207 episodes

Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown is a quirky, informative, and interactive podcast breaking down the myths and misunderstandings about mental health and emotional well-being. Neuroscientist Mayim Bialik combines her academic background with vast personal experience to provide listeners with valuable practical advice focusing on removing the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging an understanding of the mind-body connection. Nothing is off limits as Mayim breaks it down with an amazing collection of guests.

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown Mayim Bialik

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.8 • 4.4K Ratings

Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown is a quirky, informative, and interactive podcast breaking down the myths and misunderstandings about mental health and emotional well-being. Neuroscientist Mayim Bialik combines her academic background with vast personal experience to provide listeners with valuable practical advice focusing on removing the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging an understanding of the mind-body connection. Nothing is off limits as Mayim breaks it down with an amazing collection of guests.

    I Was Enmeshed with My Mom, with Brett Gelman

    I Was Enmeshed with My Mom, with Brett Gelman

    This week we're sitting down with the fearless, hilarious, and thoughtful Brett Gelman (Stranger Things, Fleabag) as he opens up about the challenges that have shaped him, from his early battles with OCD and questioning his identity, to intense enmeshment with his mother and overcoming those tendencies as he navigates adult relationships.

    Brett opens up about:
    - The ways he felt different growing up
    - His early experiences with drug use
    - His OCD around numbers and fear of the future
    - Why questioning his sexuality as a kid led him to have a breakdown

    He also shares insights on method acting, the importance of creating space for men to challenge toxic masculinity, and the importance of infusing all of your endeavors with a little bit of yourself.

    PLUS Mayim explains why self-centeredness may actually be at the root of our attempts at caring for others!

    This conversation is a must-watch for anyone seeking to understand the intricate dance between our past experiences and our present selves.

    TUNE IN to find out how facing your past can dramatically reshape your future!

    • 1 hr 28 min
    Why Bad Boys Feel Good, with Dr. Stephen Porges!

    Why Bad Boys Feel Good, with Dr. Stephen Porges!

    Vagus Nerve Secrets REVEALED: Discover how to feel safe with the groundbreaking creator of the Polyvagal Theory, Dr. Stephen Porges!

    Dr. Porges helps us answer all of the important questions, like:
    - Why are we attracted to "BAD" people?
    - How can trauma prevent us from accessing the body’s healing resources, AND what is the link between TRAUMA & OBESITY?
    - Why do certain sounds instantly calm us down?
    - Why might neurodivergent individuals have a hard time connecting with others?
    - How can vagus findings be used to improve institutions like prisons, hospitals, and schools?

    PLUS find out what signals you're sending without even realizing it and how to create a safer, more connected world around us.

    WE ALSO BREAK DOWN:
    - Dr. Porges' journey of discovering the vagus nerve and polyvagal theory
    - Scientific evidence for why the dating process should be slowed
    - Good vs Bad stress
    - Why dissociation is an adaptation
    - How speech patterns can affect our anxiety levels
    - How Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is connected to our mindset and well-being
    - "Freezing" as an alternative to "Fight" & "Flight"
    - The importance of creating a safe space for others
    - The traits of a well-attuned therapist
    - Why hypersensitivity (especially auditory) affects everything
    - The dangers of labels without accounting for individual history

    Whether you're a neuroscience enthusiast, seeking self-improvement tips, or just curious about the hidden powers within us, this episode is packed with intriguing insights and practical advice. Don't miss out on this deep dive into the wonders of the human body and mind.

    TUNE IN to discover the SECRET to EMOTIONAL SAFETY!

    • 1 hr 53 min
    Does God Feel Pestered By Humanity, with Matisyahu

    Does God Feel Pestered By Humanity, with Matisyahu

    Psychedelics, Making a Deal with God, the Unity of Music, Wilderness Therapy, Untying Identity from Physical Appearance....this episode has it all!

    Dive deep into the soul-stirring journey of renowned musician Matisyahu, where music and mysticism collide in an unforgettable revelation.

    We explore Matisyahu's self-diagnosed learning disabilities, his life as "the last hippie", and the spiritual awakening that led him from dropping out of high school to become a Dead Head and follow Phish on tour, to a stint in rehab and an empowering experience in a wilderness therapeutic program.

    This is a RAW & REVEALING account of how psychedelic experiences, spirituality, and music have intertwined to shape his path from a troubled youth to a reggae music sensation!

    Matisyahu also opens up about his move toward becoming very religious in his Jewish faith - including growing an extremely recognizable beard and studying at the yeshiva - the intersectionality between reggae and Judaism, the underground healer who saved his life, and the ebbs and flows of his relationship with religion....PLUS where he’s currently at with it now.

    From pairing psychedelic drugs with spirituality and music at an early age - leading to a deep calling to dedicate his life to God and his music career - to the pressures of fame driving him to shave his iconic beard, this episode is a very personal examination of the ties between loneliness and spirituality.

    Don't miss this powerful episode that challenges us to question: Does God feel pestered by humanity? 

    • 1 hr 43 min
    Grow Your Love Muscle, with Dan Harris!

