Elevating Consciousness

Christopher Bache is a professor emeritus of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University, where he taught for 33 years. He is also adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies and an Emeritus Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Trained at Notre Dame, Cambridge, and Brown, Bache spent seven years earning a PhD — a process that turned him into a hardcore agnostic. He then began a 20-year self-experiment taking high-dose LSD using protocols developed by psychedelic pioneer Stanislav Grof.For two decades, Chris lived a double life — a professor in public, and in private, a man conducting 73 high-dose LSD sessions in search of insight into consciousness and reality. He kept the work hidden from his university for most of that time, even while teaching courses on Eastern religion, mysticism, and consciousness. He is the author of several books including "Dark Night, Early Dawn," "The Living Classroom," and "LSD and the Mind of the Universe" — the book in which he finally told the full story of his psychedelic explorations.In this conversation, we explore whether psychedelics hold genuine spiritual and philosophical insights not otherwise accessible through meditation or contemplative practice, the three ways of consciously using psychedelics — personal healing, spiritual awakening, and cosmological exploration — and how Vajrayana practice shaped Chris's psychedelic work.We get into whether psychedelic experiences build systematically over recurring sessions, the trouble with integrating short-acting psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT, psychedelic work in groups vs individually, Chris's method for capturing insights from his sessions, and his leading thoughts on reincarnation and the living classroom of collective intelligence.We also explore the varieties of psychedelic experiences from falling asleep to meeting cosmic beings, how to better integrate peak states and psychedelic experiences into everyday life, and what it means to lose meaning, find meaning, and remember God.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Chris's personal site LSD and the Mind of the Universe — Chris Bache Lifecycles — Chris Bache Dark Night, Early Dawn — Chris Bache The Living Classroom — Chris Bache Essay: Therapeutic vs Spiritual vs Cosmological use of Psychedelics — Chris Bache Journey of Souls — Michael Newton Destiny of Souls — Michael Newton Choosing Earth — Duane Elgin Robert Monroe Alex Grey Vajrayana Ordinary Mystics — Matt Zemon Anthony De Mello Doors of Perception — Aldous Huxley Alan Watts Chögyam Trungpa Holotropic Breathwork Stanislav Grof James Hollis🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction5:06 - Do psychedelics hold spiritual and philosophical insights not accessible through meditation or contemplative practice?6:52 - Three ways of consciously using psychedelics — personal healing, spiritual awakening and cosmological exploration10:42 - Can we truly separate awakening from metaphysics?13:08 - How Vajrayana practice impacted Chris's psychedelic explorations17:48 - How Chris's Diamond Luminosity experience differs from Rigpa21:20 - Frequency of use, diminishing returns, and do psychedelic experiences systematically build on each other?27:40 - Are psychedelic experiences just distortions of consciousness that take us away from wisdom?43:45 - 5-MeO-DMT and the trouble with integrating short-acting psychedelics50:05 - Psychedelic work in groups vs individually52:01 - Chris's method for capturing insights from his psychedelic sessions53:48 - Can you journey without a sitter?57:31 - Chris's leading thoughts on reincarnation1:01:40 - The Living Classroom and collective intelligence1:04:55 - Varieties of psychedelic experiences — from falling asleep to meeting cosmic beings1:16:49 - How to better integrate peak states and psychedelic experiences1:21:40 - Losing meaning, finding meaning and remembering God1:28:09 - Being misunderstood and a final message*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional lens

Andrew Louis Venezia is a meditation and Circling teacher, coach, and writer based in Amsterdam, whose work presents Circling and related practices as a path of Tantric awakening and integration. After experiencing a life-changing encounter with Awakened Interbeing during a retreat for his Master's degree cohort, Andrew embarked on a three-year research project exploring the intersection of relational practice and awakening. It was during this period that he discovered Circling.He has since dedicated his life to weaving Circling together with the classical Tantric paths of Vajrayana Buddhism and Nondual Shaiva Tantra, as well as modern, embodied approaches to psychological wellbeing. With more than a decade of teaching and deep engagement with many approaches to growth, healing, development, and awakening, Andrew has come to see this as the most integrative path available — one that meets the head, the heart, and the body at once, and allows for a seamless, nondual expression of form and formlessness, self and other, awakening and embodied life.He recently released "What It's Like to Be You" — a book that unpacks Circling through the lens of Tantric awakening, available for free on his website.In this conversation, we explore Andrew's early mystical experiences and how meditation helped him integrate them, the relationship between psychedelics and meditation, what Circling is and why we practice it, and the Tantric view of transformation — and why Andrew believes it is the most skillful approach for the world we are walking into.We also get into mistaking states for realization, taking awakening off the cushion, authenticity and paradox, Awakened Interbeing, and how Circling and meditation complement each other, whether Circling can reach a wider audience and contribute to meaningful societal change, and how Circling can help us have better political conversations.A rich and wide-ranging conversation at the intersection of meditation, Circling, psychedelics, and Tantric awakening — for anyone ready to go beyond solo practice into something more relational, embodied, and comprehensive. 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Andrew's personal site Get Andrew's book "What It's Like to Be You" — free What is Circling? — Artem Zen Beyond Spiritual Idealization with Delson Armstrong Uptrusting social network🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:11 - Early experiences of awakening, meditation, psychedelics, studying integral, and discovering We Space practice and interbeing14:45 - Navigating spiritual experiences as a child21:54 - Mistaking states for realization27:44 - Integrating spiritual experiences through meditation35:08 - Psychedelics vs meditation47:11 - Being an integrationist and taking realization off the cushion52:32 - What is Circling and why do we practice it?1:01:38 - Authenticity, paradox and construction1:06:05 - Navigating resistance to Circling1:07:45 - Awakened interbeing — integrating Circling and meditation1:16:28 - A moment to recollect and recalibrate1:18:10 - What is a Tantric view and why Circling is a Tantric practice1:25:50 - Is Circling a fringe practice or does it have potential to become mainstream?1:34:52 - The challenge and promise of Circling1:39:10 - Towards an integral world and how Circling can help us have better political conversations1:43:02 - Integrating truth and love through Circling1:47:43 - Final thoughts*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Lydia Becker is a therapist, instructor, and midwife with over three decades of experience in Skan-Reichian bodywork. Rooted in the tradition of Wilhelm Reich, her work uses breathwork and bodywork to release emotional and physical tension held in the body — supporting people in softening long-held patterns, breathing more fully, and rediscovering their natural aliveness.In 1988, she became a licensed midwife — and it was through her midwifery work that Lydia experienced the power of breath and the importance of softening the social persona during birth, which led her to deepen her study of breath and body-oriented therapy. In 1993, she began a three-year training in Skan — a form of somatic psychotherapy rooted in Wilhelm Reich's work — receiving her certification to teach in 1999. She has since been offering individual sessions and leading workshops and retreats throughout the country.In this episode, we explore Wilhelm Reich's revolutionary approach to therapy and healing, the theory of armoring, and how unconscious layers of trauma, tension, and stress become stored in the body, and what makes Skan body-psychotherapy uniquely powerful as a somatic healing modality.We get into the relationship between sexuality, life force, and neuroticism, the relational aspect of healing, how to breathe when engaging with Reichian breathwork, what the mechanism behind de-armoring actually is, and why we often have to move through anger and grief before we can reach genuine forgiveness — including a live Reichian breathwork session Lydia guides us through.A profound conversation for anyone drawn to somatic healing, breathwork, and the body as a pathway to psychological and spiritual liberation.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Lydia's personal site What is Skan? Wilhelm Reich Sigmund Freud🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Intro 2:10 - Artem's experience with Lydia's work 5:09 - Working in midwifery, going through a crisis, and getting into Reichian breathwork 13:30 - Unconscious layers of trauma, tension, and stress stored in the body 15:18 - Wilhelm Reich's approach to therapy and healing 23:19 - Theory of armoring, character structures, the core, and directionality 31:07 - Sexuality, life force, neuroticism, and going beyond the story 35:13 - How Skan body-psychotherapy is unique 37:10 - The relational aspect of healing 44:53 - How to breathe when engaging with Reichian breathwork 47:10 - Lydia guides us through a live Reichian breathwork session 1:03:06 - Reflecting on the experience 1:05:06 - What is the mechanism behind de-armoring? 1:13:40 - The liberating impact of long-term Reichian work 1:19:49 - The role of emotions in Skan and what an in-person session looks like 1:26:02 - We often have to feel anger and grief before we get to forgiveness 1:28:00 - The structure of a Skan Reichian breathwork group retreat 1:32:17 - Opportunities to train in Skan*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Ken Wilber is a philosopher, author, and the creator of Integral theory. He is considered by many one of the most influential thinkers of our time, whose writings have been translated into over twenty languages and have profoundly impacted domains as varied as business and medicine, psychology and ethics, politics and religion, art and education, and personal relationships.His AQAL (All Quadrants, All Lines) framework attempts to map human reality across four quadrants, multiple stages of development, lines of intelligence, states of consciousness, and personality types — offering what he calls a cosmic address, a way of locating where one is situated across multiple dimensions of existence simultaneously.In 2000 he founded the Integral Institute, a think tank dedicated to exploring pressing issues of science and society. In 2007 he co-founded Integral Life, a hub sharing the integral vision with a worldwide audience. He has authored more than twenty books, from dense scholarly works to popular introductions and personal memoirs, including "Finding Radical Wholeness," "A Brief History of Everything," "Grace and Grit," "Sex, Ecology, Spirituality," "Boomeritis," and "The Religion of Tomorrow."In this conversation, Ken shares how an early spiritual awakening launched a lifelong mission to map the full spectrum of human experience. We explore the crucial difference between states and stages of development, the role of the 1970s, psychedelics, and the Esalen Institute in shaping the human potential movement, and the thinkers and traditions that most deeply influenced his work.Ken reflects on how he was able to remain so extraordinarily productive while navigating a chronic health condition, and shares which of his many books he considers his favorite. He also opens up about the profound impact of losing his wife Treya to cancer — how that grief shaped some of his most important writing, and what his relationship to love and partnership looked like in the years that followed.We also discuss how a conversation between Jordan Peterson and Richard Dawkins inspired Ken's next book, and what that project is attempting to do. We close by looking toward the future — AI and existential risk, whether Ken would upload his mind to a computer, transcending postmodern culture, his thoughts on Metamodernism, and why he believes Integral consciousness isn't just possible but inevitable.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Ken Wilber’s personal siteFinding Radical Wholeness by Ken Wilber Integral LifeGrace & Grit by Ken WilberSex, Ecology & Spirituality by Ken WilberIntegral Life Practice by Ken WilberTrump and a Post-truth world by Ken WilberSusanne Cook-Greuter on the Elevating Consciousness podcastTimothy LearyRam DassHoward GardnerSigmund FreudCarl JungFritz PerlsEsalen InstituteMichael MurphyJane LoevingerEido RoshiJean GebserSri AurobindoRobert KeganArthur Koestler & Holon philosophyD.T. SuzukiLankavatara SutraDon't Die (Bryan Johnson documentary)🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:12 - My summary of Ken's work — the four quadrants, states vs stages6:47 - Everyone is partially right9:11 - Ken's initial spiritual awakening10:11 - Delineating states of awakening from developmental stages — waking up and growing up14:54 - Discovering multiple intelligences and taking psychedelics — opening up23:55 - Freud, Jung, Fritz Perls, the impact of the Esalen Institute, and shadow work — cleaning up37:54 - Jane Loevinger and taking multiple perspectives — showing up41:06 - The AQAL map, holons, and putting it all together into Integral theory47:11 - Ken's work being translated into 35 languages and used across disciplines50:20 - Ken's favorite book that he has written52:50 - The impact of losing his wife Treya to cancer, and love after her death56:10 - How Ken's next book was inspired by Jordan Peterson's conversation with Richard Dawkins59:44 - The Grace and Grit movie1:01:11 - The need for different types of truths1:04:32 - Finding a Zen master, working with koans, and the evolution of Ken's meditation practice1:14:16 - Being born cerebrotonic and excelling in school1:19:17 - How Ken was able to be so productive while navigating a chronic health condition1:28:23 - Thoughts on longevity, Bryan Johnson, and the Don't Die philosophy1:32:40 - AI, existential risk, and would Ken upload himself to a computer?1:36:36 - Transcending the postmodern mean green meme and the future of Integral1:43:52 - Who are the torch carriers of Integral?1:46:52 - Ken's thoughts on Metamodernism1:49:38 - Integral is a view or stage that belongs to no one1:51:04 - Integral consciousness is inevitable1:53:05 - What is at the leading edge of Ken's thinking?*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get the latest podcast episodes, in-depth articles, and community practice sessions delivered straight to your inbox

Sylvie Barbier and Rufus Pollock are the co-founders of Life Itself — a collective of pragmatic utopians committed to practical action for a radically wiser, weller world. Sylvie is a French-Taiwanese ritual artist whose work synthesizes Eastern and Western philosophies and aesthetics, creating contemporary rituals where the audience takes an active, interactive role. Rufus is an entrepreneur, activist, author, and long-term Zen practitioner who has founded several successful for-profit and nonprofit initiatives. His 2018 book "Open Revolution," about building a radically freer and fairer information age, has been translated into multiple languages.Together, both as a couple and through their work with Life Itself, Sylvie and Rufus create practice hubs and developmental spaces, drive research on the meta-crisis and pathways toward a Second Renaissance, and build partnerships across disciplines connecting thinkers, artists, communities, and organizations exploring post-conventional and metamodern ways of life.In this conversation, we explore how Sylvie and Rufus's inner work paths converged and led them to co-found Life Itself, and the real difficulty and vulnerability of walking a post-conventional path.We get into why shadow work remains criminally underrated, Game A vs Game B as two fundamentally different ways of seeing reality, and what a Roman watching Christians die in the Colosseum can teach us about wisdom vs power.We also explore which seeds of culture we're choosing to nourish, the need for holistic development, and what actually makes people change their minds.We close by framing meta-crisis conversations through symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, and exploring the surprising role art may play in collective transformation.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Life Itself collective Life Itself YouTube channel Sylvie Barbier's personal site Follow Sylvie on Substack Rufus Pollock's personal site Follow Rufus on Substack Second Renaissance Second Renaissance white papers Second Renaissance art Second Renaissance magazine Understanding the Metacrisis Understanding Developmental Spaces🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:04 - How Sylvie and Rufus's journeys came together11:12 - Founding the Life Itself collective and the Second Renaissance movement17:07 - Running transformational practice hubs21:18 - The need for continuity and rootedness25:18 - The difficulty and vulnerability of the post-conventional path36:26 - Shadow work is still underrated, and a modernist in rehab41:05 - Game A vs Game B46:16 - What a Roman watching Christians die in the Colosseum can teach us49:15 - The idea behind the Over the Mountains podcast52:44 - Which seeds are we deciding to nourish? Creating pockets of culture57:40 - Two ways of seeing reality — wisdom vs power1:09:10 - The need for holistic development1:17:52 - Creating more good faith dialogue and what makes people change their minds1:24:40 - Framing meta-crisis conversations through symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment1:34:16 - Art's role in collective transformation*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get the latest podcast episodes, in-depth articles, and community practice sessions delivered straight to your inbox

