Why Does My Mind Keep Thinking That by Ezra Klein and Mark Epstein

In this episode, Ezra Klein converses with psychiatrist Mark Epstein, drawing from his deep interest in the intersection of Buddhism and psychotherapy. Epstein discusses how our relentless thinking—those inner monologues, worries, regrets, and scenarios—reflects the ego trying to survive. Instead of fighting the mind, he suggests we meet it with curiosity and compassion, observing its stories without being consumed by them. He argues that real freedom lies not in silencing thought, but in loosening our identification with it.