Rangan Chatterjee's Blog, page 38

Gareth Southgate on The Football Skills That Transfer to Life

Today’s guest joins me fresh from a run of autumn camps with the England football team. He’s their manager, Gareth Southgate OBE, and I speak to him about his new book, Anything Is Possible. It’s not really a football memoir, but more aguide to life and there are brilliant lessons for all of us in there – non-football fans included!

Gareth had an illustrious career as a professional football player in the 1990s and as England manager, took the England team to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 28 years. We discuss how Gareth achieved this by employing psychologists (such as my former guest Pippa Grange), modelling emotional intelligence and communicating with each player as an individual. He promotes a mindset of positive drivers not negative drivers: focusing on what players might achieve, rather than what might go wrong. Most importantly, he reinstated a sense of fun. I love his humble, warm, inclusive approach. Under his watch, footballers have started to look more like role models again.

Gareth explains how he used to be a shy teenage player and with his book, he aims to help youngsters get over self-limiting beliefs, nerves and anxieties and learn to be brave – and he shares some great dressing-room stories with me as examples. It may be written for children and young people, with Gareth’s role as ambassador for The Prince’s Trust in mind, but it contains universal wisdom for all ages.

I had so much to ask him, and we managed to cover topics from how players cope without a crowd, to how he breaks the news when someone’s not made the team and the real meaning of bravery. We talk about the pressures on players from social media but also how it can be a force for good, helping Raheem Stirling and Marcus Rashford change attitudes and lives through their respective campaigns against racism and childhood hunger.

I can’t emphasize enough that you don’t need to be into football to appreciate this conversation. It’s about having confidence, working hard, taking responsibility and being authentic. It was such an honour to speak with Gareth and he’s certainly reignited my love of the beautiful game. I can’t help but agree with him that when we come together in a positive way over sport, it has the potential to change the world. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Click here for more information on our sponsor athleticgreens.com/livemore

Find out more about our sponsor vivobarefoot.com/livemore

Find out about our sponsor blublox.com/livemore

Watch the video version of this interview in full below.

'Bravery doesn't always come naturally. It exists in all of us but we have to understand ourselves first.'
Click To Tweet

Connect with Gareth:

Website       Twitter  

Gareth’s book:

Anything Is Possible: Be Brave, Be Kind and Follow Your Dreams †

Further Reading:



The Guardian – ‘Nothing about me was cool’: Gareth Southgate on making dreams realityEvening Express – Charles’s message to young people in Gareth Southgate’s new bookBBC – Gareth Southgate: England boss promises to look at why girls have been treated differentlyThe Sportsman – Gareth Southgate Looks To Inspire Next Generation Of Footballers With New Book



Related Feel Better Live More podcasts:

#73 Why You Are Stronger Than You Think with Ross Edgley

#126 How to Win at Life Without Losing Yourself with Dr Pippa Grange

Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

The post Gareth Southgate on The Football Skills That Transfer to Life appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

BITESIZE | Free Your Subconscious Mind and Reach Your Full Potential | Peter Crone

Our subconscious mind can control our behaviours and thoughts, creating negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs.

This week’s Feel Better Live More Bitesize guest is writer, speaker and thought leader in human potential, Peter Crone, a.k.a The Mind Architect.

Peter explains that we can’t create the life of someone that we don’t yet believe ourselves to be and in order to do this we need to stop looking back at history we can’t change and start looking forwards.

We all have the power to break free from the limitations of our subconscious in order to free our mind and start living the life we were born to live.

Peter believes that with the right mindset and approach to life we can start to experience true freedom and happiness. And who wouldn’t want that?

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Watch the full conversation with Peter Crone here:

Audio version: #82 How to Create the Life You Were Born to Live with Peter Crone

Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

†Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.

