In this insightful discussion with author Michael Easter about his book "Scarcity Brain," we delve into the origins of human addiction and the impact of the comfort crisis on our well-being. Mike Easter shares personal stories of struggle and transformation, offering perspectives on overcoming addiction and the importance of embracing discomfort. He highlights the ways in which our modern environment has engineered out essential aspects of our lives, leading to various health issues. From the Arctic to the impacts of the scarcity loop on social media, dating apps, and even religion, Mike unpacks how the scarcity mindset affects our behaviors and decision-making. He concludes with an empowering message, encouraging listeners to confront their fears and embrace life's challenges, ultimately finding fulfillment and purpose. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/705376/scarcity-brain-by-michael-easter/ Episode Show Notes: https://www.mormonstories.org/portfolio-items/religion-and-scarcity/ Chapters 00:00:00 Beginning 00:01:40 Bio of Michael Easter 00:05:13 His begins his Mormon story 00:06:31 He was not raised Mormon 00:11:35 Favorite music in High School 00:12:55 Did he ever come close to getting baptized? 00:15:45 Heroes and interests 00:17:25 College at Wheaton College, Boston 00:25:30 Why humans become addicted 00:30:18 The origins of the Comfort Crisis 00:31:25 How he obtained sobriety 00:34:45 The Arctic 00:39:48 Heart disease is the highest leading cause of death 00:44:40 Selling the Comfort Crisis 00:51:05 Variable reinforcement rates 00:52:50 Scarcity loop: opportunity, unpredictable rewards; quick repeatability 00:56:30 Pigeon studies 00:59:10 In what areas is this most prevalent in our lives today? 01:03:13 The scarcity loop with certainty 01:05:10 Grades aren't’ good indicators 01:06:50 Humans are too focused on numbers 01:10:20 Tying this into religion 01:22:00 Trying to explain complexities 01:35:40 Investigating addiction with War Veterans 01:39:50 Final Remarks ___________________ At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals. Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology 2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis 3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions 🤝Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today One-time or recurring donations: https://donorbox.org/mormon-stories?default_interval=m Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/mormonstories Paypal: https://paypal.me/mormonstories Our Platforms: 🌐Mormon Stories Blog: https://www.mormonstories.org/episodes 🎙️Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mormonstories ✳️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sDzk7dRjODTSEqzZKZJzk?si=148b0efc1ccc4404&nd=1 🍎Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-stories-lds/id312094772 🖼️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mormstories 📱TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormonstoriespodcast 🎮Discord: https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjF Contact us: 📧 MormonStories@gmail.com 📬PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 #MormonStories #Mormon #lds