Episodes
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
Amishi Jha - Attention, Mind Wandering, and Stress
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
Wednesday Jun 24, 2020
In this episode, Wendy speaks with cognitive and contemplative neuroscientist Amishi Jha about using mindfulness to train attention, and its usefulness particularly in high-stress situations. They cover many topics, including:
- her own experience of high stress and how that brought her to contemplative practice;
- her research on how mindfulness can train attention and working memory;
- the relationship between attention and stress;
- bringing mindfulness to military populations;
- the pros and cons of a wandering mind;
- mindfulness during COVID;
- the state of contemplative science, and current issues around gender and racial diversity.
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
john powell - Othering and Belonging
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
Wednesday Jun 10, 2020
In this episode, Wendy speaks with law professor and civil rights expert john a. powell about his work at the intersection of social justice and spirituality. This conversation was recorded during the 2019 Summer Research Institute. They discuss a wide range of topics, including:
- the problem of othering;
- the roots of whiteness;
- recent changes in the world and how we react to them;
- how our minds create mental schemas;
- implicit bias and how to change it;
- the importance of narrative and bridging stories, and the role of leadership;
- the self as a construction;
- spirituality and interconnection;
- the roles of science and religion in society;
- identity politics, and more.
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