Episode Description

For episode 104 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with friend and colleague Dr. Judson Brewer MD PhD. Dr. Jud is a thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery”, having combined over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training with his scientific research. He is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center at the School of Medicine at Brown University, and a psychiatrist and internationally known expert in mindfulness training for addictions, Dr. Jud has developed and tested mindfulness programs for habit change, including both in-person and app-based treatments for smoking, emotional eating, and anxiety and he is the author of “The Craving Mind.”

In this episode, Sharon and Dr. Jud speak about how Dr. Jud came to the path of mindfulness and meditation while in medical school, and how that evolved to become a cornerstone of his work. They speak at length about how the brain behaves in various states of connection, disconnection, lovingkindness, or loneliness and how this affects our ability to make choices freely. Dr. Jud also shares some of his work related to cravings and addiction, and rewards-based learning. The podcast closes with Judson leading a 5-minute guided meditation on connection.

Additional Resources

To learn more about Jud’s work, you can visit his website.

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