Erik reflects on a decade of podcasting, the learning curves of the show, the work of conversation, the uncanniness of our moment.

Expanding Mind – Summer Pause

A conversation with my wife Jennifer Dumpert about collaborative dreaming, iPad skrying, meditation, play, the problem with interpretation, and her new bookLiminal Dreaming: Exploring Consciousness at the Edges of Sleep (North Atlantic). 

A conversation with my wife <a href="http://urbandreamscape.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jennifer Dumpert</a> about collaborative dreaming, iPad skrying, meditation, play, the problem with interpretation, and her new bookLiminal Dreaming: Exploring Consciousness at the Edges of Sleep (North Atlantic).

Expanding Mind – Liminal Mind

A discussion with meditation teacher and author Michael Taft  about hardcore dharma, Buddhist modernism, shop talk, the soup of the sangha, and the problem of the achievement self and the blind leading the blind.

A discussion with meditation teacher and author <a href="https://deconstructingyourself.com/michael-w-taft" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michael Taft</a>  about hardcore dharma, Buddhist modernism, shop talk, the soup of the sangha, and the problem of the achievement self and the blind leading the blind.

Expanding Mind – Deconstructing Yourself

An informative chat with psychedelic researcher Dr. Alexander Belser about qualitative research, the Mystical Experience Questionnaire, queer spiritualities, and the idea of coming “out of the psychedelic closet.”

An informative chat with psychedelic researcher <a href="http://alexbelser.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Alexander Belser</a> about qualitative research, the Mystical Experience Questionnaire, queer spiritualities, and the idea of coming “out of the psychedelic closet.”

Expanding Mind – Queering Psychedelia

A conversation with philosopher of religion Mary-Jane Rubenstein about wonder, horror, animism, the multiverse, Heidegger, Einstein, Hawaiian telescopes, and her book Pantheologies: Gods, Worlds, Monsters (Columbia).

A conversation with philosopher of religion Mary-Jane Rubenstein about wonder, horror, animism, the multiverse, Heidegger, Einstein, Hawaiian telescopes, and her book Pantheologies: Gods, Worlds, Monsters (Columbia).

Expanding Mind – Sacred Matter

A talk with experience designer Ida Benedetto about transformative games, trespassing, rules for sex parties, active introversion, magic circles, funerals, and queer spirituality.

A talk with experience designer <a href="http://uncommonplaces.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ida Benedetto</a> about transformative games, trespassing, rules for sex parties, active introversion, magic circles, funerals, and queer spirituality.

Expanding Mind – Patterns of Transformation

Entheogenic and community activists Larry Norris and Kufikiri talk about decriminalizing entheogenic plant medicines within Oakland: blind spots, changing the narrative, and resisting “the metronome of programming."

Expanding Mind – Decriminalize Nature

Poet Janaka Stucky talks about guerrilla poetry, burlesque horror, mystical language, shame, prophecy, and the strange DMT experiences that inspired his latest book, Ascend Ascend (Third Mind Books).

Poet <a href="http://janakastucky.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Janaka Stucky</a> talks about guerrilla poetry, burlesque horror, mystical language, shame, prophecy, and the strange DMT experiences that inspired his latest book, Ascend Ascend (Third Mind Books).

Expanding Mind – Feral Poetics

Science and technology researcher Rebecca Jablonsky talks about consciousness hacking, tech ethnography, information ecosystems, media fasts, and the ups and downs of outsourcing awareness.

Science and technology researcher <a href="http://rebeccajablonsky.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rebecca Jablonsky</a> talks about consciousness hacking, tech ethnography, information ecosystems, media fasts, and the ups and downs of outsourcing awareness.

Expanding Mind – Meditation Apps

Poet and literary scholar Stephen Yenser talks about James Merrill's poetic epic The Changing Light at Sandover (1982).

Poet and literary scholar <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/stephen-yenser" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stephen Yenser</a> talks about James Merrill's poetic epic The Changing Light at Sandover (1982).

Expanding Mind – Ouija Board Poetics

Progressiveradionetwork.com presents Expanding Mind with Erik Davis. He explores the culture of consciousness: magic, spirituality, psychology, technology.

Erik&#39;s unique vision of conversations (not just interviews) around the cultures of consciousness would be the best of its kind if Expanding Mind weren&#39;t the only one of its kind. Wide range of creative, well-spoken guests (not all white men!) around the strange attractors of philosophy, psychedelics, the weird and the occult, religion and magic, meditation and spirituality, science and science fiction, festival culture, cultural history and pivotal personalities. A smart, funny, thought provoking mind stretch just about every week, and almost a decade of bingeable backlist. My favorite &#39;cast. I hope he finds a new vision and starts &#39;casting again soon!

