Send us a text When headlines turn science into a battlefield, who decides what counts as truth—and at what cost? We sit down with veteran science reporter and editor, Dan Vergano, now back on the DC science beat to unpack how politics, platforms, and power steer public understanding of vaccines, climate, and gender care. He explains why culture war flashpoints rarely start at the kitchen table, but are manufactured by media ecosystems and political fundraising that thrive on outrage, l...

Send us a text What happens when the dream of utopia meets the messy reality of human nature? Understanding Ruth Israel's remarkable journey takes us deep inside one of America's most prominent counterculture experiments—the Love Family commune of Seattle. In this raw and revelatory conversation, Ruth shares her transformation from Claudette Baker Rockefeller—married into political prominence—to a barefoot hippie renamed "Understanding" by the commune's charismatic leader. For 26 years, she ...

What happens when we outsource our thinking to intelligent machines? Kyle Killian, an expert in AI security, joins the conversation to unpack the critical distinctions between AI alignment, security, and safety—and why these differences matter for our collective future. The dialogue begins by clarifying these often-confused terms: alignment aims to make AI systems follow human intentions, while security focuses on protecting AI systems from threats and preventing misuse. As Kyle explains, "A...

What happens when quantum physics meets consciousness? In this mind-expanding conversation with philosophers Susan Schneider and Mark Bailey, we journey through the cutting-edge theory of superpsychism—a framework suggesting consciousness exists at the most fundamental layer of reality, intimately connected with quantum entanglement. Schneider shares how conversations with physicist Roger Penrose sparked her exploration of a universe where space-time emerges from a more fundamental reality w...

What if the most fundamental aspect of your conscious experience isn't found in neural firing at all, but in the electromagnetic fields those neurons produce? This mind-expanding conversation with Dr. Colin Hales, a pioneer in electromagnetic field theories of consciousness, challenges everything we think we know about how brains create minds. For decades, mainstream neuroscience has focused on action potentials – the spikes of neural firing – as the foundation of cognition and consciousness...

Stuart Hameroff takes us on a mind-expanding journey through his revolutionary theory of consciousness, drawing from his 49 years as an anesthesiologist and decades of groundbreaking research into the quantum foundations of awareness. Challenging the dominant view that the brain is merely a classical computer and neurons are simple switches, Hameroff reveals how microtubules—protein structures inside neurons—perform quantum computations that may be the actual basis of conscious experie...

What if you could drive a vehicle that costs less to operate, requires minimal maintenance, and dramatically reduces your environmental impact? The electric vehicle revolution isn't just coming—it's already here, outpacing even the most optimistic predictions. Our experts, Noel Morin and Michael Chiacos, dives deep into the remarkable efficiency of electric vehicles—revealing how they operate at 3-4 times the efficiency of conventional gas cars while eliminating routine maintenance headaches...

What if the vibrant hues of rainbow-colored hair could signify a paradigm shift in consciousness studies? In this captivating episode, we engage with philosopher Sue Blackmore, whose distinctive hairstyle is more than just a fashion statement—it's a symbol of her bold exploration into the mysteries of consciousness and all its colorful complexities. With decades of history in the science and philosophy of consciousness, Sue offers a unique perspective on the evolution of the field, re...

Curious about how philosopher and mathematician Alfred North Whitehead's revolutionary ideas have shaped our understanding of the universe? Whitehead was an incredible thinker whose work touched on almost every aspect of modern physics, philosophy and spirituality. Our guest from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) offers a deep dive into process philosophy, where science, spirituality, and philosophy intersect. From redefining religious studies to influencing modern conscio...

After surviving a severe e-bike accident and enduring over two dozen surgeries, my brother-in-law, Jason, shares his story about resilience in the face of overwhelming physical and emotional pain. What if the very treatments meant to heal you instead threaten your life? Jason shares his harrowing experience with misdiagnosed infections, sepsis, and the battle against a flesh-eating bacteria that led to the removal of metal implants. We discuss the precarious balance between managing pa...

Can electromagnetic fields illuminate the mysteries of consciousness and free will? Join us on The Diamond Mind Podcast as we explore this cutting edge question with Stanford Prof. M. Bruce MacIver, a leading expert in neurophysiology. I sat down with Bruce at the Tucson Science of Consciousness conference this year, meeting for the first time in "real life" at that time. He and I have exchanged emails and Zoom calls for a few years now and he contributed a great paper to the Frontiers...

Laura Deutsch and I met at the free-wheeling and thought-provoking Tucson Science of Consciousness conference this past April. It's held at the gorgeous Loews Ventana Resort, in the heart of saguaro country, with canyons, puffy clouds, prickly cactus, and road runners all around. There are also really great talks and discussions and after Laura and I realized we had a shared love of noodling the nature of time (and reality more generally, of course), we decided to try a podcast interview. W...

Christof Koch is one of the world's top neuroscientists and electrophysiologists. In recent years he's let his hair grow out a little (metaphorically) and begun an extended conversation about the nature of consciousness, meaning, the mind/body problem, psychedelic adventures, how to measure consciousness, how to cure comas, and many more very interesting topics. Join us as we talk about his new book, Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It, and his person...

We spoke to entrepreneur and author, Christine Mason, at the Science of Consciousness conference in Tucson, Arizona, in April of 2024. We touched on her very interesting and unusual background, growing up as an American in Germany (multilingual), the murder of her mother, connecting to her personal dharma, her sustainability projects in Hawaii, her writing (many many books), her habit of starting successful companies -- and why she does all of it, on top of being a mother to four. Chri...