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Why this book comes up
Book

body keeps the score

Bessel van der Kolk
Mentions24
Episodes22
Podcasts5

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body keeps the score by Bessel van der Kolk gets recommended on The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett and The Mel Robbins Podcast, including episodes with Former FBI Agent and Feel Better Now, with transcript quotes, timestamps, and episode context.

body keeps the score by Bessel van der Kolk appears 24 times across 22 podcast episodes on 5 shows, with transcript quotes and timestamps.

There is a great book called The Body Keeps the Score.

Best episode to start with
Former FBI Agent: If They Do This Please RUN! Narcissists Favourite Trick To Control You! They're Controlling You Like A Puppet! on The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Why people keep bringing this up

Episodes of The Ezra Klein Show repeatedly invoke this book when discussing trauma, highlighting how it links emotions and bodily experience. Across three episodes—two distinct conversations and a best-of compilation—hosts and guests point to the book as a clear articulation that trauma and emotions manifest beyond cognition and into bodily processes.

The repeated lines in episode transcripts identify Bessel van der Kolk’s work by title and describe it as remarkable and influential for reframing pain and trauma. The pattern of mentions across multiple episodes and a compilation episode explains why the book keeps appearing in this podcast’s conversations about how trauma is experienced and treated.

Recommendation signals

The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to emphasize the connection between pain and the brain's memory processes. This book provides insights into how unresolved trauma can manifest as physical pain, highlighting the importance of addressing underlying issues rather than just symptoms.

The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to illustrate how trauma is often depicted in movies, highlighting the connection between physical movement and emotional states. This reference serves to emphasize the importance of understanding the body in relation to psychological experiences.

The host discusses the limitations of using sheer willpower to overcome emotional challenges, referencing Bessel van der Kolk's book to highlight the importance of understanding the body's role in processing emotions. They suggest that while grit can provide temporary relief, it ultimately leads to greater emotional debt and fragility in the nervous system.

Best for
Individuals dealing with chronic pain or traumaIndividuals interested in trauma and body-oriented therapyIndividuals seeking to understand emotional health and resilience strategiesIndividuals interested in psychology and mental health
Where it keeps coming up

Recent show rotation: The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, The Mel Robbins Podcast, and Modern Wisdom.

Guests tied to these mentions include Former FBI Agent, Feel Better Now, Russell Kennedy, and Mo Gawdat.

Fastest path back to the source: the strongest indexed mention lands at 2:06:41 in the episode where we captured it.

Quick answers

Quick FAQ

Answers to common book, episode, podcast, and guest questions.

Which episode recommended body keeps the score?

Former FBI Agent: If They Do This Please RUN! Narcissists Favourite Trick To Control You! They're Controlling You Like A Puppet! on The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett is one of the clearest indexed episodes that recommended body keeps the score by Bessel van der Kolk. Other indexed episodes include Feel Better Now: Neurosurgeon Reveals the New Science of Healing Your Body & Stopping Pain Today on The Mel Robbins Podcast and #951 - Dr Russell Kennedy - How To Fix Your Brain’s Addiction To Anxiety & Worry on Modern Wisdom. The first indexed transcript timestamp lands at 2:06:41.

Which podcast mentioned body keeps the score?

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, The Mel Robbins Podcast, and Modern Wisdom are the main indexed podcasts currently tied to body keeps the score by Bessel van der Kolk.

Who recommended body keeps the score on podcasts?

Former FBI Agent, Feel Better Now, and Russell Kennedy are the main guests currently tied to recommending body keeps the score by Bessel van der Kolk.

Why do podcast guests bring up body keeps the score?

The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to emphasize the connection between pain and the brain's memory processes. This book provides insights into how unresolved trauma can manifest as physical pain, highlighting the importance of addressing underlying issues rather than just symptoms. It most often appears in conversations about pain and memory loops, introduction to trauma concepts, and emotional regulation strategies.

Source material

Mentions across episodes

Every mention card links back to the episode page and exact transcript anchor.

The speaker mentions this book in relation to the effects of being around toxic individuals and how the body keeps score of those experiences.

Sentiment: Highly Recommended
For: Individuals working with or for narcissistic personalities
Key quote: There is a great book called The Body Keeps the Score.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to emphasize the psychological and physical toll of being in proximity to toxic individuals. This book highlights the lasting impact of trauma on the body, reinforcing the need to recognize and escape harmful relationships.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta references Bessel van der Kolk's book to discuss how the body retains memories of pain and trauma, suggesting that addressing these memories can help in pain management.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals dealing with chronic pain or trauma
Key quote: If you talk to people like Bessel van der Kolk, who wrote this great book called The Body Keeps the Score, I think what Bessel would suggest is that there's something else that's probably happening.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to emphasize the connection between pain and the brain's memory processes. This book provides insights into how unresolved trauma can manifest as physical pain, highlighting the importance of addressing underlying issues rather than just symptoms.

