Well done. You've sorted through the embarrassment of riches that is the modern podcast landscape

and found me Rob Briden on my podcast. In this series of Briden and I talk to among

others Harry Hill, Ben Elton, Charlotte Church, Steve Cougan and Dame Harriet Walter.

And that's just a few. We tend to chat for about 45 minutes to an hour never longer.

It's terrific conversation, reminiscent where appropriate and exchange of anecdotes.

So do join me Rob Briden wherever you get your podcasts.

New episodes of Briden and are available early and ad free on Amazon Music or by subscribing

to Wondery Plus in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app.

The Panic is a new comedy podcast from Wondery that leans into our most absurd anxieties and

defuses them with humor and actual advice. Listen to Don't Panic on the Wondery app or

wherever you get your podcasts.

We're going to treat for you this week. This guy is one of the most interesting and idiosyncratic

meditation teachers. I am aware of he's a Jewish guy grew up in LA who then lived for several

years as a monk in Japan and is now deeply involved with scientific research into what

meditation does to your brain. He's worked with researchers at Harvard and lots of other

institutions. His name is Shin Zen Young and he's got a new book called The Science of Enlightenment.

And here we go.

So I always start the same way which is can you just tell me your story how did you get into meditation in the first place?

Well I grew up in Los Angeles and when I was in my early teens I got fascinated with Asian culture

by seeing samurai movies. Now I'm pretty old 72 years old.

You're not look 72. Thank you. I feel very young but I do come from another world really. I grew up in Los Angeles in the 1950s.

Eisenhower was the president and no one in the mainstream culture was interested in Asia. It was not cool.

...