The post BITESIZE | Free Your Subconscious Mind and Reach Your Full Potential | Peter Crone appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

BITESIZE | Free Your Subconscious Mind and Reach Your Full Potential

Our subconscious mind can control our behaviours and thoughts, creating negative thought patterns and limiting beliefs.

This week’s Feel Better Live More Bitesize guest is writer, speaker and thought leader in human potential, Peter Crone, a.k.a The Mind Architect.

Peter explains that we can’t create the life of someone that we don’t yet believe ourselves to be and in order to do this we need to stop looking back at history we can’t change and start looking forwards.

We all have the power to break free from the limitations of our subconscious in order to free our mind and start living the life we were born to live.

Peter believes that with the right mindset and approach to life we can start to experience true freedom and happiness. And who wouldn’t want that?

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Watch the full conversation with Peter Crone here:

Audio version: #82 How to Create the Life You Were Born to Live with Peter Crone

Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

†Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.

The post BITESIZE | Free Your Subconscious Mind and Reach Your Full Potential appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

The Healing Power of Compassion with Dr Julian Abel

Today conversation is about one of my favourite topics – compassion. Compassion doesn’t just make us feel good but it can have powerful effects on our health and longevity. That’s something today’s guest has proved to great effect. Dr Julian Abel is a recently retired consultant in palliative (end of life) care and joint leader of the Frome Project, which aimed to end loneliness and improve health in a town in Somerset, by building community connections. In providing compassionate alternatives to medical intervention, Frome saw emergency hospital admissions drop by 30 per cent along with improved quality of life scores, health outcomes and costs.

In this conversation Julian shares the evidence behind using compassion as a therapeutic tool, explaining that good social relationships are more powerful than pretty much any other intervention we have, including giving up smoking, drinking, diet, or exercise in helping us live longer. Compassion is far from the soft approach, it is in fact more powerful than many of the medicines we have.

Julian also talks about his own experience as a palliative care doctor and the lessons he learned from people at the end of their lives. He shares many uplifting and empowering stories that will convince even the biggest skeptic that compassion and connection should be at the centre of everything we do – after all, it is what makes us uniquely human.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Click here for more information on our sponsor calm.com/livemore

Click here to find the toothpaste range from our sponsor Zendium

Click here for more information on our sponsor athleticgreens.com/livemore

Watch the video version of this interview in full below.

'If you want to be healthy and happy, be compassionate.”'
Click To Tweet




Connect with Julian:

Website     Twitter      

TED talk: Why Compassion Matters | Dr Julian Abel

Julian’s Podcast: Survival of the Kindest

Julian’s book: The Compassion Project: A case for hope and human kindness from the town that beat loneliness†

Further Learning:



Survival of the Kindest episode discussed: Waleed Nesyif – It’s Never Too Late for CompassionThe Guardian The town that’s found a potent cure for illness – communityThe Guardian Let’s move to Frome, Somerset: ‘You want community? You got it’The Telegraph What can we learn from the town that cured loneliness?Boys and Girls documentary by Paddy WivellPrison documentary by Paddy Wivell



Related Feel Better Live More podcasts:

#104 How Being Kind Helps Your Immune System, Reduces Stress and Changes Lives with Dr David Hamilton
#114 The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World with Dr Vivek Murthy

Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

†Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.

The post The Healing Power of Compassion with Dr Julian Abel appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

BITESIZE | How To Live a Happy, Healthy and Fulfilling Life At Any Age

Imagine if you could reverse ageing and cognitive decline and improve your brain health purely through your mindset and approach to life.

Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my new weekly podcast for your mind, body and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.

This week’s guest is Daniel Levitin, a neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist and bestselling author. He explains why what we do day-to-day affects not just our short-term health, but also how our brain changes with age.

Daniel describes 3 personality traits, or mindsets, that are the key ingredient to longterm health and happiness. By cultivating a mindset of conscientiousness, curiosity & gratitude we can slow the ageing process.

