Why do people across cultures report encounters with spirits, deities, ancestors, demons, angels, or other seemingly independent beings? And how might the science of predictive processing and active inference help us understand these experiences without simply dismissing them as “mere hallucinations”? In this episode, I speak with Zach Buck about spiritual entities, psychedelic experiences, and the predictive mind. We explore why the brain may sometimes model invisible agents as real presences, ...
Apr 27, 2026•46 min
In this conversation, Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor Nicholas Buscall and I explore why establishing a “good view”—a clear, grounded orientation to what meditation is (and isn’t)—can make practice safer, steadier, and more transformative. We talk about how meditation training can drift into confusion or unhelpful striving, and how a therapist’s perspective and regular check-ins can help you track your development, notice red flags early, and keep practice aligned with well-b...
Mar 02, 2026•48 min
n this episode of The Contemplative Science Podcast , I’m delighted to welcome back Brother Phap Linh , a Buddhist monk ordained at Plum Village in 2008. Before monastic life, Brother Phap Linh studied at Cambridge and worked as a composer, chef, and math tutor—bringing a rare blend of creativity, analytical rigor, and lived practice into his contemplative path. Inspired by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh , Brother Phap Linh entered monastic life as a response to global suffering, grounding his...
Jan 12, 2026•41 min
In this episode, we explore the role of goal-setting and purposeful behaviour in Buddhist contemplative practice. While many traditions emphasize letting go, Buddhist training is also deeply structured by intentionality, effort, and purposeful cultivation. Nadav Amir brings a computational neuroscience perspective to these questions, examining how minds generate goals, how agency emerges, and how these processes relate to frameworks from early Buddhist epistemology and ethics. Together, we discu...
Nov 24, 2025•45 min
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Condon to explore his new book How Compassion Works and the science behind cultivating compassion that lasts. We discuss what compassion really is, how it can be measured and taught, and why sustaining compassion matters for individuals and communities alike. Paul shares insights from his research on compassion training, its impact on mental health and social connection, and how these practices can be taught in a rigorous, evidence-based way without losi...
Nov 03, 2025•50 min
What if understanding pain was a contemplative act? Richmond Stace, creator of Pain Coaching, brings together neuroscience, psychotherapy, and contemplative insights to rethink chronic pain not just as a biological condition, but as a human experience shaped by meaning, attention, and awareness.
Aug 20, 2025•51 min
What does it really mean to be deeply well —not just symptom-free or spiritually polished, but truly grounded, embodied, and alive? In this episode, Dharma teachers Melina Bondy and Arti Mehta explore this question through the lenses of contemplative practice, psychotherapy, somatics, art, and community care. Together we reflect on how meditation and the Dharma shape our understanding of wellness—not as an escape from life’s struggles, but as a courageous turning toward them. We discuss how to s...
Jul 28, 2025•44 min
In this episode, Lama John Makransky joins us to explore the inner architecture of compassion. Drawing from his new book How Compassion Works , we discuss how Buddhist meditative practices, attachment theory, and cognitive science can come together to help us cultivate deep well-being, unconditional love, and wise responsiveness in the face of suffering. Lama John reflects on the importance of accessing “innate qualities of goodness” through inner refuge practices, the role of secure relationali...
Jun 05, 2025•40 min
In this episode, we speak with Rick Repetti—philosopher, meditation teacher, and editor of The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Meditation . We explore whether meditation can be considered a form of philosophy, how it might deepen our understanding of the mind, self, and agency, and whether a distinctly Western philosophy of meditation is emerging. Drawing on both scholarly insight and personal practice, Rick offers a compelling vision of meditation not just as a spiritual tool, but as a ...
May 19, 2025•34 min
What happens when you spend days—or even weeks—in complete darkness? In this episode, Andrew Holecek — an expert in Tibetan Buddhism, lucid dreaming, and meditation — guides us through the profound practice of dark retreats. We explore how extended time in darkness can shift perception, support mental health, and catalyze deep spiritual awakening. Blending ancient traditions with emerging science, this conversation sheds light on the hidden power of darkness and what it can teach us about waking...
