Move Your Mind with Nick Bracks

Why does porn keep escalating?In this episode, I speak with porn recovery coach Noah Church about why people seek more and more extreme porn, and how it can affect the brain, relationships, and real intimacy.We explore how porn can become a way to escape stress, anxiety, loneliness, shame, and emotional pain. We also talk about desensitisation, porn-induced erectile dysfunction, relapse, fantasy, intimacy, and why so many men struggle to connect in real life after years of using screens to cope.At the heart of the conversation is the bigger question: why so many men numb what they feel instead of facing what they’re carrying.This episode will change how you understand porn, addiction, and emotional avoidance.Noah Church is a porn recovery coach, author of Wack: Addicted to Internet Porn, and someone who has recovered from porn addiction himself.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: Why Porn Escalates(00:28) Early Exposure Story(01:31) Desensitization And ED(03:37) Quitting And Relapse(05:37) Rising ED Statistics(08:07) Hollow Rewards Explained(10:49) Recovery Process Basics(12:30) Porn As Emotional Coping(14:59) Healthy Use And Education(16:22) Escalation Twists Sexuality(17:33) Porn Free Masturbation(21:31) Cheating And Secrecy(23:49) Dating Novelty And Comparison(29:30) Host Personal Experience(32:26) Try 30 Days Off(34:08) Fantasy Versus Reality(35:22) Turning Imagination Into Values(36:44) Addiction Traits As Strengths(38:19) Rock Bottom Wake Up Calls(40:48) Recovery As Second Puberty(42:54) Early Exposure And Age Gates(44:23) Porn Industry And Stigma(46:30) OnlyFans And AI Illusions(51:05) Incels Dating Apps And Resilience(01:00:58) Closing AdviceConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Noah:Website: addictedtointernetporn.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot of us don’t just feel anxious...we get anxious about being anxious.In this episode, I speak with Donald J. Robertson, a psychotherapist and one of the world’s leading voices on Stoicism.We talk about why trying to get rid of anxiety can keep it alive, why overthinking often feels useful when it’s really another form of avoidance, and how facing what we fear can help us move forward. We also get into self-criticism, comparison, external validation, and why so many people chase success without ever questioning if it’s the life they actually want.This conversation is about anxiety, but it’s also about learning to stop fighting yourself.Donald J. Robertson is a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, author, and leading expert on Stoicism and modern psychology.Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction: Stoicism Meets Anxiety(00:29) Ancient Therapy Roots(01:40) Dichotomy of Control(02:43) Second Order Anxiety(05:27) Avoidance And Exposure(07:15) Worry As Cognitive Avoidance(09:15) Emotions Are Cognitive(14:36) Two Factor Anxiety Model(19:20) Exposure Therapy Works(27:38) Attention Narrows Under Threat(33:01) Premeditation Of Evils(34:03) Worry Versus Imaginal Exposure(35:33) The Paradox Of Worry(41:32) Postpone Worry To Think Clearly(46:12) Control Your Worry(47:14) Values And Comparison Trap(49:06) Upward Vs Downward Comparisons(51:32) Gratitude Through Absence(53:02) Questioning Ambition(55:01) Mortality Resets Priorities(58:05) Character Over Externals(01:01:55) Rigidity Vs Resilience(01:06:03) Anxiety About Anxiety(01:12:30) Social Anxiety Spotlight Effect(01:14:29) Does Money Buy Happiness?(01:17:52) Role Models And Reality(01:24:29) Advice To Younger Self(01:26:52) Closing ThoughtsConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Donald:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donaldjrobertson/Website: https://donaldrobertson.name/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve been trying to outthink your anxiety - replaying the same thoughts, searching for the perfect solution, telling yourself “once I figure this out, I’ll be fine” - this episode will land.Because anxiety doesn’t just live in your mind. It lives in your body. And when you try to solve a body experience with logic, you often end up feeding the spiral instead of calming it.I’m joined by Dr Jenn Rapkin (naturopathic doctor + somatic practitioner) to unpack the difference between sitting with the story (rumination, what-ifs, worst-case scenarios) and sitting with the sensation (the actual physical feeling that rises, peaks, and passes). We talk about why your thoughts don’t always have your back, why “fixing” can keep anxiety alive, and the simplest way to start working with your body instead of against it.Dr Jenn Rapkin is a naturopathic doctor and somatic practitioner, and the author of The Feeling Muscle: How Felt Emotion Can Help You Sit With and Outlast Hard Feelings.