In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner breaks down why holiday weight gain happens—and what behavior science teaches us about staying in control during the season of abundance. Drawing on her O, The Oprah Magazine article and her expertise as a UCLA addiction scientist, she introduces an updated version of her “assertive eating” method.

These tools help you maintain boundaries, make intentional choices, and avoid turning one slip into a spiral.

🍽️ Practical Tools You Can Use From the Episode:

• Most holiday weight gain comes from “just one pound”… that sticks.

• Social eating—not hunger—is the #1 trigger for overeating.

• “Assertive eating” protects your goals.

• Planning ahead reduces impulsive choices.

• One slip is not a failure.

📝 Referenced in the Episode

NEJM Holiday Weight Gain Study: https://bit.ly/NEJMholidayweightstudy

Dr. Glasner’s Oprah Magazine Article (“Avoiding the Holiday Spread”): https://bit.ly/drglasneroprahholidayeating

🎙️About Dr. Suzette Glasner

Dr. Suzette Glasner is a UCLA addiction scientist, clinical psychologist, and author whose research focuses on behavior change, cravings, and evidence-based coping strategies. Her work has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, NPR, Psychology Today, and academic journals. She hosts The Dr. Suzette Glasner Podcast, where she brings scientific clarity to real-world behavioral challenges.

In this episode, award-winning addiction scientist Dr. Suzette Glasner explores the neuroscience and psychology of gambling disorder, one of the fastest-growing behavioral addictions in the U.S.

She explains how the thrill of risk activates the same dopamine pathways as drugs and alcohol, how mobile betting has transformed gambling into a near-instant cycle of urge and reward, and why this makes addiction both easier to start and harder to stop.

Dr. Glasner also shares who’s most at risk, how financial stress and shame contribute to relapse and even suicidality, and the evidence-based therapies proven to help people recover — from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to motivational approaches and couples counseling for rebuilding trust.

If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, help is available 24/7:

• Call: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) — speak with a master’s-level counselor any time

• Text: “SUPPORT” to 53342 (standard rates may apply)

• Chat: 800gambler.chat for real-time online support

🙏 A heartfelt thank-you to the individuals and families who reach out to share their recovery stories and insights. Every time someone speaks openly about addiction, it helps reduce stigma and remind others that recovery is possible.

💡 Early Access: Substack subscribers get exclusive early audio access on Tuesdays.

📺 Premiere: New episodes drop publicly on YouTube every Thursday at 8:00 AM PT.

Set a reminder to watch the premiere: https://youtu.be/LET4__Sqd1g

📬 Have a question for Dr. Glasner?

Email askdrglasner@gmail.com — your question may be featured in an upcoming episode.

#GamblingAddiction #OnlineGambling #AddictionRecovery #BehavioralHealth #CBT #Neuroscience #AddictionScience #DrSuzetteGlasner #MentalHealthPodcast⚠️ Disclaimer:

This episode reflects Dr. Glasner’s professional opinion and commentary based on publicly available research and data. It is not a diagnosis or medical recommendation.

When Joe Rogan first discussed kratom on his show six years ago, he described it as a legal, plant-based supplement that could “alleviate the symptoms of opiates.”

In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner—a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, addiction scientist, and researcher—breaks down what science now tells us about kratom’s true effects, risks, and addiction potential. Drawing from decades of research and her own clinical practice, Dr. Glasner explains how kratom acts on the brain’s opioid receptors, why people use it for withdrawal, and how unregulated extracts like 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) have contributed to new patterns of dependence and overdose.

From Joe Rogan’s early impressions to what clinicians are seeing today, this episode explores how “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe,” and why public conversations about addiction need to stay grounded in evidence—not hype.

💡 In This Episode

What Joe Rogan got right—and wrong—about kratom

How kratom mimics opioid effects and why it can become addictive

The science behind kratom use disorder and emerging treatment insights

Why “natural” doesn’t always mean “safe,” especially for people with addiction risk

💬 Questions or topic ideas?

Email AskDrGlasner@gmail.com

📺 Subscribe for evidence-based conversations about addiction, recovery, and mental health—each episode breaking down complex topics like Joe Rogan’s kratom claims through a clinical lens.

📲 Follow Dr. Suzette Glasner on Instagram and LinkedIn for daily insights on the science of behavior change and recovery.

If you found this episode helpful, subscribe to receive new episodes and insights from Dr. Glasner—each grounded in science, compassion, and decades of clinical expertise.

🎧 Listen to more episodes: https://youtube.com/@drglasner

🌐 Learn more: https://drglasner.com

🍽️ Is food addiction real — and can it really be treated like other addictions?

In this episode of The Dr. Suzette Glasner Podcast, Dr. Glasner explains why food addiction meets the same scientific criteria as substance use disorders and how evidence-based therapies like CBT and GLP-1 medications offer new paths to recovery.

You’ll learn how ultra-processed foods activate the brain’s reward pathways, why loss of control is the hallmark of any addiction, and how to navigate food cravings without shame or stigma—especially during the holiday season.

