আমার বাবা বিশ্ববন্ধু দাস ছিলেন Geological Survey of Indiaর ভূতাত্ত্বিক। অবসর নেওয়ার পর দীর্ঘ কর্মজীবনের স্মৃতিগুলি গল্পের আকারে লিখতে শুরু করেন। এটি বাবার লেখা ও পাঠ করা প্রথম গল্প।

Brielle (李雨可), a screenwriter from China who lives in Los Angeles, tells me about her life background and journey into writing for films. She discusses her feelings on different genres, her passion for sci-fi and drama that explore the human condition, and describes a script she dreams of producing. We talk about her inspirations, such as Taiwanese filmmaker Edward Yang. She describes the contrasts she sees between Chinese and American films, and the challenges she faces in writing stories in a foreign language for a starkly different culture.

Andrea Aramayo, a behaviour therapist for autistic children, speaks with a university audience about her journey to this profession. She then describes what autism is through the lens of the kids she sees, and explains the methods she uses in working with them and their parents to improve their behaviour issues.

Hanan shares how Islam and the character of prophet Mohammed motivate and inform her therapy. She tells me that only men challenge her authority, why she thinks they do, and whether it angers her. Then we discuss why American Muslims need therapy, and conclude with her life goal.

“Islam is way more forgiving than the people who practice it.”Hanan describes the roots of why Islam is seen as rigid and aggressive, then shares her own views of Islam, God, values, and death. We discuss hope vs the present moment in contrast to Buddhism, then she tells me about shadow selves, fluid identities, and the energies of people.

Hanan Hashem, PhD student specializing in therapy for young American Muslims facing discrimination, tells us about her early life, family, and the discrimination they faced as Yemenis in Saudi Arabia. She tells us about her excitement for learning, her journey from math to logic to philosophy to psychology, into doing research, therapy and community work.

History major Analia interviews me on the connections between psychedelics, veganism, meditation, tech addiction, ego death, and dancing.

Gravity does more than hold things together: it whispers stories of the cosmos from long ago and far away. Astrophysicist Dr Aaron Zimmerman tells us about the young science of listening to these whispers.

Physics PhD student Ryan Hannigan shares stories and insights about his synesthesia: a condition in which sounds evoke perceptions of colour, touch and emotion.

We discuss the ancient Hindu idea of Maya, the illusory game with which the one consciousness deceives itself. Why is this cosmic game so challenging, what is the role of love in it, and do people ever wake up from it?