Mind & Life

In this bonus episode, Wendy speaks with evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson. This episode is being released in conjunction with Mind & Life's new film, Evolution of the Heart — a short documentary covering conversations between the Dalai Lama, David Sloan Wilson, and social scientist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela from a 2019 Mind & Life event in Dharamsala, India. The theme of that gathering was Compassion, Interconnection, and Transformation; please check out the film here! David’s work extends beyond genetics to include personal and cultural evolution, and sheds light on how we can move forward as a global community. In this conversation, they discuss many topics, including: the role of competition, cooperation, and prosocial behavior in human evolution; how evolutionary pressure operates at both individual and group levels (multilevel selection); the possibility of conscious evolution; what it means to be part of a group; expanding the notion of the self; becoming "bilingual" in scientific and spiritual perspectives; the need to create a system of ethics for the whole world; and core design principles for creating more egalitarian and compassionate communities.  Full show notes and resources

In this episode, Wendy speaks with environmentalist Dekila Chungyalpa about her views of nature, the climate crisis, and her unique collaborations with faith leaders. Their conversation covers many topics, including: growing up in the Himalayas and being interconnected with nature; the dominance of dualistic thinking in the West, and the dangerous separations it creates; embracing a framework of interdependence; the role of indigenous wisdom in conservation; her own experience dealing with eco-anxiety; working with faith leaders to move the needle on environmental issues; weaving together Buddhist values and activism; bridging science and religion; and the need for compassion and community in facing the climate crisis. Full show notes and resources  

In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical researcher Peter Wayne about his work on mind-body and movement-based interventions like tai chi. Their conversation covers many topics, including: how a background in ecology informs his research; embracing multiple causes of any outcome; how to do non-reductionist science; removing the hyphen from the mind-body system; harnessing the wisdom of the body through contemplative practice; the value of first-person narrative in research; safety and trauma in the body; the relationship between physical and emotional patterns; how the concept of the subtle body relates to Western views; the role of integrative medicine in dealing with climate change; and bringing together multiple perspectives to investigate the mind & healing. Full resources and show notes  

In this episode, Wendy speaks with Tibetan Buddhist teacher Mingyur Rinpoche about how contemplative practice can lead us to awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Their conversation covers many topics, including: his involvement in early contemplative research; translating concepts between Buddhism and science; what Buddhists mean by "emptiness"; non-conceptual meditation, open presence and foundational awareness; the three kinds of self, and which one is like shaving foam; the problem of othering; making friends with panic and difficult emotions; the experience of a "wandering" retreat; and building trust through contemplative practice. Full show notes and resources  

In this episode, Wendy speaks with social psychologist Buju Dasgupta about her work on implicit bias, and the role of social context in shaping the mind. Their conversation covers many topics, including: her path to merging science and social justice; the crucial role of social context in implicit bias; the malleability of implicit bias & the "wallpaper" of the mind; how scientists measure unconscious processes (like implicit bias); changing bias against women and underrepresented groups in STEM education; links from this work into contemplative science; increasing cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance research around equity; the subtle ways we can change implicit bias by changing the wallpaper of our lives; and turning research into social impact. Full show notes and resources  

In this episode, Wendy speaks with cognitive psychologist Larry Barsalou about his work on grounded cognition, concepts, stress, and habits. Their conversation covers many topics, including: a historical look at how psychology has viewed and studied the mind; simulation and prediction in the brain; what a concept is, and benefits and harms they can bring; stereotypes, implicit bias, and how we might change them; the "situated action" cycle that drives our behavior; understanding habits, and the role of mindfulness in breaking unhealthy habits; how humans form self-concepts, and how meditation can help us move beyond them; the importance of context (situatedness) in cognition, and how to study it scientifically; and how he got interested in contemplative science. Full show notes and resources

In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist and contemplative researcher Sona Dimidjian. Sona's career has focused on using contemplative practices to improve mental health, with a focus on systems of inequality. Their conversation covers many topics, including: her path to contemplative practice and research; using collaborative teams in science to reduce bias; how she applies mindfulness to help with postpartum depression; working with young women around stereotypes about appearance; embodied practices delivered through peer instruction; community-engaged participatory research, working "with" and not "for"; creating digital platforms for more equitable dissemination of contemplative programs; and how she brings a lens of anti-racism to her research and teaching. Full show notes and resources

Buddhist scholar John Dunne discusses integrating Buddhism and science, defining meditation for research, focused attention vs. open monitoring meditation, meta-awareness, subject/object duality, different ways of experiencing the self, hallucinogens, ego dissolution, decentering and dereification, and the future of the field.

Eric Garland, clinical researcher and psychotherapist, discusses using mindfulness for addiction and chronic pain. Topics include early mystical experiences, meditation's healing power, self-transcendence, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for addiction and chronic pain, reappraisal, savoring natural rewards, deconstructing pain, clinical trial results, and lessons learned.

In this episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar and teacher Anne Klein. They speak about the role of the body in practice and transformation, and touch on many topics, including: her interest in Buddhism as a lens on the mind; the role of the body in contemplative practice; the dangers of not being embodied; microphenomenology; Eastern conceptions of the subtle/energy body; the construction of self and other; how the body can help us break out of rigid self-concepts; the power of the imagination; why we think things will always stay the same; and how studying the feminine sheds light on interdependence. Full show notes and resources