S1E30_Humor

S1E30_Humor

Author: Peter Economou, Ph.D. and Nikki Rubin, Psy.D. November 25, 2020 Duration: 19:32
Everyone loves a good laugh, right? Have you ever watched some of those videos online of a child belly-laughing? There are real psychological benefits of humor, including cultivating joy and connection, increasing psychological flexibility, and tolerating distress. In this episode, Dr. Rubin highlights how humor may behaviorally present in both helpful and unhelpful ways, and Dr. Pete shares how Buddhist teachings conceptualize humor, including pop culture examples (e.g. Bernie Glassman...

In When East Meets West, psychologists Peter Economou and Nikki Rubin bridge the continental divide for a unique conversation. Peter, based on the East coast, and Nikki, on the West, bring their clinical expertise to explore the fascinating intersections where ancient Eastern wisdom and contemporary Western psychology converge. This podcast delves into topics across health, fitness, mental well-being, science, and spirituality, examining how timeless practices can inform modern behavioral science. Each discussion is grounded in their professional experience, offering nuanced perspectives rather than simple answers. Listeners will hear thoughtful dialogues that unpack complex ideas, from meditation and mindfulness to the psychology behind ritual and community, always aiming for practical, actionable insights. The tone is curious and accessible, making the synthesis of these two rich traditions relevant for daily life. By tuning in, you join a ongoing exploration of how we can live with greater awareness and resilience, informed by both the lab and the lineage. When East Meets West is an invitation to consider the full spectrum of human understanding, hosted by two guides dedicated to making these connections clear and useful.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

When East Meets West
Podcast Episodes
S2E13_Adjusting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:24
Whether to a global pandemic, marriage, the loss of a loved one, or a new job, humans are always adjusting. Dr. Rubin and Dr. Pete highlight the behavioral aspects of adjustment, the diagnosis of adjustment disorder, and…
S2E12_Trigger Warnings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:05
Have you been given a trigger warning before? In the service of increasing sensitivity and awareness to the struggles of others, trigger warnings have gained popularity by letting someone know that what’s about to be sha…
S2E11_Flexibility and Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:52
How do we move towards creating more space and freedom in our lives? In this episode, Dr. Pete and Dr. Rubin discuss a favorite topic on WEMW: flexibility. While you might know from other episodes that psychological flex…
S2E10_The Middle Path [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:20
Dr. Pete and Dr. Rubin have mentioned the Middle Path time and again on When East Meets West. In this episode, they finally dissect and present the foundations of this practice, how it links to behavior, and how it may i…
S2E9_The Brain vs. The Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:02
What is the difference between the brain and the mind? Is there a difference? In this episode, Dr. Rubin and Dr. Pete discuss how these two parts ourselves are often conflated (especially since they both exist inside our…
S2_Bonus2_Entrepreneurship with Empathy with Howard Spector, CEO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:02
Howard Spector co-founded SimplePractice—a business management software solution and an industry-leading SaaS company in the healthtech sector that has been recognized as the Best Overall Practice Management System in 20…
S2E8_Grief [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:14
Grief occurs when we have experienced the loss of someone we love, and it is one of the most intense baseline emotions we may encounter. In this episode, Dr. Rubin and Dr. Pete discuss the stages of grief as originally d…
S2E7_Screen Fatigue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:50
Did you ever imagine that most of your human interactions would be two-dimensional? 2020 saw the transition to connecting with others through predominantly digital means to increase safety during the covid-19 pandemic. I…
S2E6_Understanding Judgments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:38
The brain is hard wired to judge, so don’t judge the judging! In this episode, Dr. Pete and Dr. Rubin discuss both the evolutionary and biological function of judgments, as well as how mindfulness can help us to cultivat…
S2E5_Motivation vs. Willingness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:45
Motivation may be one of the most misunderstood emotions that we have, often leading to a belief that we need to feel motivated in order to make changes in our lives. In this episode, Dr. Rubin and Dr. Pete define motiva…