These are simple and fun things we can do now to live a live a healthy and fulfilling life both today and into our old age.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Watch the full conversation with Daniel Levitin here:

Audio version: #112 The Secret to Ageing Well with Dr Dan Levitin

Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

†Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.

The post BITESIZE | How To Live a Happy, Healthy and Fulfilling Life At Any Age appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

Arianna Huffington: Microsteps and Rituals to Help You Thrive

In times of uncertainty, anxiety and stress, taking care of your wellbeing is more important than ever and no one knows this better than my guest on today’s episode. Arianna Huffington is author and businesswoman who founded the original ‘internet newspaper’, The Huffington Post. She’s also one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and on Forbes’ Most Powerful Women list.

After collapsing at her desk from sleep deprivation and exhaustion in 2007, Arianna became more passionate about the connection between wellbeing and performance. She therefore launched a company called Thrive Global with a mission of ending the stress and burnout epidemic by offering individuals, companies and communities sustainable, science-based solutions to wellbeing.

Arianna and I share a desire to show millions of people globally that habit change and healthy living doesn’t have to be hard. We are both passionate that tiny ‘microsteps’ that we can all take each day, can have a dramatic impact on our health and the quality of our lives.

Arianna talks me through her Thrive app, which is like a ‘health coach in your pocket’ and how it uses the concept of ‘microsteps’ to show that behaviour change doesn’t have to be a huge commitment. Small things you can do that, if regular and consistent, will add up to significant and lasting benefits.

We discuss the idea of ‘compassionate directness’ as a way of resolving tensions both at home and at work. Arianna shares her wisdom on sleep, motherhood, on creating boundaries when working from home, and on having rituals to mark the end of the day. We also speak about the importance of solitude and discuss how modern life is sending many of us back to ancient wisdom and texts such as the Bhagavad Gita.

This conversation is full of brilliant tips and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Click here for more information on our sponsor athleticgreens.com/livemore

Find out more about our sponsor vivobarefoot.com/livemore

Watch the video version of this interview in full below.

'Don’t buy into the myth that you need to burnout in order to succeed'
Click To Tweet




Connect with Arianna:

Website     Instagram     Facebook     Twitter 

Thrive Global     Thrive Global app 

Thrive ZP app     Medative Story Podcast

Arianna’s books:



The Sleep Revolution:  Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time†Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Happier Life†On Becoming Fearless: A Roadmap for Women†



Further Reading:



Thrive Global Compassionate Directness: The Cultural Value That’s the Ultimate Competitive AdvantageNew York Times Give Compassionate Feedback While Still Being ConstructiveForbes How Arianna Huffington Is Transforming America’s Workplace to Benefit YouThrive Global Microsteps: The Big Idea That’s Too Small To FailThrive Global Yes, Burnout Is Real — And We Can Address It Much Better When We Call It What It Is



Related Feel Better Live More podcasts:



#92 How To Make Lifestyle Changes That Will Last with Dr Rangan Chatterjee and Dr Ayan Panja#108 BJ Fogg: The Secret to Making New Habits Stick



Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

The post Arianna Huffington: Microsteps and Rituals to Help You Thrive appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

BITESIZE | Why Mindset Is The Key To Achieving The Life You Want To Live

The power to achieve anything you want in life is within you – whether it’s improving your health, starting a business or getting a relationship back on track.

Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my new weekly podcast for your mind, body and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.

This week’s guest is Marie Forleo, a US entrepreneur, writer, philanthropist and an unshakeable optimist. Marie explains why a growth mindset is so important and how comparing ourselves to the curated lives of others online can be toxic. She suggests practical ways we can counteract this by choosing to create before we consume.

Marie has interviewed many successful and influential people and she reveals the one thing that they all have in common. She believes you should do everything you can to follow your dreams. Your contribution
and voice matter and your gift is unique – there never has been or ever will be another you.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Watch the full conversation with Marie Forleo here:

Audio version: #86 How to Achieve Anything You Want in Life with Marie Forleo

Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

†Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.

