Podcasts · The Next Generation

I Asked a Neuroscientist If I'm Even Real | #112

19 Oct 2026 · 1 h 10 min · S1 E112

Is there such a thing as ‘me’?Is reality actually the way I see it?Will we meld with AI and if so, what are the dangers?I got out my deepest questions for this one and the discussion was fascinating!Anil Seth is Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience and Director of the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science at the University of Sussex, as well as Co-Director of the CIFAR Program on Brain, Mind, and Consciousness. A leading researcher on the biological basis of experience, he is the author of the bestselling Being You: A New Science of Consciousness. His TED talk on how the brain constructs reality has been viewed over 15 million times - check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyu7v7nWzfoFind more from Anil: http://anilseth.com/Try SHIFT for 1 month totally free with my link: http://shiftyourphone.com/elliotApply to join the best podcast school in the world: https://thepodpro.com/elliotCHAPTERS:00:00 Coming up…00:33 Where does our consciousness go when we sleep?03:33 Is there such a thing as ’Me’?11:47 If I imagine a triangle, where is the triangle?20:24 Is there just one reality or do we all see the world differently?28:24 The psychology behind religious experiences34:19 The rubber hand experiment40:12 Why have we adapted to be like this?48:48 Do we need external systems to regulate us?52:22 The infinite pleasure machine and social media57:43 Will the next generation master AI, or will AI master them? Subscribe to my Substack to support the show and join the community! https://elliotbewick.substack.com/My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliotbewick/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elliotbewickX: https://x.com/elliotbewickABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION: In a world saturated by social media and marked by skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, and ADHD among Gen Z, young people are growing up in a landscape of chaos and contradiction. While protests swell in city streets and activists hurl soup at famous artworks to demand climate action, a quieter crisis unfolds within - the mental and emotional battles faced by a generation trying to make sense of it all.The Next Generation is hosted by 21-year-old Elliot Bewick, offering a raw and honest look at the world through the eyes of those living in it. Bringing together insight from professionals and young people on the ground, this podcast isn’t here to complain or chase clout. It’s here to bend the arc of the modern world towards solutions, truth and a love for the beautiful adventure of life itself.

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