The Epistemic Alchemy Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I interview Dr Rob Archer and we talk about Roy Bhaskar’s critical realism and how it deals with the crisis of replication.

*What is critical realism?

*What is the role of ontology?

*What is a transcendental argument?

*How does critical realism deal with the issue of replication?

*How has Bhaskar’s critical realism evolved over time and his spiritual turn.

*Where critical realism is going?

Resource mentioned in the episode.

Retiring Popper: Critical realism, falsificationism, and the crisis of replication

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/09593543241250079

Critical realism, psychology, and the crisis of replication: A reply to Haig; Derksen & Morawski; and Trafimow

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/09593543241279138

Replicating is difficult but necessary, and methodology can help

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/09593543241265912

Haig, B. D. (2024). Should psychology adopt Bhaskar’s critical realist philosophy of science? Theory & Psychology, 34(5), 585-590. https://doi.org/10.1177/09593543241265727 (Original work published 2024)

Derksen, M., & Morawski, J. (2024). Replications are informative, particularly when they fail. Theory & Psychology, 34(5), 597-603. https://doi.org/10.1177/09593543241269697 

Roy Bhaskar’s works

• The Possibility of Naturalism: A philosophical critique of the contemporary human sciences
• Reflections on metaReality
• The Order of Natural Necessity: A Kind of Introduction to Critical Realism
• From East To West: Odyssey of a Soul (Classical Texts in Critical Realism (Routledge Critical Realism)
• Dialectic: The Pulse of Freedom

Margaret S. Archer book

• Realist Social Theory: The Morphogenetic Approach

Iceberg model

https://changemanagementinsight.com/iceberg-model-of-change-management/

Lipton’s Inference to the best explanation model

Lipton, P. (2017). Inference to the best explanation. A Companion to the Philosophy of Science, 184-193.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Stacey Guenther and Dr. Lisa Berkley and we discuss our experience of editing an academic anthology together.

*The challenges of editing academic anthologies.

* What makes an anthology unique?

*The process for collaboration.

*Doing a call for chapter proposal vs invite only.

*Misconceptions about editing academic anthologies.

*Rewarding aspects of editing an academic anthology.

*Decolonizing.

*Spirituality and the shadow side and dark side.

*Cross-cultural scholarship.

Dr. Stacey Guenther’s Website

https://www.drstaceyguenther.com/

Dr. Lisa Berkly’s Website

http://innereconomy.com/

Resources mentioned in the episode

Leadership at the Spiritual Edge

https://www.routledge.com/Leadership-at-the-Spiritual-Edge-Emerging-and-Non-Western-Concepts-of-Leadership/Raei-Guenther-Berkley/p/book/9781032500591

Ken Wilber’s waking up, growing up, and cleaning up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mROP49BeJc

In this episode, I interviewed Four Arrows, who was selected by AERO as one of 27 visionaries in education and is recipient of a Martin Springer Institute Moral Courage Award for his activism.

Topics covered include:

*Decolonizing

*Indigenous research/scholarship.

*The role of spirituality.

*Alternative/authentic dissertations.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Authentic Dissertation: Alternative Ways of Knowing, Research and Representation by Four Arrows aka Don Trent Jacobs (Author)
• Differing Worldviews in Higher Education: Two Scholars Argue Cooperatively about Justice Education First Edition by Walter Block (Author), Four Arrows (Author)
• The Indigenization Controversy For Whom and By Whom?

https://ices.library.ubc.ca/index.php/criticaled/article/view/186438

• Worldview Chart for Rebalancing Life Systems on Planet Earth

https://kindredmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/Worldview-Chart-BW-8-5-2024.pdf

• APA article:

Four Arrows, W. T. (2024). Restoring sanity and remembering spirit in psychology: Reclaiming our pre-colonial worldview. Review of General Psychology, 28(2), 106–122. https://doi.org/10.1177/10892680231226387

• Messages from Water and the Universe by Masaru Emoto

In this episode of the Epistemic Alchemy podcast, join Dr. Mohamed Raei as he engages in an enlightening conversation with Dr. Harriet Terber Rasmussen, a seasoned leadership coach and educator with over 30 years of experience. As a faculty member at Drexel University, Dr. Rasmussen shares her insights into guiding educational leaders through the complexities of academic writing and the doctoral dissertation process.

