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The Contemplative Science Podcast

Mark Miller
Mindfulness
Psychedelics
Meditation
Compassion
Buddhism
Consciousness
Mental Health
Dark Retreat
Psilocybin
Cognitive Science
Artificial Intelligence
Tibetan Buddhism
Non-Duality
Depression
Contemplative Practices
Science
Neuroscience
Predictive Processing
Wisdom
Well-Being

What can cutting-edge science tell us about spiritual development? And how are ancient contemplative practices helping us to investigate the nature of well-being? On The Contemplative Science Podcast, host Dr. Mark Miller speaks with the real experts, from Monks to Neuroscientists, to get clear on how contemplative practices work and how they might help us improve our lives. Our diverse range of g... more

PublishesInfrequentlyEpisodes77Founded4 years ago
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Science

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Artwork for The Contemplative Science Podcast

Latest Episodes

Why do people across cultures report encounters with spirits, deities, ancestors, demons, angels, or other seemingly independent beings? And how might the science of predictive processing and active inference help us understand these experiences with... more

In this conversation, Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor Nicholas Buscall and I explore why establishing a “good view”—a clear, grounded orientation to what meditation is (and isn’t)—can make practice safer, steadier, and more transf... more

n this episode of The Contemplative Science Podcast, I’m delighted to welcome back Brother Phap Linh, a Buddhist monk ordained at Plum Village in 2008. Before monastic life, Brother Phap Linh studied at Cambridge and worked as a composer, chef, and m... more

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 cultiv... more

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Recent Guests

Zach Buck
Researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Connecticut focusing on cognitive science, spirituality, altered states of consciousness, and experiences of supernatural agency
University of Connecticut
Episode: Minds, Models, and Invisible Beings w/ Zach Buck
Nick Buscall
Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapist and meditation teacher
Independent practitioner
Episode: Establishing Right View: Meditation, Meaning, and Staying on Track w/ Nicholas Buscall
Nadav Amir
Researcher at the Fields Institute who investigates purposeful behavior and its relation to Buddhism.
Field Institute
Episode: Purposeful Behaviour Through a Buddhist Lens w Nadav Amir
Dr. Paul Condon
Associate Professor of Psychology and leading researcher on compassion
Southern Oregon University
Episode: How Compassion Works w/ Paul Condon
Melina Bondy
Dharma teacher, psychotherapist, former monastic
Plum Village
Episode: Being Deeply Well: Dharma, Discomfort, and the Healing Path w/ Melina Bondy & Arti Mehta
Arti Mehta
Meditation teacher and artist
True North Insight and BCIMS
Episode: Being Deeply Well: Dharma, Discomfort, and the Healing Path w/ Melina Bondy & Arti Mehta
John Makransky
Professor of Comparative Theology at Boston College, ordained lama in the Nyingma Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Boston College
Episode: How Compassion Works w/ Lama John Makransky
Rick Repetti
Professor at CUNY University, registered therapist, and meditation teacher with expertise in philosophical counseling.
CUNY University
Episode: Is Meditation Philosophy? w/ Rick Repetti
Andrew Holecek
A scholar and practitioner in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, known for his expertise in lucid dreaming and dark retreats.
Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, Northeastern University
Episode: Science and Practice of Dark Retreats w/ Andrew Holecek

Host

Mark Miller
Host of The Contemplative Science Podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 44 ratings
  • Where ancient spiritual practices meet modern pseudoscience

    I was pointed to this podcast through another podcast. I’ve learned a lot about communities of practitioners and their approach to contemplative activities. There are many sober, sensible, and insightful discussions. I am often disappointed though by the caliber of the scientific discussions. It’s a common issue with popular science podcasts that in an effort to distill large bodies of research for a wide audience, important caveats and details are glossed over or go unchallenged. There are issu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    NeuroMinded
    United States2 years ago
  • Fantastic

    An excellent topic and an amazing approach to it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ioannes_shade
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Supports thoughtful discussions but some listeners crave stronger scientific replication caveats.
Guests bring depth in philosophy and psychology, offering practical takeaways.
Very insightful and compassionate discussions with diverse experts.
Balanced exploration of science and contemplative practice, with rigorous critique sometimes pointed at research robustness.
High-quality conversations blending spirituality and science, though some episodes are dense.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#170
Poland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#192
Netherlands/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Minds, Models, and Invisible Beings w/ Zach Buck
Q: Why do these experiences often come through as entities or intelligences, and are they beneficial to the cognitive system?
Under predictive processing, the self is an evolving inference; in altered states, the inference about agency shifts, so experiences can feel like encounters with intelligent beings. These experiences can be beneficial by providing new perspectives, aiding self-reflection, and potentially supporting therapeutic processes when integrated properly.
Minds, Models, and Invisible Beings w/ Zach Buck
Q: Why might ritual and altered states lead people to experience spiritual beings or divine agents?
Ritual contexts create social and sensory environments that induce high entropy and low sensory reliability, causing people to rely more on pre-existing beliefs and domain-specific anticipation; the social scaffold and shared beliefs help validate these experiences and make them feel meaningful within a cultural framework.
Minds, Models, and Invisible Beings w/ Zach Buck
Q: What are some concrete examples of high arousal contexts in these rituals?
Examples include the Maha Shivaratri procession and the Kavadi ritual, where participants enter intensely aroused states, sometimes with physical acts of devotion such as walking on hot surfaces or carrying burdens, which amplify trance-like experiences and the sense of connection.
Is Meditation Philosophy? w/ Rick Repetti
Q: How does meditation relate to philosophy?
Meditation is seen as a form of philosophical practice that contributes to philosophical understanding.
Is Meditation Philosophy? w/ Rick Repetti
Q: What is philosophical counseling?
Philosophical counseling is a method that merges philosophy with psychological practices to help clients understand their issues through a philosophical lens.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Contemplative Science Podcast

What is The Contemplative Science Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful exploration of how cutting-edge science intersects with contemplative practice, featuring clinicians, researchers, and meditation teachers who discuss therapy, mindfulness, compassion, and the nature of well-being. Episodes often probe how ancient wisdom can inform modern psychology, neuroscience, and daily life, with topics spanning relational care, cognitive science, pain, dreams, ethics, and even tech like AI. Notable for its rigorous, multidisciplinary approach and practical guidance for practitioners, it frequently centers on ethics, embodiment, and real-world flourishing rather than purely theoretical debates, making it helpful for listeners seeking actionable insight or considerations for integrating contemplative practi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Contemplative Science Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Contemplative Science Podcast:

1. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
2. Tricycle Talks
3. Tara Brach
4. The Way Out Is In
5. On Being with Krista Tippett

How many episodes of The Contemplative Science Podcast are there?

The Contemplative Science Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 77 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Contemplative Science Podcast?

Recent guests on The Contemplative Science Podcast include:

1. Zach Buck
2. Nick Buscall
3. Nadav Amir
4. Dr. Paul Condon
5. Melina Bondy
6. Arti Mehta
7. John Makransky
8. Rick Repetti

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