Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson Podcast By Rick Hanson Ph.D. Forrest Hanson cover art

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

By: Rick Hanson Ph.D. Forrest Hanson
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Forrest Hanson is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Rick Hanson and a world-class group of experts to explore the practical science of lasting well-being. Conversations focus on the key insights from psychology, science, and contemplative practice that you need to build reliable inner strengths, overcome your challenges, and get the most out of life. New episodes every Monday.All rights reserved Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Is Self-Help Making You Miserable?

    Is Self-Help Making You Miserable?
    Jul 21 2025
    Forrest and Dr. Rick discuss what's really wrong with the self-help industry, going beyond the obvious pseudoscience and snake oil to examine deeper structural issues. They explore the industry's mixed-bag focus on individual responsibility, the risks of turning healing into a never-ending project, performative personal growth, narcissism, social media and capitalism, and honest striving vs. hustle culture. They also talk about their personal experiences navigating our relationship to the industry. Throughout, Rick and Forrest emphasize finding the middle path: balancing agency with awareness, growth with acceptance, and sincerity with skepticism. Key Topics: 0:00: Introduction 4:32: Healthy striving vs. obsessive self-improvement 8:27: The role of motivation: growth, shame, and self-worth 12:13: Problems with placing all responsibility on the individual 20:46: Performative self-help and spiritual status-seeking 26:13: Excessive self-preoccupation and narcissistic drift 34:34: Buddhist insights on “selfing” and the illusion of identity 44:43: Self-help as hustle culture 50:57: The generational shift from grindset to bed rotting 54:09: The self-help industrial complex and its incentives 58:56: Commodifying the self and seeking validation 1:04:18: Creating ethical, transparent content 1:08:12: Recap Support the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link. Sponsors Try Daily30+, the 30+ plant prebiotic supplement from ZOE. Go to zoe.com/daily30 today, and you’ll get a free bright yellow ZOE tin and a magnetic scoop. Join hundreds of thousands of people who are taking charge of their health. Learn more and join Function at functionhealth.com/BEINGWELL. For a limited time, get Headspace FREE for 60 days. Go to Headspace.com/BEINGWELL60. Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from NPR. Go to Zocdoc.com/BEING to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beingwell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • The Freeze Response, Gifted Kid Syndrome, and BPD: July Mailbag

    The Freeze Response, Gifted Kid Syndrome, and BPD: July Mailbag
    Jul 14 2025
    Dr. Rick and Forrest answer listener questions about perfectionism, performance anxiety, trauma, and relationships. They explore how early praise for being “gifted” can create a fear of failure and contribute to “failure to launch,” and share ways to shift from focusing on an idealized future to appreciating your actual self right now. They discuss learned helplessness, the freeze response, and practical ways to build agency and vitality to counter feelings of powerlessness. Other topics include the differences between borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder, overcoming performance anxiety, and how to decide which friendships are worth investing in. Key Topics: 02:30: Gifted kid syndrome and fear of failure 08:00: Moving from potential to presence 15:50: Performance anxiety and perfectionism 18:50: Redefining success through process goals 22:30: Learned helplessness and the freeze response 29:30: Reclaiming agency and vitality 38:00: Failure to launch in adulthood 45:00: BPD vs. Bipolar disorder 55:00: Rethinking modern friendship advice 1:03:34: Recap Support the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link. Sponsors Try Daily30+, the 30+ plant prebiotic supplement from ZOE. Go to zoe.com/daily30 today, and you’ll get a free bright yellow ZOE tin and a magnetic scoop. Join hundreds of thousands of people who are taking charge of their health. Learn more and join Function at functionhealth.com/BEINGWELL. For a limited time, get Headspace FREE for 60 days. Go to Headspace.com/BEINGWELL60. Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from NPR. Go to Zocdoc.com/BEING to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beingwell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • How Real Change Happens with Elizabeth Ferreira

    How Real Change Happens with Elizabeth Ferreira
    Jul 7 2025
    Forrest is joined by associate therapist Elizabeth Ferreira to discuss parts work, psychological defenses, and how real change happens. They talk about the inner child work Forrest recently did during an episode with renowned therapist Terry Real, and how that led to meaningful changes in their relationship. Elizabeth and Forrest unpack the therapeutic process Terry led Forrest through, and discuss clinical technique, why small shifts can lead to big changes, the challenges of working with developmentally young material, and why insight alone is rarely enough. The episode with Terry we refer to throughout this conversation is titled “Terry Real: Relationships, Trauma, and Inner Child Work.” Here’s the Spotify link. Key Topics: 0:00: Introduction 2:40: Elizabeth’s reaction to Forrest’s work with Terry 5:05: Avoidance vs. anxiety 7:21: Unpacking Terry Real’s therapeutic approach 14:37: Avoiding through “fixing” 20:54: What’s changed since then? 31:00: Elizabeth’s experience with inner child work 42:32: How does real change happen? 51:54: “You can’t make your partner change.” 55:15: Recap Support the Podcast: We're now on Patreon! If you'd like to support the podcast, follow this link. Sponsors For a limited time, get Headspace FREE for 60 days. Go to Headspace.com/BEINGWELL60. Function is offering 160+ Lab Tests for $365 to anyone who signs up between July 7th and July 11th. To learn more and get started, visit www.functionhealth.com/BEINGWELL Go to Quince.com/BEINGWELL for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. Get Notion Mail for free right now at notion.com/beingwell, and try the inbox that thinks like you Go to Zocdoc.com/BEING to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/beingwell. Go to ZOE.com and find out what ZOE Membership could do for you. Use code WELL10 to get 10% off membership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
So relevant to everyday life and excellent ideas on how to navigate life in general.

Amazing Podcast!

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So grateful to have this realistic aligning of how personal joy seeking can also help in global healing and compassion building. Namaste.

PERFECT TIMING

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I like Rick and his overall tranquil voice-thoughtful revealing- real human being. I like listening to all topics

Real talking

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Great quality and top notch information from one of the best out there. Dr. Rick Hanson's books are all game changers for personal transformation / wellbeing and this podcast is a great way to stay connected with the teachings. Many thanks!

Fantastic Podcast!!!

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These podcasts provide specific explanations and steps about how to live better lives and how to help yourself. step by step procedures and processes are provided, not just words in sentences. Each podcast outlines actionable steps we can take to improve our selves and lives. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to be better informed, happier and have a clearer understanding just how our past affects us today, how our brain affects us today and tomorrow and how to become a better, happier and self resilient person. Thank you for your efforts. Keep up the good work.

Excellent

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