Essentials: How to Increase Motivation & Drive

In this episode, I explain how ketamine causes rewiring of brain circuits and dissociative states to relieve symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I explain how ketamine impacts both the brain’s glutamate and its endogenous opioid pathways, which together regulate mood and well-being. I discuss how ketamine therapy is used clinically to treat major depression, bipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suicidality and other psychiatric challenges. I also describe how ketamine causes the subjective effects of dissociation and euphoria and, at higher doses, is an anesthetic. I compare the different routes of ketamine administration, dosages and forms of ketamine, and if micro-dosing ketamine is effective. I also highlight the potential risks of recreational ketamine use (and the colloquial term ‘K-holes’). This episode should interest anyone interested in ketamine, treatments for depression, neuroplasticity mechanisms, psychiatry and mental health. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Ketamine (00:02:46) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up (00:05:13) Ketamine & PCP; Clinical & Recreational Use (00:09:00) Depression & Current Treatments (00:15:17) Preclinical Models of Depression & Ketamine; “Learned Helplessness”  (00:22:11) Ketamine & Clinical Uses; Depression & Suicidality  (00:28:32) Ketamine & Other Psychiatric Challenges; Relief & Durability  (00:33:40) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:34:29) NMDA Receptor & Neuroplasticity (00:41:36) Excitatory & Inhibitory Communication, Seizure, NMDA Receptors & Ketamine (00:48:26) How Ketamine Functions in Brain; Acute & Long-Term Effects (00:55:36) Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) & Ketamine Therapy (01:03:40) Ketamine & Opioid Pathway  (01:10:00) Divergent Mechanisms of Immediate & Long-Term Effects (01:15:45) Habenula, Pro-Depressive Behaviors & Ketamine Therapy (01:20:36) Ketamine & Context-Dependent Strategy; Reward Pathway (01:22:45) Dissociative States (01:26:04) Doses & Routes of Administration; “K-holes”; Risk & Caution (01:32:25) Ketamine Forms; R-, S- vs R/S- Ketamine; Micro-Dosing (01:38:24) Ketamine: Effects & Therapy (01:40:40) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Aug 20231h 39min

In this episode, my guest is Tony Hawk, the legendary and pioneering professional skateboarder, video game and skateboard industry entrepreneur, and founder of the Skatepark Project, whose philanthropic mission is to help underserved communities create safe and inclusive public skateparks for all youth. We discuss his career, how he helped popularize and evolve the sport of skateboarding, and his role as an ambassador for skateboard culture. We also discuss where he derives his intrinsic drive, how he sets and evolves goals and how he has made remarkable and continual progress throughout his career. We also discuss Tony’s ability to overcome what would otherwise be career-ending injuries. For anyone seeking to find or pursue their passion and make lifelong progress while serving the larger world, this episode with Tony Hawk ought to be of deep interest. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Tony Hawk (00:03:32) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up (00:05:55) Childhood & Self-Concept (00:11:08) Early Skateboarding & Skateparks (00:16:58) Adolescence, Skateboarding (00:23:10) Turning Professional, The Bones Brigade (00:32:01) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:35:27) Trick Development & Evolution (00:40:33) Visualization, Dreaming (00:47:09) “Feeling” While Skateboarding (00:51:15) Drive & Discipline; Injuries (00:58:46) Injury Recovery Practices (01:06:52) Healthy Life Practices & Skateboarding (01:15:03) Video Game Development (01:23:00) Financial Investments, Birdhouse (01:30:16) Professionalism; Hobbies (01:35:43) Kids, Parents & Skateboarding (01:44:15) Music; High School (01:49:28) Females in Skateboarding (01:56:04) Inspiration, Kids, Bones Brigade (02:01:18) Memorabilia, Autographs (02:05:50) Skatepark Project (02:08:14) Future Goals & Aspirations (02:13:08) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

