The Scarcity Brain: How To Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough | Michael Easter X Rich Roll

Rich Roll

Feb 19, 2024

Episode description

Rich sits down with Michael Easter to discuss his new book and New York Times bestseller, Scarcity Brain. Michael offers guidance on fixing the craving mindset and rewiring habits for a better life. To read more about this episode and peruse the full show notes, go here👉🏾https://bit.ly/richroll814
✌🏼🌱 - Rich

This Episode Brought To You By...

MOMENTOUS
For 20% OFF my favorite products go here 👉 https://bit.ly/LiveMomentous2024

LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST
Apple Podcasts: http://bit.ly/rrpitunes
Spotify: http://bit.ly/rrpspotify
Google: http://bit.ly/rrpgooglepods

Meal Planner: http://meals.richroll.com
Voicing Change Book: http://richroll.com/vc
Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RichRollPodcastClips
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/rollcallemail

CONNECT WITH RICH
✩ Website - http://richroll.com
✩ Rich Roll Podcast - https://richroll.com/all-episodes/
✩ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/richroll/
✩ Twitter - https://twitter.com/richroll
✩ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/richrollfans
✩ Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/14443?oq=rich
✩ Memoir: Finding Ultra - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/finding-ultra/
✩ Meals - http://meals.richroll.com
✩ Cook - The Plantpower Way - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-signed/
✩ Italian! - The Plantpower Way: Italia - https://www.richroll.com/shop/books/the-plantpower-way-italia-signed/
✩ Support - https://www.patreon.com/richroll

FILMED AND EDITED BY BLAKE CURTIS, DAN DRAKE & MORGAN MCRAE
https://www.blakecurtis.net/
https://www.dandrake333.com/

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:27 Personal Journey with Sobriety
00:08:05 The Comfort Crisis and Inviting Hardship
00:12:36 Growing a Broader Understanding of Addiction
00:16:16 The Value of Hardship
00:20:45 Prevalence Induced Concept Change
00:24:35 The Short-Lived Appreciation for Modern Conveniences
00:28:03 Sponsor Break
00:29:33 The Scarcity Loop and Slot Machines
00:32:22 The Three-Part System of the Scarcity Loop
00:33:15 The Pervasiveness of the Scarcity Loop
00:40:49 The Schedule of Rewards
00:42:41 The Dopamine Release from Anticipation
00:45:21 Michael's Time In Iraq to Study the Drug Trade
00:48:12 Historical Examples of Addiction
00:49:04 The Scarcity Loop in Substance Addiction
00:50:32 The Unpredictability of Alcohol
00:53:09 The Peaks and Valleys of Sobriety
00:54:30 Exploring the Edges and Managing Intensity
00:55:39 Living A Balanced Life
01:00:55 Tools for Behavior Change
01:02:29 The Optimal Foraging Theory
01:04:15 The Optimal Stimulation Theory and Humans Today
01:06:11 Regulating Technology for Teens
01:08:18 "Opting In" Rather Than "Opting Out" of Technology
01:11:31 The Death of Boredom
01:14:23 Reinserting Boredom
01:16:59 Human Insatiability and Addition vs Subtraction
01:17:43 The Bridge Experiment
01:18:55 The Tendency to Add
01:22:32 Minimalism and Interesting Experiences
01:25:56 The Scarcity Loop and Outdoor Activities
01:27:51 The Scarcity Loop and Buying Habits
01:28:38 The Value of Time and Minimalist Lifestyles
01:31:51 The Loop and Problem Solving
01:34:05 The Future of Humanity
01:35:59 Enslavement to Technology
01:40:25 The Sweet Spot of Progress
01:41:22 Material Impacts on Daily Life
01:44:47 Bringing Adventure into Everyday life
01:47:37 Credits

* * * * *

NEW TO RICH?
Hi I'm Rich Roll. I'm a vegan ultra-endurance athlete, author, podcaster, public speaker & wellness evangelist. But mainly I'm a dad of four. If you want to know more, visit my website or check out these two the NY Times articles:
http://bit.ly/otillonyt
http://bit.ly/vegansglam

I LOVE MAIL! SEND IT HERE:
2630 Conejo Spectrum St.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320

#richroll #richrollpodcast

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Break the scarcity loop to combat addiction

The scarcity loop, a three-part system of opportunity, unpredictable rewards, and quick repeatability, is the mechanism that makes everything from slot machines to social media apps addictive.

#addiction

Recognize prevalence-induced concept change to enhance satisfaction

As humans experience fewer problems, we don't become more satisfied; we just lower our definition of what we consider a problem, a concept called prevalence-induced concept change.

#happiness

#mind

Subtract to solve problems efficiently

When faced with a problem, our brains have a strong, often unconscious, bias to add something to solve it, rather than the often more efficient solution of subtracting something.

#cognition

Enhance life engagement to overcome bad habits

An experiment showed pigeons in sterile cages chose gambling over predictable food, but when placed in a rich, natural environment, they chose the optimal option, suggesting we seek unhealthy stimulation when our lives lack positive, natural engagement.

#environment

#habits

Grayscale your phone to reduce screen time by 40 minutes daily

A simple way to reduce phone addiction is to change the screen to grayscale, as one study found this simple change made the phone boring and reduced screen time by about 40 minutes a day.

#addiction

#screen-time

Address psychic pain, provide alternatives, and limit substance supply to combat addiction

Addiction blooms when three things converge: a population in psychic pain, few alternative ways to manage that pain, and a large supply of a substance that provides short-term relief.

#addiction

Incorporate rucking to enhance aging health

Rucking, or carrying weight over distance, is a foundational physical practice that humans are uniquely adapted for, benefiting bone density, muscle preservation, and cardiovascular health.

#aging

#exercise

Recognize losses disguised as wins in modern apps

Modern apps and games use a technique called 'losses disguised as wins,' where you receive a reward smaller than your investment, which your brain still perceives as an exciting win, keeping you engaged.