The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology

How does the brain work at its deepest levels? And to what extent can we radically upgrade it, creating neuroplastic changes?

Ruben Laukkonen, PhD is a cognitive neuroscientist, contemplative, speaker, and poet.

His eclectic background includes competing semi-professionally in Muay Thai Kickboxing, founding two businesses (including the first online market for bitcoin in Australia), and intensive meditation training.

Dr. Laukkonen is currently a principal investigator and lecturer at Southern Cross University and holds honorary fellowships at VU Amsterdam and The University of Queensland. He uses methods such as behavior, neuroimaging, machine learning, and phenomenology to empirically investigate some of the rarest states of human consciousness.

This episode is a full tour of the mind, including a deep dive into some of those rare states of consciousness and what they reveal about achieving the highest levels of human happiness.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

SHOW NOTES

0:00 | Introduction to Ruben Laukkonen, PhD

2:02 | Early Experience 

10:45 | How the Mind Makes Itself

22:18 | Predictive Processing & Agitation

25:30 | Why There's Always Something Wrong

31:28 | Chain of Causality in the Mind

36:00 | The Mind Rebuilding After Deepest Levels of Meditation

38:25 | Meditation for Reconditioning the Mind

52:06 | Doing Nothing Very Well

53:14 | Stages of Meditation & Predictive Processing

1:08:28 | Cessation & Awakening Research

1:17:12 | Jhanas - Stages of Deconstruction

1:24:22 | Rapid Fire Questions

LINKS

• https://rubenlaukkonen.com
• https://fitmind.com/give 

Delson Armstrong is a meditation teacher and author of A Mind Without Craving.

He trained for extended periods in the Himalayas and mastered several systems of yoga, including the ten levels of samadhi (meditative states of absorption). Delson has recently collaborated with leading neuroscience research labs interested in studying his brain.

On this episode, we discuss how to conquer a craving mind, cessation and its benefits, the unique way he experiences his inner world, and the studies being done on his brain.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

SHOW NOTES

0:00 | Intro to Delson Armstrong

1:30 | A Mind Without Craving

7:25 | Experience of “No Self”

15:40 | Awakened Mind = Supreme Happiness

20:40 | Daily Life After Awakening

26:03 | Meditation Brain Study

30:15 | Cessation - What Is It & Benefits

34:24 | Experiencing How the Mind Works

37:43 | Deconditioning a Wandering Mind

48:11 | Rapid Fire Questions

LINKS

Delson Armstrong Website: https://delsonarmstrong.info/

Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center: https://www.dhammasukha.org/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/delson

A Mind Without Craving via Suttavada Foundation: https://www.suttavada.foundation/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/a-mind-without-craving.pdf

Dr. Anna Abraham is a psychologist and neuroscientist who investigates creativity and how we can optimize this key trait. She’s also a leading scholar on the study of human imagination.

On this episode, we discuss the key ingredients of a creative mind, how to become more creative, and how the brain can tell the difference between real and imaginary worlds.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

SHOW NOTES

0:00 | Intro to Anna Abraham, PhD

1:44 | Imagination More Important Than Knowledge?

4:45 | Imagination Defined

7:53 | How We Experience Real vs. Imaginary Worlds

17:20 | Fiction Crossing Into Reality

21:35 | Overlap of Memory & Imagination

29:28 | Ingredients of a Creative Mind

42:08 | Ways to Build Creativity

48:35 | Predictors of Creativity

58:12 | Rapid Fire Questions

Nick Littlehales has been an elite sport recovery coach for nearly a quarter-century and is the bestselling author of Sleep: The Myth of 8 Hours, the Power of Naps... and the New Plan to Recharge Your Body and Mind.

On this episode, we uncover the common myths and misunderstandings about sleep. We also discuss the circadian rhythm, chronotypes, polyphasic sleep, and treating sleep as recovery.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

SHOW NOTES

0:00 | Intro to Nick Littlehales

1:42 | Sleep Tips

3:45 | Becoming a Sleep Coach

7:28 | How the Pros Optimize Sleep

9:38 | What to do Before You Sleep

19:36 | Understanding Circadian Rhythm

26:10 | Polyphasic Sleep: Importance of Naps

28:58 | 7 Key Sleep Recovery Indicators

37:27 | How to Improve Sleep

43:54 | Microrest

45:20 | Rapid Fire Questions

Donald Hoffman, PhD is a cognitive scientist and author of The Case Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes.

