Beyond the Myth of Normal
JANUARY 22ND 2025
EPISODE 76: BEYOND THE MYTH OF NORMAL
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 health
Understanding trauma as a loss of connection with oneself
The survival mechanisms we adopt to protect ourselves—and how they shape our identities
How addiction, ADHD, and chronic illness are rooted in early life experiences
The dynamic nature of the brain and its capacity for healing and change
The healing power of curiosity, compassion, and connection
How societal norms and the medical system overlook the unity of mind and body
Practical steps to notice where we’re not being ourselves and move toward wholeness
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
Show Notes
Episode Links:
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Special Guest
DR GABOR MATÉ
Dr. Gabor Maté is a retired physician who, after 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, worked for over a decade in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of five books published in nearly 40 languages, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction, Gabor is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. For his ground-breaking medical work and writing he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. His most recent book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture is a New York Times and international bestseller.
His next book, co-written with his son Daniel, will be Hello Again: A Fresh Start for Adult Children and Their Parents, based on their popular workshop.
CONNECT WITH GABOR:
Your Host
DR. SCOTT LYONS
Dr. Scott Lyons is a licensed holistic psychologist, educator and author of the book Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others, with Hachette publishing. Scott is also the host of The Gently Used Human Podcast, a delightfully depthful and often hilarious exploration of what it is to be human, to have lived life, and come out gently used.
As a renowned body-based trauma expert, Doctor of Osteopathy (Spain) and Mind-Body Medicine specialist, Scott helps people to break free from cycles of pain, limited beliefs, and trauma. Scott is an innovator in transformative wellness and trauma therapy, teaching over half a million people internationally over the past twenty years how to relieve stress and restore vitality. Scott has worked with many of the country’s top leaders and CEOs as an executive coach and wellness consultant.
Scott is the creator of The Embody Lab—the largest online learning platform for body-based trauma therapies—and developer of Somatic Stress Release™, a holistic process of restoring biological resilience, taught in over 20 countries. Scott is also the founder and progressive designer of Omala, a wellness brand dedicated to creating sustainably sourced tools for transformation.
About the Podcast
THE GENTLY USED HUMAN
Dr. Scott Lyons and his world renowned guests take us into the delightfully depthful and often hilarious exploration of what it is to be human, to have lived life, and come out gently used. From passion to pain, glory to defeat, comedy to drama to tragedy, we’ve all been through it. This show unpacks the psychology and humor needed to keep you thriving on the roller coaster of being human.
