Episode 32: Neurotheology & Unitive Intelligence - Alissa Allen's Science-Spirit Revolution
Guest Bio
Alissa Allen is a neurotheology thought leader, spiritual health director, and the founder of a pioneering model of care that unites neuroscience, AI, and modern medicine with ancient wisdom and spiritual practice. After years of success as a senior executive in the wellness and technology industries, Alissa experienced a personal reckoning that reshaped her understanding of health and leadership. Beneath the facade of achievement, she faced her own battles with weight, addiction, and mental health—an experience that awakened her conviction that healing must integrate the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of the human experience. Alissa holds a Master’s in Pastoral Care and studied Neurotheology and Spiritual Health at Emory University, where she explored how the brain and spirituality interact to shape resilience, purpose, and meaning. She also earned a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University, trained in Integrative Wellness and Health Coaching at Duke University, and studied herbalism, ancient medicine, and nutrition at the California College of Ayurvedic Medicine. While at Emory, she founded Tapfer, the first telehealth platform for spiritual direction and chaplaincy care—bridging neuroscience, AI, and faith to redefine how emotional and spiritual care is delivered. Tapfer was recognized by Emory’s Hatchery Center for Innovation, Emory’s Center for AI and Humanity, and named one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Top 25 Startups to Watch.” Alissa has devoted her life to advancing unitive intelligence—the understanding that mind, body, and soul form one integrated field of potential. As a spiritual director and technologist, she builds tools and curricula that bridge modern medicine, ancient remedies, and spiritual health to help people become optimal humans—resilient, aware, and whole. Her mission is both scientific and sacred: to awaken human potential by showing that when science and spirituality unite, they unlock the highest expression of resilience and human flourishing.
https://substack.com/@heyfrienditsalissa
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heyfrienditsalissa/
Setting
Recorded outdoors in the breathtaking red rock landscape of Sedona, Arizona, with the natural beauty symbolizing renewal and spiritual awakening. The serene, vacation-like backdrop enhances the discussion on transformation and higher consciousness, though occasional background noises add a raw, authentic touch.
Summary
In this visionary episode, Smoke welcomes Alissa Allen to explore her groundbreaking work in neurotheology and unitive intelligence. They discuss the urgent sea change amid societal chaos—political, cultural, and personal—and how integrating neuroscience, AI, modern medicine, and ancient spiritual practices empowers leaders to reach optimal human potential. Alissa shares her journey from corporate success to personal reckoning with addiction and mental health, leading to the creation of Tapfer and a holistic model of care. The conversation celebrates the confluence of science and spirituality, emphasizing how this integration heals fractures, elevates consciousness, and fosters resilience in turbulent times.
Learnings
Universal Truths
Examples
Smoke Trail Threads