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In this episode, Banu and Tony discuss common misconceptions and unrealistic expectations about meditation. They also discuss the different types of meditation and their benefits.Be sure to catch new episodes of X-Factor Chats every Friday afternoon. You can also find video-recorded episodes of X-Factor Chats on our YouTube channel.

In this episode, Banu and Tony discuss how changes in lifestyle due to the COVID-19 pandemic make us more susceptible to burnout. Banu explains how ancestral survival mechanisms still play a role in how our nervous system reacts and offers practical recommendations to improve our wellbeing during these unprecedented times.

In this week's episode, Banu and Tony discuss burnout from a psycho-physiological perspective. Banu talks about the phenomenon in regards to our nervous system and offers advice on how to monitor and regulate our internal resources.Be sure to catch episodes of X-Factor Chats every Friday afternoon. You can find video-recorded episodes of X-Factor Chats on our YouTube channel.

In this week’s episode, Banu and Tony explore the importance and benefits of monitoring our heart rate variability. Their chat provides insight into why this is the most important biomarker of our physiological and psychological well-being. Banu teaches us how we can measure and improve our own HRV.Be sure to catch episodes of X-Factor Chats every Friday afternoon. You can find video-recorded episodes of X-Factor Chats on our YouTube channel.

In this episode, Banu Hantal and Tony Tie unpack resilience and discuss it at both the physiological and psychological levels. Their discussion teaches us how to flourish from stressful experiences, as well as how to use resilience to return to a safe state from a stressful state. Be sure to catch new episodes of X-Factor Chats every Friday afternoon. You can find video recorded episodes of X-Factor Chats on our YouTube channel.

In “Psychedelics and the Self,” Banu Hantal and Tony Tie dive into the dynamics of psychedelics, including their effects on the brain, how they free us from our sense of ego, and how they give us new perception. Banu and Tony provide insight on how psychedelics allow for new observations about our environments and ourselves, which includes helping us find creative ways to resolve our fears. They elaborate that psychedelics free us from the rules and regulations that "the self" imposes. Their discussion provides steps to optimize the effects of psychedelics and ways to maintain those effects while not on psychedelics. Be sure to catch episodes of X-Factor Chats every Friday afternoon. You can find video recorded episodes of X-Factor Chats on our YouTube channel.

In “The Problem with Truth,” Banu and Tony dive into the psychology behind how easily the truth can be manipulated. They offer fresh perspectives about avoidant behavior and the physiological need to “fight or flight” to feel safe. They explore how survival tactics from our primal years affect our attitude and behaviors in modern society. Their discussion offers a compassionate approach towards ideas we disagree with and analyzes the social effects of having a heightened or sensitive sympathetic nervous system. Trigger Warning: This episode discusses intimate partner violence (24:10-27:07). Be sure to catch episodes of X-Factor Chats every Friday afternoon. You can find video recorded episodes of X-Factor Chats on our YouTube channel.