In this episode of “Into The Magic Shop,” Ken Wilber, a renowned philosopher and integral theorist, discusses his early experiences with mystical unity consciousness, the development of his integral theory, and the stages of human development. Wilber explains the integral metamodel, which includes "growing up, waking up, opening up, cleaning up, and showing up." He also delves into the integration of the shadow self, the relationship between mind and body, and the impact of psychedelics and...

In this episode of the "Into the Magic Shop" podcast, Dr. Jim Doty converses with Marianne Williamson, a renowned author and spiritual leader, about her new book, "The Mystic Jesus: The Mind of Love," and her experiences with "A Course in Miracles." They explore the historical context and impact of "A Course in Miracles" on spirituality and psychology, discussing themes like love versus fear, enlightenment, and inner peace. Williamson emphasizes the importance of spiritual practices,...

In this episode of the "Into the Magic Shop" podcast, host Dr. Jim Doty converses with Dr. Tony Nader, a physician, neuroscientist, and leader of the Transcendental Meditation movement. Dr. Nader, who holds a PhD from MIT, discusses his new book, "Consciousness Is All There Is," exploring the nature of consciousness, meditation, and the mind-body relationship. The dialogue delves into philosophical and scientific perspectives on consciousness, the impact of meditation on well-being, and the...

In this episode of the "Into the Magic Shop,” Dr. James Doty sits down with guest Dr. Noémie Le Pertel, an expert in human flourishing and well-being. Le Pertel is the founding chair for the Economics of Wellbeing and Global Human Flourishing at Harvard University’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science. Dr. Doty and Le Pertel explore the intricate relationship between well-being, the workplace, and economies. Le Pertel shares her diverse background in neuroscience, clinical research, and...

In this episode of the "Into the Magic Shop", Dr. Jim Doty interviews data scientist, CEO and Co-Founder of Wild.AI. Pabis and Doty talk about her ground-breaking work which examines how female physiology works across the four life stages of the menstrual cycle, birth control, perimenopause and menopause to understand what the female body needs and when. Pabis then turns that research into algorithms, and then into an app that turns data into female data. Helene shares her diverse background...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty hosts Reverend Michael Beckwith, discussing Beckwith's journey from civil rights activism and drug dealing to his spiritual awakening. Beckwith shares how this awakening led him to co-found the Agape International Spiritual Center, focusing on unconditional love and compassion. They delve into the limitations of a materialistic mindset and the importance of inner work and service to others. Doty and Beckwith discuss the transformative...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty and Dr. Kyra Bobinet, physician, behavior change expert, and CEO of Fresh Tri, a technology company rooted in brain science, discuss her work on behavior change and her book "Unstoppable Brain." They discuss the brains’ habenula and its role in motivation and emotions and how understanding how our brain responds to failure can revolutionize the way we approach our goals. Dr. Bobinet champions the iterative mindset, which is crucial for...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," host Dr. Jim Doty and cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Fisher discuss Fisher's book "Just One Heart" and the challenges physicians face in healthcare. They explore the heart's four dimensions—physical, emotional, social, and spiritual—and the importance of compassion in medicine. Fisher shares his personal struggles with mental health and the impact of his sister's encouragement on his practice of self-compassion. The conversation also covers physician...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty converses with Dr. Jana Borg about her new book, “Moral AI: And How We Get There,” and the integration of neuroscience and artificial intelligence in understanding and guiding moral decision-making. They explore the concept of a "moral GPS," the potential of training AI to provide moral guidance and feedback based on personal beliefs and values. Dr. Borg also discusses social synchrony and its potential impact on resilience and social...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty converses with Chade-Meng Tan, author, philanthropist, motivator, and former Google software engineer. He and Dr. Doty discuss his transition from a child programming prodigy in Singapore to a Google engineer and mindfulness advocate. Meng retired from Google as its "Jolly Good Fellow" at the age of 45. Meng shares his struggle with depression, how meditation offered him solace, and the development of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty hosts Shauna Shapiro, a clinical psychologist and author, to discuss mindfulness, compassion, and mental resilience. They delve into the prevalence of anxiety, stress, depression, and loneliness, and how mindfulness can be a tool to combat these issues. The conversation also covers the commercialization of mindfulness, the significance of self-compassion, and the potential of psychedelics like ketamine in mental health treatment,...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty and Jennifer Nadel, award-winning journalist and leader of the UK think tank, Compassion In Politics, delve into the impact of upbringing and personal history on individual behavior and societal engagement. Jennifer discusses her father's past as a child refugee and the epigenetic effects of trauma. They explore the limitations of the legal system, media’s role in shaping divisive narratives, and the influence of fear and tribal instincts...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty hosts behavior scientist, author, Stanford professor and founder and director of the Stanford Behavior Design Lab, BJ Fogg, to explore the nuances of behavior change and habit formation. With a background influenced by his Mormon upbringing and missionary work, Fogg distinguishes between persuasion and habit change, emphasizing the importance of ease and alignment with personal motivations. They discuss overcoming barriers to change, such...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty hosts Professor Paul Gilbert, a pioneer in Compassion Focussed Therapy. Gilbert shares his personal journey from a carefree childhood in Gambia, to his youth in the often harsh British school system, to his development of compassion-focused therapy. They discuss the impact of Gilbert's father's PTSD from WWII and his own experiences with depression and anxiety. The conversation covers the importance of human connections, the physiological...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty hosts psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and Zen priest, Dr. Robert Waldinger who directs the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies of adult life ever conducted. Dr. Doty and Waldinger discuss the brain, happiness, and human thriving and explore the Study of Adult Development's findings on the importance of relationships and health for a fulfilling life. Their conversation covers societal issues such as income...

