The Science of Deep Rest: How Relaxation Calms Stress & Slows Ageing with Dr Elissa Epel

Dr. Elissa Epel, a stress researcher and professor of psychiatry, reveals how chronic stress ages the immune system by up to a decade—and how deep rest can reverse that damage. She introduces her four mind states framework (red, yellow, green, blue) for identifying where you are on the stress spectrum at any moment. The conversation covers wearable technology for tracking stress patterns, her continuous glucose monitor insights on stress and sleep, and findings from her Big Joy Project showing that small acts of kindness measurably shift emotions. Epel also explains how changing the narrative you tell about stressful experiences can alter your physiological response.