Why the World Isn’t What It Seems – Professor Donald Hoffman on Consciousness and Reality

In 2015, I drank Ayahuasca abroad. It was a deeply transformational moment — but also an intense, terrifying one. Ayahuasca isn’t something to take lightly. It demands real care and respect. In this episode, I speak with Dr Jeff McNairy, Chief Medical Officer at Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica — the world’s only medically licensed Ayahuasca retreat. Dr Jeff bridges the world of clinical medicine with deep experience of plant medicine, having worked with thousands of people seeking healing where conventional approaches have fallen short. We talk about: What actually happens during an Ayahuasca ceremony Why emotional purging can be so powerful The neuroscience of trauma, release and neuroplasticity Why integration afterwards is absolutely essential How the Western medical model often misses the root causes of suffering And the kind of healing that becomes possible when we stop bypassing what we feel I also share some of my own journey with the medicine — how it cracked me open and ultimately shaped the work I now do around inner alignment. This is a grounded conversation about plant medicine — not as a miracle cure, but as a serious path for those ready to face themselves honestly. ––– 🎧 Resources & Links: Learn more about Rythmia: https://rythmia.com Dr Jeff McNairy: https://drjeffmcnairy.com 1:1 coaching: Book a free consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/find-your-flow-intro-chat And my free online course on moving from burnout to flow is here: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-mini-course My other links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don Hoffman is a cognitive scientist and author of The Case Against Reality. His central idea is bold: what we see isn’t reality — it’s a user interface. Evolution shaped us to survive, not to see the truth. If the world isn’t as it seems, what does that say about chasing status, possessions, or approval? What actually matters when what we perceive isn't what it appears to be? I offer a free 1:1 session so you can experience this work for yourself: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/find-your-flow-intro-chat And my free online course on moving from burnout to flow is here: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-mini-course My other links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people are stuck in their heads - overthinking, trying to do everything perfectly, beating themselves up - and then wondering why they’re exhausted. This solo episode is about what I call the art of inner alignment — the shift from overthinking to calm, grounded knowing. You’ll hear: Why burnout isn’t just too much work — it’s inner misalignment How the thinking mind constantly creates stories (that we mistake for truth) How to reconnect with your intuitive knowing — and why it's important Plus a few personal stories, including one from my 103-year-old gran (who still lives on her own), and a cracking split-brain experiment that shows how unreliable our thoughts really are. If this resonates, I offer a free 1:1 session so you can experience this work for yourself: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/find-your-flow-intro-chat And my free online course on moving from burnout to flow is here: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-mini-course My other links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I speak with Brian Cunningham, a leadership expert with over 45 years of experience exploring consciousness, human potential, and what it really means to lead. We unpack Brian’s idea of the Awareness Quotient—a practical framework for understanding how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us. This is a conversation about leadership as a developmental journey—not a fixed set of skills, but a process of growing through different stages of awareness. We explore how connecting head and heart, being clear on intent, and staying present can transform how we show up—in our work, our relationships, and our lives. Brian's website: https://awarenessquotientleadership.com/ 👉 To go deeper, check out my free mini-course on burnout and flow at ⁠⁠simonmundie.com⁠ My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this bitesize episode, I speak to neuroscientist and Waking Up app creator Sam Harris about the real purpose of meditation — not just calming the mind, but seeing through the illusion that we are the mind. We talk about why people struggle with their thoughts, how we get tangled in them, and what it means to see thoughts for what they really are — fleeting appearances in awareness. As I often say: you are not your thoughts — you’re aware of them. This shift changes everything. Full episode with Sam Harris: https://pod.fo/e/16ff62 Other relevant episodes: Rupert Spira: https://pod.fo/e/16ff5c Awe - with Dacher Keltner: https://pod.fo/e/1803a7 My links: YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/ Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ ** Work with me 1:1 for personalised mentoring grounded in non-dual understanding, designed to reduce psychological suffering and guide you toward A New Way of Being. Visit simonmundie.com to learn more and take the first step. "Following our session I felt as though there had been a profound shift. The days that followed were some of the best days I have had in many years as there was much more space between me any my thoughts." - Henry “Each session with Simon has been enjoyable and enlightening in equal measure. After each chat I really feel like my ‘cup has been filled" - Jack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You Are Not Your Thoughts: A Conversation with Wyn Morgan - coach and speaker of the Three Principles Drawing from Wyn’s personal journey through chronic depression and insomnia, this episode dives into the nature of thought, consciousness, and emotional well-being. Wyn shares how he went from feeling like a “tortured soul” to discovering a profound sense of peace and freedom — not by changing his circumstances, but by seeing through the illusions of the mind. Together, we explore: Why our thoughts are not who we are How emotions are created — and why they're temporary The suffering that comes from resisting our feelings The innate wisdom and peace that emerge when we understand the nature of thought The miracle of simply being a conscious human Your thoughts are not permanent truths — they’re temporary experiences. All feelings pass, no matter how intense they seem. You don’t need external validation or circumstances to feel whole. Resistance to feelings creates suffering — non-resistance dissolves it. The mind is a storyteller, but you don’t have to believe every story\ Check out Wyn's work: https://www.wynning.co.uk/who-we-are 👉 To go deeper, check out my free mini-course on burnout and flow at ⁠simonmundie.com My links: Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rest is not a luxury — it's a biological and emotional necessity. But modern life has normalised exhaustion, which is why so many of us feel guilty when we slow down, and how chronic stress patterns keep us stuck in survival mode without even realising it. We also talk about: The link between rest, resilience and recovery Why true healing requires time, patience, and space How to reconnect with the body’s natural signals Practical ways to bring more convalescence and self-compassion into daily life If you would like to explore more you can sign up for my free mini-course on embracing balance and finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-mini-course Or get in touch about 1:1 conversations: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-coaching Other links: YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I sit down with Rupert Spira and Don Hoffman — two people at the leading edge of exploring consciousness and reality — to unpack some of the biggest questions we can ask. We talk about why space-time might not be fundamental, whether matter is even “real,” and how consciousness could be the ground of everything. This conversation explores where science, philosophy and spirituality meet — and asks whether modern physics is finally catching up with what the great contemplative traditions have pointed to all along. Highlights include: Why space and time might be illusions The limits of trying to explain consciousness through the brain What maths might reveal about the nature of reality Whether our senses are showing us the world as it really is — or not at all Guests: Rupert Spira – Philosopher and spiritual teacher Don Hoffman – Cognitive scientist and author of The Case Against Reality This one goes deep — but it’s well worth the ride. If you would like to explore more you can sign up for my free mini-course on embracing balance and finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-mini-course Or get in touch about 1:1 conversations: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-coaching YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re someone who struggles to charge what you’re worth — this one’s for you. In this clip from our conversation, Dr John DeMartini shares powerful stories and strategies for shifting your mindset around pricing, delegation, and self-worth. He explains how your income often reflects how much you truly value yourself — and what to do if you know you’re undercharging. We also discuss: Why burnout isn’t always caused by the work itself The real reason people hesitate to delegate How to build confidence in your value Why the world mirrors your internal sense of worth If you would like to explore more you can sign up for my free mini-course on finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-mini-course Or get in touch about 1:1 explorations: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-coaching Other links: YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his superb book No Self, No Problem: How Neuropsychology is catching up to Buddhism Chris Niebauer explains how the left side of the brain — brilliant at language and problem-solving — also creates constant mental chatter. It labels, judges, compares, and spins stories, including the biggest story of all — the idea of a solid identity or self-concept. But this overthinking isn’t who we are — it’s just a habit of the left brain doing what it does. In this conversation, Chris shares how recognising this can free us from getting caught in endless thought loops, helping us drop back into the present moment where clarity, ease, and creativity naturally arise. Key Insights: The left brain is responsible for language, categorization, and creating a narrative of who we are Our thinking mind is not our true self, but a survival mechanism that generates constant stories Suffering often leads people to spiritual exploration and understanding consciousness The right brain represents intuition, playfulness, and immediate experience Consciousness is fundamental, not an emergent property of the brain Meditation and self-inquiry can help us recognize the space between thoughts Themes Explored: The illusion of self Limitations of psychology and materialism Flow states and intuition The role of suffering in personal growth Potential of AI and consciousness If you would like to explore more you can sign up for my free mini-course on finding flow: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-mini-course Or get in touch about 1:1 explorations: https://www.simonmundie.com/restore-balance-coaching Other links: YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundie Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/book Website: simonmundie.com Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices