Dr. Martha Beck is a Harvard-trained sociologist, bestselling author, and renowned life coach known for her transformative work on living in alignment with your true self.

With decades of experience blending science, spirituality, and practical tools, Martha’s insights have helped countless individuals overcome anxiety, unlock creativity, and live with greater integrity.

Expect to learn:

— Why the right hemisphere of your brain holds the key to creativity, connection, and meaning.

— Why anxiety spirals dominate modern life—and how to break free from them.

— The three fundamental questions your brain is always asking and how to answer them.

— The importance of creating a “sanctuary” to restore peace and calm to your life and Martha’s tips on how best to do this.

And more.

You can learn more about Martha’s work and latest book: “Beyond Anxiety” at https://marthabeck.com.

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Dr. Martha Beck, PhD, is a bestselling author, coach, and speaker. She has spent a lifetime offering powerful, practical, and entertaining teachings that help people improve every aspect of their lives. Martha holds three Harvard degrees in social science, and Oprah Winfrey has called her “one of the smartest women I know.”

Martha’s published works include several self-help books and memoirs, including New York Times and international bestsellers Finding Your Own North Star, The Joy Diet, and Expecting Adam. She has also published over 150 magazine articles, including almost two decades of monthly columns for O, The Oprah Magazine.

Martha is a passionate and engaging speaker, known for her characteristic blending of science, spirituality, and humor. As “the best-known life coach in America” (NPR, USA Today), she has spoken to audiences around the world on stage and on The Oprah Show, Good Morning America, and many other television programs.

International nature-based retreats are also a big part of Martha’s work. Seminar participants travel from all over the world to attend her annual retreats in South Africa and Costa Rica. The rest of the time she lives in the Pennsylvania woods with her family and other assorted creatures. Her passions include nature, pajamas, and YouTube videos of unlikely animal companions.

Martha’s recent book, The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self, was an instant New York Times Best Seller and Oprah’s Book Club selection. Her forthcoming non-fiction book, Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose, will be out on January 7, 2025.

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Interview Link:

— Dr Martha Beck’s website - https://marthabeck.com

Dr Natalie Fraser is a counselling psychologist and the Founder of the Global Existential Summit, who has recently completed her doctorate in Existential Psychotherapy.

In this conversation, we explore:

— How engaging with philosophy can improve your quality of life

— The importance of going beyond mainstream existential philosophers like Sartre and Heidegger, and taking a wider view

— Why philosophy, and particularly existential philosophy, should come with a warning label

— Natalie’s HEALINGS acronym for reducing suffering.

And more.

You can learn more about Natalie’s work and get your free ticket for the Existential Summit by going to: https://existentialsummit.com.

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Dr Natalie Fraser is a Counselling Psychologist and writer specialising in trauma and sexual violence. She is committed to decolonizing the landscape of global existential philosophies, and founded Existential Offering and The Global Existential Summits.

You can learn more about her work at www.existentialofferings.com

and www.drnataliefraser.com

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Interview Links:

— Dr Fraser's website - https://drnataliefraser.com

Aodhán Moran and Brant Evans are experts in group relations, exploring the hidden dynamics that shape how groups function and how individuals relate within them.

Their work combines psychology, mythology, and practical insights to reveal the deeper forces at play in teams, families, and communities. From Jungian archetypes to the scapegoat mechanism, their approach helps people better understand and navigate the complexities of group behaviour.

Here’s what we explore in this discussion:

— What group relations are and why they’re essential to understand.

— How group dynamics often reflect myths and archetypes

— The scapegoat mechanism, how to avoid being scapegoated, and what to do if you find yourself in this unfortunate position.

— Why strong emotional reactions often reveal hidden projections.

And more.

You can get a copy of their book by going to https://bit.ly/GHG-2025.

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Aodhán Moran has one foot in psychology and the other in technology. Starting his career in tech and e-commerce, Aodhán worked various roles in start-ups and scale-ups across Galway, San Francisco, and Toronto before pursuing a career in clinical psychology.

Aodhán is a certified executive coach through Dr Simon Western’s Ecoleadership Institute. His practice is grounded in the analytic-network systems psychodynamic lens, which he uses to coach young entrepreneurs toward self-awareness in their work.

