The Science Behind Addiction—How Curiosity Breaks Habit Loops with Dr. Bill Nardi

The 2,500-Year-Old Secret to Breaking Habit Loops and Ending Suffering

Dr. Robin  Boudette shares her journey from corporate burnout to discovering the ancient Buddhist psychology that became the foundation of the Mindshift method. From wearing pantsuits and pumps while suffering chronic pain to finding freedom through mindfulness and habit change science, Robin reveals how 2,500-year-old wisdom transforms modern suffering into a path toward freedom. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Suffering can become your teacher, pointing you toward what needs to change in your life * The habit loop method is based on Buddhist psychology teachings that are 2,500 years old * Faith emerges when you see the method working for others, inspiring your own motivation to change * Our personal suffering often leaks out onto others, but healing ourselves benefits everyone around us * Embodied awareness in the body, not just mental understanding, is what creates lasting change NOTABLE QUOTE "I was an over striver, an over doer. You know, too much of everything is just enough looking for a way out of my own pain, whether it be substances, work, exercise, striving to be perfect." — Dr. Robin  Boudette GUEST BIO Dr. Robin  Boudette is a psychologist and mindfulness teacher who co-developed the Eat Right Now and Mindshift programs with Dr. Judson Brewer. She has extensive training in Buddhist psychology and MBSR, and currently teaches in the Going Beyond Anxiety program while fostering rescue dogs in her spare time. Connect with us: ·  Sign up to join our live Zoom meetings 5 days a week at mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] ·  Download the Mindshift Recovery App on our Website, the App Store, or Google Play ·  If you'd like to be on the show or have questions for us or our guests - rhetta@mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] For more info about Dr. Judson Brewer's neuroscience research, visit mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] The Mindshift Podcast is part of the Mindshift Recovery community—a space where anyone can shift their relationship with behaviors that no longer serve. Music for The Mindshift Podcast is created and produced by host Dan Holcomb. Artwork is created by Giraffes And Robots The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Why Curiosity Is Your Secret Weapon Against Anxiety and Habit Loops

Ever wondered why fighting anxiety just seems to make it worse? Josh Roman, CEO and co-founder of Mindshift Recovery, shares his journey from struggling entrepreneur to leading a movement that's changing how we think about addiction, anxiety, and mental health. Through his personal story of parenting an internationally adopted son and his own battles with anxiety, Josh reveals why traditional approaches often miss the mark—and what actually works instead. KEY TAKEAWAYS * * Anxiety isn't something to eliminate—it's about changing your relationship with it * * Everyone is addicted to something, making addiction part of the human condition rather than individual failing * * Digital technology designed for behavior change can be redirected to help us, not exploit us * * Community connection happens when we recognize our shared humanity through common struggles * * Curiosity and non-judgmental awareness are more powerful than willpower or forcing change * * The goal isn't to stop traffic on the mental highway—it's to get off the median strip and watch from the hill NOTABLE QUOTE "Most of us spend our lives like we're standing in the median strip of a really busy highway. Traffic whizzing by on both sides, 18 wheelers, you name it. And what the mindshift method can do is help you get out of that median strip and you're sitting on the hill overlooking the highway. Traffic's still going by, still making noise, but you have just that little bit of distance and you no longer are in that fight or flight." — Josh Roman GUEST BIO Josh Roman is the CEO and co-founder of Mindshift Recovery, a serial entrepreneur who has spent over two decades building digital health products. After co-founding Mind Sciences with Dr. Judson Brewer, Josh combined his expertise in technology with neuroscience research to create accessible tools for habit change and mental health support.  Connect with us: Sign up to join our live Zoom meetings 5 days a week at mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] Download the Mindshift Recovery App on our Website, the App Store, or Google Play If you'd like to be on the show or have questions for us or our guests - Rhetta@mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] For more info about Dr. Judson Brewer's neuroscience research, visit mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] The Mindshift Podcast is part of the Mindshift Recovery community—a space where anyone can shift their relationship with behaviors that no longer serve. Music for The Mindshift Podcast is created and produced by host Dan Holcomb. Artwork is created by Giraffes And Robots The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

What Happens When You Finally Name What You're Really Feeling

What if your biggest fear is actually the doorway to your next chapter? Andrea Reggio has been behind the scenes working with digital therapeutics for years, but her relationship with the method completely shifted when she stopped trying to find the "right" problem to work on and instead got curious about what was really happening inside. From working through the fear that kept her stuck after loss to pursuing a master's degree in archaeology, Andrea shares how the method works for anyone—even without a dramatic backstory. KEY TAKEAWAYS * You don't need a dramatic story to benefit from the method—it works for anyone wanting to shift their relationship with unwanted patterns * Sometimes the hardest part isn't admitting you're struggling, it's accurately naming what you're actually feeling * Fear often disguises itself as sadness, and learning to identify emotions precisely can be the key to working with them * The method isn't about finding grand meaning in your pain—it's about experiencing it, learning from it, and letting it move through * Community connection transforms both individual healing and how we understand the method itself * Taking action despite fear—like going back to school or joining a call—can be the most powerful practice of all NOTABLE QUOTE "I don't think that it was so difficult to say that I was afraid. I think what it was difficult is to identify that it was fear." — Andrea Reggio GUEST BIO Andrea Reggio is the Director of Operations for Mindshift Recovery, overseeing everything from marketing strategy to user support to project management. Originally from Argentina and based in Colombia, she brings years of experience from working with previous digital therapeutic apps and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in archaeology. Connect with us: Sign up to join our live Zoom meetings 5 days a week at mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] Download the Mindshift Recovery App on our Website, the App Store, or Google Play If you'd like to be on the show or have questions for us or our guests - Rhetta@mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] For more info about Dr. Judson Brewer's neuroscience research, visit mindshiftrecovery.org [https://mindshiftrecovery.org] The Mindshift Podcast is part of the Mindshift Recovery community—a space where anyone can shift their relationship with behaviors that no longer serve. Music for The Mindshift Podcast is created and produced by host Dan Holcomb. Artwork is created by Giraffes And Robots  The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Finding Purpose in Pain: A Recovery Story Worth Hearing

