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How do you harness your mind when it feels like it’s working against you?
We all know that voice—the one that criticizes, catastrophizes, and sends us spiraling into rumination. I’m certainly not immune to its grip. These are exactly the challenges that today’s guest has devoted his career to solving.
My guest today is Dr. Ethan Kross, a renowned psychologist, bestselling author, and expert on controlling the conscious mind. As an award-winning professor at the University of Michigan, he directs the Emotion and Self-Control Laboratory, exploring how our inner dialogue shapes our lives. Through his bestsellers, “Chatter” and “Shift,” he’s developed an innovative approach to mental fitness using psychological jujitsu.
“It’s not possible nor desirable to always be happy.”
– DR. ETHAN KROSS
Today, we discuss:
- Why Negative Emotions Are Actually Useful
- Shifting Away From Emotional Hijacking
- The Jujitsu of Mental Time Travel
- Breaking Free From Disaster-Casting
- Science-Backed Tools For Emotional Fitness
For those who prefer a visual experience, the conversation is available on YouTube. As always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Peace + Plants,

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- Dr. Ethan Kross: Website | Instagram | Substack
- Book: Shift: Managing Your Emotions–So They Don’t Manage You
- TED: Do you talk to yourself? Here’s how to harness your inner voice
- Big Think: Embrace your dark side: A new perspective on negative emotions
- Fast Company: Expert advice on how to reframe stress, stop an anxiety spiral, and become more resilient
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Thank The Team: I do not do this alone. Send your love to Jason Camiolo for audio engineering, production, show notes and interstitial music; with additional audio engineering by Cale Curtis and additional music by Moby; Dan Drake & Morgan McCrae for video, & editing; graphics by graphics by Alejandro Ribadeneira & Bryan Lawrence; portraits by Davy Greenberg; copywriting by Ben Pryor; and theme music by Tyler Piatt, Trapper Piatt & Hari Mathis.
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