About this episode
Cort and Richie discuss how flourishing can impact individuals and systems through personal stories and research.
In this episode of Dharma Lab, Cort and Richie explore one of the core ideas behind Born to Flourish : that our inner state doesn’t stay inside. It ripples outward…shaping classrooms, workplaces, families, and even measurable outcomes like student achievement. Through personal stories and groundbreaking research from public schools, they unpack how awareness, connection, insight, and purpose don’t just transform individuals, they transform systems. Podcast chapter list: 00:00 – Intro: Can Flourishing Be Contagious? (Neuroscience + Real-World Impact)01:23 – The Dalai Lama at NIH: Compassion in Action06:49 – Why This Moment Changed Science Leaders Forever09:52 – Is Compassion Trainable? The Science of Human Plasticity15:30 – A Workplace Story: How Kindness Transformed a Toxic Boss19:45 – The Neuroscience of Contagion: How Emotions Spread23:50 – 850 Teachers, Randomized Trial using the Healthy Minds App26:42 – The “Holy Grail” Finding: Improved Student Test Scores28:01 – Interdependence Explained: Why We’re Not Separate30:31 – How One Teacher’s Mindset Changes an Entire Classroom31:56 – “Buy One, Get Two Free”: The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing32:17 – Practical Habit #1: Intentionally…
People in this episode
Hosts: Cort, Richie
Topics covered
- flourishing
- emotional contagion
- neuroscience
- education
- kindness
- personal development
Keywords
- flourishing
- neuroscience
- kindness
- education
- emotional contagion
- Healthy Minds App
- Born to Flourish
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NIH, Healthy Minds App
Products: Born to Flourish
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- DL Ep.32: Dopamine Isn’t Your Problem with Dr. Richard Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl · May 21, 2026 · 49 min
- DL Ep. 31: Your Brain Is a Storyteller · May 7, 2026 · 51 min
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