How is sport a spiritual practice? What is the value of coaching? Why are collective undertakings as valuable as individual goals?Mark Vernon talks with Ed Haddon, who Is one of the directors of the Realisation Festival and knows St Giles House, playing a longstanding part in its re-emergence. He has represented England in sport and learnt much from the pursuit of excellence. He also knows the ways in which the choices we make in life can be deeply affected by personal difficulties and pain. He talks with Mark about what realisation can mean, how the festival is held by the directors, and what it means to discover your distinctiveness.Ed Haddon is the founder of Haddon Coaching. For more see - https://www.haddoncoaching.com. His book is The Modern Maverick - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/modern-maverick-9781399407090.

Mazviita Chirimuuta, a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh and author of 'The Brain Abstracted,' discusses the intricate dance between neuroscience and philosophy. She challenges reductionism and advocates for a multidisciplinary approach to understanding human experience, especially in our AI-driven world. The conversation delves into the ethical implications of technology, the ongoing relevance of the concept of the soul, and the unpredictable nature of human behavior, emphasizing our need for deeper connections to creativity and knowledge.

Many of today’s troubles could be described as ones of connection. But is that about a lack of connection, a flood of connection, or perhaps the quality of connections?Mark Vernon talks with Kenneth Cross about relationally and, in particular, the inspiration that might be drawn from fungi. Mycelium exist in a substerranean world, blurring the distinctions between organisms, sharing in ways that are strange even disturbing. So what light does that cast on human sympathies and selfhood? The conversation ranges over the ideas of Iain McGilchrist and Merlin Sheldrake, over the challenges of meeting in groups and our basic views of reality.Kenneth is a vicar and a writer.

What is it like to work in the world of renewables? Why is transitioning to new fuels so complicated and what practical difference can soulful concerns make? Mark Vernon talks with Jonny Williams about multipolar traps and the seductive appeal of targets. They discuss the challenges of mostly male workplaces, as well as the imaginative factors that can help and hinder moving beyond a carbon-based culture and economy - which is where beekeeping comes in.Jonny Williams is the founder of NexGen and ViGo Bioenergy.

The body as the practice of the imaginal. A conversation with Dominique Savitri Bonarjee.What does it look and feel like to explore life through the body? How can ancient traditions of movement help us meet today’s challenges? Mark Vernon talks with artist Dominique Savitri Bonarjee about her exploration of practices including the Turning of Rumi and the Japanese philosophy of Butoh. They ranges over themes including the principle of nonduality and Noh-theatre inspired by Buddhism, embodied research and impermanence.For more on Dominique’s work:www.dominiquebb.combutoh.co.ukhttps://www.colethouse.org/whirling-dervishes

What does it mean to have a shared story? How can collaboration be fostered in competitive times? Mark Vernon talks with Juliette Otterburn Hall about the power of connecting to purposes and how uniqueness is actually the key to cooperation. They ask about following the energy of the imagination as opposed to fear, and how building resilience is aided by knowing your roots.Juliette is a managing partner at Value Squared and a former TV producer. For more see - https://www.valuesquared.io/

Much is changing in the world, evidenced by movements flourishing as well as environments degrading. So how can we live into these times? What qualities and imaginative tools might help?Mark Vernon talks with Jacob Kishere about dialogue and healing, psychedelics and Christianity. They ask about the nature of soul-fields with which we can tune, as well as whether the burgeoning world of podcasts is a sign of hope as the media landscape evolves. Jacob is a professional dialogue facilitator, a musician and philosopher, and creator of Culturepilgrim, Sensespace and The Resonant Man. For more see - https://www.jacobkishere.com/.

The Realisation Festival is five years old, so how is it shaping up? What ways best describe the gathering? And also, what of its distinctive coupling of music and improvisation with ideas and the challenges of today?Two directors of the festival, Pippa Evans and Mark Vernon, share their sense of St Giles House, the place that hosts the weekend, as well as the genius brought by the Realisation Players, the improvisers of which Pippa is one. They talk about improvisation itself and how it powerfully fits with the spirit of the gathering, being an emergent activity that doesn’t try to fix things but does invite participants to bring what they have. And they discuss that short word which is central to the festival: soul.For more on Pippa’s work see http://www.pippaevans.com/

What would happen if the doors of perception were cleansed, to recall William Blake's phrase? Can science-fiction help us re-imagine the world in which we live? Might strange experiences play a part in enlightening us?Mark Vernon talks with Carrie Myshkin about ghost stories, sci-fi and alternative ways of doing philosophy. They range from the work of Philip K Dick to Neoplatonism.Carrie has a BA in Creative Writing and Philosophy, and an MA in English Literature, focusing on space and time in the novels and Exegesis of self-styled “fictionalising philosopher” Philip K. Dick.