CRYSTAL:CRYSTAL: HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'’M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON."

BIDEN IS OFFICIALLY SEEKING A SECOND TERM AS PRESIDENT, AGAIN POSITIONING HIMSELF AS THE FOIL TO DONALD TRUMP.

BUT NEW PULLING NUMBERS SHOW AMERICANS ARE LESS THAN ENTHUSED WITH EITHER CANDIDATE.

WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE 2024 ELECTION IS SHAPING UP.

THEN, A LOOK AT HARWARD'’S NEW MILLION-DOLLAR CENTER FOR MINDFULNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

WELL, IT IS FINALLY OFFICIAL.

JOE BIDEN IS RUNNING FOR A SECOND TERM AS PRESIDENT, MAKING THE SAME PITCH HE MADE IN 2020 TWO DEFEAT DONALD TRUMP AND MAGA REPUBLICANISM.

>> WHEN I RAN FOR PRESIDENT FOUR YEARS AGO, I SAID WE ARE IN A BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF AMERICA, AND WE STILL ARE.

THAT'’S WHY I'’M MORNING -- RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

CRYSTAL: HE SCORED A DECISIVE WIN IN THE LAST ELECTION, BUT SUPPORT HAS DRAMATICALLY WANED SINCE, WITH A NEW NBC NEWS POLL FINDING 70% OF AMERICANS DON'’T BELIEVE YOU SHOULD RUN FOR A SECOND TERM.

AS FOR TRUMP, 60% OF AMERICANS SAY HE SHOULD NOT RUN EITHER.

BOTH ARE STILL THERE PARTIES FRONTRUNNERS, SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN A FIELD THAT IS LED BY CANDIDATES THAT VOTERS DON'’T WANT?

TO DISCUSS THIS, LET'’S BREAK IT DOWN.

I'’M JOINED BY A JACQUETTA VAN ZANDT, HOST OF THE POLITICS AND PROSECCO VIDEOCAST AND JESSE MERMELL, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF DEWIT IMPACT GROUP.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW I FEEL LIKE THE POLLS INDICATE A VERY TIRED ELECTORATE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING.

WHEN YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS, FRONT RUNNERS FOR BOTH PARTIES, A PRESIDENT THAT IS REALLY RUNNING FOR ELECTION, HE WILL BE 802I BELIEVE IS THE NUMBER ON ELECTION NIGHT.

JACQUETTA: TAKING HIS AGE OUT OF IT, I JUST THINK WE'’VE HAD A LOT OF BIDEN.

HE WAS IN THE SENATE FOR A WHILE AND HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT.

PEOPLE MAY BE FEELING LIKE IT'’S TIME TO USHER IN A NEW GENERATION AND NEW ERA OF POLITICS.

I THINK THERE STILL MUST ALTER CONNECTEDBUT LET'’S TALK ABOUT WHAT HE'’S DONE.

I THINK HE'’S BEEN IN MY OPINION SUCCESSFUL SO FAR, BRINGING THE PROMISES ON HIS CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO FRUITION.

IT'’S BEEN TOUGH.

BUT I THINK WHAT AMERICANS AND YOUNGER VOTERS SHOULD THINK, WHERE DO WE WANT TO SEE OUR COUNTRY IN FIVE YEARS?

TAKE HIS AGE OUT OF IT AND THE FACT THAT HE'’S BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE SINCE -- I'’M NOT EVEN GOING TO CALL OUT A YEAR.

[LAUGHTER] BUT I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT HE'’S DONE AND WHAT HE NEEDS TO STILL ACCOMPLISH.

OF COURSE, KAMALA IS THERE AND WE NEED TO SEE HER RISE AS WELL.

JESSE: I THINK WE ALL EXPECTED THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO COME.

CRYSTAL: YES.

I DIDN'’T FALL OUT OF MY CHAIR AT BREAKFAST.

