Dr. John Vervaeke

William Desmond, philosopher of the 'between' who blends Greek, Christian, and Eastern thought, and Guy Sengstock, cofounder of Circling and relational awareness teacher, discuss whether science misses key dimensions of reality. They explore the metaxu of being, participatory knowing, relevance realization, pilgrimage, flow, and how relational practices reopen meaning. The conversation probes nihilism as a transition rather than an end.

Mark Miller, a cognitive scientist who studies predictive processing, wellbeing, and meditation research, explains why common narratives of happiness mislead. He discusses predictive mind theory, linking ancient philosophy with modern neuroscience. Conversations cover meditation science, affect and craving, flow and play, and a course roadmap integrating theory with practical paths to flourishing.

Mark Miller, philosopher and contemplative cognitive scientist who teaches Generations of Joy, joins to explore well‑being, meditation, and predictive dynamics. He discusses joy as a cultivatable capacity, the difference between hedonic pleasure and deep flourishing, social reward hijacking from online life, emotional flexibility versus stuckness, and how beliefs and prediction shape affect and recovery.

Zevi Slavin, founder of Seekers of Unity and teacher of Jewish mysticism, explores Ibn Gabirol’s blend of Jewish thought and Neoplatonism. He discusses matter and form bound by divine desire. Conversation touches on poetry as seeing, prophecy as listening, the philosophical mediation between them, and the quest for a shared language bridging traditions.

Zevi Slavin, creator of Seekers of Unity who translates mysticism and Neoplatonism for modern life. They explore Ibn Gabirol’s bold idea that matter and form are drawn together by divine desire. Conversation ranges over Jewish and medieval thought, mystical practice, and whether unity requires sameness. Expect reflections on prayerable divinity, liturgy, and cross-traditional philosophical language.

Seth Allison, psychotherapist who blends IFS, Jungian thought and attachment work, shares his midlife pilgrimage. He talks about liminality, voluntary necessity, and how suffering can open space for trust. Conversations cover addiction and recovery as spiritual work, the role of community in transformation, and cultivating humility and relational depth in leadership.

John Vervaeke, a cognitive science and philosophy professor who studies meaning, wisdom, and transformative practices. He explores the “Underground Man” problem of endless abstraction and the reflectiveness gap. Short segments cover the imaginal as a bridge to lived meaning, dissociation versus volitional pivotal states, and prayer and ritual as re-centering practices that reconnect us to responsibility and compassion.

Mark Miller, philosopher and cognitive scientist at Monash, explores predictive processing and its links to happiness and wellbeing. He discusses how the brain predicts reality, belief formation, and how play, mindfulness, and virtue help update deep models. The conversation covers social narratives, depression, placebo effects, and practical training to open new evidence and cultivate joy.

Kevin Lu, Jungian psychoanalyst and scholar who studies myth and individuation. Anderson Todd, cognitive science lecturer blending Buddhism, philosophy, and transformative practice. They explore Jung’s relevance to cognitive science, numinous and religious experience, myth versus science, individuation as complexification, IFS and parts work, and risks of collective archetypes.

Mark Vernon, a writer and psychotherapist, dives into the spiritual and philosophical realms through Dante and Blake's works. He discusses the transformative power of pilgrimage, revealing how personal journeys shape perception. Mark elucidates Dante's layered narrative structure and the significance of Beatrice in guiding spiritual insights. The conversation touches on the imaginal realm and its connection to contemporary cognitive science, emphasizing the importance of imagination as a vital force in renewing our understanding of reality.