Ep 76 — Rupert Sheldrake — The Mind Beyond the Brain

What if the universe is not indifferent to us, but alive with meaning; and what changes psychologically when we begin to experience ourselves as participating in it?In this episode of LOVELINK, guest host Chloé Bringmann speaks with philosopher and cultural historian Richard Tarnas, author of The Passion of the Western Mind and Cosmos and Psyche. Tarnas reflects on his formative decade at Esalen, the teachers and community that shaped him, and what he learned about trusting the psyche’s capacity for transformation.Together, Tarnas and Bringmann examine the modern worldview’s separation of inner meaning from an apparently impersonal universe—and the loneliness and disorientation that can follow. Tarnas describes hope not simply as optimism, but as a capacity that can participate in shaping the future.Drawing on Plato, Jung, myth, and synchronicity, he introduces archetypes as living, multivalent patterns that move through psyche, culture, and nature. The conversation closes with archetypal astrology, the cultivation of an “archetypal eye,” and the enduring mystery of a cosmos that may be coming to know itself through us—inviting listeners to question the worldview they have inherited and meet the patterns moving through their own lives with greater freedom, hope, and conscious participation.Resources for this episode:Richard Tarnas — official websiteAn Introduction to Archetypal Astrology — Richard TarnasCosmos and PsycheThe Passion of the Western MindArchai: The Journal of Archetypal CosmologyLiz Greene — Centre for Psychological AstrologyLOVELINK is hosted by the therapists at Modern Mind. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected]. 

What if memory exists not only in our brains, but throughout nature, and our minds reach farther than we think? Biologist Rupert Sheldrake joins Chloé Bringmann to explore morphic resonance, his provocative hypothesis that nature carries memory and patterns strengthen through repetition. They discuss the extended mind, animal telepathy, inherited family patterns, the limitations of AI, and Sheldrake’s journey toward a more integrated understanding of science and spirituality. Ultimately, the conversation asks what becomes possible when we remain discerning while opening ourselves to a world that may be more interconnected, relational, and alive than we have been taught.Explore Rupert’s work:Try EyeSense to test your sensitivity to being stared at.Watch Rupert’s filmed experiments, including Jaytee, the dog who appeared to anticipate his owner’s return.Take part in Rupert’s current research, including his study of cats.LOVELINK is hosted by the therapists at Modern Mind. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected].

In this episode, we sit down with Melinda B. Gould, principal of Untied, a community and resource network for women before, during, and after divorce. Melinda is also a divorce consultant who guides clients through every stage of the process. She opens up about her own 15-year marriage and the three-year custody battle that followed, the terror and self-destructive behavior she moved through along the way, and how she rebuilt her sense of self-worth in the years since. We talk candidly about the shame so many women carry around misplaced trust, and about the non-linear arc of healing. Melinda makes the case that community, not sheer willpower, is what ultimately gets people through, leaving us with a hopeful reminder: shame loses its power the moment it's spoken aloud.LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected].

In this episode, we sit down with clinician and researcher Brooke Stott, who is working at the intersection of trauma, identity, and psychedelic-assisted therapy to explore both the personal and professional dimensions of psychedelics. Brooke explores her own lived experience with psychedelics and reflects on how these experiences have shaped her sense of self and work. We discuss the current landscape of psychedelic research, with a particular focus on emerging work with trans and gender-expansive communities. The conversation highlights both the promise of these treatments, especially in addressing trauma, shame, and disconnection, as well as the importance of culturally competent, affirming care within this space.We also explore what it actually means to “integrate” psychedelic experiences into everyday life. Rather than viewing psychedelics as a quick fix, our guest emphasizes the ongoing, often nuanced process of making meaning, building insight, and creating sustainable change. Publication: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1727487/fullColumbia Program: https://pttp.socialwork.columbia.edu/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-stott/Brooke’s practice: https://www.sixswordswellness.com/LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected]. 

In this episode, Modern Mind therapist Tess Hochberger talks with fellow therapist Yaron Schwartzman about divorce, conscious uncoupling, and co-parenting through a thoughtful, humane lens. Drawing on both professional and personal experience, they explore why divorce is often seen as failure, how conflict can escalate, and what it looks like to slow things down and lead with care, especially for the sake of children. This episode is for anyone navigating separation, co-parenting, or supporting families through uncoupling, and offers a grounded reminder that while relationships may end, responsibility, care, and connection don’t have to.LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected]. 

In this episode, our newest Modern Mind therapist, Niké Dixon, sits down with Modern Mind therapist Lydia Duquette to take over the LOVELINK podcast to explore the question: “What shapes how we show up in love and relationships?”Niké has a strong interest in how people relate to one another and how social and cultural influences quietly shape the ways we think, feel, and connect.Her therapeutic approach integrates psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, narrative, and other evidence-based modalities, creating space to explore the deeper roots of one’s experiences while building practical strategies that foster growth, resilience, and meaningful change in themselves and their relationships.Tune in as Niké and Lydia explore how early influences, inherited narratives, and subtle “blueprints” shape how we connect, navigate conflict, and experience closeness—inviting listeners to reflect on their own relational patterns with curiosity and compassion, and to imagine what’s possible when we begin questioning the stories we’ve inherited about relationships.LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected].

Fred Wistow has spent a lifetime listening, guiding, and helping people see themselves more clearly. Writers, artists, and executives have turned to him again and again for his rare blend of honesty, humor, and care. In this reflective conversation, he shares what he’s learned about listening deeply, showing up for others, and the simple power of human connection.LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected].

In this moving conversation, we speak with Alisha, a therapist and Korean adoptee, about her lifelong search for identity and home. She shares the story of being adopted from Korea as an infant, growing up in a small Midwestern town, reuniting with her birth mother in her thirties, and navigating motherhood herself. We explore the myths of adoption, the grief that lives in the body, and what it means to come into community and consciousness as an adult adoptee.You can learn more about Alisha Bennett here. We also recommend this Frontline documentary, “South Korea’s Adoption Reckoning.” LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected]. 

Jean Kilbourne joins us to discuss the damaging messages media and advertising send about women’s bodies, the impact of social media, and how older women are rendered invisible in our culture. She reflects on decades of advocacy, shares what’s changed and what hasn’t, and offers hope for a future where women are valued for more than their appearance. For more information about Jean Kilbourne and her work, please visit her website  and the National Women’s Hall of Fame.LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected]. 

Guest host Lydia Duquette welcomes Modern Mind therapist Chloé Bringmann for a lively Lovelink episode on how weaving friendship into daily life revives play, desire, and genuine connection in long-term relationships. Grounded in research, clinical insight, and pop culture references, they reveal why a diversified intimacy portfolio is the secret rhythm section of lasting romance.LOVELINK is hosted by Brooklyn-based therapists Dr. Signe Simon and Dr. Simone Humphrey. If you’d like to contact us directly, send us an email to [email protected].