What Is Mind? with William Gadea

William Gadea
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Consciousness is everything you’ve ever known, and the only thing you’ll ever know. It is highly unlikely that anyone else will be able to experience exactly what you experience; likewise, you will probably never be able to sample someone else’s mind directly. Because the topic of consciousness is so personal and so complex, and because scientists have confined means to study it, the field has attracted thinkers from many spheres, beyond neuroscience: philosophers, theologians, psychologists, physicists, evolutionary theorists, computer scientists, and others. This channel’s mission is to critically appreciate this wealth of ideas. Learn more about the channel's creator at www.williamgadea.com.

  1. 12. März

    Brook Ziporyn on Daoism, Buddhism, and the Birth of Zen

    In this episode of What Is Mind?, philosopher and translator Brook Ziporyn joins me to explore Daoism and Buddhism in China, and how their interaction gave rise to Chan (Zen) Buddhism. We discuss the elusive philosophy of the Dao De Jing, the playful and profound stories of the Zhuangzi, and the ways Daoist ideas shaped the development of Chinese Buddhism. Along the way we explore the I Ching, the Daoist roots of Zen ideas of non-seeking, the historical reality behind Bodhidharma and the Chan patriarchs, and why the Chinese language itself may have nudged Chinese philosophy toward relational and contextual thinking. Brook Ziporyn is one of the leading Western scholars of Chinese philosophy and religion. He teaches at the University of Chicago Divinity School and is the translator of many classic Daoist texts. Find a transcript of this interview here (and subscribe to my substack while you're at it): https://williamgadea.substack.com/p/b... William Gadea's book ARROW: The Power and Poison of Story https://a.co/d/03hGqIdv Brook Ziporyn’s translation of the Zhuangzi https://www.amazon.com/dp/1624668550 Brook Ziporyn’s website https://voices.uchicago.edu/ziporyn/ Subscribe for more conversations on consciousness, philosophy, neuroscience, and contemplative traditions.

    50 Min.

  2. 12. März

    What Is Modern Druidry? Kevin Pennell on Nature, Ritual, and Story

    What does it mean to practice Druidry in the modern world? In this conversation, I speak with Kevin Pennell about the historical Druids, the 18th-century revival, and what contemporary Druid practice looks like today. We discuss seasonal rituals like Beltane and Samhain, the Bardic tradition, reverence for nature, and how Druidry is expressed in his daily life. If you're interested in alternative spiritual practices rooted in the natural world, this conversation is for you. Kevin's Podcast: Toward a Better Life (available on Spotify and Apple) Website: https://towardabetterlife.com/ Kevin is a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD), one of the leading contemporary Druid organizations: https://druidry.org/ Book mentioned in this episode: The Book of Druidry, by Ross Nichols. https://www.amazon.com/Book-Druidry-2... William Gadea's Book: ARROW: The Power and Poison of Story Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Power-Po... Subscribe for more conversations exploring consciousness, philosophy, neuroscience, and spiritual practice. #WhatIsMind #Druidry #Consciousness #KevinPennell

    29 Min.

  3. 14. Jan.

    Living With No Self: Jay L. Garfield on Buddhism, Consciousness, and the Illusion of “Me”

    What if the self you think you are… doesn’t actually exist? In this conversation, philosopher Jay L. Garfield argues that the “self” is a powerful cognitive illusion – and that letting go of it can make us more ethical, more compassionate, and more free, not less. Drawing from Buddhist philosophy, David Hume, and contemporary cognitive science, Garfield explains why consciousness isn’t a “thing,” why free will doesn’t mean what we think it means, and how living without a self can actually lead to a better life. We discuss: Why the question “What is consciousness?” may be ill-formedThe Buddhist and Humean critique of the selfThe difference between self and personWhy free will outside causation is neither real nor desirableHow meditation and practice reduce sufferingWhy ethics improves when we stop seeing ourselves as isolated agentsThe role of philosophy inside Buddhist practice LinksWebsite: https://www.williamgadea.comSubstack: https://williamgadea.substack.comBuy ARROW: The Power and Poison of Story on Amazon: https://a.co/d/aPjKbcg

    49 Min.

  4. 31.12.2025

    What is Free Will? Do You Have It?

