What Lies Beyond Podcast

Afleveringen

1. Pursuing the Inconceivable | Peter Guy Jones

   4 december 2025 · 1 uur 42 min

   Afspelen
   Show Notes Lees meer

   Season 3 Episode 4 ‘Pursuing the Inconceivable’

   Today my guest is Peter Guy Jones. Peter has had a career as a musician, studio engineer and CEO of a music and media company. He has devoted two decades to the research that informs his new book, In Pursuit of the Inconceivable. Over time he’s developed the view that most philosophers approach their chosen subject in an ineffective way, failing to address global and foundational issues before moving on to a study of the endless details, becoming trapped in a maze of problems without resolution.

   He believes this to be the consequence of not engaging with the world-theory endorsed by the writers of the Indian Upanishads, the Buddha, Lao Tzu, Meister Eckhart and, many would say, Jesus and Muhammad. His mission is to persuade readers that when philosophy is approached in a naïve, open-minded and rigorous manner it may be rendered problem-free and comprehensible, and the world and human nature along with it. Join us for a provocative and hopefully enlightening dialogue!

   Resources

   Website of Peter Guy Jones.

   His Substack.

   Jones, P.G. (2025). In Pursuit of the Inconceivable: An Investigation of Metaphysics and Mysticism. Essentia Books.

   My review of In Pursuit of the Inconceivable.

   Thanks for reading WHAT LIES BEYOND! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

   People/Topics Mentioned

   Strange Loops! A classic strange loop in logic is Epimenides’ paradox. See also Escher’s waterfall, above.

   There’s one in Doctor Who, from ‘Castrovalva’ (1982).

   More Strange Loops in:

   Hofstader, D.R. (1979). Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid. Penguin.

   Nagarjuna. (Peter’s pronunciation of his name in the interview is more accurate than mine!)

   ‘Middle Way’ Buddhist philosophy.

   Catuṣkoṭi (4-way logic).

   Gospel of Thomas.

   Meister Eckhart.

   350+ theories of consciousness.

   Dan Dennett’s book:

   Dennett, D. (1991). Consciousness Explained. Allen Lane.

   Bertrand Russell on mysticism:

   Russell, B…

2. A Life of Philip K Dick | Anthony Peake

   20 november 2025 · 1 uur 55 min

   Afspelen
   Show Notes Lees meer

   Season 3 Episode 3 ‘A Life of Philip K Dick’

   Today I have a dialogue with returning guest Anthony Peake. Anthony is a writer who deals with borderline areas of human consciousness. His first book, ‘Is There Life After Death?’, was published by Arcturus books in 2006. It detailed Anthony’s ‘Cheating the ferryman’ hypothesis, which argues that we experience our lives over and over again, like the movie Groundhog Day. This book has now sold over 60,000 copies world-wide and has been translated into various foreign language editions.

   In 2013, Anthony Peake published a book on the Science Fiction writer Philip K. Dick, also known as PKD. Anthony sees many intriguing parallels between Philip K Dick’s ideas and his own. So in today’s feature-length dialogue, we take a deep dive into the life and literary career of PKD. We discuss the weird experiences that inspired much of that fiction. And we attempt to draw out the significance of PKD’s work for our understanding of consciousness, reality and time.

   Thanks for reading WHAT LIES BEYOND! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

   Resources

   Anthony Peake’s website.

   His Book on Philip K. Dick:

   Peake, A. (2013). A Life of Philip K. Dick: The Man Who Remembered the Future. Arcturus Editions.

   PKD is also mentioned in:

   Peake, A. (2010). Daemon: A Guide to Your Extraordinary Secret Self. Arcturus.

   Anthony’s J.B. Priestley talk on YouTube from July 2025.

   Philip K Dick: Works Mentioned

   The Exegesis:

   Dick, P.K. (2012). The Exegesis of Philip K Dick. Gollancz.

   Sibyl illustration:

   Novels Mentioned:

   Dick, P.K. (1956). The World Jones Made. Ace Books.

   Dick, P.K. (1959). Time Out of Joint. J. B. Lippincott Company.

   Dick, P.K. (1962). The Man in the High Castle. Putnam.

   Dick, P.K. (1967). Counter Clock World. Berkley Books.

   Dick, P.K. (1968). Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Doubleday.

   Dick, P.K. (1969). Ubik. Doubleday.

   Dick,P.K. (1977). A Scanner Darkly. Doubleday.

