The Tale of the Master and His Emissary: A Reflection on Brain Function

EPISODE SUMMARY

Ruckus and James talk about the different ways our brain hemispheres process information and experience the world. James discusses insights from Ian McGilchrist's book "The Master and His Emissary," explaining how the left hemisphere tends toward linear, control-oriented thinking while the right hemisphere offers more holistic, participatory awareness. They explore how understanding these differences can enhance changework practice and create more effective client outcomes by balancing these complementary ways of engaging with reality.

TIMESTAMPS

00:41 - Introduction to brain hemispheres and McGilchrist's work

03:00 - The fable of The Master and His Emissary explained

06:48 - Differences between left and right hemispheric processing

08:00 - How each hemisphere attends to the world differently

12:00 - Left hemisphere's need for control vs. right hemisphere's participatory consciousness

15:52 - Applying hemisphere knowledge in change work sessions

19:50 - When to purposefully engage a client's left hemisphere

21:56 - Techniques for shifting clients between hemispheric states

25:14 - How this understanding transformed James as a practitioner

33:31 - Jill Bolte Taylor's stroke experience and right hemisphere awareness

36:07 - James' renewed appreciation for trance work

LINKS

The Master and His Emissary by Ian McGilchrist

Book:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-master-and-his-emissary-the-divided-brain-and-the-making-of-the-western-world-expanded-iain-mcgilchrist/8525336?ean=9780300245929&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhMq-BhCFARIsAGvo0KfFbSw3k83wfKYjzhTCZWKn7qiabQURF1SEDK3oOaL3Um5_kELQt38aAo_-EALw_wcB

Audio Book:

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Master-and-His-Emissary-Audiobook/1515942074?eac_link=u6pCaDwwjMsQ&ref=web_search_eac_asin_1&eac_selected_type=asin&eac_selected=1515942074&qid=ZCfCC9TASG&eac_id=139-2347382-8619303_ZCfCC9TASG&sr=1-1

My Stroke of Insight - Jill Bolte Taylor TED Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU

CONTACT

Email: changeworkingpod@gmail.com

Website: www.clientshiftsacademy.com

Changeworking is produced by Ruckus Skye.