The Case Against Reality / Dr. Don Hoffman

As we conclude our Metahuman miniseries, we hear from Dr. Don Hoffman, writer and professor of Cognitive Sciences at the University of California, Irvine, as he shares his latest book The Case of Against Reality: Why Evolution Hid the Truth from Our Eyes and asks us to challenge what we call reality.This conversation took place at The Rubin Museum of Art and was recorded in front of a live audience. 

Continuing onward through our Metahuman miniseries, we move forward with our second episode.When working to understand success and what a successful life might mean, we hear from host, viral content creator, and former monk, Jay Shetty. Just as wisdom traditions of all time have said, Jay Shetty challenges us to remember that success starts not from the outside, but from deep within. 

As we begin work on a second season of Infinite Potential, we bring you a few special episodes.In this first episode of our three part Metahuman miniseries, we explore the heart-soul connection and gain valuable insight from health expert, Dr. Oz, who has dedicated his life's work to cardiology, both as an innovative heart surgeon at New York Presbyterian Columbia Medical Center and as a promoter of wellness to millions on television. With a focus on the six pillars of wellbeing, Dr. Oz helps us understand how we can be the best stewards of our wellness. 

In our final episode of Season 1, we come back to the most fundamental questions: who are we and what are we capable of.  My guest today, Dr. Jean Houston, sees us as heroes in our own mythic journeys, here to realize our great calling.  Jean Houston has worked with Joseph Campbell, Margaret Mead and even Hilary Clinton, and she now joins us to explore our roles in this time of profound shift.  Today, we tap into our full human potential.  And it truly is, infinite. 

We humans remember things on a uniquely grand scale.  From the pyramids to the Washington Monument, we build memorials so we won't forget our past.  Today, I try to understand why with Michael Arad, the visionary architect behind the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero, in New York City.  When an act of terrorism changed the world forever, how could we do justice to physical and emotional destruction that occurred?  Michael answered that question the only way he knew: by creating a memory space.  Join me for this powerful conversation about history, truth, healing and how the spaces we live in and pass through can change our story, both personal and global. 

Is there more evidence for God or for aliens?  Can true reality be described by science or will it always remain a mystery?  Are there limits to our imagination?  These are some of the questions I debate with Leonard Mlodinow .  Not only has he co-authored books with Stephen Hawking, he's also written for Star Trek, which make his perspectives among the most unique I've encountered.  But we don't always agree.  And over the years that has turned us into close friends, as well as collaborators.  As a man with many layers, our journey today is sure to expand your mind, as it has mine. 

Sex is powerful, and no one knows that better than "sexpert", writer, podcast host and relationship extraordinaire, Dan Savage. In his decades of experience, Dan's seen a lot, and he's paving a unique and profound new path redefining what it means to love and to be in a relationship, or rather, to be in many relationships. Is the human species meant to love one person? Or is love provisional like our identity? Join me as we paint new colors on a very old practice.

Who are you? If you've ever stopped to ask yourself this question, a myriad of adjectives have likely swirled around your...brain.  But, is that really you?  My guest today, psychiatrist and author Rebecca Gladding, MD,  says, not necessarily. In fact, you may be working from a set of deceptive and tenacious, maybe even false, narratives in your brain.  So join me to investigate how our identity is shaped and by whom —or what. And most importantly, how to reimagine the very idea of who you think you are.  

In Part Two of our series on Artificial Intelligence, we unravel the inner workings of the internet brain, ever-growing in size...and in power.  How do we relate to the systems being built around us?  What is ethical AI? And how can our data shape and alter our reality? Join me as we peer into the future, that is also our present, with Christopher Wylie, the green-haired, nose-ringed whistle-blower on Cambridge Analytica, as well as quite the philosopher of tech. Chris sounds the alarm...and together we look for signs of how to be humanly conscious in the age of machines.  

Welcome to Daily Breath, where we pause the hectic world around us, refocus ourselves and expand our minds. I invite you to join me for a few short minutes each day to explore impactful ideas and themes that directly relate to all of our lives. Together we will delve into topics such as happiness, gratitude, love, sex, the true self, physical well-being, death and more. This is a space to build mindfulness into your daily routine and to end your week peacefully with a complete 10-minute meditation every Friday.Join us and BREATHE…​