[LAUGHTER] JESSE: BUT IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE DON'’T WANT HIM -- CRYSTAL: THEY DON'’T WANT A REPEAT OF THE ELECTION CYCLE.

JESSE: I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED.

HOW CAN YOU NOT BE?

IT HAS BEEN A BRUTAL, TRAUMATIC PAST FEW YEARS FOR SO MANY OF US.

YOU TURN ON THE NEWS, ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOUR PROFESSION, BUT WHAT IS ON THERE IS TOUGH THE IDEA THAT WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER ELECTION CYCLE, BOOKS ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME STEELING THEMSELVES FOR IT.

WHAT IS AT STAKE IS TOO IMPORTANT FOR VOTERS OF ALL AGES AND ALL BACKGROUNDS AND DEMOGRAPHICS.

REALLY THE FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRACY REMAINS AT STAKE.

THE PRESIDENT EMPHASIZED THAT IN HIS VIDEO.

YOU SHOWED A CLIP OF IT.

THERE'’S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF IN THERE.

WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE WORK TO DO, DESPITE THE PROGRESS HE'’S MADE, AND SOME AREAS WHERE HE HAS COME UP SHORT, WHICH I THINK HE AND THE REST OF THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD ADMIT.

THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

I KNOW WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME, BUT IT'’S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTIONS OF OUR LIFETIME AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] CRYSTAL: YOU MENTIONED YOUNG VOTERS.

DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEE TURNOUT BE LOWERED?

JACQUETTA: I'’M HOPING NOT, BUT I'’VE BEEN IN THE FIELD FOR A LONG TIME.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED, IT TENDS TO GO DOWN.

WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS FOR ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS LIKE NAACP, THE URBAN LEAGUE, MASS WOMEN'’S POLLUTANT -- POLITICAL CAUCUS, FOR THEM TO SHOW UP AND REMIND PEOPLE WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT ONLY STAY IN TOUCH, BUT ALSO IMPORTANT TO GET TO THE POLLS.

WE TALK ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION.

WE ARE PAST THAT.

IT IS ABOUT MOBILIZATION.

WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE FROM THE REGISTRATION CARD INTO THE BOX.

CRYSTAL: DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE READY FOR SOMEONE MORE EXCITING?

I THINK OF ALL THE FOLKS RUNNING IN THE 2020 CYCLE, SOMEONE LIKE A CORY BOOKER.

KAMALA HARRIS WAS THERE AND PEOPLE WERE VERY EXCITED AROUND HER CAMPAIGN.

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING NEW?

JESSE: LET'’SJESSE: BE CLEAR, KAMALA HARRIS IS STILL THERE.

SHE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT.

I REMEMBER BEING IN CONGRESS SQUARE A FEW DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION WHEN WE FINALLY FOUND OUT JOE BIDEN HAD WON.

PEOPLE WERE HONKING THEIR HORNS, CHEERING, HUGGING STRANGERS.

I DON'’T THINK WE CAN DISCOUNT HOW SMART THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE IN UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND KNOWING THAT IS WHAT IS EXCITING.

JOE BIDEN HAS TRIED AND TRUE FANS WHO WILL COME OUT AND WORK HARD FOR HIM.

TWO JACQUETTA '’S POINT ABOUT YOUNG VOTERS, THE ADMINISTRATION NEEDS THEM TO WORK AND TURN OUT BIG.

TUFTS DID A POLL AND THEY WENT FROM -- TO TURN OUT IN THE LOW 50% INCLUDING MAJOR BATTLEGROUND STATES.

YOUNG VOTERS AND BLACK VOTERS, PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN, HAVE TO BE EXCITED ABOUT A BIDEN HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, PERIOD, FOR THEM TO REELECT.

THEY HAVE SOME REAL POLICIES.

ATTEMPTING TO TACKLE STUDENT DEBT.

HANDLING ABORTION RIGHTS.

THEY HAVE THINGS THEY CAN TALK ABOUT TO GET VOTERS EXCITED, BUT THERE'’S WORK TO BE DONE.

