Podcast Summary

Podcast: Makes Sense with Dr. JC Doornick
Episode: The Secret to a Quiet Mind in a Noisy World (E160)
Date: April 10, 2026
Host: Dr. JC Doornick "The Dragon"

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. JC Doornick explores the elusive goal of achieving a quiet mind amidst modern life's relentless noise and distractions. Drawing from personal experiences, his writing process for an upcoming book, and observations of societal trends, Dr. Doornick reframes the search for inner peace—not as the eradication of noise, but as learning how to manage one's attention and emotional investment. Through practical analogies and a conversational, sometimes humorous tone, he challenges listeners to reconsider their relationships with their own thoughts, responsibility, and what truly merits their attention.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality of a Noisy World and the Struggle for Quiet

Timestamps: 02:46 – 07:00

• Dr. Doornick sets the stage: Many feel mentally scattered or have racing thoughts, especially today, where our attention is constantly courted by endless notifications, social media, opinions, and crises.

• The “noisy world” is not new—what’s changed is the number of channels that deliver distractions.

• Most people try to quiet their mind by attempting to eliminate or escape the noise, but discover this rarely works in practice.

  "Trying to eliminate the noise... that's like trying to nail a piece of jello to the ceiling. That's like trying to drink water with a fork..."
  —Dr. JC (12:21)

2. The Core Problem: Participation, Not Presence

Timestamps: 09:00 – 14:00

• Dr. Doornick explains the futility of trying to control the uncontrollable (the noise).

• The real issue: Our engagement with the noise and the meaning we grant external distractions.

• Unwanted thoughts and feelings are not inherently problematic—it’s our active participation that gives them power.

  "None of those things require our permission to show up. However, they do require our participation to stay."
  —Dr. JC (13:50)

3. Moments of Clarity: What Really Changes?

Timestamps: 07:00 – 11:30

• Drawing from personal retreats, experiences in meditation, and even “plant medicine” journeys, Dr. Doornick observes that occasionally, life feels profoundly quiet.

• Upon return to normal routines, the same world may feel deceptively “louder.”

• The critical realization: The world didn’t actually get louder; you got quieter.

  “It’s not that the world got louder... it’s more that you got quieter. Right. And then noticed that something that was always there, but you notice it even more.”
  —Dr. JC (11:30)

4. Emotional Responsibility and Noise as an Excuse

Timestamps: 10:30 – 12:30

• Dr. Doornick discusses how noise can become a convenient excuse for relinquishing responsibility in key areas: physical, mental, financial well-being.
• Challenges the audience:
  • Are you taking responsibility for your life, or letting the noise offer you a "hall pass"?
  • Who's in charge of your happiness, fulfillment, and success?

5. Attention as Your Most Valuable Commodity

Timestamps: 06:45 – 08:30

• In a world engineered for distraction, reclaiming your focus is revolutionary.

• “Attention management” is not about shutting out the world, but about consciously choosing where your care and focus go.

  “Your most powerful commodity right now is actually your attention. If you think about it, everybody's trying to grab it.”
  —Dr. JC (07:40)

6. Learning To Filter What Deserves Your Care

Timestamps: 20:00 – 24:00

• Instead of blanket caring, we need a system of filtering—what deserves care, energy, and focus?
• Introduces the “sorting filter” exercise: Run each stimulus through simple questions—
  • Is this important?
  • Do I control this?
  • Does this support what matters to me?
• Not everything needs a reaction; sometimes, “noted” is enough.

7. Separating Yourself from Your Thoughts: Naming the Inner Voice

Timestamps: 24:00 – 28:45

• Dr. Doornick encourages listeners to name the persistent, sometimes negative inner narration. This creates distance between the self and unhelpful thoughts.

  • His own inner voice is “the Dragon.”
  • Other clients have used names like “Kazoo” or “Silly Goose.”
  • Naming the voice helps disrupt thought–emotion fusion and invites humor and objectivity:

    “Oh, silly goose, you’re so crazy. But who the [bleep] asked you?” (25:09)

• The practice helps shift from autopilot reaction to conscious choice.

  “Noise only becomes noise when you agree that it matters.”
  —Dr. JC (27:50)

8. The Clouds Metaphor: Letting Thoughts Pass

Timestamps: 28:45 – 31:00

• Adopts the metaphor of clouds passing across the sky; thoughts come and go, unless we “lasso” (cling to) them.

