November releases
December releases
January releases
February releases
March releases
April releases
I am updating this facility on a rolling basis, removing September entries when March arrives and so on, month by month.
Most of the descriptive text is drawn from YouTube and other external sources.
November releases
Biology, the brain and the meaning of life
Philip Ball in conversation with Iain McGilchrist
“A profound but quiet transformation in biology is changing the way we think about life. Philip Ball — physicist, longtime contributor and former editor at Nature, and the author of over 25 books — explores this paradigm shift in his latest book, How Life Works: A Users Guide to the New Biology. As part of its Meanings of Science Project, Samuel Loncar, editor and project director at Marginalia Review of Books, hosted a conversation with Philip Ball and Iain McGilchrist, psychiatrist, neuroscience researcher, philosopher, and the author of The Matter With Things.”
Running time 44:46
Curt’s Experience with Psychosis
Iain McGilchrist in conversation with Curt Jaimungal
Theories of Everything podcast
Running time 12:46
The Hidden Potential of the Human Brain
Iain McGilchrist in conversation with Curt Jaimungal
“In this episode of Theories of Everything, Curt Jaimungal sits down with Iain McGilchrist to dive deep into the practical implications of his groundbreaking work on brain hemispheres, consciousness, and wisdom. They explore how Eastern and Western philosophies intersect with his insights, shaping our understanding of reality, spirituality, and the human experience.”
Running time 2:48:25
Download transcript (pdf)
Why Do We Laugh?
Exploring the Nature of Humor with John Cleese and Dr. Iain McGilchrist
The Wonderstruck Podcast with Elizabeth Rovere
“Is humor just a form of entertainment, or does it reveal deeper truths about the human experience? In this lively discussion from A Symposium on Consciousness on August 3, 2024, comedy legend John Cleese joins psychiatrist and philosopher Dr. Iain McGilchrist to explore The Nature of Humour. Hosted by Wonderstruck’s Elizabeth Rovere, this session dives into the essential role of humor in understanding the mind, human relationships, and even our cultural divides.
Cleese, known for his work with Monty Python and as a writer, actor, and creator of iconic comedy, shares personal anecdotes and reflections on humor’s power to offer perspective in tough times. McGilchrist, renowned for his work on the brain’s hemispheres, adds a neuroscientific and philosophical lens, discussing how humor can foster resilience, empathy, and creativity by engaging the brain’s right hemisphere. Together, they discuss irony, the beauty of playful thinking, and how humor bridges intellectual and emotional experiences.
This conversation touches on how humor operates differently across cultures, the challenges posed by literal thinking, and the modern tendency toward ‘woke’ sensitivity that can misunderstand humor’s intent. With personal stories from Cleese’s childhood and insights on the limits of mechanistic thinking from McGilchrist, this discussion is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a must-watch for anyone curious about the intersection of comedy, psychology, and philosophy.”
Running time 1:00:43
December releases
Aligning with the Creative Impulse of the Universe
Iain McGilchrist in conversation with Niall McKeever, The Weekend University
00:00 Intro01:42 The Nature of Consciousness
07:29 Idealism’s Role in Consciousness
12:57 Pursuing Flourishing Through Complexity
22:09 Living in Alignment with Core Values
28:56 Embracing Skepticism and Inherent Value
32:31 Root Causes of Modern Crisis
42:19 Left vs. Right Brain and Learning
49:11 Writing as a Path of Personal Discovery
Running time 1:06:01
January releases
A Conversation with William Blake
“In this fascinating conversation, Dr Iain McGilchrist, Malcolm Guite and Roger Wagner discuss William Blake’s life, read Blake’s poetry, discuss some of his artwork, and include their own reflections and musings.”
