In this episode, Wendy speaks with psychiatrist and mental health researcher Chuck Raison. Chuck’s work centers on understanding how ancient practices can change our conscious experience. He’s a leader in studying the links between inflammation, stress, and depression, and how meditation and other practices can influence those dynamics. This conversation covers many topics, including:

• ancient practices and conscious experience;
• Tibetan tummo practice;
• the role of inflammation in depression;
• sickness behavior;
• links between stress and inflammation;
• the placebo response;
• psychedelics as a novel treatment for depression;
• investigating the role of memory in transcendent experiences;
• body temperature and emotions;
• and the precious gift of awareness.

Full show notes and resources