Stephen Zerfas is the CEO and co-founder of Jhourney — a tech startup scaling transformative meditation through a data-driven lens, guiding complete beginners into deeply absorbed meditation states known as the jhanas in less than a week. Stephen discovered the first three jhanas through his own practice and, upon learning of their profound history, made it his mission to bring them to as many people as possible. He has since trained with leading jhana teachers including Leigh Brasington and Delson Armstrong. Jhourney has served over 1,300 alumni with a 60-70% success rate helping participants access the jhanas on weeklong retreats. Before founding Jhourney, Stephen worked as a software engineer at Lyft and a management consultant at Bridgespan, a Bain affiliate. A University of Notre Dame graduate, he lives in the Bay Area with his wife and daughter.This conversation was recorded live during Limicon, a digital conference for people in the liminal, Game B, and metamodern adjacent spaces.In it, we explore what the jhanas are, how Stephen discovered them through self-experimentation, and why he decided to found a tech company that teaches them.We get into the guesswork problem of meditation and starting Jhourney, whether the jhanas are universally discovered states, what they actually feel like, and the concept of super wellbeing — taking the technology of meditation seriously.We also explore the main barriers to accessing the jhanas and how to orient to the meditation by reflecting like a scientist and playing like a child, before Stephen guides us through a live "towards jhana" guided meditation.We close with a group discussion on what role morality plays in meditation, or must play, and the biggest concerns around jhana meditation practice.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Jhourney website Subscribe to Stephen on Substack A video capturing the intensity of the jhanas from people on retreat A Jhourney retreat reflection Meditation safety podcast — David Treleaven on meditation safety and jhanas How to cry on cue The Mind Illuminated — Culadasa🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:49 - The contemplative corner of the liminal web6:12 - How Stephen discovered the jhanas on his own12:22 - The guesswork problem of meditation and starting Jhourney17:23 - What are the jhanas?20:26 - Are these universally discovered states?22:44 - What do the jhanas feel like?24:15 - Super wellbeing and taking the technology of meditation seriously27:07 - Main barriers to accessing the jhanas34:50 - Orienting to the meditation — reflect like a scientist, play like a child38:10 - Towards jhana guided meditation1:18:19 - What role does morality play in meditation?1:28:09 - The biggest concerns of jhana meditation practice*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get the latest podcast episodes, in-depth articles, and community practice sessions delivered straight to your inbox

Daniel Garner is a writer, philosopher, and one-half of O.G. Rose — the philosophical and literary voice he shares with his wife, Michelle Garner. Their work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Uno Press Lab Prize, and has been featured in literary publications including The Iowa Review, The William and Mary Review, and Broken Pencil. Daniel has been involved in writing over a dozen books including "The Conflict of Mind," "The Map Is Indestructible," the "Belonging Again" series, and a creative fiction work, "Under the Wing." When not writing or thinking on the deepest questions of our times, he manages the Mead Lake Lodge wedding venue, teaches piano using visuals from the DLG Pattern Method, and raises four children.This conversation was recorded live during Limicon, a digital conference for people in the liminal, Game B, and metamodern adjacent spaces.In it, we explore how belonging can be created beyond conformity or isolationism in a pluralistic and hyper-fragmented world, and what it asks of us across different scales, from the local to the national to the global.We get into regressive forms of belonging, how belonging differs on a local, national, and global level, and cheap vs costly perennialism and evolving structures. We highlight the importance of negativity, lack, and radical difference — forces so often overlooked in spiritual spaces — and examine the limits of any single system, model, or medium.We explore Hegel's absolute knower, the Deleuzian individual, the Nietzschean child, and the debate between Freud and Jung, the irony of not belonging in a conversation about belonging, and the social coordination mechanism.We also get into somewheres and anywheres, democratizing media, racism as the problem of givens and releases, and nature as a pathway to diversity and belonging.We close by sitting with the difference between talking about belonging and living it, finding belonging in different mediums and structures, Daniel's insights from running Eunoia, an in-person gathering space, and why we are all doomed without adequate social coordination.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗O.G. Rose's personal site Subscribe to O.G. Rose's Substack Watch O.G. Rose's YouTube channel Belonging Again: An Explanation — O.G. Rose Belonging Again: An Address — O.G. Rose Triumph of the Therapeutic — Philip Rieff Inside the Manosphere — documentary Charles W. Mills Science and Sanity — Alfred Korzybski Friedrich Hayek The Road to Somewhere — David Goodhart Christopher Alexander🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Intro2:45 - The central problem of belonging12:27 - Regressive forms of belonging16:37 - How belonging differs on a local, national, and global level21:15 - Cheap vs costly perennialism and evolving structures30:18 - Negativity, lack, and radical difference37:29 - The limits of any one system, model, or medium41:51 - Hegel's absolute knower, the Deleuzian individual, the Nietzschean child, and the debate between Freud and Jung46:10 - The irony of not belonging in a conversation about belonging and the importance of intelligibility57:24 - The social coordination mechanism1:03:01 - Somewheres and anywheres1:06:41 - Democratizing media1:11:41 - Racism as the problem of givens and releases1:20:06 - Nature as a pathway to diversity and belonging1:25:18 - The pros and cons of digital history1:30:11 - The difference between talking about belonging and living it1:35:37 - Finding belonging in different mediums and structures1:41:45 - Daniel's insights from running Eunoia, an in-person gathering space1:49:03 - We are all doomed without adequate social coordination*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get the latest podcast episodes, in-depth articles, and community practice sessions delivered straight to your inbox

Richard Flyer is a community weaver and entrepreneur who has devoted his life to exploring how spirituality, local relationships, and practical action can renew communities, building ecosystem networks from the ground up. Deeply influenced by Sarvodaya Shramadana's grassroots mobilization of 15,000 Sri Lankan villages, Richard champions bottom-up regeneration rooted in local relationships, spiritual practice, and everyday service.His work spans founding Vecinos Unidos in San Diego, leading the San Diego Food Bank, supporting syntropic agroforestry in Hawaii, building symbiotic networks across Living Local Economy, Food Systems, Arts and Culture, and Neighbor Networks in Reno, and launching the Symbiotic Culture Lab to activate 50,000 micro-bioregional community networks by 2033. From early mystical experiences of a "Luminous Web" of interconnection to research with pilot whales and years immersed in nature, Richard's life has been a living experiment in bringing the transcendent into the immanent — "bringing Heaven to Earth" — through practical, face-to-face community building grounded in love, service, and shared responsibility.He is the author of "Birthing the Symbiotic Age: An Ancient Blueprint to Unite Humanity," which draws from five decades of hands-on experiments across cultures, faith traditions, and organizational contexts to help communities move from separation toward connection.In this conversation, we explore Richard's early spiritual experiences and how they shaped his community building efforts, and whether we need spiritual experiences to expand our circle of care.We get into integrating spirituality into community building, the influence of Dr. Ari and the Sarvodaya movement, and what Richard calls becoming a "spiritual gangster" — diffusing violence through loving awareness.We also explore healing the culture of separation, the worldview that devalues value and disconnects us from the transcendent, virtues and the objective sacred, and navigating inclusivity and exclusivity in community and culture building.Richard walks us through the difference between values and virtues and connecting to foundational community needs, why truth and love are inseparable and beyond our political beliefs, syncretism, perennialism, and what brought him to Christianity, and how to include atheists and materialists in this conversation.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Richard's site and Substack Birthing a Symbiotic Age — Richard Flyer Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne Small Is Beautiful — E.F. Schumacher A Secular Age — Charles Taylor🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:53 - Richard's vision of a symbiotic culture8:14 - Do we need spiritual experiences to expand our circle of care?20:00 - Integrating spirituality into community building31:16 - The influence of Dr. Ari and the Sarvodaya movement35:39 - Becoming a spiritual gangster — diffusing violence through loving awareness46:01 - Healing the culture of separation58:43 - The worldview that devalues value and disconnects us from the transcendent1:05:03 - Virtues and the objective sacred1:10:00 - Navigating inclusivity and exclusivity in community and culture building1:16:55 - The difference between values and virtues and connecting to foundational community needs1:24:49 - Truth and love are inseparable and beyond our political beliefs1:32:50 - Syncretism, perennialism, and what brought Richard to Christianity1:49:04 - How do we include atheists and materialists in this conversation?1:58:02 - Artem reflects on how Richard's work is impacting him*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get the latest podcast episodes, in-depth articles, and community practice sessions delivered straight to your inbox

Daljeet Peterson is an astrologer, Human Design analyst, and author exploring how ancient and modern systems of meaning can guide us through times of transformation. His work bridges astrology, Human Design, and the Gene Keys as complementary maps of consciousness — tools for aligning with one's deeper purpose and participating more consciously in the collective evolution of our species. A former television editor turned cosmic cartographer, Daljeet brings a storyteller's sensibility to the study of archetypes, weaving together myth, history, and contemporary culture. He is the author of "Collective Souls: Generations, Astrology, and the Future of America," which explores how generational astrology reveals the hidden cycles shaping our nation's destiny and the emerging potentials of a new Aquarian era.In this conversation, we explore Daljeet's journey into astrology, how astrology was discovered, and whether astrology is a religion.We get into common misconceptions of astrology, how to distinguish good astrology from bad astrology, and the foundational principles of astrology.We also explore the mechanism behind planetary effects, the limits of falsifiability, science, and left-brain ways of knowing, and unpack Human Design and Gene Keys and how they tie into astrology.Daljeet walks us through holding modalities with curiosity and humility, the ideas behind "Collective Souls: Generations, Astrology, and the Future of America," the unique gifts and challenges of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, and calls to action for each generation.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Daljeet's site Subscribe to Daljeet's Substack Collective Souls — Daljeet Peterson Astrology 101: Blueprint of the Soul series Cosmos & Psyche — Richard Tarnas🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction4:38 - Daljeet's journey into astrology8:22 - How astrology was discovered16:27 - Is astrology a religion?21:55 - Common misconceptions of astrology26:06 - How to distinguish good astrology from bad astrology28:58 - The foundational principles of astrology39:52 - What is the mechanism behind planetary effects?45:00 - The limits of falsifiability, science, and left-brain ways of knowing51:22 - Unpacking Human Design and Gene Keys1:01:56 - Holding modalities with curiosity and humility1:06:27 - "Collective Souls: Generations, Astrology, and the Future of America"1:13:00 - The unique gifts and challenges of the four generations — Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z1:20:51 - Calls to action for the four generations*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get the latest podcast episodes, in-depth articles, and community practice sessions delivered straight to your inbox

Natureza Gabriel is an ancestral neuroscience pioneer, developer of Autonomics, and founder of Hearth Science — an organization and community offering tools, trainings, and practices that help people cultivate nervous system fluency and deepen their experience of wellbeing. At the heart of his work is Autonomics, an animist cartography of living autonomic physiology shaped by over three decades of collaboration with more than one hundred mentors and advisors across 25 healing traditions and 24 cultures, many indigenous. It is considered one of the first accurate maps of the living autonomic nervous system in modernity. His Autonomics trainings have been sought out by the United Nations, a division of NATO, global social and ecological movements, and elite firms in executive coaching and leadership development. He is the author of many books including "Restorative Practices of Well-Being," "Finding Home in Your Nervous System," "Autonomic Triage," and "The Neurobiology of Connection."In this conversation, we explore the origins of Gabriel's autonomic model and how it diverged from Polyvagal Theory, and the 13 autonomic states that make up his framework.We get into neuroception, neurology, and neurochemistry, what constitutes a healthy autonomic nervous system, and the limits of HRV and the future of autonomic diagnostics.We also explore the importance of restorative practices, how to rebalance a hyperactivated nervous system, how to rebalance a shut-down nervous system, and the importance of community in healing and processing grief.We close on the limitations of modernity, how modernity disconnected us from the Earth, the challenges of running a company in a culture of domination, how to bridge power and wisdom by becoming a mycelium network, the disconnection underlying the techno-optimist worldview, and pathways towards civilizational wellness.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Gabriel's personal site Gabriel's autonomic trainings Gabriel's clinic Restorative practices portal The Neurobiology of Connection — Natureza Gabriel Ground: How Modernity Disconnected from the Earth — Natureza Gabriel Finding Home in Your Nervous System — Natureza Gabriel Awakening Human Connection — Natureza Gabriel Stephen Porges Somatic Experiencing Dr. Vincent Felitti Malidoma Patrice Somé Sobonfu Somé on grief Tiokasin Ghosthorse Scott Galloway podcast What is Circling? — Artem Zen Carri Munn🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:52 - The origins of Autonomics — bridging neuroscience and autonomic physiology7:53 - Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory, and moving beyond a two-system autonomics21:44 - The 13 autonomic states31:31 - Neuroception, neurology, and neurochemistry34:55 - What is a healthy autonomic nervous system?42:39 - The limits of HRV and the future of autonomic diagnostics49:17 - The importance of restorative practices52:00 - How to rebalance a hyperactivated nervous system1:01:09 - How to rebalance a shut-down nervous system1:05:47 - The importance of community in healing and processing grief1:11:45 - The limitations of modernity1:14:55 - Ground — how modernity disconnected us from the Earth1:24:10 - The challenges of running a company in a culture of domination1:33:52 - How do we bridge power and wisdom? Becoming a mycelium network1:45:10 - The disconnection that underlies the techno-optimist worldview1:48:33 - Pathways towards civilizational wellness*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get the latest podcast episodes, in-depth articles, and community practice sessions delivered straight to your inbox

Pema Dragpa is a dharma teacher, author, and ordained Tibetan Buddhist Lama who graduated with honors in Philosophy and Religious Studies from New York University in 2002. Since 2004 he has served as a resident teacher at Padma Samye Ling, a meditation retreat center founded by the Nyingma Dzogchen masters Venerable Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche. In 2010 he was formally ordained as a Lama by the Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches. He is also a senior editor of more than 25 books on Buddhist philosophy and the author of "An Integral View of Tibetan Buddhism: Preserving Lineage Wisdom in the 21st Century." Dragpa regularly travels to lead Padmasambhava Buddhist Center events, bridging traditional Tibetan wisdom with contemporary approaches to meditation and the path of awakening.In this conversation, we explore Pema's journey into Tibetan Buddhism, a deep taste of samsara and the impact of the Khenpo Rinpoches, and the monastic vs the householder path.We get into balancing spirituality with money and practical concerns, unpacking the Integral view and stage, and Pema's disagreements with Ken Wilber — including whether Vajrayana can even be considered Integral.We also explore an integrative approach to transformation, unity in diversity and the shadow of Integral, John Churchill's Sacred Humanism, and why there is no definitive answer, system, or theory — experimenting in fail-safe mode.Pema walks us through the importance of communities of practice and syncing up with lineage wisdom, why we should be wary of a "Puritan Dharma," and the core tenets and frames of Vajrayana Buddhism, before sharing a Tibetan prayer.We close on why we need more ways of being in touch, the importance of going deep in one tradition, the four turnings of Buddhism simplified, the perfect practice for a degenerative age, whether we need more politically engaged spiritual teachers, making change at a meso scale, and Integral, the notion of absolute truth, and freedom from samsara.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗An Integral View of Tibetan Buddhism — Pema Dragpa Listen to Pema Dragpa's dharma talks Padmasambhava Buddhist Center Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche John Churchill on the Elevating Consciousness Podcast Ken Wilber Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche Sean Esbjorn-Hargens🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:32 - Pema Dragpa's journey into Tibetan Buddhism7:20 - A deep taste of samsara and the impact of the Khenpo Rinpoches16:18 - The monastic vs the householder path18:51 - Balancing spirituality with money and practical concerns26:56 - Unpacking the Integral view and stage33:01 - Disagreements with Ken Wilber — is Vajrayana Integral?43:26 - An integrative approach to transformation47:47 - Unity in diversity and the shadow of Integral56:36 - John Churchill's Sacred Humanism59:33 - There is no definitive answer, system, or theory — experimenting in fail-safe mode1:09:31 - The importance of communities of practice and syncing up with lineage wisdom1:15:49 - Be wary of a Puritan Dharma1:16:34 - The core tenets and frames of Vajrayana Buddhism1:24:11 - Pema shares a Tibetan prayer1:28:54 - We need more ways of being in touch — healthy integrative mode1:32:04 - The importance of going deep in one tradition1:33:17 - The four turnings of Buddhism simplified1:34:09 - The perfect practice for a degenerative age1:42:24 - Do we need more politically engaged spiritual teachers?1:47:53 - Making change at a meso scale1:50:56 - Integral, the notion of absolute truth, and freedom from samsara*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional lens

