In this episode, Wendy speaks with neuroscientist and mental health researcher Jyoti Mishra. Jyoti has been investigating how mindfulness and attention training affect our brains, and can help in the context of mental health challenges related to climate disasters and other trauma. This conversation covers many topics, including:

• her intertwined interests in neuroscience, meditation, and mental health;
• understanding climate trauma and its unique impacts on mental health;
• community resilience and action in the face of disaster;
• the rise of mental health issues worldwide;
• studying the mental health and brain function impacts of the deadliest fire in CA history;
• healing broken relationships with nature through mindfulness and ecotherapy;
• social justice issues around climate vulnerability;
• how childhood adversity affects brain circuitry for emotional awareness;
• developing contemplative tech interventions for disadvantaged youth, and impacts on brain and daily life functioning;
• nature and the sense of self;
• regulating the stress response through mindfulness and social connection;
• and empowering youth through the Climate Change & Mental Health Initiative.

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In this episode, Wendy speaks with psychologist and contemplative researcher Simon Goldberg. Simon uses tools drawn from psychotherapy research to better understand the therapeutic processes and outcomes of mindfulness and meditation-based interventions. This conversation covers many topics, including:

• coming to practice through one's own suffering;
• what we know from science about whether and how meditation "works;"
• the nuts and bolts of meditation research, and the importance of control groups;
• the file drawer effect and publishing negative findings;
• common factors in healing interventions;
• working with the self in psychotherapy vs. Buddhism;
• the critical role of acceptance;
• some challenges when measuring effects of meditation;
• individualizing contemplative practice to suit the person;
• delivering and studying meditation interventions through apps;
• and the possibilities of AI to help support meditation practice.

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In this episode, Wendy speaks with educational leader, writer, and climate activist Diana Chapman Walsh. Diana had a long and successful career in public health at Boston and Harvard University, and then became the president of Wellesley College, a position she held for 14 years. Diana has become an icon in educational leadership, and advocates that education can be both an intellectual and a spiritual journey. This conversation covers many topics, including:

• her path into contemplative practice and leadership;
• the importance of knowing and questioning oneself;
• vulnerability and responsibility in leadership;
• how the qualities of a leader influence the system they are leading;
• hierarchical vs. inclusive systems;
• the five principles of trustworthy leadership;
• interconnectedness as an underlying truth;
• building community amidst the climate crisis;
• how feedback loops can accelerate harm or spur change;
• and encouragement to tell our stories.

Full show notes and resources