31 Jul 20232h 12min

Welcome to a preview of the ninth Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode, part of the Huberman Lab Premium subscription. The Huberman Lab Premium subscription was launched for two main reasons. First, it was launched in order to raise support for the standard Huberman Lab podcast channel — which will continue to come out every Monday at zero-cost. Second, it was launched as a means to raise funds for important scientific research. A significant portion of proceeds from the Huberman Lab Premium subscription will fund human research (not animal models) selected by Dr. Huberman, with a dollar-for-dollar match from the Tiny Foundation. Subscribe to Huberman Lab Premium at https://hubermanlab.com/premium. Timestamps (00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:42) What Are the Short and Long-Term Effects of Taking Kratom? (00:24:12) Huberman Lab Premium In the full AMA episode, we discuss: How Does Infrared Sauna Compare to Traditional Sauna? Neurological Impact and Best Practices for Journaling for Goals, Habits and Growth Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 Jul 202326min

In this episode, my guest is Maya Shankar, Ph.D., a cognitive scientist, former senior advisor to the White House and Chair of the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She is the creator and host of the podcast, A Slight Change of Plans. We discuss how our identities develop and change, how our beliefs and internal narratives shape our perception of self, and how to use structured introspection about our values to determine our goals. We discuss how to cope and grow through uncertain situations, especially those that force us to reexamine our roles and identity. Dr. Shankar shares her experience of redefining her identity after an early career-ending setback. She also explains numerous science-based strategies to effectively define goals, structure our goal pursuits and maintain consistent motivation. This episode provides a science-supported toolkit and roadmap to assess your identity and goals and positively transform in the face of change. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Maya Shankar (00:02:53) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up (00:05:15) Identity Foreclosure, Identity Paralysis, Throughlines (00:12:10) Identity & Adolescence; “Essence” & Shame (00:16:58) Delight & Awe (00:23:00) Delight & Possibilities for Self (00:29:28) Playing Violin, Childhood (00:35:17) Sponsor: AG1 (00:35:58) Intrinsic Motivation; Juilliard & Courage (00:45:43) Competitive Environments; Curiosity & Growth (00:53:46) Re-Creating of Self (01:00:51) Pop-Science, Science Accessibility (01:06:32) Passions & Curiosity (01:13:20) Change, Cognitive Closure, End-of-History Illusion (01:22:29) Self-Awareness & Critical Feedback (01:30:48) Tools: Flexible Mindset; Reframing & Venting; Gratitude (01:40:13) Tool: Framing Goals (01:47:13) Tool: Agency in Goal Pursuit (01:52:25) Tool: Like-Minded People & Goal Pursuit; Challenging Beliefs (02:01:27) Cultivating Open-Mindedness & Empathy (02:08:15) Building Self Narratives: Empathy, Burnout (02:13:56) Tools: Goal Setting (02:19:54) Tool: “Middle Problem”, Maintaining Motivation (02:24:55) Tool: Aversion & Memory, Peak-End Rule (02:31:41) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Neural Network Newsletter, Social Media Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24 Jul 20232h 31min

