Mind & Life

Tania Singer – The Power of Two


Listen Later

In this episode, Wendy speaks with social neuroscientist and contemplative researcher Tania Singer. Tania is a world leader in studying empathy and compassion, and her pioneering work explores the interpersonal aspects of the brain and contemplative practice. This conversation covers many topics, including:

  • her lifelong fascination with social interactions;
  • foundational studies on empathy in the brain;
  • distinguishing the physical vs. emotional aspects of pain;
  • a chance meeting with Mind & Life and critical insights from a Buddhism-science collaboration;
  • the difference between emotion contagion, empathy, and compassion;
  • exploring the trainability of empathy and compassion;
  • schadenfreude in the brain;
  • empathy burnout and compassion as an antidote;
  • the importance of correlating subjective reports with brain scans;
  • a landmark longitudinal study of training different aspects of meditation;
  • why what you practice really matters;
  • contemplative dyads and the power of practicing with another person;
  • the benefits of dyads for the negative effects of COVID lockdown;
  • moving dyad work into schools and hospitals;
  • shifting from studying individual change to systems change;
  • and the role of contemplative science amidst current societal challenges.
  • Full show notes and resources

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Mind & LifeBy Mind & Life Institute

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    265 ratings


    More shows like Mind & Life

    View all
    On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

    On Being with Krista Tippett

    10,401 Listeners

    Tara Brach by Tara Brach

    Tara Brach

    10,442 Listeners

    Sounds True: Insights at the Edge by Tami Simon

    Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

    1,840 Listeners

    Tricycle Talks by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

    Tricycle Talks

    356 Listeners

    The One You Feed by Eric Zimmer

    The One You Feed

    2,501 Listeners

    Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield by Be Here Now Network

    Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

    1,442 Listeners

    Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg by Be Here Now Network

    Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

    686 Listeners

    Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein by Be Here Now Network

    Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

    915 Listeners

    The Wisdom Podcast by The Wisdom Podcast

    The Wisdom Podcast

    326 Listeners

    Untangle by Untangle

    Untangle

    833 Listeners

    10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

    10% Happier with Dan Harris

    12,513 Listeners

    Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson by Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson

    Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

    2,467 Listeners

    Living Myth by Michael Meade

    Living Myth

    964 Listeners

    The Way Out Is In by Plum Village

    The Way Out Is In

    1,240 Listeners

    Sounds of SAND by Science and Nonduality

    Sounds of SAND

    110 Listeners