I had this one woman who is, I'd write about it in the book. She's really brilliantly attractive and had all these attention from men, but she would only pick the effusive alcoholics.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in psychology and mental health
Key quote: the body keeps the score.
The host discusses how childhood trauma and uncertainty contribute to anxiety, referencing the book to explain the connection between the body and stored trauma. 'The Body Keeps the Score' is mentioned to highlight how unresolved trauma manifests physically and psychologically.

The excerpt references the book 'The Body Keeps the Score' in the context of discussing how emotions can stay within us and affect our well-being.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in emotional well-being and mental health
Key quote: The body keeps the score.
The host discusses the impact of suppressed emotions on physical health, referencing the book to emphasize how unresolved feelings can manifest in the body. 'The Body Keeps the Score' is mentioned to highlight the connection between emotional experiences and physical ailments.

The body keeps the score, the body keeps the score, when we're talking about how our body is holding on to those traumatic memories.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Therapists and individuals interested in trauma recovery
Key quote: The body keeps the score.
The host discusses the impact of early experiences on identity and how trauma can be addressed through unconventional methods. They reference 'The Body Keeps the Score' to highlight the connection between trauma and the body, emphasizing the importance of somatic approaches in healing.

The speaker mentions a book called 'The Body Keeps the Score' by Bessel, who is a psychiatrist responsible for trauma centers.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in trauma recovery and mental health professionals.
Key quote: There's a book called The Body Keeps the Score by... I think his name is Bessel.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to highlight the connection between trauma and its effects on the body and mind. This book is referenced in the context of discussing EMDR therapy and the importance of understanding how trauma manifests in individuals.
Transcript mentionJump to mention

There's a book called The Body Keeps the Score by... I think his name is Bessel. He's a psychiatrist. And he's responsible for all these trauma centers all over the country.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals dealing with trauma or interested in mental health therapies.
Key quote: There's a book called The Body Keeps the Score by... I think his name is Bessel.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to highlight the connection between trauma and its physical manifestations in the body. This book is referenced as a foundational text that informs the therapeutic process of EMDR, which the host is currently undergoing.

It shows us unequivocally that trauma and emotions don't just live in the head; they also come out in the body.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Healthcare providers and medical educators
Key quote: It's like the brain is connected to the body 100% of the time.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to emphasize the connection between trauma and its physical manifestations in the body. They highlight how trauma affects not just the brain but also the body's physiology, which is crucial for understanding chronic pain.

The book discusses how trauma can be stored in the body and how it affects physical and mental health.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals seeking healing from trauma
Key quote: A lot of people have heard of Bessel van der Kolk's work and the book, The Body Keeps the Score.
The host references 'The Body Keeps the Score' to discuss how trauma is stored in the body and the limitations of verbal therapy in addressing it. They emphasize the importance of understanding the physical manifestations of trauma and the role of intuition in healing.

This is a book about trauma that's bestselling for five years and every week in the New York Times.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Parents and individuals interested in psychology and trauma
Key quote: Bessel told me that Donald Trump is a poster boy for trauma, which he is in a certain way, because even often when people say that he's lying, but by the way, there's Trump supporters here.
The host discusses how childhood trauma can influence behavior in adulthood, particularly in the context of political figures. They reference 'The Body Keeps the Score' to highlight the lasting effects of trauma on individuals like Donald Trump and Hunter Biden.

Bessel van der Kolk talks about in The Body Keeps the Score, the mind is represented by the body.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: mental health professionals and trauma survivors
Key quote: as Bessel van der Kolk talks about in The Body Keeps the Score, the mind is represented by the body.
The host discusses the connection between trauma and the body's physical sensations, referencing Bessel van der Kolk's insights. They emphasize the importance of understanding how trauma is encoded in the body and how this can be addressed through therapeutic practices.

The speaker mentions reading a book called 'The Body Holds the Score' in relation to understanding the body's response to stress and panic.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals struggling with mental health issues and those interested in personal development.
Key quote: The body will show you in a pretty drastic fashion that you're not okay.
The host mentions 'The Body Holds the Score' to emphasize the connection between mental health and physical well-being. They reflect on personal experiences with anxiety and the importance of recognizing when the body signals distress, despite the mind's insistence that everything is fine.

