The Weekend University
Insights for Evolving Consciousness.
In-depth interviews with leading thinkers at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, culture, and spirituality.
This show is for you if you’re interested in:
– Reducing suffering — in yourself and others
– Continuously upgrading your perspective
– Realising more of your potential
– Experiencing a greater sense of awe, meaning, and connection in everyday life.
New episodes every Thursday: linktr.ee/theweekenduniversity
The Weekend University
What if the deepest transformations in therapy happen not through techniques, but through profound moments of connection?
In this week’s episode, Professor Mick Cooper — one of the most influential figures in humanistic, existential, and pluralistic therapies explores what truly makes therapeutic relationships transformative, and why moments of profound connection may matter more than any technique.
Mick shares key insights from his decades of research on relational depth, including the subtle qualities that make these moments possible, the barriers that often prevent them, and how Martin Buber’s “I–It” and “I–Thou” modes of relating can reshape the way we understand the therapeutic encounter.
You’ll also discover the best practices for cultivating relational depth with clients, why it can’t be forced, and the wisdom Mick wishes he could give his younger self before beginning his career as a psychotherapist.
Search “The Weekend University Mick Cooper” to watch the full conversation, or check the comments for the link.
1 day ago | [YT] | 22
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The Weekend University
What if the way we heal isn’t about fixing ourselves — but about welcoming every part of us home?
In this week’s episode, Dr Bonnie Badenoch — therapist, author, mentor, and co-founder of Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind, takes us into a deeply human, profoundly compassionate exploration of how healing truly unfolds.
Dr Badenoch explains how our nervous systems are organised for protection until the right conditions for healing finally arrive, why understanding our inner community is essential for meaningful attachment work, and how our earliest image of God can quietly shape our attachment patterns and psychological wellbeing throughout life.
She also shares her transformative approach to radical inclusiveness — and how embracing even the parts of ourselves we fear most can open the door to genuine repair and connection.
Search “The Weekend University Dr Bonnie Badenoch” to watch the full conversation, or check the comments for the link.
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 21
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The Weekend University
What if children naturally access levels of consciousness that science is only beginning to understand?
In this week’s episode, Dr Donna Thomas — a social scientist with 28+ years of research into children’s consciousness - dives into the extraordinary inner worlds of young people and what their experiences might reveal about the true nature of mind and identity.
Dr Thomas shares how her near-death experience at age 15 reshaped her understanding of who we are, why children can effortlessly access altered states that adults often need “gateway tools” to reach, and what decades of research reveal about near-death experiences, past life memories, and the patterns that keep showing up — from spirals and tunnels to the sense of “coming home.”
You’ll also discover how our materialist worldview may be limiting us — and why children’s transcendental experiences might deserve far more attention than they get.
Search “The Weekend University Dr Donna Thomas” to watch the full conversation, or check the comments for the link.
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 27
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The Weekend University
What if healing the mind begins not with words, but with the body?
In this week’s episode, Dr Pat Ogden — founder of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and a pioneer in somatic psychology, reveals how the body carries the imprints of our earliest relationships, and how these patterns shape the way we experience ourselves and others.
She shares how sensorimotor psychotherapy brings awareness to these unconscious physical patterns, helping us access and heal attachment wounds that talk therapy alone can’t reach. You’ll also discover how the way we organise our experience may be the key to lasting wellbeing.
Search “The Weekend University Dr Pat Ogden” to watch the full conversation, or check the comments for the link.
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 18
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The Weekend University
What if the answer to homelessness lies not in housing alone, but in rekindling the bonds that make us feel at home?
In this week’s episode, Alan Graham — founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes — shares how a simple act of service in 1998 evolved into Community First Village, a 51-acre neighbourhood that has already housed more than 1,000 formerly homeless men and women.
Alan invites us to rethink what “home” truly means, revealing why the deepest root of homelessness is not poverty, but the devastating loss of family and connection. He also opens up about the spiritual turning point that shifted him from pursuing wealth in real estate to a life of radical service — and how recognising the “Van Gogh” in every person can restore dignity, purpose, and hope.
