Today it’s great to have David Yaden on the podcast. Dr. Yaden is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins Medicine. His research focus is on the psychology, neuroscience, and pharmacology of transformative and self-transcendent experiences. He is currently focusing on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. His scientific and scholarly work has been covered by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, and NPR.

In this episode we discuss:

The applicability of self-transcendent experiences to the current moment
The definition of self-transcendent experiences
Andrew Newberg’s pioneering work on the neuroscience of self-transcendent experiences
Abraham Maslow’s role in the history of the scientific investigation of self-transcendent experiences
The “everyperson’s spiritual experience”
The two main components of awe
The main characteristics of awe
Awe vs. flow
The role of technology in triggering self-transcendent experiences
The triggers of self-transcendent experiences
The limitations of interventions to induce self-transcendent experiences
How we can seek out little moments of awe, gratitude, and mindfulness
How psilocybin can induce very intense self-transcendent experiences
The potential for psychedelic therapy sessions
The neuroscience underlying the therapeutic benefit of psychedelics
How psychedelic experiences can impact our connection with close others
David’s personal self-transendent experience
Davis’ interest in studying intense interventions
David’s study of the philosophy of psychology

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