Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

 Producer Stuart Volkow interviews Dr. Fadel Zeidan, PhD, the Associate Director for Research at the UCSD Center for Mindfulness and Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at UCSD. He and his laboratory have discovered the neural processes supporting mindfulness meditation and mindfulness-based pain relief. https://www.zeidanlab.com/ https://medschool.ucsd.edu/som/fmph/r…Recently, he and his team have demonstrated that mindfulness meditation is mechanistically distinct from and more effective than placebo, distraction, and relaxation. His research is currently funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and has disseminated his findings through traditional media outreach (CNN ; NPR ; Time Magazine , CBS and others), Tedx and recently personally presented his work to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama in Mongolia. In his role at the UCSD Center for Mindfulness, Fadel will focus on expanding his research to focus on working with different patient populations and user-friendly approaches to promote the self-regulation of pain. Fadel is especially excited at examining ways to integrate mindfulness from the lab to the clinic and community.Dr. Fadel is also part of the The Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative (PHRI) at UC San Diego, under the auspices of the Clarke Center, that conducts novel basic and clinical research on the use of psychedelics for the treatment of pain and other health conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Theoretical cosmologist Janna Levin is an-award winning author of both nonfiction and fiction. In her interview on the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE podcast, she emphasizes the important role of creativity in science, and life in general. We discussed Levin’s research on the topology of the universe and black holes, including the Event Horizon Telescope. We also discuss her highly-anticipated upcoming book, “Black Hole Survival Guide.” Subscribe to my newsletter to receive show notes for this episode: https://briankeating.com/mailing_list… 00:03:17 Science is part of our culture. 00:12:17 Cultivating communication skills in scientists. 00:16:29 Gödel, Popper, and what constitutes good science. 00:23:55 Extra spatial dimensions. 00:31:45 “Every kid is a scientist.” 00:37:26 Illuminatin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Ann Druyan has brought the universe to millions around the world. The wife of the late Carl Sagan, Ann is a renowned science communicator and producer/writer and co-creator of the upcoming series Cosmos: Possible Worlds. She is the author of the companion book of the same name. She is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning writer and producer. She co-created and wrote the 1980 TV series Cosmos with Carl Sagan, whom she later married. She also co-created, wrote, produced, and directed the follow up series, 2014’s Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and 2020’s Cosmos: Possible Worlds. She was also creative director for NASA’s Voyager Interstellar Message Project and her brain waves are part of the golden record that has traveled outside our solar system.Druyan discusses her fascinating voyage through the most mysterious phenomena in the cosmos. We discuss her family’s remarkable role as science ambassadors including not only her marriage to Carl Sagan, but her remarkable daughter Sasha Sagan who is continuing their role as the First Family of the Cosmos!Ann talked about her and Carl’s collaboration on the original Cosmos series, their multiple books, and Voyager’s famous golden record. She also shares lessons on love, parenthood, and the importance of science communication. In addition to her award-winning writing and directing, she has an asteroid named after her, 4970 Druyan (which is in companion orbit with asteroid 2709 Sagan). Her brain waves were recorded onto Voyager’s golden record that is traveling outside our solar system. In fact, she is the first guest on INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE who can say she already has a billion year time capsule in response to my standard question about monoliths! Five billion years, in fact, as that’s how long the golden record was designed to last. 00:07:37 Ann Druyan has brought science to millions.00:15:42 Druyan and Sagan’s love is part of the Voyager recordings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Simons, a groundbreaking mathematician and hedge fund pioneer, shares his extraordinary life journey. He delves into Chern-Simons theory and discusses leadership lessons inspired by Abraham Lincoln. Simons reflects on discovering Zeno’s paradox at age three and the beauty of mathematics. He also outlines vital investment strategies, focusing on alpha versus beta. Personal anecdotes about fatherhood and mentorship reveal a deep commitment to legacy, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge.