Search “The Weekend University Alan Graham” to watch the full conversation, or check the comments for the link.
1 month ago | [YT] | 18
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The Weekend University
Struggling to break free from addiction or feeling discouraged by abstinence-only recovery methods?
In this episode, Dr. Andrew Tatarsky — the founder of Integrative Harm Reduction Psychotherapy — reveals a compassionate, science-based approach to healing that prioritizes understanding, autonomy, and collaboration over judgment and shame.
Discover why traditional models often fall short, how “urge surfing” can help you ride out cravings, and why meeting clients where they are is key to lasting change.
Search “The Weekend University Andrew Tatarsky” to watch the full interview, or check the comments for the link.
1 month ago | [YT] | 12
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The Weekend University
What if the path to balance and inner peace began not in a classroom, but in movement and mindfulness?
In this week’s episode, filmmaker and Tai Chi practitioner George Thompson shares his remarkable journey from anxiety and burnout to a life of harmony and purpose.
From the sacred Wudang Mountains in China to the wild landscapes of Scotland, George reveals how ancient wisdom can guide us in modern times.
We explore how compassion emerges from deep understanding, why our thoughts and emotions are valuable messengers, and how to bring playfulness and sincerity into daily life without taking ourselves too seriously.
George also opens up about his shift from atheism to panpsychism—and how it transformed his connection with nature and consciousness itself.
Search “The Weekend University George Thompson” to watch the full conversation, or check the comments for the link.
1 month ago | [YT] | 18
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The Weekend University
What if the secret to better health, focus, and longevity lies in understanding your sleep?
In this week’s episode, Professor Guy Leschziner—a consultant neurologist and leading sleep specialist—shares groundbreaking insights from over a decade as clinical lead at one of Europe’s largest sleep disorder centers.
We dive into the fascinating science of sleep: how it affects immune function, cognitive performance, and even how our brain cleans out toxins during deep sleep. Guy explains why studying extreme human behavior reveals how normal brains work, and why treatments like CBT-I can finally help those struggling with insomnia.
He also shares practical strategies to optimize sleep, understand your sleep cycles, and protect your brain and body for the long term.
Search “Sleepwalking, Insomnia, Circadian Rhythms: The Incredible Science of Sleep ” to watch the full interview, or check the comments for the link.
1 month ago | [YT] | 11
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The Weekend University
What if the key to healing isn’t in reliving the past but in learning how to regulate the present?
In this week’s episode, Anna Runkle—bestselling author and creator of the YouTube phenomenon Crappy Childhood Fairy—shares powerful insights from her journey of recovery from complex PTSD and developmental trauma.
We explore what it really means to heal “connection wounds,” how trauma rewires our nervous system and blocks intimacy, and why self-regulation is the foundation for real, lasting change.
Anna also reveals the simple daily practice that transformed her life, the mindset shift that accelerates healing (“What can I do right now?”), and how anyone can rebuild trust and “connectability”—even after years of feeling shut down or disconnected.
Search “Anna Runkle: Healing Connection Wounds, Regulating the Nervous System, & Rebuilding Trust” to watch the full interview, or check the comments for the link.
2 months ago | [YT] | 14
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The Weekend University
What if the deepest truths about reality don’t lie in matter but in consciousness itself?
In this week’s episode, Dr. Bernardo Kastrup—philosopher, scientist, and leading voice in metaphysical idealism, shares groundbreaking insights from his new book The Daimon and the Soul of the West.
We explore the profound differences between Western and Eastern mindsets, the powerful role of context and ancestral lineage in shaping meaning, and the mysterious force of the daimon—an impersonal energy that moves through each of us.
Bernardo also discusses why facing death and engaging with the problem of evil can open the door to wisdom and authenticity, and why the second half of life calls for a radically different approach than the first.
Search “Bernardo Kastrup: Aligning with Nature’s Will, Eastern vs Western Spirituality, & Understanding Evil” to watch the full interview, or check the comments for the link.
2 months ago | [YT] | 29
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