I THINK THAT'’S WHAT CAMPAIGNS ARE FOR.

JACQUETTA: AND BLACK WOMEN IN PARTICULAR, WHITE WOMEN, WE CAN'’T KEEP SAVING DEMOCRACY.

I'’M TIRED OF KEEPING -- CAPING.

IT'’S NOW OR NEVER.

CRYSTAL: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS, DONALD TRUMP, WE ARE PRESUMING HE WILL GET THE NOMINATION, YOU HAVE RON DESANTIS WHO HAS NOT OFFICIALLY ENTERED THE RACE AS HE SAID IN A VERY FAMOUS CLIP THAT'’S GOING AROUND AS A MEME ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

JACQUETTA: WHAT YOU DON'’T WANT TO HAPPEN.

[LAUGHTER] CRYSTAL: RIGHT.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE GOP IS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT AS WELL.

I DON'’T KNOW IF IT IS RON DESANTIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE FOLKS WHO VOTE REPUBLICAN THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOT NECESSARILY MAKING HEADLINES BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A COURT CASE.

JACQUETTA: THEY ARE ON A FIELD OF MINES BLOWING UP EVERYWHERE.

YOU HAVE TUCKER CARLSEN ON FOX NEWS AND THAT FALLOUT, YOU HAVE RON DESANTIS ACTING LIKE A COMPLETELY UNSYMPATHETIC -- JESSE: TYRANT?

[LAUGHTER] JACQUETTA: I WAS TRYING TO FIND THE WORD TO USE ON TV.

[LAUGHTER] AND THEN YOU HAVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE JUST REITERATING THE SAME RHETORIC OVER AND OVER.

EVERYWHERE THEY STOPPED, IT IS BLOWING UP ON THE.

HIGH THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM IS TO GET BACK TO WHERE MODERATE REPUBLICANS WERE, THE JOHN MCCAIN'’S OF THE WORLD IF WE CONSIDERED HIM MODERATE, BUT THAT KIND OF GRACEFUL, DIGNIFIED WAY OF RUNNING A CLEAN RACE WHERE YOU ARE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AND NOT RHETORIC.

THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

CRYSTAL: I'’M ALSO THOUGHTFUL ABOUT, WE HAVE SOME NUMBERS WHERE WE TALK ABOUT HIS AGE.

I KNOW WE DID NOT WANT TO NECESSARILY FOCUS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'’S AGE, BUT THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THE NBC NEWS POLL.

THE QUESTION WAS, IS PRESIDENT BIDEN'’S AGE OF REASON WHY HE SHOULD NOT RUN?

65% OF THE PEOPLE ALSO SAY YES.

JACQUETTA: I MEAN, RONALD REAGAN WAS LIKE 102.

I DON'’T THINK IT'’S FAIR TO TALK ABOUT AGEISM.

WHEN WOMEN COME INTO THE FIELD, AGE IS THE FIRST THING THEY TALK ABOUT, OR THEN IT'’S LOOKS AND THEN AGE.

I DON'’T CARE.

I WOULD RATHER HAVE SOMEONE WITH WISDOM.

BUT I'’M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

JESSE: THE ONE THING THE NUMBERS TELL ME IS THAT THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN HAS TO SHOW EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT HE IS VIBRANT, ENERGETIC, USEFUL -- YOUTHFUL, AND HEALTHY.

WHETHER IT'’S FAIR OR NOT, IT IS THE REALITY.

HE IS GOING TO BE 82 ON ELECTION NIGHT.

IT IS NOT UNREASONABLE FOR FOLKS TO ASK HER THEY WILL HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT AND IN WORDS AND ACTIONS AND IMAGERY, HE WILL NEED TO DISPLAY THAT VITALITY EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BY DOING THAT, THEY WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

JACQUETTA: I FEEL LIKE WHEN WOMEN COME TO THAT STAGE, THE CONVERSATION TENDS TO BE DIFFERENT.