In this episode of the "Into the Magic Shop,” Dr. Jim Doty reconnects with actress, playwright and professor, Anna Deavere Smith, to discuss her personal journey, from her education in a segregated Baltimore to her initial aspirations of becoming a psychiatrist to her work as a playwright and actress. They discuss her plays "Notes from the Field" which sheds light on the school-to-prison pipeline as well as “The Ghost of Slavery," which stemmed from her discovery that her home state of...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," host Dr. James Doty talks with Charlie Engle, writer, runner, recovering addict and speaker about overcoming addiction and finding self-awareness. Engle shares his journey from childhood experiences with alcohol to his struggles with substance abuse, his prison experience, and his eventual recovery. They discuss the role of childhood trauma, the importance of self-compassion, and the transformative power of running in Engle's life. Engle also touches...

In this podcast episode, Dr. James Doty converses with Luis Gallardo, founder of The World Happiness Foundation (www.world happiness.foundation), Author of Happytalism and The Exponentials of Happiness (https://www.teohlab.com/happytalismo), and Director of the Gross Global Happiness program at the United Nations University for Peace. Dr. Doty and Gallardo explore the internal drivers of happiness, the power of forgiveness and compassion, and the integration of wisdom traditions and...

In this podcast episode, Dr. Jim Doty hosts Tiffany Shlain, artist, activist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, national bestselling author, and the founder of the Webby Awards. Tiffany’s art spans sculptures, films, to performance. Her themes explore the intersection of feminism, philosophy, technology, neuroscience, and nature. In this episode, she and Dr. Doty discuss the intricacies of adolescence, her film, “The Adolescent Brain,” which debuts March of 2024, the influence of social media, and...

Emma Seppälä: In this episode of the "Into the Magic Shop" podcast, host Dr. Jim Doty interviews Emma Seppälä, science director at Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, about her new book "Sovereign." They discuss the concept of sovereignty in relation to personal fulfillment and empowerment, addressing issues such as burnout and unhappiness among high achievers, and the importance of self-care, positive self-talk, and positive relationships. Seppälä...

In this episode of the "Into the Magic Shop" podcast, host Dr. Jim Doty and Dr. Dean Ornish discuss the intersection of spirituality and physical health. Dr. Ornish is president and founder of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, as well as clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Ornish shares his personal journey, emphasizing the importance of inner peace, meditation, and a plant-based diet. They discuss his...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop" podcast, host Dr. Jim Doty interviews Lisa Kristine, a humanitarian photographer and activist against human sex trafficking and slavery. They discuss their shared travels, Lisa's early life and career, and her work documenting the atrocities of human trafficking in various locations, including Ghana and India. Lisa talks about her first experience witnessing slavery in the brick kilns in India. She also emphasizes that trafficking also exists in the...

In this episode of "Into the Magic Shop," Dr. Jim Doty hosts a conversation with esteemed behavioral scientist and Stanford professor of biology and neurology, Robert Sapolsky. They discuss Sapolsky's work in primatology, his experiences in the field and his views on free will, most recently explored in great length in his latest book, “Determined: A Science of Life without Free Will.” Sapolsky shares his skepticism towards the concept of free will, arguing that our actions are influenced by...

In this episode of “Into the Magic Shop,” host Dr. Jim Doty interviews Dr. Dan Siegel, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA and executive director of the Mindsight Institute. They discuss various topics including the concept of self, the developing brain, attachment theory, and trauma. Dr. Siegel also introduces his upcoming book, “IntraConnected: MWe (Me + We) as the Integration of Self, Identity, and Belonging,” which combines personal reflections with scientific discussions of how the mind,...