    Do we really have free will — or is that just an illusion? Are our choices the result of physical and biological processes? In this video, I explore the classic free will debate from a scientific and philosophical perspective. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, Buddhism, and contemporary philosophy, I ask two questions: 1) What is doing the willing? and 2) Is it free of causation? We look at: • Neural correlates of consciousness • Determinism vs unpredictability • The ethical implications of rejecting free will • Compatibilism • Jay L. Garfield’s view of persons without selves • How ethics can survive — and even flourish — without free will Links: • Buy my book ARROW: The Power and Poison of Story https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FD94LW5G • Subscribe to my substack for free essays and videos: https://williamgadea.substack.com • You can learn more about me here: https://www.williamgadea.com

    16 Min.

  5. 24.11.2025

    What Does Religion Do to the Brain? A Conversation with Neurotheologist Dr. Andrew Newberg

    Dr. Andrew Newberg is one of the pioneers of neurotheology – the scientific study of what happens in the brain during prayer, meditation, and mystical experience. In this conversation, we dig into what the brain is doing during spiritual practice – and how he studies it, how different practices produce both shared and distinctive neural patterns, and why sexuality and religious experience may be more closely linked than they seem. We also explore the evolutionary question: is religion an adaptation, a by-product, or something in between? A grounded conversation at the intersection of neuroscience, spirituality, and human nature. RELATED LINKS: Buy Dr. Andrew Newberg's new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Sex-God-Brain-... Learn more about the creator — https://www.williamgadea.com/ Purchase William Gadea's book here — https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Power-Po... Follow the YouTube channel —    / @whatismind-williamgadea   Follow us on X — https://x.com/willgadea You can support the channel by purchasing from the affiliate links above, at no additional cost to you. #neurotheology #neuroscience #religion #religionandscience

    53 Min.

  6. 24.11.2025

    Time-Travelling Interview with Scottish Philosopher David Hume

    In this AI-assisted conversation, I speak with 18th-century Scottish philosopher David Hume — the great skeptic of the Enlightenment and one of the first thinkers to question the idea of a permanent self. We discuss his early years in Edinburgh, his philosophy of ideas and impressions, his views on morality and motivation, and how his insights anticipate modern neuroscience and Buddhism alike. Voice actor: David McNeill RELATED LINKS: If you are new to Hume, don't start with A Treatise of Human Nature. Instead, try a more accessible volume like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Enquiry-Concer...Learn more about the creator — https://www.williamgadea.com/Purchase William Gadea's book here — https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Power-Po... Follow us on X — https://x.com/willgadea You can support the channel by purchasing from the affiliate links above, at no additional cost to you. #davidhume #philosophy #skepticism #AI

    10 Min.

  7. 26.10.2025

    Are Machines Conscious? Yes. (But there's nuance.)

    Could today’s AIs already be conscious? Before you say no, let’s look at what “consciousness” really means – and why machines may already qualify. In this episode of What is Mind?, William Gadea looks at: Why definitions of consciousness depend on purpose and context.How Thomas Nagel’s “What is it like to be…” definition breaks down for AIsWhy Alan Turing’s famous test no longer satisfiesWhy “intent,” “self-preservation,” and “sub-goals” emerge naturally in intelligent systemsWhether machines might someday deserve ethical considerationHow a self-driving car already meets a functional definition of consciousness RELATED LINKS: Learn more about the creator https://www.williamgadea.com/ Purchase William Gadea's book here — https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Power-Poison-William-Gadea/dp/B0FD94LW5G/ref=nosim?tag=williamgadea-20 Follow us on X — https://x.com/willgadea You can support the channel by purchasing from the affiliate links above, at no additional cost to you. #AI #MachineConsciousness

    21 Min.

  8. 19.10.2025

    Hinduism and Modernity: A Conversation with Prof. Swayam Bagaria (Harvard Divinity School)

    In this episode of What Is Mind?, I speak with Dr. Swayam Bagaria, Assistant Professor of Hindu Studies at Harvard Divinity School. Trained as an anthropologist at Johns Hopkins, Bagaria explores how religion, cognition, and technology intertwine in shaping human experience. We discuss Hinduism’s pluralistic and decentralized nature, how seekers find their spiritual paths, and why Hinduism both frees and binds through its deeply woven traditions. The conversation also ranges into mental health and religion, the intersection of spirituality and technology, and how AI and neuroscience are challenging traditional ideas of identity and consciousness. RELATED LINKS: Learn more about the creator — https://www.williamgadea.com/Purchase William Gadea's book here — https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Power-Poison-William-Gadea/dp/B0FD94LW5G/ref=nosim?tag=williamgadea-20Follow us on X — https://x.com/willgadea You can support the channel by purchasing from the affiliate links above, at no additional cost to you. If questions about mind and consciousness interest you, please consider subscribing!

    46 Min.
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Consciousness is everything you’ve ever known, and the only thing you’ll ever know. It is highly unlikely that anyone else will be able to experience exactly what you experience; likewise, you will probably never be able to sample someone else’s mind directly. Because the topic of consciousness is so personal and so complex, and because scientists have confined means to study it, the field has attracted thinkers from many spheres, beyond neuroscience: philosophers, theologians, psychologists, physicists, evolutionary theorists, computer scientists, and others. This channel’s mission is to critically appreciate this wealth of ideas. Learn more about the channel's creator at www.williamgadea.com.

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