How to sink into silence

What is consciousness, really? We don’t know. Scientists aren’t sure. Philosophers can’t agree. All we have is the fact that it feels like something to be you right now. Beyond that, human consciousness remains a complete mystery. Sean talks with Michael Pollan about his new book ...  Show more

Venezuela. Greenland. Iran. Things have been moving so quickly that we weren't even at war with Iran when we recorded this episode of The Gray Area with Sean Illing. It’s only March, but it’s been a long year. The war in Iran is only the latest sign that something deep is shiftin ...  Show more

Does silence ever feel uncomfortable? Do you fill the quiet with TV, music, or endless scrolling? Fr. Mike explains why silence isn’t something to fear but something we desperately need, both in our daily lives and especially in prayer. While learning, entertainment, and even gui ...  Show more

Decades ago, after he lost in home in a California wildfire, the travel writer and essayist Pico Iyer started to go to a small monastery in Big Sur in search of solitude. On this week's episode he discusses those retreats, which he writes about in his new book "Aflame: Learnin ...

The antidote to a noisy, chaotic world.

Pico Iyer is the acclaimed and bestselling author of more than a dozen books translated into twenty-three languages, most recently the nationally bestselling <a href= "https: ...

Most people can’t sit in silence.They fill every space with noise, distractions, and chatter because sitting with yourself is confronting.But what if the real magic happens in the stillness?In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about silence, presence, and the deep disco ...  Show more