Podcast Summary

New Thinking Allowed Audio Podcast:

Episode: Thinking Above the Lower Mind with Dr. David Hanscom
Date: January 31, 2026
Host: Emmy Vadnais
Guest: Dr. David Hanscom, retired orthopedic spine surgeon and chronic pain expert

Overview

This deeply engaging episode explores how human suffering—both physical and emotional—results from living in defensive, reactive brain states dominated by ego and repetitive thoughts. Dr. David Hanscom asserts that awareness, rather than suppression or striving for positive thinking, is the key to healing. He details a four-part process (thought separation, calming physiology, softening the ego, and cultivating joy and creativity) that helps transition people out of chronic pain and into healthier, creative, and more joyful lives.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Problem of the "Lower Mind" and Ego

• Main Idea: Much of human suffering comes from living in a reactive, primitive brain state (the "lower mind"), dominated by ego and repetitive, defensive thoughts.
• Ego vs. Self-Esteem:
  • Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves.
  • Ego is the defensive armor we build, seeking approval from others to address internal criticism and pain.

    “Ego is this whole armor I put together to defend myself... constantly looking for approval, it's a problem.” — Dr. Hanscom (11:38)

• The ego is perpetuated by societal conditions: criticism, competition, survival responses, and the physiological stress of constant self-defense.

2. Cognitive Fusion and Chronic Reactivity

• Cognitive Fusion: Humans become fused with their thoughts, constructing identity from them. Attacks on identity are perceived as real physical threats.

  “When you become your thoughts... if somebody attacks your identity, you might as well be being attacked by a tiger.” — Dr. Hanscom (13:30)

• Mental Rigidity: Defending identity leads to rigidity, separation, prejudice, and an inability to connect authentically with others.

3. The Physiology of Pain and the Limits of Suppression

• Survival Brain vs. Thinking Brain:
  • Under stress (anger, trauma, chronic anxiety), blood leaves the prefrontal cortex—our rational, creative brain—and we act from primitive survival modes.
  • Chronic suppression of thoughts increases brain inflammation and physical/mental symptoms.
• Pain as Inflammatory State:
  • Mental and physical pain are inherently linked; both are inflammatory, metabolic conditions.
  • Suppressing thoughts/feelings does physical harm.

  “Suppressing your thoughts causes more damage to your brain than actually expressing them.” — Dr. Hanscom (10:58)

• The Stove Metaphor:
  • Physical pain prompts withdrawal; mental pain can trap you, like holding a hand over a hot stove and being unable to move.

  “With mental pain, your hand is stuck over the stove. You can't pull it away.” — Dr. Hanscom (27:45)

4. The Core Solution: Awareness

• Awareness emerges as the essential tool for change:
  • Becoming aware of one's attachment to outcomes, anger, or anxiety breaks the auto-link between stimulus and reactive behavior.
  • With awareness, the stress response can be interrupted—reaction is replaced by presence or choice.

  "The number one word that I like to leave your audience with... is the word awareness." — Dr. Hanscom (00:00, 24:55)

5. Dr. Hanscom’s Four-Part Healing Model

(Explained in detail at [31:07])

1. Thought Separation

   • Mindfulness, expressive writing, and cognitive behavioral techniques help create distance from distressing thoughts, instead of fighting or suppressing them.
   • “Taking your survival reactions personally is the essence of the problem.” (31:07)

2. Calming the Physiology

   • Practical steps to move from "fight or flight" to "safety":
     • Stress processing, nervous system regulation, changing one’s life perspective, play, limiting focus on pain or problems, and forgiveness.
   • “The essence of healing is if you’re in threat physiology, your body breaks down. As you go into safety, your body regenerates and heals.” (33:17)

3. Soften/Kill the Ego

   • Moving away from ego-driven defenses allows genuine connection and decreases repetitive, unwanted thoughts.
   • Compassion (for self and others) is crucial: “Compassion is the opposite of ego.” (34:21)
   • Awareness dissolves ego: “The main way you dissolve ego is awareness.” (34:44)

4. Creativity & Joy

   • When ego-driven survival circuits quiet, brains can rewire through neuroplasticity, enabling joy, creativity, meaning, and authentic relationships.
   • “You can build essentially a new brain.” (36:24)

6. Practical Implementation & Results

• Practice Daily: 10–15 minutes a day is enough; with ongoing practice, new brain habits become automatic over 3–6 months.

  "People see results within two to six weeks. But the real healing occurs after you start feeling better." — Dr. Hanscom (40:43)

• Awareness in Daily Life: Not just meditation, but infusing awareness into everyday moments, interactions, and even difficult emotions.
• Adversity & Reaction: Adversity is inevitable; suffering comes from one’s reaction to it.

  “Adversity isn’t the problem... it’s your reaction to it.” — Dr. Hanscom (42:27)

7. Wider Social Implications

• Societal Dysfunction: Many societal problems, like abuse, gossip, racism, and authoritarianism, stem from ego-driven reactivity and mental rigidity.

  “The first thing authoritarian people do is they take people’s brains offline—right? So now they’re reacting and they have control.” — Dr. Hanscom (48:46)

• Self-Regulation as Resistance: Fostering awareness and self-regulation is the fundamental solution—regardless of outer circumstances, people can reclaim agency and well-being.

8. Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On professional identity:

  “Your highest skill set often becomes your monster... It takes so much energy to maintain an ego, to create it, to defend it. I just don’t get tired anymore. I used to get so tired...That doesn’t happen. I just don’t get tired like I used to.” — Dr. Hanscom (22:06)

• On pleasure:

  “If you’re pursuing pleasure to outrun your pain, that’s actually highly inflammatory... There’s a direct link between ruminations and suicide.” — Dr. Hanscom (29:59)

• On politics and suffering:

  “The world has always been this way. Nothing’s changed... The answer is that's what the tools do: allow you to enjoy your day regardless of your circumstances, period.” — Dr. Hanscom (48:46)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Awareness as the key theme
• 03:58 – Neuroscience basis: stress lowers prefrontal activity, ego origins
• 07:26 – The function and pitfalls of ego development
• 13:30 – Cognitive fusion; the formation of identity; mental rigidity
• 19:44 – Abuse as repeating pattern; skills-based healing needed
• 24:55 – Host asks about energy and change; Dr. Hanscom on practical application of awareness
• 27:45 – Hand-over-the-stove metaphor for mental versus physical pain
• 31:07 – Dr. Hanscom’s four-part model for healing
• 34:21 – Compassion vs. ego, neuroplasticity
• 36:24 – Rewiring the brain (neuroplasticity) for health
• 40:43 – Course/practice logistics, implementation, expected results
• 42:27 – Adversity, reaction, and “flip the switch” awareness
• 44:23 – Physical and mental pain: same root, same healing
• 45:43 – Fitting practice into busy lives (“You don’t have time to not do this.”)
• 46:47 – What is awareness, how to cultivate it
• 48:46 – Societal problems and personal agency (“The world has always been this way...”)
• 50:20 – Envy, schadenfreude, survival reactions: all normal; suppression is the trouble

Tone and Language

The conversation is warm, encouraging, and pragmatic, with Dr. Hanscom using metaphors and candid personal stories. Language is compassionate but rigorous, combining scientific explanation with actionable advice and a hopeful outlook.

Closing Thought

This episode presents a powerful, science-based but deeply human roadmap out of pain and reactivity into greater self-awareness, health, and genuine possibility—summed up in Hanscom’s refrain:

“The number one word that I like to leave your audience with... is the word awareness.” — Dr. David Hanscom (00:00, reiterated throughout)