What if the moment you almost gave in was actually the beginning of something new? Jose Salinas shares his journey from incarceration and homelessness to becoming a peer recovery coach and founding contributor to The Mindshift Podcast. In this conversation, Jose opens up about the pivotal moments when awareness stepped in—including a day at a bus stop when his mind pulled him toward old patterns, and a moment in a park when he chose rest over relapse. His story reveals how curiosity and noticing can create space between impulse and action, and how lived experience becomes a bridge to help others find their way. Jose also discusses his work bringing mindfulness-based recovery to Spanish-speaking communities and the expansion of Mindshift to Latin America. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Awareness creates a gap between craving and action where choice lives * Recovery is not done in isolation—connection and peer support matter deeply * You were already using the method before you knew the method existed * Suffering can have meaning and purpose when it becomes part of helping others * Meditation and the Mindshift Method work together but also stand alone as practices GUEST BIO Jose Salinas is a peer recovery coach, peer support specialist, and state trainer in Michigan with over a decade of experience supporting people navigating mental health and substance use challenges. A founding contributor to Mindshift Recovery, Jose is working to expand mindfulness-based recovery resources to Spanish-speaking communities in Latin America. His personal recovery journey—rooted in meditation, awareness, and community—informs everything he does. Notable Quote "When my mind is worked up, my body feels it. What do I need right now?" — Jose Salinas Connect with us: * Sign up to join our live Zoom meetings 5 days a week at mindshiftrecovery.org [http://mindshiftrecovery.org] * Download the Mindshift Recovery App on our Website [https://www.mindshiftrecovery.org/the-mindshift-recovery-app/], the App Store [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mindshift-recovery/id6738142918], or Google Play [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mindshiftrecovery.app&referrer=utm_source%3Dmarketing_site%26utm_campaign%3Dmarketing_site] * If you’d like to be on the show or have questions for us or our guests - Rhetta@mindshiftrecovery.org [Rhetta@mindshiftrecovery.org]  For more info about Dr. Judson Brewer's neuroscience research, visit mindshiftrecovery.org [http://mindshiftrecovery.org] The Mindshift Podcast is part of the Mindshift Recovery community—a space where anyone can shift their relationship with behaviors that no longer serve. Music for The Mindshift Podcast is created and produced by host Dan Holcomb. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

The Science Behind Addiction—How Curiosity Breaks Habit Loops with Dr. Bill Nardi

What if the reason you can't stop isn't weakness—but neuroscience? In this conversation with Dr. William Nardi—behavioral scientist, researcher, and teammate at Mindshift Recovery—Dan and Rhetta unpack the brain science behind why habits stick and how curiosity can actually recalibrate your brain's reward system. Bill shares his personal journey from struggling with substances to studying mindfulness and habit change at Brown University, and explains why awareness—not willpower—is the key to lasting change. This episode digs into the orbital frontal cortex, the default mode network, deprivation versus interest curiosity, and why your brain prices a premium on felt experience. If you've ever wondered why you keep doing the thing you said you wouldn't do, this one's for you. Key Takeaways * The brain sets up habits through a prediction and reward system—and you can recalibrate that system by paying attention with curiosity. * There are two types of curiosity: deprivation curiosity (needing an answer) and interest curiosity (wondering without attachment). Interest curiosity helps you learn. * Your brain prioritizes embodied, felt experience over what you know intellectually. That's why awareness in the body—not just the mind—creates lasting change. * Self-judgment is a habit loop too. Recognizing it with curiosity instead of force can help you shift your relationship with it. * Mindshift is designed to work alongside other approaches—it's a tool that can integrate into many pathways, not a replacement for what's already working. Guest Bio Dr. William Nardi is a behavioral scientist, researcher, and teammate at Mindshift Recovery. He earned his PhD at Brown University in behavioral and social science studying why people do what they do and how to help them change. Bill has spent over a decade in mindfulness research, including work with Dr. Judson Brewer at Brown University. His personal recovery journey brought him to this work, and he now studies user experience, engagement, and the neuroscience of habit change to help anyone shift their relationship with behaviors that no longer serve. Notable Quote "You can understand how your mind works. You can understand why being kind to yourself and being able to be with yourself is a very important part of changing habits over time. Even what some folks would call mistakes or missteps—those 'I can't believe it happened again' moments—can be some of the most valuable moments for habit change if they're held with compassion and understood from a lens of neuroscience." — Dr. Bill Nardi Connect with us: * Sign up to join our live Zoom meetings 5 days a week at mindshiftrecovery.org [http://mindshiftrecovery.org] * Download the Mindshift Recovery App on our Website [https://www.mindshiftrecovery.org/the-mindshift-recovery-app/], the App Store [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mindshift-recovery/id6738142918], or Google Play [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mindshiftrecovery.app&referrer=utm_source%3Dmarketing_site%26utm_campaign%3Dmarketing_site] * If you’d like to be on the show or have questions for us or our guests - Rhetta@mindshiftrecovery.org [Rhetta@mindshiftrecovery.org]  For more info about Dr. Judson Brewer's neuroscience research, visit mindshiftrecovery.org [http://mindshiftrecovery.org] The Mindshift Podcast is part of the Mindshift Recovery community—a space where anyone can shift their relationship with behaviors that no longer serve. Music for The Mindshift Podcast is created and produced by host Dan Holcomb. Artwork is created by Giraffes And Robots The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.