Peter McEwen is an ordained Nyingma yogi, meditation coach, and founder of The Field, an organization teaching tantric methods to practitioners navigating contemporary life demands. Since 1993 he has studied under Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Tulku Orgyen P'huntsok, Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche, and Bruce Tift, and has completed the traditional Vajrayana three-year retreat curriculum. Peter writes The Current on Substack, sharing essays and tools from thirty years of integrating contemplative practice with daily life. His work focuses on embodied presence and nervous system fluency, offering methods that survive the actual pressures of work, relationships, and daily complexity.In this conversation, we explore Peter's initial experiences of awakening and getting into Buddhism, balancing personal, interpersonal, and spiritual work, and the impact of working closely with Bruce Tift.We get into what Tantra actually is, selecting the appropriate practice for your developmental stage, and what Tummo is and how it works as an inner fire practice — including Peter guiding us through a live Tummo meditation.We also explore how Tummo focuses the mind, visualization vs feeling in Tummo practice, what Deity yoga is and how it works, and whether traditional deity forms translate for Western minds.We close with practical guidance on how to get the most out of practice as a householder and a look ahead at Peter's upcoming Tummo course.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Peter's personal site The Field meditation training Upcoming Tummo course Subscribe to Peter's Substack Bruce Tift on the Elevating Consciousness podcast Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche Tulku Orgyen P'huntsok Lama Pema Dorje Rinpoche Jonny Miller Donald Hoffman🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:38 - Initial experiences of awakening and getting into Buddhism8:01 - Balancing personal, interpersonal, and spiritual work23:17 - The impact of working with Bruce Tift27:15 - What is Tantra?34:59 - Selecting the appropriate practice for your developmental stage44:32 - What is Tummo and how does it work? — inner fire practice54:45 - Peter guides a Tummo meditation1:10:25 - How Tummo focuses the mind1:12:28 - Visualization vs feeling in Tummo1:16:00 - What is Deity yoga and how does it work?1:22:22 - Do traditional deity forms work for Western minds?1:28:51 - How to get the most out of practice as a householder1:41:49 - Peter's upcoming Tummo course*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional lens

David Rug is a metaphysician, civilizational theorist, and visionary storyteller on a journey of transmuting childhood wounds of social fragmentation into memetic medicine for the human family. Sensitized to the pains of social division and disconnect early in life through his parents' divorce and the increasingly political fracturing of his family field, he set out on a quest to understand the root causes of conflict and miscommunication. While completing his bachelor's degree in physics at Heidelberg University, he discovered GameB and adjacent movements, realizing there was, in effect, a "physics of communication" — principles that could be applied to the challenges he cared most about.This insight led him to found Project Liminality, an open-source communication and co-creation layer designed to reshape how we share and organize around ideas. A central focus of this work is developing the InterBrain, a novel digital medium aimed at flipping the vector of conflict and fragmentation toward unity and wholeness. His work combines systems thinking, visionary storytelling, and a deep exploration of the shared ideas and narratives that can inspire humanity to unite in addressing our greatest challenges.In this conversation, we explore David's early experiences of fragmentation and how he discovered the liminal web, the polarities of fragmentation, and finding the third attractor. We get into the idea that the solution has to come from a higher dimension of consciousness, false progress, psychological warfare, and developing a memetic immune system.We also explore A Course in Miracles, fear vs love, specialness vs uniqueness, building trust networks, returning to the spoken word, and the problems of scale. David walks us through moving from personal knowledge management to collective knowledge gardening, his big insights on the primacy of symbols and written vs spoken word, and the practicalities and critiques of building the InterBrain.We close on moving from independence to deep interdependence, revolutionizing journalism and politics, and the process of DreamWeaving.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Support Project Liminality and the building of the InterBrain Project Liminality YouTube channel The InterBrain — How Collective DreamWeaving Can Heal the World Dialectical Thinking Jordan Hall in conversation with David Rug In Search of the Third Attractor — Daniel Schmachtenberger The War on Sensemaking — Daniel Schmachtenberger The War on Sensemaking II — Daniel Schmachtenberger Sand Talk — Tyson Yunkaporta Rebel Wisdom A Course in Miracles Joe Hudson Relateful Jordan Myska Allen Ultraspeaking🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:15 - Early experiences of fragmentation and discovering the liminal web13:47 - The polarities of fragmentation and finding the third attractor21:10 - The solution has to come from a higher dimension of consciousness25:22 - False progress, psychological warfare, and developing a memetic immune system34:52 - A Course in Miracles, fear vs love, specialness vs uniqueness41:54 - Building trust networks, returning to the spoken word, and problems of scale51:21 - From personal knowledge management to collective knowledge gardening1:08:35 - Reflecting on David's big insights — the primacy of symbols, written vs spoken word1:14:50 - The practicalities of the InterBrain — how it would work1:26:30 - Critiques and challenges of building the InterBrain1:31:21 - Moving from independence to deep interdependence1:36:42 - Revolutionizing journalism and politics1:44:06 - The process of DreamWeaving1:52:55 - Support David's work*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional lens