"Stoner, Seeker & Intellect"

Relatively new fan, here. I initially heard this guy during a guest interview on some other psycedelia-related podcast, which I&#39;ve now forgotten since I switched over to listening to Expanding Mind. Erik is erudite, well-spoken, a generous interviewer, a fascinating soloist (do more of those &#34;rap&#34; episodes Erik!), and has a wonderful &#34;even keel but open-minded&#34; quality to his approach, even when dealing with subjects that are very much out there.  I see a lot of Robert Anton Wilson in his methodology too. Just a fantastic podcast all around. Definitely on board with the Patreon, and looking forward to High Weirdness. Edit: High Weirdness was a tour de force. Tremendous respect for this guy&#39;s work and this podcast. Hope you come back, Erik!

Fantastic podcast.

<a href="http://Progressiveradionetwork.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Progressiveradionetwork.com</a> presents Expanding Mind with Erik Davis. He explores the culture of consciousness: magic, spirituality, psychology, technology.

Expanding Mind

Scholar, writer, and mythographer William Rowlandson talks about Jorge Luis Borges, magical trees, Yankee mysticism, and the power of the weird and murky.  https://williamrowlandson.wordpress.com/

Scholar, writer, and mythographer William Rowlandson talks about Jorge Luis Borges, magical trees, Yankee mysticism, and the power of the weird and murky.  <a href="https://williamrowlandson.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://williamrowlandson.wordpress.com/</a>

Expanding Mind - Imaginal Landscapes - 10.12.17

Tao Lin

A conversation with alt-lit novelist, poet, and artist Tao Lin, about Terence McKenna, feeling happy (or not), degenerate humans, writing trip reports, and his refreshing new non-fiction book Trip: Psychedelics, Alienation, and Change (Vintage). 

A conversation with alt-lit novelist, poet, and artist Tao Lin, about Terence McKenna, feeling happy (or not), degenerate humans, writing trip reports, and his refreshing new non-fiction book Trip: Psychedelics, Alienation, and Change (Vintage).

Expanding Mind - Tao Lin Trips - 05.03.18

Israeli therapist, spiritual teacher, and psychedelic activist Galia Tanay talks about deep dharma practice, the problems with mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and how psychedelics shape the self.

Expanding Mind - Into the Muck - 09.21.17

Grateful Dead scholar and professor Ulf Olsson talks about improvisation, self-organization, pirate ships, and his new book Listening for the Secret: The Grateful Dead and the Politics of Improvisation (University of California Press).

Grateful Dead scholar and professor Ulf Olsson talks about improvisation, self-organization, pirate ships, and his new book Listening for the Secret: The Grateful Dead and the Politics of Improvisation (University of California Press).

Expanding Mind - Studying the Dead - 08.10.17

Hypermedia researcher and author Konrad Becker talks about algorithms from hell, the madness of rationality, media seances, and the martial art of freedom. http://world-information.net/en/

Hypermedia researcher and author Konrad Becker talks about algorithms from hell, the madness of rationality, media seances, and the martial art of freedom. <a href="http://world-information.net/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://world-information.net/en/</a>

Expanding Mind - Occult Control Systems - 04.20.17

A conversation with Ken Layne, the maestro of the Desert Oracle podcast and field guide, about Joshua trees, desert Christianity, Edward Abbey, military secrecy, and the mysterious (and smelly) Yucca Man of local legend.

A conversation with Ken Layne, the maestro of the <a href="http://desertoracle.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Desert Oracle</a> podcast and field guide, about Joshua trees, desert Christianity, Edward Abbey, military secrecy, and the mysterious (and smelly) Yucca Man of local legend.

Expanding Mind - Desert Oracle - 04.26.18

A juicy chat with occultist Joe Max about punk-rock sorcery, Cthulhu invocations, intensity and fear, and the power of chaos magic in rave-era San Francisco. 

A juicy chat with occultist Joe Max about punk-rock sorcery, Cthulhu invocations, intensity and fear, and the power of chaos magic in rave-era San Francisco.

Expanding Mind - Chaos Magic Flashbacks - 03.29.18

Futurist, science journalist, and Boing Boing co-editor David Pescovitz discusses space exploration, Carl Sagan the stoner, and the recent release of the Voyager Golden Record.

Futurist, science journalist, and Boing Boing co-editor David Pescovitz discusses space exploration, Carl Sagan the stoner, and the recent release of the Voyager Golden Record.

Expanding Mind - The Voyager Golden Record - 10.05.17

In part one of our conversation, author, blogger, and dreamer Eric Wargo talks about uncertainty, determinism, Zen, and his book Time Loops: Precognition, Retrocausation, and the Unconscious. 

In part one of our conversation, author, blogger, and dreamer <a href="http://thenightshirt.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eric Wargo</a> talks about uncertainty, determinism, Zen, and his book Time Loops: Precognition, Retrocausation, and the Unconscious.

Expanding Mind –  Time Loops - 09.27.18

A talk with religious scholar Diana Pasulka about UFOs, scientific believers, book encounters, elite cabals, studying weirdness, and her new book American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology (Oxford).

