The Rich Roll podcast: Dr. Jud on treating addiction with mindfulness

Overview

In this Rich Roll Podcast interview (Episode 471), Dr. Jud dives deep into the neuropsychological nature of addiction and the science of behavioral change. The craving nature of our minds, he explains, shows up every day — feeding a variety of addictive habits from substance use to social media compulsion. These habits not only impair daily functioning but prevent people from becoming the best version of themselves.

Dr. Jud describes how the brain’s habit loop — trigger, behavior, reward — drives all forms of addiction, and why willpower is not a reliable tool for breaking free. His research at Brown University has identified an effective alternative: mindfulness-based awareness that helps people see their cravings clearly, recognize how unrewarding the habitual behavior actually is, and reclaim the power of choice. The conversation offers both the scientific framework and practical application for anyone looking to understand why they get stuck — and how to break bad habits for good.

Key Takeaways

• Addiction exists on a spectrum: Dr. Jud explains that the same neurological mechanism driving substance addiction also drives everyday compulsions like social media scrolling, stress-eating, and procrastination. Understanding the shared habit loop removes the stigma and opens pathways to change.
• Mindfulness restores the power of choice: By bringing conscious awareness to a craving — rather than acting on autopilot — you give the brain the opportunity to recalculate the behavior’s reward value. This is the mechanism behind Dr. Jud’s clinically tested programs for smoking cessation and emotional eating.
• Compassion is essential to the process: Dr. Jud emphasizes that self-judgment reinforces addictive patterns by creating more stress, which triggers more cravings. Curiosity and self-compassion are not soft extras — they are core components of effective behavioral change.

Learn more about what the habit loop is and how habit loops drive everyday addictions.

Watch the full interview here.

Related Resources

• What Is the Habit Loop?
• Habit Loops and Everyday Addictions
• Curiosity: Our Superpower for Breaking Habits
• Smoking Cessation Strategies
• The Craving Mind — Dr. Jud’s Book