Apr 28, 2025•49 min
In this episode, I am joined by Adam Safron, an independent researcher with a wild range of interests—from consciousness and free will to psychedelics, artificial life, and AI alignment. With affiliations at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies and Michael Levin’s lab at Tufts University, Adam brings a rare interdisciplinary lens to questions about mind, matter, and meaning. We explore how agency arises, what it means to align intelligent systems (both artificial and biological), and...
Apr 09, 2025•36 min
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Norman Farb to discuss his new book, Better in Every Sense, co-authored with Dr. Zindel Segal, which explores how we become emotionally stuck and how to break free. Drawing from cutting-edge neuroscience, Dr. Farb introduces Sense Foraging, a practice that helps us escape the rigid mental habits that dull our experience of life. Instead of forcing change through willpower, the book reveals how engaging deeply with sensation can enhance resilience, creativity...
Mar 19, 2025•41 min
In this episode, we’re joined by Mridula Sathyanarayanan, a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, majoring in neuroscience, philosophy, and Buddhist Psychology & Mental Health (BPMH). A Laidlaw Scholar, Mridula has been exploring the intersection of contemplative science and public engagement through her innovative project, *The Museum of Meditative Practices*. Her work invites us to rethink how meditation is experienced, studied, and shared, creating an interactive ...
Mar 03, 2025•32 min
In this episode, we sit down with Valeria Becattini, a cognitive scientist and philosopher, to explore the paradoxical effects of body-scan meditation on our sense of self. Drawing from her research, Valeria explains how this Theravada Buddhist practice challenges our typical understanding of attention and sensory awareness. Using the predictive processing framework, she reveals how focused attention can lead to the dissolution of bodily boundaries, a phenomenon known as bhaṅga . Together, we de...
Feb 17, 2025•45 min
How does the brain cultivate optimism, and can psychedelics help people trapped in cycles of depression? In this episode, we’re joined by Beth Fisher, PhD student at M3CS and co-host of Minds Matter . We explore her groundbreaking research using computational models to study how psilocybin influences belief updating and decision-making. Her recent study reveals how psilocybin increases optimistic engagement in rats by reducing loss aversion and modifying memory dynamics. Together, we discuss wha...
Dec 15, 2024•35 min
In this episode, we sit down with Elli Weisbaum, an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health program. Elli shares insights from her extensive experience facilitating mindfulness workshops and retreats across education, healthcare, and business sectors. We discuss her work on applying mindfulness to enhance physician well-being. Elli’s unique background, combining academic research with traditional mindfulness training under Zen Master Thich ...
Nov 13, 2024•44 min
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. James Cooke, neuroscientist and author of *The Dawn of Mind: How Matter Became Conscious and Alive*. With over a decade of experience studying the brain's role in consciousness, Dr. Cooke shares groundbreaking insights into the nature of the mind, the illusion of the self, and the fundamental relationship between mind and matter. We explore whether consciousness is universal, the philosophical implications of non-separation, and other mysteries of consciousn...
Oct 23, 2024•47 min
In this episode, we sit down with Stephan Tap, a clinical researcher specializing in the therapeutic use of psychedelics. Stephan shares insights from his work exploring the potential of psilocybin to alleviate psychological distress in palliative care patients. We dive into the neurobiological and neuropsychological mechanisms behind psilocybin’s effects, discuss the unique challenges of end-of-life care, and explore the future of psychedelic therapies in clinical settings. Join us for a fascin...
Sep 25, 2024•42 min
In this episode , we are joined by John Dunne, a leading thinker at the intersection of Buddhist philosophy and contemporary science. We explore topics ranging from the nuances of "Buddhist science" and its critiques to the challenges of integrating mindfulness into scientific research, and the new relationship emerging between psychedelics and contemplative practice. We examine the role of phenomenology in contemplative science, the complexities of gathering first-person data, and the media's p...
Sep 11, 2024•39 min
In this episode of the Contemplative Science Podcast, host Mark Miller welcomes Brother Phap Linh, a Buddhist monk from Plum Village, to discuss the intersection of science, spirituality, and Buddhism. Brother Phap Linh shares his insights on the limitations of scientific materialism, emphasizing that science often overlooks the fundamental mystery of consciousness. He explores how the belief in a universe made of matter can diminish our sense of meaning and interconnectedness, leading to a worl...