Explore the common challenges faced by students during the literature review stage, and gain valuable practical advice on conducting impactful research that benefits a wide range of fields, from education to financial institutions. Discover the importance of aligning purpose statements and research questions, and the transformative role of AI in supporting dissertation research.

With a focus on fostering critical thinking and navigating the evolving landscape of academic inquiry, this episode offers invaluable guidance for emerging scholars and doctoral candidates looking to excel in their academic endeavors.

Resources

• Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Informal-Meditation/dp/1590308492

• Otto Scharmer’s Theory U

https://ottoscharmer.com/

• Impacting Education AI Special Edition Themed Issue

https://impactinged.pitt.edu/ojs/ImpactingEd/issue/view/32

• Bloomberg's book on qualitative dissertations

https://www.amazon.com/Completing-Your-Qualitative-Dissertation-Beginning-ebook/dp/B09XBMQ4N8?ref_=ast_author_mpb

In this episode:

*History of intersubjectivity

*What is intersubjectivity and how does it relate to phenomenology and social construction?

*How can one use intersubjectivity in research?

*How does intersubjectivity relate to Consensus reality?

*How does intersubjectivity relate to Csikszentmihalyi's systems model of creativity?

* Challenges to Transdisciplinarity.

*Making social science matter.

*Applying Kurt Fischer's dynamic skill theory to become better researchers and scholars.

Useful links:

Mike's website:

https://michaelmascolo.com/

Intersubjectivity:

https://www.academia.edu/104362384/Intersubjectivity_Joint_Action_and_Sociality

Fischer's dynamic skill theory:

https://www.academia.edu/44981984/Dynamic_Skill_Theory_An_Integrative_Theory_of_Psychological_Development

System's model of creativity:

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-94-017-9085-7

Making Social Science Matter:

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Social-Science-Matter-Inquiry/dp/052177568X

In this episode I interviewed Dr. Jonathan Reams, PhD. We had a lively discussion about Integralism, transdisciplinary scholarship and his experience as a scholar and editor-in-chief of Integral Review: A Journal Dedicated to Transdisciplinary Research and Thought.

Topics covered:

*History of Integral Review(IR)

*The different strands of Integralism.

*The editorial process at IR.

*Jonathan's experience with publishing transdisciplinary work.

*Challenges to transdisciplinary scholarship.

*The future of transdisciplinary scholarship.

*Artificial Intelligence and how it can influence scholarship.

Jonathan's website: 

https://www.jonathanreams.com/

Integral Review Website:

https://integral-review.org/

Useful links:

Ken Wilber’s AQAL model:

http://www.redfrogcoaching.com/uploads/3/4/2/1/34211350/ken_wilber_introduction_to_integral.pdf

Nicolescu's Transdisciplinary approach:

https://www.academia.edu/download/36468289/Transdisciplinary_Theory_Practice-2013.pdf

Michael Basseches Dialectical Thinking:

https://integral-review.org/issues/issue_1_basseches_the_development_of_dialectical_thinking.pdf

Zach Stein's article on interdisciplinarity:

https://integral-review.org/modeling-the-demands-of-interdisciplinarity-toward-a-framework-for-evaluating-interdisciplinary-endeavors/

Bloom's Taxonomy:

https://bloomstaxonomy.net/

In this episode, I interviewed Dr. Hariett Schwartz and Dr. Elizabeth Holloway about their recently published book Essentials of Constructivist Critical Incident Technique published by APA. 