He is currently a professor at UC Irvine, where he studies consciousness, visual perception and evolutionary psychology.

On this episode, we “take the red pill” and hear Dr. Hoffman’s theory on why reality is not what it seems. He explains this complex topic by comparing reality to a user interface.

We discuss many topics, such as his mathematical theory of consciousness, questioning beliefs, and how the mind forms new mental models.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Show Notes

0:00 | Introduction to Donald Hoffman, PhD

2:23 | Why Reality Isn’t as It Seems

7:30 | Reality as a User Interface

13:51 | Adapting to Evolving Technology

16:06 | Creating New Mental Models

18:31 | Moving Beyond Spacetime

23:06 | Consciousness is Fundamental

25:26 | Ancient Wisdom & Science of Consciousness

30:00 | Conversation with the Dalai Lama (starting at 54:40)

30:15 | Reality Transcends Concepts

36:39 | Questioning Beliefs

38:56 | A New Worldview

45:04 | Mathematical Theory of Consciousness

45:39 | Rapid Fire Questions

Andrew Holecek is an author and meditation teacher with decades of intensive practice experience, including a 3-year silent retreat in the Tibetan tradition.

Andrew’s work combines ancient wisdom with modern science.

We discuss the insights gained from his lengthy silent retreat, the 2 vectors of enlightenment, how our minds construct our realities, and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

SHOW NOTES

0:00 | Intro to Andrew Holecek

4:55 | In the Presence of Meditation Masters 

10:10 | 3-Year Silent Retreat Experience

18:58 | Insights Gained from 3-Year Retreat

22:50 | Unsticking the Mind

30:06 | Enlightenment Defined 

38:58 | Waking Up & Growing Up 

44:23 | How Our Minds Construct Our Realities 

54:20 | Deconstructing Mental Constructs

62:23 | Rapid Fire Questions 

Miguel Nicolelis, MD, PhD is a Brazilian neuroscientist and physician famous for his pioneering work in the field of brain-machine interface (BMI) technology.

Dr. Nicolelis’s extensive research with brain-machine interfaces blurs the lines between real life and science fiction. 

In the episode, we discuss neuroprosthetics, monkeys controlling robots, brain-to-brain communication, and the key implications of these wild, futuristic technologies for us all.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

SHOW NOTES

0:00 | Intro to Dr. Miguel Nicolelis

4:20 | Monkeys Controlling Robots

10:30 | Mirror Neurons & Brain-Machine Interface (BMI)

13:02 | Advances & Applications of BMIs

17:50 | BMIs for Parkinson’s Disease

21:36 | Upgrading the Human Mind?

24:50 | Why Machines Will Never Think Like a Human

29:56 | Brains are Changed by Digital Systems

32:50 | Limitations of Computers

37:07 | How Nature Shaped the Brain

40:15 | We Only Experience a Sliver of Reality

49:45 | Viruses of the Mind

59:30 | Rapid Fire Questions

Edward Slingerland, PhD, is a Professor of Philosophy and Associate Member in the Asian Studies and Psychology Departments at the University of British Columbia. He's an expert on the cognitive science of ancient philosophies.

On this episode, we discuss the science of ancient concepts like Wu Wei (”effortless action”), hot vs cold cognition, ways to alter consciousness, the paradox of trying not to try, and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

SHOW NOTES

0:00 | Intro to Edward Slingerland, PhD

1:39 | Wu Wei & Flow State

9:34 | Hot vs. Cold Cognition

13:45 | How to Get into State of Wu Wei

17:35 | When to Not Use Wu Wei

19:30 | Paradox of Trying Not to Try

26:40 | Wu Wei in Daily Life

30:10 | Microdosing Psychedelics

32:28 | Alcohol and Ways to Alter Consciousness

38:06 | How Much Effort is Needed to Become Effortless?

40:00 | Rapid Fire Questions

Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde and Dr. Stephen Macknik are neuroscientists who specialize in the science of magic and illusion.

Both are professors of ophthalmology, neurology, and physiology & pharmacology at the Downstate Medical Center.

Together they pioneered the study of various aspects of magic such as perception, cognitive illusion, and attentional misdirection.