As a student of group relations since 2019, Aodhán has attended multiple group relations- style conferences in member, trainee consultant, and staff roles, including The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations’ Leicester Conference. Aodhán draws on Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Jonathan Pageau, René Girard, Simon Western, and others in his explorations of individual and group dynamics.

Aodhán is particularly interested in the intersection of psychology, mythology, and religion, and how these areas can inform our understanding of individual and group behaviour.

Brant Elwood has a MA in Social-Organisational Psychology from Columbia University and is a therapeutic consultant. He has held leadership positions within several therapeutic treatment organizations. During the pandemic, he directed a non-profit that utilised myth and archetypal theory to conduct rites of passage work with young men in the southeast US.

Brant draws from the mythopoetic lineage of Robert Bly, Robert Johnson, and others in an attempt to establish a novel style of thinking about groups in communities and organisations. He first attended a Tavistock-style group relations conference in 2015.

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Interview Links:

— Aodhán & Brant's Book - https://bit.ly/GHG-2025

— X: https://x.com/aodhanpmoran

In this episode, we welcome Dr Iain McGilchrist back to the show. Dr McGilchrist is a psychiatrist and writer, who is committed to the idea that the mind and brain can be understood only by seeing them in the broadest possible context. He is the author of several books, including the international bestseller: “The Master and His Emissary”, and most recently: “The Matter with Things”.

In this conversation, we explore:

— The limits of idealism

— Why the term “unconscious” is a misnomer and why we should be referring to it as the “superconscious” instead

— The extent to which it can be said that we are “co-creating” reality

— Why values are not relative — and Dr McGilchrist’s thoughts on how they may be built into the structure of being itself

— Iain’s response to skeptics who say life has no meaning and his view on the root causes of the major crises facing our world.

And more.

You can learn more about his work at https://channelmcgilchrist.com/.

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Dr Iain McGilchrist is a Psychiatrist and Writer, who lives on the Isle of Skye, off the coast of North West Scotland. He is committed to the idea that the mind and brain can be understood only by seeing them in the broadest possible context, that of the whole of our physical and spiritual existence, and of the wider human culture in which they arise – the culture which helps to mould, and in turn is moulded by, our minds and brains. He was formerly a Consultant Psychiatrist of the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley NHS Trust in London, where he was Clinical Director of their southern sector Acute Mental Health Services.

Dr McGilchrist has published original research and contributed chapters to books on a wide range of subjects, as well as original articles in papers and journals, including the British Journal of Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, The Wall Street Journal, The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Times. He has taken part in many radio and TV programmes, documentaries, and numerous podcasts, and interviews on YouTube, among them dialogues with Jordan Peterson, David Fuller of Rebel Wisdom, and philosopher Tim Freke. His books include Against Criticism, The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, The Divided Brain and the Search for Meaning, and Ways of Attending. He published his latest book: The Matter With Things, a book of epistemology and metaphysics. You can keep up to date with his work at https://channelmcgilchrist.com.

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Interview Links:

— Iain McGilchrist website - https://channelmcgilchrist.com

Liz Lacy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist and Trainer, who is widely recognised as a leading authority on applying Schema Therapy in the treatment of addiction. This conversation provides an introduction to the core ideas of this innovative approach, covering things like:

— The flaws in the mainstream model of addiction treatment and why relapse rates are so high

— The relationship between our core developmental needs and addictive processes

— Why we should view an addiction as symptom of a deeper issue

— How schema therapy can offer a highly effective treatment modality.

And more.

You can learn more about Liz's work and upcoming training by going to https://elizabethlacy.com.

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Liz Lacy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist and Trainer, who is widely recognised as a leading authority on applying Schema Therapy in the treatment of addiction, aside from treating addictive disorders, she also assesses anxiety disorders, couples, and personality disorders in adults and adolescents. Emotional pain can be caused by various reasons, including recent life events, unresolved past events, and biological reasons. Liz’s assessment approach considers all possibilities to develop an effective plan for clients to achieve their life goals.

She is an expert in her field and is focused on helping clients achieve their goals, and she also acknowledges that emotional pain can be caused by various reasons and takes a holistic approach to assessment and treatment.

You can learn more about Liz's work and upcoming training by going to https://elizabethlacy.com.

