On this episode of Thinking Ahead, we return to the fascinating subject of UFOs, or UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon) as they are sometimes called. I've already done a couple of podcasts on this topic (if you’d like a more introductory episode, I’d recommend listening to my interview with journalist Ross Coulthart). This conversation ventures down the UFO rabbit hole with author and journalist Keith Thompson, who has written two books on the subject, including his most recent The UFO Paradox: The Celestial and Symbolic World of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Keith approaches this complex and controversial issue as a big-picture thinker incorporating a number of disparate fields. We discuss the history of UFOs, recent revelations from the military, near death experiences (including Keith's own), and how questions around consciousness and spirituality intersect with UFOs. We even touch on John Mack's research into the abduction phenomenon. I’m thrilled to have him on the podcast to share an in-depth discussion of these ever-intriguing anomalies that continue to haunt and confound the modern world.

Regular listeners of this podcast may know that I have a special affinity for cats—house cats, certainly, but also the magnificent wild cats that still roam the American West. So when I learned recently that in my home state of Colorado, it’s still legal for trophy hunters to shoot hundreds of these beautiful creatures every year, I was horrified. Thankfully, Colorado’s big cats have a formidable champion in their corner: longtime animal welfare activist and author Wayne Pacelle. Wayne is one of the people behind a ballot initiative (Cats Aren’t Trophies) that will be put before voters this November to outlaw this practice, along with the trapping of bobcats for fur. When I found out about this initiative in a conversation with Wayne last Spring, I offered my support and immediately asked him to come on the podcast to talk about it, as well as his other work around the country.

When it comes to the evolution of human culture—an overarching theme on this podcast—there are few things that speak as loudly as our treatment of other sentient beings and the wild ecosystems of the planet we share. It’s a topic that is very close to my heart, and I can think of few people as well versed in this conversation than Wayne. He has had a remarkable career fighting for better treatment of animals—whether in our homes, in our agricultural systems, or in the wild, leading several animal rights organizations, and authoring two bestselling books, The Bond and The Humane Economy. Enjoy this conversation, spread the word, and if you live in Colorado, vote Yes on Prop 127 in November!

John Mackey, cofounder of Whole Foods Market, is one of the great entrepreneurs of our time. But the story of how he built the iconic grocery store is just one thread in the tapestry of his rich and interesting life, which he discusses candidly in his recent memoir The Whole Story. This fascinating tale spans his remarkable life and career, from his Texas childhood to his spiritual breakthroughs, from his hiking adventures to his psychedelic experimentation, and from a humble Austin health food store to a $13.7 billion sale to Amazon. In this conversation, we touch on all of these topics, many of which reflect our shared interests. Indeed, John is a dear friend with whom I’m proud to have collaborated on a book, Conscious Leadership (along with Steve McIntosh), and shared many journeys—geographical, intellectual, and metaphysical. I’ve learned so much from John over the years about how to live a full life, and I’m delighted to introduce listeners to his unique mix of keen intelligence, playfulness, and generosity of spirit.

Today, we are in the middle of a sea change in the perception and use of psychedelics unlike anything that has occurred in recent decades and probably going back many centuries, at least in Western history. In fact, one probably has to go back to the early Christian era to see psychedelics so commonly used and accessible. And while there are a lot of great books that have been written on the subject over the last five decades, it's not easy to find a good general overview that is fully contemporary.

Sean Lawlor’s new work, The Psychedelic Revival, is one of the books that is trying to fill that void. Sean is a therapist, and a writer, in my home state of Colorado. I was thrilled to get him on the podcast to talk about one of my favorites subjects these days - the nature, influence, and impact of psychedelics on individuals and culture.

On this episode of Thinking Ahead, we’re discussing one of my favorite subjects, evolution. Bobby Azarian is a cognitive neuroscientist, a science journalist, and a true evolutionary. His book The Romance of Reality explores the evolution of the universe and life, purpose, complexity, and consciousness with rich vision that far transcends the all-to-common reductionistic view. I’m always interested in visions of evolution that open up new pathways for people to appreciate the magnificent journey of the cosmos, and Azarian’s work is a wonderful example of exactly that type of an approach to science. In this lively conversation, Azarian and I explore how life and consciousness evolved on this beautiful blue planet, and what the future might have in store for us all.

The topic of race is never far from our lips when we are talking about the American experience. And yet, the complexities, confusions, minefields, and missteps that often confront those who work to overcome America’s racial legacy can make this a subject that people shy away from. That’s why my guest today is such a breath of fresh air. He’s taken the opposite approach, exploring issues of race and diversity head on, and deeply incorporating them into his own work in the consulting world. As an executive coach and integral leadership expert, Amiel Handelsman has rarely been shy about diving into these difficult issues. It has been part of his DNA since he first started doing volunteer social work all the way back in his collegiate days. Now, with several decades of practice and experience under his belt, not to mention a deep background in integral philosophy, Amiel is working on the ground every day, pragmatically helping his clients negotiate these issues at organizations around the country.

Race and diversity in America has changed and evolved a tremendous amount, even in my lifetime, but there is still a long evolutionary path ahead of us to get to where we want to be as a country. I’m grateful to be able to explore this path forward by tapping into Amiel’s expertise on a subject that continues to be critical to the future success of the American political and cultural experiment.

Too often, the questions that we ask about our own time-period reflect a limited understanding of history. For example, consider the question: why is there still poverty and inequality? It’s a worthy question, but an even better one might be: How did so many societies, against all odds and without historical precedent, escape poverty and become wealthy? How have we come so far in our attempt to escape the "nasty, short and brutish" existence of our ancestors? Instead of just focusing on what we are still doing wrong, maybe we should also put some attention on how we managed to do so much right, for so long. How did we succeed beyond all hope and expectations? How did we raise our economic expectations so high that people think material abundance for everyone is even a possible goal, let alone a universal right?

In his new book Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History of the 20th Century, UC Berkeley professor Brad DeLong digs into the policies of the last century, exploring the hows and whys of the recent explosion in material and economic development. No one living in the 16th or 17th century would have imagined a future of such abundance. To them, it might seem close to a utopia, at least in some parts of the world. To us, there is still so much work to do, particularly to make that wealth global and more universal. Given that historical context, should we be optimistic about the next century, or have we reached the limits of this type of economic explosion? Is abundance in our future? Or stagnation? And what might we do to tip the scales?

Steve McIntosh is already a regular guest on this podcast, and that’s no accident. Steve and I have been collaborating for many years, and we even cofounded the Institute for Cultural Evolution almost a decade ago. Steve is the President of the think tank and continues to build it, even as he releases important intellectual content, including his writings, books, talks, various podcast appearances. The subject of this dialogue is a significant one—it’s on human nature. Does it evolve? Or is it fixed? And how do we think about the evolution of self and culture, given our biological constraints? Since this conversation was recorded, Steve has also posted an article on the same subject, with the same title Does Human Nature Evolve? which can be found in here. I’m thrilled to have Steve back on the podcast to explore one of the most foundational questions in philosophy, psychology, and even spirituality.