Dr. John Churchill is a psychologist, dharma teacher, and founder of Planetary Dharma — an integrally informed community embracing the vows and path of the Bodhisattva, committed to elevating human consciousness and collective transformation. John holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from William James College and is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. His journey into Buddhist psychology began as a monk at Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland, where he undertook an in-depth study of Buddhist contemplative practice. He later spent 15 years training and teaching Mahamudra meditation within an Indo-Tibetan Mahayana lineage under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel P. Brown.John is a founding member of the Integral Institute, led by transpersonal philosopher Ken Wilber, and has received advanced training in attachment therapy, hypnosis, positive psychology for peak performance, and the "Pointing Out" style of Mahamudra meditation. He is the author of "Becoming Buddha: Buddhist Contemplative Psychology in a Western Context." For the past 25 years, he has been developing what he calls the Fourth Turning Planetary Dharma — a full-spectrum psychospiritual approach integrating the great Indo-Tibetan traditions with psychodynamic healing and adult development.In this conversation, we unpack the four turnings of Buddhism and John's vision for a distinct fourth turning, Planetary Dharma's emphasis on the imaginal and self-image, and John's differences with his mentor and teacher, Dan Brown.We get into navigating the traditional vs progressive polarities in spirituality, transitioning beyond Buddhism into Sacred Humanism, and why modern minds are disconnected from sacred world.We also explore the pre-trans fallacy and navigating the trans-rational, the role of psychedelics on the psychospiritual path, what's needed to build out a fourth turning academy, the constraints of a householder, and the future of dharma.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Learn more about Planetary DharmaFollow Planetary Dharma on InstagramFollow Planetary Dharma on Facebook Planetary Dharma’s Medicine Dharma CourseDan BrownKen WilberA.H. AlmaasHamilton SoutherLama Mike Crowley🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Intro3:29 - Unpacking the four turnings of Buddhism9:58 - Further distinguishing the fourth turning16:09 - Artem's experience participating in the Planetary Dharma introductory retreat17:27 - Planetary Dharma's emphasis on the imaginal and self-image25:25 - John's differences with his mentor and teacher Dan Brown37:56 - Navigating the traditional vs progressive polarities in spirituality49:01 - Transitioning beyond Buddhism into Sacred Humanism55:15 - Why modern minds are disconnected from Sacred World1:02:46 - The pre-trans fallacy and navigating the trans-rational1:16:17 - The role of psychedelics on the psychospiritual path1:28:00 - What's needed to build out a fourth turning academy1:37:40 - The constraints of a householder and the future of Dharma1:50:37 - Planetary Dharma offerings*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Ali Tataryn is a counselor, somatic educator, and coach who guides clients through somatic-emotional release and helps them map their internal emotional landscapes for healing and self-development. She is the founder of Relational Dojo, a space where kind humans come together to co-create curious and courageous conversations, and co-founder of Sacred Somatic Events, a sober somatic dance experience inviting participants into full-spectrum self-expression.Her primary training is in counseling, expressive arts, and somatic education. Ali has completed over 260 hours of Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training and is a trained T3 Circling Facilitator through the Integral Center. She is a meditation teacher certified under Upasaka Culadasa and Junpo Roshi, with extensive personal practice in the Namgyal-Kagyu tradition under teachers including Lama Lodro, Lama Sidney, Lama Rodney Devinish, and her mother, Dr. Darlene Tataryn. Ali proudly collaborates with her father, clinical psychologist Dr. Douglas J. Tataryn, facilitating and coaching through his Bio-Emotive Framework.In this conversation, we explore Ali's journey growing up with parents deeply immersed in emotional and spiritual work, what it meant to grow up with "cycle breakers," and good enough parenting in an imperfect life.We get into navigating the self vs other polarity, how a bodhisattva deals with a narcissist, and reconnecting to the good, the true, and the beautiful.Ali walks us through acting as a spiritual practice versus acting as a career, becoming aware of suffering, the thin line between awakening and psychosis, and navigating identity as an artist.We also explore the Bio-Emotive Framework and the art of emotional processing, why emotions are not logical but lawful, balancing intellectual with emotional and relational development, and comparing Circling, emotional processing, and deconstruction as distinct paths of growth. 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Ali’s personal siteThe Bio-Emotive FrameworkFollow Ali on SubstackFollow Douglas Tataryn on SubstackHow to Process Emotions with Douglas Tataryn on the Elevating Consciousness PodcastDiane Musho HamiltonLeonard CohenWhat is Circling by Artem Zen🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction 4:00 - Growing up with cycle breakers 7:06 - Good enough parenting and an imperfect life 10:08 - Navigating the self vs other polarity 16:18 - How does a bodhisattva deal with a narcissist? 22:00 - Reconnecting to the good, the true, and the beautiful 24:50 - Acting as a spiritual practice vs acting as a career 37:45 - Becoming aware of suffering 40:27 - The thin line between awakening and psychosis 44:25 - Navigating identity as an artist 57:02 - The Bio-Emotive Framework and the art of emotional processing 1:08:07 - Emotions are not logical but they are lawful 1:10:57 - Balancing intellectual with emotional and relational development 1:15:49 - Circling (relational work) vs emotional processing vs deconstruction 1:31:43 - What is between me and love, or truth?*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Delson Armstrong is a maverick meditation teacher and author. At age 16, disillusioned with conventional life, he embarked on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas, where he spent 6 to 8 hours a day practicing meditation, studying sacred texts, and receiving guidance from masters across multiple lineages. Through this intensive training Delson developed the rare ability to enter nirodha-samāpatti — a meditative state marked by the complete cessation of perception and feeling — for extended periods of time. These claims have been rigorously examined through neuroscience research, with findings published in a 2023 paper titled "Cessation of Consciousness in Meditation."He is the author of "A Mind Without Craving" and a five-volume series on dependent origination, and currently teaches the Optimal Mind System — a synthesis of diverse practices designed to align the body, mind, energy, heart, and consciousness to catalyze deep insight and transformation. Though deeply informed by traditional models of awakening, Delson takes a universal approach and does not adhere to any single doctrine or path.In this conversation, we explore Delson's experience working with and integrating different traditions and spiritual practices, how encountering integral theory helped him recontextualize the spiritual path, and the fallacy of the superior path.We get into letting go of idealistic views, integrating no-self and true-self through the lens of integral theory, and whether it's actually possible to end suffering.We also explore Delson's desire to master and integrate a wide variety of teachings, Rigpa vs cessation, the micro-phenomenology of cessation, and the relationship between psychedelics, spirituality, and meditation.We close with the pros and cons of being open about spiritual attainments, creating healthier dynamics between spiritual teachers and students, and going beyond spiritual idealization altogether.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Delson’s personal siteListen to Delson’s Dharma talks on his YouTube channelA Mind Without Craving by Delson ArmstrongDependent Origination series by Delson ArmstrongDelson Armstrong, Guru Viking interviewsTales from Nibbana with Dor Konforty & Delson ArmstrongEnding Guru Worship for True Liberation by Delson Armstrong🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:43 - Artem's experience following Delson's journey7:02 - Sutra, Tantra, and going beyond traditional teachings13:29 - The impact of cultural context on spiritual practices22:28 - The fallacy of the superior path27:50 - Letting go of idealistic views33:31 - The impact of integral theory — integrating no-self and true-self37:12 - Is there an end to suffering?50:47 - Delson's desire to master and integrate a wide variety of teachings56:42 - Rigpa vs cessation1:02:38 - The micro-phenomenology of cessation1:04:21 - The relationship between psychedelics, spirituality, and meditation1:22:00 - The pros and cons of being open about spiritual attainments1:29:11 - Creating healthier dynamics between spiritual teachers and students1:37:44 - Final message*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Dor Konforty is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, investor, and awakening teacher dedicated to distilling the first principles of the dharma and bringing them to every aspect of human life. He spent most of his twenties conducting interdisciplinary brain research in academic settings, and his thirties as an entrepreneur and CEO in the decentralization space—applying his neuroscience background to envision more collaborative, non-zero-sum human networks. In parallel, he has devoted thousands of hours to meditation practice as well as growth and relational modalities, training closely with pragmatic dharma teachers such as Culadasa, Daniel Ingram, and Delson Armstrong, and personal development coaches like Joe Hudson and Kim Barta. He is the founder of The Awakening Fund, a venture that invests in technologies aimed at making meditation unnecessary. Dor is also the author of The Heart Illuminated, a spiritual successor to Culadasa’s The Mind Illuminated. Drawing on over fifteen years of multidisciplinary experience, the book lays out a clear and systematic path towards awakening through a completely modern lens.In this episode, we explore Dor’s book The Heart Illuminated, his time studying with pragmatic dharma teachers—Culadasa, Daniel Ingram, Delson Armstrong, and Dan Brown—and dive into topics such as integrating emptiness with fullness, investing in awakening technologies that aim to make meditation unnecessary, aligning artificial intelligence with dharma, and navigating the complexities and controversies that can arise in relationships with spiritual teachers.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Dor's personal site The Heart Illuminated — Dor Konforty Dor's investment venture — The Awakening Fund Follow Dor on Twitter/X Subscribe to Dor's YouTube channel Culadasa The Mind Illuminated — Culadasa Gödel, Escher, Bach — Douglas F. Hofstadter The Society of Mind — Marvin Minsky Why Everyone Else Is a Hypocrite — Robert O. Kurzban Psyche as a System — Artem Zen Rob Burbea Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha — Daniel Ingram Delson Armstrong Kim Barta Dan Brown Dustin DiPerna John Churchill Joe Hudson Matthew Immergut on the Adventures in Awareness podcast🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:43 - Dor's journey into meditation7:09 - The unique contribution of "The Mind Illuminated"10:04 - Working closely with Culadasa and inspiration for writing "The Heart Illuminated"21:49 - The iterative writing process and gathering feedback from community24:58 - Understanding the multiplicity of the mind — sub minds, parts, agents, modules, and coordinators31:32 - Integrating awakening (emptiness) with healing (fullness)39:22 - Is awakening about creating a better life?47:00 - Meeting Daniel Ingram and doing a 23-day Fire Kasina retreat under his guidance55:30 - The power of dark retreats and sensory deprivation57:40 - Friendship with Delson Armstrong1:01:20 - Sutra, Tantra, metasystemicity, and stages of development1:12:16 - The contributions of Dan Brown and Dustin DiPerna1:16:43 - Investing in awakening technologies and making meditation unnecessary1:26:02 - Aligning artificial intelligence with dharma1:36:18 - Navigating the Culadasa controversy*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Daniel Thorson is a former monastic, podcaster, writer, and coach. He spent five years as a resident at the Monastic Academy and has accumulated two years of silent retreat experience. Daniel is a certified Aletheia Coach and Circling facilitator whose work weaves together embodied inquiry, attachment-based healing, philosophical exploration, and relational presence. For many years he hosted the Emerge podcast, a pioneering platform that helped catalyze what many now call the liminal web. He currently writes The Intimate Mirror on Substack, exploring meaning, transformation, intimacy, and the search for religion in the age of artificial intelligence.In this conversation, we explore Daniel's extensive experience living and training at a monastery, going through a psychological breakdown, and discovering attachment work through the ideal parenting protocol.We get into developing a better relationship with conceptuality and rationality, emotional attunement, relational practices, and the importance of safe containers, and what it means to develop secure attachment with reality itself.We also explore trusting the intelligence of every experience, whether the fundamental nature of reality is love, what's missing from Buddhism, and moving towards a translineage spirituality — questioning whether there's anything specifically afforded by identifying as Buddhist or Christian.Daniel walks us through the shift from emptiness and deconstruction to soulmaking and skillfully playing with identity, what a dharma capable of addressing the meta-crisis might look like, his current meditation practice, and integrating ethics with eros and clarifying desire.We close by reflecting on the Human Transformation in a Time of Meta-Crisis conference at Harvard and the liberation of creative agency.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Daniel’s personal site & coaching servicesSubscribe to Daniel’s SubstackFollow Daniel on Twitter/XThe Upper Middle Path & Tech Bro Buddhism by Daniel ThorsonDaniel Thorson speaking about Secure Attachment to Reality on the Meta-Game podcastDaniel speaking about consensus Buddhism and pragmatic dharma on the Buddhist Geeks podcastMonastic Academy (MAPLE)Transformational ConnectionAletheia Coach trainingDaniel P. BrownDavid Elliott - Repairing Attachment | Elevating Consciousness podcast🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction 5:06 - Daniel's experience living as a monk 13:32 - Going through a psychological breakdown 17:29 - Discovering attachment work and the ideal parenting protocol 21:56 - Developing a better relationship with conceptuality and rationality 25:25 - Emotional attunement, relational practices, and the importance of safe containers 34:15 - Secure attachment with reality 38:54 - Trusting the intelligence of every experience 40:30 - Is the fundamental nature of reality love? 44:35 - What is missing from Buddhism? 52:10 - Towards a translineage spirituality 55:50 - Is there anything afforded by identifying as Buddhist or Christian? 1:06:05 - From emptiness and deconstructing to soulmaking and skillfully playing with identity 1:09:29 - A dharma capable of addressing the meta-crisis 1:11:36 - Daniel's current meditation practice 1:14:20 - Integrating ethics with eros and clarifying desire 1:17:36 - Reflecting on the Human Transformation in a Time of Meta-Crisis conference at Harvard 1:22:17 - The liberation of creative agency*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Hyrum Lewis is a professor, author, and political theorist who teaches history at Brigham Young University–Idaho, where he leads the American Foundations Team. His research focuses on the history of ideology and the intersection of political and intellectual culture, with extensive writing on the evolution of American conservatism, historical pedagogy, and cultural conflict in the American West. He is the author of several books including his most recent, "The Myth of Left and Right," co-authored with his brother Verlan Lewis, which argues that the traditional left-right political spectrum is a misleading and oversimplified framework for understanding contemporary American politics.In this conversation, we explore the intuition that the political spectrum is broken, the Essentialist Theory of Ideology vs the Social Theory of Ideology, and why tribalism precedes philosophy rather than the other way around.We get into the caricatures we hold of the left and the right, how the meaning of left and right is always changing, and the uncomfortable truth that we often choose our politicians before our policies. Hyrum offers a better way to use terms like left and right or liberal and conservative, and how to vote on issues without anchoring to a tribal identity.We also explore how to move beyond left and right within a two-party system, what Jonathan Haidt and Moral Foundations Theory got wrong, and whether the links between psychological traits and political positions actually hold up.We close with pathways toward more generative political conversations, why we need to increase our tolerance for disagreement, developing a Scout Mindset, the relationship between religion and politics, and the destructive ideology of progressivism.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗The Myth of Left and Right by Hyrum Lewis and Verlan LewisThe Righteous Mind by Jonathan HaidtKeith StanovichJohn Stuart MillThe Scout Mindset by Julia GalefThe Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:18 - The intuition that the political spectrum is broken5:26 - The Essentialist Theory of Ideology vs the Social Theory of Ideology8:38 - Why tribalism precedes philosophy12:01 - Caricatures of the left and the right14:25 - How what left and right means is always changing17:44 - We choose our politicians before our policies21:31 - How to better use terms like left and right or liberal and conservative27:03 - Voting on one issue without anchoring32:05 - How do we move beyond left and right with a two-party system?39:25 - What Jonathan Haidt and Moral Foundations Theory got wrong44:45 - Questioning the links between psychological traits and political positions49:17 - Pathways towards more generative political conversations53:51 - Why we need to increase our tolerance for disagreement59:16 - Developing a Scout Mindset1:02:08 - What is the relationship between religion and politics1:06:55 - The destructive ideology of progressivism*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Jordan Hall is a tech entrepreneur, philosopher, and meta-systemic thinker who, over a year ago, announced his conversion to Christianity. In this conversation, we explore Jordan's early experiences with religion and spirituality, what ultimately drew him to Christianity, and what Christianity might offer that Eastern traditions do not. We get into entrepreneurship as a path to cultivating instincts and intuitions, landing in Black Mountain and finding Christianity, and the deeper humility Jordan discovered through extensive study of the tradition.We explore the idea that the meta-crisis is fundamentally a crisis of religion, the impact of religious traditions on family, and healing religious trauma while deepening our capacity to love.We also touch on discerning divine calling from the egoic mind, confronting fundamentalist forms of Christianity and finding a church that aligns, the shift from propositional to participatory forms of knowing, and what Jordan calls divine sensemaking.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Subscribe to Jordan’s SubstackFollow Jordan on TwitterSubscribe to Jordan’s YouTube channelRead The Religious Case Against Belief by James CarseWatch Jordan Peterson in conversation with John Vervaeke and Jordan HallWatch Jordan Hall in conversation with Jonathan Pageau and John VervaekeLearn more about Black Mountain, North Carolina🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:07 - Jordan's journey into religion and spirituality16:39 - Entrepreneurship as a path to cultivating instincts and intuitions20:40 - Landing in Black Mountain and finding Christianity26:26 - Extensively studying Christianity and discovering a new level of humility34:04 - What does Christianity afford that Eastern religions don't?44:26 - The meta-crisis is a crisis of religion54:05 - The impact of religious traditions on family58:28 - Healing our religious trauma and deepening our capacity to love1:04:05 - Differentiating intuition — divine calling vs egoic mind1:18:16 - Confronting fundamentalist forms of Christianity and finding a church that aligns1:29:01 - Divine sensemaking*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Seth Zuiho Segall is a Zen Buddhist priest, clinical psychologist, and writer who served on the clinical faculty of the Yale University School of Medicine for nearly three decades. He is a science writer for Mindfulness Research Monthly, a contributing editor for Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, and a review editor for The Humanistic Psychologist. Ordained in the White Plum lineage, he has practiced meditation and Buddhism for nearly thirty years, currently leads Pamsula Zen of Westchester, and guest teaches at the New York Insight Meditation Center. He is the author of several books including "Buddhism and Human Flourishing" and his latest, "The House We Live In." He writes regularly on his blog, The Existential Buddhist, from a naturalized, pragmatic, eudaimonic, and cosmopolitan perspective.In this conversation, we unpack what it means to hold a naturalistic, pragmatic, eudaimonic, and cosmopolitan Buddhism, the difference between naturalistic and secular Buddhism, and how agnosticism shapes belief.Seth shares his journey exploring Judaism before finding Buddhism, and we question the secularization and modernization of Buddhism more broadly — landing on a central insight: there is no one Buddhism; there are many Buddhisms.We get into virtue, wisdom, and pluralism, whether humanity has become less violent over time, the foundations of flourishing, and disagreements on values and vulnerability within contemplative communities.We also explore facing your dragon at your own pace, navigating political polarization through the lens of engaged Buddhism, ethical ideals and the myth of the perfect person, the paradox of tolerance and cancel culture, and better ways of thinking about enlightenment.We close with Seth's reflections on why he became a Zen priest and why it matters to genuinely engage with a religious tradition before you critique it.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Seth’s personal siteSeth’s blogSeth’s latest book “The House We Live In”Jon Kabat-ZinnSecular Buddhist NetworkThe Avoidant Dharma by Daniel ThorsonStephen BatchelorLarry RosenbergAndrew CohenParadox of ToleranceMastering The Core Teachings of the Buddha by Daniel IngramAlready Free by Bruce Tift🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:10 - Unpacking a naturalistic, pragmatic, eudaimonic, and cosmopolitan Buddhism7:57 - Naturalistic vs secular Buddhism12:07 - Agnosticism and beliefs13:30 - Exploring Judaism and finding Buddhism20:20 - Further questioning the secularization and modernization of Buddhism29:18 - There is no one Buddhism; there are many Buddhisms33:36 - Virtue, wisdom, and pluralism36:17 - Has humanity become less violent over time?38:26 - The foundations of flourishing42:22 - Disagreements on values and vulnerability45:31 - Facing the dragon at your own pace48:52 - Navigating political polarization and engaged Buddhism53:53 - Ethical ideals and the myth of the perfect person57:33 - The paradox of tolerance and cancel culture1:03:48 - Better ways of thinking about enlightenment1:12:15 - Why become a Zen priest1:17:26 - Engaging with a religious tradition before you critique it*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Brad Kershner is an educator, independent scholar, and Head of School at Kimberton Waldorf School. He is co-founder of The Reconstitution Project, a meta-political think tank, and author of "Understanding Educational Complexity: Integrating Practices and Perspectives for 21st Century Leadership." Alongside his work in education, Brad collaborates with thought leaders and spiritual teachers around the world, developing wisdom-based responses to planetary problems.In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore how Brad became an educator and the Waldorf approach to education, the fundamental principles of child development, and the state of emotions and mental health in young people today.We get into Jonathan Haidt's research on the negative impact of social media on children, debate the parenting philosophy of Taking Children Seriously, and reflect on navigating screen time through the lens of Aaron Stupple's "The Sovereign Child."Brad argues that before you can help children solve a problem, you first need to understand it — a principle that carries into meta-crisis sensemaking and the limits of rational optimism, navigating politics and polarization, and developing a wise relationship with technology and artificial intelligence.We also explore what lies beyond the TESCREAL worldview and what it means to integrate wisdom with power, the big questions and disagreements running through the metamodern and liminal spaces, why materialism may be a less true view than idealism, flipping what we think we can and cannot know, and the role of meditation and contemplation — including why it matters to introduce these practices early in life.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Subscribe to Brad's Substack Listen to Brad's lectures on YouTube Connect with Brad on Twitter Kimberton Waldorf School Waldorf Education Rudolf Steiner The Anxious Generation — Jonathan Haidt Taking Children Seriously Naval Ravikant and Aaron Stupple on Tim Ferriss The Sovereign Child — Aaron Stupple The Rational Optimist — Matt Ridley Iain McGilchrist TESCREAL🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Intro2:05 - Becoming an educator and the Waldorf approach to education7:47 - Fundamental principles of child development17:52 - Emotions and mental health in young people24:36 - Haidt's research on the negative impact of social media on children26:39 - Debating the parenting approach of Taking Children Seriously35:22 - Navigating screen time via "The Sovereign Child" by Aaron Stupple49:14 - Before you can help children solve a problem, you need to understand it55:27 - Meta-crisis sensemaking and the limits of rational optimism59:25 - Navigating politics and polarization1:17:40 - Developing a wise relationship with technology and artificial intelligence1:22:49 - Beyond the TESCREAL worldview — integrating wisdom and power1:30:12 - The big questions and disagreements in the metamodern and liminal spaces1:36:49 - Why materialism is a less true view than idealism1:40:53 - Flipping what we think we can and cannot know1:44:20 - The role of meditation and contemplation1:49:50 - The importance of emphasizing meditation early in life1:53:27 - Connect with Brad's work*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Murray Stein is a Jungian psychoanalyst, author, and lecturer. He received his bachelor's in literature and master's in Divinity from Yale and completed his PhD in Religion and Psychological Studies at the University of Chicago. He trained as a Jungian analyst at the C.G. Jung Institute of Zurich and is a founding member of the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts and the Chicago Society of Jungian Analysts. He is the author of many books including "The Principle of Individuation" and "Jung's Map of the Soul."In this conversation, we unpack Jung's Map of the Soul and explore Murray's experience growing up in a religious home, attending divinity school, and eventually finding Jung. He shares what it was like studying directly with Jungian legends James Hillman and Marie-Louise von Franz, and what each of them uniquely contributed to the field.We move through deeper levels of religious understanding, unfold the architecture of Jung's Map of the Soul, and dive into ego, persona, and shadow — the core structures Jung believed shape human personality.We also get into ethics, conscience, serial killers, the collective shadow, what it takes to move Jungian psychology from theory into everyday practice, and where Murray sees the future of Jungian analysis heading.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Murray Stein’s personal siteJung’s Map of the Soul by Murray SteinTransformation: Emergence of the Self by Murray SteinMemories, Dreams & Reflections by Carl JungThe Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund FreudJames HillmanMarie-Louise von FranzKarl BarthRob BurbeaTom Cheetham on the Elevating Consciousness PodcastHow to Illuminate & Integrate Your Shadow by Artem ZenTransformation: Emergence of the Self by Murray SteinThe Red Book by Carl JungDepth Psychology and a New Ethic by Erich NeumannCare of the Soul by Thomas MooreBTS - Map of the Soul (album)🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction 1:53 - Growing up in a religious home, going to divinity school, and finding Jung 12:38 - Studying with James Hillman and Marie-Louise von Franz and working with psychoanalysis 19:38 - Moving towards deeper levels of religious understanding 23:20 - What Hillman and von Franz contributed to Jungian psychology 26:58 - Unfolding Jung's Map of the Soul 42:10 - Jung's greatest discovery 46:15 - Jung's Map of the Soul — condensed 49:09 - Diving deeper into ego, persona, and shadow 1:01:15 - Ethics, conscience, serial killers, and collective shadows 1:06:40 - Taking Jungian psychology from theory into practice 1:12:45 - The future of Jungian analysis*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Bonnitta Roy is an insight guide, philosopher, and futurist whose work is grounded in cutting-edge cognitive science, evolutionary theory, contemplative studies, and metaphysics. From 2014 to 2022 she designed, developed, and directed a master's course in Consciousness Studies at the Graduate Institute, now known as Salem University. She went on to launch the Pop Up School, developing transformative courses such as "A New Theory of the Body," "Lyric Culture: Ontological Designs for Backloop Realities," and "Varieties of Religious Experiences." Her latest venture is The Divinity School — a leadership program forging leaders who can see deeper into reality, make decisions that benefit the whole, and align humanity with the natural intelligence of the universe.In this conversation, Bonnitta walks us through articulating embodied insight into a coherent philosophy, the challenge of decoupling money from creative and intellectual work, and why writing itself is such an immense challenge for a thinker working at the edge of language.From there, we get into what Process Relational Philosophy actually is, the limitations of science, and how the postmodern mind misunderstands the observer effect. Bonnitta lays out the metaphysics needed to bridge science and religion and the core metaphysical disagreements running through the liminal space — including why people seem to move from minimalist physicalism all the way to maximal consciousness, and what she calls the three metaphysical necessities every worldview requires.Later, we explore awakening and spiritual practice, before Bonnitta introduces The Divinity School and her work training the next generation of leaders. We close on genuinely futurist terrain — naturalizing machine agency, the horizons of biological intelligence, the four powers of transformational leaders, and the impact Bonnitta hopes her work will have on the world.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Follow Bonnitta on SubstackFollow Bonnitta on Twitter/XJoin The Divinity School transformational leadership programThe typology of process relations by Bonnitta RoyHerbert GuntherJean GebserAlfred North WhiteheadCharles HartshorneMatt SegallGregg HenriquesThe Dawn of Everything by David GraeberSabine HossenfelderKen WilberThe Ends of the World by Peter Brannen🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction 1:38 - Articulating embodied insight into a coherent philosophy 5:22 - Landscaping, business and decoupling money from creative and intellectual work 14:15 - The immense challenge of writing 18:33 - Using images to understand and explain ideas 24:35 - What is Process Relational Philosophy? 36:30 - The limitations of science 39:26 - How the postmodern mind misunderstands the observer effect 41:20 - The metaphysics needed to bridge science and religion 45:00 - The core metaphysical disagreements in the liminal space 53:12 - People go from minimalist physicalism to maximal consciousness 56:00 - What all metaphysics require — the three metaphysical necessities 1:00:10 - Integral listserv, awakening and spiritual practice 1:12:27 - The Divinity School — a master's in leadership 1:17:29 - Naturalizing machine agency and horizons of biological intelligence 1:25:08 - The four powers of transformational leaders 1:32:14 - The impact Bonnitta hopes her work has on the world*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Ari Nielsen is a practitioner with an eclectic background spanning Reichian breathwork, cybernetics, unschooling, Dzogchen, and improv. He spent over a decade living in the heart of the community surrounding Adi Da, the prime representative of California New Age spirituality in the 1970s. He also edited the collected works of Bruce Di Marsico, an existential therapist whose philosophy can be summed up as "be happy, and do what you want." Ari currently writes a Substack elucidating a radically liberating orientation to life he calls "Searchless Responsiveness."In this episode, Ari shares his journey into spirituality, his years living inside Adi Da's community, and an honest look at the risks and rewards of the guru model.Later, we explore the Option Method for happiness, the relationship between Dzogchen and Searchless Responsiveness, and Ari's challenge to conventional perennialism and non-dualism.We also speak about agenda without compulsion, unhappiness as motivation, self and identity, and how Ari's meditation practice has evolved — including what greatness, wholeness, and desire look like through the lens of searchless responsiveness.We close by exploring how to let go of perfectionism, why it's worth regularly changing your meditation practice, unconventional approaches to parenting, and a simple practice anyone can use to taste searchless responsiveness for themselves.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Subscribe to Ari’s substackThe Option Method (The collected works of Bruce Di Marsico)Robert FrippGeorge GurdjieffAdi Da a.k.a Da Free JohnKen WilberAro gTerEvolving GroundWilhelm ReichKeith DowmanSean Esbjorn-HargensRob BurbeaTaking Children Seriously🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Intro2:03 - Ari's journey into spirituality9:00 - Living in Adi Da's community and other pivotal teachers and teachings20:10 - The guru model — risks and rewards27:51 - Bruce Di Marsico and the Option Method for happiness35:43 - Dzogchen and Searchless Responsiveness38:48 - Challenging perennialism and non-dualism45:00 - Agenda without compulsion49:04 - Unhappiness as motivation and the ideal state53:18 - Self and identity1:02:45 - The evolution of Ari's meditation practice1:04:18 - Khorde Rushen retreat with Keith Dowman1:12:46 - Greatness, wholeness and desire through the lens of searchless responsiveness1:19:58 - Letting go of perfectionism1:21:41 - The importance of changing up your meditation practice1:25:27 - Unconventional approaches to parenting1:39:29 - A simple practice to taste searchless responsiveness*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Zak Stein is a writer, educator, and futurist whose work explores existential risk and the meta-crisis. He studied religion and philosophy at Hampshire College before completing his doctorate in educational neuroscience, human development, and educational philosophy at Harvard. He is co-founder of several organizations including Lectica, the Civilization Research Institute, and the Center for World Philosophy and Religion. He is the author of "Education in a Time Between Worlds" and co-author of "First Principles and First Values: Forty-Two Propositions on Cosmoerotic Humanism, the Meta-Crisis, and the World to Come."This is our third conversation. We've previously explored the crisis of education and Zak's model of human development. This time we go further — into the philosophical foundations Zak believes are necessary for civilization to survive what's coming.In this conversation, we explore the problems of postmodernity, why value and consciousness are fundamental aspects of reality rather than illusions to be explained away, and what is Cosmo-Erotic Humanism.We get into evolving perennialism and the problem of evil, Global Intimacy Disorder and emotional maturity, and how to balance rapid advances in technology with ethical development.We also explore bringing the wisdom of religious traditions to the scientific rationalist mind, what may be the most powerful and dangerous religion in the world today, and the difficulty of transmitting ethical leadership across generations.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Zak Stein’s personal siteFirst Principles First Values by David J. Temple (Zak’s latest book)My first conversation with Zak on the Education CrisisMy second conversation with Zak on his approach to human developmentDavid Ray GriffinDavid HumeIain McGilchristJohn VervaekeNick LandDeep Utopia by Nick BostromPerennial PhilosophyJurgen HabermasKen WilberStuart KauffmanB.F. SkinnerNoam ChomskyRichard DawkinsRupert Sheldrake🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction 1:55 - The problems of postmodernity 12:31 - Why value and consciousness are fundamental aspects of reality 21:35 - What is Cosmo-Erotic Humanism? 42:40 - Evolving perennialism and the problem of evil 52:20 - Global Intimacy Disorder and emotional maturity 1:04:35 - Balancing advances in technology with ethical development 1:10:36 - Bringing the wisdom of religions to the scientific rationalist mind 1:26:26 - The most powerful and dangerous religion in the world today 1:32:30 - The difficulty of transmitting ethical leadership*Subscribe to the Insighter substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional lens

