Mind & Life

By Mind & Life Institute

Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

What's Mind & Life about?

Exploring frontiers of contemplative science—discussing mind, meditation, and more.

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Emeran Mayer – Biological I...

09.21.2023

In this episode, Wendy speaks with gastroentorologist, author, and microbiome researcher Emeran Mayer. Emeran is a world renowned expert in the connections between the gut and the mind, and brings a biological lens to the concept of interconnection. This conversation ...

Mind & Life episodes:

09.21.2023 Emeran Mayer – Biological Interconnectedness In this episode, Wendy speaks with gastroentorologist, author, and microbiome researcher Emeran Mayer. Emeran is a world renowned expert in the connections between the gut and the mind, and brings a biological lens to the concept of interconnection. This conversation ...
09.07.2023 Rob Roeser – Transforming Education To begin our seventh season, Wendy speaks with contemplative educator and developmental psychologist Rob Roeser. Rob has been working to re-envision the educational system for decades, and has been at the forefront of understanding how we can best integrate mindfulness ...
06.01.2023 sujatha baliga – Healing Through Restorative Justice In this episode, Wendy speaks with lawyer, activist, and restorative justice expert sujatha baliga. sujatha’s work reimagines our current legal and justice system in the United States, and emphasizes the full humanity of both those who experience harm and those ...
05.18.2023 Fadel Zeidan – Mindfulness and Pain In this episode, Wendy speaks with neuroscientist and pain researcher Fadel Zeidan. Fadel is one of the leading experts on understanding how mindfulness and other contemplative practices can be used to help relieve physical pain and promote well-being. This conversation ...
05.04.2023 Brendan Ozawa-de Silva – Embodied Learning In this episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar and contemplative educator and researcher Brendan Ozawa-de Silva. Brendan has been studying and teaching mindfulness and compassion for over a decade, and has lately been focusing on integrating trauma-informed and embodied practices ...
04.20.2023 Ed Taylor – Leading by Example In this episode, Wendy speaks with University of Washington vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, Ed Taylor. Ed has made major contributions in the areas of contemplative education and leadership, with a focus on moral and integrative education ...
04.06.2023 David Creswell – Exploring Equanimity In this episode, Wendy speaks with social psychologist and contemplative researcher David Creswell. David has been studying the effects of meditation on stress and resilience for over a decade, and has conducted some of the most rigorous studies to date ...
03.23.2023 Jenny Mascaro – Compassion in Healthcare In this episode, Wendy speaks with biological anthropologist and contemplative researcher Jenny Mascaro. Jenny's work weaves together meditation, compassion, psychology, and healthcare, and moves us toward a deeper understanding of interconnectedness. This conversation covers many topics, including: her interest in ...
03.09.2023 Elissa Epel – Mind, Body, and Stress In this episode, Wendy speaks with contemplative health psychologist and stress researcher Elissa Epel. Elissa studies how mindfulness, meditation retreats, and breathing techniques can help buffer stress processes, biological aging, and promote both physical and mental health. This conversation covers ...
02.23.2023 Matthieu Ricard – Compassion and Care In this episode, Wendy speaks with the renowned Buddhist practitioner and author Matthieu Ricard. Matthieu was integral to the founding of contemplative science, serving as both a participant and co-investigator in many early studies, and has deep expertise in compassion, ...
12.16.2022 Jamie Bristow – Policy, Practice, and Planet In this episode, Wendy speaks with mindful policy advocate and contemplative teacher Jamie Bristow. Jamie co-directs the Mindfulness Initiative in the UK, an organization that bridges contemplative practice and public policy, championing the inner dimension of social change. This conversation ...
12.02.2022 Amy Cohen Varela – The Power of Undoing In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist and contemplative Amy Cohen Varela. In addition to her work as a psychoanalytic therapist, Amy is also the widow of Francisco Varela (co-founder of the Mind & Life Institute), and continues to ...
11.18.2022 Zindel Segal – Mindfulness and Depression In this episode, Wendy speaks with renowned clinical psychologist, researcher, and co-developer of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Zindel Segal. Zindel's work has brought relief to many who suffer from depression, by sharing the tools and skills of mindful awareness. This ...
11.04.2022 Randima Fernando - Humane Technology In this episode, Wendy speaks with Randima (Randy) Fernando, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology. Over several decades, Randy has worked to integrate technology, mindfulness, and social impact, trying to find ethical solutions to some of our most challenging ...
10.21.2022 Yuria Celidwen - Indigenous Wisdom In this episode, Wendy speaks with contemplative scholar and Indigenous activist Yuria Celidwen. Yuria has worked across many sectors to bring Indigenous ways of knowing into conversation with Western approaches, particularly in contemplative science. This conversation covers many topics, including: ...
10.07.2022 Norm Farb - Meditation and the Brain In this episode, Wendy speaks with contemplative researcher Norm Farb. Norm was one of the first people to study how meditation impacts our brains, and his broader work incorporates emotions, body sensations, and present-moment awareness. Their conversation covers many topics, ...
09.23.2022 Tish Jennings - Contemplative Education In this episode, Wendy speaks with contemplative educator and researcher Patricia (Tish) Jennings. Tish has been a pioneer in bringing mindfulness and compassion into school settings, with a particular focus on helping teachers. This conversation covers many topics, including: her ...
09.09.2022 Sharon Salzberg - Love and Wisdom In this episode, Wendy speaks with renowned and beloved meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg. Sharon has been teaching meditation in the West for over 40 years, and is the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society. Their conversation covers many topics, including: ...
06.03.2022 Bob Thurman - Wisdom is Bliss In this episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar and author Robert (Bob) Thurman. Bob is one of the foremost scholars in the world on Tibetan Buddhism, and played a major role in bringing Buddhism to America. This conversation covers many ...
05.20.2022 Lasana Harris - Flexible Social Cognition In this episode, Wendy speaks with social neuroscientist Lasana Harris about his work on flexible social cognition—the variable ways that we perceive others. This conversation covers many topics, including: his accidental entry into psychology; what flexible social cognition is; schemas ...
05.06.2022 Jessica Morey - Healing Attachment In this episode, Wendy speaks with meditation teacher and co-founder of Inward Bound Mindfulness Education (iBme), Jessica Morey. Jessica has been working with the contemplative path through the lens of attachment theory, and shares how she blends these approaches for ...
