Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

To live our most authentic life we need to figure out our own identity and true values. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my new weekly podcast for your mind, body and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 122 of the podcast with former monk turned social media superstar, Jay Shetty. So many of us these days are living lives that are not truly ours. In this clip, Jay explains why finding out what our true values are is so important. He talks us through his value audit exercise along with other tips which will help us all on our way to living the life we really want. After having spent three years living as a monk in India, Jay believes that you don’t have to live like a monk to think like one. He transforms the ancient wisdom he has learned into practical tips and fun exercises that will help us all live more meaningful and purposeful lives. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/122 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website

5 Feb 202112min

CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains mild swearing. Today I’m welcoming back my good friend and fellow podcaster, Rich Roll, for the third time. Rich has recently gone back through his 500 plus podcasts and collected words of wisdom from 50 of his podcast guests in his new, self-published book Voicing Change which is, quite simply, a thing of beauty. Rich was a huge influence on my own decision to start a podcast – and to evolve it into long form conversations. So, we kick off our chat talking about the craft and what we have learned from it. He explains that he likes to prepare well and research his guests but ultimately trusts in the process and his instincts. That’s advice that translates to all walks of life, from a sporting event to a job interview. We discuss how leading with your own vulnerability can be the key to putting other people at ease and helping them to open up. Rich reveals how every success in his life has been very hard fought and has been a process of work undertaken consistently, aggressively and anonymously. He believes that many of us overestimate what we can do in a short period of time and wildly underestimate what we're capable of accomplishing over a decade or a number of years. Above all, he is a believer in process over outcome, the journey not the destination. Growth is all about stepping outside your comfort zone. Over the past year, of course, that journey has been difficult for all of us. But even in the face of global calamity, Rich has some great practical advice on how best to survive and even thrive. We discuss parenting through the pandemic, Covid’s effect on the world’s mental health and our worries about its impact on our kids. But ultimately, Rich believes we can navigate through the fear and emerge from this era with more resilience, better able to handle difficulties. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/153 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

3 Feb 20211h 35min

We know that poor diet can affect our physical health, but it can negatively affect our mental health too. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my new weekly podcast for your mind, body and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. This week’s guest is world-leading expert in the field of nutritional psychiatry, Professor Felice Jacka. We discuss the fascinating findings of her ground-breaking research into the link between food and our mental health. Felice explains the important role our gut microbiome plays in our health and wellbeing, and how a diet rich in diversity is key to good physical and mental health. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/74 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

29 Jan 20219min

What is happiness? And can we learn to be happier than we already are? Today’s guest believes we can. Laurie Santos is a professor of psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast. Her ‘Science of Wellbeing’ course became the most popular in the university’s history and has developed into a global phenomenon, with over three million people signing up to study Laurie’s evidence-based strategies for happiness. In this conversation, Laurie shares exactly what those happiness boosting strategies actually are. She also explains how being happy with your life, differs from being happy in your life and how balancing the two is key to overall happiness. We also cover the relationship between money and happiness and discuss the unfortunate reality that when it comes to happiness, our intuition is often wrong. We discuss maximising social connections, being thankful, being present, exercising and sleeping more – things we know are good for us but often lack the motivation to seek out.  We also talk about how technology can both help and hinder social connections, how helping others is preferable to helping ourselves, and the incredible benefits of a daily gratitude practice.  This is a wide-ranging and uplifting chat that really breaks down the psychology of happiness and Laurie’s suggestions will help you start working towards greater contentment starting today. The best news is that the tools to our happiness are simple and free. Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/151 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

27 Jan 20211h 48min

If we can incorporate regular movement into our daily lives we will feel the physical and mental benefits, yet many of us view exercise as a punishment or an obligation. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my new weekly podcast for your mind, body and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 109 of the podcast with Kelly McGonigal. Kelly is a US research psychologist, a lecturer at Stanford University and an author. Kelly reveals how it’s possible to change our mindset to view physical activity as a way to engage with life. If we focus on calories and metrics, we may be missing the joy we can experience from movement. She explains how going beyond what you think you’re capable of, whether that’s an endurance event or lifting heavy weights, can change the brain in positive ways. Any movement is good for you though and can provide a reset for your mood and your brain chemistry. Repeatedly contracting any muscle, whether working out with weights or doing gardening, releases antidepressant substances called myokines that scientists have dubbed ‘hope molecules’. Kelly gives us tips on how to incorporate more movement into our lives and find ways to move our body that we truly enjoy. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/109 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