The post BITESIZE | Why Mindset Is The Key To Achieving The Life You Want To Live appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

Matthew McConaughey on How To Be More You

CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains swearing.

When I started these podcasts, back in January 2018, my aim was to connect with people who had new and exciting views on how we can feel better and get more out of life. Little did I know that would lead me to today’s episode, where I chat to one of the world’s most famous Hollywood actors.

Matthew McConaughey might not immediately spring to mind as a self-help guru. Yet for his 2014 Oscar acceptance speech he memorably shared some of the tenets by which he lives his life and to which he owes his success. And Matthew now shares his wisdom in his new book, ‘Greenlights: Raucous stories and outlaw wisdom’, which has already become a bestseller all over the globe. Based on the journals he’s kept since he was a teenager, it’s part autobiography, part guide to living – and 100 per cent inspiration.

I was so pleased to learn Matthew wanted to come on the podcast and was prepared to give me 90 minutes of his time, something almost unheard of in stars of his magnitude. But as you’ll hear in this episode, Matthew isn’t your typical movie star.

Authenticity is very important to Matthew, as is his quest to, in his words, “Be more me.” And that starts with eliminating what is not you. In Matthew’s own life, key examples include his decision to leave law school and become an actor, and later to turn down vast sums of money to leave the rom-com genre behind. Whilst he acknowledges the financial privilege that allowed him to take these risks, his lesson is about being true to yourself and your values, which is relevant for all of us. He says we should make sure we are feeding our soul account as well as our bank account, investing spiritually as well as financially.

We cover so many topics during this entertaining chat, from our favourite U2 album to the current state of society as well as the incredible value of journaling. Whilst Matthew’s approach isn’t to give advice, there’s plenty of wisdom in the colourful stories and examples from his life that he shares. The beautiful thing about living, he says, is that you’re the author of your life’s story. So be cool to your future self. That’s some pretty awesome A-list advice I think we can all benefit from.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Click here for more information on our sponsor athleticgreens.com/livemore

Click here to find the toothpaste range from our sponsor Zendium

Click here for more information on our sponsor calm.com/livemore

Watch the video version of this interview in full below.

'The beautiful thing about living is we are the author of that story.”'
Click To Tweet




Connect with Matthew:

Website     Instagram     Facebook     Twitter     

Matthew’s book:

Greenlights: Raucous stories and outlaw wisdom †

Fascinating articles about Matthew’s work:



The Guardian – Zen and the art of torso maintenance: Mathhew McConaughey’s guide to lifeWashington Post – Matthew McConaughey’s book is exactly what we needed after the frenzy of Campaign 2020



Related Feel Better Live More podcasts:



#28 Rich Roll on How to Find Your Purpose#114 The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World with Dr Vivek Murthy#126 How to Win at Life Without Losing Yourself with Dr Pippa Grange



Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

†Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.

The post Matthew McConaughey on How To Be More You appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

BITESIZE | Why Kindness Is Contagious and How to Make It Spread

Every act of kindness is significant and has more impact than you can imagine.

Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my new weekly podcast for your mind, body and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my best former guests. This week’s guest is pharmacist-turned-author Dr David Hamilton.

David explains why kindness is contagious and how just one small act of kindness is proven to have a ripple effect that reaches over 100 more people.

When you’re kind to someone, it’s not just that person who benefits. Kindness makes you happier. It’s good for your heart and helps support your immune system. It slows ageing and it also improves relationships. He explains why your kindness matters and how you can take up the 7 Day Kindness Challenge. Kindness is important now more than ever – let’s help it spread.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Watch the full video conversation with David Hamilton here:

Audio version: #104 How Being Kind Helps Your Immune System, Reduces Stress and Changes Lives with Dr David Hamilton

Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

†Disclosure: All books marked with a † are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. We take part in Amazon’s affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon’s website. You are not charged any extra by using these links to purchase books.