Cedric Chin is a business operator, programmer, and writer, and the founder of Commoncog — a publication exploring the models of business expertise and how to accelerate the acquisition of that expertise. His approach to writing and learning is simple but rigorous: find interesting ideas, try them out in his own life, and share the results. Over the years he has compiled an extensive knowledge base on how to think and learn better in business and beyond.In this conversation, we explore what led Cedric to study expertise and the limits of mental models, the problem with deliberate practice, and what he is building with Commoncog.We get into Ray Dalio's concept of believability, sensemaking and the distinction between epistemic and instrumental rationality, how "irrational" people can still be successful, and the debate between Gary Klein and Daniel Kahneman on decision-making.We also explore the three approaches to gaining expertise, what tacit knowledge is, the Recognition Primed Decision Making model, cognitive task analysis, and the most important questions to ask experts.We close by exploring how to accelerate expertise in meditation and the transmission of mind, how to actually learn from books, Cognitive Flexibility Theory and ill-structured domains, why you should read biographies, how to overcome information overload, mindful social media use, and the role of luck vs skill in success.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Cedric's blog — Commoncog Follow Cedric on Twitter/X Farnam Street Charlie Munger Principles — Ray Dalio The Fund — Rob Copeland Less Wrong Sources of Power — Gary Klein Daniel Kahneman Jean Piaget High Output Management — Andrew Grove You Have a Choice — Eric Nehrlich The Seven Secrets of the Prolific — Hillary Rettig Accelerating Expertise Milton Hershey Warren Buffett Interpersonal Neurobiology — Dan Siegel Dan Siegel The Engines That Move Markets — Alasdair Nairn Benjamin Graham🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Intro2:54 - What led Cedric to study expertise — the limits of mental models8:05 - The problem with deliberate practice10:05 - What is Commoncog?12:48 - Ray Dalio and believability21:03 - Sensemaking Less Wrong — epistemic vs instrumental rationality25:11 - How "irrational" people can be successful26:39 - Gary Klein vs Daniel Kahneman29:44 - Three approaches to gaining expertise34:20 - What is tacit knowledge?38:38 - The Recognition Primed Decision Making model47:30 - Cognitive task analysis49:49 - The most important questions to ask experts52:10 - Accelerating expertise in meditation and the transmission of mind56:48 - How to actually learn from books1:00:50 - Cognitive Flexibility Theory and ill-structured domains1:06:55 - Integration — noticing sameness and difference1:09:31 - Using case studies to become an expert in cult dynamics1:13:21 - Why you should read biographies1:16:52 - How to overcome information overload1:21:48 - Mindful social media use1:25:22 - Luck vs skill in success1:30:48 - Cedric's opinion on crypto1:33:54 - The best and worst thing about living in Singapore1:34:59 - Building the biggest storehouse of business expertise*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Cadell Last is an anthropologist, philosopher, and founder of Philosophy Portal — an online educational platform opening space for the next generation of philosophical thought. After developing a strong grounding in evolutionary anthropology and biology, he began a deep study of phenomenology and psychoanalysis, opening him to fresh perspectives on some of life's most challenging questions. Today his work explores biocultural evolution, the mind-matter relation, and speculative futures. He is the author of "Global Brain Singularity" and "Systems and Subjects," co-author of "Sex, Masculinity, God," and lead editor of the community anthologies "Enter the Alien" and "Abyssal Arrows."In this conversation, we explore the limits of science and the importance of philosophy, building on the main ideas of Plato, Hegel, Lacan, and Zizek, and what it means to connect dead philosophers with living, universally impactful thinkers.We get into why you have to understand thinkers deeply before you can deconstruct them, the importance of dialectical thinking, and what Jordan Peterson and Richard Dawkins actually have in common beneath their apparent opposition.We also explore putting Jung and Freud into dialectics, what Global Brain Singularity actually is, cultivating a global commons, the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, nonduality, non-monism, and Buddhism, the upswing in Christian conversions, and Cadell's vision for Philosophy Portal.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Cadell's personal site Cadell on X/Twitter Cadell on Substack Become a member at Philosophy Portal Global Brain Singularity — Cadell Last Systems & Subjects — Cadell Last Plato Hegel Lacan Zizek Jordan Peterson Richard Dawkins Jordan Peterson in conversation with Richard Dawkins Jordan Peterson Biblical Lectures Maps of Meaning — Jordan Peterson, in-depth book summary The Artemisian — Alyssa Polizzi Ray Kurzweil on Joe Rogan Francis Heylighen Her — film Capital in the Twenty-First Century — Thomas Piketty Elinor Ostrom The Commons Karl Marx George Church CRISPR Plum Village Christian Atheism — Slavoj Zizek The Phenomenology of Spirit — Hegel The Religious Case Against Belief — James Carse🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:51 - The limits of science and the importance of philosophy15:10 - Building on the main ideas of Plato, Hegel, Lacan and Zizek30:55 - Connecting dead philosophers with living universally impactful thinkers33:36 - You have to understand thinkers deeply before you can deconstruct them36:23 - The importance of dialectical thinking47:30 - What Jordan Peterson and Richard Dawkins have in common — myths vs drives57:55 - Putting Jung and Freud into dialectics1:02:49 - What is Global Brain Singularity?1:18:46 - Cultivating a global commons1:31:50 - The impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution1:38:29 - Nonduality, non-monism, Buddhism and affirming appearances1:46:44 - Making sense of the upswing in Christian conversions and unpacking religion1:56:20 - Cadell's vision for Philosophy Portal*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Tom Morgan is a former financier and founder of The Leading Edge, a media platform and transformational community dedicated to sharing world-changing ideas and facilitating life-changing experiences. After nearly 20 years in finance — including roles at Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and Sapient Capital — Tom became increasingly disenchanted with the path he was on. An awakening experience eventually led him to leave finance and enter a difficult multi-year existential crisis that forced him to reconsider success, purpose, money, meaning, and what it means to live a meaningful life. Today, Tom describes himself as a “curiosity sherpa,” seeking out unconventional thinkers, transformative ideas, and experiences that help people reconnect with curiosity, wisdom, purpose, and aliveness.In this conversation, we explore how to follow your bliss without abandoning practical reality, navigate an existential crisis, bridge money and meaning, reinvent yourself after a major life transition, and discover a path that can’t necessarily be planned in advance.We also explore Iain McGilchrist’s work on the left and right hemispheres, shadow work and Jordan Peterson, demons and daemons, following your curiosity, the generalist vs. specialist dilemma, whether the world financially rewards people who follow their bliss, and Tom’s vision for creating a network of transformational communities.If you’ve ever felt trapped between making money and doing meaningful work, questioned your career or life direction, struggled to find your purpose, or wondered whether you should follow your curiosity into the unknown, this conversation is for you.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Connect with Tom on X/Twitter Read Tom’s writing Join the Leading Edge community The Master & His Emissary by Iain McGhilchrist Maps of Meaning by Jordan Peterson (In-depth book summary) Syntropy by Ulisse Di Corpo Ervin Laszlo C.S. Lewis Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned by Kenneth O. Stanley & Joel Lehman The Passion of the Western Mind (epilogue) by Richard Tarnas Mona Sobhani Rebel Wisdom 🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:07 - Working in finance, existential crisis & exploring wisdom8:30 - Navigating hell11:21 - Reinventing yourself13:55 - Integrating left and right brain functioning20:22 - Applying a mythic lens to life25:06 - Shadow work, monstrosity & Jordan Peterson32:29 - How to connect to your curiosity36:44 - When you don’t listen to your daemon it becomes a demon38:37 - Holistic living — what Tom’s life looks like now41:36 - Why greatness cannot be planned45:38 - Bridging money & meaning50:19 - Navigating the generalist vs specialist dynamic55:44 - Does the world financially reward those who follow their bliss?1:01:29 - Creating a network of transformational communities1:03:16 - Unpacking The Leading Edge community1:08:00 - The problems many online transformational communities face1:14:58 - What makes Tom angry about society?1:15:49 - Creating a community full of love1:16:55 - What Tom believes to be true that most people disagree with*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Kyle Kowalski is an ex-marketing executive turned solopreneur who left the corporate world after experiencing an existential crisis. He founded Sloww — a digital knowledge base and community sharing insights into the art of living for students of life. An interdisciplinary dot collector and synthesizer, Kyle creates in-depth book summaries, e-books, and a wisdom-packed weekly newsletter integrating slow living with meaning, purpose, money mastery, transformational learning, and human development.In our last conversation, we explored the art of slow living, IKIGAI, financial freedom, and the lottery of birth. This time we go deeper — into the real challenges of building a meaningful business, navigating the post-conventional shift, and what it actually takes to synthesize wisdom in a way that transforms both yourself and others.In this conversation, we explore the insights Kyle has gained from entrepreneurship, navigating money and meaning, the process of transitioning from the corporate world to solopreneurship, and how he built his audience, monetized Sloww, and overcame imposter syndrome.We get into the challenges of monetizing generalist and holistic content, how to create purposeful work, how Ego Development Theory impacted Kyle's understanding of himself and his work, and why the meta-crisis is ultimately a me crisis.We also explore the post-conventional shift and its challenges, balancing knowledge consumption with direct experience, the role of relational practices in human development, and Kyle's brand new Synthesizer course — a framework for turning information into embodied wisdom.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Sloww website Kyle on Twitter/X Sloww Sunday newsletter Kyle's Synthesizer course IKIGAI 2.0 e-book — Kyle Kowalski Sloww Premium Community Introduction to Susanne Cook-Greuter's Ego Development Theory Metacrisis.org Is the meta-crisis a me crisis? — Kyle Kowalski Wise Walk — Kyle Kowalski Paul Millerd and Kyle Kowalski path comparison Nora Bateson synthesis How to Read a Book — Mortimer Adler Maria Popova Ken Wilber Joshua Becker Tim Ferriss Shane Parrish Naval Ravikant Knots — R.D. Laing🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction1:43 - Insights from entrepreneurship — navigating money and meaning13:33 - The process of transitioning from the corporate world to solopreneurship23:00 - How Kyle built his audience, monetized Sloww and overcame imposter syndrome31:40 - The challenges of monetizing generalist and holistic content43:44 - How to create purposeful work52:34 - How Ego Development Theory impacted Kyle56:37 - Synthesizing Nora Bateson's opinion of developmental stage theories1:09:55 - Why the meta-crisis is a me crisis1:16:18 - The post-conventional shift and the challenges that come with it1:22:52 - Balancing knowledge consumption with direct experience — becoming a spiritual translator1:29:40 - The role of relational practices in human development1:37:52 - Unpacking Kyle's Synthesizer course1:43:28 - Gauging interest before creating a product1:45:45 - What makes Kyle most angry about society today?1:51:12 - Tears of joy1:56:34 - Final message*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Bernardo Kastrup is a philosopher of mind and the leading voice for metaphysical idealism — the view that all of reality is essentially mental. He holds PhDs in both Philosophy and Computer Engineering and has worked at CERN and the Philips Research Laboratories, where the Casimir Effect of Quantum Field Theory was discovered. He founded the parallel processing company Silicon Hive, acquired by Intel in 2011, and currently serves as Executive Director of the Essentia Foundation — dedicated to presenting scientific and analytic evidence challenging traditional materialism. He is the author of over ten books including "Why Materialism is Baloney," "The Idea of the World," and the upcoming "Analytic Idealism in a Nutshell."In this conversation, we explore the pivotal events and influences that shaped Bernardo's thinking, the simplest explanation of idealism and why all of reality is mental, and why the brain does not generate the mind — one of the most important and counterintuitive arguments in contemporary philosophy of consciousness.We get into whether idealism can be tested scientifically, how idealism impacts meaning in life, psychedelics and self-deception, how Bernardo avoids getting trapped in his own ideas, and the relationship between intellectual pursuits, human connection, and loneliness.We also explore suffering, happiness, responsibility, and contentment; Bernardo's conception of enlightenment through the story of the monk who set himself on fire; what makes him most angry about society; what he's most worried about; and what he believes will never disappear.A profound and wide-ranging conversation at the intersection of philosophy of mind, consciousness studies, and the deepest questions of human existence.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Bernardo's personal site Follow Bernardo on Twitter Analytic Idealism course — free Analytic Idealism in a Nutshell — pre-order Why Materialism is Baloney — in-depth book summary Rupert Spira David Chalmers Christof Koch Giulio Tononi Integrated Information Theory Shinzen Young Iain McGilchrist The monk who set himself on fire Song to the Siren — This Mortal Coil Moving On — James The Double Life of Véronique — film🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:33 - Pivotal events and influences that shaped Bernardo8:32 - From intellectual to experiential understanding13:02 - Fear of death15:54 - The simplest explanation of idealism19:12 - A dream in the infinite mind or dissociation23:33 - The thinkers who most influenced Bernardo Kastrup26:40 - Is there a way to test idealism scientifically?33:13 - Why the mind is not generated by the brain37:58 - You can never convince someone of something they don't already know39:56 - How does idealism impact meaning in life?45:49 - Psychedelics, self-deception and symbolism51:02 - How Bernardo avoids getting trapped in his ideas1:00:10 - Intellectual pursuits, human connection and loneliness1:08:46 - Capacities Bernardo wishes he innately had1:12:14 - Suffering, happiness, responsibility and contentment1:32:22 - Bernardo's conception of enlightenment — the monk who set himself on fire1:37:13 - What makes Bernardo most angry about society1:40:13 - What Bernardo is most worried about1:45:52 - Crying tears of joy1:53:29 - What makes "Analytic Idealism in a Nutshell" unique1:56:35 - What Bernardo is writing about now2:00:09 - What will never disappear*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

