James Kimmel, author of&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/41bUmAd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Science of Revenge</a>, joins the show to unpack one of the most overlooked forms of distraction and emotional hijacking: revenge. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and decades of legal and public health research, James reveals how revenge isn’t just an emotional reaction—it’s an addictive cycle that can derail our focus, well-being, and relationships. If you’ve ever ruminated about a workplace slight, stewed in a sense of injustice, or mentally put someone “on trial,” this episode offers a powerful, science-backed path forward.In this episode, we cover:<ul><li>What Makes Revenge So Addictive:&nbsp;How grievances activate the same reward centers in the brain as drugs, gambling, and other addictive behaviors.</li><li>Revenge as a Productivity Killer:&nbsp;Why revenge always focuses on the past—and how it hijacks our mental and emotional bandwidth in the present.</li><li>The Courtroom in Your Head:&nbsp;James explains the mental trial many of us run daily, casting ourselves in all the roles—prosecutor, judge, jury, and warden.</li><li>Grievance vs. Reality:&nbsp;The neuroscience behind how imagined slights are often just as powerful as real ones.</li><li>Workplace Revenge Culture:&nbsp;How toxic tit-for-tat behavior spreads through teams and how leaders can disrupt it before it takes root.</li><li>Rewiring the Feedback Loop:&nbsp;How revenge follows the same cue-craving-reward cycle as other habits—and how to break it.</li><li>The Science of Forgiveness:&nbsp;Why forgiveness isn’t “soft,” but rather a neurological off-ramp from pain and rumination that reactivates the decision-making part of the brain.</li><li>The Wonder Drug in Your Brain:&nbsp;How practicing internal forgiveness shuts down pain networks and reduces stress, anxiety, and cortisol levels.</li><li>Practical Tools for Release:&nbsp;James shares how his free app helps users safely process their grievances through guided mental courtroom exercises.</li><li>Healing as Productivity:&nbsp;Why letting go doesn’t just make you feel better—it frees up your energy for purpose-driven work and emotional clarity.</li></ul>Connect with James and his work at&nbsp;<a href="https://jameskimmel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">jameskimmel.com</a>&nbsp;and find&nbsp;<a href="https://amzn.to/41bUmAd" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Science of Revenge</a>&nbsp;wherever books are sold.Connect with Erik:<ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikjfisher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.threads.com/@erikjfisher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="http://facebook.com/erikjfisher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/erikjfisher.bsky.social" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul>This Podcast is Powered By:<ul><li><a href="http://beyondthetodolist.com/descript" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Descript⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="http://beyondthetodolist.com/descript101" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Descript 101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://get.castmagic.io/erikjfisher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Castmagic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive/?fp_ref=erik97" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ecamm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://www.podpage.com/?via=erik-fisher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podpage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3SGEEbr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rodecaster Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/shop/beyondtheto-dolist" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Top Productivity Books List⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul>Make sure to&nbsp;<a href="http://beyondthetodolist.com/blinkist" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">grab Shortcasts from Beyond The To-Do List by Blinkist</a>.&nbsp;A Shortcast is a 7-10 min version of a podcast where you get the core takeaways.&nbsp;Make sure to support the show by<a href="https://www.beyondthetodolist.com/sponsors/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠&nbsp;checking out the sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>!See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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James Kimmel on Revenge Addiction: Breaking Free and Regain Control

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