The Metagame

Daniel Thorson, a dedicated spiritual practitioner with years at The Monastic Academy, delves into securing a healthy connection with reality. He discusses the complexities of motivation influenced by familial dynamics and the transformative power of love and truth. Thorson highlights the connection between attachment styles and mental health, urging listeners to recognize the barriers ego places on love. He also critiques mindfulness meditation's limits, advocating for a more holistic approach that prioritizes community and interpersonal relationships.

Rich Bartlett, co-founder of Microsolidarity and The Hum, shares his insights on fostering high-trust communities and non-hierarchical organizations. He delves into the playful journey of musical expression, emphasizing the role of vocalization in creativity. Bartlett discusses personal boundaries in relationships and the transformative power of acting for emotional growth. He also explores cultural shifts in discourse, advocating for inclusive conversations, and shares his vision for a retreat center focused on individual development and community support.

In this engaging conversation, Brooke Bowman, founder of Vibecamp and a champion of community connection, shares her remarkable journey from a decade-long heroin addiction to creating vibrant gatherings for people who met online. She reflects on the 'agency explosion' in community-building, discussing how social media fosters meaningful interactions. Brooke also candidly recounts her struggles with addiction and mental health, emphasizing resilience and personal transformation, particularly a pivotal moment that shifted her perspective on life.

In this discussion, Romeo Stevens, co-founder of the Qualia Research Institute and founder of Mealsquares, shares his transformative journey of reducing neuroticism through yoga and community support. He emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort as a pathway to personal growth while exploring the complex interplay of trauma and resilience. Romeo critiques traditional spiritual practices, advocating for a flexible approach to emotional healing and skill cultivation, all while examining the nuances of human preferences and the philosophy of virtue in societal contexts.

Douglas Tataryn, a long-time meditator and founder of the Bio-Emotive Framework, dives deep into emotional healing and self-discovery. He emphasizes the significance of emotional expression over intellectual processing for genuine healing. Using the inbox analogy, he explains how managing emotions promptly fosters well-being. Discussions on vulnerability reveal how feelings manifest physically, while insights into the Enneagram provide a unique lens into understanding oneself and others. Ultimately, Tataryn advocates for heartfelt communication as a transformative tool.

Stephen Zerfas is the CEO and cofounder of Jhourney — a startup that targets specific meditative states known as jhanas using novel teaching methods and technology. Their first product is a week-long meditation retreat that’s won hyperbolic testimonials from tech executives and engineers (e.g. OpenAI, DeepMind). Most participants learn to enter states previously thought to require thousands of hours of practice in under 40 hours.Resources:* jhourney.io This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themetagame.substack.com

Soryu Forall, an ordained Zen Buddhist monk with extensive training across Asia, delves into the intersections of spirituality and technology. He discusses how spiritual awakening can alleviate suffering and critiques humanity's neglect of the consequences of its technological advances. Forall emphasizes the importance of compassion and wisdom in AI development, urging a new spiritual framework to navigate ethical dilemmas. He also explores how modern civilization contrasts with ancient ethical traditions, highlighting the need for clarity and integrity in a rapidly changing world.

Join Andrés Goméz-Emilsson, co-founder of the Qualia Research Institute and an expert in consciousness and neurotechnology, as he dives into the world of qualia and its impact on well-being. He shares insights on emotional processing and meditation techniques, highlighting how psychedelics can transform thought patterns. The discussion touches on neural annealing, the relationship between wisdom and knowledge, and the intriguing effects of Jhana meditation. Andrés also explores the brain's parallels with optical computation, providing a fascinating look at consciousness.

Join Michael Johnson, a philosopher and neuroscientist known for his groundbreaking work in consciousness studies, as he dives into the intriguing world of jhanas and awakening. He explores how language shapes reality and critiques traditional philosophy through Wittgenstein's lens. The conversation reveals the significance of reconnecting with nature to foster cognitive freedom. Johnson also discusses the transformative experiences of enlightenment, the brain's predictive abilities, and the fascinating connection between meditation and our physical states.

World philosopher Marc Gafni discusses First Principles and First Values, urging radical devotion to values amidst societal chaos. Topics include infinite games, embracing purity and sincerity, impact of exponential technologies, cosmo-erotic humanism, evolution of value concepts, and evolving relationships towards soulmates based on shared values.