   Dick, P.K. (198…

3. Science of Magic | Dean Radin

   6 november 2025 · 1 uur 8 min

   Afspelen
   Show Notes Lees meer

   Season 3 Episode 2 ‘Science of Magic’

   Today my guest is Dean Radin. Dean is Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), Associated Distinguished Professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and cofounder and vice chairman of the neuroengineering company, Cognigenics. He earned an MS (electrical engineering) and a PhD (psychology) from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. In 2022 he was awarded an Honorary DSc (doctor of science) from the Swami Vivekananda University in Bangalore, India.

   Before joining the IONS research staff in 2001, Radin worked at AT&T Bell Labs, Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, and SRI International. He has given over 780 talks and interviews worldwide, and he is inventor of 12 patents and author or coauthor of 340+ scientific and popular articles, book chapters, and books, four of which have been translated into 15 foreign languages. These are The Conscious Universe (1997), Entangled Minds (2006), Supernormal (2013), Real Magic (2018), and most recently The Science of Magic, published in October 2025.

   In today’s show we discuss the current status of the evidence in parapsychology. Dean describes some of his experiences working at the STARGATE Remote viewing program for US Intelligence. We talk about the challenges of designing experiments in parapsychology. And we discuss the relationship between psi phenomena and magic.

   Resources

   Dean Radin’s website.

   His page at IONS.

   His books:

   Radin, D. (2025). The Science of Magic: How the Mind Weaves the Fabric of Reality. Harmony Books.

   Radin, D. (2018). Real Magic: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science, and a Guide to the Secret Power of the Universe: Unlocking Your Natural Psychic Abilities to Create Everyday Miracles. Harmony/Rodale/Convergent.

   Radin, D. (2013). Supernormal: Science, Yoga, and the Evidence for Extraordinary Psychic Abilities. Harmony/Rodale/Convergent.

   Radin, D. (2006). Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a …

4. Signs of Reincarnation | Jim Matlock

   16 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 49 min

   Afspelen
   Show Notes Lees meer

   Season 3 Episode 1 ‘Signs of Reincarnation’

   Today my guest is Dr. James Matlock. Jim received a B.A. in English from Emory University in 1977 and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Southern Illinois at Carbondale in 2002. He has worked at the American Society for Psychical Research in New York City and at the Rhine Research Center in Durham, North Carolina. He is presently a Research Fellow at the Parapsychology Foundation. His chief research interests are the history of parapsychology, anthropology of religion, and reincarnation. Jim also teaches a 15-week online seminar course on reincarnation research and theory.

   In today’s interview, we discuss the fascinating and puzzling phenomenon of children who seem accurately to recall past lives. We discuss the pioneering work of the Canadian-born psychiatrist Ian Stevenson, who founded the field. We examine some of the arguments of the skeptics. And we take a deep dive into startling cases where children exhibit not only memories but also behaviours and birthmarks associated with their past lives. We finish by discussing the shattering implications for these cases for understanding the human condition.

   Resources

   Jim Matlock’s website, including links to his ‘Signs of Reincarnation’ online course and Facebook page.

   His book:

   Matlock, J. (2019). Signs of Reincarnation: Exploring Beliefs, Cases, and Theory. Rowman & Littlefield.

   Rylann O’Bannion reincarnation case. discussed in the episode. Entry in the Psi Encyclopedia.

   A good general introduction to this work is episode 3 of the BBC documentary, In Search of the Dead. Includes discussion of the discussed case where a birth deformity seemed to reflect an accident with a thresher in a previous life.

   Thanks for reading WHAT LIES BEYOND! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

   Ian Stevenson

   Psi Encyclopaedia entry on Ian Stevenson.

   Stevenson’s key books:

   Stevenson, I. (1966). Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation. …

5. Free Will in Nature | Jem Bendell

   5 juni 2025 · 1 uur 33 min

   Afspelen
   Show Notes Lees meer

   Season 2 Episode 11 ‘Free Will in Nature’

   Today my guest is Jem Bendell. Before the summer of 2023, Jem was a full Professor of Sustainability Leadership and Founder of the Initiative for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) at the University of Cumbria. He was also the founder of the Deep Adaptation Forum and the co-founder of the International Scholars’ Warning on Societal Disruption and Collapse. A major transformation in his career began in 2017 as he took a year out to study the latest climate science and released the Deep Adaptation paper which went viral.

   After the release of his book Breaking Together in May 2023, Jem decided to leave employment as a full Professor in the UK. Jem then entered a new phase of his life, where the development of the Bekandze regenerative farm school in Bali and playing devotional music for groups become his main focus. He still writes and lectures on collapse readiness and response.