In this episode, I discuss how to build and apply a growth mindset — the practice of self-rewarding and focusing on learning and skill development through effort — to improve learning and performance. I also discuss how our internal narratives drive our ability to make progress. I contrast the growth mindset vs. the fixed mindset and describe how the type of feedback or praise we receive shapes our mindsets, and the huge advantage of rewarding and celebrating “verbs” (actions) rather than adjectives (performance labels). I also discuss data showing how stress can enhance performance and explain why the growth mindset works synergistically with the “stress-is-enhancing mindset,” and how to combine them. Whether you are a student, coach, therapist, parent, teacher or simply someone seeking to improve at something, this episode provides numerous science-supported tools for how to adopt a performance enhancing mindset. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Growth Mindset (00:03:11) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up (00:05:17) Mindset & Narrative (00:12:58) Intelligence Feedback vs. Effort Feedback, Identity Labels (00:20:10) Intelligence vs. Effort Praise: Performance, Persistence & Self-Representation (00:26:45) Fixed Intelligence vs. Growth Mindset (00:28:53) Tool: Intelligence (Performance) vs. Effort Narrative, Labels (00:32:30) Sponsor: AG1 (00:34:36) Tool: Failure & Identity; Effort & Verbs (00:35:41) Tool: Timing, Intelligence vs. Effort Praise & Performance (00:40:080 Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset: Failure & Performance (00:50:28) Tool: Shift from Fixed Mindset (00:54:23) Sponsor: InsideTracker (00:55:30) Stress-is-Enhancing Mindset (01:05:53) How Stress Can Enhance Performance  (01:13:21) Growth Mindset + Stress-is-Enhancing Mindset & Performance (01:20:36) Reframing Stress (01:25:45) Tool 1: Student & Teacher Mindset (01:28:17) Tool 2: Effort Praise/Feedback: Verbs not Labels (01:31:24) Tool 3: Errors & Seeking Help (01:32:58) Tool 4: Self-Teaching & Growth Mindset (01:34:35) Tool 5: Reframe “Mind is Like a Muscle” Analogy (01:39:20) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

17 Jul 20231h 39min

In this episode, my guest is Robert Malenka, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine who has made numerous seminal discoveries of how the brain changes (neuroplasticity) in response to learning and in response to rewarding and reinforcing experiences. We discuss the brain’s several reward systems involving dopamine and serotonin and how these motivate us to seek out specific behaviors and substances. We discuss how these reward systems are modified based on context and our memories, and how they can be hijacked toward maladaptive drug seeking in addiction. We also explore how reward systems influence social connections, oxytocin and empathy and how that applies to our understanding of autism spectrum disorders. This episode should be of interest to those interested in neuroplasticity, social bonding, addiction, autism, learning and motivation. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Robert Malenka (00:02:53) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up (00:05:21) Dopamine & Reward Circuitry (00:11:31) Reward, Arousal, Memory & Dopamine  (00:17:34) Context, Cues & Dopamine Modification (00:25:38) Memory & Reward Scaling (00:30:50) Dopamine, “Addictive Liability” & Route of Administration  (00:39:25) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:40:40) Drugs of Abuse & Brain Changes; Addiction & Individual Variability (00:50:51) Reinforcement vs. Reward, Wanting vs. Liking (00:57:500 Opioids, Psychostimulants & Dopamine (01:04:51) Self-Doubt, Confidence & Career (01:12:40) Autism Spectrum Disorder (01:19:29) Pro-Social Interaction & Reward; Oxytocin, Serotonin & Dopamine (01:30:30) Nucleus Accumbens & Behavior Probability (01:38:28) Reward for Pro-Social Behavior (01:43:13) Social Media & “Addictive Liability”; Gambling (01:52:17) Pain, Social Behavior & Empathy (02:02:19) Empathy Circuitry, Dopamine & Serotonin  (02:10:07) Autism Spectrum Disorder & Social Interactions, Empathy (02:17:23) MDMA, Serotonin & Dopamine; Addiction & Pro-Social Effects (02:28:13) Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Behavior, MDMA & Pharmacology (02:37:18) Serotonin, MDMA & Psychedelics  (02:40:16) Psychedelics: Research & Therapeutic Potential (02:47:57) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Jul 20232h 47min

