration* The Book of Agreement: 10 Essential Elements for Getting the Results You Want* Collaboration 2.0News & Notes: The Endocannabinoid System and Physical ExerciseNew research sheds light on how sustained physical exercise activates the body's endocannabinoid system, triggering a phenomenon known as a "runner's high" that can reduce pain, induce mild sedation, increase euphoria, and have anxiolytic effects. Endocannabinoids, which are like the body's own cannabis, are now understood to be the primary driver behind these exercise-induced psychophysical effects, more so than endorphins as previously thought.A review by Matei et al. summarizes evidence that the anxiolytic and euphoric aspects of the runner's high depend on activation of specific cannabinoid receptors in the brain and periphery, not opioid signaling from endorphins. While endorphins are also released during exercise, the authors argue they cannot sufficiently cross the blood-brain barrier to alter mood and pain perception the way endocannabinoids can.As the famous surrealist Salvador Dali once quipped, "I don't need drugs. I am drugs" - a fitting sentiment for the natural high induced by the body's own cannabinoid-like molecules during physical activity.Dealing with Depression: The Importance of MovementLet’s talk about depression. Depression can be exhausting. Unlike some other illnesses, depression can tire you out, making it difficult to carry out daily tasks and deal with the condition itself. In severe cases, known as clinical depression, individuals may struggle to even get out of bed for weeks at a time.The key to managing depression is finding ways to get yourself moving. Movement is crucial in combating the symptoms of depression. The more you move, the better. However, when you're exhausted, it can be challenging to find the motivation to take action.To overcome this hurdle, consider:* Asking a friend or family member to visit and encourage you* Reaching out to a support group or call service* Finding an ...
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • The fight for MDMA therapy

    The fight for MDMA therapy
    Jun 11 2024
    Dear Friends,In the early 1980s, as a clinical psychologist, I had a remarkable experience as a patient of Dr. Robert Cantor, the founder of the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. He legally administered MDMA to me over a period of a year and a half, and the benefits were profound. My heart opened, my empathy increased, and my defenses lowered. At the time, therapists across the United States were reporting amazing results using MDMA with couples, claiming they achieved more progress in a few sessions than in years of traditional therapy.However, in 1985, amid growing concerns about recreational use – as well as misinformation about its neurotoxicity – the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) emergency scheduled MDMA as a Schedule I substance, effectively banning its use for any purpose, including medical research.Around that time, Dr. Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), went before the government to seek approval for MDMA's medicinal use. Despite promising early research, the FDA rejected his proposal. Now, 39 years later, MAPS and its spinoff Lykos Therapeutics are still fighting for approval, only to face a significant setback this week. An FDA governmental advisory committee voted 10-1 in favor of advising against recommending that MDMA be approved as medicine by the FDA in its upcoming August meeting. This decision comes after decades of rigorous clinical trials that have demonstrated MDMA's potential as a catalyst for psychotherapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions. There is still a remote chance that the FDA will vote against its own advisors.The government's main reason for this denial is that current MDMA studies fail to meet the gold standard of medical testing: the double-blind study. In this design, neither the administrators nor the patients know if they are receiving the actual medicine or a placebo. The FDA argues that a high percentage of subjects quickly determine whether they are in the placebo or experimental group based on the powerful effects of MDMA, compromising the study design.However, this reasoning is flawed. While the double-blind issue is valid, it should not be grounds for disqualification, especially when the medicine is demonstrably effective in approximately 80% of cases. The core question should be whether the positive effects are due to the medicine itself or a placebo effect enhanced by patients' awareness that they have received the active drug. In my view, this distinction is less important than the fact that patients are experiencing real benefits. If both the medicine and placebo effects are contributing to positive outcomes, that should be celebrated, not penalized.The government's position appears to be clouded by the emotional stigma surrounding MDMA as a "party drug," despite the fact that many substances have both therapeutic and recreational applications. This bias should not prevent MDMA from being used as a powerful catalyst in a professional therapeutic context, where it could potentially help hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people.Ultimately, the government's role should be to prioritize the wellbeing of its citizens and support interventions that can provide the greatest benefit to the most people. Allowing emotion and politics to override scientific evidence and real-world therapeutic outcomes is a disservice to public health.The fight for MDMA therapy is not over, but the struggle has already spanned four decades. It is time for the government to adopt a more nuanced, compassionate approach and allow this promising treatment to become accessible to those who desperately need it. Golden light,Dr. Richard Louis MillerShow Notes* Patients with terminal illnesses often face debilitating anxiety, depression, and existential distress* Psilocybin therapy has shown remarkable potential to alleviate end-of-life suffering in clinical trials* "Right to Try" laws in over 40 states allow access to experimental drugs for the terminally ill, but the DEA is blocking access to psilocybin* Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, a Seattle palliative care physician, is fighting a landmark legal case to win psilocybin access for his dying patients* Some patients resort to underground psychedelics out of desperation; clinical psilocybin therapy would be far safer and more beneficial* The case pits the DEA's scheduling of psilocybin against state laws and patient autonomy at the end of life* Eight states and D.C. have filed amicus briefs supporting Dr. Aggarwal's case, arguing the DEA has overstepped* A summer decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals could be a pivotal moment for psychedelic medicine* The case highlights the need for a more compassionate, integrated approach to end-of-life care that addresses spiritual and existential dimensions* Responsible, mindful use of psychedelics may help change both how we live and how we approach deathSubscribe for ...
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Science
Show More Show Less

What listeners say about Mind Body Health & Politics

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.co.uk reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available