I JUST WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

MY DAD IS 75.

I THINK HE'’S OLD.

[LAUGHTER] CRYSTAL: IS YOUR DAD WATCHING?

[LAUGHTER] JACQUETTA: I'’M SURE HE IS.

BUT HE IS AND HE OWNS THAT.

I THINK BIDEN IS OWNING IT AND HIM TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES, I THINK HE'’S STAYING ON TRACK.

HE'’S STAYING ON MESSAGE AS WE SAY.

CRYSTAL: WHEN WE GO BACK TO WHAT VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE CASTING THEIR BALLOT ON WITH THESE ISSUES, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ABORTION AND ABORTION RIGHTS, WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT THE FDA CAN REGULATE MEDICINE.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS BECAUSE EVERY TIME THE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN, IT BECOMES DIVISIVE.

JESSE: THE REPUBLICANS ARE FACING THE REALITY, THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR OWN ACTIONS.

FOR YEARS, THEY'’VE BEEN OUT OF STEP WITH THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ON ISSUE AFTER ISSUE AFTER ISSUE, ON ABORTION RIGHTS, CLIMATE CHANGE, VOTING RIGHTS, HEALTH CARE.

THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY OUT OF STEP.

NOW WE'’VE SEEN IN MULTIPLE ELECTIONS SINCE THE THREAT AGAINST ROE, WHICH A LOT OF US HAVE KNOWN FOR DECADES AND MANY PEOPLE SAID WE ARE HYSTERICAL -- THAT'’S JUST A SLIGHT CHIP ON MY SHOULDER -- BUT WE ARE SEEING IN ELECTIONS AND BALLOT QUESTIONS, THE REPUBLICANS ARE FACING CONSEQUENCES.

REGARDLESS OF THAT, THEY STILL DO INCREDIBLY STUPID THINGS TO APPEAL TO THEIR BASE AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME PIVOTING IN THE GENERAL TO MAKE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY WOMEN AND PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS, CONVINCING THEM THEY CAN BE TRUSTED WHEN THEY HAVE SHOWN THE HARM THAT THEY NOT ONLY HAVE DONE BUT INTEND TO CONTINUE TO DO AROUND A HOST OF ISSUES.

NOT JUST ABORTION, AROUND MARRIAGE AND VOTING RIGHTS.

JACQUETTA: BANNING BOOKS.

AND THEIR BASE IS ACTUALLY GETTING SMALLER.

I DON'’T KNOW IF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INSURRECTION OR THE LATEST SHOOTINGS, BUT PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BACK AWAY FROM THAT RHETORIC.

HOPEFULLY WE SEE THAT TREND IN THE PRELIMINARIES AND THEN ONTO GOOD GENERAL.

JESSE: DESPITE THE ADVANTAGE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WE CAN TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED.

WE'’VE LEARNED THE REPUBLICANS, PARTICULARLY THE EXTREMISTS, ARE WILLING TO LIE, SPIN, DO ANYTHING.

WE CANNOT LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND SAY WE ARE GOOD.

WE HAVE TO WORK AND RUN FOR THE TAPE.

CRYSTAL: JESSE FOR PRESIDENT.

[LAUGHTER] WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR FOLKS IS GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE 2024 GENERAL ELECTION?

JACQUETTA: FOR ME AND MY CIRCLE, IT IS REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.

IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT ABORTION.

IT IS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND THAT IT'’S EQUITABLE AND PEOPLE ARE FEELING HURT.

I'’M THE DAUGHTER OF A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS WHERE I GOT MY FIRST EXAM.

THESE ISSUES THAT WOMEN FACE, THAT WILL BE NUMBER ONE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY CIRCLE.

OF COURSE, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND HOW THEY ARE TRYING TO ROLL IT BACK, IT IS SCARY.

