I'll propose an idealist ontology more parsimonious and empirically rigorous than mainstream physicalism, bottom-up panpsychism, and cosmopsychism. The ontology also offers more explanatory power than these three alternatives, in that it does not fall prey to the hard problem of consciousness, the combination problem, or the decomposition problem, respectively. It can be summarized as follows: there is only universal consciousness. We, as well as all other living organisms, are but dissociated alters of universal consciousness, surrounded by its mental activity. The inanimate world we see around us is the extrinsic appearance of this activity. The living organisms we share the world with are the extrinsic appearances of other dissociated alters. --- Bernardo Kastrup is the executive director of Essentia Foundation. His work has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on Scientific American, the Institute of Art and Ideas, the Blog of the American Philosophical Association and Big Think, among others. Bernardo's most recent book is Science Ideated: The fall of matter and the contours of the next mainstream scientific worldview. For more information, freely downloadable papers, videos, etc., please visit www.bernardokastrup.com. Links - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events - Dr Kastrup’s website: www.bernardokastrup.com - Dr Kastrup’s books: https://amzn.to/3fQ4yKv

Lauren is a Learning Consultant, Educator, and the Founder of The Learning Pirate. She works with organisations to create bespoke, scientifically designed learning programmes using the latest cognitive and behavioural science. She has received qualifications in Neuroscience from Harvard and John Hopkins University. In this fun and wide-ranging conversation, we explore: — What’s happening in the brain during the learning process — How to leverage the principles of metacognition to become intentional about your learning process — How to use science-based learning strategies such as interleaving and spaced repetition to accelerate your learning and increase your retention. And more. Lauren has recently launched a new interactive learning series called Joining Forces with Your Brain. This pairs the latest research on optimising your brain for peak performance, with science-based learning strategies that enhance your ability to learn. You can learn more about this at www.learningpirate.com --- Lauren has one true calling, to increase our abilities to learn and be more optimal humans by getting to know, experience, and join forces with our brains. As a credentialed science translator (Neuroscience, Medical Neuroscience) Lauren is one of the first learning designers in the world to merge the operational function of the brain with cognitive theories, spearheading the evolution of optimizing learning design. As both a designer and keynote speaker, she has taken people through transformative journeys of curiosity, spanning the globe (Japan, Australia, Canada, USA, Europe, UK), applying her talents to some of the most prominent industries (finance, hospitality, IT, retail, insurance, Edtech) and organizations (Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Tata Consultancy Services, Allstate Insurance, Tokyo Disney Land, Social Bakers, KPMG,). Whether you’re ending one journey or starting another, Lauren has one motto you’re sure not to forget. YARR!! You Are Really Ready!

Mark is an author, the host of The Unconventionalists Podcast, and a TEDx speaker with over a million views. His most recent book: Glow in the Dark, provides a masterclass in the art of storytelling, and how you can leverage it to improve almost any area of your life. In this conversation, you’ll learn: — Why stories play such a central role in human life — The psychological benefits of getting clear on your own story and sharing it with others — Mark’s simple framework for telling captivating stories. And more. You can learn more about Mark’s work at www.markleruste.com and get a copy of the book at: www.glowinthedarkbook.com. --- As the Founder and Host of The Unconventionalists, Mark Leruste is on a mission to help entrepreneurs and business leaders have an impact on the world with their message. Mark first burst onto the scene in 2012 after going viral with his creative video CV pitch “A Dream Job Would Be Nice”, which landed him his dream job as Country Manager at the globally-renowned organisation Movember Foundation, where he helped raise €2.8 million for men’s health and inspired 110,000 fundraisers to sign up, winning multiple awards along the way. Since then, his videos have been viewed over 2.5 million times on social media and his podcast The Unconventionalists was recently named "Best Interview Podcast" at the Podcasting for Business Awards 2021. He is the author of “It’s Not You, It’s Me”, a modus operandi for unfulfilled professionals looking to do more meaningful work, and his popular TEDx talk “What They Don’t Tell You About Entrepreneurship” has more than 1.2 million views. To connect with Mark visit: www.markleruste.com --- Interview Links: — Glow in the Dark Book: https://www.glowinthedarkbook.com/ — Mark’s website: https://markleruste.com