James Baker is an inner work practitioner and founder of Intentional Society — an online transformational community centered on developmental and relational practices. After spending 15 years in software development, he became disillusioned with the corporate world and decided to pursue his passions. He launched Intentional Society, and after over 150 weekly gatherings, the community has grown into a distinctive space for personal transformation and interpersonal exploration.In this conversation, we explore the role of relational practices in human development, what Intentional Society is and the premises it's built on, and the major takeaways from over 150 weekly gatherings with a community of dedicated inner work practitioners.We get into moving from modern to postmodern to metamodern perspectives, playing with power dynamics, breaking through social conventions and stretching boundaries, navigating the relationship between safety and growth, and the three principles of Intentional Society.We also explore transforming our relationship to judgmental thoughts, becoming developmentally aware, the paradoxical dance between being and becoming, the future of transformational online communities, cultural evolution vs individual development, the increasing need for an ecology of practices, and a message of fundamental okayness.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Intentional Society — online transformational community Follow James on Twitter Becoming Developmentally Aware — Artem Zen Already Free — Bruce Tift🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction1:30 - From software development to human transformation7:13 - What is Intentional Society and the premises it's built on10:21 - Interpersonal development and relational practices13:09 - Major takeaways from over 150 weekly gatherings18:48 - Moving from modern to postmodern to metamodern perspectives21:24 - Playing with power dynamics24:10 - Breaking through social conventions and stretching boundaries29:55 - The three principles of Intentional Society34:45 - Navigating the relationship between safety and growth — Meta-Safety43:18 - Transforming our relationship to judgmental thoughts45:40 - What Intentional Society members have in common49:52 - Becoming developmentally aware53:39 - The paradoxical dance between being and becoming1:02:55 - The future of transformational online communities1:10:27 - Cultural evolution vs individual development1:13:25 - The increasing need for an ecology of practices1:19:15 - A message of fundamental okayness*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Layman Pascal is a prominent thinker in the Liminal, Metamodern, Game B, and Integral spaces whose work explores post-metaphysics, nonduality, metamodernism, integral metatheory, new shamanism, the future of religion, developmental philosophy, and meta-progressive politics. He is the co-host of the Integral Stage podcast.This episode was recorded live at Limicon 2024 and explores ideas from Layman's two popular essays "The Metamodern Business Bureau" and "Make Game A Pay for the Wall." After our dialogue, we opened the floor for participants to ask questions and share reflections.In this conversation, we explore transforming the money and meaning relationship on both a personal and societal level, making the Metamodern Business Bureau come alive, early examples of liminal business crews, and developing a more conscious approach to business and economics.We get into new economic experiments, finding clients who can actually pay for meaningful work, whether we need to be more careful or more courageous in our sources of material wealth, and how to influence the wealthiest families in the world to distribute their resources differently.We also explore finding your role in the liminal ecosystem, connecting people with complementary skill sets, bridging left and right brain ways of knowing, bullshit jobs and our relationship to dopamine, and finding the economic model hidden in genuine inspiration.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗The Metamodern Business Bureau — Layman Pascal Make Game A Pay for the Wall — Layman Pascal Layman's Substack Integral Stage podcast Linchpin — Seth Godin🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:40 - Transforming the money and meaning relationship on a personal and societal level5:52 - Making the Metamodern Business Bureau come alive10:39 - Early examples of liminal business crews and what's missing13:42 - Developing a more conscious approach to business and economics education16:45 - New economic experiments20:16 - Finding clients who can pay for your services27:52 - Do we need to be more careful or more courageous in our sources of material wealth?33:23 - How can we influence the wealthiest families to distribute their money?36:50 - Do liminal and metamodern thinkers go over people's heads?38:16 - Finding your role in the liminal ecosystem — simplifying and complexifying41:08 - Connecting people with complementary skill sets and starting businesses44:25 - Nominating liminal business leaders, failing forward, and learning from elders49:30 - Group reflections49:52 - It doesn't need to be perfect — we just need to take action52:31 - Finding the right words to connect the liminal and metamodern space to the conventional world57:07 - Bridging left and right brain ways of knowing1:00:00 - Finding the economic model hidden in inspiration and locating people at the edge of Game A1:03:27 - How to do better business, why we need marketing, bullshit jobs and our relationship to dopamine1:13:22 - Mapping coherence and navigating divergence1:16:32 - What's next?*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Darcia Narvaez is a professor of psychology whose work explores the neurobiology of moral development, evolved parenting practices, and small-band hunter-gatherer societies. Identified as one of the top 2% of scientists worldwide, she is the president of Kindred World — a nonprofit dedicated to creating a wisdom-based worldview — and the founder of the Evolved Nest, an initiative that integrates findings across child development, child raising, and adult behavior while promoting optimal health, wellbeing, cooperation, and sociomoral intelligence. She is the author of several books including the award-winning "Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality."In this conversation we explore the optimal environment for early child development and how our modern culture falls short of what children actually need, the importance of breastfeeding and co-sleeping, and navigating order and chaos in parenting.We get into the surprising truth about nature and nurture, how life for indigenous people differed from modern life, whether war was always part of humanity, and how the collaboration vs competition dynamic relates to left and right brain views of the world.We also explore contrasting views of wisdom, tools and resources for creating a more wholesome life, learning to regulate our nervous systems through play, and why returning to the evolved nest is critical not just for individual families but for the world.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Darcia's personal site The Evolved Nest Neurobiology and the Development of Human Morality — Darcia Narvaez Breaking the Cycle of Competitive Detachment — short film Reimagining Humanity — short film The Evolved Nest — short film 28 Days of Self-Calming — Evolved Nest practice 28 Days of Solo Play — Evolved Nest practice Norton Interpersonal Neurobiology Book Series The Polyvagal Theory — Stephen W. Porges Playful Parenting — Lawrence J. Cohen Rudolf Steiner Chimp Empire — Netflix The Master and His Emissary — Iain McGilchrist The Myth of Normal — Gabor Maté🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:01 - An overview of Darcia's work5:22 - The role of safety in morality7:29 - The optimal environment for early child development15:42 - The importance of breastfeeding and co-sleeping18:00 - How the modern world falls short of the evolved developmental niche25:45 - Navigating order and chaos in parenting35:39 - What is the relationship between nature and nurture?41:32 - How life for indigenous people was different from the modern world44:19 - Was war always part of humanity?54:18 - Relating the collaboration and competition dynamic to left and right brain views of the world1:02:27 - Contrasting views of wisdom1:07:58 - Resources and tools for creating a more wholesome life1:14:07 - Learning to regulate our nervous systems through play1:17:10 - Why returning to the evolved nest is critical for the world*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Bruce Tift is a psychotherapist, author, and longtime Vajrayana Buddhism practitioner with over 40 years of practice. As a therapist, he has worked in psychiatric wards and social services, and has maintained a private practice since 1979. He taught at Naropa University for twenty-five years and has lectured internationally. A student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, he has had the fortune of meeting many realized teachers along the way. He is the author of "Already Free" — a book exploring the relationship between psychotherapy and awakening through the lens of both Western psychology and Vajrayana Buddhism.In this conversation, we explore the relationship between psychotherapy and awakening, the irresolvable paradox of relationship, and what it actually means to be psychospiritually mature.We get into holding developmental models lightly, learning to experience story-free anxiety, stepping out of identification through immediate sensation, and why struggle is actually a way of not dealing with our lives — and what to do instead.We also explore individual vs couples therapy and navigating the polarity of connection and separateness, using Circling to understand emotions and develop intimacy, nonduality and the Vajrayana view, a healthier approach to awakening and liberation, and the hard problem of consciousness.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Bruce's personal site Already Free — Bruce Tift Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind — Shunryu Suzuki Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche What is Circling?🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:10 - The pivotal events that put Bruce on the path6:32 - The relationship between psychotherapy and awakening13:01 - Bruce pulls the chair out from beneath me16:58 - The irresolvable paradox of relationship18:10 - Is it possible to heal and develop psychologically without psychotherapy?19:34 - What does it mean to be psychospiritually mature?23:30 - Holding developmental models lightly25:55 - Learning to experience story-free anxiety35:23 - Stepping out of identification through immediate sensation42:30 - Why struggle is a way not to deal with our lives53:43 - Individual vs couples therapy — navigating connection and separateness1:06:29 - Using Circling and relatefulness to understand emotions and develop intimacy1:10:29 - Diving into nonduality and the Vajrayana view1:18:08 - A healthier view of awakening and liberation1:26:11 - The hard problem of consciousness*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Richard D. Bartlett is a community organizer, entrepreneur, and coach who helps people grow high-trust communities and decentralized organizations. In 2011 he was part of the Occupy Wall Street movement — a pivotal moment that set him on the path to becoming a key player in Enspiral, an organization that shares money, power, and information to help its members do meaningful work. He went on to found Loomio, a software that helps organizations navigate decentralized decision-making, and later The Hum, a non-hierarchical management consultancy. His latest venture is Microsolidarity — a community building network and movement dedicated to cultivating high-trust groups at a human scale.In this conversation, we explore how Rich's upbringing shaped his work with community building and team organization, the importance of integrating traditional values, and what it takes to create a pluralistic community with the capacity to hold many perspectives.We get into what Microsolidarity is and how it works, how group size changes relational dynamics, essential modalities and practices for community builders, insights from Enspiral, and how to build trust and accelerate personal growth through community.We also explore the challenges of visionary leadership, navigating the polarity of autonomy and belonging, Michael Levin's work on the superorganism and collective intelligence, the illusion of being self-made, how to integrate vulnerability into the workplace, and creating decentralized organizations.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Rich's personal site Microsolidarity — community building network and practice The Hum — Rich's consultancy The Religious Case Against Belief — James Carse Nonviolent Communication — Marshall B. Rosenberg Theory U U-Lab Course Liberating Structures Internal Family Systems Circling — Relatefulness Open Space Technology Better Work Together — Enspiral🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:32 - How Rich's upbringing led to his work with community building and team organization6:50 - The importance of integrating traditional values8:44 - Creating a pluralistic community with the capacity to hold many perspectives19:16 - What is Microsolidarity?27:45 - How group size changes relational dynamics30:35 - Essential modalities and practices for community builders36:25 - Insights from Enspiral and working in community44:33 - Building trust and accelerating personal growth through community47:22 - The challenges of visionary leadership54:51 - Navigating the polarity of autonomy and belonging59:28 - Michael Levin, the superorganism, collective intelligence and the illusion of being self-made1:08:40 - How to integrate vulnerability into the workplace1:17:20 - Creating decentralized organizations1:26:40 - Additional resources for community builders*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