A talk with religious scholar Diana Pasulka about UFOs, scientific believers, book encounters, elite cabals, studying weirdness, and her new book American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology (Oxford).

Expanding Mind – American Cosmic, Part One

A conversation with futurist, inventor, and educator Mark Pesce about Faustian bargains, Facebook mind control, surveillance capitalism, and his bracing recent article “The Last Days of Reality.”https://www.markpesce.com/

A conversation with futurist, inventor, and educator Mark Pesce about Faustian bargains, Facebook mind control, surveillance capitalism, and his bracing recent article <a href="https://meanjin.com.au/essays/the-last-days-of-reality/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“The Last Days of Reality.”</a><a href="https://www.markpesce.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.markpesce.com/</a>

Expanding Mind - Goodbye Reality - 02.22.18

Designer and technology critic Adam Greenfield talks about magic bullets, the melancholy of machines, Tesla’s Autopilot, and his must-read new book Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life (Verso). 

Designer and technology critic <a href="https://speedbird.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adam Greenfield</a> talks about magic bullets, the melancholy of machines, Tesla’s Autopilot, and his must-read new book Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life (Verso).

Expanding Mind - Radical Technologies - 09.11.17

A conversation with historian of religion April DeConick about altered states, religious conspiracy theory, and her new book The Gnostic New Age. 

A conversation with historian of religion April DeConick about altered states, religious conspiracy theory, and her new book The Gnostic New Age.

Expanding Mind - The Gnostic New Age - 02.15.18

Research scientist and UK sociologist Tehseen Noorani talks about hearing voices, pharmacological biases, studying psilocybin studies, and the importance of trickster teachers. His talk at Psychedelic Science is available here.

Research scientist and UK sociologist Tehseen Noorani talks about hearing voices, pharmacological biases, studying psilocybin studies, and the importance of trickster teachers. His talk at Psychedelic Science is available <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnlZBAyJcHc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.

Expanding Mind - Psychedelic Pedagogy - 07.13.17

Historian and astrophysicist Adam Becker—author of What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics—talks about Schrödinger’s Cat, Bell’s Theorem, and the difference between weirdness and nonsense.

Historian and astrophysicist <a href="http://freelanceastrophysicist.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Adam Becker</a>—author of What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics—talks about Schrödinger’s Cat, Bell’s Theorem, and the difference between weirdness and nonsense.

Expanding Mind – Reality Physics

A wide-ranging conversation with historian of religion Dustin Atlas about certainty, skepticism, antisemitism, gnosis, and the politics of knowledge. Read Dustin’s blog thoughts on this and other matters at https://blogblawgblog.wordpress.com/.

A wide-ranging conversation with historian of religion Dustin Atlas about certainty, skepticism, antisemitism, gnosis, and the politics of knowledge. Read Dustin’s blog thoughts on this and other matters at <a href="https://blogblawgblog.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://blogblawgblog.wordpress.com/</a>.

Expanding Mind - Theorizing Conspiracy Theory - 01.11.18

A talk with gnostic scholar Matthew Dillon about religious mourning, the Nag Hammadi library, sex magick Jesus, the gnostic Eden, David Icke’s lizards, and the power of the archons as an allegory of contemporary technological and political power.

Expanding Mind - The Archons Are Back - 07.19.18

Neuroscientist and former psychedelic researcher Matthew Baggot talks about anxious mysticism, the MAPS conference, the default mode network, and the blind spots within psychedelic research.

Expanding Mind - Psychedelic Science - 04.27.17

A conversation with author Michael Pollan about psychedelic awe, trip reports, the mental health crisis, underground therapists and his book How to Change your Mind (Penguin).

A conversation with author Michael Pollan about psychedelic awe, trip reports, the mental health crisis, underground therapists and his book How to Change your Mind (Penguin).

Expanding Mind - Mind Change - 07.05.18

A chat with occult writer and drug geek Julian Vayne about Baphomet, the (sur)reality of spirits, evolution, ritualizing entheogens, and his new book Getting Higher: The Manual of Psychedelic Ceremony. https://theblogofbaphomet.com/

A chat with occult writer and drug geek Julian Vayne about Baphomet, the (sur)reality of spirits, evolution, ritualizing entheogens, and his new book Getting Higher: The Manual of Psychedelic Ceremony. <a href="https://theblogofbaphomet.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://theblogofbaphomet.com/</a>

Expanding Mind - Getting Higher - 02.08.18

The best podcast episodes on romantic relationships. Episodes talk about the 5 love languages, intimacy, and the taboo topics of sexual desires and infidelity. This topic is a deep dive into the science and complexities that face us in our relationships with others. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Relationships & Love

What is this?
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from a carefully curated podcast episode.
Every Monday & Wednesday.

Want a 3rd insight and episode every week? Email me at curation@owltail.com.