Ross Douthat is a New York Times columnist, author, and podcast host.

His latest book, "Believe," presents a rational case for faith in an increasingly secular world, drawing on evidence from science, philosophy, and human experience to make a compelling argument for the existence of God.

In this conversation, we explore:

— Why the strongest case for God rests at the intersection of multiple converging lines of evidence

— How the "hard problem of consciousness" challenges purely materialist explanations of reality

— Why being "spiritual but not religious" might be a reasonable starting point but not a desirable permanent state

— The importance of discernment in navigating the spiritual landscape

— How Ross's five-year battle with Lyme disease transformed his relationship with God

And more.

You can find Ross's work in his New York Times column, his book "Believe," and his podcast "Interesting Times."

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Ross Douthat is a best-selling author, columnist, and cultural critic whose work explores the intersections of politics, religion, and society. He has been an opinion columnist for The New York Times since 2009 and was previously a senior editor at The Atlantic.

He is the author of several acclaimed books, including Privilege: "Grand New Party", "Bad Religion", "To Change the Church", "The Decadent Society", and his memoir "The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery".

His latest book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious (2025), makes a compelling case for the enduring importance of faith in modern life.

Douthat graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He lectures widely on religion, politics, and culture, and lives in New Haven, Connecticut, with his wife, journalist Abigail Tucker, and their children.

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Interview Links:

— Ross' YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@InterestingTimesNYT/videos

— Ross' X account: https://x.com/douthatnyt

— Ross' book: https://amzn.to/3IlxZCj

Dr. Laurel Parnell is an internationally recognised clinical psychologist, author, consultant, and the developer of the innovative treatment approach: Attachment Focused EMDR

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

In a wide-ranging conversation, we explore:

— The link between EMDR and spiritual experiences

— The role of imagination in attachment focused EMDR and how it can be applied to heal developmental deficits

— What happens during an attachment focused EMDR session, both in the client’s internal world and in the therapy room.

And more.

You can learn more about Dr Parnell’s work and upcoming trainings via https://parnellemdr.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: www.drlaurelparnell.com

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3 Books Dr Parnell Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— Attachment Focused EMDR - Dr Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/3UB7HhB

— A Therapist's Guide to EMDR - Dr Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/3yfxuV3

— Rewiring the Addicted Brain - Dr Laurel Parnell - https://amzn.to/3ygRfvl

Dr Tatkin is a clinician, researcher, teacher, and developer of the psychobiological approach to couples therapy, often referred to as PACT.

He is assistant clinical professor in the family medicine department at the University of California. Dr Tatkin has authored numerous bestselling books on attachment and couples therapy, including: Wired for Love, Wired for Dating, In Each Other’s Care, and Your Brain on Love.

In this conversation, we explore:

— How human beings behave according to procedural memory most of the time and why this is important to understand in couples work

— Why relationships can be so difficult for humans

— The difference between a secure functioning relationship and secure attachment

And more.

You can learn more about Dr Tatkin’s work by visiting: thepactinstitute.com

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Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT, is a best-selling author, clinician, researcher, teacher, and developer of a Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy® (PACT). He has a clinical practice in Calabasas, CA, where he has specialized for the last 15 years in working with couples and individuals who wish to be in relationships. He and his wife, Tracey Boldemann-Tatkin, developed the PACT Institute to train clinicians to help challenging couples find secure-functioning relationships. He is the author of best-selling books We Do, Wired for Love, Wired for Dating and Love and War in Intimate Relationships, as well as the audio books Your Brain on Love and Relationship Rx.

Dr. Tatkin also teaches family medicine residents at Kaiser Permanente, Woodland Hills, CA, and is an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine. He travels throughout the United States and abroad with the PACT Institute teaching therapists how to help couples build secure-functioning relationships.

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3 Books Dr Stan Tatkin Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications - Jude Cassidy - https://amzn.to/4aIbYGJ

— Lyons-Ruth, K., L. Dutra, M. R. Schuder, and I. Bianchi. 2006. "From Infant Attachment Disorganization to Adult Dissociation: Relational Adaptations or Traumatic Experiences?" Psychiatric Clinics of North America 29 (1): 63–86. - https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2006-03379-005

— Schore, A. N. 2000. "Attachment and the regulation of the right brain." Attachment & Human Development 1 (2): 23–47. - https://www.allanschore.com/pdf/SchoreAttachHumDev.pdf

Jerry Colonna is an executive coach, author, and former venture capitalist who has been called "the CEO Whisperer." As the founder of Reboot.io, he works with leaders to foster both professional success and personal wholeness through the practice of radical self-inquiry.

In this conversation, we explore Jerry's latest book "Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong," which examines how reconnecting with our ancestral past can help us build a more compassionate future.

