Shows / Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Welcome to The Curious Mind Podcast. Gabriel Ellis, PhD, is a psychotherapist and scholar who bridges the gap between therapeutic practice, philosophy, and analytic spirituality. Designed for demanding listeners and global expats, we draw on philosophical inquiry and clinical expertise. Dr. Ellis helps you navigate the complexities of the mind and modern life with clarity and depth. Subscribe for intellectual exploration and genuine psychological growth. 🌐 Website: https://www.gabriel-ellis.com…
Episodes
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Alan Watts - The Illusion of Self-Control
Anyone who attempts to control themselves creates an internal split between the controller and the controlled. This inner struggle against one’s own nature…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastKrishnamurti: Freedom from the Known
J. Krishnamurti was an original thinker who combined psychology and spirituality in a way that inspired me 25 years ago, and still does to an extent. I am…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Beyond Needs | Why satisfying Needs doesn't make us happy
Needs are important signals from our unconscious, yet consistently orienting ourselves around them causes fundamental problems. Needs manifest themselves…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Triggers, trauma, and red flags: The problem with pop-psychology
Trigger, Red Flags, Gaslighting, Resilience: Psychological terms are everywhere. Yet although we talk about mental health today more than ever before, sick…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
The Structure and Function of Needs
Why do some people feel persistently empty despite success, relationships, or wealth? Because they don't actually know their true needs. I explain how our…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Self-awareness in therapy - needs and worldview
Who are you really? True self-knowledge is more than self-optimization. That's why in this episode I discuss how you can uncover what lies hidden beneath…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
The Practice of General Self-Knowledge (of the Soul)
What remains of the “I” when the not-self is stripped away? This episode explores practical paths to self-knowledge — from ascetic exercises, emotional…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Self-Knowledge: Challenges and Promises
I explore the concept of self-knowledge, tracing its roots from Socrates and Hegel to Buddhism. At the heart of this discussion is the question of which…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
The Architecture of the World | How Your Mind Creates Its Truth | Gabriel Ellis, PhD
We don't see the world; we only see our models of it. Gilbert Simondon's analogy of crystallization illustrates this: our thinking touches reality only at a…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
From Inner Critic to Self-Love | Your Inner Voice | Gabriel Ellis, PhD
Do you notice how negative self-talk undermines your self-esteem? In this video, I'll show you how important your self-awareness is—and how genuine…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Overcoming Anxiety | Self-Help and the Added Value of Therapy | Gabriel Ellis, PhD
When we operate in a kind of trance, like complex machines on autopilot, catastrophic fantasies and old avoidance patterns dictate our actions. In this…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Why Shamelessness Doesn't Make You Free | Gabriel Ellis, PhD
Do you carry a deep sense that you are fundamentally flawed or broken? We are often told that shame is our enemy, yet simply trying to be "shameless" without…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Overcoming Anxiety in six steps | Anxiety Therapy | Gabriel Ellis, PhD
Anxiety often feels overwhelming and leads to avoidance, which increasingly restricts your life. In this video, Dr. Gabriel Ellis explains the proven…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Dangerous or just useless? | Therapist tests AI therapy | Gabriel Ellis, PhD
Can artificial intelligence replace a real therapist? Many people in psychological distress are turning to AI like ChatGPT. In this realistic experiment…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastChatGPT fails as a psychotherapist | AI put to the test | Dr. Gabriel Ellis
Can AI tools like ChatGPT serve as a substitute for psychotherapy, at least for advanced users? In this live-simulated session, the user becomes frustrated…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Psychotherapist tests ChatGPT: Dangerous for inexperienced users!
