Body Electric

Latest Episodes:

Big update: The Body Electric book is out! May 05, 2026

Show notes

Dear Body Electric listeners, we’ve missed you, and we have some exciting news. Manoush’s new book, Body Electric: The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital Age and New Science to Reclaim Your Well-Being, is out today! Please enjoy this short audio update on all things Body Electric: where things stand since the 2023 Body Electric study, what physiologist Keith Diaz has been working on since then, and what to expect in Manoush’s new book.
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Life Kit: Don't always depend on GPS. Your sense of direction will thank you Aug 13, 2024

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We've got a special episode for you today from our friends at Life Kit! Do you feel like you always need to use GPS to get around? Never quite sure if it's a left or a right turn — even though you just looked at a map? Are you tired of outsourcing your own body's sense of direction to an app? It can be anxiety-inducing but in this episode, experts explain how to gain more confidence while navigating.
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5 minute walk & talk: The low-tech gadget to make your breaks better Jul 16, 2024

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It's the finale of Body Electric season 2! Writer Linda Stone, who coined the term "screen apnea," knows all too well that our technology can really mess with our breathing and our health. Join her and Manoush for this 5 minute break where Linda demonstrates how playing the kazoo and practicing the physiological sigh can help you feel your best on screen-filled days.
We'd love to hear from you — email us at BodyElectric@npr.org.
Binge the entire Body Electric series here.
Sign up for our newsletter here.
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5 minute move & talk: Taking breaks when walking isn't an option Jul 09, 2024

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After a series of accidents over a decade ago, listener Michelle Rozovics lost her mobility, causing her to experience pain with any weight-bearing movement. Ironically, movement is the very thing she needs to prevent her condition from worsening. So, when Michelle heard Body Electric, she felt inspired to put her own twist on movement breaks that would work for HER body. She takes a 5 minute break with Manoush to share how she's using a special tool she calls her "Shaky Shaky Machine" to get in regular movement and feel her best.
We'd love to hear from you — email us at BodyElectric@npr.org.
New episodes of Body Electric every Tuesday. Binge the entire series here.
Sign up for our newsletter here.
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If a bot relationship FEELS real, should we care that it's not? Jul 02, 2024

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Thanks to advances in AI, chatbots can act as personalized therapists, companions and romantic partners. The apps offering these services have been downloaded millions of times. If these relationships relieve stress and make us feel better, does it matter that they're not "real"?
On this episode, host Manoush Zomorodi talks to MIT sociologist and psychologist Sherry Turkle about her new research into what she calls "artificial intimacy" and its impact on our mental and physical health.
Binge the whole Body Electric series here.
Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge and our newsletter here.
Talk to us on Instagram @ManoushZ, or record a voice memo and email it to us at BodyElectric@npr.org.
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5 minute MOVE & GROOVE! DJ JP Labrosse will get you off your screen Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

Today, we have an extraordinary episode to get you off your screen! Join mindful movement coach JP Labrosse for this guided 5 minute movement session that will get your blood flowing from your brain to your pinky toe. All you need is a quiet spot where you can move freely. It can be done standing or sitting. Enjoy!
We'd love to hear your thoughts — email us at BodyElectric@npr.org.
New episodes of Body Electric every Tuesday. Binge the entire series here.
Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge here.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
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5 minute walk & talk: Manoush's journey to spend less time on her laptop Jun 18, 2024

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Today, Manoush takes a solo walk and shares what she does to spend less time scrolling, more time moving, including the story of forcing herself (and her kids) to take breaks. PLUS, she explains how setting aside our devices and allowing our minds to wander helps us tap into our most creative thinking. Join Manoush for this 5 minute walk and hear her (sometimes strange) internal monologue on the challenges of trying to get people moving.
We'd love to hear from you! Send us a voice memo or email us at BodyElectric@npr.org.
New episodes every Tuesday. Binge the entire series here.
Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge here.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
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Type, tap, scroll, BREATHE! How our tech use impacts our breath Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

Do you have "screen apnea"? Former Microsoft executive Linda Stone coined this term around 2007 after noticing she'd developed an unhealthy habit while answering emails: She held her breath. On this episode, she tells host Manoush Zomorodi how she tested her friends and colleagues for screen apnea and what she has done since.
Then, Manoush talks to the bestselling author of Breath, science writer James Nestor, who explains how shallow breathing impacts our physical and mental health. He takes us through a simple exercise to "reset" our breath and relieve screen time stress.
Binge the whole Body Electric series here.
Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge and our newsletter here.
Talk to us on Instagram @manoushz, or record a voice memo and email it to us at BodyElectric@npr.org.
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5 minute walk & talk: The professor who makes her students jog during sociology class Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Professor Jennifer Lundquist has been taking movement breaks in her office and classroom for 13 years(!) and she's learned a thing or two. Move with her and Manoush as they discuss how she's changed her wardrobe, why sitting through a three-hour lecture isn't an option, and what students think when she gets them jogging around the lecture hall.
Let us know how your movement breaks are going. Send us a voice memo or email us at BodyElectric@npr.org.
New episodes every Tuesday. Binge the entire series here.
Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge here.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
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5 minute walk & talk: Uché Blackstock on how your neighborhood impacts your health May 28, 2024

Show notes

Even if we want to put our health first, it's not always within our control. Our genetics, environment, home life, work conditions, and systemic factors all impact our wellbeing. Today, Manoush takes a 5 minute walk with Dr. Uché Blackstock, who has dedicated her career to building a more equitable healthcare system. Uché shares what it means to take care of ourselves while acknowledging the limitations we all face.
Interested in walking with Manoush and being featured on a future episode? Tell us about your strategies, struggles, and successes when breaking up your day with movement. Send us a voice memo at BodyElectric@npr.org.
New episodes every Tuesday. Binge the entire series here.
Sign up for the Body Electric Challenge here.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
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