IT IS SCARY FOR WHITE WOMEN AS WELL BECAUSE THEY DO BENEFIT FROM AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.

I THINK ISSUES, WOMEN WILL SHOW UP THIS TIME BECAUSE WE MAKE THE DECISIONS AT HOME.

I'’M SORRY IF THAT HIM AND ANYONE'’S MANHOOD, BUT WE MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND THOSE RINGS MATTER.

-- THOSE THINGS MATTER.

JESSE: THAT'’S RIGHT.

AND THE PULLING BEARS IT OUT.

THE ECONOMY AND POCKETBOOK ISSUES ARE ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS A STRONG STORY.

THEY HAVE KEPT US ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW.

I THINK COURTS IN GENERAL WILL BE IMPORTANT IN A WAY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDING LOWER COURTS.

WE SAW THE TEXAS COURT AROUND THE METHOD PRISM KNOWN -- RULING.

THE CLIMATE CRISIS WHERE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE WELL BUT TURNED OFF YOUNG VOTERS WITH A DECISION AROUND DRILLING IN ALASKA.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE ISSUES THAT WILL BE TOP OF MIND.

CRYSTAL: WITH THE CLIMATE ISSUE AS WELL, THE U.N. HAS ALSO RUNG THAT BELL AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

YOU SEE THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY START TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON WESTERN COUNTRIES LIKE THE U.S. AND U.K., IT WILL BE A BIG DEAL.

JESSE: AND DON'’T COUNT OUT THE INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, WITH CHINA, UKRAINE, THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON.

WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY 2024?

JACQUETTA: THIS IS WHERE COORDINATED CAMPAIGNS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN CAN LINK UP WITH SENATORS RUNNING, STATE -- HOUSE REPS RUNNING.

THIS IS WHERE COORDINATED CAMPAIGNS COME IN.

THEY NEED TO HAMMER THE MESSAGE THAT THIS IS WHAT THE PRESIDENCY IS DOING.

SENDING JOE BIDEN BACK THERE, THIS IS WHAT WE CAN ALL DO AS A COLLECTIVE.

THEY WILL HAVE TO LINK UP WITH PEOPLE.

HE CANNOT JUST DO IT BY HIMSELF AND THE DNC CANNOT DO IT BY THEMSELVES.

THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH THE D CCC.

CRYSTAL: AND ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HIS AGE AND HIS RELEVANCY TO COMMUNITIES.

IF YOU ARE IN THE CAMPAIGN OFFICES OF EITHER OF THESE CANDIDATES, YOU MIGHT BE FIELDING SOME PHONE CALLS FROM VARIOUS ATTORNEYS GENERAL IF YOU ARE IN A TRUMP'’S CAMPAIGN OFFICE, BUT WHAT ARE YOU ADVISING THEM?

NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A RACE GOING.

JACQUETTA: MAN.

I DON'’T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START.

[LAUGHTER] JESSE: I DON'’T KNOW THAT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WILL TAKE MY PHONE CALLS OR MY ADVICE.

I WOULD SAY CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE PLATFORM, ALL OF YOUR POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, AND DISSIPATE THE PARTY.

[LAUGHTER] BUT IF JOE BIDEN'’S TEAM CALLS ME TO ASK FOR ADVICE, I WOULD SAY TEAM UP WITH INCREDIBLE SURROGATES ON THE GROUND AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO CAN VOUCH NOT JUST FOR HIM AS A PERSON, BUT FOR HIS RECORD, AND TALK ABOUT THAT RECORD.

TALK WITH HONESTY ABOUT THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO.

BE DONE I WAS OPENLY CRITICAL ABOUT THE WHEN THEY DROPPED PAID LEAVE FROM EARLY ADMINISTRATION -- LEGISLATION, AND I WAS ANGRY.

BUT THEY'’VE NOW COME FORWARD WITH THE STRONGEST CHILDCARE PACKAGE THAT WE'’VE SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY AND SEEM TO BE ACTIVELY PUSHING IT.

