We’ve just released a new episode of The FitMind Podcast featuring Dr. Nicholas Van Dam, clinical psychologist and Director of the Melbourne Contemplative Studies Centre.
In this conversation, we explore the ethics of meditation and what responsible, evidence-based practice looks like as contemplative techniques become more widely used in mental health, education, and technology.
Nicholas shares insights from his research on how much meditation is actually needed to see benefits, why challenging experiences can arise, and why informed consent and honesty matter when teaching these practices.
We also discuss the relationship between science and wisdom traditions, the limits of brain-based explanations, and how contemplative practice can support meaning and purpose in modern life.
I just finished listening to this. Great episode. What stood out most to me was the emphasis on honesty and informed consent in meditation teaching. I’ve definitely absorbed the idea that “more practice is always better,” so hearing a more nuanced, evidence-based take on how much meditation is actually helpful felt refreshing and necessary.
I also appreciated the way Nicholas talked about challenging experiences. Not as something to fear or romanticize, but as something that deserves context, support, and clear framing. That felt very human and responsible.
I listened to it as well, though I’ll admit I had to do it in a couple sittings. It’s a long one, but I don’t mind a long conversation about an interesting topic.
I noticed that Nicholas often pushed back on simple narratives. Especially the idea that meditation is automatically good, or that more is always better. It lined up with my experience that context, expectations, and support matter a lot more than people sometimes admit.
He speaks with honesty about the limits of what science can explain. Not dismissing neuroscience, but not pretending brain scans are the full story either. It wasn’t a feel-good episode, but I found it useful. The kind that makes you think a bit more carefully about how and why you practice, which I see as a good thing.
I haven’t listened yet, but I really appreciate that this conversation is happening. In my own practice, I’ve seen meditation be genuinely helpful for many people, and also clearly not the right tool for everyone, or not at every point in someone’s life.
Looking forward to listening, especially to how this episode holds both the benefits and the potential downsides with care.
Listen to the episode here: The Ethics of Meditation with Nicholas Van Dam