Martha Havenith, PhD: The Neuroscience of Breathwork & Expanded Consciousness
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In this episode, Dr. Martha Havenith—neuroscientist, Oxford graduate, and one of the world’s leading researchers on Conscious Connected Breathwork—joins Joseph and Richard for a deep exploration of what breathwork actually does to the brain and body. They unpack the science, the lived experience, and the ethics of a rapidly growing field, providing an essential conversation for anyone who wants a grounded, evidence-based understanding of breath-induced transformation.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Why Martha is leading the most important research on Conscious Connected Breathwork
What her first major study revealed about breath-induced altered states
The bridge between neuroscience and transformative breathwork experiences
How laboratory insights connect to real-world breathwork sessions
Why breathwork lacks regulation — and why that’s dangerous
The rise of “unfalsifiable explanations” in wellness (e.g., “You were meant to have that psychotic episode”)
Why blaming clients for negative experiences is unethical and unscientific
The difference between spiritual framing and scientific accountability
What researchers are finding about breathwork safety, trauma, and emotional activation
Why breathwork is not just hyperventilation
What actually happens in the brain during conscious connected breathing
The future of breathwork studies: what Martha is working on next
Why the field desperately needs more evidence-driven voices
Joseph’s and Richard’s reflections on modern breathwork culture and responsibility
RESOURCES
The Breathwork Handbook: Understanding, Practicing and Facilitating Breathwork