SO GO OUT AND TALK HONESTLY.

VOTERS ARE SMART.

WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON.

YOU COULD NOT GET IT DONE THE FIRST TIME, BUT WE PROMISED WE WERE NOT DROPPING THE BALL AND WE WILL STILL FIGHT FOR IT.

I WOULD TELL THEM TO GO OUT AND HAVE CANDID, MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS, LOOK PEOPLE IN THE EYES, TELL THE REAL STORY.

JACQUETTA: SURROGATES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE.

CRYSTAL: WELL.

JACQUETTA VAN ZANDT AND JESSE MERMELL, ALWAYS AN ELECTRIC CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, MINDFULNESS OR THE PRACTICE OF BEING FULLY PRESENT IN EACH MOMENT.

IT COMES FROM AN ANCIENT BUDDHIST APPROACH TO LIVING AND IS SAID TO REDUCE STRESS, INCREASE SELF-AWARENESS, AND CULTIVATE WELL-BEING.

IT'’S A TEACHING HARVARD IS NOW INVESTING IN, BIG, PUTTING $25 MILLION INTO THE THICH NHAT HANH CENTER FOR MINDFULNESS IN PUBLIC HEALTH P THE CENTER WILL HOUSE A NUMBER OF RESEARCH INITIATIVES LOOKING TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF MINDFULNESS ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

I'’M JOINED NOW BY THE CENTER'’S DIRECTOR, DR. WALTER WILLETT.

HE'’S A PROFESSOR OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND NUTRITION AT HARVARD.

AND NIEISHA DEED, THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF PURESPARK, FOCUSED ON BLACK MENTAL HEALTH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

DR. WILLETT, LET'’S START WITH THE CENTER AND YOUR CONNECTION TO THIS PHILOSOPHY AND WHY IT CONNECTS TO THE WORK HARVARD IS DOING.

DR. WILLETT: ACTUALLY MY CONNECTION WITH THICH NHAT HANH FOR WHOM THE CENTER IS NAMED, GOES BACK QUITE A BIT OF TIME WHEN I WAS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE 1960'’S.

THE VIETNAM WAR WAS RAGING.

MYSELF AND OTHER STUDENTS WERE WONDERING, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE ?

WE INVITED THIS YOUNG BUDDHIST MONK IN THE UNITED STATES TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE ORIGINS AND THE MEANING OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

IT WAS THICH NHAT HANH.

HE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.

WE LEARNED A LOT DURING THAT TIME.

IT CHANGED THE PATHS MANY OF US TOOK.

IT WAS ONLY MORE RECENTLY RECONNECTED WITH A COMMON INTEREST IN FOOD AND HOW THAT CAN RELATE TO MINDFULNESS, AND MORE RECENTLY IN THE RELATION BETWEEN WHAT WE EAT AND PLANETARY HEALTH, WHICH IS ALL PART OF THE MINDFULNESS VISION OF THE WORLD.

CRYSTAL: A LOT OF FOLKS THINK MINDFULNESS AND MAYBE THEY THINK OF YOGA CULTURE.

.

THEY DON'’T THINK OF THE CONNECTION TO MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL HEALTH, NUTRITION.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU.

THE CITY INVESTS, PLACES LIKE HARVARD ARE INVESTING IN IT.

NIEISHA: YES.

ACTUALLY LOVE TO HEAR THAT MODERN MEDICINE IS NOW CATCHING ON TO THESE ANCIENT HEALING PRACTICES.

AS A PERSON WHO EXPERIENCED DEPRESSION AND HAVING A DIAGNOSIS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER, I NEVER THOUGHT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS GOING OUTSIDE, GETTING FRESH AIR, STEPPING AWAY FROM MODERN-DAY TECHNOLOGY WOULD BE SO HELPFUL IN MY OWN WELLNESS.

MINDFULNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH GO HAND-IN-HAND.

THEY ARE TOTALLY CONNECTED.

