Metta Hour Kid's Series: Richie J. Davidson & Sharon Salzberg | Ep. 277

For episode 277, we are continuing a new series on the Metta Hour, centered on kids, in honor of Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl, released on December 9th! Written with Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness. For this podcast series, Sharon speaks with educators, caregivers, and researchers about the ways meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness can impact children of all ages and the family systems that support them. For the sixth episode of the series, Sharon speaks with Richie J. Davidson. Richie is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Founder and Director of the Center for Healthy Minds. He is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought-after expert and speaker, leading conversations on well-being on international stages such as the World Economic Forum, where he serves on the Global Council on Mental Health. In this conversation, Sharon and Richie speak about: - Richie’s pillars for human flourishing - Free Kindness Curriculum app - How to nurture enduring traits - Lovingkindness as a training - Our whole being is malleable - Flourishing is contagious - Temporary states vs lasting traits - We are born to be kind - The Born to Flourish book, coming in March - Changing our narratives - Affective Neuroscience - Six basic emotional styles - Evolving the K-12 education space - Supporting Healthcare providers - Community as contemplative intervention - What is Contemplative Neuroscience? The conversation closes with a guided meditation led by Richie.