On this episode, we discuss how magic tricks fool the brain, why everyday life is an illusion, what neuroscientists and magicians can learn from each other and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Show Notes

0:00 | Intro to Stephen Macknik, PhD & Susana Martinez-Conde, PhD

8:00 | How Magic Hacks Our Minds

13:00 | What Neuroscientists Learn from Magicians

15:54 | What Magicians Learn from Neuroscientists

17:24 | Testing Attention Manipulation 

22:25 | Cognition & Calculation

25:36 | How Our Brains Construct Reality

28:27 | Vision Produces Our Changing Realities

29:53 | Microsaccades Explained

32:58 | Brain on Autopilot

35:50 | Expertise as an Unconscious Process

40:46 | Magic for Kids vs. Magic for Adults

43:43 | Is Magic Still Enjoyable When You Know the Tricks?

48:24 | Rapid Fire Questions

Dr. Elena Antonova is a neuroscientist and senior lecturer in psychology at Brunel University London.

Her research focuses on the effects of long-term mindfulness meditation practice in the hope of promoting mental wellbeing in the general population.

On this episode, we dive into the different approaches to meditation and the 4 levels of meditation practice development. 

We also discuss what goes on in the brains of elite meditators and what it takes for the average person to reap the benefits from a meditation practice. 

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Show Notes

0:00 | Introduction to Elena Antonova, PhD

4:28 | Categorizing Meditation Practices

7:15 | Why Breath Focus is Fundamental

10:19 | Constructivist vs. Innateist Approach to Meditation

12:08 | 4 Levels of Meditation Practice Development

17:12 | Mental Fitness Defined

20:19 | Brains of Mental Olympians

24:10 | Default Mode Network Differences

32:00 | Field of Awareness Described

35:45 | Habituation of the Attention System

46:45 | Eye Movement Paradigm Study

54:00 | Balancing Brain’s Predictive Nature with the Present Moment

57:10 | Measurable Changes with Just 10 Minutes a Day

59:14 | Rapid Fire Questions

Dr. Antonio Damasio is a neurologist, psychologist and best-selling author.

He's the Founder & Director of the Brain and Creativity Institute, which researches human emotions, memory, communication, and decision-making, and is regarded as one of the most influential psychologists of the modern era.

On this episode, we discuss the evolution of the mind, the surprising role of feelings in consciousness, and why we have a brain in the first place.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Show Notes

0:00 | Introduction to Antonio Damasio, MD, PhD

2:07 | Why Do We Have a Brain?

4:00 | Brain & Nervous System Are One

6:08 | Evolution of the Mind

10:28 | Minds are Representation Machines 

16:51 | Distinguishing Between Feeling & Emotions

19:04 | Feelings are the Beginning of Consciousness

22:38 | Nervous Systems Produce Feelings/Consciousness

29:30 | Understanding Feelings is of Utmost Importance

34:34 | How Feelings Impact Culture, Politics, Relationships, & Everything Really

39:37 | Building Conscious Machines with Vulnerability

43:30 | Rapid Fire Questions

Dr. Sidarta Ribeiro is an award-winning neuroscientist, author, and Founder of the Brain Institute at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, where he is also a professor of neuroscience.

In this episode, we discuss how dreams have influenced human evolution, the connection between sleep and learning, and how to cultivate a rich dream life.

He gives his top tips for how to get a better night’s sleep and stresses the importance of sharing our dreams with others.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Show Notes

0:00 | Introduction to Sidarta Ribeiro, PhD

3:09 | History of Sleep and Dreams

5:56 | Problem with Not Paying Attention to Dreams

7:27 | Purpose of Dreams

13:45 | How Sleep Made Humans a Dominate Species

22:17 | How to Cultivate a Dream Life

27:38 | Interpreting Meaning of Dreams

36:23 | Collective Dreams Have Changed During Covid

37:48 | Sleep Tips - How to Get a Better Night’s Sleep

41:43 | Are Naps Good?

42:55 | Connection Between Sleep, Memory and Learning

46:13 | Too Much Sleep?

49:51 | Rapid Fire Questions

Ramses Alcaide, PhD is an electrical engineer, neuroscientist, and CEO of Neurable, an innovative brain-computer interface company.

At Neurable, he is the inventor and primary developer of a brain-computer interface technology that is designed to turn human biometrics into actionable insights.