YOU TALK ABOUT YOGA, THAT IS SOMETHING I PRACTICE EVERY DAY AND SOMETHING I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF THEY'’RE INTERESTED AND OPEN, TO PRACTICE AS WELL.

CRYSTAL: AND THERE'’S MORE OF A BUY-IN.

I SEE BUSINESSES BRINGING THE MINDFULNESS PIECE.

YOU TALK ABOUT NUTRITION AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT GOES HAND IN HAND IN TERMS OF PRODUCTIVITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES.

DR. WILLETT: ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF THE FOCUS ON MINDFULNESS RESEARCH UNTIL THIS MOMENT HAS BEEN ABOUT INDIVIDUAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.

THAT'’S VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IF WE DON'’T HAVE THAT, WE CAN'’T BE PRODUCTIVE AND WE CAN'’T BE HAPPY.

BUT IN THIS CENTER, WE HOPE TO TAKE MINDFULNESS ANOTHER STEP INTO THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORLD.

ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF MINDFULNESS IS CONDUCTIVITY, HOW WE OURSELVES ARE CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING AROUND US, TO OTHER PEOPLE, OUR ENVIRONMENT, PLANETARY HEALTH AS WELL.

WE HOPE TO COMBINE THESE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MINDFULNESS.

AS YOU ARE SAYING, IT IS APPRECIATED ACROSS BUSINESSES AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO -- ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND MORE AND MORE THAT THEY CAN'’T BE A SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION, WHETHER MAKING MONEY OR DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD, UNLESS THEY HAVE HEALTHY EMPLOYEES, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY.

CRYSTAL: IN YOUR WORK WHEN YOU GO, SO YOU CONSULT WITH A COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION, HOW DO YOU MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN MINDFULNESS, WELLNESS, AND MENTAL HEALTH, IS IT CONNECTED TO THEIR PRODUCTIVITY?

NIEISHA: I THINK THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT MINDFULNESS, SOMETIMES WE THINK ABOUT SOMEONE SITTING CROSSLEGGED, WITH THEIR HANDS UP AND EYES CLOSED.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK IT IS A LITTLE KOOKY.

THEY DON'’T NECESSARILY THINK THERE'’S A CONNECTION.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE FEEL BETTER, WE THINK CLEARER.

I DON'’T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

IF YOU'’VE EVER DEALT WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN, AS IN DEPRESSION, HOW IT IMPAIRS YOU COGNITIVELY.

I REMEMBER DEALING WITH IT MYSELF AND THINKING, AM I DEALING WITH ALZHEIMER'’S RIGHT NOW?

MY MEMORY HAD GONE COMPLETELY MISSING.

I COULD NOT THINK CLEARLY.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL GET IN THE WAY OF PRODUCTIVITY.

IF WE CAN THINK CLEARER, IF WE CAN HAVE BETTER MEMORIES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE BETTER.

CRYSTAL: AND IT CAN ALSO AFFECT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS OR A GROUP OF FOLKS THAT ARE -- THAT DON'’T HAVE A MIND-BODY CONNECTION, IT CAN AFFECT EVERYTHING.

NIEISHA: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK IT IS CONTAGIOUS.

JUST LIKE WE THINK OF BAD MOVES BEING CONTAGIOUS, GOOD MOVES ARE CONTAGIOUS AS WELL.

WHEN I TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, I CAN BETTER TAKE CARE OF MY COMMUNITY AT HOME OR AT WORK.

I CAN COME TO WORK WITH A BETTER ATTITUDE.

WHEN YOU ARE WORKING AROUND PEOPLE WITH GOOD ATTITUDES, THE SKY IS THE LIMIT.

CRYSTAL: IT SEEMS LIKE, DR. WILLETT, THERE ARE A GROWING NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT MINDFULNESS IS BETTER FOR ALL COGNITIVE PROCESSES AND THAT'’S WHY THE RESEARCH DOLLARS ARE THERE.