North Burn is a meditation teacher and practitioner who has devoted fifteen years to full-time contemplative practice across Insight Meditation and Soto Zen traditions. He has spent five years in monastic communities, two years in silent intensive retreats, and several years in solitude and self-directed study. Influenced by Joseph Goldstein, Greg Scharf, Leslie James, and Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi, he began teaching meditation retreats in 2016. He is the founder of Boundless Refuge — an annual three-month silent retreat dedicated to transforming suffering into peace through the practice of the middle way.In this conversation, we explore what inspired North to engage with deep spiritual practice, his approach to awakening, and the distinction between Sutric and Tantric perspectives on Dharma.We get into the pros and cons of being open about spiritual attainments, the fear of groundlessness, the benefits of intensive meditation practice, and whether you can get the same benefits from a committed daily practice as from a long silent retreat.We also explore integrating stories into spirituality, the power of aspiration for awakening, the relationship between psychedelics and meditation, contrasting monastic, householder, and nomadic lifestyles, and the role of renunciation in benefiting our relationships.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Boundless Refuge — North's 3-month silent meditation retreat Shunryu Suzuki Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind — Shunryu Suzuki Tenshin Reb Anderson Joseph Goldstein Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha — Daniel Ingram Adyashanti Buddhadasa Ram Dass🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:32 - What inspired North to engage with deep spiritual practice7:41 - North's approach to awakening13:44 - Exploring Sutric vs Tantric perspectives on Dharma21:36 - Pros and cons of being open about spiritual attainments29:55 - The fear of groundlessness33:45 - Boundless Refuge — 3-month silent meditation retreat39:10 - The benefits of intensive meditation practice47:02 - Integrating stories into spirituality49:31 - Are you ready for a long silent meditation retreat?59:45 - Can you get the benefits of a long retreat through a committed daily meditation practice?1:02:19 - The power of aspiration for awakening1:05:19 - The relationship between psychedelics and meditation1:18:25 - Contrasting monastic, householder, and nomadic lifestyles1:26:40 - The challenges and questions North is currently grappling with1:30:25 - Using renunciation to benefit our relationships*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

David Loy is a professor, writer, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition who began Zen practice in 1971 and completed the formal koan curriculum in 1988. For many years he taught Buddhist and comparative philosophy at university level. Although retired from academia he continues to lecture internationally on the intersection of Buddhism and modernity. He is the author of many books including "Lack & Transcendence," "Ecodharma," and "Nonduality: In Buddhism and Beyond."In this conversation, we explore the fundamental problem of human existence — what David calls "lack" — and the unskillful ways we typically try to address it. We get into the distinction between the fear of death and the deeper fear of not being real, going beyond dualistic thinking, and how Freud, the existentialists, and Buddhism each diagnose the same fundamental problem differently.We also explore the limits of philosophy, integrating personal with collective transformation, the three poisons institutionalized in our economic and political systems, and how Buddhism can help address the meaning crisis.We close by exploring hope, despair, grief, love, and effective engagement, whether death is an illusion, how our experience of time relates to a sense of lack, and the questions David himself is still grappling with.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗David's personal site Lack & Transcendence — David Loy Dogen Nisargadatta John Vervaeke Meaningness — David Chapman Stephen Jenkinson on Elevating Consciousness — Episode #9 Transcendent Naturalism series — John Vervaeke & Gregg Henriques🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:08 - The fundamental problem of human existence7:24 - Unskillful ways of dealing with lack11:14 - The fear of death vs the fear of not being real14:04 - Going beyond dualistic thinking18:55 - The fundamental problem according to Freud and psychotherapy21:15 - The fundamental problem according to the existentialists22:40 - The limits of philosophy — teachings as a raft and a finger pointing to the moon25:45 - Integrating personal with collective transformation30:37 - The three poisons institutionalized35:07 - Addressing the meaning crisis45:00 - Hope, despair, grief, love and effective engagement52:11 - Opening up to the great mystery54:47 - Is death an illusion?1:00:35 - How our experience of time relates to a sense of lack1:09:27 - Has David resolved a sense of lack within himself?1:15:50 - Questions David is still grappling with*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Charlie Awbery is a meditation teacher and longtime Vajrayana practitioner. Ordained in 2002 in the non-monastic Aro gTer lineage, their practice has spanned yidam, yogic song, chod, psycho-physical yogas, and solitary retreats. Alongside traditional Vajrayana, Charlie has trained in Gestalt psychotherapy and worked in mental health services and international human rights organizations. After twenty-five years in traditional Vajrayana, they co-founded Evolving Ground — a community for contemporary Vajrayana practice that integrates ancient tantric wisdom with modern psychological understanding.In this conversation, we explore the distinction between Sutric and Tantric view and why it matters, different ways of approaching Vajrayana, and the vehicles of Buddhism and their different endpoints.We get into why the Sutric view is so pervasive in Western Buddhism, why it can be problematic for householders, the effect of language and worldview on meditation practice, and different perspectives on awakening and enlightenment.We also explore how Evolving Ground's Vajrayana differs from traditional Vajrayana, Chod practice and coming to terms with death, integrating emptiness and form practices, connecting Circling to Vajrayana, the teacher-student relationship in Evolving Ground, and learning through transmission and the We Space.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Charlie's Vajrayana blog Evolving Ground — Charlie's meditation community Sutra to Tantra with Charlie Awbery and Jared Janes at the Stoa Vividness — David Chapman🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction3:46 - Charlie's spiritual journey6:26 - Sutric view vs Tantric view10:36 - Different ways of approaching Vajrayana12:52 - The vehicles of Buddhism and their different endpoints17:14 - Eyes opened vs eyes closed in meditation20:35 - The effect of language and worldview on meditation practice25:56 - Why Sutra is so pervasive29:41 - Why the Sutric view can be problematic for householders37:14 - Deemphasizing suffering and other reasons for meditating40:26 - Effects of Sutric vs Tantric meditation43:22 - Different perspectives on awakening and enlightenment51:20 - Can a beginner start with Tantric view and practice?53:16 - Meta-systematic approach to meditation58:45 - Buddhist dogma1:01:19 - How Evolving Ground's Vajrayana differs from traditional Vajrayana1:09:10 - Chod practice and coming to terms with death1:16:08 - Integrating emptiness and form practices1:18:55 - Connecting Circling to Vajrayana1:23:30 - The teacher-student relationship in Evolving Ground1:30:26 - Tacit knowledge, learning through transmission and the We Space*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

