Powered by RND
PodcastsEducationDr. John Vervaeke

Dr. John Vervaeke

Upfire Digital LLC
Dr. John Vervaeke
Latest episode

Available Episodes

5 of 213
  • Virtuosity as a Way of Life | Ethan Hsieh and the Tiamat Process
    Something is coming: https://lectern.johnvervaeke.com/p/whatnext   What if mastery isn’t about perfection—but about transformation? In this episode of The Lectern, John Vervaeke is joined by Ethan Hsieh to explore how the cultivation of virtuosity—typically associated with the arts—can become central to philosophical and existential growth. Ethan introduces his Tiamat process, a three-tier developmental framework integrating performance training, cognitive science, and dialogical practice. Together, they explore what it means to live a deliberately developmental life, moving beyond therapy into embodied transformation. Ethan draws from his background in acting, pedagogy, and philosophy to offer a new model of self-cultivation rooted in agency, feedback, metacognition, and trust. Ethan Hsieh is a facilitator, educator, and philosophical practitioner whose work bridges performance, cognition, and transformative pedagogy. As the creator of the Tiamat process, he integrates insights from embodied practice, developmental psychology, and dialogical philosophy to help individuals cultivate virtuosity as a way of life. Ethan is also a co-founder of Five to Midnight, a community of practice that fosters relational, developmental growth through shared inquiry. Learn more: http://5tomidnight.org - 00:00 – Opening and intentions 03:00 – Ethan’s background in theater and philosophy 07:30 – What is Tiamat? Three-tiered developmental model 11:00 – Mapping metacognition through embodied practice 14:00 – Why “meta-maps” matter 17:00 – Habituation and interrupting automaticity 20:00 – Tiamat vs traditional therapy 24:00 – Participatory transformation and co-regulation 29:00 – Why agency must be distributed 1:00:00 – Where transformation lives: tier two dynamics 1:05:00 – Closing reflections - Tiamat Process – Ethan’s developmental model blending performance, cognition, and feedback Meta Maps – Tools for mapping metacognition and lived experience Postures of Presence – Ethan’s term for enacted, relational awareness Five to Midnight – Ethan’s practice-based community: http://5tomidnight.org Deliberately Developmental Civilization – Concept by Ken Wilber & Dustin Dene Unified Theory of Knowledge (UTOK) – Metatheoretical cognitive framework: https://unifiedtheoryofknowledge.org - Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned: Tiamat process Virtuosity and virtue Meta maps and metacognition Postures of presence Embodied transformation Relational ontology Distributed agency Participatory knowing Deliberately developmental civilization Complexification and growth Therapy vs. transformative practice Feedback and co-regulation Performance and philosophy Five to Midnight Unified Theory of Knowledge (UTOK) Ken Wilber Dustin Dene John Vervaeke - Follow John Vervaeke: https://johnvervaeke.com https://twitter.com/DrJohnVervaeke https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke
    --------  
    1:13:32
  • Silk Road Seminar - Elizabeth Oldfield
    Thank you for joining us for our monthly Silk Road Seminar! Today’s guest is Elizabeth Oldfield.   Elizabeth Oldfield is an experienced leader, writer, consultant and podcast host with a passion for intelligent public engagement on issues of reconciliation, identity, and healing our common life. She is currently working with a range of organisations and individuals as a coach and consultant focused on building clarity, courage and connection.   Elizabeth appears regularly in the media, including BBC One, Sky News, the World Service, and writing in Prospect Magazine, UnHerd and The Financial Times. She also hosts The Sacred, a podcast, events and visual content brand which creates space for a wide range of guests to reflect on their deepest values. For ten years she was Director of Theos, the UK’s leading religion and society think tank, where she was repeatedly accredited by Best Companies as a 3* (world class) manager, reflecting her commitment to building and leading flourishing, high performing teams. She spent the first part of her career working at the BBC in television and radio, contributing to programmes including Beyond Belief and the Moral Maze, as well as Radio 3 and 4 documentaries. She is motivated by the dearth of real wisdom in public life, by a desire to increase empathy across our deep differences and the way spirituality can help individuals and societies flourish. She has a masters in Theology and the Arts and lives in an intentional community in south London.   