Fathom the Mind Podcast
On Fathom the Mind, we explore what cutting-edge science and rigorous contemplative practice can tell us about the nature of consciousness.
In this exploration, we hope to empower our listeners to live lives of both intellectual integrity and contemplative depth.
Why this podcast?
Why now?
Since the sixteenth century, humans have used science to make incredible discoveries about the physical universe. Despite the depth to which they have investigated matter and the physical world, modern scientists’ questions about the nature of consciousness remain unsolved. We still don’t know how physical matter relates to conscious experience, and given the intense debate among modern scientific theorists, there seems to be little hope for consensus on the matter anytime soon.
And yet, consciousness and subjective experience are central to every human life. Without them, scientists could not even begin their pursuit of empirical inquiry. Despite how they might sound, these questions about consciousness are relevant for all of us—not just elite researchers.
As everyday people, our understanding of consciousness has real implications for what we believe our minds are capable of—not to mention what we think it means to be human.
On Fathom the Mind, we interview experts in the fields of both modern science and contemplative practice in order to explore the nature of consciousness.
Interweaving expert knowledge and the personal experiences of guests, we facilitate well-rounded conversations about the nature of consciousness, all while upholding the rigor that true scientific inquiry demands. Through this exploration, we hope to demystify and advance the conversation around consciousness in the modern world. Every so often, we’ll also discuss mind-training tools that not only support our ability to think clearly and scientifically, but also help us cultivate a deep sense of well-being.
In so doing, we hope to empower our listeners to live lives of both intellectual integrity and contemplative depth.
Our latest episode
Professor Emeritus Piet Hut is renowned in the field of astrophysics, and recently retired as head of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton, New Jersey. But as you’ll find out, Piet’s interests reach far beyond the big bang and computer models of the universe.
Piet recounts tinkering with motorcycles and conducting somewhat dangerous chemical experiments at his childhood farm. But by his late teens, he was also studying yogic texts and making weeklong retreats in Trappist monasteries.
In this conversation, Piet shares his lifelong interest in studying the nature of consciousness—drawing from not only current scientific approaches but also global contemplative theory and practice.
Episode archive:
Find all of our episodes below. More episodes will be added soon.
At the heart of many contemplative traditions, astrophysicist Piet recognized echoes of the scientific method: the process of formulating hypotheses and testing them with replicable experiments.