The Architecture of Contemplation

Season One is now complete!

It's been an incredible journey to date, and I cannot wait to begin Season Two.

However, it seems only fitting, as I talk about contemplation, I too should take time to contemplate the podcast to date. I'd love to make sure this gets better and better for you all, which requires taking a moment to take stock, to evaluate, and to improve.

Expect massive upgrades to the soundscapes, even deeper conversations, incredible guests and many more gems to follow.

Keep up to date with the latest on the podcast, over at @thearchitectureofcontemplation.

Thank you so much for supporting this podcast. Here's to Season Two!

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"I find walking and contemplation go together like peanut butter and jelly."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Kevin Kelly's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"These environments, the ones that speak to me deepest, usually have trees."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Adam Gazzaley's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"I have gotten incredibly comfortable with being uncomfortable, and stepping into new territory."

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Adam Gazzaley. Amongst many other titles, Adam is  the Founder & Executive Director of Neuroscape, a translational neuroscience centre engaged in using technology to fundamentally enhance our cognition, refine our behaviour, and ultimately to improve our minds. "Our" here being the human animal, of course.

We cover Adam's ground-breaking work in experiential medicine, recent forays into psychedelic research, evolving into a leader at scale in parallel to recent fatherhood, being intrepid in the pursuit of new frontiers, and the power of being in quiet within nature.

The word for me that washes upon the shore of this conversation, is mastery. Adam is positively enlivened by following his curiosity into new and known fields, in mastering these domains, synthesising his learnings, and in turn creating tools that offer hope, and lend dignity, to the lives of millions of people.

We of course, also cover rest, respite and contemplation and it shall be of no surprise, that Adam is as intentional about instilling his life with restorative moments, as he is the pursuit of meaningful, life-ennobling work.

Without further ado I bring you, Adam Gazzaley.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"Nature was always the escape."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Xavi Bou's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"I am always looking to create a new technique to reveal new things."

Photographer Xavi Bou's aim is to make the invisible, visible. This may sound cryptic, and perhaps it should be, a little at least. Starting from but a few feet above our human heads, there is a whole other reality unfolding - that of the intricate intelligence and often elegant, flight paths of birds.

Xavi's journey has been a gradual one. In this conversation we talk about the ten year journey which has now resulted in Xavi's first book, Ornithograhpies, coverage in National Geographic, solo exhibits and teaching. Fortune favours the prepared, is a saying that comes to mind as being perfectly aligned to Xavi's recent, meteoric rise.

Xavi is an enchanting communicator about the marvels of the natural world. For me, graciousness is the word that feels most true of our conversation. There is an ease, and purity to Xavi's work and mission, and the gratitude he feels for being able to engage in such meaningful work. This conversation is wide-ranging, meditative and full of wisdom. As for rest, respite and contemplation, nature of course plays a massive part in the places, and spaces, that Xavi actively seeks out.

Without further ado I bring you Xavi Bou.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"I gift myself good sleep."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Ariel Ekblaw's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

Ariel Ekblaw is the Director of the MIT Space Exploration Initiative, and Co-founder and CEO of the Aurelia Institute.

Now, there may be two people here conversing on big topics, but there is also a third towering presence, that of Space. Ariel's current positions are firmly focused on the founding principle of the Aurelia Institute, that is, 'realising an in-space society into the 21st century and beyond.'

Ariel was raised with a clear sense of giving back. After a double major in Physics, Mathematics and Philosophy from Yale, positions in industry, and a Masters and PhD at MIT, Ariel has taken this ethic of service, and applied it to the domain of aerospace engineering. In collaboration with her team, and co-founders, hers is also an inclusive vision. Space is as much for artists, architects, and poets, as it is for hard scientists.

The word for me that emerged from this conversation, is expansive. Ariel is literally expanding human habitation into space, but also for me it expresses her ever-expanding pool of knowledge and deepening self-awareness, to expand a vision of the future that includes all. Topics covered include Ariel's PhD thesis which is now being tested in lower earth orbit, the space commons, biomimicry in space design, being a generative thinker and much more.

With one's gaze so often spent looking to the great above, Ariel is deliberate about the places, spaces, and things, that allow her to access states of rest, respite and contemplation here on earth. Winking books and deep immersion in nature, make an appearance.

Without further ado I bring you Ariel Ekblaw.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"There was a lot going on at my house, and so having time to rest in that way, where I really feel like I don't have anything to do right now, that's still relatively novel."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Dan Willingham's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"Your brain is completely insensitive to your desire to learn."

Dan Willingham is a Professor of cognitive science at the University of Virginia, and the author of Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning Is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy, his most recent book.

Dan's book spoke to me for it's deep pragmatism in this field of human learning, and it is the word that emerges for me, out of this conversation. Dan's work bridges the learnings of cognitive science with the real world implications, and possibilities, of these findings, and their transformational potential on learning, and teaching.

