Extended Reads

The 2023 Holberg Debate explores whether consciousness extends beyond the brain, featuring discussions among scholars on the nature of consciousness, its relationship with the brain, and the implications for understanding life and existence. The debate highlights differing perspectives on consciousness, including its potential connections to broader aspects of reality and the implications for artificial intelligence.

Epigenetics reveals that we are not solely at the mercy of our inherited genes; rather, our thoughts, emotions, environment, and even the energy we surround ourselves with can influence which genes are activated or silenced. This means that healing, transformation, and evolution are not just biological accidents but conscious choices woven into the fabric of our existence.

Can you look at someone's face and know what they're feeling? Does everyone experience happiness, sadness and anxiety the same way? What are emotions anyway? For the past 25 years, psychology professor Lisa Feldman Barrett has mapped facial expressions, scanned brains and analyzed hundreds of physiology studies to understand what emotions really are. She shares the results of her exhaustive research -- and explains how we may have more control over our emotions than we think.

Caroline McHugh’s talk The Art of Being Yourself is a profound reminder that true authenticity isn’t about impressing others but about fully embracing and expressing who you are, free from comparison or approval. She beautifully illustrates that when you stop trying to be somebody and simply be, you unlock a rare kind of freedom—one where your life becomes an effortless reflection of your deepest truth.

Brené Brown’s The Power of Vulnerability unveils the paradox that what we often fear—being seen in our raw, imperfect truth—is actually the gateway to deep connection, love, and belonging. She reminds us that vulnerability is not weakness but the birthplace of courage, creativity, and authenticity—the very qualities that make life rich and meaningful.