In this episode, I introduce the problematic nature of therapy with "artificial intelligence." I show what happens when an inexperienced user tries to use AI…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Ways out of Loneliness - Considerations and Exercises
Loneliness is not a weakness, but a reflection of our times. I will illuminate the necessary insights and fundamental practices for overcoming loneliness and…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Social Recognition and its Philosophical Roots
Why are other people so fundamental to our consciousness?Even in the womb, our consciousness begins to engage with the "Other"—through the body, through…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastMetasocial World, Herd Mentality, and Loneliness
This episode explores how modern digital life contributes to social isolation. Social media fosters constant social comparisons, depleting our social energy…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThe New Loneliness - Causes and Effects
Social isolation is increasing significantly in our modern society. But why? In this episode, I introduce the causes and context of this growing problem…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastAt Home in Contentment - Ayatana and the Truth
There are places in the mind that go beyond immediate sensory perception - both positive (contentment and peace) and negative (despair and sadness). But what…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastBeyond the Sensory Realm - The Mystical Traditions
After giving a first introduction to the "home of the ego" from a Buddhist perspective, in this episode I bring examples of other mystical traditions. It seems…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastGiving the Ego a New Home - Ayatana in Buddhism
This episode dives into the Buddhist concept of Āyatana, the “home base” of our ego that shapes how we experience the world. While we usually operate within…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastWhy Psychology Needs to Be More Profound
In this episode I explore why psychology risks being superficial without a philosophical foundation. I argue with historical patterns, the Dunning-Kruger…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
I judge therefore I am - Hegel, Buddha, Existentialism
In psychology, self-development, and spiritual circles, we’re often told to stop judging and simply accept things as they are. But is that truly possible? This…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastAnxiety, Therapy, and Responsibility
Fears and anxiety accompany us all, from everyday worries to deep existential questions: the fear of loneliness, of an insignificant life or of death. But how…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Everyday Trance V: Paths out of Hypnosis. Methods and Tools
How can we free ourselves from the unconscious patterns and trances of everyday life? In this episode, I delve deep into the tool box and show you numerous…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastEveryday Trance IV: The Magic of Emotions - Kundalini, Sartre, Buddhism
In this episode, I examine the deeper mechanisms of everyday trance and how unconscious emotions influence our perception and decisions. Based on my…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastEveryday Trance III: The Mechanics - Kant, Husserl, Vipassana
In this episode I explore the nature of consciousness and how it structures our experience. I first distinguish between consciousness itself and the content…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastPhenomenology of Everyday Trance
In this podcast episode, consciousness researcher and therapist Gabriel Ellis further explores the concept of "everyday trance": We often live in a state in…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastEveryday Life as Hypnotic Trance: Insights from Stephen Wolinsky
In this episode I describe the trance states that influence our behavior and identity. Based on the work of Stephen Wolinsky in "Trances People Live" I examine…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastFlaws of Self Help Culture - A Hegelian Perspective
In this video, I critically question the traditional self-help culture that often prescribes simple and rigid solutions to complex, dynamic problems. My…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastSetting Boundaries: A Critical Perspective
In this video, I reflect on the concept of "setting boundaries" and the pros and cons associated with it. Boundaries can provide clarity, but are not naturally…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThe Practice of Psychoanalysis: Freud’s Legacy
Delve deeper into the world of psychoanalysis! In this video I shed more light on the central concepts of the It, the I, and the Über-Ich as described by…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
The Core of Historical Buddhist Practice: Meditation of Bliss
In this episode of "The Curious Mind Podcast", Gabriel Ellis, a doctor of Buddhism and psychotherapist, describes the core of the original Buddhist practice…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastFreud and the power of the unconscious
In this episode of the Curious Mind Podcast, Gabriel Ellis, psychologist and psychotherapist, delves into the teachings of Sigmund Freud, focusing on his…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThe Foundations of Buddhism: Understanding Suffering and Craving
In this episode of the Curious Mind Podcast, psychotherapist and Buddhism scholar Gabriel Ellis delves into the historical aspects of Buddhism, focusing on…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThe Real Followers of Buddha: Investigating Early Buddhism