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Interview Links:

— Liz Lacy’s website - https://elizabethlacy.com

— Schema Therapy Online - https://www.schematherapyonline.com

3 Books Liz Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs - Johann Hari - https://amzn.to/3p5b18F

— In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction- Dr Gabor Maté - https://amzn.to/4125SLH

— Schema Therapy: A Practitioner's Guide - Jeffrey E. Young et al. - https://amzn.to/3NytPHu

Dr James Cooke is a consciousness researcher, meditation teacher, and author of The Dawn of Mind.

His work blends science and spirituality to offer a fascinating perspective on reality and our place within it. We dive into nondual naturalism, the nature of consciousness, and how understanding these ideas can transform how we live.

Here’s what we cover:

— What nondual naturalism is and why it matters for everyday life.

— The story of James’s awakening experience as a teenager and how it shaped his path.

— The benefits of embracing the nondual path, how it naturally leads to feeling more at home in the world, and also why it might not be for everyone.

And more.

You can learn more about James’s work and access his meditation classes at innerspaceinstitute.org. His book, The Dawn of Mind, is available now.

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James Cooke PhD trained as a neuroscientist after an awakening as a teenager that showed him the reality of spiritual states of consciousness. He holds three degrees from Oxford University (a PhD and Masters in Neuroscience & a BA in Experimental Psychology).

He has conducted scientific research for over a decade at institutions such as Oxford University, University of California, Berkeley, University College London, Trinity College Dublin, and Riken Brain Sciences Institute in Tokyo.

James is the author of The Dawn of Mind: How Matter Became Conscious and Alive (coming December 2024), which synthesizes science and spiritual insight to offer a radical solution to the Hard Problem of Consciousness.

BA in Experimental Psychology, Oxford University

MSc in Neuroscience, Oxford University

PhD in Neuroscience, Oxford University

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Interview Links:

— Dr Cooke’s website - https://www.drjamescooke.com

James Altucher is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, investor, stand up comedian, and podcaster who has founded over 20 companies and published more than 20 books.

This was a bit of a surreal experience for me, as there are few people on the planet that have impacted my thinking and approach to business more than James. As you’ll hear in the interview, he has continuously reinvented himself throughout life and boldly thrown himself into strange and challenging situations, such as performing standup on the New York subway, attempting to buy the country Greenland, and giving away everything he owned.

In this conversation, we explore:

— What James learned from making millions and then losing everything

— How the simple practice of writing 10 ideas everyday can change your life

— Why radical vulnerability leads to freedom

— Strategies for accelerating the learning process

— The benefits of viewing yourself as having four “bodies” – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

And more.

You can learn more about James’ work by going to https://jamesaltucher.com.

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James Altucher is a successful entrepreneur, angel investor, chess master and prolific writer. He has started and run more than 20 companies and is currently invested in over 30.

He is the author of 18 books, including WSJ best-sellers: 'The Power of No' and 'Choose Yourself'. His latest book, "Reinvent Yourself" was #1 in the Amazon store shortly after its release.

His writing has appeared in major media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Observer, Techcrunch, The Financial Times, Yahoo Finance and others.

His blog, JamesAltucher.com, has attracted more than 20 million readers since its launch in 2010.

He hosts a successful podcast, "The James Altucher Show" with guests of the caliber of Tony Robbins, Mark Cuban, Pieter Thiel, Arianna Huffington, Coolio, etc. His podcasts have had over 30 million downloads.

Join him at https://jamesaltucher.com or on X @Jaltucher on Instagram @altucher

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Interview Links:

— James’ website - https://jamesaltucher.com

— James' X - https://x.com/jaltucher

— James' Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/altucher

Dr Matthew Johnson is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins, and one of the world’s most published scientists on the human effects of psychedelics.

His research focuses on the behavioural economics of drug use, addiction, and risk behaviour.

In this conversation, we explore:

— The underlying mechanisms which may help to explain why psychedelics are effective in treating a wide range of mental health problems

— What happens in the brain during a psychedelic experience

— The potential risks and who should avoid psychedelic medicines

— Dr Johnson’s advice for mental health professionals considering integrating psychedelic treatments in their practice.

And more.

You can follow Matt on X @Drug_Researcher.

