Edge of Mind Podcast

Gregory Shaw joins Edge of Mind with a rare and insightful glimpse into the profound wisdom traditions of Western esotericism. Too often, spiritual seekers in the West feel they must look to the East to find depth and authenticity in their practices. However, this dialogue between Andrew and Gregory powerfully demonstrates the richness and relevance of the Neoplatonist and theurgic

Join Andrew in a fascinating conversation with Dr. Anthony Bossis, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, who is at the forefront of groundbreaking research exploring the therapeutic potential of psilocybin. Through FDA-approved clinical trials, he investigates the compound's efficacy in alleviating end-of-life distress and its implications for our

David Germano and Michael Sheehy join Andrew Holecek to discuss the history, diversity, and modern relevance of dark retreats in Tibetan Buddhism. The speakers discuss the two main streams of dark retreat practices - the Kalachakra tradition and the Dzogchen tradition - and how they differ in their approaches and interpretations. The conversation also explores the traditional secre

Join an insightful discussion between Andrew Holecek and Ken Wilber on integrating spirituality, science, and human development. They discussed Wilber's new book "Finding Radical Wholeness" and how it provides a comprehensive overview of waking up, growing up, opening up, cleaning up, and showing up as vectors of transformation. A major topic was distinguishing between waking up ex

Join the esteemed philosopher and computer scientist Bernardo Kastrup in a wide-ranging exploration of the nature of mind and reality. The conversation begins with a look at the implications of idealism, the view that reality is essentially mental. If reality is like a dream, how do we accurately derive meaning from this collective dream and avoid the trap of projecting meaning ont

Join Scott Berman, founder of the dark retreat center Sky Cave, for a look at this ancient practice that is finding its way into the modern world. How did Scott get into this unusual business, and what is dark retreat all about? Scott explores the many reasons why people are clamoring to get into dark retreat, the things you do when you’re in the dark, and what constitutes a succ

Join the esteemed author and scholar Mark Unno in a wide-ranging discussion of the Pure Lands, and how much they have to offer for our modern age. Professor Unno begins with a thorough look at the history and philosophy of the Pure Land schools, before turning to the main principles of this noble tradition. The core tenets of self-power and other-power are explored, the role of nem

Join the author, and end-of-life caregiver, Sierra Campbell in a rich conversation exploring the many aspects of spiritual and practical preparation for aging and death. She shares her own experience as a cancer survivor, and how she got involved in this work. Sierra talks about the importance of active listening, “saging” instead of aging, and the wisdom of “waking down” a

Join the author, and spiritual director of the Sukhasiddhi Foundation, Lama Palden Drolma, in a rich conversation about the transplantation of Buddhism to the West. What is the “state of the union” concerning Buddhism in America, and the core challenges in cultural translation? How does one find an authentic teacher, and what are the warning signs to look for to avoid corrupt t

Join the neuroscientist Christopher Timmermann in a wide-ranging discussion about psychedelics and their role on the spiritual path, as well as in preparing for the end of life. How can these agents be used to remove the fear of death, and how do they relate to near-death experiences? Is it true to say that death is a psychedelic journey? Chris shows us how we can find death in lif