Conversations in Process cover art

Conversations in Process

Conversations in Process

By: Jared Morningstar
Listen for free

About this listen

 The Conversations in Process Podcast aims to understand and explore a process outlook on life, with its emphasis on inter-becoming; the intrinsic value of all life; the presence of fresh possibilities; and the need create communities that are creative, compassionate, diverse, inclusive, and participatory; humane to animals, and good for the earth. The conversations explore the finer points of process thought, connecting with scholars in the field as well as exploring novel connections with thinkers and activists in adjacent communities. In addition to philosophical deep dives, Conversations in Process highlights groups and individuals doing practical work in various areas such ecological justice or pastoral care.© 2025 Center for Process Studies Biological Sciences Science Spirituality
Episodes
  • Matt Segall – Process Insights for Contemporary Political Issues

    Matt Segall – Process Insights for Contemporary Political Issues
    Nov 17 2022
    On this episode of Conversations in Process, Matt Segall returns to continue the discussion of process philosophy, this time with emphasis on how process ideas can help us navigate contemporary political, cultural, and ecological issues. Matt is Assistant Professor in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco where he teaches graduate level courses on process philosophy and German Idealism. His recent book, Physics of the World-Soul: Alfred North Whitehead’s Adventure in Cosmology, puts Whitehead’s process cosmology into conversation with various contemporary scientific theories, such as general relativity and quantum theory. Matt begins by sharing a bit about his own political orientation and how he feels politically “homeless” in the current political scene in the United States. He mentions that he was a supporter of Bernie Sanders, and even as he lives in a very progressive region of the country, he puts effort into getting out of that bubble and pursuing dialogue across various political lines. Jay points out that despite political differences, people are still able to come together in community and share joy in the right contexts, citing his own experiences performing music at Toad Suck Buck’s restaurant in a deeply conservative area. Matt adds that many of our contemporary conflicts are worsened by fixating on the political level, and specifically looking to the federal government to adjudicate disagreements. Instead, he suggests that re-localizing politics and attempting to work through cultural issues outside of the political arena would be a step in the right direction, though this can often be a blindspot for liberals and progressives. On the topic of liberalism, Matt dwells on some of the issues of the anthropology of early liberal thinkers like John Locke, which can give the sense that human beings are blank slates able to be molded into anything. Matt is critical of this view and shares sympathy with conservative thinkers that emphasize we are born into certain traditions and institutions which provide a much needed structure for human society, and that it can be a great risk to not acknowledge the real benefit of these inherited goods. Beyond liberalism, nationalism is also an ascendant political ideology of our day, and Matt suggests that process thinking can help offer a measured response to this phenomenon. Here he suggests that the nationalist impulse isn’t fully off-base, as there does need to be some collective substratum on which a society grounds itself, but at the same time this can easily become oppressive and lead to worrying constraints on individual autonomy and the persecution of certain groups considered outside the bounds of how the nation defines itself. Matt proposes that Whitehead’s thought provides resources for balancing between individuality and collectivism. Through emphasizing the interconnectedness of reality, those seeking a deeper aspect of community find encouragement in Whitehead’s philosophy or organism, while at the same time the self-direction of the actual occasion towards its subjective aim encourages those looking for a justification of their individuality beyond communally-defined roles. Jay and Matt wrap up this conversation with a discussion of “earthism” and the contemporary climate crisis. Matt thinks that unfortunately the situation is likely to continue worsening before humanity really commits to a holistic and thorough response to ecological issues, but this will require a deep reorganization of the structure of post-industrial societies. However, Matt is confident that the earth community at large is deeply resilient and that out of this crisis creativity is likely to flourish, and perhaps in this wake humanity will be able to establish new modes of living and social organization that are earnestly grounded in ecological realities. LINKS Previous Episode with MattMatt’s Blog Footnotes2PlatoPhysics of the World-Soul: Alfred North Whitehead's Adventure in CosmologyConversations in ProcessThe Cobb InstituteOpen Horizons Guest Bio Host Bio
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Revising Whitehead: God, Eternal Objects, and Randomness with Darren Iammarino

    Revising Whitehead: God, Eternal Objects, and Randomness with Darren Iammarino
    Sep 17 2025

    In this conversation, Darren Iammarino shares his journey into process philosophy and theology, describing how he was first drawn to Whitehead’s ideas and how these concepts have shaped his teaching and spiritual practice. Darren and Jared then turn to questions at the intersection of AI and process metaphysics, considering whether artificial intelligences can truly be conscious, how parasocial relationships with AI complicate our notions of self and society, and what Whitehead’s philosophy might contribute to these debates. Finally, they delve into theological questions about novelty, divine creativity, and the role of eternal objects, envisioning a cosmos where creatures participate in the ongoing creation of new possibilities.

    In this episode, you'll hear:

    • Darren's efforts to connect process thought with yoga communities and other non-Christian spiritual practices
    • The challenges of making process ideas accessible beyond academic contexts
    • Reflections on AI, consciousness, and the nature of relationships with inorganic agents
    • Darren’s critiques of Whitehead’s notion that God eternally contains all possibilities
    • A vision of novelty and creativity emerging from the interplay between God and creatures
    • Speculation on the cosmological function of quantum randomness
    • Connections between process thought, interfaith dialogue, and ecological civilization
    Guest Bio Host Bio
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 29 mins
  • Nothingness, Trauma, and the Self with Rev. Thandeka

    Nothingness, Trauma, and the Self with Rev. Thandeka
    Aug 29 2025

    What happens when the boundaries of the self dissolve? In this profound episode, theologian and Unitarian Universalist minister Thandeka joins hosts Jay McDaniel and Jared Morningstar for a vulnerable and wide-ranging conversation exploring spiritual experiences of no-self, the impact of trauma on identity, and the philosophical power of nothingness.

    Through deeply personal stories and philosophical insights, the conversation weaves together:

    Isaac Stern concerts and moments of ego dissolution

    Islamic prayer, Buddhist emptiness, and Zen koans

    The psychological legacy of childhood trauma

    Whitehead’s process theology and Schleiermacher’s affective religious experience

    The rise of small spiritual communities as healing spaces

    Together, they ask: What is the role of community in reclaiming our whole selves? Can traditions like Buddhism, Islam, and process theology offer resources for healing in a fragmented world?
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 24 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.