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What if the reason you can't stop isn't weakness—but neuroscience?
In this conversation with Dr. William Nardi—behavioral scientist, researcher, and teammate at Mindshift Recovery—Dan and Rhetta unpack the brain science behind why habits stick and how curiosity can actually recalibrate your brain's reward system. Bill shares his personal journey from struggling with substances to studying mindfulness and habit change at Brown University, and explains why awareness—not willpower—is the key to lasting change. This episode digs into the orbital frontal cortex, the default mode network, deprivation versus interest curiosity, and why your brain prices a premium on felt experience. If you've ever wondered why you keep doing the thing you said you wouldn't do, this one's for you.
Key Takeaways
- The brain sets up habits through a prediction and reward system—and you can recalibrate that system by paying attention with curiosity.
- There are two types of curiosity: deprivation curiosity (needing an answer) and interest curiosity (wondering without attachment). Interest curiosity helps you learn.
- Your brain prioritizes embodied, felt experience over what you know intellectually. That's why awareness in the body—not just the mind—creates lasting change.
- Self-judgment is a habit loop too. Recognizing it with curiosity instead of force can help you shift your relationship with it.
- Mindshift is designed to work alongside other approaches—it's a tool that can integrate into many pathways, not a replacement for what's already working.
Guest Bio
Dr. William Nardi is a behavioral scientist, researcher, and teammate at Mindshift Recovery. He earned his PhD at Brown University in behavioral and social science studying why people do what they do and how to help them change. Bill has spent over a decade in mindfulness research, including work with Dr. Judson Brewer at Brown University. His personal recovery journey brought him to this work, and he now studies user experience, engagement, and the neuroscience of habit change to help anyone shift their relationship with behaviors that no longer serve.
Notable Quote
"You can understand how your mind works. You can understand why being kind to yourself and being able to be with yourself is a very important part of changing habits over time. Even what some folks would call mistakes or missteps—those 'I can't believe it happened again' moments—can be some of the most valuable moments for habit change if they're held with compassion and understood from a lens of neuroscience." — Dr. Bill Nardi
Connect with us:
Sign up to join our live Zoom meetings 5 days a week at mindshiftrecovery.org
Download the Mindshift Recovery App on our Website, the App Store, or Google Play
If you’d like to be on the show or have questions for us or our guests - Rhetta@mindshiftrecovery.org
For more info about Dr. Judson Brewer's neuroscience research, visit mindshiftrecovery.org
The Mindshift Podcast is part of the Mindshift Recovery community—a space where anyone can shift their relationship with behaviors that no longer serve.
Music for The Mindshift Podcast is created and produced by host Dan Holcomb.
Artwork is created by Giraffes And Robots
The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