Discover the practices of the historical Buddha. I delve into ancient texts to explore the distinct groups present during the Buddha's time: Buddhist…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastOriginal Buddhism: Introduction
Buddhism is fascinating. But it is surprisingly difficult to work out what the original teachings of the Buddha were. The oldest texts of Buddhism were not…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastPower and Impotence of the Self-Ideal
It seems to me that we have too high expectations of authenticity today. People want the "true self" to have priority, both in our private lives and at work…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastHegel and the look behind the curtain
As a philosopher of consciousness, Hegel was little interested in people's egocentric navel-gazing. But isn't this necessary for psychotherapy? After all, in…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastPreconditions for Therapeutic Healing
Healing is a much more individual challenge than many people think. And therapeutic methods have a little value if applied without discernment. Yet, there are…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastHegel and Buddhism in Dialogue: Not-Self
The doctrine of the not-self is central to Buddhism. Aspects of such a teaching can also be found in Hegel. He even helps us to better understand how healing…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastBuddhist Psychology: Toxic Mindfulness
Mindfulness can be useful and enriching - if rightly understood. But the practice can also become dull, boring, or even harmful in the long run. In this video…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastHegel, what our feelings mean, and psychosomatics
We all struggle with feelings: Should we feel them and identify with them, or should we sometimes use and sometimes repress them? We cannot answer this…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThe I in stress: When the present is overwhelming
In my clinical practice, clients often think that they are alone with their problem. Most of the time however, the challenges are very comparable, be it…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastHegel and Buddhism in dialogue: Meditation
There is still a lot to learn about psychology from Hegel. He created complex maps of the mind. And we can use these to understand “where we are,”…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThree approaches to life: Q&A
What is more relevant for me: virtue or needs orientation? And how do I get out of self-avoidance? I answer these and other questions about the three…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThree approaches to life: 3. Self-Avoidance
Anyone who doesn't know themselves and their needs is doomed to be anxious, depressed or aggressive. This is what I call the “self-avoidant type.” We are all…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThree Approaches to Life: 2. Needs and Desires
"Who am I?” and “What do I want"? A needs-oriented life should answer these questions. Like the virtue orientation of the last episode, also a…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastThree Approaches to Life in Comparison: 1. Virtue
Dissatisfaction with one's own life is like a forest without a clearing: there is often a lack of clarity, joy, and self-determination. In order to shed some…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastSelf-Devalualtion and Imperceptible Feelings
Self-devaluation and inner dialogue go hand in hand with imperceptible feelings. These feelings affect us, often without us noticing them. And in the…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastBuddhist Psychology - Body Awareness
In early Buddhism, body awareness is a precursor to meditation. But also psychologically it is important to integrate body awareness into normal life in order…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastBuddhist Psychology - Free Will and the Human Machine
Strong will is essential to Buddhism, otherwise we are at the mercy of the machine part of being human: the judgments, feelings, attachments and habits…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastBuddhist Psychology - Intuition and gut feeling
Many people would like to trust their gut feeling. A nice wish, but we hardly have a good understanding of what “gut feeling” or intuition actually are, or how…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastPsychedelika, Drogen und Psychotherapie [German]
Psychedelika im Rahmen therapeutischer Selbstentwicklung erleben zur Zeit eine Renaissance - eine Entwicklung, die wir in diesem Gespräch kritisch beleuchten…
Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind PodcastHow to Talk to Children about War
After Putin's attack on Ukraine parents are faced with the issue of explaining to their children what is going on. This is a short primer with background…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Viktor Frankl and Man’s Search For Meaning, Pt. 2 - Logotherapy
After we introduced in the first part Frankl and his classic book "Man’s Search For Meaning" we now focus on the therapeutic method he established. We discuss…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Viktor Frankl and Man’s Search For Meaning, Pt. 1
In this episode we introduce Frankl's classic title "Man’s Search For Meaning", the historical background, and the existential aspect in psychotherapy. While…
- Gabriel Ellis, PhD | The Curious Mind Podcast
Therapy Recoding Series: "Hanni", Session 3
In this concluding session with "Hanni" we reflect on how to get away from the pain which comes from a lack of appreciation. Hanni wishes to be emotionally…