Expect to learn:

— How disconnection from our ancestral lineage contributes to our ability to "other" people in society today

— Why understanding your own heritage creates an empathetic bridge to those different from you

— Why letting go of the myth of meritocracy can be liberating for leaders

— The relationship between feeling worthy of love, safety, and belonging and our ability to extend those gifts to others

And more.

You can learn more about Jerry's work, books, and coaching practice at https://www.reboot.io

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Jerry Colonna is a coach, writer, and speaker who focuses on leadership, business, and the practice of radical self-inquiry. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Reboot.io, a company born from the rallying cry that work does not have to destroy us. Work can be the way in which we achieve our fullest self. A graduate of Queens College, Jerry helps people lead with humanity and equanimity. His unique blend of Buddhism, Jungian therapy, and entrepreneurial know-how has made him a sought-after coach and leader, working with some of the largest firms in the country.

In his work as a coach, he draws on his experience in Venture Capital (VC) as Co-founder of Flatiron Partners, one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs. Later, he was a partner with J.P. Morgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase.

Along with a strong commitment to the nonprofit sector, Jerry is the author of two books: REBOOT: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up (2019) and REUNION: Leadership and the Longing to Belong. Reboot was met with critical acclaim, stirring up a big question in the hearts and minds of people: “How have I been complicit in creating the conditions I say I don’t want?” Jerry’s second book builds on this question, asking us what benefit we get from the conditions we say we don’t want.

Jerry is astounded by the fact that he lives on a farm outside of Boulder, CO near the foothills of the Rockies, and far from the streets of Brooklyn where he was born and raised. He is the father of three amazing humans, each of whom cares deeply about the love, safety, and belonging of others.

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Interview Links:

— Jerry’s website: https://www.reboot.io

— Jerry’s books: https://amzn.to/3Hw4gpV

Dr Alicia Lieberman is a clinical psychologist, author, and the senior developer of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). Her books include: The Emotional Life of the Toddler, Don’t Hit My Mommy, and Psychotherapy with Infants and Young Children.

She has received numerous awards including: the Rene Spitz Award from the World Association for Infant Mental Health, the Hero Award from the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and the Whole Child Award from the Simms/Mann Institute.

In this conversation, we explore:

— The pioneering work of Selma Fraiberg and how this influenced Dr Lieberman’s trajectory

— The role that "ghosts" and "angels" in the nursery play in the intergenerational transmission of trauma

— The importance of “speaking the unspeakable” and helping children who have experienced trauma to construct adaptive narratives from their experiences.

And more.

You can learn more about Dr Lieberman’s work at: https://childparentpsychotherapy.com/

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Dr. Lieberman is the Irving B. Harris Endowed Chair in Infant Mental Health and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs at the UCSF Department of Psychiatry, and Director of the Child Trauma Research Program. She is a clinical consultant with the San Francisco Human Services Agency. She is active in major national organizations involved with mental health in infancy and early childhood. She is past-president of the board of directors of Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, and on the Professional Advisory Board of the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute. She has served on peer review panels of the National Institute of Mental Health, is on the Board of Trustees of the Irving Harris Foundation, and consults with the Miriam and Peter Haas Foundation on early childhood education for Palestinian-Israeli children.

Born and raised in Paraguay, she received her BA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. This background informs her work on behalf of children and families from diverse ethnic and cultural origins, with primary emphasis on the experiences of Latinos in the United States.

Dr. Lieberman is currently the director of the Early Trauma Treatment Network (ETTN), a collaborative of four university sites that include the UCSF/SFGH Child Trauma Research Program, Boston Medical Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, and Tulane University. ETTN is funded by the federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, a 40-site national initiative that has the mission of increasing the access and quality of services for children exposed to trauma in the United States. Her major interests include infant mental health, disorders of attachment, early trauma treatment outcome research, and mental health service disparities for underserved and minority children and families. Her current research involves treatment outcome evaluation of the efficacy of child-parent psychotherapy with trauma-exposed children aged birth to six and with pregnant women involved in domestic violence. As a trilingual, tricultural Jewish Latina, she has a special interest in cultural issues involving child development, child rearing, and child mental health. She lectures extensively on these topics nationally and internationally.

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Interview Links:

— Dr Liberman’s website - https://childparentpsychotherapy.com/

3 books that Dr Lieberman recommended

— The emotional life of the toddler - Alicia Lieberman - https://amzn.to/46pWmGn

— Don’t hit my mommy - Alicia Lieberman - https://amzn.to/3LHCepK

— Make Room for Baby - Alicia F. Lieberman, Manuela A. Diaz, Gloria Castro, Griselda Oliver Bucio - https://amzn.to/3ynmyow

Dr Brown is a licensed psychologist with more than 40 years of clinical experience, a researcher, and lecturer in the field of addiction.

She is an internationally recognised expert on treatment of alcoholics, adult children of alcoholics and all addicts and their families.