04.22.2022 Juan Santoyo - Practice and Peace In this episode, Wendy speaks with contemplative researcher and social activist Juan Santoyo. Juan's work sits at the intersection of basic neuroscience and community-based programs; his central interest is in understanding the factors that are needed for peace and healing—both ...
04.08.2022 Al Kaszniak - The Universe of Verbs In this episode, Wendy speaks with psychologist, contemplative researcher, and Zen Buddhist teacher, Al Kaszniak. Al has been in the contemplative science space since the earliest days, and his work has shed light on how meditation impacts our thoughts, emotions, ...
03.25.2022 Brooke Lavelle - Courage in Community In this episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar, contemplative teacher, and social activist Brooke Lavelle. Brooke is the co-founder and president of Courage of Care, an organization that seeks to build transformational practice communities rooted in compassion, healing, and counter-oppressive ...
03.11.2022 Jud Brewer - Changing Habits In this episode, Wendy speaks with addiction psychiatrist and contemplative researcher Jud Brewer. Jud is one of the leading figures in the use of mindfulness for addiction and anxiety, and his work emphasizes the brain's habit cycle, and how to ...
02.25.2022 Roshi Joan Halifax - Enactive Compassion In this episode, Wendy speaks with Zen Buddhist teacher and author Roshi Joan Halifax. A pioneer in the field of end-of-life care, Roshi Joan was instrumental in developing the dialogue between science and Buddhism, and has been an advocate for ...
12.17.2021 Cliff Saron - Embracing Complexity In this episode, Wendy speaks with neuroscientist and contemplative researcher Cliff Saron. Cliff is a pioneer in studying the effects of meditation on attention and emotion, and has been deeply embedded in the field of contemplative science since the earliest ...
12.03.2021 Bobbi Patterson - Contemplation, Place, and Resilience In this episode, Wendy speaks with professor and Episcopal priest, Bobbi Patterson. Bobbi's work integrates Christian contemplation, Buddhist meditation, contemplative pedagogy, the role of place, and adaptive resilience. This conversation covers many topics, including: contemplative Christian traditions; the power of ...
11.19.2021 Cortland Dahl - Integrating Science and Buddhism In this episode, Wendy speaks with researcher, translator, and Buddhist teacher, Cortland Dahl. Cort's work integrates science, psychology, meditation, and Tibetan Buddhism. This conversation covers many topics, including: how meditation helped with his social anxiety as a young person; benefits ...
11.05.2021 Zenju Earthlyn Manuel - Identity as Path In this episode, Wendy speaks with author, Zen priest and Buddhist teacher, Zenju Earthlyn Manuel. Zenju's work highlights how the various facets of our identity can become "fertilizer" for growth on the path of spiritual and personal development. This conversation ...
10.22.2021 Willoughby Britton - When Meditation Causes Harm In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist and meditation researcher, Willoughby Britton. Willoughby is a pioneer in contemplative research and one of the only people dedicated to understanding the possible negative outcomes from meditation (so called meditation-related adverse experiences). ...
10.08.2021 Nicholas Van Dam - Nuancing the Narrative In this episode, Wendy speaks with meditation researcher and clinical psychologist, Nicholas Van Dam. Nicholas is the Director of the Contemplative Studies Centre at the University of Melbourne—the first such center in Australia. His work explores how meditation and mindfulness ...
09.24.2021 Rhonda Magee - Mindfulness, Interconnection, and Justice In this episode, Wendy speaks with law professor, author, and meditation teacher, Rhonda Magee. Rhonda's work has focused on bringing contemplative approaches into the practice of law, and the fight for social justice. This conversation covers many topics, including: her ...
09.10.2021 Jon Kabat-Zinn - The Heart of Mindfulness We're back with Season 3 of the show, starting with renowned meditation teacher, author, and creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Jon Kabat-Zinn. This spacious and personal conversation is full of insights on a wide range of topics, including: what ...
08.13.2021 Vandana Shiva - Earth Democracy In this bonus episode, we're sharing a special presentation from environmentalist, physicist, and eco-feminist Vandana Shiva. This session is from our Summer Research Institute, held in June of this year, entitled The Mind, the Human-Earth Connection, and the Climate Crisis. ...
07.09.2021 David Sloan Wilson - Conscious Evolution In this bonus episode, Wendy speaks with evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson. This episode is being released in conjunction with Mind & Life's new film, Evolution of the Heart — a short documentary covering conversations between the Dalai Lama, David ...
05.21.2021 Dekila Chungyalpa - Human-Earth Connection In this episode, Wendy speaks with environmentalist Dekila Chungyalpa about her views of nature, the climate crisis, and her unique collaborations with faith leaders. Their conversation covers many topics, including: growing up in the Himalayas and being interconnected with nature; ...
05.07.2021 Peter Wayne - Ecology of Mind In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical researcher Peter Wayne about his work on mind-body and movement-based interventions like tai chi. Their conversation covers many topics, including: how a background in ecology informs his research; embracing multiple causes of any ...
04.22.2021 Mingyur Rinpoche - Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom In this episode, Wendy speaks with Tibetan Buddhist teacher Mingyur Rinpoche about how contemplative practice can lead us to awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Their conversation covers many topics, including: his involvement in early contemplative research; translating concepts between Buddhism and ...
04.09.2021 Buju Dasgupta - Social Context & Implicit Bias 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; ...
03.26.2021 Larry Barsalou - Habits of Mind 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 ...
03.12.2021 Sona Dimidjian - Bringing Relationship into Research 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 ...
02.26.2021 John Dunne - At the Crossroads of Buddhism and Science 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 ...
02.12.2021 Eric Garland - Working with Addiction & Pain 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: ...
01.29.2021 Anne Klein - The Wisdom of the Body 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; ...
01.15.2021 Lisa Feldman Barrett - Your Emotions Aren't What You Think 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 ...
12.09.2020 Jack Kornfield - Wisdom For Our Times 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 ...
10.23.2020 Adam Hanley - Taking Your Mind Off Autopilot 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 ...
09.02.2020 Andreas Roepstorff - Interacting Minds 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 ...
08.19.2020 Evan Thompson - Expanding Our View of the Mind 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 ...

