Ep 51: Hugh Byrne

Welcome to Episode #51 of the Alcohol & Addiction Podcast and this week my guest is Hugh Byrne. Hugh Byrne, PhD is a guiding teacher with the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, has practised mindfulness meditation for thirty years and been teaching since 2000. He trained with Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, and other senior Insight Meditation teachers. Hugh teaches Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and completed training in Somatic Experiencing, a mind-body approach to healing trauma. Hugh has a law degree from London University and a PhD from UCLA, has worked for many years in human rights. He is the author of The Here-and-Now Habit: How Mindfulness Can Help You Break Unhealthy Habits Once and For All. He teaches classes and retreats in the Washington, DC, and internationally. And in this episode, we talk about what a habit is and how it differs from addiction, why it's so difficult to break habits, and how mindfulness practice can make recovery so much easier. Other Nuggets of Information Hugh-byrne.com (http://hugh-byrne.com/) Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (http://amzn.to/2aFeLpM) Thanks for listening. Before you go, if you have any questions for Hugh or I, then please leave them in the comments section on the blog, or you can message me at needyhelper@gmail.com. If you find the AA Podcast a valuable resource, then please tell your friends about it and share the love. You would make me a very happy man indeed if you could rate us on iTunes. TDR2016 gave us a five-star rating and said this about our podcast: "I’ve been listening to the podcasts since summer 2015 and even though I don’t have an addiction, I find them insightful. They serve as a useful reminder tool when I’m going through a shift and need a different perspective." I love that quote because it is my dream that one day all people come to this site to be educated on life, and not just people with addictions. This podcast would not be possible without the sterling efforts of Neil Chow and Liza Lim, so big hugs and kisses to them, and also to you, the listeners, without whom this podcast wouldn't be possible, so thanks for giving me your ear to bend. Finally, I want to take the time to tell you about three great products that I am affiliated with. I use all three and highly recommend them. The first is the Storyfluence Training Course by Michael Hauge and Andre Chaperon. An excellent grasp of storytelling is essential in all aspects of business and in life, and what better way to learn about the framework of a story than from a Hollywood scriptwriter and the man responsible for the Auto Responder Madness email course. (http://storyfluence.com/a/sw.html?cbid=bowie23) Secondly, I want to tell you about Blinkist. Have you ever picked up a book and thought ‘just get to the point?' Well, Blinkist does that. They have read hundreds of self-help books, and they break down the most relevant points into a 15-minute bite-sized taste of pure goodness. If you love reading books, you will love Blinkist. (http://jump.blinkist.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=2396) Finally, if you are looking for an email subscription list management system with a difference then look no further than ConvertKit. They are so personable, they make you feel loved, and are always on hand to make their product better for you the customer. (http://mbsy.co/ftNdv)