Mind & Life

In this episode, Wendy speaks with social psychologist Buju Dasgupta about her work on implicit bias, and the role of social context in shaping the mind. Their conversation covers many topics, including: her path to merging science and social justice; the crucial role of social context in implicit bias; the malleability of implicit bias & the "wallpaper" of the mind; how scientists measure unconsc...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with cognitive psychologist Larry Barsalou about his work on grounded cognition, concepts, stress, and habits. Their conversation covers many topics, including: a historical look at how psychology has viewed and studied the mind; simulation and prediction in the brain; what a concept is, and benefits and harms they can bring; stereotypes, implicit bias, and how we mig...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist and contemplative researcher Sona Dimidjian. Sona's career has focused on using contemplative practices to improve mental health, with a focus on systems of inequality. Their conversation covers many topics, including: her path to contemplative practice and research; using collaborative teams in science to reduce bias; how she applies mindfu...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar John Dunne. John has interfaced with contemplative scientists for over two decades to help advance rigorous research on meditation by incorporating a nuanced Buddhist perspective. They touch on many topics, including: his path to integrating Buddhism and science, and the early days of contemplative research; defining "meditation" for research pur...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical researcher and psychotherapist Eric Garland. Eric has spent his career developing effective ways to use mindfulness and other contemplative approaches for problems like addiction and chronic pain. Their conversation covers many topics, including: how early mystical experiences led him to a contemplative path; the power of meditation to heal and restore w...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar and teacher Anne Klein. They speak about the role of the body in practice and transformation, and touch on many topics, including: her interest in Buddhism as a lens on the mind; the role of the body in contemplative practice; the dangers of not being embodied; microphenomenology; Eastern conceptions of the subtle/energy body; the construction of...

We launch our second season featuring a conversation with psychologist, neuroscientist, and emotion researcher Lisa Feldman Barrett. She and Wendy discuss a broad range of topics about the mind, including: her unexpected path into studying emotions; how our brains construct and predict our reality; the brain's essential role in regulating the body; emotions as interpretations of our bodily state;...

As 2020 draws to a close, Wendy speaks with Buddhist teacher, author, and psychologist Jack Kornfield in a special episode. Their conversation covers a wide range of topics, including: how he's interpreting our current moment, and what's needed most; his path into Buddhism & psychology, reflecting on family and coming of age in the 1960s; the value of going on a meditation retreat; links between B...

In this bonus episode, Wendy speaks with psychologist and contemplative researcher Adam Hanley. Adam studies mindfulness-based interventions for addiction and pain, seeking to understand how they work, and how they can best be applied in these populations. In this conversation they discuss: how he became a contemplative scientist; automaticity, habits, and addiction; his research showing how mindf...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with anthropologist and neuroscientist Andreas Roepstorff. Andreas has been a pioneer in integrating these two approaches, examining how social context impacts the mind and brain. Their conversation covers a range of topics, including: navigating academic training in two disciplines, and how he bridges the different perspectives of neuroscience and anthropology; how b...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with philosopher of mind Evan Thompson about embodied cognition and contemplative science. Evan is one of the earliest contributors to advancing the dialogue between Buddhism and Western science through his work with Mind & Life co-founder Francisco Varela, and he's spent decades exploring how the human mind extends beyond the brain, throughout the body and into the w...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist Doris Chang about her work on race, ethnicity, culture, and other dimensions of social identity as they shape psychological experience and mental health treatment. They discuss a number of topics, including: Critical Consciousness as the ability to recognize and analyze systems of inequality, and the commitment to take action against these s...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with neuroscientist, psychologist, and director of the Center for Healthy Minds , Richard (Richie) Davidson. Richie is one of the founders of contemplative science, and shares his perspective on the past, present, and future of the field. Their conversation covers many topics, including: his early interest in the mind and experiences with meditation; the beginnings of...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann about how practices embedded in social realities change our minds and our experiences. They discuss: her research on unusual spiritual experiences (voices, visions); her work with magic practitioners and evangelical Christian communities; the boundary between reality and imagination; local theory of mind; the psychological constructs...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with cognitive and contemplative neuroscientist Amishi Jha about using mindfulness to train attention, and its usefulness particularly in high-stress situations. They cover many topics, including: her own experience of high stress and how that brought her to contemplative practice; her research on how mindfulness can train attention and working memory; the relationshi...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with law professor and civil rights expert john a. powell about his work at the intersection of social justice and spirituality. This conversation was recorded during the 2019 Summer Research Institute. They discuss a wide range of topics, including: the problem of othering; the roots of whiteness; recent changes in the world and how we react to them; how our minds cr...

In this episode, Wendy speaks with meditation teacher and Buddhist scholar Willa Blythe Baker about her work, and how the body is relevant in meditation. They cover many topics, including: the roots of her interest in Buddhism and early experiences of Buddhism in action; a research study about meditation and real-world compassionate behavior in which she was involved and various interpretations of...

  In this episode, Wendy speaks with cognitive scientist Anil Seth about his work on consciousness and the mind. They discuss: the idea of the brain as a prediction machine; how perception is a kind of "controlled" hallucination; the self as a construction and implications for psychiatric disorders; connections between this view of the mind and Buddhist ideas; how these views might inform our subj...

In this inaugural episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar, author, and longtime translator for the Dalai Lama, Thupten Jinpa. Their conversation covers many topics, including: how he met and started working with the Dalai Lama, and insights from 35 years of translating for him; the relationship of language and mind; how to deal with self-consciousness; the dialogue between Buddhism and science...

We're looking forward bringing you conversations with leading experts about mind, meditation, and more. Hear what we're about, and subscribe today so you don't miss an episode. Read more about the show in this interview with host Wendy Hasenkamp .