22 Jan 202110min

My guest on today’s episode needs no introduction. Whether you’ve read his books, tried a recipe on social media or joined in with his PE (Physical Education) With Joe workouts, Joe Wicks has been inspiring wellbeing for nearly a decade. Behind the success is a truly inspirational – and surprising – story of a man following his passion against the odds. When I spoke to Joe, he’d just raised £2.5m for Children in Need by doing a 24-hour fitness challenge and had been awarded an MBE. But, as he tells me, struggles at school and family problems could so easily have derailed his ambition. As an 11-year-old at school, Joe would motivate his classmates to get more out of PE. This is a man who knew his calling in life from an early age and is now doing the same on a global scale. This is an authentic and touching conversation. It’s easy to assume Joe’s success must be driven by an empire, a slick marketing machine, but nothing could be further from the truth. Family is everything to him and he opens up to me on topics like parenthood and coping when you’re the child of an addict. He has great advice on the importance of consistency and self-belief when striving for your goals and believes that optimism, compassion and healthy living are choices that are within everyone’s reach. As well as being full of practical tips, this episode is a brilliant chance to get to know more about a man who’s familiar to many of us – yet has hidden depths. I hope it puts a smile on your face.  Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/149 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

20 Jan 20211h 14min

Could giving up alcohol really change your life? Whilst some of us may currently be alcohol free for Dry January, many of us have haven’t given our drinking habits much thought. We often look at improving our diet and moving more but is alcohol the elephant in the room that could be holding us back? Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my new weekly podcast for your mind, body and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s guest is performance coach and author Andy Ramage. Andy is co-founder of the habit-changing program One Year No Beer that invites people to try 28, 90 or 365 days alcohol free. He believes it’s possible to become the most productive, present and healthiest version of yourself just by making this one change. We discuss how alcohol is linked to many parts of our lives and why Andy described himself as a ‘middle lane drinker’ before he gave up alcohol 6 years ago. He explains why taking a tactical break from alcohol could bring a surprising host of benefits and how his own experience changed his life. Andy believes the greatest discovery you'll ever make is your authentic self and that by removing alcohol you allow yourself the chance to be you again.  What could be more powerful than that? Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/85 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

15 Jan 202115min

Improving the quality of our sleep is arguably the single most effective thing that we can do to reset our brains and recharge our bodies, yet many of us just aren’t getting enough. But what is the optimal amount of sleep and what can we do if we struggle to get enough? I’m delighted to welcome back onto the podcast the world-leading sleep researcher, Professor Matthew Walker to answer these questions and more. Matthew is author of the international best-selling book ‘Why We Sleep’, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California and a fountain of knowledge when it comes to all things sleep. My last conversation with Matthew back on episode 70 of the podcast was one of the most popular to date. A few months ago, I asked my podcast listeners to let me know what further questions they would like Matthew to answer and in this conversation, I put some of those questions to him. We cover how many of us feel that we don’t have enough time to sleep for 7-9 hours but how rather than stealing time from us, getting more sleep can actually make us more productive. And even grabbing an extra 15 minutes of sleep a day will have benefits for our overall healthspan. Matthew shares some brilliant tips on how we can regain control of our sleep and for those who are really struggling, he explains that there is an alternative to sleeping pills that is just as effective in the short term, but much more effective long term. We cover so much ground in this conversation, including polyphasic sleep (sleeping for periods of time throughout the day), unbroken sleep and why lying awake in bed for long periods of time can affect our ability to sleep in the future. Matthew shares the fascinating and dramatic changes that have occurred in the way we sleep and dream following the coronavirus pandemic and why it has allowed what he calls “the revenge of the night owls.” We delve into REM sleep and how it is one of the best forms of therapy – the brain can literally re-wire negative memories when we sleep. Finally, we cover sleep trackers, caffeine and how sleep impacts our immunity. This really is a fascinating conversation, full of fresh insights and actionable tips that we can all put into practice today. I hope you enjoy listening. Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/147 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

13 Jan 20211h 39min