Your Body Follows What Your Mind Believes: Mindfulness As Medicine | Dr. Ellen Langer x Rich Roll

Rich Roll

Feb 12, 2024

Episode description

Dr. Ellen Langer joins Rich to discuss how you can harness mindfulness to take control of your health. To read more about Dr. Langer and peruse the full show notes, go here👉🏾https://bit.ly/richroll813

✌🏼🌱 - Rich

This Episode Brought To You By...

CAMELBAK
Use my code RICHROLL for 20% OFF 👉 https://bit.ly/camelbak2024

Dr. Ellen Langer will be hosting a private, intimate Couples Retreat in Puerto Vallarta Mexico March 9-14, 2026.  For information please email Randy Lennon at randy@lennon.media.

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, ERIC JACKOWITZ AND MORGAN MCRAE
https://www.blakecurtis.net/
https://www.dandrake333.com/

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:20 Novel Studies and Unconventional Psychology
00:03:36 Influence of Smell on Eating Behavior
00:06:47 Mind-Body Unity and Psychology in Health
00:13:28 The Illusion of Control and Power of Belief
00:14:33 Mindlessness and Mindfulness
00:19:48 Mindfulness and Science
00:20:31 The Impact of Beliefs on Physical Manifestations
00:21:16 Empowerment through Agency and Control
00:22:38 The Power of Language and Communication
00:23:23 Understanding the Concept of Remission and Cure
00:25:41 Attention to Symptom Variability and Mindfulness
00:32:21 Sponsor Break
00:33:27 The Illusion of Control and Transcending Judgments
00:40:10 Abundance Mindset vs. Scarcity Mindset
00:41:25 The Scarcity Mindset
00:43:47 Embracing Uncertainty
00:46:03 Making Decisions
00:46:55 Regret and Subjective Labels
00:48:44 Mindfulness and Outcomes
00:55:25 Counterclockwise Study
00:57:16 Perception of Aging
01:00:25 The Bucket List
01:02:51 Influence of Perceived Time on Health
01:04:52 Mindfulness and Fatigue
01:08:00 Reframing Daily Activities - Chambermaid Study
01:12:24 Power of Belief and Placebo Effect - Eyesight Studies
01:18:02 Defensive Pessimism
01:20:28 The Contagiousness of Mindfulness
01:23:07 Influence of Mindfulness in Autism
01:25:05 Alcoholism and Mindfulness
01:27:59 Mindfulness and Energy Force
01:34:58 Evolution of Consciousness and Mindfulness
01:36:50 Reimagining Hospitals and Education
01:40:41 The Mindful School
01:41:49 Future of Langer's class
01:45:01 Closing Thoughts
01:45:47 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

Episode description

Dr. Ellen Langer joins Rich to discuss how you can harness mindfulness to take control of your health. To read more about Dr. Langer and peruse the full show notes, go here👉🏾https://bit.ly/richroll813

✌🏼🌱 - Rich

This Episode Brought To You By...

CAMELBAK
Use my code RICHROLL for 20% OFF 👉 https://bit.ly/camelbak2024

Dr. Ellen Langer will be hosting a private, intimate Couples Retreat in Puerto Vallarta Mexico March 9-14, 2026.  For information please email Randy Lennon at randy@lennon.media.

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, ERIC JACKOWITZ AND MORGAN MCRAE
https://www.blakecurtis.net/
https://www.dandrake333.com/

TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:20 Novel Studies and Unconventional Psychology
00:03:36 Influence of Smell on Eating Behavior
00:06:47 Mind-Body Unity and Psychology in Health
00:13:28 The Illusion of Control and Power of Belief
00:14:33 Mindlessness and Mindfulness
00:19:48 Mindfulness and Science
00:20:31 The Impact of Beliefs on Physical Manifestations
00:21:16 Empowerment through Agency and Control
00:22:38 The Power of Language and Communication
00:23:23 Understanding the Concept of Remission and Cure
00:25:41 Attention to Symptom Variability and Mindfulness
00:32:21 Sponsor Break
00:33:27 The Illusion of Control and Transcending Judgments
00:40:10 Abundance Mindset vs. Scarcity Mindset
00:41:25 The Scarcity Mindset
00:43:47 Embracing Uncertainty
00:46:03 Making Decisions
00:46:55 Regret and Subjective Labels
00:48:44 Mindfulness and Outcomes
00:55:25 Counterclockwise Study
00:57:16 Perception of Aging
01:00:25 The Bucket List
01:02:51 Influence of Perceived Time on Health
01:04:52 Mindfulness and Fatigue
01:08:00 Reframing Daily Activities - Chambermaid Study
01:12:24 Power of Belief and Placebo Effect - Eyesight Studies
01:18:02 Defensive Pessimism
01:20:28 The Contagiousness of Mindfulness
01:23:07 Influence of Mindfulness in Autism
01:25:05 Alcoholism and Mindfulness
01:27:59 Mindfulness and Energy Force
01:34:58 Evolution of Consciousness and Mindfulness
01:36:50 Reimagining Hospitals and Education
01:40:41 The Mindful School
01:41:49 Future of Langer's class
01:45:01 Closing Thoughts
01:45:47 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:

Make decisions and invest energy to ensure success

Since you can't predict outcomes, it's better to simply make a decision and then invest your energy in making that choice work out well.

Live younger to reverse biological aging markers

The 'Counterclockwise' study showed that men in their 70s and 80s reversed biological markers of aging by living for a week as if they were 20 years younger.

Recognize time perception's impact on blood sugar levels

In a study with diabetics, blood sugar levels followed the time shown on a rigged clock rather than the actual time that passed.

Reframe fatigue as a mental construct to enhance endurance

Studies show that when people expect to do more exercise, like 200 jumping jacks instead of 100, they get tired much later, suggesting fatigue is largely mental.

Reframe work as exercise to improve health outcomes

When hotel chambermaids were told their daily work was good exercise, they lost weight and their blood pressure dropped without any change in their actual activity.

Reframe cancer language from 'remission' to 'cured' for empowerment

Using the word 'remission' for cancer keeps patients in a stressful state, whereas calling it 'cured' would be psychologically healthier and more empowering.

Recognize psychological cues to prevent cold symptoms

In one study, people who were primed with cold-related cues like videos of sneezing developed cold symptoms without the introduction of a virus.

Investigate stress level as a predictor of cancer progression

A proposed study hypothesizes that a patient's stress level will predict the course of their cancer, independent of their genetics, treatment, or nutrition.

Notice symptom variability to enhance health control

Actively noticing when a chronic symptom is better or worse and asking 'why' can lead to significant health improvements for conditions like MS and Parkinson's.

Overdose on food smell to reduce cravings

To control your weight, you could potentially overdose on the smell of a food you crave, which may lead to you wanting to eat less of it.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius