Summary

In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller reflects on the importance of human connection, the historical rise of dominators in society, and the interplay between religion and governance. He emphasizes the need for community and collaboration to counteract the divisive forces in the world, expressing hope for humanity's ability to unite and thrive together.

Takeaways

Connection with others is vital for personal well-being.

Human beings are inherently tribal and collaborative.

A small group of dominators has historically controlled resources.

The concept of property emerged from power dynamics.

Religion and governance have a complex and often dangerous relationship.

The separation of church and state is crucial for freedom.

Community and connection can combat isolation and fear.

We must reach out to others to foster relationships.

Hope exists for humanity to rise above divisive forces.

We share this planet and must work together as one people.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections

02:53 The Importance of Connection

06:12 The Rise of Dominators in Society

09:05 The Historical Context of Power Dynamics

12:00 Religion and Governance: A Dangerous Alliance

15:50 The Call for Community and Connection

20:11 Hope for Humanity's Future

Why Meditation Is About Relationship, Not Escape

Susan Piver on breath, awareness, and strengthening human connection

Episode Summary

In this episode of Mind Body Health & Politics, I speak with Susan Piver, meditation teacher and author of The Wisdom of a Broken Heart, about what meditation truly offers in a distracted, isolated world.

Susan shares how her online meditation community grew organically to tens of thousands of people seeking practice, presence, and connection. Together, we explore meditation not as a tool for self-improvement or avoidance, but as a way of relating differently to the mind, the breath, and one another.

We discuss why the mind is a sense organ rather than the self, how meditation restores agency in an age that constantly pulls at our attention, and why practice does not remove pain—but helps us meet it without aggression or collapse.

One line from Susan stayed with me:

“I cannot defeat my enemies. But I can strengthen my friends.”

In a culture overwhelmed by noise, fear, and division, this conversation is an invitation to clarity, steadiness, and genuine human presence.

Timestamps

00:00 — Why community is essential to mental and emotional health02:15 — Introducing Susan Piver and the Open Heart Project04:45 — How online meditation became a global community06:00 — The unexpected intimacy of practicing together online08:30 — What meditation actually is (and what it is not)12:30 — Why the mind is not the boss16:00 — Attention, breath, and reclaiming agency20:30 — Meditation, grief, and the danger of spiritual bypassing27:00 — Pain, loss, and meeting experience honestly30:45 — Meditation as opening to the world, not withdrawing from it34:00 — “I cannot defeat my enemies, but I can strengthen my friends”36:30 — A guided meditation with Susan Piver42:30 — Silence, presence, and closing reflections

Three Simple Tools to Calm Anxiety and Quiet the Mind

Episode Summary

In this week’s episode of Mind Body Health & Politics, I speak directly to you about anxiety and intrusive thoughts—two of the most common struggles I’ve encountered in over 65 years of clinical practice.

I share three simple, practical tools that require no special equipment, no long meditation sessions, and no expense. These are techniques you can use almost anywhere, at any moment, to calm your nervous system and regain control of your inner world.

We explore conscious breathing, guided visualization, and a surprisingly powerful method for interrupting intrusive thoughts. These practices helped me save my own life during a severe trauma, and they remain the foundation of how I manage anxiety to this day.

This episode is a reminder that you don’t need to do everything at once. A little something over a long period of time is a lot of something.