Episode 7 — Conditional Happiness, Unconditional Laughter: The Science of Being Human

Dave’s website: https://www.demystifymeditation.com/ Buckle up for a wild ride through the tangled jungles of the mind, the cosmos, and the living room! In this episode, we welcome our first-ever guest, Neighbor Dave—a mental health therapist, meditation instructor, and self-proclaimed nerd. Together, we hack into the “pirate code” of American and Belgian culture, debate the myth of the self-made man, and detour into the cosmic weirdness of Einstein rings and dark matter (with a side of cat and dog cameos).

We dig into attachment theory, brain hemispheres, and why your left brain might be a little too cocky for its own good. There’s talk of dopamine loops, the evolutionary perks of being anxious or avoidant, and the eternal struggle to not text your crush back (or maybe text them twice). Meditation gets demystified, attention spans are mourned, and satisfaction is rebranded as the new ecstasy. All this, plus audio tech tips, existential tangents, and a healthy dose of laughter.