  • If you latch onto negative thinking, it becomes emotional “weather” that colors your day.
  • If you let thoughts float by, emotional clarity returns.

  “The clouds don’t make the sky. The clouds, like your thoughts, just pass through it.”
  —Dr. JC (30:00)

9. Overthinking: Feeding the Storm

Timestamps: 31:00 – 32:30

• Overthinking is trying to “figure everything out,” which only creates storms.

• “Caring as a currency”: Stop investing in thoughts and worries that are unworthy, or that never "earned their space" in your mind.

  “What we're doing when we're overthinking is we're grabbing clouds and turning them into storms. Remember, we always refer to that as the thought thunderstorm.”
  —Dr. JC (31:21)

10. The True Power Move: Select Carefully What Gets Your Mindshare

Timestamps: 34:00 – 36:20

• The goal is not to eliminate all distractions or thoughts but to become “unfuckwithable”—immune to the emotional pull of every random input.
  • This is achieved by establishing a clear set of priorities (what Dr. JC calls your North Star or “signal”) and leveraging attention as a conscious resource.
• Emphasizes that those who succeed are not those who avoid noise, but those who “care less about things that don’t matter.”
• Encourage establishing automatic filters, conscious pauses, and the courage to say, “I don’t know if I give a damn yet.”

11. Anchor Thought and Closing

Timestamps: 36:12 – 36:40

• Core realization:

  "The noise doesn't need your permission to appear, but it does need your participation to stay. Without your participation, your life therefore becomes noiseless."

• Reminds listeners that sharing and teaching others is the best way to cement these lessons.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s when you change the way that you look at things that the things that you look at begin to change.”
  —Dr. JC (04:15)
• “Trying to nail a piece of jello to the ceiling... that's like trying to drink water with a fork.”
  —Dr. JC (12:21)
• “None of those things require our permission to show up. However, they do require our participation to stay.”
  —Dr. JC (13:50)
• “The noise is not responsible for your happiness, joy, fulfillment and success. The eradication of noise is not responsible. You are.”
  —Dr. JC (11:50)
• “Noise only becomes noise when you agree that it matters.”
  —Dr. JC (27:50)
• “The clouds don’t make the sky. The clouds, like your thoughts, just pass through it.”
  —Dr. JC (30:00)
• “Caring as a currency—maybe the goal is to stop funding all the thoughts and things that show up in the world that didn’t require your permission.”
  —Dr. JC (31:44)
• “This is what real attention management looks like... it’s not controlling the world, but choosing what gets access to our attention, that hot commodity.”
  —Dr. JC (34:25)
• “The people who win and achieve in life… are not the ones who avoid noise. They’re the ones who know how to care less about things that don’t matter.”
  —Dr. JC (35:05)
• “The noise doesn't need your permission to appear, but it does need your participation to stay.”
  —Dr. JC (36:12)

Key Takeaways

• You can't eliminate noise, but you can control your participation and attention.
• Quieting the mind starts with awareness and curiosity, not with aggressive suppression.
• Pause before reacting—notice your thoughts, name the inner voice, and separate self from impulse.
• Caring is a limited resource—invest it wisely in what matters and aligns with your 'signal' or core priorities.
• Becoming less reactive and more mindful allows for clarity, direction, and emotional resilience ("unfuckwithable").
• Sharing what you learn reinforces your understanding and contributes to a quieter, more purposeful day.

Structure & Flow

• Opening: Calls out the “noise epidemic”; introduces his new book and the theme of the episode.
• Exploration: Discusses how most people try (and fail) to eliminate noise, encourages a new approach.
• Analogies/Tools: “Name your inner voice,” “clouds in the sky,” “sorting filter.”
• Empowerment: Emphasizes personal agency, responsibility, and the power of choice.
• Practical Guidance: Summarizes the method—pause, separate, refocus.
• Closing: Encourages sharing the wisdom and acting on the insights for lasting peace.

This episode is perfect for anyone feeling mentally scattered, seeking actionable wisdom on reclaiming focus, and aiming for presence amid chaos. Dr. JC’s energetic, relatable delivery offers both theory and practice for mastering the art of a quiet mind in a world that never stops buzzing.

To sum up:
"The noise doesn't need your permission to appear, but it does need your participation to stay." (36:12)