    Grow Your Love Muscle, with Dan Harris!

    An adrenaline-fueled war reporter, self-medicated with cocaine. The panic attack on live TV that brought him to meditation.

    This is a RAW & REVEALING look into how Dan Harris (10% Happier author & podcaster) struggled behind his polished on-screen persona.

    What's a better way to celebrate MBB's 200TH EPISODE?!!!

    Dan reveals how his reporting from the frontlines of Iraq led to self-medicating his depression with recreational drugs, and how meditation was the ultimate game-changer.

    THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY CAN'T MEDITATE!

    Learn the practical skills to happiness, how to detach from your narrative through metacognition, and create a buffer between stimulus and reaction.

    Mayim shares her personal struggles with meditation and gets practical tips from Dan that could change your perception of meditation forever. Plus, dive into different forms of meditation that enhance concentration, gratitude, and how a lovingkindness meditation practice can reshape your day-to-day life.

    Dan also explains how meditation caused him to shift his perception of himself and in relation to others, what our goals with meditation should be, and what his lovingkindness meditation practice looks like today.

    Curious about MDMA's therapeutic potential for emotional awareness, adrenaline addiction, or what a coke-fueled panic looks like from the inside? This episode is your front-row seat to a MIND-BLOWING conversation that could very well be the nudge you need to start your own meditation journey.

    TUNE IN to help us celebrate 200 episodes of MBB with Dan Harris!

    • 1 hr 23 min
    "We Were The Beatles of HipHop!" RUN DMC - The Band that Changed Culture

    "We Were The Beatles of HipHop!" RUN DMC - The Band that Changed Culture

    Rediscover the band that CHANGED MUSIC FOREVER.


    RUN D.M.C. were the Beatles of Hip-Hop. Darryl "DMC" McDaniels was a comic book nerd who pretended his way into hip-hop stardom and changed the world forever.


    We dive into Darryl’s journey from a shy Catholic school boy, being bullied to becoming an icon in the music industry. Darryl shares his struggles with the dark side of stardom, which lead to alcohol abuse and drinking a case of 40-oz bottles per day.


    Darryl opens up about confronting the realities of adoption trauma after discovering he was adopted at the age of 35, the pressures that lead him to suicidal ideation, and his diagnoses of suppressed emotions & OCD.


    He also REVEALS the origins of Run D.M.C.'s famous remake of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way," their signature fashion style ("Adidas with no laces!"), their close relationship with the Beastie Boys, his rock 'n' roll inspirations, what it was like to be the first rap group on MTV, and grief over losing Jam Master Jay to homicide.


    PLUS Darryl discusses practicing meditation through his creativity, his exciting upcoming music with Travis Barker, what music he’s listening to these days and what he thinks of hip hop and rap today, and the surprising story of how Sarah McLachlan saved his life!


    Whether you're a long-time Run D.M.C. fan or new to the hip hop scene, you'll discover something new and inspiring.


    This episode will leave you feeling like a fly on the wall as you witness MUSIC HISTORY - TUNE IN to MBB! 

    • 1 hr 56 min
    What Medicine is Getting WRONG, with Dr. Peter Attia!

    What Medicine is Getting WRONG, with Dr. Peter Attia!

    The Ultimate Guide to Living Longer and Happier – with World Famous Longevity MD, Peter Attia!

    Dr. Peter Attia’s MOST personal interview yet.

    Best-selling author of Outlive & host of The Drive podcast Dr. Peter Attia reveals why the current medical model is failing us and how a focus on combating the erosion of healthspan could be the secret to a fuller, richer life.

    We can PREVENT chronic diseases - Dr. Attia's insights will change the way you think about your health forever!

    He helps us break down everything from the real reasons we should avoid certain foods and the impact of mental health on our physical well-being, to the role of spirituality as a healing component to terminal illness and trauma. We also cover:

    - Why most people today are dying from chronic diseases
    - Impediments our doctors are currently facing
    - Certain foods to avoid
    - How to best make use of the time we have to dedicate to our health each week
    - The benefits of young people spending time with the elderly population
    - How to prioritize and implement new health information in the ever-changing medical landscape
    - What is parasuicide and how do we tackle it?
    - How to detach your behaviors from your urges

    Dr. Attia GETS PERSONAL in a way you've never seen him before. He opens up about:
    - Being addicted to workaholism, perfectionism, anger, and even oxycontin
    - The physiological ramifications he experienced from going cold turkey off of oxytocin
    - His psychedelic experiences
    - What numbing the pain looks like for him now
    - Why the underlying emotion under his anger is helplessness

    Are you ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about health and longevity?

    TUNE IN to MBB for this life-altering perspective on making the most out of our time on this earth!

    • 1 hr 35 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
4.4K Ratings

4.4K Ratings

R. E. Bradshaw ,

That explains a lot.

Well rounded interview with insightful questions and enlightening answers. Been sharing this one. Well done.

Jackikynne ,

She Met God

I just watched the episode and it was wonderful. I am and was raised Baptist but I’ve seen things.

ChicaBond ,

DMC

Love Love this episode. Great info. Enlightenment.

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