Untangle

Today’s guest is James Kimmel Jr., a former litigator of 20 years, currently Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale school of Medicine and Author of the book we discuss today called The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World’s Deadliest Addiction—and How to Overcome It (2025).
Here’s the question: What if revenge actually works like a drug—lighting up the brain’s reward system and keeping us stuck in cravings for payback? In this episode we talk about the neuroscience of revenge and why it can become compulsive, engaging similar reward pathways to those associated with craving and addiction.
James tells the personal story that launched his life’s work—years of bullying, a devastating loss, and a split-second decision that changed everything. We explore how grievances fuel rumination, how self-control can get hijacked under stress, and what it takes to break the cycle. If you’ve ever replayed an old hurt or struggled to let go, this conversation offers a fresh, brain-based roadmap toward healing—including how forgiveness may just be one of the most underused tools for healing and freedom.
Resource: https://www.jameskimmeljr.com
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Today’s throwback Thursday guest is Dr. Shauna Shapiro. Shauna is a best-selling Author, Professor, Clinical Psychologist, and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. She has spent two decades studying the benefits of mindfulness and compassion, publishing over 150 papers and three critically acclaimed books. Her TEDx Talk, What You Practice Grows Stronger, has been viewed over 3 million times, and this concept is key to her philosophy. Her book, Good Morning, I love you encompasses the full range of practices that help us to grow both our meditation and compassion practices. I think you’ll find it interesting to learn how she decided to name her book.
Now, onto Shauna.
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Today’s Encore episode is with Judson Brewer, a Psychiatrist, Neuroscientist and Author who specializes in the field of mindfulness and addiction. He is widely recognized for his work on understanding the mechanisms of craving and developing effective strategies to overcome addictive behaviors. One of his notable contributions is his research on the "Hunger Habit." He discussed this in his book, The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop.
The Hunger Habit is a concept that explores the parallels between overeating and other forms of addiction. Brewer's research suggests that the root cause of many addictive behaviors, including overeating, lies in the craving and reward-based learning processes of the brain.
Brewer's approach to breaking the Hunger Habit revolves around mindfulness. He believes that by bringing mindful awareness to our eating behaviors, we can develop a deeper understanding of our cravings and make more conscious choices. Mindfulness allows us to observe our thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment, enabling us to break the automatic and unconscious patterns of overeating.
Overall, Judson Brewer is known for bridging the fields of mindfulness, neuroscience, and addiction, offering a unique perspective on breaking free from addictive patterns and fostering behavioral change through these mindfulness-based interventions.
Want more from Judson? Go to drjud.com.
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Welcome to a special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationships stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 75 of the world’s top meditation experts.And best of all…get 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.
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Welcome to Untangle, Throwback Thursday. Each week, along with our regular weekly interview, we’ll be releasing an additional encore from our early days. These are some real gems and we hope you like them.
Today's encore is with Mark Coleman, Mindfulness Teacher and Author of "Make Peace with Your Mind." He shares how mindfulness and compassion can free us from our inner critic--the one that blasts us with messages that "we’re not good enough." Mark shows us, with wisdom and humour, how we can quell that inner voice and stop beating ourselves up--for good!
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