   Jem begins today’s discussion with an outline of the main thesis of Breaking Together: that societies globally have already begun to experience climate breakdown driven collapse. This gives a context for our main discussion of free will in nature. We look at the claims by some biologists and neuroscientists that free will is an illusion. Jem suggests reasons to doubt this verdict, and why free will might in fact exist throughout the natural world. We discuss Buddhist and Vedantic ideas about consciousness. And Jem explains why it’s crucial to admit the limitations of our knowledge in the face of the ultimate questions about life and death.

   Resources

   Jem Bendell’s website

   His book, which includes chapters detailing the evidence for ongoing global systemic collapse. Chapter 11 discusses free will:

   Bendell, J. (2023). Breaking together: A freedom-loving response to collapse. Schumacher Institute

   Free audio reading of the introduction to Breaking Together.

   His first essay in a series about Free Will. (Includes a discussion of the L…

6. Transpersonal Psychology for Global Flourishing | Jessica Bockler

   29 mei 2025 · 1 uur 6 min

   Afspelen
   Show Notes Lees meer

   Season 2 Episode 10 ‘Transpersonal Psychology for Global Flourishing’

   Today my guest is Jessica Bockler, PhD. Jessica is an applied artist, transpersonal psychologist and Co-founding Director of the Alef Trust. She serves as Deputy CEO and works across Alef Trust’s academic and applied portfolios. Trained in applied and physical theatre, Jessica has extensive experience of expressive arts facilitation, as well as experimental movement and voice work. She specializes in embodied approaches to accessing creativity and imagination, and she is the founder of Creative Alternatives, an arts-based mental wellbeing service in the UK, which provides creative interventions to adults experiencing depression, stress and/or anxiety. The service is one of the longest established social prescribing projects in the UK and has won several awards for innovation in public service delivery.

   We begin with a look at how creativity, imagination and play can enhance your mental health. We explore the connections between embodiment, transpersonal psychology and mystical experience. Jessica describes some of her work with the Conscious Community Initiative, which explores the intersections between inner transpersonal practice and social change. We discuss the Inner Development Goals of the UN. And we finish with an important dialogue on how to acknowledge and respond constructively to the current moment of political, cultural and ecological turmoil.

   Resources

   The Alef Trust

   Jessica at the Alef Trust.

   The Conscious Community Initiative

   Fields of Change

   Topics discussed

   Maharishi Effect paper

   The Global Consciousness Project

   Entangled Activist:

   Lawson, A. (2023). The Entangled Activist: Learning to recognise the master's tools. Perspectiva Press.

   Burnout:

   Wright, S. (2021). Burnout: a spiritual crisis: from stress to transformation. Sacred Space Publications.

   Negative emotions:

   Goleman, D. (2004). Destructive Emotions and How We Can Overcome Them. Bloomsbury Publis…

7. Free What Lies Beyond Chapter One Audio Reading

   22 mei 2025 · 48 min

   Afspelen
   This a free audio recording of Chapter 1 of What Lies Beyond: Consciousness, Science, the Paranormal and the Post-Materialist Future. Read by the author, Matt Colborn. What Lies Beyond will be available for purchase at Amazon and other retail outlets from Tuesday May 27th. (From June 1st in the US). Lees meer

   Amazon UK

   Amazon US

   Title Music: ‘Stranger things’ by Music Unlimited on Pixabey.

   Thanks for reading WHAT LIES BEYOND! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatliesbeyond.substack.com

8. Miracles of Our Own Making | Liz Williams

   15 mei 2025 · 54 min

   Afspelen
   Show Notes Lees meer

   Season 2 Episode 9 ‘Miracles of Our Own Making ’

   Today my guest is Liz Williams. Liz holds a PhD in the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge. She is a science fiction and fantasy writer living in Glastonbury, England. She has been published by Bantam Spectra (US) and Tor Macmillan (UK) and is currently published by New Con Press, Reaktion Books, Llewellyn Books, Open Road and Thames and Hudson.

   Liz is also an occultist and a pagan and has published several non-fiction books on that topic. One is the 2020 book Miracles of Our Own Making: A History of Paganism. Another is the 2025 book Compendium of the Occult: Arcane Artifacts, Magic Rituals, and Sacred Symbolism. She is also the author of Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain.

   In our dialogue we discuss the status of AI and consciousness studies. We look at the intersection between consciousness, imagination and creativity. We touch on the value of Science Fiction for thinking about other worldviews. And we discuss Liz’s background in paganism and the occult.

   Thanks for reading WHAT LIES BEYOND! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

   Resources

   Liz Williams website.

   Liz Williams fantastic fiction page (lists her fiction).

   My original interview with Liz Williams from Interzone Magazine (discusses Liz’s first two novels The Ghost Sister and Empire of Bones).