  Part 2 of Brian Keating’s conversation with Eric Weinstein on the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE podcast pivots from faith & family to the course catalog at “Weinstein University” (fictional, for now!) which would combine scholarship with wonder. We also contemplate the notion of legacies, not just for our actual children, but for our ideological children as well. Show notes and, by popular demand, Eric’s slides from his famous 2013 “Geometric Unity” lecture at Oxford are available when you join my mailing list: http://briankeating.com/mailing_list.phpHighlights: 00:12:18 A place for the rituals of religion in an atheist’s life. 00:19:26 Crisis of faith versus crisis of reason. 00:25:20 Eric Weinstein’s parenting philosophy. 00:33:05 Resolving dualities in human lives and behaviors. 00:36:05 Rapid fire questions about God and aliens. 00:40:26 Eric’s legacies in space and time. Eric Weinstein has a Ph.D. from Harvard in mathematical physics. He is the managing director of Thiel Capital. Weinstein hosts the podcast The Portal Watch part 1 of this interview with Eric Weinstein here. Buy your own Klein bottle: here https://amzn.to/3e2apWPFind Eric Weinstein on the web: https://ericweinstein.org and Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricRWeinstein‍♂️ Find Brian Keating on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeatingFind Brian Keating on Instagram at https://instagram.com/DrBrianKeating Buy Brian’s book LOSING THE NOBEL PRIZE: http://amzn.to/2sa5UpASubscribe for more great content https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1✍️Detailed Blog posts here: https://briankeating.com/blog.php️Please subscribe, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Physicist, jazz musician, & President of the National Society of Black Physicists, Stephon Alexander is this week’s guest on the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE podcast. He discussed the foundations of the cosmos, his advice for balancing academic and creative pursuits, and his book “The Jazz of Physics.”Support the National Society of Black Physicists: https://nsbp.org/support-nsbp/support-usShow notes and resources for this episode are available: simply join my mailing list: http://briankeating.com/mailing_list.php and you’ll also get information to enter giveaways to win my guest’s books! Our next giveaway will be Stephon’s phenomenal THE JAZZ OF PHYSICS! 00:14:20 Balancing the creative pursuits of research, jazz, and writing. 00:28:46 Which came first – theoretical or experimental physics? 00:40:30 Creativity and intuition have a role in science. 00:46:48 How legacy and John Coltrane inspired Alexander to write his book. 00:57:18 The power (and limits) of analogies to explain science. 01:07:34 Journal articles and musical films – what’s next from Stephon Alexander. 01:17:08 Questions INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE asks all authors. Stephon Alexander is a physics professor at Brown University, which is where he earned his Ph.D. He is President of the National Society of Black Physicists and a National Geographic Explorer. He served as a scientific consultant on the 2018 movie A Wrinkle in Time.Buy Stephon Alexander’s book “The Jazz of Physics” here: https://amzn.to/3cZekmU Watch Alexander’s Tedx Talk here: https://youtu.be/v9_ZzY99-6UWatch Alexander on NOVA’s documentary series The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/stephon-alexander/ Find Stephon Alexander on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephstemPlease subscribe, rate, and review the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast on iTunes for a chance to win a copy of Alexander’s book: ‍♂️ Find Brian Keating on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Sarah Frier is a prolific technology reporter for Bloomberg. Her new book, “No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram,” is both a compelling account of Instagram’s history and a record of the social media platform’s impact on society. Professor Brian Keating’s interview with Frier covers a range of topics, including the inspiration to research and write the book, the role of augmented technology, and how social media will be changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Show notes and resources are available here: https://briankeating.com/blog.phpTimestamps links 00:07:39 The meanings behind the title and cover of “No Filter.” 00:14:45 Social media moguls as humans and not just characters in the story. 00:22:15 How to tell a story when everyone knows the ending. 00:31:15 Anyone can be an Instagram celebrity. 00:41:00 Will a new platform emerge during the pandemic? 00:47:51 Technological advances keep Instagram relevant. 00:53:11 Questions INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE asks all authors. Sarah Frier is a technology reporter for Bloomberg News and Businessweek. She earned a journalism degree from the University of North Carolina. Her articles on social media have won awards from The San Francisco Press Club and other organizations. Buy Sarah Frier’s book here: https://amzn.to/2X6rurs Read Frier’s articles on Bloomberg here.  Listen to Frier’s interview on the podcast Recode Decode:  Find Frier on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahfrier/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahfrier Please subscribe, rate, and review the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast on iTunes for a chance to win a copy of Frier’s book. ‍♂️ Find Brian Keating on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeatingFind Brian Keating on Instagram at https://instagram.com/DrBrianKeating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jud Brewer is a mindfulness expert, using his background in addiction psychiatry to help people around the world. In this interview with Brian Keating, on INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE, Brewer talks about his book, “The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love – Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits.” Show notes and resources are available here: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 00:08:53 The effects of nature versus nurture on cravings. 00:17:04 Are some cultures resistant to psychotherapy and meditation? 