Mind & Life

Contemplative neuroscientist Dave Vago discusses mindfulness, memory, chronic pain, attentional bias, self/other divide, inhibitory control, brain function, glymphatic system, ISCR. Meditation's impact on brain, attention, self-perception, and neurodegenerative disorders. Exploring interconnectedness of brain processes and integrating wisdom for meaning. Engaging with ISCR for contemplative research.

In this episode, Wendy speaks with biocultural anthropologist and Tibetan medical doctor Tawni Tidwell. Tawni's research focuses on living—and dying—with greater awareness and well-being, and integrates multiple biological and cultural perspectives on mind-body systems. This conversation covers many topics, including: merging interests in biology, culture, ecology, nature, and medicine; how our minds shape our bodies; the holistic approach of Tibetan medicine; understanding constitutions and individual proclivities; the subtle body and consciousness; studying monastics who are able to extend the death process (Tukdam project); implications for life, death, and the nature of consciousness; individual differences and determining which practices might be best for someone; studying Tibetan medicine's approach to treating COVID; and coming back to our bodies, our communities, and our environments. Full show notes and resources

Neuroscientist Brian Dias discusses intergenerational trauma, epigenetics, and the transmission of experiences through generations. Topics include the impact of trauma on brain development, links to Buddhist karma, implications for inheritance and evolution, and strategies for breaking cycles of stress and fostering well-being.

Neuroscientist Jyoti Mishra discusses mindfulness, climate trauma, and mental health. Topics include community resilience after disasters, studying impacts of wildfires on mental health, healing relationships with nature through mindfulness, childhood adversity's effect on brain circuitry, and empowering youth through contemplative interventions.

Psychologist and contemplative researcher Simon Goldberg discusses the science behind meditation, the importance of control groups, common factors in healing interventions, individualizing contemplative practice, challenges in measuring meditation effects, delivering interventions through apps, and the potential of AI in supporting meditation practice.

Explore contemplative leadership with Diana Chapman Walsh, focusing on self-reflection, vulnerability, interconnectedness, and trustworthy leadership. Discover how to build community in the face of the climate crisis, accelerate positive change through feedback loops, and the power of storytelling in leadership.

Explore the intersection of psychology, meditation, and science with Daniel Goleman. Learn about emotional intelligence, contemplative science, social emotional learning in education, McMindfulness, nonconceptual states, science communication, latest research on emotional intelligence in organizations, and how awareness is showing up in the world.

In this episode, Wendy speaks with neuroscientist Robin Nusslock. Robin has long been interested in the mind through both scientific and Buddhist lenses, and he trained with Richie Davidson. His work focuses on the brain's role in our emotional life, how stress impacts many of our bodily systems, as well as social determinants of health. This conversation covers many topics, including: his long interest in mind & Buddhism; basic pathways of how stress gets into the body; how the brain learns threat and safety; effects of early life trauma on brain and behavior; our brain's reward systems and relevance to Buddhist ideas; craving and addiction; pathways toward change, neuroplasticity and pause; social and environmental determinants of health; epigenetics and intergenerational trauma; biology is not destiny; how we can intervene and promote flourishing; family-level interventions; reducing exposure to adversity; economic interventions (e.g., universal basic income); teaching science and research to Tibetan monastics; studying lucid dreaming with monks; and fruits of the exchange between Buddhism and science. Full show notes and resources

Wendy speaks with philosopher Hanne De Jaegher. They discuss sense-making and embodiment in cognition, the primacy of interaction, emotional capacity and dementia, understanding autistic individuals, problems with social media discouraging interaction, the tension between self and interdependence, and applying these ideas to our relationship with nature.

Grant Jones, musician, contemplative, researcher, and activist, discusses blending music, psychology, contemplation, and activism. They explore music and mindfulness for healing race-based anxiety, collaborating with notable musicians, the absence of research on black music, pleasure activism, balancing structure and freedom, the Black Lotus Collective, and the link between psychedelics and meditation.