Feb 27, 2026
Is reality fundamentally inert, or is it structured by divine desire?
In this episode, John Vervaeke and Zevi Slavin explore the metaphysical vision of Ibn Gabirol and the integration of Jewish thought with Neoplatonism. They examine the claim that all of existence arises through the coupling of matter and form, unified...
Feb 20, 2026
In this episode of The Lectern, John Vervaeke sits down with Zevi Slavin to explore the radical metaphysics of Ibn Gabirol and the role of divine desire at the heart of reality.
Ibn Gabirol, also known as Avicebron, was a major figure in Jewish Neoplatonism whose philosophy reshaped medieval thought across traditions....
Feb 13, 2026
How can ancient spiritual practices be reanimated for modern life?
In this compelling episode, John sits down again with therapist Seth Allison to delve deep into the themes of suffering, trust, and growth within the frame of internal family systems therapy and Jungian analysis. Seth discusses his...
Feb 4, 2026
In this episode of The Lectern, John Vervaeke and host Ethan Hsieh explore what Ethan calls the “Underground Man” problem. How we can get trapped in endless abstraction, lose contact with lived meaning, and oscillate between inflation and collapse.
They unpack the reflectiveness gap (hyper-reflection that...
Jan 31, 2026
In this episode of The Lectern, host Ethan Hsieh sits down with philosopher and cognitive scientist Mark Miller to explore the science of predictive processing and its implications for happiness, meaning, and wellbeing.
They unpack how the brain is not a passive receiver of reality, but an active...