Karen O'Brien – Why We Matter

Karen O'Brien – Why We Matter

Author: Mind & Life Institute June 19, 2025 Duration: 50:35
In this episode, Wendy speaks with professor, writer, and thought leader Karen O’Brien. Karen is an expert on the human and social dimensions of climate change, and her work helps us understand the role of the mind and worldview in how we create and respond to environmental change, and global change more broadly. This conversation covers many topics, including: her path into environmental studies and understanding how humans respond to climate change; consequences of a reductionist worldview; understanding quantum social change; entanglement, and relationships as a fundamental aspect of our world; the importance of ethics and values in a system; our power as individuals to change systems; exploring causality and challenging the 'single cause'; why the way we show up matters; how contemplative practice can help us embody transformative change; envisioning a new paradigm; Indigenous wisdom and interconnected views of nature; emotional difficulties in deeply accepting an interconnected reality; acknowledging and working with eco-grief and eco-anxiety; living with uncertainty; challenges in measuring transformative change; art as a lens to understanding; and the many possibilities for scaling change into societies. Full show notes and resources

At the heart of Mind & Life is a simple, profound question: what is a mind, really? This isn't just a philosophical puzzle but a practical exploration of the mental habits that define our days. The conversations hosted by the Mind & Life Institute gently dismantle the walls between disciplines, weaving together insights from neuroscience and psychology with the lived wisdom of contemplative traditions. You’ll hear dialogues that feel less like interviews and more like shared discoveries, where a philosopher and a meditation teacher might find common ground on how attention works, or where a scientist discusses the social impact of compassion training. Each episode is an invitation to look inward with curiosity, examining how practices like meditation aren't about escape but about engaging with our inner world more skillfully. This podcast operates from the conviction that understanding our own minds is foundational to addressing broader cultural and societal challenges. It’s for anyone who has ever wondered about the mechanics of their own thoughts and emotions and sought a deeper, evidence-informed conversation about transformation. Tune in for a thoughtful blend of rigorous inquiry and personal relevance, where ancient questions meet modern investigation.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 90

Mind & Life
Podcast Episodes
Willoughby Britton - When Meditation Causes Harm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:46
In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist and meditation researcher, Willoughby Britton. Willoughby is a pioneer in contemplative research and one of the only people dedicated to understanding the possible…
Nicholas Van Dam - Nuancing the Narrative [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
In this episode, Wendy speaks with meditation researcher and clinical psychologist, Nicholas Van Dam. Nicholas is the Director of the Contemplative Studies Centre at the University of Melbourne—the first such center in A…
Rhonda Magee - Mindfulness, Interconnection, and Justice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:57
In this episode, Wendy speaks with law professor, author, and meditation teacher, Rhonda Magee. Rhonda's work has focused on bringing contemplative approaches into the practice of law, and the fight for social justice. T…
Jon Kabat-Zinn - The Heart of Mindfulness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42:31
We're back with Season 3 of the show, starting with renowned meditation teacher, author, and creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Jon Kabat-Zinn. This spacious and personal conversation is full of insigh…
Vandana Shiva - Earth Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:17
In this bonus episode, we're sharing a special presentation from environmentalist, physicist, and eco-feminist Vandana Shiva. This session is from our Summer Research Institute, held in June of this year, entitled The Mi…
David Sloan Wilson - Conscious Evolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:48
In this bonus episode, Wendy speaks with evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson. This episode is being released in conjunction with Mind & Life's new film, Evolution of the Heart — a short documentary covering convers…
Dekila Chungyalpa - Human-Earth Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:20
In this episode, Wendy speaks with environmentalist Dekila Chungyalpa about her views of nature, the climate crisis, and her unique collaborations with faith leaders. Their conversation covers many topics, including: gro…
Peter Wayne - Ecology of Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:02
In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical researcher Peter Wayne about his work on mind-body and movement-based interventions like tai chi. Their conversation covers many topics, including: how a background in ecology…
Mingyur Rinpoche - Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:29
In this episode, Wendy speaks with Tibetan Buddhist teacher Mingyur Rinpoche about how contemplative practice can lead us to awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Their conversation covers many topics, including: his involv…
Buju Dasgupta - Social Context & Implicit Bias [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:33
In this episode, Wendy speaks with social psychologist Buju Dasgupta about her work on implicit bias, and the role of social context in shaping the mind. Their conversation covers many topics, including: her path to merg…