{"podcast":{"title":"Dharma Lab","slug":"dharma-lab-7434763","podcast_index_feed_id":7434763,"rss_url":"https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/5564335.rss","website_url":"https://www.dharmalab.co/podcast","image_url":"https://substackcdn.com/feed/podcast/5564335/e3a306c6015de00f1762f20685aa2e3c.jpg","author":"Dharma Lab","episode_count":42,"summary":"Modern neuroscience and ancient contemplative wisdom on life's most important questions. By Dr. Richard J. Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-30T22:17:02.579102+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/dharma-lab-7434763"},"episode":{"title":"DL Ep. 20: Why Willpower Isn’t Enough - The Neuroscience of Sustainable Change","slug":"dl-ep-20-why-willpower-isn-t-enough-the-neuroscience-of-sustainable-change","published_at":"2026-01-06T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/dharma-lab-7434763/dl-ep-20-why-willpower-isn-t-enough-the-neuroscience-of-sustainable-change","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/dharma-lab-7434763","url":"https://www.dharmalab.co/p/dl-ep-20-why-willpower-isnt-enough","audio_url":"https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/182898195/f2f65c36f5fb7afb372f25d1b94f0477.mp3","summary":"REMINDER: Live Q&A with Richie and Cort TODAY at 8pm ET on Substack. Over the next two weeks on Dharma Lab, we’ll be exploring the science and practice of meaningful change—why it so often breaks down, and how small, intentional habits can gradually reshape how we live. In today’s episode, we explore a key insight from neuroscience and psychology: our behavior is shaped less by willpower than by the affordances around us—the cues, routines, relationships, and environments that quietly invite certain actions while discouraging others. Rather than asking why we “lack discipline,” we look at how everyday contexts—from our physical surroundings to the people we spend time with—continually nudge our habits, often outside of awareness. When those affordances stay the same, even the strongest resolutions tend to fade. We also explore a more hopeful possibility: that working with affordances doesn’t have to feel rigid or effortful. Approached with curiosity, it can be creative—even fun. Experimenting with small changes, playful rituals, and supportive friendships can turn habit-building from a struggle into something that feels alive and sustainable. Next week, we’ll continue the conversation: * discussing conscious habits , and * the four steps make flourishing a habit: Inspiration, Intention, Action, and Repetition. You can read more about these in our recent post , as well in our upcoming book Born to Flourish (available for pre-order now, arriving March 2026). Recent Posts: Podcast Chapter List: 00:00 – Approaching New Habits with Curiosity and Creativity Why motivation fades, even when intentions are sincere — and why willpower alone isn’t enough. 01:00 – Introducing Dharma Lab & the Science of Habit Change Dr. Richard Davidson and Dr. Cortland Dahl on the neuroscienc…","meta_description":"REMINDER: Live Q&A with Richie and Cort TODAY at 8pm ET on Substack. Over the next two weeks on Dharma Lab, we’ll be exploring the science and practic…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1694,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/dharma-lab-7434763/episodes/dl-ep-20-why-willpower-isn-t-enough-the-neuroscience-of-sustainable-change/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/dharma-lab-7434763/dl-ep-20-why-willpower-isn-t-enough-the-neuroscience-of-sustainable-change.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}