In the latest FitMind Podcast, Josh speaks with clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Aldrich Chan about what ancient Taoist philosophy can teach us about the modern brain.
They explore the default mode network and our sense of self, what happens in the brain during meditation and self-transcendence, the Taoist idea of “original nature,” and why practices like Tai Chi and wu wei may help us access states of effortless flow.
They also get into evolutionary mismatch, productive vs. overwhelming stress, working with uncertainty, and why play and spontaneity may be more important for mental health than we realize.
It’s a fascinating bridge between contemplative wisdom, neuroscience, and psychology.
Listen/watch here: Taoism & the Neuroscience of the Self
I’d love to hear what stood out to you from this one—especially the discussion around quieting the self and the default mode network.