Our latest FitMind Podcast episode features Dr. Craig Hassed, a physician, educator, and longtime leader in mindfulness and mind-body medicine.
Craig explains how chronic stress creates wear and tear throughout the body, affecting inflammation, immune function, gene expression, and markers associated with biological aging. He also discusses why mindfulness extends beyond formal meditation, and how being more present in daily life can help reduce unnecessary activation of the stress response.
The conversation also covers the difference between empathy and compassion, why empathic distress can contribute to burnout, how mindfulness supports performance and flow, and some of the deeper questions surrounding consciousness.
Listen here: Mindfulness, Medicine, & the Biology of Stress