Mick is a Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Roehampton, a Chartered Psychologist, and an internationally recognised author, trainer and consultant in the fields of humanistic, existential and pluralistic therapies. This is Mick’s seventh engagement with The Weekend University, and today’s conversation focuses on his latest book: “Psychology at the Heart of Social Change”. We cover a wide range of topics, including: — How psychology and evidence-based psychotherapy can inform public policy to create a more equitable, compassionate, and fairer society — Whether life is primary in determining consciousness, or the other way around — The surprising parallels between healthy psychological functioning at individual, interpersonal, and societal levels. And more. You can learn more about Mick’s work at: www.mick-cooper.co.uk and get a copy of the book by going to: bit.ly/mc-book23. --- Professor Mick Cooper is an internationally recognised author, trainer, and consultant in the field of humanistic, existential, and pluralistic therapies. He is a Chartered Psychologist, and Professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Roehampton. Mick has facilitated workshops and lectures around the world, including New Zealand, Lithuania, and Florida. His books include Existential Therapies, Working at Relational Depth in Counselling and Psychotherapy, and The Handbook of Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy. His latest work is Psychology at the Heart of Social Change. Mick’s main areas of research have been in shared decision- making/personalising therapy, and counselling for young people in schools. In 2014, Mick received the Carmi Harari Mid-Career Award from the American Psychological Association. He is also a Fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the Academy of Social Sciences. You can follow him on Twitter: @mickcooper77. --- Interview Links: — Mick’s website: https://mick-cooper.squarespace.com/ — https://bit.ly/mc-book23

Fiona is an author, facilitator, and coach, whose clients include: The School of Life, Guardian Masterclasses, and The Wall Street Journal. This interview focuses on Fiona’s most recent book: “Find Your Own Path”, which provides a 12 step process to creating a more meaningful and engaging life. In this conversation, you’ll learn: — How changing our relationship with mortality can help us live more authentically — Fiona’s counterintuitive philosophy on purpose, why it doesn’t have to be grandiose, and instead can be actualised on a daily basis — How to live in alignment with your values and how this can help you flourish. And more. You can learn more about Fiona’s work and get your copy of the book at: www.fionabucklandcoaching.com. --- Fiona is a life and leadership coach, facilitator and speaker, who helps people develop powerful, effective leadership of themselves, their teams, communities, projects, businesses, organizations, and campaigns. In addition to her own private and corporate, individual and group coaching and facilitation practice, she also leads public workshops, Guardian Masterclasses and leadership development programmes. She is on the faculty of The School of Life, where she was previously Head of Learning, and has been featured in the media including the Guardian, the Independent and the BBC. She is also a guest lecturer in Coaching at Birkbeck University of London. --- Interview Links: — Fiona’s website: https://www.fionabucklandcoaching.com — Fiona’s book: https://amzn.to/3Yc2Z9D

Alan is the CEO of Complete, a leadership development consultancy that specialises in developing exceptional leaders, the author of 8 books, and a 5 time TEDx speaker, whose talks have more than 7 million views. In this lively and wide ranging discussion, we explore: → Why Alan transitioned out of his career as a medical doctor into executive coaching → Why the reduction of human suffering can provide a meaningful trajectory to build your working life around → The 4 characteristics to look for in mentors → The work of Joseph Campbell, and how having a meta frame around the change process can help you navigate the major transitions in life → The benefits of existing in a perpetual state of “beginner’s mind” And more. You can learn more about Alan’s work by going to: www.complete-coherence.com --- Dr Alan Watkins is the CEO and Founder of Complete, a consultancy specialising in developing exceptional leadership through individual and team development. Alan is unusual in that he advises completely different businesses in totally different market sectors, in different geographies, and works with many different types of businesses from innovative start-ups to FTSE 100 giants. He is the author of several successful books including Innovation Sucks! co-authored with Simon May, and HR (R)Evolution: Change the Workplace, Change the World, co-authored with Nick Dalton. Interview Links: — Step Change: The Leader’s Journey: https://amzn.to/3zCLVjN — Coherence: The Science of Exceptional Leadership and Performance: https://amzn.to/3zK6MBH — The Complete App: https://bit.ly/3Wp6slL --- For the past 10 months, we've been working on our biggest project yet: The Holistic Psychotherapy Summit. This is a free online event which aims to provide mental health professionals with the most essential ideas for practising effective psychotherapy in the coming decade, and, as the name suggests, it will cover mind, brain, body, and spiritual approaches to healing. It features exclusive interviews with 30 of the world's leading clinical psychologists, professors, and psychotherapists giving you insights into their best practices and the frameworks they use with clients. You'll be learning directly from the likes of Stephen Porges, Dan Siegel, Janina Fisher, Paul Gilbert, Pat Ogden, Steven Hayes, Lisa Feldman Barrett, Richard Schwartz, Mick Cooper, and 29 others. The best bit is - it's completely FREE to attend live, and you can register today by going to: bit.ly/pod-summit Hope to see you there!