DR. WILLETT: ABSOLUTELY.

THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 25,000 PUBLICATIONS IN THIS AREA OVER THE LAST DECADE.

THAT IS INCREASING RAPIDLY.

WE DO HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT KNOWLEDGE.

IN OUR OWN FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH, MINDFULNESS CONNECTS LITERALLY EVERY DAY WITH WHAT WE DO.

IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE PERSON AT A TIME.

IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE ARE DEALING NOT JUST WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL WHICH IS IMPORTANT, BUT EVERYBODY AROUND THAT PERSON.

WE DID NOT DO SO WELL FOR EXAMPLE IN THE COVID PANDEMIC WITH MASKS AND IMMUNIZATIONS.

WE REALIZE IN PUBLIC HEALTH THAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

PART OF THAT IS CONVEYING THE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION, AND HOW TO DO IT, WITH THINGS LIKE WEARING A MASK.

IT IS NOT JUST PROTECTING ME FROM COVID, IT IS PROTECTING MY FAMILY, PROTECTING THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH, OTHER PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY.

IT IS NOT JUST THAT I GET BETTER .

IF THEY CAN BE HEALTHIER AND GO TO WORK, KIDS CAN GO BACK TO WORK.

EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED.

I WANTED TO MENTION, IT COMES OUT OF A BUDDHIST TRADITION, BUT AS THICH NHAT HANH POINTED OUT, THIS IS EMBEDDED IN MANY CULTURES.

SOCRATES SAID NO MAN IS AN ISLAND.

HE UNDERSTOOD THAT EVERYTHING WE ARE AND EVERYTHING WE DO IS CONNECTED TO OTHERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US.

CRYSTAL: WHAT ARE SOME ASPECTS OF MINDFULNESS THAT YOU HOPE TO DO RESEARCH ON IN THIS NEW CENTER?

DR. WILLETT: THERE ARE TWO AREAS OF EMPHASIS, NUTRITION WHICH IS HOUSED IN OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT IT'’S MEANT FOR THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AS A WHOLE AND UNIVERSITY AS A WHOLE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE WE ARE VERY ACTIVE, IN NUTRITION, ESPECIALLY BEING MINDFUL ABOUT WHAT WE EAT, HOW IT IS PRODUCED, WHO PRODUCES IT, WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS ON ME THE CONSUMER, WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF ME CONSUMING THAT FOOD ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND WORKING ESPECIALLY AMONG CHILDREN AND ALSO THE LATER STAGES OF LIFE.

CRYSTAL: IN OUR FINAL MINUTES OR SO HERE, WHEN YOU SEE INVESTMENTS LIKE THIS, I THINK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NUTRITION AND OVERALL WELLNESS, WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS FIELD GOING IN TERMS OF BENEFITING THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU SERVE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL?

NIEISHA: I'’M EXCITED WITH THE POTENTIAL.

I THINK THAT WHAT COVID DID WAS HELP US TO REALLY SEE ALL OF THE DISPARITIES, SPECIFICALLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH EQUITY AND HEALTH JUSTICE.

I THINK WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.

I'’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT REIMAGINING WHAT HEALTH LOOKS LIKE IN MY COMMUNITY.

I SEE A DAY WHERE MAYBE WE CAN HAVE FARMLAND, WE CAN GO TO THE FARMS AND PICK FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO EAT.

WE DO UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN FOOD, THE GUT, AND THE MIND AND OVER WELL -- OVERALL WELL-BEING.

LOOKING AT THESE THINGS IS WHERE WE WILL SEE CHANGES.

IT TAKES TIME, AND WE WILL HAVE TO BE PATIENT.

ALSO IT TAKES IMAGINATION AS WELL.

CRYSTAL:CRYSTAL: DR. WILLETT, NIEISHA DEED, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

DR. WILLETT: A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL: THAT'’S IT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

I'’M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

GOOD NIGHT.