Topics covered include why the brain is not really built to think, the missing piece in teaching students how to learn, on why eduction elicits so much emotion, and the joy of walking in solitude.

As for rest, respite and contemplation, it's a journey that is unfolding for Dan, and his openness in this conversation, really moved me. We also talk stamp collecting. I'll leave it there for now...

Without further ado I bring you, Dan Willingham, author of Outsmart Your Brain.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"I make a conscious point of not doing things in the evening, and not doing work at the weekends."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Amrit Chandan's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"For me, contemplation is recognising that there are bigger forces in the universe than me, and being wholly reliant on those bigger forces to make it through this world."

Energy is the subject of our discussion today, in both literal, and metaphysical, terms. Here on Earth, we are in the midst of a great energy transition. This is where Amrit Chandan, co-founder and CEO of Aceleron Energy, and his co-founder Carlton, come in. 

Amrit joins me to discuss the ethics of a new energy paradigm and the broader stewardship of the Earth’s resources, entrepreneurship used in service to humanity, picking the right partners, and many more topics of deep import.

The word for me that coalesces around this conversation is sewa. It is a Sanskrit word, which translates to selfless service, a central tenet within the Sikh wisdom tradition, and one that is a core pillar within Amrit’s life, and work.

As for rest, respite and contemplation, Amrit speaks of the importance of family, coffee shops, and cultivating a personal practice of self-accountability.

Without further ado I bring you, Amrit Chandan of Aceleron Energy.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"Whether you find it calming, inspiring or thought-provoking, there is no denying the beauty and majesty of the night sky."

This is a Contemplation Capsule - a condensed version of the moments of rest, respite and contemplation, that I typically ask each of my guests to share.

Here, ChatGPT talks about looking out into the cosmos. 

Happy listening.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"While it is possible that some animals may experience emotions similar to awe, it is likely that the complex cognitive and effective processes that underlie human awe are unique to our species."

Today I am speaking with ChatGPT - yes, that's right, I 'spoke' to the text AI developed by OpenAI.

I wanted to know the big questions: what is awe, what wisdom has remained consistent across all ages, what is the neuroscience of mindfulness, on beauty, and much, much more. 

As for rest, respite and contemplation, I asked ChatGPT to articulate the feelings engendered when one looks out into the Cosmos.

Without further ado, I bring you my conversation with ChatGPT.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it; leave a review - these are massively impactful; show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

This is a compilation of the Contemplation Capsules. This is a condensed version of the moments of rest, respite and contemplation, that I typically ask each of my guests to share. 

They talk about their havens, the places they go to, when they seek a certain change of state - that could be states of creativity; of rest; of mind-wandering without the associated guilt. I hope you find something of use and value in the sharing of each of these individuals, who have been wonderful guests on the podcast, and really opened up about these inner worlds of theirs.

These Contemplation Capsules are short. You can dip into them at any point, as you like, whenever it's needed, as often as you want. There are no downsides and you need not consume the capsules with food or water (!).

I really hope you enjoy listening along. 

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

'I know, you never intended to be in this world. But you’re in it all the same. So why not get started immediately. I mean, belonging to it.'

An experiment in between episodes.

Contributions from Mary Oliver, and Friedrich Nietzsche and Bertrand Russell.

See you in infinity, friends.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"I like being bored."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside CW&T's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"There's no correlation between how much effort, energy, and how much excitement you might have for your product, versus how the world will receive it."

Today I am speaking with Che-Wei Wang and Taylor Levy, the duo behind the design practice, CW&T.

We talk about reframing time, memento mori, finding meaningful rituals and the accidental, but intuitive, development of a community around the studio, which allows for fellow passionate creators to share, and learn from, each other.

As for rest, respite and contemplation, we talk about art, being in quiet, and how often, there is a direct correlation between being rested, and, highly creative.

Without further ado, I bring you Che-Wei Wang and Taylor Levy.

H

To support this podcast:

- Share it, leave a review, show someone a little grace;

- Join in @thearchitectureofcontemplation;

- You can treat a coffee over at Patreon @hkaur (this is copiously consumed during a conversation; if I'm feeling particularly loquacious, I'll hit the matcha or cha).

"I believe that rest is very very necessary in order to think clearly, and to use yourself well."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Paola Antonelli's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

"It's not a secret that our society instills in us, not necessarily explicitly, but instills in us a feeling of guilt for not being on task."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Moshe Bar's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

"For the first time in my life I actually really allowed myself to rest, and I think through the process of resting I started to think over the years, how much I had defined myself through doing."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Dörte de Jesus' places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

"I would just get into this Zen state, where I couldn't really feel anything physically, but I could connect to things intellectually."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Kresse Wesling's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H

"I do believe it's very important for each one of us, at some time in a day, to unplug, where we don't have our cell phones with us and we just let our minds go where they want to go."

This is a Contemplation Capsule.

A distilled moment, to step inside Alan Lightman's places of rest, respite, and contemplation.

Happy listening.

H