023: Buddhism, addiction, & healing the root of shame with Jeremy Lipkowitz

Jeremy is a mindfulness & emotional intelligence facilitator, & certified porn addiction recovery coach for men. Jeremy overcame his own addiction to pornography in his early twenties with the help of mindfulness meditation & Buddhist philosophy, which not only helped him let go of his destructive behaviors, it also allowed him to connect with deeper meaning & purpose in his life.

For the past 11 years Jeremy has been teaching mindfulness & emotional intelligence practices at universities, recovery centers, & companies throughout Europe, Asia & the US. He has been featured in places like Men's Health & Livestrong Magazine for his work in helping people overcome compulsive behaviors & addictions. 

He holds a Bachelors & Master’s degree in Genetics & Genomics, & spent several years at Duke University working towards a PhD in Genetics & Systems Biology before he turned full-time to teaching & coaching. 

💫 We cover :

• When does an addictive behavior become an “addiction”?
• Jeremy’s  journey with porn addiction; the root through to recovery
• The physiology & psychology of addiction + the crippling effects of shame
• The 3 A’s of addiction: accessibility, affordability, anonymous 
• Gender X addiction
• Healthy shame vs. unhealthy shame
• Neuroplasticity; how addictive behaviors become hardwired into our brains but also - how we can rewire them
• Striving vs. contentment; a Type A’s paradox
• AND So much more

💫 Mentioned:

• Johann Hari, Lost Connections book
• Happiness by Matthieu Ricard
• Rat park experiment, mentioned in the interview 
• Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

💫 To connect with Jeremy :