FitMind
A science-first podcast exploring mental fitness through interviews with neuroscientists, psychologists, and contemplative experts.
This is a deep-dive interview show that bridges the gap between ancient contemplative wisdom and modern science. Each episode features a highly credentialed academic or practitioner who unpacks complex topics like neuroplasticity, the physiology of stress, or the nature of consciousness. The conversations are consistently grounded in published research and scientific data.
“Unlike many wellness podcasts, FitMind rigorously prioritizes scientific evidence and academic expertise. The host avoids marketing hype and focuses on unpacking the 'how' and 'why' with researchers who are actively publishing in their fields, making complex neuroscience accessible without oversimplifying.”
Who hosts this show
The FitMind Podcast is the educational arm of the FitMind mental fitness company, which also produces a meditation app. The show features interviews with leading experts—from Harvard researchers and Zen masters to biofeedback tech CEOs—to explore the science behind meditation, stress, consciousness, and happiness. The podcast is hosted by FitMind founder Liam McClintock, who holds a B.A. from Yale and an M.S. in Applied Neuroscience from King's College London. In some episodes, Josh Richardson, a collaborator with FitMind, steps in as the host.
Credentials & credits
- Founder & CEO of FitMind
- M.S. in Applied Neuroscience, King's College London
- B.A., Yale University
- Author of "FitMind: The New Science & Ancient Practice Of Mental Fitness"
- Contributed to meditation research at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital
- RYS Certified Meditation Instructor
Other ventures
- FitMind (mental fitness company)
- FitMind meditation app
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Empathy vs. Compassion: The Brain Science | Dr. Craig HassedJun 25, 2026 · 26s
- 02Can Meditation Slow Biological Aging? | Dr. Craig HassedJun 17, 2026 · 24s
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06Fragmented Attention: The Silent Crisis of the Modern Mind | Iain McGilchristMar 26, 2026 · 7 min
- 07
- 08
Notable episodes
- 01What Harvard’s 86-Year Happiness Study Reveals About the Good Life | Robert Waldinger, MD
The director of the world's longest-running study on adult life shares its key finding: that strong relationships are the clearest predictor of long-term wellbeing, and that loneliness is a major chronic stressor.
- 02How Chronic Stress Affects Your Body—and How Mindfulness Helps | Dr. Craig Hassed
Explores the biology of stress, explaining concepts like allostatic load and how meditation may slow cellular aging by affecting telomeres at the DNA level.
- 03Is the Self an Illusion? Meditation, Neuroscience & Consciousness - John Dunne, PhD
A deep dive into the intersection of Buddhist philosophy and neuroscience, exploring how the mind constructs reality and what non-dual meditation reveals about the nature of the self.
What you'll be asked on this show
The host's interview style is methodical and respectful. He opens by establishing the guest's authority with a thorough introduction of their credentials. His first move is almost always to ask for the guest's "origin story," creating a personal narrative before diving into the science. He probes deeper by asking for clarification on technical terms (e.g., "What's allostatic load?") or for the most surprising findings from a guest's research. The approach is facilitative rather than confrontational, aiming to draw out a deep explanation of the guest's work for the listener's benefit. There is no signature closing question apparent from the evidence provided.
The show is a single-host interview format. The host begins each episode with a detailed, laudatory introduction of the guest's credentials, then typically opens with an 'origin story' question. He guides the conversation logically from personal background to core scientific concepts, frequently asking for definitions of technical terms to keep the discussion accessible for a broad audience.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
11 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
1- Q.01
“Could you share your origin story and how you came to this work?”
This is the host's standard opening to ground the guest's expertise in a personal narrative before exploring technical subjects.
craft
1- Q.01
“For those who don't know, how would you describe [technical concept]?”
A frequent move to ensure complex scientific or philosophical terms are made accessible to the audience.
personal
1- Q.01
“What was it that surprised you most about your research or the study?”
This question is used to elicit a personal, non-obvious insight from the expert beyond the standard findings.
process
4- Q.01
“What is actually happening inside a person's body when [phenomenon occurs]?”
This question pushes for a physiological or neurological explanation of a psychological state, connecting mind and body.
- Q.02
“Is there a known dose-response curve for [practice/intervention]?”
A scientifically-minded question used to quantify the effects of a practice like meditation.
- Q.03
“How has implementing [concept] helped your students or patients?”
Focuses on the real-world application and impact of the guest's work in a clinical or educational setting.
- Q.04
“What sort of meditation practice had you developed at that point?”
A common follow-up to the origin story, focusing on the guest's early practical experience with contemplative methods.
advice
2- Q.01
“How do we build or apply [concept] if we struggle with it?”
A question that translates the theoretical discussion into practical, actionable advice for the listener.
- Q.02
“What have you found is the most important aspect of helping someone have a quality life?”
This seeks to distill the guest's extensive knowledge into a single key takeaway for the audience.
backstory
1- Q.01
“What was it like learning from [influential teacher]?”
Asked when a guest mentions a significant mentor, this explores the human and relational element of their training.
industry
1- Q.01
“What is it that you're doing with [the study/project] and where is it now?”
A direct request for an overview and status update on the guest's primary body of work.
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are almost exclusively high-level academics, researchers, and clinicians from respected institutions like Harvard, Monash University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. They are often authors and leaders in their specific niche of neuroscience, psychology, or contemplative philosophy.
- Dr. Craig Hassedon How Chronic Stress Affects Your Body—and How Mindfulness Helps | Dr. Craig Hassed - FitMind Podcast
- Dr. Robert Waldingeron What Harvard’s 86-Year Happiness Study Reveals About the Good Life | Robert Waldinger, MD
- Prof. John Dunneon Is the Self an Illusion? Meditation, Neuroscience & Consciousness - John Dunne, PhD | Podcast
- Iain McGilchriston Fragmented Attention: The Silent Crisis of the Modern Mind | Iain McGilchrist
- Steve Haberlin, PhDon Can Technology Teach You to Meditate? AI, Neurofeedback & VR - Steve Haberlin, PhD | FitMind Podcast
- Linda Thaion Why Avoiding Pain Creates More Suffering | Rites of Passage & Emotional Maturity – Linda Thai
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast primarily promotes its own ecosystem: the FitMind meditation app and the "FitMind" book written by the company's founder, Liam McClintock. External sponsorship appears to be minimal or non-existent.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of the FitMind podcast?
- The primary host is Liam McClintock, the founder of FitMind. In some episodes, collaborator Josh Richardson also serves as host.
- What are the host's credentials?
- Liam McClintock holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.S. in Applied Neuroscience from King's College London. He has also contributed to meditation research at Harvard Medical School.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a long-form interview podcast. Each episode features a conversation with a single expert, typically a scientist, academic, or seasoned contemplative practitioner.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, based on the provided evidence, episodes are released on a regular, near-monthly basis.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on major platforms like YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and through the official website, fitmind.org.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]FitMind Official Websitefitmind.org
- [02]Liam McClintock Bio - Penguin Random Housepenguinrandomhouse.com
- [03]Liam McClintock Bio - Lucinda Literarylucindaliterary.com
- [04]The FitMind Podcast - Listen Noteslistennotes.com
- [05]The FitMind Podcast - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [06]Why the Mind Won’t Stay Still, with Liam McClintock - Mindfulness Exercisesmindfulnessexercises.com
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