Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Dr. Richard Davidson, PhD, is a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a pioneer in the scientific study of meditation. We discuss how meditation changes your brain and body, how just 5 minutes daily can improve focus, stress resilience and your overall health, and we cover different types of meditation. We also address common myths such as the idea that meditation is to "clear your mind." And we discuss common challenges with meditation and how to overcome them. This episode offers both the science and the practical tools to build a consistent meditation practice to improve your mental and physical health and help you flourish.
Show notes: go.hubermanlab.com/VlbAPOG
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David: davidprotein.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: eightsleep.com/huberman
Joovv: joovv.com/huberman
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Dr. Richcard Davidson
Website: richardjdavidson.com
Research: centerhealthyminds.org/science/overview
Academic profile: https://www.psychiatry.wisc.edu/staff/davidson-richard
Publications: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Davidson+RJ
Born to Flourish: amzn.to/3N80HZU
Humin: humin.org
Dharma Lab: dharmalabco.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/drrichiedavidson
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richard-j-davidson
Timestamps
00:00:00 Richard "Richie" Davidson
00:03:33 States of Mind vs Traits
00:09:06 Wakeful Brain Activity vs Deep Sleep
00:11:55 Sponsors: David & Eight Sleep
00:14:31 Brain Activity Across Sleep, Wakefulness, Meditation & Insight
00:19:27 Mediation & Sleep Compensation?; Meditation Timing & Liminal States
00:23:05 Types of Mediation, Shifting from Thinking to Being
00:28:32 Self-Monitoring, Undistracted Non-Mediation, "Stickiness"
00:35:30 Tool: Beginning Daily Meditation, "Richie's 5 Meditation"; Health Benefits
00:39:39 Meditation Practice History, Kindness & Nurturing Goodness
00:45:07 Sponsor: AG1
00:46:31 Beginners, Expect Chaos in Mind, Exercise & Lactate Analogy
00:52:47 Tool: Beginning Mediation, Embrace Anxiety; Meta-Awareness, Flow
00:57:51 Creativity; Capturing Thoughts, Unconscious Mind
01:03:03 Meditation for Kids; Flourishing, Tool: Parent & Teacher Meditation
01:10:12 Sponsor: Joovv
01:11:34 Beyond Stimulus & Response
01:14:22 Meditation Need; Gaining Insight Into Mind, Transcendence
01:18:00 Contemplating Death, Long-Term Meditation
01:21:33 Richie's Meditation Practice; Tools: Pairing Meditation, Appreciation Practice
01:26:07 Consistency, Balancing Discipline vs Surrender
01:29:52 Social Media & Validating Existence, Digital Hygiene
01:37:31 Meditation & Impulsivity; Discipline & "No Go's", Phone
01:42:08 Physical Discomfort & Pain During Meditation; Retreat Practice
01:46:50 Phone Detox, Self-Control
01:52:07 Sponsor: Waking Up
01:53:29 Overcoming Resistance, Making Peace With Your Mind
01:58:37 Meditation & Connectivity; Consistency, Prayer; Sleepiness; Meta-Awareness
02:05:49 Tools: Pillars of Flourishing; Appreciation Practice, Loving-Kindness Practice
02:15:39 Awareness & Insight, Tools: Outside View; Task Connection
02:19:43 Cultivating Flourishing, Familiarity with Resistance
02:25:23 Psychedelics, Guides, Clinical vs Non-Clinical Use
02:32:15 Neuromodulation & Meditation, Sleep; Tool: Pre-Sleep Meditation
02:37:25 Open Monitoring Meditation & Creativity
02:41:12 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
#HubermanLab #Science
Disclaimer & Disclosures: hubermanlab.com/disclaimer
Dr. Richard Davidson, PhD, is a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a pioneer in the scientific study of meditation. We discuss how meditation changes your brain and body, how just 5 minutes daily can improve focus, stress resilience and your overall health, and we cover different types of meditation. We also address common myths such as the idea that meditation is to "clear your mind." And we discuss common challenges with meditation and how to overcome them. This episode offers both the science and the practical tools to build a consistent meditation practice to improve your mental and physical health and help you flourish.