We covered a large range of topics including:

*History of CIT.

*The different uses of the methodology.

*How is the research conducted?

*How it differs from other qualitative methods.

*The epistemological orientation.

*Where first-time researchers struggle.

*The future of the methodology.  

Link to the book: https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/essentials-constructivist-critical-incident-technique

Link to Flanigan's original article:

https://www.apa.org/pubs/databases/psycinfo/cit-article.pdf

Dr. Hariett Schwarz's website: https://harrietschwartz.com/

Dr. Elizabeth Holloway's page: https://www.antioch.edu/faculty/elizabeth-holloway/

In this episode, I interview Dr. Jason Ānanda Josephson Storm where we discuss metamodernism and metamodern scholarship:

*The different strands of metamodernism and its history.

*What metamodernism adds to postmodernism.

*Storm's contribution to metamodern scholarship, including the concept of social kinds.

*Developmental theories and metamodernism.

*The Journal of Metamodernism Theory and Praxis. 

*The metamodern university.

Resources mentioned:

• Dr Storm’s works

Josephson, J. A. (2019). The invention of religion in Japan. University of Chicago Press.

Josephson-Storm, J. A. (2019). The myth of disenchantment: Magic, modernity, and the birth of the human sciences. University of Chicago Press.

Storm, J. Ā. J. (2024). Metamodernism as the Pedagogy of Revolution: Response to Special Review Symposium (Religion & Theology 30, no. 3&4 [2023]): Jason Ānanda Josephson Storm, Metamodernism: The Future of Theory (Chicago, IL; London: University of Chicago Press, 2021). Religion and Theology, 31(1-2), 129-136.

• Other metamodern books

Metamodernism (Radical Cultural Studies) 

by Robin van den Akker (Editor), Alison Gibbons (Editor), Timotheus Vermeulen (Editor)

Metamodernism: Or, The Cultural Logic of Cultural Logics Paperback – October 30, 2023

by Brendan Graham Dempsey (Author)

Freinacht, H. (2017). The Listening Society: A Metamodern Guide to Politics. Metamoderna ApS.

• The Journal of Metamodern Theory and Praxis

https://sts.williams.edu/metamodern/

 Articles

Kleineberg, M. (2024). Piaget as Metamodernist. Metamodern Theory & Praxis, 1(1), 22-60. https://doi.org/10.70613/2024.0003

Andersen, L. R. (2024). Polymodern economics. Metamodern Theory & Praxis, 1(1), 61-84. https://doi.org/10.70613/2024.0004

Díaz, A. D. (2024). University of the future. Metamodern Theory & Praxis, 1(1), 115-123. https://doi.org/10.70613/2024.0011

Other:

Freire, P. (2020). Pedagogy of the oppressed. In Toward a sociology of education (pp. 374-386). Routledge.

In this powerful episode of the Epistemic Alchemy Podcast, Dr. I interviewed Dr. Kader Gumus, an independent consultant and trauma-informed researcher, about her pioneering work on thrivership after domestic violence. Dr. Gumus shares her journey as both a scholar and a survivor, highlighting the significance of conducting research ethically and with care. Drawing from her dissertation, Journey to Wellbeing, she explores how individuals move beyond survival to thrive after experiencing chronic trauma. The conversation delves into how traditional research practices can inadvertently retraumatize participants, and what researchers can do to prevent that. Dr. Gumus outlines how she designed a trauma-informed methodology, combining phenomenology with situational and thematic analysis, and discusses the importance of researcher self-care. She also emphasizes the role of IRBs and the need for more culturally sensitive, human-centered research practices. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in ethical qualitative research, trauma studies, or survivor-centered approaches.

5 Key Points:

1. Trauma-informed research requires an ethical design that prevents the retraumatization of participants.

2. Dr. Gumus developed a unique methodology: exploratory situational thematic analysis.

3. Self-care for researchers is essential in trauma-related studies.

4. Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) need more education on trauma-informed practices.

