Podcasts · Science · Health & Fitness

Science of Perception Box

Unlikely Collaborators | Pod People

22 episodes

Join renowned scientists Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch on the Science of Perception Box, where they delve into the Perception Box—a groundbreaking concept developed by Elizabeth R. Koch, that reveals how our beliefs, biases, and neural wiring shape our reality and define how we experience the world.

More about the show

Through captivating conversations with expert guests like psychiatrist Dr. Judson Brewer, anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher, and journalist Michael Pollan, the show explores how the Perception Box expands in states of awe, curiosity, and love, and contracts during fear, anxiety, or anger.

From mindfulness and romantic relationships to psychedelics and human connection, each episode uncovers transformative insights into unlocking greater awareness, fostering curiosity, and reshaping how we perceive the world.

New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow the journey and redefine your reality.

Episodes

  1. Can a Plant, a Chatbot, or Your Gut Be Conscious? With Michael Pollan

    · 1 h 00 min

    In this special live episode, journalist and bestselling author Michael Pollan explains how a psychedelic experience “smudged the windshield” of his consciousness and started the search behind his new book, A World…

  2. The ‘Self’ You Can’t Find with Sam Harris

    · 43 min

    Most of us feel like there's a "me" behind our eyes, a thinker of our thoughts and author of our choices. Author and Waking Up founder Sam Harris argues that when you look closely enough, that self disappears. Dr.…

  3. The Physics of Consciousness

    · 26 min

    Theoretical physicist Dr. Michio Kaku joins hosts Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch to explore what physics can teach us about consciousness and reality itself. Dr. Kaku argues that consciousness is best…

  4. How to Recover From Decades of Chronic Stress

    · 46 min

    Stress researcher Dr. Elissa Epel explains why the goal isn't to eliminate stress but to get better at recovering from it. She says that a sharp, short stress response followed by real rest is the hallmark of a young,…

  5. Are Your Emotions Telling You the Truth?

    · 48 min

    Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, psychologist and neuroscientist, joins hosts Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch to unpack her theory of constructed emotion: the idea that emotions aren't hardwired reactions but stories…

  6. The Hidden Rules Holding Society Together: Steven Pinker on Common Knowledge

    · 44 min

    Why do we speak in euphemisms instead of saying exactly what we mean? Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christoph Koch sat down with cognitive scientist and bestselling author Steven Pinker to explore common knowledge — not…

  7. Your Brain Lies to You (And That's a Good Thing): Anil Seth on Consciousness

    · 44 min

    What if everything you see, hear, and feel isn't real? What if it's just your brain's best prediction of what's real? Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch sat down with neuroscientist and consciousness researcher…

  8. Overcoming the Victim Mindset with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman

    · 31 min

    Psychologist Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman explores the difference between victimhood and victim mindset, explaining why learned helplessness is actually our default state, and how developing agency is the key to…

  9. Your Body’s Operating Manual: Andrew Huberman on the Mind-Body Connection

    · 45 min

    Even though our experiences are shaped by unconscious patterns and bodily sensations, we have the agency to actively transform them simply by staying present and aware. Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch sit down…

  10. Stop Trying to Fix People: Mel Robbins on the Power of Letting Go

    · 49 min

    How much of your energy is focused on trying to change people who aren't ready to change? Best-selling author and podcast host Mel Robbins joins Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch to explore what happens when you…

  11. How Much Risk Should Kids Take?

    · 51 min · S2 E201

    Dr. Camilo Ortiz, clinical psychologist and creator of Independence Therapy, joins hosts Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch to unpack why the instinct in modern parenting to protect kids from every risk may be…

  12. Science of Perception Box is Back with a New Season

    · 1:20 · S2 E200 · Trailer

    Why do two people witness the same event and walk away with entirely different experiences of what happened? Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch return for Season 2 of Science of Perception Box, exploring the…

  13. Psychedelics and the Placebo Effect with Dr. Boris Heifets

    · 48 min · S1 E9

    Can psychedelics under anesthesia heal trauma? What is the latest research around ketamine, MDMA, and psilocybin? That’s part of what we explore this week on Science of Perception Box. Stanford anesthesiologist Dr.…

  14. Is Time Real? How Your Brain Perceives the Past with Dr. Lila Davachi

    · 45 min · S1 E8

    Ever wonder why time seems to fly or crawl? From ancient philosophers to modern neuroscientists, the nature of time has captivated human curiosity. This week on Science of Perception Box, we investigate the…

  15. Why Your Brain Needs Awe and Wonder with Dr. Dacher Keltner

    · 39 min · S1 E7

    When was the last time you felt absolutely mesmerized by something beautiful? Whether it’s seeing a breathtaking vista, losing yourself in a piece of music, or being in a crowd cheering for the same team, the feeling…

  16. Cultivating More Childhood Wonder with Dr. Alison Gopnik

    · 48 min · S1 E6

    How can parents embrace science in order to give their children the best possible environment to thrive in? Cognitive development expert Dr. Alison Gopnik joins us to discuss how navigating challenges fosters healthier…

  17. Why Did We Evolve to Feel Romantic Love? with Dr. Helen Fisher

    · 46 min · S1 E5

    We long for love. We die for love. We kill for love. But why do we love? Cohosts Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christoph Koch ask this question to Helen Fisher, PhD. who dedicated her career to researching romantic love.…

  18. How Does Our Cultural Identity Influence Us? with Dr. Daphna Oyserman

    · 49 min · S1 E4

    Our cultural lenses can expand our Perception Box or contract it, keeping us closed off to new opportunities. So how do we become aware of the personal influences that shape our perceptions? In this episode of Science…

  19. A Case of Mistaken Identity with Dr. Dan Siegel

    · 52 min · S1 E3

    What is the mind? Does the mind exist only in your own Perception Box, or is there a greater connection of consciousness? In this episode of Science of Perception Box, cohosts Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christoph Koch…

  20. How Food Affects Your Mind with Michael Pollan

    · 46 min · S1 E2

    Humans have a symbiotic relationship with plants. Plants coevolved to suit our desires for nourishment, beauty, and altering consciousness. Journalist Michael Pollan has investigated the human connection to plants.…

  21. How Curiosity Quiets Anxiety with Dr. Judson Brewer

    · 42 min · S1 E1

    Anxiety can make us feel like we’re trapped in our brain. So how do we open the door and gain freedom? This week in our inaugural episode, Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch invite Dr. Judson Brewer to discuss…

  22. Introducing: Science of Perception Box

    · 1:48 · Trailer

    Join renowned scientists Dr. Heather Berlin and Dr. Christof Koch on the Science of Perception Box, where they delve into the Perception Box—a groundbreaking concept developed by Elizabeth R. Koch, that reveals how our…

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