In this episode, I explain a set of fitness tools gleaned from the 6-part guest series on fitness, exercise and performance with Dr. Andy Galpin. First, I explain the essential components of a well-rounded fitness program for lifelong health and performance including the minimum requirements for progressive resistance and cardiovascular training. Then, I discuss 12 valuable science-supported fitness tools that take a small amount of time to implement, yet all of which can greatly enhance your level of fitness. These include short endurance-enhancing and strength and hypertrophy-enhancing tools, as well as psychological, respiration (breathing), nutrition and supplementation-based tools — all of which will improve your fitness in meaningful ways and can be easily layered into existing exercise programs to improve your fitness and performance outcomes. For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com. Use Ask Huberman Lab, our new AI-powered platform, for a summary, clips, and insights from this episode. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Tools to Improve Fitness (00:02:52) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up (00:05:13) Foundational Fitness Program (00:13:33) Tool 1: Zone 2 Cardio & Daily Activities (00:20:33) Tool 2: Low Repetition Strength Training, 3 x 5 Protocol, Warm-Up Sets (00:33:11) Age-Related Strength Decline (00:34:31) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:38:08) Tool 3: “Sugarcane” Endurance Protocol (00:43:29) Tool 4: Exercise “Snacks”; Cardiovascular & Muscular Endurance (00:55:31) Tool 5: Rest Period & Physiological Sighs (01:00:20) Tool 6: Down-Regulation Breathing & Recovery (01:05:38) Tool 7: “The Line” (01:09:55) Tool 8: Smartphone Use & Training (01:13:44) Tool 9: Omega-3 Fatty Acids (01:15:37) Tool 10: Creatine (01:20:08) Tool 11: Rhodiola Rosea (01:25:13) Tool 12: Training Fasted or Fed, Caffeine (01:31:09) Training Session Flexibility (01:33:37) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

3 Jul 20231h 32min

In this episode, my guest is Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the department of ophthalmology at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University. His clinical and research efforts focus on retinal and optic nerve diseases such as glaucoma and discovering stem cell and nanotechnology treatments to cure blindness. We discuss how to maintain and improve eye health throughout life, the advantages and disadvantages of corrective lenses, including if you should wear “readers,” the use and risks of contact lenses, considerations for LASIK eye surgery, floaters, dry eye, the importance of sunlight and UV protection and specific exercises to improve eye and vision health. Dr. Goldberg also explains age-related conditions: cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy; and the behavioral and supplementation-based, prescription and surgical tools used to promote eye health. This episode provides essential tools for listeners of any age and background to maintain eye health and offset vision loss. For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg (00:03:25) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up (00:06:29) Childhood & Eye Exams (00:11:36) Eye Misalignment & Recovery (00:20:38) Myopia (Near-Sightedness), Children & Sunlight (00:27:03) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens) (00:31:18) Eye Safety & Protection; Eye Hygiene (00:40:07) Adults & Eye Exams; Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist (00:46:35) Presbyopia (Age-Related Vision Decline), Reading Glasses (00:54:54) Reading Glasses: Use & Recommendations (00:58:34) Night Vision & Glasses (01:03:54) Corrective Eye Glasses, Exercises (01:09:52) Near-Far Exercise & Presbyopia; Smooth Pursuit Exercise & Concussion (01:13:25) Supranormal Vision & Performance Training (01:19:11) 20/20 Vision; Visual Acuity (01:24:51) Contact Lenses: Use, Risks & Aging (01:31:34) UV Protection & Cataracts, “Blue Blockers” (01:38:20) Light Sensitivity & Eye Color (01:40:29) LASIK Eye Surgery (01:46:26) Dry Eye, Tears & Age (01:53:24) Dry Eye, Serum Tears & Preservative-Free Artificial Tears; PRP (02:00:46) Vision Loss: Cataracts, Glaucoma (02:09:23) Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Dry & Wet Forms (02:14:02) Diabetic Retinopathy, Type I vs Type II Diabetes (02:18:54) Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment, Blood Pressure (02:22:17) Glaucoma Screening & Treatment (02:28:07) Smoking, Vaping & Vision Diseases; Cannabis & Eye Pressure (02:35:13) Eye Pressure & Sleep Position (02:37:48) Macular Degeneration, Optic Neuropathies & Red-Light Therapy (02:42:23) “Floaters” (02:45:29) Eye Twitching (02:48:10) AREDS2 Supplementation & Age-Related Macular Degeneration (02:53:39) Glaucoma & Vitamin B3 Supplementation (02:58:42) Retinal Imaging & Neurodegeneration Screening, Multiple Sclerosis (03:06:30) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

26 Jun 20232h 42min