River Kenna is a writer, inner work practitioner, and mythodynamics researcher. After spending the first 24 years of his life dealing with incessant mental chatter — and trying countless meditation techniques that offered little relief — it was somatic meditation that finally allowed him to dissolve his inner critic and find deep inner peace. Today his work explores somatic resonance, mythopoetic cognition, and experiments in graceful non-linear living. He teaches the Somatic Resonance course and conducts one-on-one sessions in somatic and imaginal practices.In this conversation we explore the limits of most meditation approaches and what somatic meditation offers that conventional methods miss, accessing images through the body, and what mythopoetic cognition is and why it may be the engine of the mind.We get into imaginal practice and dream work, the systematic vs spontaneous mode, staying with images over the long term, the non-linearity of dream work, and how imaginal work differs from parts work.We also explore the distinction between improving and unfolding, left brain vs right brain, devotional productivity, and a dissection of the ideas of Carl Jung, James Hillman, and Rob Burbea.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗River's personal site River on Twitter Subscribe to River's Substack Somatic Resonance Course Somatic Descent — Reggie Ray Imagination: A New Foundation for the Science of Mind — Stephen T. Asma Mythopoetic Cognition as the Engine of the Mind — River Kenna at the Stoa John Keats — Negative Capability Inner Work — Robert A. Johnson The Master and His Emissary — Iain McGilchrist Technic and Magic — Federico Campagna Rob Burbea Carl Jung James Hillman🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction1:58 - The limits of most meditations4:37 - The transformative power of somatic meditation9:48 - Accessing images through the body16:26 - Mythopoetic cognition27:17 - Imaginal practice and dream work35:04 - Systematic vs spontaneous mode39:48 - Staying with images over the long term45:47 - The non-linearity of dream work52:39 - How imaginal work differs from parts work56:44 - Improving vs unfolding — left brain vs right brain1:03:02 - Devotional productivity1:16:51 - Dissecting Carl Jung, James Hillman, and Rob Burbea1:25:01 - What River is working on now1:28:17 - Final words*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Rosa Lewis is a spiritual teacher and inner work practitioner whose path to awakening included long periods of altered states and spiritual psychosis. Eventually returning to a functional state, her experience of reality was forever transformed. Her work draws deeply from Carl Jung, tantric Buddhism, and Rob Burbea, integrating Buddhist emptiness, shadow work, tantric embodiment, archetypal and imaginal work, mysticism, and heartfulness. She is currently developing a framework for whole being awakening that integrates theory and practice in a way that is holistic, alive, and in touch with the depths of being.In this conversation, we explore Rosa's path towards awakening and how she navigated spiritual psychosis.We get into inclusive vs exclusive perspectives on awakening, the whole being awakening model, hierarchy and power dynamics in spiritual communities, and how to assess the expertise and credibility of a spiritual teacher.We also explore what emptiness actually is and why emptiness is not form, the monastic vs householder path, interdependent origination, pushing back against idealism, embodying the Brahma Viharas, and imaginal work.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Rosa's personal site Whole Being Awakening Model Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha — Daniel Ingram Shadow Work Carl Jung Rob Burbea Why Emptiness is Not Form🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction1:39 - Rosa's path towards awakening11:15 - Navigating spiritual psychosis19:14 - Inclusive vs exclusive perspectives on awakening26:00 - The whole being awakening model31:56 - Hierarchy and power dynamics in spiritual communities37:20 - Assessing the expertise and credibility of a spiritual teacher45:47 - What is emptiness? And why emptiness is not form53:54 - Monastic vs householder paths57:17 - Interdependent origination1:04:38 - Pushing back against the view of idealism — everything is mind1:08:18 - As many Buddhisms as there are Buddhists1:10:05 - Embodying the Brahma Viharas1:15:16 - Imaginal work and swimming in imagination1:20:20 - Rosa's awakening course and book*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Jonas Atlas is a scholar of religions, author, and lecturer whose work explores the intersection of religion, politics, and mysticism. Rooted in the Christian tradition, he has immersed himself in Hinduism, Islam, and Sufism, and has been active in local and international peace work with a focus on cultural and religious diversity. He currently teaches ethics and spirituality at the KDG University of Applied Sciences and Arts and is the author of several books including "Halal Monk," "Re-visioning Sufism," and most recently "Religion: Reality Behind the Myths."In this conversation we explore why misunderstanding religion is a problem, the seven myths about religion and what they get wrong, and whether religion necessarily constitutes dogma.We get into whether religion is fundamentally about God and transcendence, the difference between spirituality and religion — and the problem with "spiritual but not religious" as a position — defining what religion actually is, and the challenge of à la carte spirituality and why sticking to a path matters.We also explore the limits of language in describing religious experience, the false dichotomy of secular and religious, and why the real issue underlying most problems with religion is literalism and fundamentalism — not religion itself.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Jonas's personal site Religion: Reality Behind the Myths — Jonas Atlas Maps of Meaning — Jordan Peterson, in-depth book summary🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:40 - Jonas's upbringing and what led him to studying religion10:05 - Why misunderstanding religion is a problem19:55 - The seven myths about religion25:00 - Does religion constitute dogma?38:15 - Is religion about God and transcendence?43:20 - Is there a difference between spirituality and religion?57:04 - Hermitage interlude1:02:16 - Defining religion1:13:59 - The problem of à la carte spirituality and the importance of sticking to a path1:20:56 - The limits of language1:22:38 - The false dichotomy of secular and religious1:36:57 - The real issue is literalism and fundamentalism*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Stephen Faller is a chaplain, educator, and author who serves as a Chaplain Educator at Overlook Medical Center, where he runs the Clinical Pastoral Education program. He is the founder and director of the Institute of Spiritual Midwifery — dedicated to the development of the theory, practice, and pedagogy of spiritual midwifery in the ministry of individuals, families, and organizations. His experience with cerebral palsy offers a rare and powerful perspective on the intersection of disability and spiritual caregiving. He is the author of several books including "The Art of Spiritual Midwifery" and most recently "Christianity and the Art of Wheelchair Maintenance."In this conversation, we explore what spiritual midwifery actually is and how dialogue within it differs from casual conversation, the role of Circling and Dialogos in spiritual practice, and the intricacies of dialectic, paradox, and parables as tools of the spiritual midwife.We get into indirect communication as a vehicle for authentic communication, why we don't argue over objective facts, the barriers to spiritual midwifery, and the tools of the spiritual midwife — including Socratic irony, negation, and the center.We also explore the deeply personal — Artem speaks about his own health condition, Stephen speaks about living with cerebral palsy, and together they navigate the terrain of  COVID, loss, grief, and spiritual practice.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Stephen's personal site The Art of Spiritual Midwifery — in-depth book summary Christianity and the Art of Wheelchair Maintenance — Stephen Faller After Socrates lecture series — John Vervaeke Games People Play — Eric Berne The Yoga of Conversation with Guy Sengstock Hegel Heraclitus Lao Tzu James Hillman Rolfing🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️Foundations of Spiritual Midwifery 0:00 - Introduction 2:54 - What is spiritual midwifery? 10:35 - How dialogue in spiritual midwifery differs from casual conversation 13:27 - Circling, Dialogos and John VervaekeThe Intricacies of Spiritual Midwifery 17:25 - Dialectic, paradox and parables 29:05 - Indirect communication as a vehicle for authentic communication 34:12 - We don't argue over objective facts 42:43 - Barriers to spiritual midwiferyThe Tools of the Spiritual Midwife 55:41 - How you say things vs what you say 58:16 - Socratic irony 1:00:32 - Negation 1:04:20 - The centerDealing with Disability and Loss 1:10:10 - Artem speaks about his health condition 1:14:03 - Stephen speaks on living with cerebral palsy 1:20:57 - Rolfing, COVID, loss, grief and spiritual practiceOutro 1:38:20 - Overview of Stephen's work and his upcoming book*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Guro Hansen Helskog is a professor, author, and researcher whose work explores the philosophy of education, wisdom research, and how philosophical dialogue can be integrated into all levels of education. She is the author of "Philosophising the Dialogos Way Towards Wisdom in Education" — an analysis of different approaches to philosophical practice and how they can be integrated holistically to facilitate everything from critical thinking to spiritual contemplation.In this conversation we explore the distinction between knowledge and wisdom and why it matters, Dialogos as an integration of different philosophizing approaches, and John Vervaeke's engagement with the Dialogos process.We get into the experiences that uprooted Guro's atheistic beliefs, how the word "God" is useful to the degree that it opens perception, the six dimensions of wisdom-oriented pedagogy, Bildung and transforming education, and the wisdom famine — why we are collectively starving for genuine wisdom and why we fear philosophy.We also explore why children should philosophize, developing the capacity for lifelong questioning, integrating God into humanity, why wisdom is transpersonal, and a free-flowing Dialogos exploring good, evil, synchronicity, polarization, and the meta-crisis.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Philosophising the Dialogos Way Towards Wisdom in Education — Guro Hansen Helskog John Vervaeke's "After Socrates" lecture series The Yoga of Conversation with Guy Sengstock Meister Eckhart On the Aesthetic Education of Man — Friedrich Schiller Bildung Emile or on Education — Jean-Jacques Rousseau Matthew Lipman Maps of Meaning — Jordan Peterson, in-depth book summary🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction1:42 - What sparked Guro's interest in philosophizing and Dialogos4:57 - Knowledge vs wisdom13:53 - Dialogos as an integration of philosophizing approaches22:50 - John Vervaeke's work with Dialogos26:00 - What brought Artem to philosophizing, Dialogos and Circling31:50 - The experiences that uprooted Guro's atheistic beliefs42:00 - The word "God" is useful to the degree that it opens perception48:25 - The six dimensions of wisdom-oriented pedagogy1:00:45 - Bildung and transforming education1:07:28 - Facilitating the Dialogos process1:15:32 - The wisdom famine and fear of philosophy1:18:00 - Why children should philosophize1:26:12 - Developing the capacity for lifelong questioning1:28:41 - Integrating God into humanity1:38:08 - Wisdom is transpersonal1:42:18 - A free-flowing Dialogos exploring good, evil, synchronicity, polarization and the meta-crisis*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Sean Wilkinson is a transformational coach, facilitator, and co-founder of Circling Europe — an organization that has brought the practice of Circling to over 25 countries worldwide. Before becoming a Circling leader, he was an elite tennis coach specializing in performance psychology. For the last 15 years, he has been deeply immersed in relational practices, meditation, coaching, wisdom traditions, therapy, and trauma work. His latest offerings focus on navigating the darker dimensions of developmental trauma and exploring nonduality in the context of Circling.In this conversation, we explore what drew Sean to Circling and how his relationship with the practice evolved over 15 years, the healing potential of Circling, and what it means to go deeper into uncomfortable sensations and feelings rather than avoid them.We get into releasing repressed sadness, the middle way of emotions, and how Circling integrates with meditation and therapy to create a more complete path of healing and development.We also explore the dark dynamics of relating, how to navigate narcissistic and borderline patterns in relationships, balancing empathy with boundaries, and how to skillfully bring Circling, relatefulness, and vulnerability into your daily life.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Circling Europe — Circling and leadership training The Point of Existence — A.H. Almaas The Relateful Company — Circling platform🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:14 - What made Sean fall in love with Circling5:38 - How Sean's relationship with Circling changed over 15 years11:30 - Healing with Circling15:08 - Going deeper into uncomfortable sensations and feelings22:13 - Releasing repressed sadness34:14 - The middle way of emotions40:14 - Integrating Circling, meditation and therapy45:28 - The dark dynamics of relating55:07 - Navigating narcissistic and borderline patterns1:12:26 - Balancing empathy with boundaries1:19:06 - How to skillfully bring Circling, relatefulness and vulnerability into your daily life*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Tom Cheetham is an author, teacher, biologist, and poet whose work navigates philosophy, systematic entomology, complexity sciences, and depth psychology. Today his work centers on the ideas of Henry Corbin, Carl Jung, and James Hillman — exploring creative imagination, the soul, and the imaginal in human life and culture. He writes and lectures on these topics internationally and is the author of "Boundary Violations," "All the World an Icon," and "Imaginal Love" among others.In this conversation, we explore imagination through the lens of three towering figures — Carl Jung, James Hillman, and Henry Corbin — and what their work reveals about the nature of psyche, soul, and reality.We get into the pathology of literalism and whether it leads to depression, literalism as reification, and the crucial distinction between feelings and emotions — what Hillman called thinking with the heart.We also explore fear, openness, wonder, and hermeneutics, the central insights of psychedelics, Buddhism, and the imaginal and how they converge, Tom's Iboga journey in Brazil and what it revealed, aliveness, Eros and death, and a message of optimism in a time of crisis.A rich and intellectually demanding conversation for anyone drawn to depth psychology, archetypal psychology, and the imaginal.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Imaginal Love — Tom Cheetham, in-depth book summary The Test of the Veil — Tom Cheetham Blue Fire — James Hillman The Thought of the Heart and the Soul of the World — James Hillman Alone with the Alone — Henry Corbin Re-Visioning Psychology — James Hillman The Matter with Things — Iain McGilchrist Matter and Memory — Henri Bergson The Jazz of Physics — Stephon Alexander High Weirdness — Erik Davis The Super Natural — Jeffrey Kripal & Whitley Strieber Swimming in the Sacred — Rachel Harris Luce Irigaray Flesh of My Flesh — Kaja Silverman Gloria E. Anzaldua Relateful — platform for Circling🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction1:16 - Imagination in James Hillman, Carl Jung and Henry Corbin19:09 - The pathology of literalism36:28 - Does literalism lead to depression?52:42 - Literalism as reification56:18 - Distinguishing feelings from emotions — thinking with the heart1:12:13 - Fear, openness, wonder, awe and hermeneutics1:27:22 - The central insights of psychedelics, Buddhism and the imaginal1:37:02 - Tom's Iboga journey in Brazil, High Weirdness and Jeffrey Kripal1:57:09 - Aliveness, Eros and death2:00:17 - A message of optimism in a time of crisis — rethinking the nature of relationship*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Loch Kelly is an award-winning author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the Effortless Mindfulness Institute. His teachings synthesize ancient wisdom practices, neuroscience, and contemporary psychology into an accessible and direct path to awakening. He has been sharing his work in retreats and workshops internationally for over 25 years and is the author of "Shift into Freedom" and "The Way of Effortless Mindfulness."In this conversation, we explore how Loch discovered Effortless Mindfulness and what makes it distinct from conventional deliberate mindfulness approaches, whether it's possible to stabilize awakening without years of long meditation retreats, and what the real barriers to recognizing awakened awareness actually are.We get into awakening as the next stage of human development, the neuroscience of awakening, why calming the mind is only the first stage of meditation, and what it means to democratize awakening — including a series of mindful glimpses Loch guides us through during the conversation.We also explore integrating psychotherapy and meditation, a mature understanding of emptiness and nonduality, and whether psychedelics can lead to awakening.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Loch's personal site Shift into Freedom — Loch Kelly The Way of Effortless Mindfulness — Loch Kelly Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche Dan Brown Pointing Out the Great Way — Mahamudra lineage Michael Taft🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction2:26 - How Loch Kelly discovered Effortless Mindfulness9:07 - Is it possible to stabilize awakening without long meditation retreats?12:31 - Contrasting deliberate vs effortless mindfulness approaches19:59 - Barriers to recognizing awakened awareness32:51 - Awakening as the next stage of human development36:07 - Why we don't need 10,000 hours of meditation to awaken45:13 - The neuroscience of awakening51:04 - Calming the mind is only the first stage of meditation54:33 - Democratizing awakening and the Mindful Glimpses app58:51 - Loch guides us through a series of mindful glimpses1:17:48 - Integrating psychotherapy and meditation1:29:18 - A mature understanding of emptiness and nonduality1:38:50 - Can you realize awakening through psychedelics?*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Kyle Kowalski is an ex-marketing executive turned solopreneur who left the corporate world after experiencing an existential crisis that forced him to question everything. He founded Sloww — a digital knowledge base and community sharing insights into the art of living for students of life. An interdisciplinary dot collector and synthesizer, Kyle creates in-depth book summaries, e-books, and a wisdom-packed weekly newsletter integrating slow living with meaning, purpose, money mastery, transformational learning, and human development.In this conversation, Kyle shares the story of his existential crisis and what it took to leave the corporate world behind, what slow and intentional living actually means in practice, and how he built a life deliberately oriented around purpose, simplicity, and depth.We explore what purpose is and the Japanese concept of IKIGAI, the hierarchy of happiness and what the research actually says about what makes life worth living, the synthesizing mind, how Kyle structures his learning and reading, and the stages of Sloww as a framework for the art of living.We also get into financial freedom and money mastery, how Kyle cut his expenses by 30% and what the FIRE movement gets right, free will and the lottery of birth — what nonduality has to say about both — and Kyle's thoughts on psychedelics.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Sloww website Kyle on Twitter Subscribe to the Sloww Sunday newsletter The Hierarchy of Happiness e-book — free download IKIGAI 2.0 e-book Sloww Premium Community Posts on Free Will How Kyle Cut His Spending by 30% in a Year Early Retirement Extreme — Jacob Lund Fisker A Synthesizing Mind — Howard Gardner Introduction to Susanne Cook-Greuter's Ego Development Theory How to Read a Book — Mortimer Adler🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction1:53 - Kyle's existential crisis5:12 - Starting Sloww and intentional living8:22 - The impact of slow and simple living11:51 - Kyle's perfect day14:08 - What is slow living really?17:57 - What is purpose? & IKIGAI21:06 - The hierarchy of happiness25:39 - Discovering the synthesizing mind29:28 - Structuring learning and reading34:33 - The stages of Sloww — the art of living38:22 - Insights into money mastery43:17 - How to cut your expenses by 30%48:41 - Free will, the lottery of birth and nonduality1:05:01 - Exploring psychedelics — reservations, curiosities and experiences1:24:32 - What's coming up next on Sloww?1:25:53 - Kyle's process for summarizing books*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Frank Yang is an artist, content creator, bodybuilder, and coach who has built a significant following on YouTube through provocative, visually arresting, and deeply unconventional content. His portfolio spans drawings, sculptures, photography, piano, and violin — a creative range that reflects the same restless, boundary-pushing intelligence that defines his spiritual journey. In recent years he has become widely known in contemplative circles for being unusually open and outspoken about his spiritual attainments and his journey into awakening.In this conversation, Frank shares his creative journey into awakening and what makes his path so unlike any conventional spiritual narrative — weaving together bodybuilding, art, psychedelics, and a radical commitment to honest self-expression.We explore structure vs spontaneity in meditation, the relative and ultimate view of awakening, how awakening transformed Frank's relationships, and the impact of awakening on sexual desire.We also get into bodybuilding after awakening, the pros and cons of being open about spiritual attainments, the impact of Daniel Ingram and "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha," how 5-MeO-DMT maps with deep meditation experiences, the end of suffering, common barriers to awakening, and how awakening changed Frank's approach to art, content creation, and learning.A raw, honest, and unusual conversation for anyone on the contemplative path who is tired of sanitized spiritual narratives.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Frank Yang's personal site Frank's YouTube channel Frank's Instagram Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha — Daniel Ingram The Mind Illuminated — Culadasa🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction1:32 - Frank's creative journey into awakening18:55 - Structure vs spontaneity in meditation25:06 - The relative and ultimate view of awakening27:46 - How is awakening related to truth?30:00 - How awakening transformed Frank's relationships34:00 - The impact of awakening on sexual desire36:56 - Bodybuilding after awakening39:35 - The pros and cons of being open about spiritual attainments48:18 - The impact of Daniel Ingram and Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha52:12 - How does 5-MeO-DMT map with deep meditation experiences?1:00:21 - The end of suffering1:02:47 - Consciousness coaching1:07:38 - Common barriers to awakening1:10:55 - How awakening changed Frank's approach to art, content creation, and learning1:16:13 - Integrating awakening through traveling and being in the world*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional

Andrew James Taggart is a practical philosopher, meditation teacher, and philosophical counselor trained with the American Philosophical Practitioners Association. After completing his PhD he has spent over a decade helping individuals inquire into the most fundamental questions of life. His ideas have been featured in Quartz, The Guardian, Big Think, TEDx, and The Washington Post. He maintains a meditation practice of four hours each day, including a one-day retreat each week and a monthly 5-7 day intensive.In this conversation, we explore the motivation behind Andrew's committed meditation practice, how different spiritual traditions and teachings compare and contrast, and the Advaita Vedanta triple method as a path to self inquiry and awakening.We get into what philosophy actually is and why it matters, how to choose which philosophers to read, the philosophers who most shaped Andrew's thinking, and what it means to philosophize together — and how that differs from conventional self inquiry.We also explore the relationship between philosophy and meditation, the fundamental question of existence, a debate about Ken Wilber, idealism through the lens of Bernardo Kastrup, and what the end of suffering actually looks like as a lived reality rather than a concept.A rigorous and deeply honest conversation for anyone walking the spiritual path with both intellectual seriousness and an earnest desire for awakening.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES 🔗Andrew's personal site Philosophizing Together with Andrew Meditation with Andrew🕰️ TIMESTAMPS 🕰️0:00 - Introduction 1:19 - The motivation behind Andrew's intensive meditation practice 5:02 - Comparing and contrasting different spiritual traditions and teachings 11:30 - The Advaita Vedanta triple method 16:11 - Walking the spiritual path with your life partner 19:40 - What is philosophy and why is it important? 23:02 - How to choose which philosophers to read 29:57 - The philosophers who had the greatest impact on Andrew 38:17 - Philosophizing together about philosophizing together 48:48 - How philosophical inquiry differs from self inquiry 55:09 - The relationship between philosophy and meditation 1:05:42 - The fundamental question of existence 1:15:21 - Debating Ken Wilber 1:21:45 - Idealism and Bernardo Kastrup 1:32:19 - The end of suffering*Subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch the video versions of the Elevating Consciousness Podcast *Subscribe to the Insighter Substack to get in-depth articles on the theory and practice of human transformation through a post-conventional