The Contemplative Science Podcast

Nicholas Buscall, a humanistic integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor and meditation teacher, blends therapy with contemplative training. He discusses grounding meditation in clear intent and safeguards to prevent confusion or harm. Conversations cover translating insight into compassionate action, integrating practice with relationships, and using therapeutic check-ins to keep progress steady and connected to real life.

Brother Phap Linh, a Buddhist monk from the Plum Village tradition and a student of Thich Nhat Hanh, explores the intersection of Buddhism and science. He discusses his journey from skepticism to monastic life and shares insights on using Buddhist teachings as practical maps for reducing suffering. The conversation delves into the concept of store consciousness, grief, and how grounding in potentiality fosters hope. Emphasizing interdependence, Brother Phap Linh offers practical advice on cultivating mindfulness and returning to sensory experience.

In this episode, we explore the role of goal-setting and purposeful behaviour in Buddhist contemplative practice. While many traditions emphasize letting go, Buddhist training is also deeply structured by intentionality, effort, and purposeful cultivation. Nadav Amir brings a computational neuroscience perspective to these questions, examining how minds generate goals, how agency emerges, and how these processes relate to frameworks from early Buddhist epistemology and ethics. Together, we discuss paradoxes of striving, the tension between effort and non-attachment, and what modern neuroscience can tell us about intention on the contemplative path.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Condon to explore his new book How Compassion Works and the science behind cultivating compassion that lasts. We discuss what compassion really is, how it can be measured and taught, and why sustaining compassion matters for individuals and communities alike. Paul shares insights from his research on compassion training, its impact on mental health and social connection, and how these practices can be taught in a rigorous, evidence-based way without losing their heart.

What if understanding pain was a contemplative act? Richmond Stace, creator of Pain Coaching, brings together neuroscience, psychotherapy, and contemplative insights to rethink chronic pain not just as a biological condition, but as a human experience shaped by meaning, attention, and awareness.

What does it really mean to be deeply well—not just symptom-free or spiritually polished, but truly grounded, embodied, and alive? In this episode, Dharma teachers Melina Bondy and Arti Mehta explore this question through the lenses of contemplative practice, psychotherapy, somatics, art, and community care. Together we reflect on how meditation and the Dharma shape our understanding of wellness—not as an escape from life’s struggles, but as a courageous turning toward them. We discuss how to stay with discomfort without bypassing, the role of the body in healing, and the tensions between spiritual ideals and lived experience. We also ask: Can wellness itself become a form of resistance? What does it mean to be well together? And how can we honour both safety and challenge in our communities? This is a rich and honest conversation about the nonlinear path to being deeply well—and what it takes to share that path with others.

Lama John Makransky, a Professor of comparative theology at Boston College and ordained lama in Tibetan Buddhism, dives deep into the essence of compassion. He discusses how Buddhist meditative practices, attachment theory, and insights from cognitive science can help cultivate well-being and unconditional love. Listeners learn about accessing innate qualities of goodness through meditation and the importance of secure relationships. The conversation also highlights the transformative power of compassion in both personal lives and social engagement.

In this conversation, Rick Repetti, a philosopher and meditation teacher, delves into the intriguing question of whether meditation can be viewed as a philosophy. He shares insights on how meditation enhances our understanding of the mind and self, while discussing the potential emergence of a Western philosophy of meditation. Rick draws on both personal experience and scholarly research, highlighting the transformative power of meditation as a philosophical method that interweaves with concepts from psychology and therapeutic practices.

Andrew Holecek, a Tibetan Buddhist scholar and lucid dreaming practitioner, explains the practice of extended dark retreats. He explores how prolonged darkness can reshape perception, produce psychedelic-like visions, and reveal the mind’s predictive models. Practical tips, risks, and how to begin a gradual home practice are also covered.

Adam Safron, an independent researcher affiliated with the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, shares his insights on consciousness, agency, and artificial intelligence. He discusses the ethical dilemmas in AI development and the need to align technology with human values. The conversation highlights the role of compassion in both personal growth and AI design, advocating for love and community engagement as essential elements in navigating the future of intelligent systems.