She has spoken with John previously on UnHerd and you can watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/SGCVcMFCd7o?si=pTU2cCbcgR1Nj2xF   Silk Road Seminars are a live event where John weaves together threads from his various theoretical conversations along with a distinguished guest. These hour-long conversations are live on Youtube followed by an exclusive Q&A, where you can ask questions directly to John and his guest. To be entered onto the guest list for these Q&As, you can sign up at the Gamma Tier (and above) on The Lectern at https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lectern-lounge   Currently enrolled university students at all levels up to doctoral studies get free access to the Q&A. To gain access to Silk Road seminars, please email your proof of student identity to [email protected] to be added to the guest list and watch previous seminars as well! If you would like to donate purely out of goodwill to support John’s work, please consider joining our Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. https://vervaekefoundation.org/ If you would like to learn and engage regularly in practices that are informed, developed and endorsed by John and his work, visit Awaken to Meaning’s calendar to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships. https://awakentomeaning.com/join-practice/   John Vervaeke: https://johnvervaeke.com/ https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke
    --------  
    1:24:07
  • Exploring Jewish Neoplatonism: The Life and Philosophy of Solomon Ibn Gabirol
    Watch the first episode of our new season of Lectern Dialogues! This season’s guest is Zevi Slavin. Zevi Slavin is a philosopher, educator, and public scholar whose work explores the intersections of mysticism and philosophy across traditions. As the creator of Seekers of Unity, he is dedicated to reviving and reinterpreting the voices of philosophical mystics, with a focus on Jewish thought and its dialogue with Greek and Islamic philosophy. A leading voice in the study of Jewish Neoplatonism, Slavin highlights figures such as Solomon Ibn Gabirol, whose integration of poetry, metaphysics, and theology offers profound resources for contemporary seekers. Through his research and public teaching, he advocates for a unified vision of reality that transcends artificial divides between traditions, demonstrating how historical thinkers can inform modern life, meaning, and spirituality. Seekers of Unity YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/c/SeekersofUnity The Zohar – Foundational text of Kabbalah: https://sefaria.org/Zohar?lang=bi Lurianic Kabbalah (Isaac Luria): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Luria Sefer Yetzirah – Early Kabbalistic text: https://sefaria.org/Sefer_Yetzirah?lang=bi Each quarter, John engages in thought-provoking extended conversations with a leading expert in psychology, philosophy, and spirituality. Each season offers a unique exploration, bringing together their diverse fields of knowledge to create fresh insights and understanding. These in-depth discussions, chaptered for your convenience, offer nuanced perspectives and integrative approaches to navigating our complex world. The first episode is free and publicly available. To follow the rest of the season as well as gain access to previous discussions, you can sign up at the Beta Tier (and above) on The Lectern at https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lectern-lounge   Shownotes (00:00) Welcome to the Lectern (01:00) Philosophical Silk Road and Andalusian Thinker (01:30) Innovative Intersection of Neoplatonism and Judaism (02:00) Books and Literature on Ibn Gabirol (03:00) Ibn Gabirol's Philosophical and Poetic Contributions (03:30) “I really like about this is his idea of God as an inexhaustible fount of intelligible realness.” (04:00) Dialogical Nature of Reason and Selected Poems (05:00) Sarah Pessin's Work and Theology of Desire (06:30) Jewish Influence and Mysticism in Ibn Gabirol's Work (07:30) Philosophical Context and Relevance Today (08:00) Zevi's Perspective on Philosopher-Mystics (14:00) Discussion on Matter and Form (22:30) Potentiality and Actuality in Neoplatonism (35:30) Receptivity and Creativity in Philosophy (41:00) Exploring the Receptivity of Matter and Jewish Mysticism (41:00) The Coupling of Form and Matter in Existence (43:00) Desire and the Divine Essence (48:00) Logos and the Virtual Engine (52:00) The Purpose of Mankind and Knowledge (57:30) The Journey of Self-Organization and Complexity (01:11:00) The Mystery of the Divine and the Analogy of Language (01:22:00) The Legend of Ibn Gabirol's Death and Legacy     —   The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Become a part of our mission.    Join Awaken to Meaning to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships.    —   Ideas, People, and Works Mentioned in this Episode Philosophical Silk Road Intersection of Neo-Platonism and Judaism Ibn Gabirol’s philosophy of matter and form Fountain of Life and the concept of God Dialogical nature of reason Jewish mysticism and its influence Potentiality and actuality in Neo-Platonism Receptivity and creativity in philosophy Coupling of form and matter in existence Desire and the divine essence Logos as the “virtual engine” Purpose of mankind and knowledge Self-organization and complexity The mystery of the divine and analogy of language Ibn Gabirol (Avicebron) Sarah Pessin – scholar, Theology of Desire Zevi Slavin – host/interlocutor Andalusian thinkers Fountain of Life Selected Poems of Ibn Gabirol Theology of Desire Books and literature on Ibn Gabirol generally   —   Follow John Vervaeke: Website | Twitter | YouTube | Patreon —   Thank you for listening!  
