The Weekend University

• Transforming Consciousness with Taoism, IFS, Tai Chi & Panpsychism — George Thompson

  George Thompson is a filmmaker, Tai Chi practitioner, and creator dedicated to inspiring balance for both people and planet. After experiencing anxiety and burnout, George embarked on a transformative journey that took him from the Wudang Mountains in China to the wilderness of Scotland. In this conversation, we explore: — Why discovering Tai Chi was a pivotal moment in his trajectory — How compassion naturally arises from true understanding — The power of investigating our thoughts and feelings as messengers of unmet needs — How to cultivate playfulness and sincerity without being serious — George's journey from atheism to panpsychism and how this shift changed his relationship with nature And more. You can learn more about George's work through his YouTube channel or his website: https://www.balanceispossible.com. --- George Thompson is a filmmaker, storyteller, and educator dedicated to making ancient wisdom practical for modern life. As the founder of Balance Is Possible!, he leads a global team sharing teachings on Tai Chi, Daoist philosophy, and the art of living in harmony with oneself and nature. After years of struggling with anxiety and disconnection, George travelled to China’s Wudang Mountains, where he studied Tai Chi and Daoism under Master Gu. There, he discovered that balance isn’t about perfection—but about learning to move with life’s natural flow. Through his courses, films, and online community, George helps people reconnect to purpose, clarity, and inner peace. His unique teaching style blends humour, emotional honesty, and spiritual insight, making profound ideas accessible and engaging. Today, George’s work reaches millions worldwide through films like The Subtle Art of Losing Yourself and the world’s largest online Tai Chi school. Supported by mentors such as Chungliang Al Huang and Deng Ming Dao, he continues to inspire others to embrace their full potential and live with compassion, creativity, and balance. -- Interview Links: — George’s website: https://www.balanceispossible.com/ — George’s recommended books: https://bit.ly/472aEh7

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• Sleepwalking, Insomnia, Circadian Rhythms: The Incredible Science of Sleep — Dr. Guy Leschziner

  In this episode, I speak with Professor Guy Leschziner, a consultant neurologist and leading sleep specialist who has spent over a decade as the clinical lead at one of Europe's largest sleep disorder centers. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, clinical practice, and evolutionary biology, Guy explores the fascinating world of sleep—from its biological functions to its profound impact on our physical and mental health. Expect to learn: — Why studying the extremes of human behavior helps us understand normal brain function — How sleep affects everything from immune function to cognitive performance — The surprising way our brain's "glymphatic system" cleans toxins during deep sleep — Why insomnia treatments like CBT-I are so effective and how they work. And more. You can learn more about Guy's work at https://www.guyleschziner.com. --- Guy Leschziner, Ph.D., is a neurologist specializing in sleep disorders and epilepsy, serving as Consultant Neurologist at London Bridge Hospital and Clinical Lead for the Sleep Disorders Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, one of Europe’s largest sleep units. He is also Reader in Neurology at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. Dr. Leschziner is the author of The Nocturnal Brain, The Man Who Tasted Words, and The Seven Deadly Sins, and has presented sleep-focused series for BBC Radio and Channel 4. --- Interview Links: — Guy’s website: https://www.guyleschziner.com/ — Guy’s book: https://amzn.to/3VvTnb6

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• Rebuilding Connectability After Attachment Wounds & Trauma — Anna Runkle

  Get Anna Runkle's new book, CONNECTABILITY. You can order via the following link: https://bit.ly/4dTK9xz — more links below 👇 Anna Runkle is a bestselling author and creator of the popular YouTube channel "Crappy Childhood Fairy." After overcoming her own complex PTSD through innovative self-regulation techniques, she has dedicated her life to helping others heal from developmental trauma and reconnect with themselves and others. In this conversation, we explore: — What "connection wounds" are and how they affect our ability to form meaningful relationships — How neurological dysregulation from trauma creates barriers to connection and what to do about it — The simple but powerful daily practice that transformed Anna's life after decades of struggling with trauma symptoms — Practical strategies for developing "connectability" even when social situations feel overwhelming — Why focusing on "what can I do right now?" rather than "why did this happen?" creates real healing And more. You can learn more about Anna's work, books, and free resources at https://crappychildhoodfairy.com. — Anna Runkle leads a movement to help men and women worldwide to heal trauma symptoms and change their lives—whether or not they have access to professional help. More than 900,000 men and women worldwide subscribe to her YouTube channel, blog, courses and coaching programs, where she teaches the principles and techniques she has used to recover from her own Childhood PTSD. Her approach includes simple, self-directed exercises to calm emotional triggers and neurological dysregulation, and to begin changing the self-defeating behaviors that are common for people who have lived much of their lives dysregulated. She lives with her husband and two sons in the San Francisco Bay Area. -- Interview Links: — Order Anna's NEW Book: CONNECTABILITY: https://bit.ly/4dTK9xz — Order Anna's 2024 Book: RE-REGULATED: https://bit.ly/3yqaena — Anna's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CrappyChildhoodFairy — Anna's Website: https://crappychildhoodfairy.com — Free Daily Practice Course: http://bit.ly/CCF_DailyPractice — Quiz: How Connectable Are You? https://bit.ly/48QTuFL

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• Bernardo Kastrup: Aligning with Nature’s Will, Eastern vs Western Spirituality, & Understanding Evil

  Dr. Bernardo Kastrup is a philosopher, scientist, and author whose work challenges mainstream materialism. With a background in computer engineering and a Ph.D. in philosophy, he has become one of the world's leading advocates for metaphysical idealism—the view that consciousness, not matter, is the fundamental reality of the universe. In this conversation, we explore some of the key ideas from Bernardo’s latest book, "The Daimon and the Soul of the West," including: — The key differences between the Western and Eastern Mind — The relationship between context and meaning in life, and how powerful it can be to recognise the ancestral lineage within you. — The concept of the daimon—an impersonal force of nature that expresses itself through us — How confronting death and our relationship with evil can lead to greater wisdom and authenticity — Why the second half of life requires a completely different approach than the first. And more. You can learn more about Bernardo’s work at https://www.bernardokastrup.com. — Bernardo Kastrup is the executive director of Essentia Foundation. His work has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the ‘Casimir Effect’ of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on Scientific American, the Institute of Art and Ideas, the Blog of the American Philosophical Association and Big Think, among others. Bernardo’s most recent book is Science Ideated: The fall of matter and the contours of the next mainstream scientific worldview. -- Interview Links: — Dr Kastrup’s website: https://www.bernardokastrup.com — Dr Kastrup’s book: https://amzn.to/46hinsO

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• The 4 Jungian Archetypes Driving Male Psychology — Douglas Gillette

  Douglas Gillette is a bestselling author, Jungian psychologist, and co-creator of the influential King, Warrior, Magician, Lover framework that has transformed our understanding of masculine psychology. His work explores the archetypal patterns that shape human development and the journey toward psychological wholeness. In this conversation, we explore: — Why Douglas believes we are "sowing" in this life but the "harvest" lies elsewhere — How evolutionary psychology can help to explains the current crisis in masculine identity — The four masculine archetypes and their shadow expressions — Practical techniques for integrating these archetypal energies in everyday life And more. You can learn more about Douglas's work and books by visiting https://douglasgillettecreations.com. — Douglas M. Gillette is a scholar-writer, teacher, and spiritual guide whose work bridges myth, religion, depth psychology, and human transformation. He co-authored the influential book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine and has written several others published internationally. A former pastoral counselor and United Church of Christ pastor, he now teaches, writes, and leads workshops on spirituality, imagination, and the unfolding of the soul. You can learn more through his work at www.douglasgillettecreations.com -- Interview Links: — Douglas’ website: https://douglasgillettecreations.com — Douglas’ book: https://amzn.to/4mya1ln

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