Aug 28, 2024•51 min
In this episode, we sit down with cognitive scientist Daniel Meling to explore the fascinating intersection of psychedelics and meditation. Daniel shares insights from his research on DMT and non-dual states, discussing the potential of psychedelics for treating depression and the synergies between these substances and meditative practices. We also examine the current hype around psychedelics, the importance of understanding their risks and benefits, and whether they are truly necessary for achi...
Aug 16, 2024•44 min
In this episode, we welcome Sam Berrin Shonkoff, Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Sam's expertise in Jewish religious thought provides a unique lens through which we explore contemporary spiritual practices. Our discussion ventures into the use of psychedelics within Judaism, examining their potential to enhance spiritual experiences and religious practices. We also explore the Zen concept of Child Mind or Beginner Mind, uncovering its parallel...
Jul 29, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 69
In this episode, we welcome philosopher André van der Braak to explore the deeper spiritual and philosophical dimensions of ayahuasca, particularly the concept of ayahuasca as "liquid divinity." Drawing on the work of French philosopher Bruno Latour, André shifts the focus from individual ayahuasca experiences to communal rituals that foster relationships with more-than-human powers. The discussion expores how ayahuasca practices transcend personal healing and visions, promoting communal transfo...
Jul 16, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this episode, host Mark Miller and guests John Vervaeke and Shawn Coyne, delve into the transformative project "Mentoring the Machines." This innovative work bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and narrative storytelling to grapple with the existential challenges posed by artificial general intelligence (AGI). John Vervaeke, renowned for his insights into the meaning crisis in contemporary society, and Shawn Coyne, a seasoned narrative philosopher and editor, collaborate to articulate ...
Jul 01, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Jamie and Mark discuss the podcast so far and what we have been learning about the wonderful science of meditation.
Oct 03, 2023•26 min
Can ultrasound enhance meditation? Today’s guest brings his fascinating line of research to reveal the concept, potential, ethics and mitigations for using ultrasound to stimulate the brain during meditation - we welcome Jay Sanguinetti, from the University of Arizona. Developed with the close collaboration of Shinzen Young, Jay’s research dives into the phenomenological reports and brain imaging of everybody from complete beginners to master meditators like Young himself. Alongside a dissection...
Jun 01, 2023•29 min
We need to start prepping our minds for death. Welcome to a train-your-brain special, diving into new research plans from our very own Dr Mark Miller. Mark outlines exactly why uncertainty and danger are incredibly beneficial for the predictive mind - training us to be better-equipped when we encounter sickness, injury and death itself. Because if you want to be really good at reducing uncertainty over a long time - surrounding yourself with short-term uncertainty is exactly the way to do it! Sh...
May 24, 2023•35 min
What happens when people start speaking in tongues? Joining Jamie for a dive into his research is Josh Brahinsky, researcher at UC Berkeley Social Interaction Laboratory. Josh is fascinated with the phenomenology and neuroscience of what goes on when people speak in tongues - revealing anecdotes from interviews that focus particularly on evangelicals. Detailing a short history of pentecostalism and comparing similarities of such experiences to psychedelic experiences, our discussion touches on G...
May 03, 2023•27 min
What are the principles of neurotheology? Who better to answer than Andrew Newberg, acclaimed neuroscientist, professor and author. In his books, Andrew has laid out pioneering research on the relationship of the brain and spirituality - revealing the inner complexities of how the brain operates when we are spiritual. Whether that’s using brain imaging to study Franciscan nuns and Buddhist monks in prayer, or observing brain ‘resonance’ when two individuals apply his co-penned Compassionate Comm...
Apr 25, 2023•29 min
How do we deal with grief? And how can we better prepare ourselves? Enter Dr Rachel Taylor, neuropsychologist and founder of UnBroken. An expert on the cognitive mechanics of grief and loss, Rachel shares her thoughts on how we interface with these difficult experiences - and what we can all do to develop our perception of death. Touching on mirror neurons and the effects of our environment, the relationship of alcohol with the brain, and the potential upside of planning for death - our candid d...
Apr 19, 2023•29 min