Older episodes

Mind & Life

What's Mind & Life about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Mind & Life episodes:

Emeran Mayer – Biological Interconnectedness

Rob Roeser – Transforming Education

sujatha baliga – Healing Through Restorative Justice

Fadel Zeidan – Mindfulness and Pain

Brendan Ozawa-de Silva – Embodied Learning

Ed Taylor – Leading by Example

David Creswell – Exploring Equanimity

Jenny Mascaro – Compassion in Healthcare

Elissa Epel – Mind, Body, and Stress

Matthieu Ricard – Compassion and Care

Jamie Bristow – Policy, Practice, and Planet

Amy Cohen Varela – The Power of Undoing

Zindel Segal – Mindfulness and Depression

Randima Fernando - Humane Technology

Yuria Celidwen - Indigenous Wisdom

Norm Farb - Meditation and the Brain

Tish Jennings - Contemplative Education

Sharon Salzberg - Love and Wisdom

Bob Thurman - Wisdom is Bliss

Lasana Harris - Flexible Social Cognition

Jessica Morey - Healing Attachment

Juan Santoyo - Practice and Peace

Al Kaszniak - The Universe of Verbs

Brooke Lavelle - Courage in Community

Jud Brewer - Changing Habits

Roshi Joan Halifax - Enactive Compassion

Cliff Saron - Embracing Complexity

Bobbi Patterson - Contemplation, Place, and Resilience

Cortland Dahl - Integrating Science and Buddhism

Zenju Earthlyn Manuel - Identity as Path

Willoughby Britton - When Meditation Causes Harm

Nicholas Van Dam - Nuancing the Narrative

Rhonda Magee - Mindfulness, Interconnection, and Justice

Jon Kabat-Zinn - The Heart of Mindfulness

Vandana Shiva - Earth Democracy

David Sloan Wilson - Conscious Evolution

Dekila Chungyalpa - Human-Earth Connection

Peter Wayne - Ecology of Mind

Mingyur Rinpoche - Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom

Buju Dasgupta - Social Context & Implicit Bias

Larry Barsalou - Habits of Mind

Sona Dimidjian - Bringing Relationship into Research

John Dunne - At the Crossroads of Buddhism and Science

Eric Garland - Working with Addiction & Pain

Anne Klein - The Wisdom of the Body

Lisa Feldman Barrett - Your Emotions Aren't What You Think

Jack Kornfield - Wisdom For Our Times

Adam Hanley - Taking Your Mind Off Autopilot

Andreas Roepstorff - Interacting Minds

Evan Thompson - Expanding Our View of the Mind