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Meditation & Mental Fitness Training

FitMind: Neuroscience

Expert insights on the science of mental fitness. Topics include psychology, neuroscience, mental health, mindfulness meditation, productivity, brain technologies, Stoicism, happiness hacking, and more. 

Liam McClintock, the Founder of FitMind, talks with leaders in their fields, from neuroscientists and psychologists to Buddhist monks and professional athletes. 

At FitMind, we believe that the next great human frontier is the mind. FitMind combines ancient techniques with western psychology to provide mental fitness training that is taught at Fortune 500 companies, addiction centers, schools, government organizations, and on the FitMind meditation app.

Liam McClintock received a B.A. from Yale and worked in finance before traveling to Asia to study meditation full-time. He is currently completing an MS in Applied Neuroscience at King's College London. Liam is an RYS Certified Yoga & Meditation Instructor and has trained in various meditation styles. He has been featured in Time, Vice, Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, NBC, and Men's Health.

The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology

FitMind founder Liam McClintock returns to the FitMind Podcast after several years of intensive meditation and monastic training to explore how his understanding of mental fitness has evolved, what he learned from life as a Buddhist monk, and the practices he now considers most effective for creating lasting change in the mind.
 
Liam explains the distinction between mental health and mental fitness, why our brains are evolutionarily biased toward worry and dissatisfaction, and how predictive processing may help explain the way we construct our experience of reality. He connects modern neuroscience with the Buddhist principle of dependent origination and explores how meta-awareness can help us step out of habitual thoughts, emotions, and narratives.
 
The conversation also explores the practices at the center of Liam's current approach: releasing, loving-kindness meditation, and the 4Rs - Recognize, Release, Relish, and Remain. Liam and Josh discuss the difference between temporary "fit states" and lasting "fit traits," jhana and the neuroscience of internally generated bliss, and how developing deeper sources of well-being may loosen our dependence on external rewards.
 
Liam also reflects on his time with the Shipibo in the Amazon, what he learned from his teacher Bhante Vimalaramsi, how to create a healthier "mental diet," and why forgiveness may be one of the most powerful mental reps we can practice. The episode closes with Liam sharing his vision for the next chapter of FitMind and building a community around deeper meditation practice.
 
Topics include:
 
 • Mental fitness, evolutionary negativity bias, and the predictive mind
 • Predictive processing, dependent origination, and meta-awareness
 • Fit states vs. fit traits and creating lasting inner change
 • Releasing, metta meditation, and the 4Rs
 • Jhana, internally generated bliss, and the brain's reward system
 • Lessons from the Shipibo and Bhante Vimalaramsi
 • Mental diet, forgiveness, and the future of FitMind
 
A wide-ranging conversation for anyone interested in meditation, mental fitness, neuroscience, consciousness, Buddhist practice, or developing a more lasting form of well-being.
 
--------
 
Liam's book, Fit Mind, is now available! You can pick up a copy and learn more at fitmind.org/book.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org/
 
--------
 
Timestamps
 
0:00 | Predictive Processing, Meditation & the Future of FitMind
 
1:35 | Introduction: Liam McClintock Returns
 
2:49 | Welcome Back to the FitMind Podcast
 
3:19 | From Finance to Meditation & Buddhist Monkhood
 
7:41 | Mental Health vs. Mental Fitness
 
11:26 | Why the Brain Is Wired for Negativity
 
14:10 | Predictive Processing & the Predictive Mind
 
15:57 | Dependent Origination, Narratives & Meta-Awareness
 
33:58 | Why Success and Wealth Don't Create Happiness
 
38:45 | Fit States vs. Lasting Fit Traits
 
42:23 | Liam's Current Approach to Meditation
 
43:29 | Releasing, Metta & the 4Rs
 
50:54 | Jhana & the Neuroscience of Bliss
 
56:23 | Internal Bliss & Our Dependence on External Rewards
 
1:00:03 | Lessons From the Shipibo in the Amazon
 
1:06:35 | Monkhood & Training With Bhante Vimalaramsi
 
1:13:41 | Building a Healthier Mental Diet
 
1:19:08 | A 60-Second Mental Rep: Forgiveness
 
1:20:37 | Fit Mind & Making the Practice Part of Your Life
 
1:26:08 | The Future of FitMind, Community & Retreats

#117: Mental Fitness, Releasing & Lasting Bliss - Liam McClintock

Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Aldrich Chan joins the FitMind Podcast to explore the intersection of Taoist philosophy, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology, and what these fields can teach us about our growing sense of disconnection from nature.
 
Drawing from his book 7 Principles of Nature: How We Strayed and How We Return, Aldrich explains his theory of separation, alienation, and discord, and how capacities that helped humans survive—such as abstract thinking, mental time travel, and a strong sense of self—may also contribute to some of the challenges of modern life.
 
The conversation explores the default mode network and our perception of time, the neuroscience of meditation and self-transcendence, and the Taoist idea of our "original nature." Aldrich also discusses nothingness as a space of possibility rather than a void, the relationship between wu wei and flow states, how to work more skillfully with stress and uncertainty, and why play and spontaneity remain important throughout adulthood.
 
Topics include:
 
 • The intersection of Taoism, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology
 • Separation, alienation, and modern evolutionary mismatch
 • The default mode network, thinking, and our perception of time
 • Meditation, self-transcendence, and "original nature"
 • Taoist nothingness and creating space for difficult experiences
 Wu wei • , Tai Chi, and the neuroscience of flow
 • Eustress and the difference between productive and overwhelming stress
 • Working with uncertainty through curiosity rather than threat
 • Why play, spontaneity, and intuition matter for well-being
 
A wide-ranging conversation for anyone interested in meditation, consciousness, neuroscience, Taoist philosophy, or how we might live in greater alignment with our minds, bodies, and the natural world.
 
--------
 
Liam's book, Fit Mind, is now available! You can pick up a copy and learn more at fitmind.org/book.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 -------- Timestamps 
0:00 | Original Nature, Selflessness & Consciousness
 
0:51 | Introduction to Dr. Aldrich Chan
 
1:56 | From Neuroscience to Taoism
 
8:18 | The SAD Theory: Separation, Alienation & Discord
 
15:38 | Evolutionary Mismatch & Modern Isolation
 
19:46 | The Default Mode Network, Time & Meditation
 
24:23 | The Neuroscience of "Original Nature"
 
32:13 | Self-Transcendence Without Losing Function
 
34:33 | Meditation vs. Psychedelic States
 
37:04 | Taoist Nothingness & the Uncarved Wood
 
42:08 | Creating Space for Difficult Emotions
 
44:14 | Tai Chi, Wu Wei & Flow States
 
49:54 | Eustress & Dynamic Equilibrium
 
57:52 | Dr. Chan's Stillness Meditation Practice
 
1:00:30 | How to Work With Uncertainty
 
1:06:25 | Reframing Mental Health & Evolutionary Mismatch
 
1:10:07 | Why Play Matters
 
1:12:48 | The Seven Principles as Invitations
 
1:14:24 | Dr. Chan's Book & Where to Find His Work

#116: Taoism & the Neuroscience of the Self - Dr. Aldrich Chan

Neuroscientist Idil Sezer joins the FitMind Podcast to explore what meditation changes beyond the brain. She explains how meditation may influence attention, emotional regulation, pain, brain–heart communication, and our fundamental sense of self.
 
The conversation also explores the difference between long-term and advanced meditators, unusual cardiovascular patterns observed during deep meditation, and how virtual reality may help researchers study embodiment, nondual awareness, and the boundaries of the self.
 
---
 
Liam's book, Fit Mind, is now available! You can pick up a copy and learn more at fitmind.org/book.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
---
 
Show Notes
 
0:00 | Introducing Idil Sezer, PhD
 2:11 | From Clinical Neuroscience to Meditation Research
 3:58 | Why Meditation Is a Unique Tool for Training the Mind
 5:21 | Meditation Beyond Relaxation and Performance
 7:27 | What Different Meditation Traditions Change in the Brain
 10:03 | The Nervous System and Meditation's Effects on the Heart
 11:01 | Cardiac Spectral Peaks in Advanced Meditators
 16:54 | Brain–Heart Communication and Holistic Neuroscience
 18:13 | Long-Term vs. Advanced Meditators
 20:25 | Mental Health, Pain Relief, and Neuroprotection
 22:09 | Meditation, Gut Health, Epigenetics, and Cellular Memory
 28:23 | Predicting Who Responds to VR Anxiety Interventions
 38:17 | Using Virtual Reality to Investigate the Sense of Self
 44:21 | Nondual Awareness and the Future of Meditation Research
 49:22 | Finding the Meditation Practice That Works for You

#115: Meditation Beyond the Brain - Idil Sezer, PhD

Mindfulness, Medicine & the Biology of Stress explores how meditation can change our relationship to stress, support the body's natural healing systems, and help us live with more presence, compassion, and ease.
 
In this episode of The FitMind Podcast, we sit down with Craig Hassed, MD, physician, educator, and mindfulness expert, to examine the science and practice of mind-body medicine. Drawing from decades of clinical work, teaching, and contemplative practice, Craig explains how chronic stress creates physiological wear and tear in the body, known as allostatic load, and why learning to return to the present moment can have effects far beyond feeling calmer.
 
The conversation explores how mindfulness may influence inflammation, immune function, gene expression, and biological aging, including research on telomeres and the body's stress circuitry. Craig also discusses why informal mindfulness in daily life may be just as important as formal meditation practice, especially when we are caught in worry, pressure, or mental projections about the future.
 
Topics include:
 
 • How mindfulness became part of the medical curriculum at Monash University
 • Why chronic stress creates wear and tear on the body
 • What allostatic load means for health and aging
 • How meditation may affect inflammation, immunity, and gene expression
 • The relationship between mindfulness and telomeres
 • Why presence can improve focus, performance, and flow
 • The difference between empathy, empathic distress, and compassion
 • Why compassion may protect against burnout
 • How mindfulness can support doctors, patients, students, and everyday life
 • The question of consciousness and whether it may be more fundamental than matter
 
A practical and wide-ranging conversation for anyone interested in the medical science of mindfulness, the biology of stress, or how contemplative practice can support resilience, compassion, and human flourishing.
 
---
 
Liam's book, Fit Mind, is now available! You can pick up a copy and learn more at fitmind.org/book.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
---
 
Show Notes
 
0:00 | Introduction to Dr. Craig Hassed
 3:23 | Discovering meditation without a teacher
 9:18 | Bringing mindfulness into clinical medicine
 10:21 | Teaching mindfulness to medical students
 15:10 | How chronic stress affects the body
 15:56 | Understanding allostatic load
 20:57 | Epigenetics, inflammation, and immune function
 22:42 | Meditation, telomeres, and biological aging
 26:17 | How much meditation is enough?
 29:18 | Formal practice vs. mindfulness in daily life
 31:17 | The growth of mindfulness research
 36:54 | The ESSENCE model of health
 38:56 | Choosing the right meditation practice
 41:47 | How the mind creates unnecessary stress
 45:21 | Mindfulness, performance, and flow states
 51:21 | Mindfulness education and human flourishing
 52:40 | Technology, isolation, and genuine connection
 1:00:43 | Empathy, empathic distress, and compassion
 1:01:42 | Why compassion may protect against burnout
 1:06:16 | Is consciousness more fundamental than matter?
 1:07:10 | Can consciousness be scientifically measured?
 1:08:33 | Craig's daily practice and rapid-fire questions
 1:09:15 | Final thoughts

#114: Mindfulness, Medicine & the Biology of Stress - Dr. Craig Hassed

Zen & the Science of Living Well with Robert Waldinger, MD explores what the longest-running study of adult life reveals about happiness, health, connection, and the many different ways a meaningful life can unfold.
 
In this episode of The FitMind Podcast, we sit down with Robert Waldinger, MD, psychiatrist, Zen teacher, and director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, to examine what actually helps people thrive over the course of a lifetime. Drawing from more than eight decades of research, Robert explains why strong relationships are one of the clearest predictors of long-term health and happiness, and how loneliness can affect the body through chronic stress, inflammation, and nervous system dysregulation.
 
The conversation also explores the overlap between psychotherapy, lifespan research, and Zen practice. Robert discusses why there is no single formula for a good life, how the mind fills in the blanks when faced with uncertainty, and why equanimity is not emotional suppression, but a wiser relationship to reactivity.
 
Topics include:
 
 • How the Harvard Study of Adult Development tracks happiness across a lifetime
 • Why relationships are deeply linked to health and longevity
 • How loneliness can become a chronic stressor in the body
 • The difference between solitude and loneliness
 • What people most often regret near the end of life
 • How Zen and psychology both reveal the stories the mind creates
 • Practical ways to build "social fitness" in everyday life
 
A grounded, expansive conversation for anyone interested in the science of happiness, the health effects of connection, or how contemplative practice can help us live with more presence, meaning, and care.
 
---
 
Liam's upcoming book, Fit Mind, is now available for preorder. You can learn more at fitmind.org/book.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
---
 
Show Notes
 
0:00 | Merging Zen, science, and psychotherapy
 
3:18 | Breaking the silence on personal spiritual practice
 
6:12 | Overview of the Harvard Study of Adult Development
 
9:53 | How chronic loneliness breaks down physical health
 
13:09 | Evolutionary biology of group connection and safety
 
15:10 | Many paths to a good life: unconventional contentment
 
19:17 | Vulnerability and the myth of the self-made man
 
21:35 | Research-backed strategies for building new friendships
 
24:23 | End-of-life regrets and sources of pride
 
26:08 | Resume values vs. eulogy values
 
28:02 | Noticing and transforming internal self-criticism
 
32:52 | The WISER model for slowing down social reactions
 
39:32 | Equanimity: feeling deeply without reactive explosion
 
42:11 | Subjective loneliness vs. the contentment of solitude
 
48:23 | Practical exercises: gratitude, subtraction, and nature
 
51:44 | Social fitness and the impact of digital habits
 
55:52 | The future of human connection in the age of AI
 
1:01:21 | Closing reflections and the upcoming book Nothing to Fix

#113: Zen & the Science of Living Well - Robert Waldinger, MD

The Illusion of Self: Nondual Meditation & Brain Science with John Dunne, PhD explores how our sense of identity is constructed moment by moment, drawing on Buddhist philosophy, neuroscience, and contemplative practice to explain why thoughts feel real and how seeing through them can fundamentally change our experience.
 
In this episode of The FitMind Podcast, we sit down with John Dunne, PhD—a leading scholar-practitioner bridging ancient wisdom and modern science—to examine the nature of mind, self, and awareness. Rather than treating thoughts as accurate reflections of reality, John frames them as useful but often misleading constructions shaped by the brain's attempt to predict and navigate the world.
 
We explore how meditation helps us "de-reify" thoughts—seeing them as mental events rather than truths—and why this shift may be central to reducing anxiety and depression. John also breaks down non-dual traditions like Mahamudra and Dzogchen, offering a clear lens into practices aimed not at changing experience, but at recognizing its underlying nature.
 
Topics include:
 
 • How the brain constructs a sense of self through predictive models
 • Why thoughts feel real and how to see through them
 • The role of meditation in shifting our relationship to thinking
 • Differences between gradual and non-dual approaches to practice
 • What "effortless awareness" means and why it matters
 • Scientific insights from studying advanced meditators
 
A grounded, intellectually rich conversation for anyone interested in understanding the mind more clearly, working with difficult thoughts, or exploring the intersection of neuroscience and contemplative practice.
 
---
 
Liam's upcoming book, Fit Mind, is now available for preorder. You can learn more at fitmind.org/book.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
---
 
Show Notes
 
0:00 | From astronaut dreams to inner exploration
 2:40 | Introducing John Dunne and his background
 5:30 | Identity crisis and discovering meditation
 9:30 | Early practice: Vipassana, metta, and analytical meditation
 14:30 | Questioning reality and the nature of self
 19:30 | Concepts, language, and why thoughts feel real
 25:30 | How the mind constructs identity moment to moment
 31:30 | Mahamudra and Dzogchen: gradual vs non-dual paths
 38:30 | Effort vs effortlessness in meditation
 45:00 | Anxiety, depression, and predictive processing
 50:30 | De-reification: seeing thoughts as thoughts
 56:30 | Watching the mind vs being lost in it
 1:01:30 | Brain studies with advanced meditators
 1:07:00 | Non-dual awareness and "always-on" presence
 1:12:30 | What enlightenment is (and isn't)
 1:17:30 | Tukdam and the mystery of consciousness at death
 1:22:30 | Science, meditation, and open questions
 1:25:30 | Closing reflections

#112: The Illusion of Self: Nondual Meditation & Brain Science - John Dunne, PhD

Meditation is evolving.
 
New technologies like neurofeedback, virtual reality, and AI are beginning to intersect with ancient contemplative practices, raising an important question: can technology help people learn meditation more effectively?
 
In this episode of The FitMind Podcast, we speak with Steve Haberlin, PhD, researcher, meditator, and author of Meta Meditation for Mental Health, about the emerging world of tech-assisted meditation.
 
Steve explains why most people stop using meditation apps within the first month, how neurofeedback devices can provide real-time feedback about mental states, and how AI may soon create highly personalized meditation training. We also explore what virtual reality adds to meditation, and why different meditation techniques affect the brain in different ways.
 
Throughout the conversation, Steve emphasizes the importance of balance. Technology may help more people access meditation, but the core practices that have been refined over thousands of years still remain essential.
 
Topics include:
 
 • How neurofeedback devices provide real-time feedback during meditation
 • Why most people stop using meditation apps within the first month
 • How VR meditation creates presence and reduces distraction
 • What an AI meditation teacher might look like in the future
 • Why different meditation techniques affect the brain differently
 • How technology can enhance practice without replacing traditional methods
 
A thoughtful conversation about the future of meditation and how ancient wisdom and modern technology may work together to make mental training more accessible, personalized, and effective.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
Show Notes
 
0:00 | Neuroscience, meditation, and real-time feedback
 1:23 | Introducing Steve Haberlin
 2:46 | Steve's meditation journey and early practice
 8:12 | What "meta meditation" means
 9:19 | Why most people quit meditation apps
 12:28 | What neuroscience reveals about meditation
 15:51 | State vs trait change in long-term meditators
 18:03 | Can technology shorten the meditation learning curve?
 20:52 | What VR adds to meditation practice
 23:21 | The rise of AI meditation teachers
 27:00 | Using AI to design personalized meditation practices
 30:25 | Why personalization matters in meditation
 33:26 | Neurofeedback and learning meditation in real time
 39:35 | The pitfalls of tech-assisted meditation
 46:11 | Balancing traditional meditation with new technology
 47:50 | Practical approaches for focus and anxiety
 51:07 | Future innovations in meditation technology
 54:42 | Balancing ancient wisdom with emerging tools
 55:49 | Steve's book and closing reflections

#111: The Future of Meditation: AI, Neurofeedback, & VR - Steve Haberlin, PhD

Rites of Passage & the Wisdom in Collapse explores how personal crisis can function as initiation, drawing on contemplative practice, psychology, and wisdom traditions to explain why avoiding discomfort often deepens suffering and why meeting it skillfully can transform us.
 
In this episode of The FitMind Podcast, we sit down with Linda Thai, therapist and meditation teacher, to examine what it means to grow up as individuals and as a culture. Rather than viewing breakdown as failure, Linda frames it as a descent — a necessary stripping away of outdated identities and rigid patterns that allows for integration and renewal.
 
We explore how modern life has largely removed meaningful rites of passage, how this absence contributes to addiction, burnout, and disconnection, and why surrender is often misunderstood. Linda describes maturation as a shift from avoidance to discernment, from compulsive striving toward restraint, reciprocity, and community.
 
Topics include:
 
 • How rites of passage traditionally supported psychological development
 • Why avoiding pain often becomes the source of suffering
 • The parallels between personal collapse and collective crisis
 • The difference between hustle culture and nourishment
 • How community supports skillful engagement with discomfort
 
A grounded, reflective conversation for anyone navigating transition, identity shifts, or collective uncertainty and for those interested in how maturity develops through discomfort rather than in spite of it.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
Show Notes
 
0:00 | Collapse, initiation, and why maturity matters
 1:20 | Introducing Linda Thai
 2:58 | Identity, displacement, and belonging
 6:45 | Alaska, Buddhism, and discovering interdependent happiness
 12:16 | From practice to vocation
 17:46 | Addiction, avoidance, and sitting with discomfort
 19:34 | Rites of passage and confronting shadow
 24:30 | Rough initiations and collective descent
 31:17 | Are retreats modern rites of passage?
 33:40 | Vipassana and observing the thinking mind
 36:29 | The wisdom in collapse
 41:05 | Community, addiction, and modern disconnection
 42:16 | Nourishment vs hustle culture
 46:38 | What a nourished life looks like
 50:33 | Suffering with grace
 51:19 | Intention and living into maturity
 52:37 | You can't think your way into a new way of living
 53:19 | Closing reflections

#110: Rites of Passage & the Wisdom in Collapse - Linda Thai

The Science of Letting Go explores how meditation works in the brain, drawing on neuroscience, predictive processing, and contemplative science to explain how letting go reduces stress, softens self-related thinking, and changes perception over time.
 
In this episode of The FitMind Podcast, we sit down with PhD researcher Shawn Prest from Monash University about what's actually happening under the hood when we meditate. Rather than framing letting go as a vague emotional release, Shawn describes it as a measurable shift in how the brain assigns confidence to its highest-level models, including the sense of self.
 
They explore how the brain functions as a prediction system, why excessive certainty can create mental tension and suffering, and how meditation helps loosen rigid patterns by shifting perception toward more direct sensory experience. These changes can support greater equanimity, reduced reactivity, and long-term improvements in well-being.
 
Topics include:
 
 • 

How meditation changes self-related brain activity
 • 
 • 

What "letting go" means from a neuroscience perspective
 • 
 • 

The difference between insight-based and absorption-based meditation paths
 • 
 • 

Why equanimity feels relieving rather than dull or passive
 • 
 
A grounded, science-forward conversation for anyone curious about how meditation really works and why letting go can reduce suffering.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
Show Notes
 
0:00 | Intro and why study the mechanics of meditation 
 
4:40 | From meditator to researcher
 
9:10 | The brain as a prediction machine
 
14:20 | Valence, well-being, and suffering
 
18:50 | Why computational models matter
 
24:30 | Hierarchies in the brain
 
31:10 | What letting go actually is
 
37:40 | Why letting go feels relieving
 
43:50 | Mental tension vs physical tension
 
49:30 | Modeling letting go computationally
 
55:50 | Applying letting go on a stressful day
 
1:02:30 | Trauma, caution, and meditation
 
1:09:20 | Jhana and insight paths
 
1:18:40 | Cessation and lasting change
 
1:27:30 | Equanimity as perception
 
1:34:40 | The future science of awakening

#109: The Science of Letting Go - Shawn Prest

Clinical psychologist and contemplative science researcher Dr. Nicholas Van Dam joins us to explore the ethics of meditation and what scientific research reveals about how contemplative practices actually work. He examines how much practice is needed to see meaningful change, why challenging experiences can arise, and what current methods can and cannot reliably measure.
 