    --------  
    1:24:23
  • Why Reason Needs Spirit | John Vervaeke
    Thank you for joining us for this in-depth solo lecture from Dr. John Vervaeke, where he continues his exploration of cognition, meaning, and spirit from the perspective of relevance realization and predictive processing. In this talk, John takes us on a journey through the architecture of the mind, explaining how voluntary necessity, scientific idealization, and porous participation form the basis of how we understand ourselves and the world. He unpacks the imaginal dimension of cognition, the deep entanglement of anticipation and rationality, and how the fellowship of the spirit provides an existential framework for collective meaning-making. Drawing from philosophers like Spinoza, Merleau-Ponty, Charles Taylor, and William Desmond, and cognitive scientists like Carl Friston and Andy Clark, John interweaves modern theory with ancient insight to offer a profound vision of how reason, imagination, and love can coexist. Shownotes: 00:00 – Introduction and Opening Remarks 01:17 – Welcoming Remarks 02:59 – The Role of Idealization in Science 04:23 – Predictive Processing and Meta Problems 05:59 – Anticipation and Relevance Realization 16:15 – Opponent Processing and Optimal Grip 20:13 – The Imaginal and Rationality 23:03 – Relevance Realization and Enlightenment Rationality 23:31 – The Dichotomies of Modernity 25:31 – Voluntary Necessity Explained 28:39 – The Role of Faith and Spirit 31:41 – The Levels of Human Existence 41:19 – The Power of Community and Shared Meaning 50:44 – Fellowship of the Spirit 1:12:00 – Closing Reflections on Community as Icon of Reality Referenced Works and Concepts: Books and Authors: "True Enough" – Catherine Elgin "Sources of the Self" and "A Secular Age" – Charles Taylor "Phenomenology of Perception" – Maurice Merleau-Ponty "Ethics" – Spinoza (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3800) "The Reasons of Love" – Harry Frankfurt "The Construction of Social Reality" – John Searle "Being and the Between" – William Desmond Thinkers and Researchers: Carl Friston – Free Energy Principle Andy Clark – Predictive Mind Eric Hoel – Consciousness and Science Michael Levin – Bioelectric Cognition Dan Chiappe – Reasoning and Dialogue Mark Miller – Relevance Realization Anderson Deasy & John Geiger – Sensed Presence Core Concepts: Predictive Processing Relevance Realization 4E Cognition (Embodied, Embedded, Enacted, Extended) Voluntary Necessity Imaginal Participation Opponent Processing Internal Family Systems (IFS) Narrative Selfhood Fellowship of the Spirit Related Series and Resources: Awakening from the Meaning Crisis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8VujfYQ-00pT-6pTOm4q-rz1c Philosophical Silk Road: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke Explore Further: The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Learn more: https://vervaekefoundation.org/ To engage in regular practices informed and endorsed by John, visit Awaken to Meaning: https://awakentomeaning.com/join-practice/ Follow John Vervaeke: Website: https://johnvervaeke.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vervaeke_john YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnvervaeke
    --------  
    51:40
  • Silk Road Seminar - Rick Repetti
    Thank you for joining us LIVE for our monthly Silk Road Seminar! Today’s guest is Rick Repetti. Silk Road Seminars are a live event where John weaves together threads from his various theoretical conversations along with a distinguished guest. These hour-long conversations are live on YouTube followed by an exclusive Q&A, where you can ask questions directly to John and his guest. To be entered onto the guest list for these Q&As, you can sign up at the Gamma Tier (and above) on The Lectern at https://lectern.teachable.com/p/lecte... Currently enrolled university students at all levels up to doctoral studies get free access to the Q&A. To gain access to Silk Road Seminars, please email your proof of student identity to [email protected] to be added to the guest list and watch previous seminars as well! If you would like to donate purely out of goodwill to support John’s work, please consider joining our Patreon. 👉 / johnvervaeke The Vervaeke Foundation is committed to advancing the scientific pursuit of wisdom and creating a significant impact on the world. Learn more about our work below: https://vervaekefoundation.org/ If you would like to learn and engage regularly in practices that are informed, developed, and endorsed by John and his work, visit Awaken to Meaning’s calendar to explore practices that enhance your virtues and foster deeper connections with reality and relationships: https://awakentomeaning.com/join-prac... Follow John Vervaeke: 🌐 Website: https://johnvervaeke.com/ 🐦 Twitter: / vervaeke_john 📺 YouTube: / @johnvervaeke 💡 Patreon: / johnvervaeke
    --------  
    1:16:37

More Education podcasts

About Dr. John Vervaeke

The Official John Vervaeke Podcast Feed
Podcast website

Listen to Dr. John Vervaeke, Law of Attraction Changed My Life and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features
Social
v7.23.9 | © 2007-2025 radio.de GmbH
Generated: 10/27/2025 - 6:40:35 AM