Today, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain — and what we can do about it.
Yesterday
The Truth About Weight Loss
Today, we’re talking about the promises, perils, and psychology of changing how we eat. In Magic Pill, Johann Hari explores the new weight-loss drugs transforming medicine—and raising big questions about risk, desire, and what happens when appetite suddenly goes quiet. And in Anx ... Show More
26m 16s
Aug 27
Trying Hard Is Embarrassing. Do It Anyway.
Work is full of strange little humiliations: trying too hard, caring too much, asking for what you want, or realizing you’ve accidentally become the person who always pours the metaphorical water. Today, Laura Mayer, author of Tryhard: A Cautionary Tale of Clocking In and Spinnin ... Show More
33m 41s
Jul 2025
Most Replayed Moment: The Role of Dopamine in Addiction and Motivation - Anna Lembke
In today’s moment, renowned neuroscientist and author, Anna Lembke, explores the fascinating science of dopamine and its impact on our behaviour. Discover why dopamine is fundamental to survival, how it drives pleasure and motivation, and why we are more vulnerable to addiction t ... Show More
22m 8s
Apr 2025
How to Fix Burnout & Overstimulation — The Dopamine Reset Guide | Dr. Anna Lembke
Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and addiction specialist, explains how dopamine affects motivation, addiction, and anxiety — and shares science-backed strategies to find balance in a world of instant gratification. Read her book here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho ... Show More
23m 53s
Mar 2025
Dopamine Nation and the Age of Digital Drugs — with Dr. Anna Lembke
Dr. Anna Lembke, Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University and author of the bestselling book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, joins Scott to discuss the rise of addiction in the digital age – from drugs to social media – and why our brains are wir ... Show More
1h 2m
Apr 2022
Too much pleasure can lead to addiction. How to break the cycle and find balance
Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explains when too much pleasure-triggering dopamine upsets the delicate balance of pleasure and pain our brains need to feel "normal," which can lead to long-term pain and addiction. In today's dopamine-filled world, here's how keep that ... Show More
23m 33s
Aug 2021
Anna Lembke, MD on The Neuroscience of Addiction, Dopamine Fasting & The Opioid Crisis
The relentless pursuit of pleasure always leads to pain. As the world evolves from one of scarcity to overabundance, we increasingly orient our lives around the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain—an instinct that has produced a myriad of unprecedented types of addiction, a ... Show More
2h 24m
Feb 2023
Dr. Anna Lembke: Between Pleasure and Pain
Are you scrolling on your phone constantly? How badly do you crave that morning cup of coffee? Are you compulsively gambling, drinking, shopping, or even reading romance novels just to fall asleep? The potential for addiction is everywhere in our society, and on this episode of T ... Show More
1h 8m