Have you ever looked around and wondered, 'Why has everyone found love except me?' you're not the only one. Great relationships don't just appear in our lives - they're the culmination of a series of decisions, including who to date, how to end it with the wrong person, and when to commit to the right one. But our brains often get in the way. We make poor decisions, which thwart us on our quest to find lasting love. Drawing from years of research, behavioural scientist turned dating coach Logan Ury reveals the hidden forces that cause those mistakes. But awareness on its own doesn't lead to results. You have to actually change your behaviour. In this live interview session, Logan will show you how. Incorporating insights from behavioural science, original research, and real-life stories, you'll learn: — What's holding you back in dating (and how to break the pattern) — What really matters in a long-term partner (and what really doesn't) — ⁠How to overcome the perils of online dating (and make the apps work for you) — ⁠How to meet more people in real life (while doing activities you love) — How to make dates fun again (so they stop feeling like job interviews) — ⁠Why 'the spark' is a myth (but you'll find love anyway) And more… Logan’s data-driven, step-by-step approach has the potential to help you find, build and keep a relationship, in which both partners thrive. --- Logan Ury is a behavioural scientist turned dating coach, and the author of How To Not Die Alone. As the Director of Relationship Science at the dating app Hinge, she leads a research team dedicated to helping people find love. After studying psychology at Harvard, she ran Google’s behavioural science team—the Irrational Lab. Logan’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, TIME, The Washington Post, GQ, Glamour, Vice, on HBO, BBC, and she was a featured speaker at SXSW in 2021. You can learn more of her works at: https://www.loganury.com Links: - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ - Logan’s website: https://www.loganury.com - Logan’s book: https://www.loganury.com/book

Johann Hari, an acclaimed author and speaker, delves into the misconceptions surrounding depression. He critiques the damaging 'chemical imbalance' theory and advocates for a holistic view of mental health, emphasizing the importance of social connections and environmental factors. Hari shares personal stories and scientific insights that redefine how we perceive depression. He also introduces an innovative approach to treatment, highlighting the transformative power of community engagement through projects like gardening, showcasing how connection can combat isolation.

If I have a visual experience that I describe as a red tomato a meter away, then I am inclined to believe that there is, in fact, a red tomato a meter away, even if I close my eyes. I believe that my perceptions are, in the normal case, veridical—that they accurately depict aspects of the real world. But is my belief supported by our best science? In particular: Does evolution by natural selection favor veridical perceptions? Many scientists and philosophers claim that it does. But this claim, though plausible, has not been properly tested. In this talk, I present a new theorem: Veridical perceptions are never more fit than non-veridical perceptions which are simply tuned to the relevant fitness functions. This entails that perception is not a window on reality; it is more like a desktop interface on your laptop. I discuss this interface theory of perception and its implications for one of the most puzzling unsolved problems in science: the relationship between brain activity and conscious experiences. --- Prof. Donald Hoffman, PhD received his PhD from MIT, and joined the faculty of the University of California, Irvine in 1983, where he is a Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Sciences. He is an author of over 100 scientific papers and three books, including Visual Intelligence, and The Case Against Reality. He received a Distinguished Scientific Award from the American Psychological Association for early career research, the Rustum Roy Award of the Chopra Foundation, and the Troland Research Award of the US National Academy of Sciences. His writing has appeared in Edge, New Scientist, LA Review of Books, and Scientific American and his work has been featured in Wired, Quanta, The Atlantic, and Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman. You can watch his TED Talk titled “Do we see reality as it is?” and you can follow him on Twitter @donalddhoffman. Links: - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ - Prof Hoffman’s profile: http://www.cogsci.uci.edu/~ddhoff - Prof Hoffman’s book: https://amzn.to/3njNX1G - Prof. Hoffman’s content/interviews- https://bit.ly/3bvyNUn

Many psychologists and philosophers believe that people are hedonists, seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. But what about our appetites for spicy foods, hot baths, horror movies, sad songs, BDSM, and hate reading? How can we explain our choices to suffer—in pursuits such as art, ritual, sex, and sports, and in longer-term projects such as training for a marathon or signing up to go to war? Drawing on research from developmental psychology, social psychology, anthropology, and behavioral economics, I suggest that we are driven by non-hedonistic goals; we revel in difficult practice, we aspire towards moral goodness, and we seek out meaningful lives. --- Paul Bloom is Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, and Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale University. Paul Bloom studies how children and adults make sense of the world, with a special focus on pleasure, morality, religion, fiction, and art. He has won numerous awards for his research and teaching. He is past-president of the Society for Philosophy and Psychology, and co-editor of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. He has written for scientific journals such as Nature and Science, and for popular outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic Monthly. He is the author of six books, including his most recent, The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning --- Links: - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events - Paul’s website: https://paulbloom.net - Paul’s books: https://paulbloom.net/#books