What is consciousness? Can we tell if other animals experience subjectivity, or whether there will be conscious machines or robots? These fundamental philosophical questions are now being explored by neuroscientist Associate Professor Nao Tsuchiya and his team.NaoTsuchiya discusses his research on consciousness, qualia, and the subjective experience of individuals. He shares his personal journey into the field, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and questioning in scientific inquiry. The discussion covers various aspects of consciousness, including its levels, the role of the amygdala in fear recognition, and the significance of flow states. Tsuchiya also highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in understanding consciousness and the potential impact of transformative experiences on individual.  They delve into the complexities of suffering, growth, and the role of stress in personal development. They explore the concepts of free will and narrative in consciousness, discussing how habits and intentions shape our experiences. The dialogue also touches on the significance of openness in understanding consciousness, the influence of language on experience, and the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness. They express curiosity about the nature of reality and the importance of skepticism and openness in exploring phenomena like telepathy. Nao speaks about the importance of staying curios and remaining skeptical, yet open minded.  Chapters 00:00 Exploring Consciousness: An Introduction 06:14 Personal Journey into Consciousness 12:21 The Intersection of Science and Consciousness 18:10 The Debate on Neuromania 21:29 Causality in Consciousness 24:16 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Science 27:17 The Future of Consciousness Studies 30:19 Flow States and Their Importance 33:14 Fear and the Amygdala 36:15 Current Research on Qualia 45:01 Exploring Empathy and Psychopathy 45:54 Quantum Theory and Psychological Measurement 48:19 Challenges in Psychedelic Research 50:09 The Complexity of Flow States 51:29 Discussions on Free Energy Theories 54:06 Subjective Experience vs. Scientific Objectivity 56:59 The Role of Poetry and Meaning in Experience 01:00:55 Integrated Information Theory and Consciousness 01:03:57 The Value of Suffering and Stress 01:07:39 Free Will and Narrative Choices 01:20:52 Language and Experience: A Cultural Perspective 01:23:39 Meditation and the Experiential Quality of Consciousness 01:25:45 Exploring Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness 01:27:14 Contradictions in Philosophy and Reality 01:29:14 Locally Consistent, Globally Inconsistent: Understanding Reality 01:31:41 The Nature of Consciousness and the Limits of Understanding 01:32:58 Curiosity and the Exploration of Self 01:33:07 Skepticism and Openness in Telepathy Research 01:38:42 The Nature of Reality and Social Engineering 01:41:59 The Importance of Openness and Attention 01:47:27 Influences and Inspirations in Thought 01:51:09 Final Thoughts: The Dawn of Everything 01:52:56 Podcast exit terence  -  https://sites.google.com/monash.edu/tlab/home?authuser=0 https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/nao-tsuchiya Music for every episode  Intro and exit music used: Strange the dreamer by Savfk - www.youtube.com/@savfkmusic   Connect with Ryan Anderson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awonderjunkie/ awonderjunkie.com Breathe4Flow.com Rumble https://rumble.com/user/awonderjunkie Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@awonderjunkie iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-wondejunkie/id1739838765 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1CcQXpxfV9P89IrKmtV2hS?si=6519a88aef444ba0