Show notes: go.hubermanlab.com/VlbAPOG
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: drinkag1.com/huberman
David: davidprotein.com/huberman
Eight Sleep: eightsleep.com/huberman
Joovv: joovv.com/huberman
Waking Up: wakingup.com/huberman
Huberman Lab
Instagram: instagram.com/hubermanlab
Threads: threads.net/@hubermanlab
X: https://x.com/hubermanlab
Facebook: facebook.com/hubermanlab
TikTok: tiktok.com/@hubermanlab
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman
Website: hubermanlab.com
Newsletter: hubermanlab.com/newsletter
Dr. Richcard Davidson
Website: richardjdavidson.com
Research: centerhealthyminds.org/science/overview
Academic profile: https://www.psychiatry.wisc.edu/staff/davidson-richard
Publications: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Davidson+RJ
Born to Flourish: amzn.to/3N80HZU
Humin: humin.org
Dharma Lab: dharmalabco.substack.com
Instagram: instagram.com/drrichiedavidson
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/richard-j-davidson
Timestamps
00:00:00 Richard "Richie" Davidson
00:03:33 States of Mind vs Traits
00:09:06 Wakeful Brain Activity vs Deep Sleep
00:11:55 Sponsors: David & Eight Sleep
00:14:31 Brain Activity Across Sleep, Wakefulness, Meditation & Insight
00:19:27 Mediation & Sleep Compensation?; Meditation Timing & Liminal States
00:23:05 Types of Mediation, Shifting from Thinking to Being
00:28:32 Self-Monitoring, Undistracted Non-Mediation, "Stickiness"
00:35:30 Tool: Beginning Daily Meditation, "Richie's 5 Meditation"; Health Benefits
00:39:39 Meditation Practice History, Kindness & Nurturing Goodness
00:45:07 Sponsor: AG1
00:46:31 Beginners, Expect Chaos in Mind, Exercise & Lactate Analogy
00:52:47 Tool: Beginning Mediation, Embrace Anxiety; Meta-Awareness, Flow
00:57:51 Creativity; Capturing Thoughts, Unconscious Mind
01:03:03 Meditation for Kids; Flourishing, Tool: Parent & Teacher Meditation
01:10:12 Sponsor: Joovv
01:11:34 Beyond Stimulus & Response
01:14:22 Meditation Need; Gaining Insight Into Mind, Transcendence
01:18:00 Contemplating Death, Long-Term Meditation
01:21:33 Richie's Meditation Practice; Tools: Pairing Meditation, Appreciation Practice
01:26:07 Consistency, Balancing Discipline vs Surrender
01:29:52 Social Media & Validating Existence, Digital Hygiene
01:37:31 Meditation & Impulsivity; Discipline & "No Go's", Phone
01:42:08 Physical Discomfort & Pain During Meditation; Retreat Practice
01:46:50 Phone Detox, Self-Control
01:52:07 Sponsor: Waking Up
01:53:29 Overcoming Resistance, Making Peace With Your Mind
01:58:37 Meditation & Connectivity; Consistency, Prayer; Sleepiness; Meta-Awareness
02:05:49 Tools: Pillars of Flourishing; Appreciation Practice, Loving-Kindness Practice
02:15:39 Awareness & Insight, Tools: Outside View; Task Connection
02:19:43 Cultivating Flourishing, Familiarity with Resistance
02:25:23 Psychedelics, Guides, Clinical vs Non-Clinical Use
02:32:15 Neuromodulation & Meditation, Sleep; Tool: Pre-Sleep Meditation
02:37:25 Open Monitoring Meditation & Creativity
02:41:12 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
#HubermanLab #Science
Disclaimer & Disclosures: hubermanlab.com/disclaimer
