The Weekend University

Described as “The Einstein of Consciousness”, Ken Wilber is a fascinating character, who began a zen meditation practice at the age of 11. An intellectual prodigy as a child, Wilber briefly attended Duke University, before dropping out to immerse himself in a rigorous and multidisciplinary self-education. With an IQ of 175, he is the most published philosopher alive, and his 25 books have been tra...

Professor Steven Hayes and Professor Matthew Johnson. Although they work in widely different fields, with Matt being a leading researcher in psychedelics at John Hopkins, and Steve being the co-developer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, both have reached similar conclusions about the psychological processes underneath mental health and wellbeing - so I thought it might be interesting to bring...

Dr Andrew Newberg is a neuroscientist and one of the world’s leading researchers exploring the relationship between neuroscience and spirituality. His research includes taking brain scans of people in prayer, meditation, rituals, and trance states, in an attempt to better understand the nature of religious and spiritual experiences. He has published over 250 peer reviewed articles and 14 books. Hi...

Dr Scott Kellogg and Amanda Garcia Torres are co-directors of the Chairwork Psychotherapy Initiative - an innovative therapy training organisation which empowers mental health professionals to integrate chairwork with their therapeutic approach. I attended one of their trainings in September 2023 and it was incredibly powerful, turning over many of the assumptions I held about how therapy should b...

Dr Bernardo Kastrup is a philosopher, author and the Director of the Essentia Foundation. He is the author of several books, including “Jung’s Metaphysics”, “Why Materialism is Baloney”, and “More Than Allegory”. In this conversation, we explore: — Bernardo’s thoughts on free will — The major differences between the eastern mind and the western mind. — Why engaging with the religious tradition of...

Simon is a life coach, business strategist, and author, whose insights have been featured on the BBC, Sky News, and the Guardian. This conversation explores some of the key ideas from Simon’s debut book: Energise, including: — Why the best way to change your life is to focus on changing your energy — Simon’s advice on how to become a world class public speaker — The philosophy of Bruce Lee and the...

Tami Simon is the Founder of SoundsTrue - a multimedia publishing company with more than 110 employees, and a library of more than 3,000 titles featuring some of the leading teachers and visionaries of our time, including Eckharte Tolle, Pema Chodron, Gabor Mate, and Michael Singer. This conversation explores: — The role that synchronicity and prayer have played in Tami’s journey — Tami’s unique a...

Professor Steven C Hayes is the co-developer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational Frame Theory, and most recently Process-Based Therapy (PBT). This session provides an introduction to PBT, what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can help clinicians both better serve their clients, and continuously improve their clinical skills. You’ll learn: — Why it’s vital to view psychological problem...

Dr Emily Balcetis is a social psychologist and Professor of Psychology at New York University, whose research focuses on how our visual perception influences motivation, and how we can leverage the cognitive biases inherent in the human mind in a way that makes us more effective at achieving long term goals. She has written 74 scientific publications, given two TED talks, and is the author of the...

Professor Paul Gilbert, a clinical psychologist, bestselling author and the Founder of Compassion Focused Therapy. Paul has dedicated his life to researching the science of compassion and how it can be applied to alleviate suffering and promote wellbeing. He is the author of numerous books, including “The Compassionate Mind”, “Mindful Compassion”, “Living Like Crazy”, “Overcoming Depression”, and...

The latest research on autism and the brain is indicating that it affects the brain in much the same way as complex trauma. What does this mean for the delivery of behavioral and social services? If the brain is affected in the same ways as trauma what does this mean for educational, vocational, and developmental goals in the individual's life? How do we progress with treatment based on the resear...

Dr Anna Lembke is a Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University, a New York Times Bestselling Author, addiction expert, and clinician. There are few people on the planet who know more about dopamine and its role in addiction than Dr Lembke, so it was a real honour to get to sit down and have this conversation with her. I’m growing convinced that understanding how dopamine works in the brain and...