On this episode, we discuss his work at Neurable, how thoughts can be read by machines, and the benefits, ethical concerns, and future of brain-computer interface technology.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Show Notes

0:00 | Introduction to Ramses Alcaide, PhD

3:20 | What is a Brain-Computer Interface?

5:34 | How a Brain Interfaces with a Machine

9:48 | How Thoughts are Read by Machines

13:48 | Enten EEG Headphones - How They Work

23:18 | Addressing BCI Concerns and Ethics

26:30 | Future of BCIs

35:28 | Can People Become too Reliant on BCIs?

40:33 | Rapid Fire Questions

Dr. Amishi Jha is a neuroscientist and professor of psychology at the University of Miami. She's the Director and Co-Founder of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative.

Dr. Jha leads research on the neural basis of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion, resilience, and performance, working with the military, educators, elite athletes, and children.

We discuss the 3 main subsystems of attention, the evolutionary reason for mind wandering, and recommended practices to sharpen your attention.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

0:00 | Introduction to Amishi Jha, PhD

4:48 | The Attention Problem

6:30 | 3 Main Subsystems of Attention

11:06 | How Subsystems of Attention Work Together

13:20 | Meta Awareness and Meta Cognition

15:30 | Evolutionary Reason for Mind Wandering

18:58 | What Makes a Thought “Sticky”

24:18 | High Stress and Attention

31:33 | Can You Undo Benefits of Mindfulness?

36:28 | Different Definitions of Mindfulness

40:18 | Recommended Practices to Train Attention

43:58 | Rapid Fire Questions

Apkar V. Apkarian, PhD is a professor of physiology, anesthesiology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

He has been studying pain for more than two decades and is a pioneer in the use of fMRI to study the neurochemistry of the brain. Dr. Apkarian's research has increasingly focused on chronic pain, including the strategic use of placebo treatment.

In this episode, we discuss the placebo effect, how pain works in the brain, and susceptibility to chronic pain and placebo response.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Dr. James Cooke is a neuroscientist, writer and speaker, focused on consciousness, meditation, psychedelic states, and science.

He studied Experimental Psychology and completed his PhD in Neuroscience at Oxford University.

He holds research positions at University College London and Trinity College Dublin where he investigates how the brain creates our experience of the world.

In this episode, we dive into the concept of nonduality, why our brains construct an ego, the nature of consciousness, psychedelic states and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Shauna Shapiro, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and an expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. She has spent two decades studying the benefits of mindfulness and compassion. Her TEDx Talk on this topic has been viewed over 2 million times.

Dr. Shapiro is a professor of psychology at Santa Clara University. She graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, and received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona. She's published over 150 journal articles and 3 books. Her most recent book is Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity, and Joy.

We dive into the science supporting self-compassion, the exciting overlap between modern neuroscience and ancient wisdom, where the mindfulness movement might be headed, and much more.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Elliot Roe is a leading expert in mindset optimization for high performers.

In just the last 3 years his poker clients have won over $150,000,000 and nearly every major tournament title, including the World Series of Poker Main Event. His clientele also includes Olympic medalists, UFC Champions, Hollywood actors, business executives, and Wall Street traders.

He also Co-Founded the mobile mindset app Primed Mind and hosts the A-Game Advantage Podcast. Elliot holds a graduate degree in Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy.

We discuss his work with the world's top poker players and other mental peak performers, the psychology of hypnotherapy, and his advice for forming your own optimal mindset.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Dr. Massimo Pigliucci is Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York, former co-host of the Rationally Speaking Podcast, and one of the most influential modern Stoics.

He's published several books including How to Be a Stoic, Nonsense on Stilts, and A Field Guide to a Happy Life. Professor Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology and also a PhD in Philosophy.

We go in-depth on Stoicism, what it is, and how to apply it in everyday life.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com

Sharon Salzberg is a world-famous meditation teacher and NY Times bestselling author.

She's largely responsible for popularizing mindfulness in the West.

Sharon co-founded the Insight Meditation Society with Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein and has been leading meditation retreats around the world for over three decades.

Her books include Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, A Heart as Wide as the World, Real Happiness - The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program; Real Happiness at Work, and Real Change.

We discuss her training with legendary teachers in Asia, the most sublime states of mind and how to achieve them, handling the "inner critic," the psychology of real love, and how this differs from conditional love.

FitMind Neuroscience-Based App: http://bit.ly/afitmind
Website: www.fitmind.com