Mind & Life

In this episode, Wendy speaks with psychiatrist and mental health researcher Chuck Raison. Chuck’s work centers on understanding how ancient practices can change our conscious experience. He’s a leader in studying the links between inflammation, stress, and depression, and how meditation and other practices can influence those dynamics. This conversation covers many topics, including:

• ancient practices and conscious experience;



• Tibetan tummo practice;



• the role of inflammation in depression;



• sickness behavior;



• links between stress and inflammation;



• the placebo response;



• psychedelics as a novel treatment for depression;



• investigating the role of memory in transcendent experiences;



• body temperature and emotions;



• and the precious gift of awareness.

Full show notes and resources