The post BITESIZE | Why Kindness Is Contagious and How to Make It Spread appeared first on Dr Rangan Chatterjee.

How Addictive Technology Keeps You Hooked with Professor Adam Alter

Do you find it hard to resist the ping of a new email, the urge to scroll on social media, or watch the next episode when streaming? Do you wish you could stop checking, clicking, liking and sharing? Then put down your phone and listen to this episode.

My guest today is Adam Alter, an associate professor of marketing and psychology, bestselling author of ‘Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and The Business of Keeping Us Hooked’ and an expert on the compulsive nature of technology. Adam explains how tech companies make it their business to know exactly how to keep us engaged for hours on end. He shares some of the hooks embedded in products to ‘catch’ us, such as variable reinforcement (those likes and shares on social media), goals and rewards, and a lack of stopping cues (there’s always another video cued up, another game level to play…). And how do they know all these techniques work? Big data. They simply look at what makes us click.

Tech giants prey on our capacity for ‘behavioural addiction’, which like other addictions can undermine our mental health and relationships. Playing with a phone is not just trivial distraction it can have real consequences, especially for our children – something that as a parent really concerns me. Adam suggests we should be teaching our kids ‘digital hygiene’ in schools and I couldn’t agree more.

Of course, there are many positive uses of tech, like education, admin, communicating with loved ones we can’t see in person. But when screen time starts to harm our wellbeing, Adam says we need to look at what psychological needs it’s meeting. What’s lacking in our lives that leads us to numb the discomfort by picking up that phone or tablet?

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Adam says, it is possible to live a rich, meaningful, healthy life in our tech-driven age. And we discuss some of the solutions we’re both using to wean ourselves and our families off screens. We agree it’s about intention, using tech where we need and enjoy it, but making a conscious decision to do without it at other times. Starting with an hour or two a day when you put your phone out of sight is a great example.

If, like me, you’ve recently watched The Social Dilemma, Netflix’s fascinating (and scary) take on persuasive technologies and surveillance capitalism, I think you’ll really appreciate Adam’s insights – and his reassurance that tech addiction is not a human failing.

Disclaimer: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.*

Click here for more information on our sponsor athleticgreens.com/livemore

Find out more about our sponsor vivobarefoot.com/livemore

Find out about our sponsor blublox.com/livemore

Watch the video version of this interview in full below.

'If you have to guess how much time you're spending on your phone, it's probably half of what you're actually using.'
Click To Tweet




Connect with Adam:

Website      Twitter  

Adam’s books:

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and The Business of Keeping Us Hooked †

Drunk Tank Pink: Subconscious forces that shape how we think, feel and behave †

Adam’s TED talk:

Why Our Screens Make Us Less Happy

Further Reading:



The Guardian – Irresistible by Adam Alter review: an entertaining look at technology addictionThe Guardian – How Technology Gets Us HookedThe New York Times – Why We Can’t Look Away From Our ScreensNew Scientist – Technoaddicts: turn on, touch in, swipe outBehavioral Scientist – Investigating the Irresistible: A Conversation with Adam Alter



Related Feel Better Live More podcast episodes:



#50 – How Social Media Could Be Making You Ill with Cal Newport#120 How To Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life with Nir Eyal



Dr Chatterjee’s books and resources:



Feel Great Lose Weight is available to pre-order now! Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Dr Chatterjee’s book Feel Better in 5 is out now. Click here for the UK version† and click here for the US & Canadian version†Order Dr Chatterjee’s book The Stress Solution†Find Dr Chatterjee’s 4 Pillars of Health in The 4 Pillar Plan†Available in the US & Canada with the title How to Make Disease Disappear†Click here for Dr Chatterjee’s YouTube channelJoin the Dr Chatterjee 4 Pillar Community Tribe Facebook page

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*DISCLAIMER: Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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