# Dr. Stephen Porges: Where Free Will Lives in Your Body, and Why You Keep Ignoring It

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575/dr-stephen-porges-where-free-will-lives-in-your-body-and-why-you-keep-ignoring-it
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575/dr-stephen-porges-where-free-will-lives-in-your-body-and-why-you-keep-ignoring-it.md
Podcast: [Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement](https://stenobird.com/podcast/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575)
Published: 2026-05-08T03:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/mgln.ai/e/35/pfx.vpixl.com/k7b9t/op3.dev/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR9199586646.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/mgln.ai/e/35/pfx.vpixl.com/k7b9t/op3.dev/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSR9199586646.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/growth-mindset-psychology-the-science-of-self-improvement-615575/episodes/dr-stephen-porges-where-free-will-lives-in-your-body-and-why-you-keep-ignoring-it
Duration seconds: 1440

## Resource

Free will might be smaller than you hoped, but more useful than you imagined. This conversation with Stephen Porges is about the quiet shift in perspective he learnt from 50 years studying the nervous system. We are taught to believe that emotional strength means overriding fear, suppressing anger, and forcing calm. But a different story is available. One where stress is not weakness, pain is not always just pain, and emotions are not commands but signals shaped by physiology, memory, and perceived safety. In that story, awareness becomes agency. The moment you notice your internal state without instantly obeying it, a door opens. Not a dramatic door. A small one. But small doors change lives. This episode explores the psychology of emotional regulation, the biology of threat, and the possibility that resilience is less about control and more about creating the conditions where wiser choices can emerge. See reactions as signals from a system. Create safety before expecting transformation. Practice awareness to widen your range of choice. SPONSORS 🌳 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Acorns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Smart way to grow your money $5 welcome bonus ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Acorns.com/PSYCHOLOGY⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ NEW SHOW - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn about the evolving story of the human species and our ideas told in chronological order. The podcast is full of fun facts, surprising stories and philosophical insights. Found on all major podcast players: Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-w…

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