5. Thrivership transcends resilience—emphasizing transformation, not just survival.

Resources: 

Brown, D. J., Arnold, R., Fletcher, D., & Standage, M. (2017). Human thriving. European Psychologist.

Brown, D. J., Passaportis, M., & Hays, K. (2021). Thriving. In Stress, well-being, and performance in sport (pp. 297-312). Routledge.

Brown, D. J. (2016). Human thriving: a conceptualization, understanding, and application to sport (Doctoral dissertation, University of Bath)

Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (2012). Posttraumatic growth in clinical practice. Routledge.

Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00017-8

Gumus, K. (2025). Journey to well-being: An exploration of thrivership post-domestic violence [Doctoral dissertation]. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1101/

Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence--from domestic abuse to political terror. Hachette UK.

Kolk, B. V. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin.

Maté, G. (2011). When the body says no: Exploring the stress-disease connection. Turner Publishing Company.

SAMHSA’s six principles of trauma-informed care – post-secondary peer support training curriculum. (2022, June 1). BCcampus Open Publishing – Open Textbooks Adapted and Created by BC Faculty. https://opentextbc.ca/peersupport/chapter/samhsas-six-principles-of-trauma-informed-care/

Taleb, N. N. (2012). Antifragile: Things that gain from disorder. Random House.

Tudge, J., & Rosa, E. M. (2020). Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory. The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119171492.wecad251

What AI cannot do. (2022, May 20). Big Think. https://bigthink.com/the-future/what-ai-cannot-do/

Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (2012). Posttraumatic growth in clinical practice. Routledge.

Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00017-8

Gumus, K. (2025). Journey to well-being: An exploration of thrivership post-domestic violence [Doctoral dissertation]. https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1101/

Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence--from domestic abuse to political terror. Hachette UK.

Kolk, B. V. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin.

Maté, G. (2011). When the body says no: Exploring the stress-disease connection. Turner Publishing Company.

SAMHSA’s six principles of trauma-informed care – post-secondary peer support training curriculum. (2022, June 1). BCcampus Open Publishing – Open Textbooks Adapted and Created by BC Faculty. https://opentextbc.ca/peersupport/chapter/samhsas-six-principles-of-trauma-informed-care/

Taleb, N. N. (2012). Antifragile: Things that gain from disorder. Random House.

Tudge, J., & Rosa, E. M. (2020). Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory. The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119171492.wecad251

What AI cannot do. (2022, May 20). Big Think. https://bigthink.com/the-future/what-ai-cannot-do/

Additional resources in the US:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
• Disaster Distress Helpline – Call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Call Chat with Lifeline
• Crisis Textline – Text TALK to 741741
• Veterans Crisis Line - Call 800-273-8255 or text 838255

In this episode of the Epistemic Alchemy Podcast, host Dr. Mohammed Raei is joined by Dr. Ileya N. Grosman, an artist, scholar, and practitioner whose work bridges leadership, education, and the arts through the lens of relational cultural theory (RCT). Grosman shares her journey from early explorations of cultural connection and photography in Bangladesh to her doctoral research on professors’ lived experiences of positive relationships with undergraduate students. Drawing on RCT, phenomenology, and arts-based methods such as Photovoice, her study illuminates the “space between” teacher and student as a site of mutuality, empathy, and generativity. Together, Drs. Raei and Grosman explore how professors’ relational practices foster not only student growth but also their own renewal and purpose, creating virtuous cycles of connection within higher education. The conversation also highlights the feminist and social justice roots of RCT, its applications in leadership and organizational life, and its intersections with embodiment, neuroscience, and even polyvagal theory. Listeners will gain insights into how humanizing approaches to teaching and leadership can cultivate belonging, mattering, and creativity—while challenging traditional hierarchies. This episode invites educators, leaders, and researchers alike to reimagine scholarship and practice as generative acts of connection.

Resources: