Dr. Jud on the GOOP Podcast: Why We Crave

Overview

In this Goop podcast episode, Dr. Jud sits down with host Elise Loehnen to discuss a provocative idea: we are all addicts. From scrolling social media to stress-eating to reaching for one more piece of sugar, our everyday habits are driven by the same brain mechanisms that underlie clinical addiction. Dr. Jud explains how reward-based learning — the habit loop of trigger, behavior, and reward — keeps us locked into patterns that do not serve us.

The conversation challenges the widely held belief that breaking a habit is simply a matter of willpower. Dr. Jud draws on his research-based mindfulness techniques to offer a different path: learning to bring curiosity to the roots of your cravings, rather than white-knuckling your way through them. He explains how self-compassion and awareness can disrupt the cycle in ways that brute-force self-control cannot.

Key Takeaways

• We are all addicts: Dr. Jud reframes addiction broadly — our brains are wired to repeat behaviors that feel rewarding, whether that is smoking, stress-eating, or compulsive phone-checking. These everyday habits follow the same neurological pattern as substance addiction.
• Willpower is not enough: The prefrontal cortex, where willpower lives, is the weakest link in habit change. It goes offline exactly when we need it most. Dr. Jud’s research shows that habit change strategies rooted in awareness outperform willpower-based approaches.
• Curiosity is the antidote: Instead of fighting cravings, Dr. Jud recommends getting curious about them. By paying close attention to what a craving actually feels like — and how satisfying the behavior really is — the brain naturally updates its reward value and the habit weakens.

Listen to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or online here.

Related Resources

• What Is the Habit Loop?
• Curiosity: Our Superpower for Breaking Habits
• The Craving Mind — Dr. Jud’s Book
• A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit