Podcast Episodes

April 22, 2021

In this episode, Wendy speaks with Tibetan Buddhist teacher Mingyur Rinpoche about how contemplative practice can lead us to awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Their conversation covers many topics, including:

• his involvement in early contemplative research;
• translating concepts between Buddhism and science;
• what Buddhists mean by “emptiness”;
• non-conceptual meditation, open presence and foundational awareness;
• the three kinds of self, and which one is like shaving foam;
• the problem of othering;
• making friends with panic and difficult emotions;
• the experience of a “wandering” retreat;
• and building trust through contemplative practice.

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April 9, 2021

In this episode, Wendy speaks with social psychologist Buju Dasgupta about her work on implicit bias, and the role of social context in shaping the mind. Their conversation covers many topics, including:

• her path to merging science and social justice;
• the crucial role of social context in implicit bias;
• the malleability of implicit bias & the “wallpaper” of the mind;
• how scientists measure unconscious processes (like implicit bias);
• changing bias against women and underrepresented groups in STEM education;
• links from this work into contemplative science;
• increasing cross-disciplinary collaboration to advance research around equity;
• the subtle ways we can change implicit bias by changing the wallpaper of our lives;
• and turning research into social impact.

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March 26, 2021

In this episode, Wendy speaks with cognitive psychologist Larry Barsalou about his work on grounded cognition, concepts, stress, and habits. Their conversation covers many topics, including:

• a historical look at how psychology has viewed and studied the mind;
• simulation and prediction in the brain;
• what a concept is, and benefits and harms they can bring;
• stereotypes, implicit bias, and how we might change them;
• the “situated action” cycle that drives our behavior;
• understanding habits, and the role of mindfulness in breaking unhealthy habits;
• how humans form self-concepts, and how meditation can help us move beyond them;
• the importance of context (situatedness) in cognition, and how to study it scientifically;
• and how he got interested in contemplative science.

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March 12, 2021

In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist and contemplative researcher Sona Dimidjian. Sona’s work applies contemplative practices to improve mental health, with a focus on systems of inequality. Their conversation covers many topics, including:

• her path to contemplative practice and research;
• using collaborative teams in science to reduce bias;
• how she applies mindfulness to help with postpartum depression;
• working with young women around stereotypes about appearance;
• embodied practices delivered through peer instruction;
• community-engaged participatory research, working “with” and not “for”;
• creating digital platforms for more equitable dissemination of contemplative programs;
• and how she brings a lens of anti-racism to her research and teaching.

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February 26, 2021

In this episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar John Dunne. John has interfaced with contemplative scientists for over two decades to help advance rigorous research on meditation by incorporating a nuanced Buddhist perspective. They touch on many topics, including:

• his path to integrating Buddhism and science, and the early days of contemplative research;
• defining “meditation” for research purposes;
• focused attention vs. open monitoring meditation;
• a deep dive into meta-awareness;
• subject/object duality and whether anything really exists;
• the different ways we experience the sense of self;
• hallucinogens, ego dissolution, and non-dual practices;
• decentering and dereification;
• and where he thinks the field should go next.

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