Bessel van der Kolk, your book is The Body Keeps the Score. It's remarkable.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in psychology and trauma recovery
Key quote: But if your feelings conflict with your loyalty, let's say if your own mom or dad beats you up and you don't feel safe with them, you cannot tell other people about it either because we are supposed to love our mom and dad.
The host discusses how trauma affects both the mind and body, referencing 'The Body Keeps the Score' to emphasize the connection between physical and psychological responses to trauma. They highlight the book's exploration of how trauma can disrupt social bonds and the importance of community in healing.

Bessel van der Kolk, your book is The Body Keeps the Score. It's remarkable.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in trauma recovery and cultural practices
Key quote: But reading your book made me think of it on another level, too.
The host discusses how different cultures engage with trauma and emotional processing through communal activities rather than solely through conversation or medication. This leads to a reflection on the insights from 'The Body Keeps the Score' regarding the importance of embodiment in healing.
Transcript mentionJump to mention

The speaker references the famous book to illustrate how the body can hold onto stress and trauma, even when the mind tries to ignore it.

Sentiment: Deep Dive
For: Individuals interested in mental health and trauma recovery
Key quote: The body can hold onto stress and trauma, even when the mind tries to ignore it.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to emphasize the profound relationship between physical health and emotional trauma. This book serves as a crucial resource for understanding how unresolved stress can manifest in the body.

The speaker reflects on how their body reacted to stress, referencing the famous book that discusses the connection between trauma and physical health.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: individuals interested in psychology and health
Key quote: the famous book that discusses the connection between trauma and physical health.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to highlight the relationship between stress and bodily responses. This reference serves to underscore the importance of understanding how trauma can manifest physically.

The speaker references this book to argue against the notion that trauma is stored in the body, stating they don't believe that's how the brain works.

Sentiment: Critical Analysis
For: Individuals interested in psychology and trauma research
Key quote: The body keeps the scores like the number one.
The host critiques the popular notion that trauma is stored in the body, as suggested by 'The Body Keeps the Score.' They emphasize that trauma is more about the narratives we create around our experiences rather than a physical storage in the body.

The mention discusses the title of Bessel van der Kolk's book and its impact on people's assumptions about its content.

Sentiment: Critical Analysis
For: Individuals seeking to understand emotional health and resilience strategies
Key quote: I think Bessel van der Kolk's really great book, the title, I think probably did a lot of disservice and confused a lot of people who never read it and made assumptions about what was in the book.
The host discusses the limitations of using sheer willpower to overcome emotional challenges, referencing Bessel van der Kolk's book to highlight the importance of understanding the body's role in processing emotions. They suggest that while grit can provide temporary relief, it ultimately leads to greater emotional debt and fragility in the nervous system.

The phrase 'The body holds the score' suggests a connection between physical sensations and emotional experiences, referencing a well-known book on trauma and healing.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in trauma and healing
Key quote: The body holds the score.
The host briefly mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to highlight the relationship between physical sensations and emotional experiences. This reference serves to underscore the importance of understanding trauma in both physical and emotional contexts.

The excerpt mentions that a lot of the research shows the book 'The Body Keeps the Score', indicating that the body holds experiences.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in psychology and trauma
Key quote: the book 'The Body Keeps the Score', indicating that the body holds experiences.
The host briefly mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to highlight research on how the body retains experiences. This reference serves to underscore the connection between physicality and emotional memory.

The mention of a book called 'the body holds the school', which discusses the role that acting can play as a form of therapy.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in therapy and acting
Key quote: The mention of a book called 'the body holds the school', which discusses the role that acting can play as a form of therapy.
The host briefly mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to highlight its relevance to therapeutic practices. This book is noted for discussing how the body processes trauma, which connects to the therapeutic aspects of acting.

The discussion revolves around how trauma affects the body and mind, referencing the book 'The Body Keeps the Score'.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in trauma and body-oriented therapy
Key quote: My bookstores sold 5 million copies.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to illustrate how trauma is often depicted in movies, highlighting the connection between physical movement and emotional states. This reference serves to emphasize the importance of understanding the body in relation to psychological experiences.

The book, The Body Keeps the Score, which speaks about how trauma is held in the body.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in psychology and emotional well-being
Key quote: And that's why most people have heard of the book, The Body Keeps the Score, which speaks about how trauma is held in the body.
The host mentions 'The Body Keeps the Score' to illustrate how trauma is stored in the body and how it can affect one's intuition. This reference serves to highlight the connection between physical experiences and emotional wisdom.

The speaker mentions they haven't read the book but loved the title and watched a summary, discussing its focus on the role of yoga in mental health.

Sentiment: Passing Reference
For: Individuals interested in mental health and yoga
Key quote: I haven't read the book, but I loved the title of the book, The Body Holds the Score.
The host mentions 'The Body Holds the Score' to highlight the connection between physical activity, like yoga, and mental health. They reference the book's insights on how yoga can aid in managing mental health challenges, particularly trauma.