Jan is an author, teacher, and psychotherapist with more than 40 years of experience working with addiction and trauma. She is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Toronto and the director of Focusing on Borden, a psychotherapy and training centre. Jan presents internationally on trauma and addiction, and her most recent book: “Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model”...

Hal is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioural Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA, who Angela Duckworth describes as “one of today’s leading behavioural scientists”. Hal’s research focuses on the psychology of the future self and how you can leverage it to improve decision making and quality of life for both your present and future selves. This conversation explores some of the key ideas from H...

Bernardo is an author, scientist, philosopher, and the Director of the Essentia Foundation. He holds two PhDs - one in philosophy and the other in engineering. His work has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. In this conversation, you’ll learn: — How the life of Friedrich Nietzsche can be thought of as a microcosm of a cultur...

Bonnie is an author, therapist, mentor, and the co-founder of the nonprofit agency: Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind. This is Bonnie’s second appearance on the show, and in this conversation we dive deeper into her unique concept of “Inner Community” and how it can be applied to heal deep-seated wounds from the past, and create a felt-sense of safety in the body. You’ll learn: — How our...

Mark is a Senior Lecturer in Psychotherapy and Counselling at the University of Salford, the author of two books on Transactional analysis, and a UKCP registered psychotherapist. He is also an active psychotherapy researcher, and in 2017, he was awarded the International Transactional Analysis Association Research Award in recognition of his research into the effectiveness of TA. In this conversat...

Dr. Spiegel is an author, psychiatrist and professor at Stanford University, and one of the world’s leading experts into the clinical applications of hypnosis. He has published thirteen books, over 400 scientific articles, and 170 chapters on hypnosis, stress physiology, trauma, and psychotherapy. In this conversation, we discuss: — Dr Spiegel’s groundbreaking research into how hypnosis can be app...

This session will provide an overview of the contemporary understanding of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that goes beyond the “A” and the “H.” Instead, ADHD is understood as a developmental syndrome of self-dysregulation or executive dysfunction. From this understanding, the session will move on to an outline of the corresponding implications for psychosocial treatment of ADHD in...

Dr Lou Cozolino - a clinical psychologist, author, and professor based in Beverly Hills, California. He received his Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology from UCLA and an M.T.S. from Harvard University. He has been a Professor at Pepperdine since 1986 and lectures around the world on psychotherapy, neuroscience, trauma, and attachment. The work that I do for The Weekend University means I get to explore...

Unlock the secrets of the mind with Bonnie Badenoch, a renowned trauma therapist and author with a unique blend of expertise in literature and mysticism. In this insightful talk, Bonnie delves into the profound impact of fear on our ability to focus and learn, underscoring the critical importance of safety and connection in our lives. Explore the fascinating connection between brain hemispheres, a...

Embark on a thought-provoking journey as we delve into the intricacies of human nature, history, compassion, and evolution. With a poignant analogy of a lost baby's name tag at a hospital, we navigate the balance of good and bad news in life, gaining insights that resonate. Uncover the profound layers of compassion, transcending mere kindness, and discover the resolute commitment to confront suffe...

Delving into the nuanced landscape of trauma, this talk redefines its contours. Beyond the apparent shockwaves of accidents or abuse, the lens of somatic experiencing unveils trauma as an entity residing within physiology, spanning tissues, nerves, and interactions. The ebb and flow of trauma's grip unfolds as dysregulation within one's system. Manifesting either as rigid fixity or graceful flow,...

Dr Miller is a New York Times bestselling author and Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University. She is the Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology. Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals. Dr Miller’s...

Professor Dryden is a therapist, trainer, academic and author who has published more than 240 books. In many ways, Windy could be described as a pioneer in the field. He was one of the first in the UK to be trained in CBT, having learned directly from Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck, and has since trained therapists all over the world in the approach. He is best known for his work in Rational Emotive...