Beyond the Myth of Normal with Dr. Gabor Maté

In this transformative episode of The Gently Used Human Podcast, Dr. Scott Lyons is joined by the extraordinary Dr. Gabor Maté, a celebrated physician, speaker, and bestselling author whose groundbreaking work has reshaped how we understand addiction, trauma, and chronic illness. With over four decades of clinical experience, Gabor is renowned for his compassionate exploration of the mind-body connection and the profound ways stress and trauma manifest in our lives. His bestselling books, including The Myth of Normal and In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, have inspired countless individuals to embrace healing through reconnection with their authentic selves.Together, Scott and Gabor explore the hidden costs of disconnection, the survival mechanisms we develop in response to early trauma, and how those patterns shape everything from our identities to our health. Listeners will learn about the dynamic nature of the brain, the powerful role of curiosity and compassion in healing, and practical ways to notice where we’re not being true to ourselves. This episode is an invitation to uncover the unity of mind and body and discover what it means to come home to oneself.Topics We Break Down:The profound impact of disconnection on our mental and physical healthUnderstanding trauma as a loss of connection with oneselfThe survival mechanisms we adopt to protect ourselves—and how they shape our identitiesHow addiction, ADHD, and chronic illness are rooted in early life experiencesThe dynamic nature of the brain and its capacity for healing and changeThe healing power of curiosity, compassion, and connectionHow societal norms and the medical system overlook the unity of mind and bodyPractical steps to notice where we’re not being ourselves and move toward wholeness