

Thoughtforms Life
Michael Levin
A podcast by Professor Michael Levin exploring the frontiers of biology, cognition, and emergence. Engage in conversations about morphogenesis, bioelectricity, and synthetic life — and uncover how intelligence and agency emerge from the most fundamental levels of nature.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 7min
Against Mind-blindness: Recognizing and Communicating with Agential Materials and Beyond - Michael Levin
This is a ~1 hour 7 minute talk I gave at the SEMF Interdisciplinary School (July 2025, https://semf.org.es/school2025/#speakers-container) on agency ways to think about expanding our ability to detect and communicate with unconventional minds. The same talk but with a lengthy Q&A will be up on the SEMF website.
CONNECT WITH ME:
Podcast Website
YouTube
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Twitter
Blog
The Levin Lab

Jul 19, 2025 • 54min
Beyond Complexity & Emergence: Taming Multiscale Competency in Agential Materials
Explore the fascinating relationship between biology and complexity, discussing embodied intelligence and the evolving understanding of synthetic life. Discover how collective intelligence, illustrated by axolotl regeneration and cellular signaling, is shaping regenerative medicine. Delve into metamorphosis as caterpillars transform into butterflies, revealing insights into memory and adaptation. Finally, investigate the challenges of formal models in complexity, advocating for bio-inspired approaches to technology and innovation.

4 snips
Jul 11, 2025 • 27min
Engineering Agential Materials
Discover how biological materials can be collaborative partners in biomedicine and bioengineering. The discussion highlights the intersection of neuroscience and behavior to innovate research funding. Explore the fascinating synergy between bioengineering and robotics, revealing the importance of sound in biological mechanisms. The talk emphasizes unique approaches, like training cells and experimenting with flatworms, to unlock new advancements in tissue engineering.

8 snips
Jul 9, 2025 • 55min
Discussion with Michael Johnson
In this thought-provoking conversation, Michael Johnson, an expert on consciousness and cellular dynamics, dives into the intriguing world of awareness at the cellular level. He discusses the potential for cellular consciousness and its implications in biology. Johnson explores the balance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in both biological and algorithmic systems, challenging conventional views on intelligence. Key concepts like symmetry breaking and the role of geometry in biological adaptations provide a unique lens on collective intelligence and consciousness.

Jul 7, 2025 • 1h 12min
Unconventional Selves - a Diverse Intelligence Perspective on Consciousness by Michael Levin
Dive into the intriguing intersection of consciousness and intelligence. Discover how both biological and artificial forms can reshape our understanding of cognition. The discussion on how cells collectively make decisions challenges traditional views of intelligence. Explore the continuum of consciousness, moving beyond binary definitions. Finally, ponder the evolution of human understanding and the practical applications of these philosophical insights, all while emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

7 snips
Jul 5, 2025 • 1h 19min
Nothing in Biology Makes Sense without Teleology
Dive into the intriguing world of teleology and its relevance to biology. Explore the concept of goal-directedness in cognitive skills, where intelligence is seen as fluid. Discover how biological systems, like axolotls, showcase collective intelligence to tackle challenges. Uncover the fascinating behaviors of xenobots and anthrobots, emphasizing self-replication and adaptation. Finally, challenge traditional views as even minimal systems reveal surprising cognitive competencies, expanding the definition of intelligence.

9 snips
Jun 28, 2025 • 25min
Discussion with Murray Shanahan
Murray Shanahan, a Professor of Cognitive Robotics at Imperial College London, dives into the captivating realm of consciousness and artificial intelligence. He discusses how cognitive processes relate to bodily consciousness, advocating for new communication tools for intelligences. The conversation navigates the complexities of defining consciousness across entities, intertwining philosophy and creativity. Shanahan also explores the rational study of causality in evolution and the philosophical implications of natural patterns, emphasizing the interconnectedness of reality and cognitive emergence.

Jun 26, 2025 • 59min
Discussion between Adam Safron, Max Shen, and Michael Levin
This is a ~1 hour discussion with Adam Safron (https://www.adamsafron.com/) and Max Shen (https://www.maxkshen.com/home), and Michael Levinabout diverse intelligence and its relevance for pain.
CONNECT WITH ME:
Podcast Website
YouTube
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Twitter
Blog
The Levin Lab

Jun 25, 2025 • 57min
Discussion with David Spivak
This is a ~1 hour discussion with mathematician David Spivak (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Spivak) about issues related to goal-directedness and some puzzles around mathematical vs. physical constants (see https://thoughtforms.life/why-the-tight-clustering-of-mathematical-constants/ for more details on that question).
CONNECT WITH ME:
Podcast Website
YouTube
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Twitter
Blog
The Levin Lab

6 snips
Jun 24, 2025 • 51min
Endogenous Bioelectrical Networks: An Interface to Somatic Intelligence
Michael Levin, a leading biologist at Tufts University, sheds light on the fascinating world of endogenous bioelectrical networks. He reveals how these networks can tap into cellular intelligence for breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, potentially transforming treatments for cancer and aging. The discussion showcases the impressive adaptability of organisms like axolotls, which can regenerate lost limbs. Levin also dives into self-assembling human cells with unique healing capabilities, painting a hopeful future for biomedical research.