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction(00:59) Anxiety Lives in the Body(03:22) Sitting With Sensations(07:53) Culture Trains Emotional Avoidance(10:09) Why Feelings Set You Free(14:23) Life Is Meant to Be Hard(17:32) Acceptance Without Giving Up(18:56) Midlife Timeline Panic(21:50) Reframing Time and Possibility(26:32) Detachment Brings Ease and Joy(29:49) Social Media Fuels Comparison(31:00) Presence Over Distraction(32:58) Kids and Screen Culture(35:15) Connection Beats Tech(37:24) Why She Does This Work(40:52) OCD and Mental Health Talk(45:47) The Feeling Muscle Book(48:53) First Steps to Feelings(51:55) Exposure and Doing Hard Things(54:36) Advice and Happiness(56:40) Wrap Up and SupportGet the FREE Move Your Mind Masterclass here:go.nickbracks.com/moveyourmindAccess FREE Move Your Mind training here:https://go.moveyourmind.io/trainingConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Jenn:Website: https://drjennrapkin.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you feel like you’ve tried therapy, self-help, maybe even medication, but you’re still stuck thinking… why am I not better yet?I’m joined by Dr. Will Dobud, a social worker, researcher and educator who has worked with adolescents and families across the United States, Australia, and Norway, to explore why the mental health system can leave good people feeling broken, even when they’re doing all the “right” things.We talk about the uncomfortable truth that mental health outcomes haven’t improved in decades, how passive interventions and labels can replace real change, and why “awareness” without personal ownership can actually keep you trapped. We also get into why medication can’t be the finish line, what it means to stop outsourcing your healing, and the mindset shift that helps you move from self-blame to self-trust.This episode will help you change your life by changing your relationship with mental health, so you can take ownership of it and move forward today.Dr. Will Dobud is a social worker, researcher, and educator who has worked with adolescents and families in the United States, Australia, and Norway.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction(00:57) Quick Fix Culture: Labels, Pills, and Passive Interventions(02:33) Treat Young People as Crew (Not Passengers)(06:06) Phone Bans vs Real Priorities: The Broken Hill Lead Story(07:57) ‘Kids These Days’: Moral Panics, History Repeats, and Common Sense(11:13) Modeling Responsibility: What Adults Must Do After the Ban(12:53) Bridging the Divide: Politics, Outrage, and What We’re Protecting(17:27) Beginner’s Mind & Learning: Conferences, Curiosity, and Humble Pie(19:22) Dr. Will Doba’s Origin Story: From ADHD Kid to Social Work & Outdoor Therapy(26:10) Process Over Outcomes: Excellence in the Work (and the Podcast Trap)(32:36) Building a Feedback Culture: How to Get Better Without an Echo Chamber(37:28) Systematic Self-Critique: Recording Sessions, Asking Better Questions, Elite Practice(41:30) Feedback, growth, and why relationships get confronting(42:31) Therapy alliance: asking for negative feedback early(45:50) Micro-habits vs overwhelm: making change doable(48:52) Simple can be elegant: tiny tweaks, agency, and noticing the good(52:27) Change doesn’t have to match the problem: finding a direction(56:48) Outdoor therapy & nature: benefits without the hype(59:01) Where to find the book + bonus resources(01:01:12) Biggest mental health burden: social connection, community, and engagement(01:04:28) Vulnerability at home: modeling teamwork through hard times(01:07:25) What kids imitate: phones, conflict, and healthy disagreement(01:09:57) Advice, regrets, and what happiness really means(01:16:18) Curiosity, learning, and the messy process of creating (plus wrap-up)Get the FREE Move Your Mind Masterclass here:go.nickbracks.com/moveyourmindAccess FREE Move Your Mind