We discuss the importance of informed consent in meditation, the role of wisdom traditions alongside modern science, and why honesty and nuance are essential as these practices enter mental health, education, and digital platforms. Dr. Van Dam also shares how contemplative science can support deeper understanding, responsibility, and care as meditation becomes more widely adopted.
 
 
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
 
 
SHOW NOTES
 
0:00 | Science, wisdom traditions, and the modern search for meaning
 
1:46 | Introducing Nicholas Van Dam and the ethics of contemplative science
 
3:00 | Early life, religious roots, and the path into meditation research
 
5:35 | From brain science to real-world mental health impact
 
7:30 | Building an agnostic contemplative research centre in Australia
 
13:10 | Ethics, bias, and responsibility in meditation research
 
17:00 | Translating between science and wisdom traditions
 
20:45 | How much meditation is enough? What dose-response research shows
 
26:45 | Challenging meditation experiences and informed consent
 
33:00 | The "missing middle": maps, stages, and what comes after beginner programs
 
40:50 | Equanimity, emotion, and tensions with modern life and values
 
52:45 | Engagement vs efficacy: why some practices are easier to sustain
 
1:03:00 | Retreats, daily practice, sleep, and intensity trade-offs
 
1:13:00 | Neuroplasticity and the limits of brain-based explanations
 
1:17:15 | Neurofeedback, psychedelics, and the ethics of shortcuts
 
1:24:15 | Mapping inner experience and the future of contemplative science
 
1:32:15 | AI, teachers, and scaling wisdom without losing depth
 
1:38:20 | The future of contemplative science and FitMind's role
 
1:45:21 | Where to learn more
 
Contemplative Studies Centre Website: https://psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/CSC
 
Nicholas Van Dam's Personal Website: https://www.nicholastvandam.com

#108: The Ethics of Meditation - Nicholas Van Dam, PhD

Can cells outside the brain learn, remember, and make decisions?
 
In this episode, neuroscientist Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin shares groundbreaking research that shows even non-neuronal cells can recognize patterns, count, and store information in ways strikingly similar to brain cells.
 
We explore:
 
 • 

Why memory may not be limited to the brain
 • 
 • 

What sea slugs can teach us about human cognition
 • 
 • 

How prediction and perception shape our sense of self
 • 
 • 

The parallels between AI and biological intelligence
 • 
 • 

Whether trauma could be "stored" in cells outside the nervous system
 • 
 
Dr. Kukushkin's work suggests we rethink intelligence, not as something exclusive to the brain, but as a fundamental property of life.
 
FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
 
Website: www.fitmind.org
 
 
 
SHOW NOTES
 
0:00 | Intro to Nikolay Kukushkin, PhD
 
5:10 | Memory in Seaslugs
 
10:25 | Cells Can Recognize Patterns
 
20:28 | Memory Defined
 
23:02 | Do Cells Store Trauma?
 
30:40 | Treatment for Neurological Conditions
 
38:40 | Brain & Memory Connection
 
42:25 | Optimal Interval for Superior Memory
 
44:52 | Layering of Predictions
 
50:35 | AI Inspired by Neuronal Behavior
 
52:27 | Cellular Cognition & Memory
 
54:47 | Intelligence of Non-Brain Cells
 
58:38 | Consciousness in Microtubules
 
1:06:15 | Where to Follow His Work
 
Website: https://www.nikolaykukushkin.com
 
One Hand Clapping Book: https://www.nikolaykukushkin.com/press-1
 
Follow on X: https://x.com/niko_kukushkin

#104: Intelligence Beyond the Brain - Nikolay Kukushkin, PhD

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