Dr Brown is the author of eleven academic and popular books on addiction and recovery, including her 2014 book: Speed, which this interview focuses on.

In this conversation, we explore:

— The invisible and insidious addiction to speed that has slowly been taking hold in Western Culture, and how this is causing widespread mental health problems

— Dr Brown’s definition of addiction as: “A deep self destructive conflict of interest” and a “war within the self”

— Why our inability to face and embrace our limitations may be the central issue in addiction and how this is causing us to lose control

— Strategies for overcoming speed addiction in therapeutic work.

And more.

You can learn more about Dr Brown’s work at: https://stephaniebrownphd.com.

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Stephanie Brown, PhD, is a distinguished figure in the addiction field, renowned as a clinician, educator, author, and researcher. In 1977, she pioneered the Alcohol Clinic at Stanford University Medical Center, where she held the helm for eight years. Dr. Brown's groundbreaking work led to the development of the dynamic model for alcoholism recovery, a paradigm she skillfully applied to the long-term treatment of entire alcoholic families. She played a pivotal role in the California State Alcoholism Advisory Board and co-founded the National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA). Throughout her career, she earned numerous accolades, including the Norman Zinberg Memorial Award and the Miracles Breakfast Constellation Behavioral Health Hope Tribute Award.

To delve deeper into her impactful journey through her book and website, you can go to https://www.stephaniebrownphd.com/about.

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Books Dr Brown Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— The Cybernetics of "Self": A Theory of Alcoholism — Gregory Bateson - https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1971-29301-001

— Drinking: A Love Story — Caroline Knapp - https://amzn.to/3rltmPz

— Speed: Facing Our Addiction to Fast and Faster- And Overcoming Our Fear of Slowing Down — Stephanie Brown - https://amzn.to/3NEStoe

— reStart (Training Program) — Dr. Hilarie Cash - https://www.restartlife.com/why-trust-restart/

— Video Games & Your Kids: How Parents Stay in Control — Dr. Hilarie Cash - https://amzn.to/3PMI6By

— Child, Disrupted — Krista Riihimaki - https://www.childdisrupted.com/trailer

Professor Steven C Hayes is the co-developer of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational Frame Theory, and most recently Process Based Therapy.

Dr Hayes is the author of several bestselling books, including Get out of Your Mind and Into Your Life, Process-Based CBT, and A Liberated Mind.

Along with his colleagues, Steve has spent decades developing and rigorously testing the psychological flexibility model — which is now one of the most empirically validated predictors of flourishing in life.

In this conversation, we explore:

— Why we need to focus on social context if our aim is to create secure attachment

— The perspective taking self and how developing this can reduce suffering and foster internal security

— Steve’s thoughts on the vital importance of viewing people as individuals, rather than averages — particularly when we are discussing mental health.

And more.

You can learn more about Steve’s work by going to stevenchayes.com and check out the new psych flex app by visiting: https://psychflex.com.

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Steven C. Hayes, PhD, is a professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. The author of forty-three books and more than six hundred scientific articles, he has served as president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science and is one of the most cited psychologists in the world.

Dr. Hayes initiated the development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and of Relational Frame Theory (RFT), the approach to cognition on which ACT is based. Most recently, he has been focused on developing Process Based Therapy along with Prof Stefan Hofmann.

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Interview Links:

— A Liberated Mind: The Essential Guide to ACT - Steven Hayes - https://amzn.to/3UG9wcU

— ACT Immersion: https://stevenchayes.com/actimmersion

— ACT in Practice: https://stevenchayes.com/actinpractice

— Professor Hayes’ website: https://stevenchayes.com

Dr. Jo is a bereaved mother and the founder of the MISS Foundation, an international NGO that serves families whose children have died, and the Selah Carefarm, a sustainable restorative community that provides aid to anyone suffering traumatic grief.

She is also a Professor and Senior Scholar at Arizona State University, where she spearheads the Graduate Certificate in Trauma and Bereavement. Her best selling book, Bearing the Unbearable has helped revolutionize the way our culture thinks, and feels, about grief. She works with and counsels families from all around the world who have experienced catastrophic deaths.

In this conversation, we explore:

— How grief and love are two sides of the same coin

— The happiness cult and the harmful effects of living in a culture that avoids pain

— How best to help someone who is grieving and things to avoid

— Rituals for integrating grief in a holistic way and honouring the person who has passed.

And more.

You can learn more about Dr Jo’s work at missfoundation.org.

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Dr. Joanne Cacciatore is a bereaved mother and the founder of the MISS Foundation, an international NGO that serves families whose children have died, and the Selah Carefarm, a sustainable restorative community that provides aid to anyone suffering traumatic grief. She is also a Professor and Senior Scholar in the Wrigley Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University, spearheading the Graduate Certificate in Trauma and Bereavement. Her best selling book, Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief, is a national award winning best seller that has helped revolutionize the way our culture thinks, and feels, about grief.

