Nicholas Van Dam
Director of the Contemplative Studies Centre and associate professor in psychological sciences who researches mindfulness and meditation's psychological and neuroscientific effects, including potential risks and ethical issues.
Best podcasts with Nicholas Van Dam
Ranked by the Snipd community
Dec 29, 2025 • 55min
Meditation and mindfulness in the digital age
In this conversation, Jess Heughan, a meditation trainer and Dharma teacher, shares her transformative journey into mindfulness, emphasizing the importance of community and diverse practices beyond traditional methods. Nicholas Van Dam, a mindfulness researcher and director at the Contemplative Studies Centre, discusses the neuroscience of attention and its commodification in the digital age. They explore the balance between the benefits of mindfulness and potential risks, including emotional challenges and ethical considerations in practice.
Mar 18, 2025 • 54min
Free your attention — meditation and mindfulness in the digital age
Jess Heughan, a meditation trainer and authorized Dharma teacher, shares her spiritual journey of feeling like a 'spiritual orphan' and how mindfulness helps regain control over attention. Nicholas Van Dam, a psychologist and director of the Contemplative Studies Centre, discusses the commodification of attention in the digital age and the risks that come with meditation practices. They explore the emotional benefits of mindfulness and emphasize the need for ethical considerations in mindfulness practices to avoid harmful outcomes.