training here:https://go.moveyourmind.io/trainingConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Will:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willdobud/Book: https://www.kidsthesedaysbook.com/will-dobud Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever get home from work exhausted… but then your brain won’t stop replaying everything that happened?In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Guy Winch — psychologist, bestselling author, and the speaker behind one of the most-watched TED Talks on emotional first aid — to explain what’s really happening when you “can’t switch off”… and why that mental spiral is basically unpaid overtime.We break down why your mind treats rumination like you’re still at work, how that quietly fuels burnout, and the practical ways to “fight back” — including a simple transition ritual that helps you shift out of work mode and actually recover (even if you’re not physically tired).This episode will help you change your life by changing your mind, so you can stop doing mental overtime after work — and get your evenings (and your relationships) back.Dr. Guy Winch is a licensed psychologist and author of Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life and Emotional First Aid.-Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction(01:08) The Illusion of Physical Exhaustion(02:53) Ruminating on Work Issues(05:58) The Impact of Overworking(08:10) Neglecting Self-Care(09:52) The Importance of Emotional Health(11:41) The Rise of Mental Health Awareness(13:16) Practical Tools for Mental Well-being(14:03) Introduction to the Free Masterclass(14:33) Guest Introduction and Background(15:03) The Psychology of Rejection(17:05) Managing Mental Resources(19:15) New Book: Mind Over Grind(23:02) The Trap of Overworking(26:36) Defining Success Beyond Professional Achievements(27:25) Balancing Work and Personal Life(29:05) The Illusion of Social Media Success(34:32) The Importance of Transition Rituals(39:13) Feeling Stuck: How to Reframe Your Story(45:38) Final Thoughts and AdviceGet the FREE Move Your Mind Masterclass here:go.nickbracks.com/moveyourmindAccess FREE Move Your Mind training here:https://go.moveyourmind.io/trainingConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Dr. Guy:Website: https://www.guywinch.com/Check out his Book: https://www.guywinch.com/books/mind-over-grind/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you ever feel like you’re running out of time? Feeling like you’re behind in life, even when everything looks fine on the outside?In this episode, I’m joined by Ishan Shivanand, a former monk and mental health researcher, to explore why fear of time shows up so powerfully, and how changing your relationship with time can change how you experience your life.We talk about aging, mortality, and the “death meditations” Ishan was taught as a young monk as a practical framework for reducing anxiety, letting go of pressure, and reconnecting with what actually matters.This episode will help you change your life by changing your relationship with time, so you stop living like you’re already too late.Ishan Shivanand is a former monk and mental health researcher who works with universities and institutions to study yoga-based practices in modern, real-world settings.Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(00:46) Facing the Fear of Aging(03:29) The Hundred-Year Plan(07:25) Meditation on Death10:35 The Practice of Immortality(21:29) Modern Challenges and Consciousness Shift(25:19) Embracing Ancient Tools for Modern Change(25:29) Scientific Approach to Ancient Wisdom(26:16) Ego and Evidence in Modern Application(26:38) Integrating Past and Present Technologies(27:08) The Dynamic Nature of Modern Challenges(27:51) Mainstreaming Meditation and Wellness(28:24) The Role of Universities and Research(30:35) Democratizing Ancient Knowledge(31:37) Navigating the Wellness Industry(36:44) The Importance of Evidence-Based Practices(40:40) Challenges in Mental Health and Wellness(42:33) Closing Thoughts and ReflectionsGet the FREE Move Your Mind Masterclass here:go.nickbracks.com/moveyourmindAccess FREE Move Your Mind training here:https://go.moveyourmind.io/trainingConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Ishan:https://ishanshivanand.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.