00:26:16 How technology can enhance mindfulness. 00:37:04 How to help our kids develop good habits. 00:44:03 Incorporating artificial intelligence & human empathy in healthcare. 00:49:38 Anxiety is rampant in academia. What can be done? 01:04:45 Questions INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE asks authors. I’ve used Brewer’s teaching in my own life and work. Mindfulness practices can help achieve higher efficiency and happiness at work, and moderate stress of all varieties, including the anxiety that comes with a global pandemic. Jud Brewer, M.D. Ph.D. is the Director of Research and Innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, as well as an associate professor in psychiatry. His company MindSciences develops mindfulness apps, including Eat Right Now, Craving to Quit, Breathe, and Unwinding Anxiety.Buy “The Craving Mind” Brewer puts Anderson Cooper’s mindfulness to the test on 60 Minutes: https://youtu.be/PRjTWWuRanYWatch Brewer’s TED Talk here: https://youtu.be/-moW9jvvMr4Find Jud Brewer on the web: https://drjud.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/judbrewer and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrJudPlease subscribe, rate, and review the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast on iTunes for a chance to win a copy of Brewer’s book: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/into-the-impossible/id1169885840?mt=2 ‍♂️ Find Brian Keating on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating Find Brian Keating on Instagram at https://instagram.com/DrBrianKeating Subscribe for more great content https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 ✍️Detailed Blog posts here: https://briankeating.com/blog.php Join my mailing list: http://briankeating.com/mailing_list.php Join my Facebook Group: https://facebook.com/losingthenobelprize ️Please subscribe, rate, and review the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/into-the-impossible/id1169885840?mt=2 Into The Impossible is a Production of the http://imagination.ucsd.edu/ Director, Erik Viirre Co-Director, Brian Keating Associate Director, Patrick Coleman Produced By Stuart W. Volkow (P.G.A.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Part 1 of Brian Keating’s fascinating interview with mathematician & economist Eric Weinstein on the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast. Topics include Eric’s provocative new ideas on physics and science culture. Weinstein is a vocal critic of modern academic hierarchies and advocates for advances in scientific theory over an emphasis on experimental results. Keating’s own issues with what he calls the “academic Hunger Games” leads to a lively debate about funding, academic freedom, and theoretical vs experimental physics. Find show notes and resources are available here: https://briankeating.com/blog.php 00:11:09 Is there middle ground between cranks and peer review? 00:20:23 The value of Weinstein’s approach to communicating science. 00:30:50 The ethics of attribution. 00:41:26 Surviving the academic Hunger Games. 00:54:24 Theoretical physicists can save human life by getting us off Earth. 01:11:52 “Great science is whatever people have done to make major advances.” 01:22:00 Experiments are only the last step, theory is the bulk of science. 01:29:15 The logic behind questioning accepted theories on April Fool’s Day. Eric Weinstein has a Ph.D. from Harvard in mathematical physics. He is the managing director of Thiel Capital. Weinstein hosts the podcast The Portal  Find Eric Weinstein on the web: https://ericweinstein.org and Twitter: https://twitter.com/EricRWeinstein Watch Weinstein’s “April Fool’s” episode of The Portal, where he explains his theory of Geometric Unity Watch Weinstein’s latest interview on The Joe Rogan Experience  ️Please subscribe, rate, and review the INTO THE IMPOSSIBLE Podcast on iTunes ‍♂️ Find Brian Keating on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  #TechShabbat #character #neuroscience Filmmaker, and author Tiffany Shlain discusses her life, films and her book 24/6, about the neuroscience of how technology reshapes our brains and how the practice of turning off all screens 24 hours each week can make us healthier and more creative. http://tiffanyshlain.com https://twitter.com/tiffanyshlain Get the book   This practice of turning off all screens for twenty-four hours each week, which she’s done for over a decade with her husband and kids (sixteen and ten), has completely changed their lives, giving them more time, productivity, connection, and presence. She and her family call it “Technology Shabbat”, which has become a worldwide movement. Learn more about it at https://www.24sixlife.com/ Drawn from the ancient ritual of Shabbat, living 24/6 can work for anyone from any background. With humor and wisdom, Shlain shares her story, offers lessons she has learned, and provides a blueprint for how to do it yourself. It has become even more important recently, in wake of the worldwide pandemic that has made so many of us reliant on screens for work, shopping, socializing, even exercise. COVID-19 has changed how we use the Web in some beneficial ways, but it has also made us even more dependent on screens for our every need. We are now spending almost all day online, and many of us are finding that it’s just too much. Turning off screens now feels like it provides double resilience for the soul. Having a much-needed boundary and separation — a day unlike the others, a day dedicated to being present, reflecting, resting, and connecting with those around me — helps us make sense of this unusual way we are living, where time seems to blur between days and between work and family and life. Because that’s what Shabbat is all about — carving out time to appreciate and find joy in what’s right in front of you, and focus on what truly matters. As Heschel calls it, it’s creating a “Palace in Time.”Watch Tiffany’s award-winning, provocative short films discussed in this interview:The Adaptable Mind https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.letitripple.org/adaptable_mind__;!!Mih3wA!WZVDrv6-nVu20ycjHqIolC9bGENbbVxnJmwlaU513fzuzNLlBUFhv4BFELjEqiFx$ The Science of Character  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices