
Living Mirrors with Dr. James Cooke
Join neuroscientist Dr. James Cooke as he explores consciousness, science and spirituality with scientists, philosophers, spiritual practitioners and key figures in the psychedelic renaissance.
Latest episodes

Apr 23, 2025 • 55min
Daniel Ingram & James Cooke discuss No Self and the Role of Interpretations in the Mind | Living Mirrors #145
This week on the podcast I’m speaking again with Daniel Ingram. Daniel is a physician and meditator and is the author of the influential book Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha. He is the co-founder of the Dharma Overground and of The Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium. Today we discuss awakening and the role of interpretations in the mind, as well as the dark night of the soul and other related topics. If you're interested in any of these topics, you can go to innerspaceinstitute.org to explore my guided practices there.

Apr 2, 2025 • 7min
AMA: Abiding vs. Non-Abiding Awakening
Ask questions for the next AMA via patreon or the youtube channel membership community:

Mar 19, 2025 • 57min
When the self comes to an end, with Viivi Jokela | Living Mirrors #144
Viivi Jokela is an awakening facilitator. She had a spontaneous awakening in 2022 which she subsequently integrated to reach abiding no-self realization. I find her descriptions of what she calls “the natural state”, and the process by which it can be realized, to be incredibly accurate, and so it’s a real pleasure to bring you my conversation with her today. We speak mainly about what it’s like to go through no-self realization, as well as other aspects of awakening. https://www.sensingradiance.com/

Mar 3, 2025 • 57min
Trauma, Tyranny, & the Role of Bystanders in Permitting Injustice - Judith Herman | Living Mirrors #143
Judith Herman is a psychiatrist, researcher, teacher, author and a leading expert on the healing of traumatic stress. She is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is the author of many books on PSTD, most recently Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice. A lifelong activist, she brings deep insight and understanding to the societal context in which trauma occurs, from the personal to the political, and these are the themes we discuss today.

Feb 19, 2025 • 57min
Zen & Awakening with Henry Shukman | Living Mirrors #142
In this enlightening discussion, Henry Shukman, a poet and Zen master from the Mountain Cloud Zen Center, shares his insights on Zen philosophy and awakening. He delves into the power of koans in fostering selflessness and how embracing the ordinary can lead to profound peace. Shukman beautifully intertwines Zen with creative expression, reflecting on its impact on Western culture. He also explores the nature of consciousness and the concept of interconnectedness, encouraging a joyful engagement with life that transcends material complexities.

Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 1min
Karl Friston on Consciousness & The Dawn of Mind | Living Mirrors #141
Karl Friston, a renowned theoretical neurobiologist from University College London, delves into the core of consciousness and its profound interconnections with life and the environment. He discusses the intriguing concept of teleodynamics and how consciousness intertwines with physics and Buddhist philosophy. Friston also explores the dynamics of surprise and personal agency, emphasizing the role of anticipation in behavior. The talk further investigates counterfactual thinking and the layered structures of generative models in the brain, expanding our understanding of selfhood and decision-making.

Jan 24, 2025 • 56min
James Cooke discusses Nondual Naturalism on the Weekend University podcast with Naill McKeever
Naill McKeever, host of Weekend University, interviews Dr. James Cooke, an insightful thinker on consciousness and non-dual naturalism. They discuss how our perceptions shape reality and the transformative power of contemplation. The conversation explores the interconnectedness of existence and the compassion it breeds, even for those who err. They dive into the tension between free will and determinism, advocating for a non-dual perspective that unites scientific and spiritual insights, all while promoting the Inner Space Institute’s innovative integration of these fields.

Jan 17, 2025 • 1h 1min
Erik Ireland on awakening and the hero’s journey | Living Mirrors #140
Erik Ireland is a mindfulness teacher who runs a youtube channel and podcast called listen to sleep, where he provides guided meditations and bedtime stories for mindfulness and awakening. He also works with people to help them find direction through the framework of the hero's journey at awakenyourmyth.com. Two years ago, he experienced an awakening and recorded a video called mountain awakening describing it. With his permission I’m going to include a section here before our conversation. erikireland.com awakenyourmyth.com https://www.youtube.com/ListenToSleep listentosleep.com

Jan 10, 2025 • 1h 28min
James Cooke discusses The Dawn of Mind on the Trip Report podcast with Zach Haigney
Zach Haigney, host of The Trip Report, interviews Dr. James Cooke, an expert on consciousness and psychedelics, about his new book. They dive into the intertwined realms of philosophy and science, revealing how consciousness connects all living beings through biopsychism. Dr. Cooke shares insights on mindfulness and the power of discomfort in meditation, plus the role of trauma release in healing. They also explore the intersection of meditation, psychedelics, and personal growth, highlighting the fascinating evolution of consciousness studies.

Jan 7, 2025 • 11min
AMA: Cosmic creativity, Aubrey Plaza’s Stroke & Different Functions of the Self
Ask questions for the next AMA via patreon or the channel membership community (click the "join" button above): Aubrey Plaza stroke clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13N4b2M06tE&ab_channel=TheHowardSternShow
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