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