Under The Skin with Russell Brand

In this episode Deepak and I discuss the practical side of spirituality. He explains what scientific research has discovered about how a spiritual practice can significantly alter your life. Deepak also gives me a guided meditation. The meditation is in the second half of this part and includes a deconstruction of the method and why it works. Recorded in 2019 this episode, Part 2 of 2, continues to give and give. Come for the conversation, stay for the powerful meditation.

In this week’s "best of" episode, part 1 of 2, Deepak and I chatted about the nature of consciousness, He unloaded his extensive knowledge of the cosmos, described what it means to be embodied, shared his understanding of what a belief in God is or means, and listed some of the reasons people suffer from existential crises. It was a wonderful exchange. Enjoy. (Originally published September, 2019)

Best-selling author of The Tapping Solution, Nick Ortner is here! He describes the technique known as Tapping, which is a natural healing method that combines ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. . Nick tells us the science behind Tapping (also known as Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT) and describes how it effects the brain and the body. Tapping, he says, can turn off the flight-or-flight mode, to help the body relax and heal. He has been developing and practicing this technique for a long time, and has helped people from all walks of life--including high functioning athletes, people with chronic pain, those suffering from grief, and others. In this episode (originally published in 2021) Nick also does a live Tapping demo with me to help me with a specific issue I’m dealing with.

A weekly interview series from Russell Brand that examines what's beneath the surface—of the people we admire, the ideas that define our time, and the history we’re told. Speaking with guests from the worlds of academia, popular culture, and the arts, Russell seeks to uncover the ulterior truth behind our constructed reality. And have a laugh. On his new podcast ‘Above the Noise’ Russell guides us all—curious beginners, spiritual skeptics, and experienced practitioners—in brief, 10-minute meditations. Listen to Above the Noise on Luminary

Brené Brown is an expert researcher in vulnerability, courage and shame. This conversation is one of my all-time favourites. [Originally released in 2019, but still nourishing for anyone seeking spiritual wisdom from one of the best.] For more conversations like this, as well as meditations by Russell Brand, subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple podcasts or directly on Luminary at https://luminary.link/russell Brené Brown is the author of multiple #1 New York Times bestseller books, and her TED talk on vulnerability has over 60 million views, making it one of the most viewed ever. She also has inspiring specials on Netflix (i.e. “The Call To Courage”).

[Special free episode] Inspired initially by the art of freediving, James Nestor has since explored the vital role that breath, and breathing correctly, plays in our evolution as human beings and our health right now. Are we breathing wrong and what can we do to change it? How powerful is our breath really? James reveals the incredible feats and control people have acquired by harnessing their breath, something we carry around with us 24/7. Is there some ulterior reason why this free, accessible and innate ability is not widely proliferated? This episode may make you very aware of your breathing while you’re listening, but it might also change your life! More Info: James is the author of "Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us about Ourselves" and "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" This best of Under the Skin episode was recorded in the spring of 2021. Subscribe to the Luminary Channel on Apple to hear all episodes of "Under the Skin," as well numerous meditations from Russell Brand, in his series "Above the Noise." Learn more at https://luminary.link/russell

Best Of Under the Skin: In this popular episode Wim Hof, aka "The Ice Man," talks about how his breathing techniques can be used to increase our immunity, our personal respiratory power, our health and our safety as well as, of course, having a huge spiritual dimension. Enjoy!

This week I spoke with Batya Ungar-Sargon, Deputy Opinion Editor of Newsweek (and a past contributor to multiple other major new outlets). Batya is the author of Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy. We talk about the focus of today’s media outlets, and how to reawaken the under-represented population. More Info: Batya Ungar-Sargon’s book Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy is available, here https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/bad-news/ Join me for a meditation over on my other podcast Above the Noise’. Join my mailing list and find out more about a one-off special with Wim Hof and Vandana Shiva on July 10th, plus how you can be a part of special conversations with Deepak Chopra and Yoga With Adriene https://www.russellbrand.com/join

This week we’re taking a significant issue and presenting opposing views on the subject “Is there a God?” The two arguments come from two former Under the Skin episodes / guests: comedian and atheist, Ricky Gervais vs. the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell. More Info: You can find out more about Ricky Gervais, here www.rickygervais.com and Bishop Stephen Cottrell, here https://www.archbishopofyork.org Join me for a meditation over on my other podcast Above the Noise. Join my mailing list and find out more about a one-off special with Wim Hof on July 10th https://www.russellbrand.com/join

This week I spoke with Noam Chomsky, one of the most influential intellectuals in the world. He is a Professor Laureate of Linguistics at the University of Arizona, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the author of more than 150 books! During our conversation I asked him whether he thought a decentralization of power and anarchism are important subjects for the future. As you’d expect, there were some striking answers from the 93-year-old philosopher.