   Nonfiction Books

   Williams, L. (2025). Compendium of the Occult: Arcane Artifacts, Magic Rituals, and Sacred Symbolism. Thames & Hudson.

   Williams, L. (2025). Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain. Reaktion Books.

   Williams, L. (2020). Miracles of Our Own Making: A History of Paganism. Reaktion Books

   Jones, T. & Williams, L. (2012). Diary of a Witchcraft Shop. NewCon Press.

   Topics Discussed

   Artificial Intelligence

   Gary Marcus’ critical blog on Artificial Intelligence.

   Human beings have causal models in their heads:

   Pearl, J. (2019). …

9. The Ghost Experience | Ciaran O'Keeffe

   8 mei 2025 · 1 uur 22 min

   Afspelen
   Show Notes Lees meer

   Season 2 Episode 8 ‘The Ghost Experience’

   Today my guest is Ciaran O’Keeffe. Ciaran is an Associate Professor of Education and Head of the School of Human & Social Sciences at Bucks New University. He is a popular sceptical voice on various paranormal shows and podcasts. Ciaran has become best known for his regular appearances on Living TV’s Most Haunted and later for featuring on the popular BBC podcast and TV show Uncanny, which is now in its second series on BBC 2.

   Ciaran’s paranormal research has focussed on testing mediums & psychics in the lab and also field-work examining ghostly experiences. It has been reported in The Psychologist, The Times, The Independent, New Scientist and elsewhere. He has been involved in many unusual projects: physiological effects of infrasound in the Royal Festival Hall; ghost investigation of Hampton Court Palace; an exorcism ‘training day’; Hostage Negotiation simulations and lie detecting for the film Spy Game. He has written a number of ‘paranormal’ books including GhostHunters: A Guide to Investigating the Paranormal and is a co-author of the key work Ghosted!: Exploring the Haunting Reality of Paranormal Encounters.

   The main focus of today’s fascinating talk is the ghost and poltergeist experience. Ciaran draws upon his extensive knowledge as a psychologist and parapsychologist, and on decades of talking to eyewitnesses of extraordinary and unsettling events. We discuss ‘Haunted People Syndrome’ and why it’s important to ‘loosen up’ when considering fantastic claims. We also discuss a shared love of the 1984 movie Ghostbusters!

   Thanks for reading WHAT LIES BEYOND! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

   Resources

   Ciaran’s Linktree page, with details of his writing and projects.

   Page at Buckinghamshire New University:

   https://www.bucks.ac.uk/about-us/our-staff/ciaran-okeeffe

   Books

   Laythe, B. et al. (2021). Ghosted!: Exploring the Haunting Reality of Paranormal Encounters. McFarland.
   …

10. The Transliminal Mind | Christine Simmonds-Moore

    1 mei 2025 · 1 uur 17 min

    Afspelen
    Show Notes Lees meer

    ‘Season 2 Episode 7 The Transliminal Mind’

    Today my guest is Professor Christine Simmonds-Moore. Christine earned her Ph.D in psychology from the University of Northampton in the UK. In 2010, she left her native UK for the USA. Christine worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Rhine Research Center in Durham North Carolina until she moved to Carrollton in 2011 to join the psychology department at the University of West Georgia. Her research interests include the study of personality types who are prone to subjective anomalous and paranormal experiences and beliefs, synesthesia, anomalous experiences and sleep-related altered states of consciousness. Recent research has focused on the roles of the body in anomalous experiences. She is currently working on a Bial funded project about Aphantasia (people who have a lack of visual mental imagery). She is the editor of Exceptional Experience and Health: Essays on Mind, body and human potential and a co-author of a text book on Anomalistic Psychology.

    Today we have an in-depth discussion on the relationship between paranormal experience and what Christine calls the Transliminal Mind. We discuss the psychological dimensions of anomalous experience, and their relationship to certain, specific personality types. We discuss the evidence for psi phenomena. And we talk about possible future directions for parapsychology and consciousness studies.

    Thanks for reading WHAT LIES BEYOND! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

    Resources

    Christine at the UWA:

    Christine Simmonds-Moore, Phd. Page at the University of West Georgia, USA.

    Christine Simmonds-Moore’s entry on the Psi Encyclopaedia.

    Books & Chapters:

    Holt, N., Simmonds-Moore, C., Luke, D. & French, C. (2012). Anomalistic Psychology (Macmillan Insights in Psychology series). Red Globe Press.

    Simmonds-Moore, C. (eds.) (2012). Exceptional Experience and Health: Essays on Mind, Body and Human Potential. McFarland & Co.

    Simmonds-Moore…

Alle 31 afleveringen →