Into the Magic Shop

Have you ever wondered why enjoyable times pass quickly? Why did we lose track of days and weeks during COVID? And did you know, only 5% of what we ‘see’ actually comes from our eyes? Don’t miss American neuroscientist, David Eagleman, in this episode. “In the case of judging how long something took, it's all about how much memory you've laid down.”

Key takeaways:
How the brain constructs time
Your eyes don’t actually see the outside world
The nature of consciousness
What is a near death experience

Show Notes

When American neuroscientist, David Eagleman, was eight years old, he fell off the roof of a house. As he fell, he thought how long it was taking to hit the ground, and how this must be what it was like to be Alice in Wonderland. 

Later, he calculated that he only fell for 0.6 seconds. The time distortion he experienced in that life threatening situation stuck with him, underpinning his adult journey through neuroscience. 

In this episode of Into The Magic Shop, David shares his subsequent research around time distortion - why enjoyable times pass quickly and why we lost track of days and weeks during COVID. 

“So in the case of judging how long something took, it's all about how much memory you've laid down.”

And did you know, only 5% of what we ‘see’ actually comes from our eyes? From why eyewitness testimonies aren’t to be trusted, to what consciousness is, and what happens during a near death experience - don’t miss David explain why our memories construct what we think is reality. 

“The brain is locked in silence and darkness, it doesn't see or hear or smell anything. All it can do is say, okay, look, I've got these spikes coming up these cables, what should I pay attention to?”

This is a fascinating episode you don’t want to miss. 

On today’s podcast:
  • How the brain constructs time
  • Your eyes don’t actually see the outside world
  • The nature of consciousness 
  • What is a near death experience

Links:

What is Into the Magic Shop?

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many were overwhelmed with stress, anxiety and depression. While this epidemic of stress has been growing over the past decade, it has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the divisive nature of political discourse. As a result, many people feel disconnected, inauthentic, and unhappy, while questioning the source of their unhappiness when they presumably have “everything”—an absence of compassion, for oneself and others, is often the source of the problem.

Many of us don’t understand the nature of self-compassion nor the power of compassion to improve our lives and alleviate our suffering. By entering the “Magic Shop”, Jim will share his wisdom and introduce a variety of techniques to change the course of one’s life and share his own lessons learned through the exchange of untold stories of his guests. He will interview authors and experts in the fields of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, spirituality and religion, as well as individuals with unique points of view. He will also engage his listeners by answering their questions and also at times interview listeners who are willing to share their own stories of challenge and hardship.