This week I spoke with Noam Chomsky, one of the most influential intellectuals in the world. He is a Professor Laureate of Linguistics at the University of Arizona, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the author of more than 150 books! During our conversation I asked him whether he thought a decentralization of power and anarchism are important subjects for the future. As you’d expect, there were some striking answers from the 93-year-old philosopher. Join me for a meditation over on my other podcast "Above the Noise" Join my mailing list and find out more about a one-off special with Wim Hof on July 10th and our upcoming live Zoom conversation on June 17th. https://www.russellbrand.com/join

This week I spoke with Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project. He’s a contributor on the YouTube show "Breaking Points" and author of Goliath: The Hundred Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. In our conversation I asked Matt about whether it’s time for a revolution--to do something radical? He reveals something very interesting in his response!

This week I spoke with Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project. He’s a contributor on the YouTube show "Breaking Points" and author of Goliath: The Hundred Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. In our conversation I asked Matt about whether it’s time for a revolution--to do something radical? He reveals something very interesting in his response! More Info: Follow Matt Stoller on Twitter https://twitter.com/matthewstoller Join me for a meditation over on my other podcast "Above the Noise" only on Luminary: http://luminary.link/meditate Join my mailing list and find out more about a one-off special with Wim Hof on July 10th, our live Zoom conversations and more about a live recording of Gabor Mate for under The Skin https://www.russellbrand.com/join

This week I spoke with Nicolas Glynos, who is Vice President of the Student Association for Psychedelic Studies and Co-founder of Psychedelic Neuroscience and Therapy for the University of Michigan. His latest work is focused on the chemical compound DMT (N, N- Dimethyltryptamine). Together we talk about the neurological picture of the brain when DMT has been administered with ‘mental time-travel’ and ‘planning,’ and the many ways to measure the brain under psychedelics. Plus, we find out about ayahuasca. More Info: See Nicolas’ TED Talk, here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFnCwXPjSCk Join me for a 10-minute meditation over on my other podcast Above the Noise.

This week I spoke with Nicolas Glynos, who is Vice President of the Student Association for Psychedelic Studies and Co-founder of Psychedelic Neuroscience and Therapy for the University of Michigan. His latest work is focused on the compound DMT (N, N- Dimethyltryptamine), which exists within our bodies as well as throughout nature. (It's sometimes called "the spirit molecule.") Together we talk about the neurological picture of the brain when DMT has been administered--for instance, the impact DMT has on default brain network functions such as "mental time-travel/mind wandering" and "planning"--as well as all the other ways to measure the brain under psychedelics. Plus, we find out about the plant-based psychedelic ayahuasca. More Info: See Nicolas’ TED Talk, here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFnCwXPjSCk Join me for a 10-minute meditation over on my other podcast Above the Noise. Join my mailing list and find out more about a one-off special with Wim Hof on July 10th and other exclusive news from my weekly bulletins too. https://www.russellbrand.com/join

This week I spoke with David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin. He is one of the founders of the field of evolutionary psychology, and his current research focuses on sex differences in mate selection, mate attraction, infidelity, and the emotions of jealousy, lust, and love. More Info: Find out more about David Buss, here https://labs.la.utexas.edu/buss/david-buss/ Join me for a 10-minute meditation over on my other podcast ‘Above the Noise’, Join my mailing list and find out more about a one-off special with Wim Hof on July 10th and other exclusive news from my weekly bulletins too. https://www.russellbrand.com/join

This week I spoke with David Buss, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin. He is one of the founders of the field of evolutionary psychology, and his current research focuses on sex differences in mate selection, mate attraction, infidelity, and the emotions of jealousy, lust, and love. More Info: Find out more about David Buss, here https://labs.la.utexas.edu/buss/david-buss/ Join me for a 10-minute meditation over on my other podcast ‘Above the Noise’, Join my mailing list and find out more about a one-off special with Wim Hof on July 10th and other exclusive news from my weekly bulletins too. https://www.russellbrand.com/join

This week I spoke with Michael Winterbottom, a multi-award-winning film director behind the likes of 24 Hour Party People, Greed, and The Emperor’s New Clothes, a film we made together in 2015. His latest film, Eleven Days In May, focuses on the 60 children killed in the Gaza conflict last May. More Info: Find out how you can see Eleven Days In May, here: https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/000/HO00011724/eleven-days-in-may You can also see my film with Michael from 2015, The Emperor's New Clothes, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emperors-New-Clothes-Russell-Brand/dp/B00W9CGEZ2 Join me for a 10-minute meditation over on my other podcast Above the Noise. Join my mailing list and find out more about a one-off special event with Wim Hof on July 10th and other exclusive news with weekly bulletins too. Sign up here: https://www.russellbrand.com/join