Running time 1:29:12
God, Truth, & The Purpose of Life
Iain McGilchrist in conversation with Bernardo Kastrup
Running time 1:24:25
The Sophia Lectures With Dr Iain McGilchrist
Wholeness, Imagination and the Cosmos
Recorded in March 2024 and released in January 2025, the three part Wholeness, Imagination and the Cosmos series of talks formed part of the Sophia Lectures event hosted by Ralston College at its Savannah Campus in Georgia, USA.
Lecture 1: Division and Union
“Dr Iain McGilchrist delivers Division and Union, the first lecture in his three-part series, Wholeness, Imagination and the Cosmos. This thought-provoking talk delves into the relationship between opposites, parts, and wholes, offering a profound exploration of reality and our connection to it. Drawing on biology and philosophy, Dr McGilchrist invites us to see the world—and ourselves—in a new light.”
Running time 1:38:51
The Sophia Lectures With Dr Iain McGilchrist
Lecture 2: Symmetry and Asymmetry
“Dr Iain McGilchrist delivers Symmetry and Asymmetry, the second lecture in his three-part series, Wholeness, Imagination and the Cosmos. This compelling talk examines the generative power of asymmetry, challenging our deeply ingrained notions of balance, perfection, and creation. Drawing on physics, mathematics, biology, and art, Dr McGilchrist reveals how asymmetry drives life and meaning, taking us to the edge of chaos where the most fruitful conditions for existence arise.”
Running time 1:36:11
The Sophia Lectures With Dr Iain McGilchrist
Lecture 3: Finitude and the Infinite
“Dr Iain McGilchrist delivers Finitude and the Infinite, the final lecture in his three-part series, Wholeness, Imagination and the Cosmos. This illuminating talk reimagines infinity not as a distant abstraction but as an omnipresent reality woven into the fabric of existence. Exploring the interplay between the finite and the infinite, Dr McGilchrist reveals the profound role of imagination in bridging boundaries and unlocking the relational nature of being. Drawing on philosophy, art, and science, this lecture invites us to reconsider our place in a cosmos both intimate and vast.”
Running time 1:47:07
February releases
No free-to-view videos were released during February 2025.
March releases
Conversation of Michael Levin with Iain McGilchrist #2
A conversation on the topic of a recent paper by Michael Levin on the Platonic Space forms ingressing into the physical world in biology, causation, evolution, and mind. Read about developmental and synthetic biologist Michael Levin on Wikipedia
Running time 1:11:56
The Future of Humanity
Lecture One: The Sovereignty of Truth
A recording of Dr Iain McGilchrist’s lecture titled The Sovereignty of Truth, which he gave at The Future of Humanity. Hosted by Channel McGilchrist and The Scientific and Medical Network, this symposium was held at the Royal Institution in London on 26 October 2024.
Running time 1:01:38
Why Contemplation & Wonder Are Essential for the Future of Humanity
Iain McGilchrist in conversation with Nate Hagens
Nate Hagens is the co-founder and director of The Institute for the Study of Energy & Our Future, an organisation concerned with preparing society for the coming cultural transition. Formerly in the finance industry at Lehman Brothers and Salomon Brothers, he now focuses on understanding the interrelationships between energy, environment and finance, and the implication this synthesis has for human futures. He is the host of The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens podcast.
Visit the website of The Great Simplification
“When looking at our global challenges, it can be easier to focus on the external factors that could be different. Yet a critical part of creating impactful change is turning the scope of reflection inward towards how our patterns of thinking influence the way we contribute to our surroundings. Is it possible that a path toward a better future begins in our own heads?”
Running time 1:59:15
April releases
To date, no free-to-view videos have been released.
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External websites
Channel McGilchrist — free-to-view videos
Iain McGilchrist’s YouTube channel
Left Brain & Right Brain: 20 Brain Hemisphere Differences from “The Master and His Emissary” on Sloww.co website
This website
Iain McGilchrist
Iain McGilchrist and his theory of brain hemisphere differences
Resources for people exploring Iain McGilchrist’s work
The Matter with Things—one videoed conversation per chapter (29 in total)
General
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