She works with and counsels families from all around the world who have experienced catastrophic deaths. She served on Oprah and Prince Harry’s Mental Health Advisory Board for several years and was featured in their docuseries ‘The Me You Can’t See.” Dr. Jo, believing that current practices around food production are a social, ethical, and environmental justice issue, is a vegan and hasn’t eaten meat since 1972. She also teaches meditation, mindfulness, and compassion and ahimsa practices to students and clients from around the world. If you’re a provider seeking supervision or consultation, For more information on Dr. Jo visit her website.

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Interview Links:

— Dr Jo's website - https://www.centerforlossandtrauma.com/

3 Books Dr Joanne Cacciatore Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— Attachment in Psychotherapy - David Wallin - https://amzn.to/3Rp8stp

— Attachment-Informed Grief Therapy: The Clinician's Guide to Foundations and Applications (Series in Death, Dying, and Bereavement) - Phyllis S. Kosminsky - https://amzn.to/3UPAgI8

— Bearing the Unbearable - Dr Joanne Cacciatore - https://amzn.to/3R27bbv

In this interview, I’m joined by Dr James Glattfelder.

James is a physicist, complexity scientist, and peer-reviewed philosopher.

His latest book: The Sapient Cosmos synthesises the latest developments in consciousness studies, physics, and information theory to tackle some of life’s biggest questions.

Expect to learn:

— Why consciousness might be the foundation of reality, not just a product of the brain

— The rational case for idealism

— How psychedelics may have shaped human cultures for milennia

— James’ insights on the purpose of life

And more.

You can learn more about James’ work and get a copy of the book at: https://jth.ch

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Dr James Glattfelder is a Swiss author, researcher, and educator exploring the intersection of consciousness, information, and complex systems. With a Ph.D. in complex systems from ETH Zurich and an M.Sc. in theoretical high-energy particle physics, his career spans over two decades of quantitative research, including 12 years at Olsen Ltd. He has held senior roles in digital finance, co-founding ECUREX and contributing to fintech ventures like Lykke and Oyoba. As the author of Information—Consciousness—Reality and The Sapient Cosmos, he brings scientific rigour to philosophical inquiry. James currently serves as Faculty Lecturer at MQ Learning Academy and Lead Quantitative Researcher at Lykke. He is also an indie author and writes for Collective Ink’s Essentia imprint, continuing to examine the nature of consciousness through a scientific lens.

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Interview Link:

— Dr Glattfelder’s book and website: https://jth.ch

Dr. David Spiegel is an author, psychiatrist and professor at Stanford University, and one of the world’s leading experts into the clinical applications of hypnosis. He has published thirteen books, over 400 scientific articles, and 170 chapters on hypnosis, stress physiology, trauma, and psychotherapy. He is also the creator of REVERI, an innovative guided self hypnosis app which has been clinically proven to reduce stress, improve sleep, and enhance focus.

In this lively and wide ranging conversation, we explore:

— The exciting new science of clinical hypnosis and how it can be applied in the treatment of addiction and trauma

— The importance of focusing on valued directions in clinical work and being a kind parent to yourself

— Dr Spiegel’s experiences working with Irvin Yalom and what he learned from him

— The neural mechanisms that explain why clinical hypnosis works, including dissociation, cognitive flexibility, and absorption

— The extent to which we can view hypnosis as a form of “internal exposure therapy”.

And more.

I used Dr Spiegel’s REVERI app to help with sleep earlier this week and found myself out like a light within a few minutes, so I’d highly recommend giving it a try. You can learn more at https://www.reveri.com.

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Dr. David Spiegel is Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he has been a member of the academic faculty since 1975, and was Chair of the Stanford University Faculty Senate from 2010-2011. He has published thirteen books, over 400 scientific journal articles, and 170 chapters on hypnosis, psychosocial oncology, stress physiology, trauma, and psychotherapy.

His research has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Fetzer Institute, the Dana Foundation for Brain Sciences, and the Nathan S. Cummings Foundation. He was a member of the work groups on the stressor and trauma-related disorders for the DSM-IV and DSM-5 editions of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. He is Past President of the American College of Psychiatrists and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, and is a Member of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2018, Dr Spiegel was invited to speak on hypnosis at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2018.

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3 Books Dr Spiegel Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— Dopamine Nation — Dr Anna Lembke - https://amzn.to/3O6NdKe

— Trance and Treatment: Clinical Uses of Hypnosis 2nd Edition — Herbert Spiegel and David Spiegel - https://www.appi.org/Products/Psychotherapy/Trance-and-Treatment-Second-Edition

— How to Change Your Mind — Michael Pollan - https://amzn.to/3OysDUw