Dr. Lisa Miller is a psychologist and scientist from Columbia University, widely regarded as the leading authority on the science of spirituality. While science and spirituality are often seen as opposites, Dr. Miller’s groundbreaking research reveals that the two are deeply interconnected.
Her work has shown that we are actually biologically hardwired for spirituality. So it’s no surprise her contributions have earned critical acclaim amongst fellow scientists and the media. In 2014, Dr. Miller’s TED Talk went viral, racking up 2.6 million views, where she demonstrated how spirituality can act as a protective shield against depression. Since then, her work has been featured by Big Think, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, TIME, and NBC.
She’s also authored two bestselling books – The Spiritual Child and The Awakened Brain.
In this episode, we dive deep into the research, exploring how science has proven our spiritual nature. Dr. Miller unpacks some really fascinating findings, including the role of synchronicity, the connection between spirituality and a sense of purpose, and why having something greater than yourself in life is essential.
We also discuss practical ways to cultivate spiritual awareness—both individually and then with other people. The beauty is that whether you consider yourself spiritual or not, this episode will open your eyes and unlock an entirely new way of looking at life.
CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro 1:59 - Silencing spirituality in public square 5:14 - Breakthroughs in science 12:20 - Spirituality is prescribed in our genetic code 15:05 - Spirituality vs. religion 18:00 - Addressing skeptics 21:18 - Synchronicities 25:36 - Trail angels 32:22 - The spiritual brain, explained 41:33 - The link between mental health & spirituality 49:55 - Spirituality makes sense of suffering 54:38 - Spirituality makes your brain healthier 1:00:07 - Dr. Miller’s own mystical experience 1:14:16 - Synchronicity studies & quantum mechanics 1:18:12 - “Consciousness doesn’t come from the brain” 1:22:46 - The two modes of awareness 1:32:00 - Practices to cultivate a spiritual life 1:37:21 - This study will blow your mind 1:40:10 - Dr. Andrew Newberg’s breakthrough study 1:42:05 - Addressing conflicts in faith traditions
Related Episodes: https://youtu.be/m-9o5aFAqrI?si=QwM0Vo6diwzLi_qt
Mighty Pursuit Links: Website: https://www.mightypursuit.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightypursuit/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mightypursuit/ X: https://x.com/MightyPursuit
Dr. Lisa Miller Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.lisamiller/ YouTube: https://amzn.to/4dhiTIZ
Visit our Truth Hub: https://mightypursuit.com/truth
For business inquiries: hello@mightypursuit.com
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com