The Invisible Thief: How Social Media Steals Your Self-Worth
In this essential episode, Dr. Pedram Shojai exposes the invisible thief stealing your peace, presence, and authentic self-worth: social media comparison culture. Drawing on behavioral psychology research from Stanford's Behavior Clinic that informed Instagram's addictive design, Dr. Shojai explains why your brain—evolved to assess status in tribes of 150 people—is now comparing you to billions of curated highlight reels 24/7. Learn the neuroscience behind the comparison spiral, from status threat response to cortisol-driven inflammation, and discover how this chronic "not enoughness" drives anxiety, depression, and a desperate search for external validation. Dr. Shojai offers practical protocols including the three-breath awareness practice, ruthless curation guidelines, and the 100-day digital fast to help you break free from comparison poisoning. This episode is your roadmap to using social media without it using you, witnessing others' success without diminishing your own worth, and returning to what matters most: your actual life, your body's wisdom, and your authentic journey.
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22:29
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22:29
The Science of Hormesis: How Strategic Stress Makes You Stronger
Discover why deliberately stressing your body might be one of the most powerful health interventions available. In this episode, Dr. Pedram Shojai explores hormesis—the principle that low to moderate doses of stress trigger beneficial adaptations that make you anti-fragile. Learn the science behind cold therapy, strategic fasting, and exercise as consciousness-expanding tools, complete with practical protocols for safely implementing these practices. From understanding the adaptation cascade at a cellular level to recognizing when you're overdoing it, this episode provides a comprehensive guide to using hormetic stressors for health optimization and expanded awareness.
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35:12
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35:12
The Gut Reset Revolution: How Microbiome Transplants Are Reversing Chronic Disease
Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) is emerging as a breakthrough treatment for patients who've exhausted conventional and functional medicine options. Dr. Pedram Shojai sits down with Dr. Jason Klop and neuroscientist Dr. Shaina Cahill to explore how this ancient practice—dating back to 4th century China—is now backed by modern science and delivering remarkable results for conditions ranging from IBS and IBD to autism, Parkinson's, and beyond. This conversation reveals why the gut microbiome is the foundation of whole-body health, how FMT works by transplanting an entire healthy ecosystem rather than isolated probiotic strains, and what rigorous donor screening and manufacturing processes ensure both safety and efficacy. The discussion covers who benefits most from FMT, proper preparation protocols, and the critical lifestyle factors needed to maintain results long-term. For those suffering from chronic gut conditions who've been told they're "probably crazy" by conventional medicine, this episode offers hope through science-based solutions that address root causes rather than managing symptoms.
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42:50
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42:50
Become a Detective of Your Own Body: Mastering Interoception for Early Disease Prevention
Dr. Pedram Shojai delivers a transformative guide on developing interoceptive awareness, which is the ability to sense and interpret your body's internal signals before minor symptoms become major health crises. He uses the powerful analogy of a car's check engine light to illustrate how most people ignore their body's warning signs, choosing to "tape over" symptoms rather than investigate their root causes. Drawing from functional medicine principles, he explains why modern culture has systematically disconnected us from our body's intelligence through the "no pain, no gain" mentality, constant stimulation, caffeine dependence, and a medical system focused on symptom suppression rather than prevention. The episode breaks down the body's four-phase warning system, from subtle whispers weeks before a crisis to full-blown alarms requiring medical intervention. Dr. Shojai provides a comprehensive three-level framework for reclaiming body awareness: daily two-minute body scans, weekly pattern recognition exercises, and monthly deep-dive investigations into symptom clustering and root causes. He explores how your vagus nerve network, inflammatory markers, and multiple interconnected body systems communicate constantly through energy patterns, digestive signals, nervous system regulation, and hormonal cycles. Learn how catching issues at phase one through improved interoceptive awareness could prevent a health crisis years down the road and transform your relationship with your own health and wellbeing.
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24:49
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24:49
The Sleep Quality Paradox: Why 8 Hours Isn't Enough
In this essential Urban Monk weekly call, Pedram explores the critical distinction between sleep quantity and sleep quality—revealing why many people who log 7-8 hours still wake up exhausted. Drawing from his experience owning sleep labs, he breaks down the architecture of restorative sleep, identifying common saboteurs from blood sugar dysregulation to environmental factors. The discussion provides practical, actionable protocols for optimizing deep sleep and REM cycles, emphasizing that better sleep—not more sleep—is the key to energy, healing, and cognitive performance. Pedram demonstrates how sleep optimization begins the moment you wake up, making it the foundation for every other health practice.
About The Urban Monk podcast with Dr. Pedram Shojai
Pedram Shojai is the Urban Monk. He is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, a Taoist Priest, a Qi Gong Master, film maker, author, and Kung Fu world traveler. He invites you to join in the conversation exploring what it means to live with balance in the 21st century.
https://www.theurbanmonk.com/
Listen to The Urban Monk podcast with Dr. Pedram Shojai, unPAUSED with Dr. Mary Claire Haver and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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