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Dr. Matthew W. Johnson, is a distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. He is internationally renowned for his prolific research on the human effects of psychedelics and his groundbreaking work in the behavioural economics of drug use, addiction, and risk behaviour. In 2008, Dr. Johnson published psychedelic safety guidelines, contributing to the resurgence of psychedelic research. He led groundbreaking studies on the psychedelic treatment of tobacco addiction and cancer distress, as well as investigating psilocybin for opioid dependence and PTSD. Dr. Johnson’s research extends beyond psychedelics, with influential studies on various psychoactive substances. As President of the International Society for Research on Psychedelics and a respected NIH-funded Principal Investigator, he continues to be a leading figure in the field.

Learn more at https://clinicalconnection.hopkinsmedicine.org/participant/matthew-johnson-phd.

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3 Books Dr Johnson Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— The Meaning of Addiction: An Unconventional View - Stanton Peele - https://amzn.to/3Q6GPF6

— Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered - Lester Grinspoon and James B. Bakalar - https://amzn.to/3PLEwFX

— Acid Dreams: The Complete Social History of LSD: The CIA, the Sixties, and Beyond - Martin A. Lee and Bruce Shlain - https://amzn.to/48O4FfZ

Jodi Wellman is an executive coach, speaker, and author, with a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Her TEDx talk, “How Death Can Bring You Back to Life”, has garnered over 1.3 million views, and her new book, “You Only Die Once”, offers a roadmap for living without regrets.

Here’s what we dive into:

— The benefits of contemplating death and why doing so can inspire meaningful life changes.

— Jodi’s personal practices for keeping death top of mind and how it has transformed her life.

— Questions Jodi uses to help her is coaching clients find clarity and purpose.

— How Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence can challenge us to live in a way we’d want to repeat forever.

And more.

You can learn more about Jodi’s work at https://fourthousandmondays.com.

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Jodi Wellman is a speaker, author, and facilitator on living lives worth living. She founded Four Thousand Mondays to help people make the most of the time they are lucky to be above ground.

Jodi has a Master’s of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she is also an Assistant Instructor in the Master’s program and a facilitator in the Penn Resilience Program. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach and a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach.

Jodi’s TEDx talk is called How Death Can Bring You Back to Life; with over 1.3 million views, it is the 14th most-watched TEDx talk released in 2022, out of 15,900!

Her book, "You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets" was published in May 2024 by Voracious (Little, Brown & Company) in the US and Canada, and by John Murray One in the UK.

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Interview Links:

— Jodi’s website - https://fourthousandmondays.com

Dr. Laurel Parnell is a leading expert on the therapeutic tool, eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing which is more widely known as EMDR.

She has trained thousands of clinicians nationally and internationally, and is the author of several bestselling books, including: “Attachment Focused EMDR”, “Tapping In”, and “Rewiring the Addicted Brain with EMDR-Based Treatment”, which this interview focuses on.

In a wide-ranging conversation, we explore:

— The neural mechanisms and the connection between the left and right hemispheres which may help to explain why EMDR works

— The “Connecting to Consequences” Protocol, and how it can be leveraged to let go of unwanted behaviours and long standing addictions

— Dr Parnell’s groundbreaking Attachment-Focused EMDR approach and its role in addiction treatment

— The incredible power of “Resource Tapping” and how it can be a catalyst for fostering internal secure attachment.

And more.

You can learn about Dr Parnell’s work and forthcoming trainings by visiting: https://drlaurelparnell.com.

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Dr. Parnell is a leading expert on the therapeutic tool, eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing which is more widely known as EMDR. While Dr. Parnell has trained thousands of clinicians in EMDR both nationally and internationally, Dr. Parnell has also taught transpersonal psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and was core faculty at John F. Kennedy University in the Graduate School for the Study of Human Consciousness. Currently, Dr. Parnell teaches EMDR through Alliant International University, Omega Institute, Esalen Institute, ID Institut in Kassel Germany, and the The New York Open Center.

You can learn about Dr Parnell’s work and forthcoming trainings by visiting: https://drlaurelparnell.com/.

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3 Books Dr Parnell Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— Attachment-Focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma - Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/44bM7ni

— Tapping In: A Step-by-Step Guide to Activating Your Healing Resources Through Bilateral Stimulation - Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/439Cbcz

—A Therapist's Guide to EMDR: Tools and Techniques for Successful Treatment - Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/4408zjb