
The Contemplative Science Podcast
What can cutting-edge science tell us about spiritual development? And how are ancient contemplative practices helping us to investigate the nature of well-being? On The Contemplative Science Podcast, host Dr. Mark Miller speaks with the real experts, from Monks to Neuroscientists, to get clear on how contemplative practices work and how they might help us improve our lives. Our diverse range of guests will cover everything from mindfulness and wisdom, to sex, death and enlightenment.
Latest episodes

Jun 28, 2022 • 33min
How to Deal with Change: lessons from a Buddhist nun
Change is a hugely challenging part of the human experience. Today, we're joined by author, Buddhist teacher and former nun Kaira Jewel Lingo.
Sharing philosophies and learnings to help us deal with change, Kaira walks us through the role equanimity and impermanence in dealing with change.
Here, Kaira lifts the lid on her experience of community: bridging memories of monastic life to the deeper sense of global community.
With so much of the world facing uncertainty, we break down how to reconcile with change and implement Buddhist values to foster respect, generosity and fulfilment.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

Jun 21, 2022 • 34min
Getting The Dose Right: how much mindfullness?
What is the ideal dose of mindfulness? Like with any medicine, dose is a complex topic.
Sharing her research is Dr Sarah Strohmaier, psychology lecturer and mindfulness researcher at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Does bigger dose equal bigger benefit? How do we measure such subjective outcomes?
Sarah has led a number of experiments tracking the effects of practicing mindfulness for different ‘dosages’ of time. Together, we pick apart the research, uncovering practical tips for how to integrate mindfulness sustainably.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

Jun 14, 2022 • 34min
Guidance, hypnosis and Tibetan practice: Dr Michael Lifshitz on well-being
What do we mean when we talk about guidance?
We welcome scholar and researcher Dr Michael Lifshitz to break down his work in the field.
Michael is interested in practices that aim to transform our subjective experience, whether meditation, hypnosis, placebo, prayer, psychedelics… the list goes on.
Integrating personal anecdotes and reflections, we cover hypnosis, the ancient Tibetan practice of tulpamancy and, ultimately, what it means to be well.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

Jun 7, 2022 • 30min
Well Being and Psychedelics: caution, potential and meditation
Can we use psychedelics to help wellbeing?
Taking us through this hotly contested topic, subject of both ‘warranted enthusiasm and caution’, is Adam Safron.
Currently at The Centre for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Adam is also a dedicated meditation practitioner.
In today’s discussion, we explore the roles of psychedelics in medical treatment, meditation, creativity and freewill.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

May 31, 2022 • 32min
Self Love and Enlightenment
We need to fall in love with every part of ourselves.
This is a key takeaway from today’s enlightening discussion with Janusz Welin, founder of the Deep Mindfulness Collective.
Master meditator and leader of residential retreats all over the world, Janusz brings a wealth of knowledge and musings on meditative practice.
From classical awakening to Internal Family Systems, we explore how to use mindfulness to discover, train and love yourself.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

May 24, 2022 • 38min
Windows of Tolerance: the science of how to practice gently
More meditation does not always equal more progress!
We are delighted today to have the opportunity to share research from our very own Dr Mark Miller.
Mark is a veteran meditator who supports anecdotes from his personal practice with scientific evidence and phenomenological discussion.
Sharing insights from a recent paper, we break down the ‘self’, dissociative disorders and windows of tolerance to encourage a gentle and committed meditation practice.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

May 17, 2022 • 34min
The 5 Contemplative Landmarks
What are the five contemplative landmarks? And what do they say about our meditation practice?
Today we probe into the research of philosopher and meditation researcher Terje Sparby.
Terje is a master meditator, whose work brings together the worlds of neuroscience, spirituality and community.
Join us to explore consciousness, Dhyāna, introspective methods and religion.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

May 10, 2022 • 33min
Meditation, the brain and meta-cognitive awareness
How can you fundamentally change your relationship with the external world?
Joining today to share the messages of the very latest cognitive research on yoga and meditation is Harvard Medical School's Sara Lazar.
Sara’s research explores the brain at varying stages of life: tracking the effects of mindfulness on its composition and capability, and the applications this can have in patient care.
Meditation is all about raising meta-cognitive awareness. Join us to find out how to start!
External URL for Samurai and The Fly Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5-HNXxc5kk
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

May 3, 2022 • 32min
Collective Trauma and Recovery
What do you know about trauma?
Joining today to lift the lid on the weight of individual and collective trauma, is Michelle Cassandra Johnson.
Activist, author, anti-racism consultant and yoga teacher - Michelle talks candidly on personal experiences, generational trauma and the whitewashing of yoga.
Humans are all interconnected, not separate!
Michelle shares practical tips for integrating mindfulness into your life, for the good of all society.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.

Apr 25, 2022 • 32min
The Black History of Yoga
How much do you know about Kemetic Yoga? If you're like most people, not much!
Enter Kemetic Yoga legend Yirser Ra Hotep, master instructor of Yoga and the creator of the YogaSkills Method.
Yirser joins to lift the lid on the origins and principles of yoga-like practices in Africa, and how he translates this research into real life applications.
Recounting pioneering mindfulness training with inmates at Cook County Jail in Chicago, Yirser underlines the importance of connectedness with our ancestors, traditions and community.
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This podcast has a single purpose: to help its listeners integrate the practical lessons of contemplative life. If you enjoyed the episode and you’re interested in finding out more, check out ‘Training For Humanity’ - M3CS’s exclusive short courses, including Mindfulness for Wellbeing and Peak Performance, as well as Maintaining a Mindful Life.
Use CODE CONTEMPLATIVE10 for 10% off.