MeaningofLife.tv: Science of Spirituality

May 02 2017 10 ep. 83 mins 4.1k
MeaningofLife.tv: Science of Spirituality Podcast artwork

David Bryce Yaden hosts conversations at the interface of science and spirituality—scientific breakthroughs, new perspectives, and the future of spirituality.

  Society & Culture  Religion & Spirituality
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The Rise of Addictive Technology (Robert Wright & Adam Alter)

May 02 2017 99 mins  
The bad effects of addictive tech ... How much time do you spend on your phone? ... You might be addicted if... ... The World of Warcraft as a case study in tech addiction ... The tricks Silicon Valley uses to get you hooked ... Adam’s advice for breaking your screen addiction ...

The power of meaning (David Bryce Yaden & Emily Esfahani Smith)

Dec 13 2016 57 mins  
Emily’s forthcoming book, The Power of Meaning ... Can an atheist be spiritual? ... What makes for a meaningful life? ... The dark side of finding meaning ... Are we in the midst of a “meaning crisis?” ...

Spirituality and creativity (David Bryce Yaden & Scott Barry Kaufman)

Nov 12 2016 68 mins  
From positive to humanistic psychology ... Must one risk madness to achieve genius? ... How creativity and spirituality overlap ... The light and dark triad of personality traits ... Mindfulness as the link between creativity and spirituality ...

(Robert Wright & David Bryce Yaden)

Jun 25 2016 117 mins  
David’s recent research on "self-transcendent experiences" ... Causes and effects of self-transcendence ... Is the loss of self real? ... Evolutionary explanations of mystical states ... The neurology of meditation ... Revisiting the mind-body problem ...

(David Bryce Yaden & Roland Griffiths)

May 06 2016 64 mins  
The road to scientific study of psilocybin ... The dark side of psilocybin use ... Spiritual experience is difficult to define—or miss ... Flavors of unity and sacredness ... Using psilocybin to give up smoking ...

(David Bryce Yaden & Alex Belser)

Apr 12 2016 67 mins  
Treating cancer-related anxiety with psilocybin ... How do you study a mystical experience? ... A bad trip as a path to catharsis and resolution ... Drug-induced vs. natural mystical experiences ... Will magic mushrooms become a prescription drug? ... Spirituality is collective work, says Alex, not a solo journey ...

(David Bryce Yaden & Roy Hamilton)

Dec 04 2015 74 mins  
Roy explains non-invasive brain stimulation ... Assessing the safety of this technology ... Can brain stimulation make you smarter? ... Does increasing memory decrease creativity? ... The possibility of unlocking savant-like abilities ... An ethical question about cognitive enhancement ...

(David Bryce Yaden & David Vago)

Nov 15 2015 89 mins  
Science and mindfulness meditation ... Dave: "Self" and "other" are societal constructs ... Teaching cognitive neuroscience to Tibetan monks ... Understanding the self as "500 milliseconds of selfing" ... Are mindfulness and creativity in conflict? ... New technology to facilitate meditation ...

(David Bryce Yaden & Julien Musolino)

Oct 30 2015 99 mins  
Yes, you can be a "spiritual atheist" ... Intuitive beliefs about the body and the soul ... Julien: The soul (most likely) doesn't exist ... How believing in the soul makes you more punitive ... Crime, moral responsibility, and a suffering boulder ... Julien: We don't need God to provide us with meaning ...

(David Bryce Yaden & Crystal Park)

Oct 11 2015 93 mins  
Distinguishing between spirituality and religion ... The bonus benefits of searching for the sacred ... Measuring one’s religiosity and spirituality ... States of mind fostered by spiritual practices ... Meaning as a predictor of well-being ... The Protestant ethic and the science of spirituality ...