🎙️ Episode Highlights

* Three scientific lines of evidence that support food addiction as a real condition

* How ultra-processed foods mirror drug and alcohol reward pathways

* Different behavior patterns—binge eating, compulsive grazing, and loss of control

* Why CBT and other addiction treatments work for food-related compulsions

* What GLP-1 medications like Ozempic reveal about the biology of cravings

* Science-based tips for managing holiday eating without relapse

💬 Questions or topic ideas: askdrglasner@gmail.com

📺 Subscribe for evidence-based conversations about addiction, recovery & mental health

📲 Follow Dr. Suzette Glasner on Instagram and LinkedIn @drglasner

If you found this episode helpful, subscribe to receive new episodes and insights from Dr. Suzette Glasner directly in your inbox—each grounded in science and compassionate care.

In this episode, award-winning addiction scientist Dr. Suzette Glasner shares her expert opinion and commentary on Shaquille O’Neal’s candid reflections on opioid use, tolerance, and performance pressure. She explains subtle signs of addiction that are often missed—even by high performers—and why early recognition matters.

About Dr. Glasner: Dr. Suzette Glasner is an award-winning addiction scientist and clinical researcher, author, and educator focused on evidence-based approaches to substance use and recovery.

Contact the show: askdrglasner@gmail.com

Early access: Substack subscribers receive audio on Tuesdays.

Premiere: New episodes publish on YouTube every Thursday at 8:00 AM PT: https://youtu.be/PTIfi8sztAI

Thank you to Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard for fostering open, thoughtful conversations that help dismantle addiction stigma.

Disclaimer: This episode reflects Dr. Glasner’s professional opinion and commentary based on publicly available interviews. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, seek help from a qualified healthcare professional.

Episode 25 | Sober October Tips: 3 Thoughts Holding You Back (and How to Move Forward)

In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner explains how to overcome three common mental barriers that can keep you from reducing or quitting alcohol and other substances this month. Drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), she guides listeners through simple, research-backed ways to rethink habits and gain momentum—even if you start late in the month.

🧠 Topics Include:

• Reframing “I can’t do this” thinking

• Experimenting with new ways to relax without substances

• Assessing your own motivation and progress

• When to seek professional help for dependence

📈 Key Takeaway: Even small reductions can improve mood, sleep, concentration, and liver function within 30 days.

⏱ Length: ~25 minutes

📅 Release: October 2025

The Addiction Recovery Skills Workbook https://amzn.to/3J1FTkA

Addiction: What Everyone Needs to Know https://amzn.to/4nIvWI1

📩 askdrglasner@gmail.com | drsuzetteglasner.com

Women are drinking more than ever — yet they remain far less likely than men to seek help, often waiting up to 10 years to get treatment. In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner explores why: from shame, stigma, and caregiving fears to cost concerns and workplace pressures. Learn how alcohol harms women faster, why health risks are rising, and what steps can help close the gap — whether you’re seeking support yourself or trying to help someone you love.

📊 Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Welcome & why this topic matters

01:20 – The narrowing gender gap and rising drinking trends

03:05 – Shame, stigma, and caregiving fears: the top barriers women face

06:45 – The telescoping effect: why alcohol harms women faster

09:20 – Cancer, cardiovascular risk, and other health impacts

12:10 – Workplace stress, wine culture, and binge drinking trends

15:35 – Why women wait 10 years to seek treatment

18:10 – How support, sober-curious strategies, and digital care make a difference

22:00 – How to approach a loved one about alcohol use — without shame

💡 Key takeaway: Women face unique social, cultural, and biological barriers to getting help for alcohol use — but with better information, compassionate support, and accessible treatment options, we can close the gap and save lives.

📩 Have a question or topic suggestion? Email Dr. Glasner at askdrglasner@gmail.com.

⭐️ Your review saves lives. Follow, rate, and review the podcast — it helps us reach more people with evidence-based insights about addiction science and public health.

A powerful new opioid threat is emerging — and it’s being sold where you’d least expect it: on gas station and convenience store shelves. In this episode, Dr. Suzette Glasner exposes 7-OH (7-Hydroxymitragynine) — a highly addictive, kratom-derived compound that’s up to 13 times stronger than morphine and is being disguised as candy, gummies, and even ice cream cones that appeal to teens, shift workers, and unsuspecting adults.

⭐️ Help us reach more people.

Follow, rate, and review the podcast — your feedback expands our reach and helps us share life-saving information about addiction science and public health.

📩 Have a question or topic suggestion?

Email Dr. Glasner at askdrglasner@gmail.com

🔔 And don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.

⏱️ Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Welcome & how to stay informed

00:35 – What kratom is and how it’s traditionally used

03:24 – What 7-OH is and why it’s far more dangerous

06:45 – “Gas station opioids”: what parents and shift workers must know

10:12 – The real risks: overdose, withdrawal, respiratory depression

14:30 – FDA & DEA investigations: where regulation stands

17:15 – How to protect teens, adults, and yourself

👩‍⚕️ About Dr. Suzette Glasner

Dr. Suzette Glasner is a licensed clinical psychologist, addiction scientist, and award-winning author. She is a faculty member at UCLA, nationally recognized for her pioneering work in evidence-based addiction treatment and behavioral science. She hosts The Dr. Suzette Glasner Podcast every Thursday and publishes her “One Fact, One Act” newsletter every Tuesday, bringing science-based insights on addiction, recovery, and mental health to the public.