logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2022
29m 32s

778: How to Make and Break Habits Using ...

How to be Awesome at Your Job
About this episode

Russ Poldrack reveals the science behind why our brains are habit-building machines and how to make the best out of it. 


— YOU’LL LEARN — 

1) How to make good habits stick 

2) How to strengthen your brain against bad habits 

3) Why habits never really go away–and what you should do instead 


Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep778 for clickable versions of the links below. 


— ABOUT RUSS — 

Russell A. Poldrack is a psychologist and neuroscientist. He is the Albert Ray Lang Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. He is also the Associate Director of Stanford Data Science, a member of the Stanford Neuroscience Institute and director of the Stanford Center for Reproducible Neuroscience and the SDS Center for Open and Reproducible Science. Prior to his appointment at Stanford in 2014, he held faculty positions at Harvard Medical School, UCLA, and the University of Texas at Austin. 

He is the author of The New Mind Readers: What Neuroimaging Can and Cannot Reveal about Our Thoughts and Hard to Break: Why Our Brains Make Habits Stick. He lives in San Francisco. 

• Book: Hard to Break: Why Our Brains Make Habits Stick 

• Twitter: @russpoldrack 


— RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — 

• Book: How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell 

• Previous episode: 734: How to Train Your Mind to Focus and Handle Distractions Better with Dr. Amishi Jha 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Today
1074: How to Improve Negotiations–without Compromising–with Dr. Joshua N. Weiss
Dr. Joshua N. Weiss discusses the major misconceptions surrounding negotiations—and offers five steps to build your confidence and resilience as a negotiator.— YOU’LL LEARN — 1) The big negotiation mistake most people make2) The mental reframe that helps you negotiate better3) Th ... Show More
44m 19s
Jul 7
1073: How to Cut Clutter and Distraction from Your Life with Shira Gill
Shira Gill shares minimalist strategies for reducing both physical and mental clutter.— YOU’LL LEARN — 1) The hidden costs of clutter2) Why organizing tools won’t help you—and what will3) The easiest way to make your space feel less overwhelmingSubscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob ... Show More
38m 7s
Jul 3
1072: Reclaiming Your Creatvitity–No Matter Your Role with Tania Katan
Tania Katan reveals tricks for turning daily drudgery into opportunities for innovation.— YOU’LL LEARN — 1) Why creativity can be an antidote to burnout2) How to find inspiration in the everyday3) Creative hacks to make meetings more human and engagingSubscribe or visit AwesomeAt ... Show More
45m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
No.1 Neuroscientist: Why You Should Always Look Into Someone’s Left Eye! & How Stress Leaks Through Skin, Is Contagious & Gives You Belly Fat! Dr. Tara Swart
Have you ever want to change your mind? Well what if you changed your brain instead?In this new episode Steven sits down with neuroscientist, executive advisor and author, Dr Tara Swart Bieber. Dr Swart, has a PHD in Neuropharmacology and a past successful career medical doctor a ... Show More
2h 5m
Mar 2022
229. The Neurochemistry of Thought Work: A Conversation with Dr. Caroline Leaf
Coaching is about more than affirmations and good vibes. If you’ve ever wondered about the neurochemistry of thought work, this episode is for you. In it, I will interview Dr. Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist and bestselling author who can speak directly to why cognitive ... Show More
42m 34s
Oct 2022
The Hard Truth About Psychology, Learning New Skills, & Making Mistakes with Dr. Art Markman & Dr. Bob Duke
In this episode we discuss whether time speeds up as we get older, why your life story only makes sense looking in reverse, whether or not brain games actually work, the importance of proactive learning instead of passive learning, why psychology confirms all your worst fears abo ... Show More
52m 42s
Nov 2023
Optimize Your Brain For Better Health, Performance And Fulfillment | Neuroscientist, Dr. David Eagleman
How can you train your brain to unlock more joy and success in your life?Diving deep into this exciting question is today's guest, Dr. David Eagleman, a revolutionary thinker and trailblazer in the world of neuroscience."One of the most important things you can do for your brain ... Show More
1h 34m
Aug 2023
Raise Resilient Minds: How to Help Your Kids Self Regulate & Form Better Habits - Dr. Caroline Leaf : 1078
Today, we’re joined by second-time guest, Dr. Caroline Leaf, to talk about helping kids clean up their mental mess and be more resilient—all based on research from her latest book, How to Help Your Child Clean Up Their Mental Mess. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf shares the be ... Show More
1h 27m
Mar 2021
1079 How to Heal Your Mind & Improve Mental Health (Based on NEUROSCIENCE!) w/Dr. Caroline Leaf
“To achieve greatness, you need to understand your mind.”Today's guest is Dr. Caroline Leaf, a communication pathologist and cognitive neuroscientist specializing in cognitive and metacognitive neuropsychology. Since the early 1980s she has researched the mind-brain connection, t ... Show More
1h 49m
Sep 2022
#146 Barbara Tversky: Action Shapes Thought
My guest today is acclaimed psychologist and longtime Stanford University professor Barbara Tversky who calls on her nearly 50 years in the field of cognitive psychology for an in-depth discussion about how our minds work. We discuss the Nine Laws of Cognition, why action shapes ... Show More
2h 6m
Sep 2022
The Science Behind The Law of Attraction EP 1325
Dr. Tara Swart Bieber is a Ph.D neuroscientist and former MD who has worked to examine the many intricacies of the human brain. She is a professor at MIT Sloan, and also an executive advisor, who has improved the minds and behaviors of some of the world’s top business people. She ... Show More
1h 24m
Jan 2021
Unlocking Your Brain's Potential | Dr. Ryan D'Arcy
For generations, when it came to your brain, we pretty much assumed that once you reach adulthood, it pretty much is what it is. That meant you couldn’t get smarter or faster or wittier or optimize it to perform at a higher level and, on the other side, if you suffered an injury, ... Show More
59m 1s