3.13 Self and Nonself, with Nick Canby

Today I sit down with Nick Canby, visiting assistant professor at Brown University and a clinical psychologist specializing in meditation and psychedelics. Together, we dive into Nick’s research on the self — what is it and what it’s like to lose it. Along the way, we mention some of the downsides of experiencing oneness and the complications of defining a mental health disorder.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Previous episode on meditation challenges with Willoughby Britton and Jared Lindahl 

• List of Publications from the Varieties of Contemplative Experience study

• Canby et al., "The Teacher Matters: The Role and Impact of Meditation Teachers in the Trajectories of Western Buddhist Meditators Experiencing Meditation-Related Challenges"

• Pierce's forthcoming volume, "Meditation Sickness: A Sourcebook on the Dangers of Buddhist Practice" 

• Previous episode on madness and religious experience with Richard Saville-Smith

• Nick's clinical practice

• Nick's profile on Cheetah House

• Complete list of Nick's publications 

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:

• Article summarizing Nick’s dissertation research on “loss of self” experiences

• 50% off “Varieties of Ego-Dissolution” online course (research overview of the types of self-boundary dissolution and their impacts)