"What is Sense Foraging?" A conversation with Norman Farb and Zindel Segal

A public talk with Norman Farb and Zindel Segal, "What is Sense Foraging?" University of Toronto, 15 April 2026. Hosted by: Mridula Sathyanarayanan, a fourth-year undergraduate student studying neuroscience, philosophy, and Buddhist psychology, with opening remarks by Assistant Professor Elli Weisbaum, BFA, MES, PhD. In this conversation, renowned meditation researchers, Dr. Zindel Segal and Dr. Norman Farb, talk about their book, "Better in Every Sense," in which they make a compelling case for why we should consider sensing rather than thinking our way out of our problems. Dr. Segal and Dr. Farb highlight sensory awareness as a universal pathway for wellbeing. Their concept of “sense foraging” has drawn widespread attention, with Jon Kabat-Zinn describing it as “profoundly liberative and healing, revolutionary, yet totally commonsensical.” Discover the story behind the book, explore its central metaphor, and walk away with practical strategies to cultivate a richer, more engaged sensory life. Dr. Zindel Segal is Distinguished Professor in Mood Disorders at the Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough. He is also a co-creator of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, an intervention that has been internationally recognized and integrated into health systems worldwide. Dr. Norman Farb is Associate Professor, at the Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, where he directs the Regulatory and Affective Dynamics laboratory. His current research explores online interventions to support wellbeing, and the neuroimaging of interoception—our sense of the body’s internal state. Mridula Sathyanarayanan, a 4th year undergraduate student pursuing programs in neuroscience, philosophy, and Buddhist psychology. Mridula was able to combine her own research with aspects of Dr. Segal and Dr. Farb’s work into a meditative museum experience, now launching at the Royal Ontario Museum. Elli Weisbaum, BFA, MES, PhD has worked internationally facilitating applied mindfulness workshops and retreats across the sectors of education, healthcare and business. She is based at the University of Toronto as an Assistant Professor (teaching stream) in the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program (BPMH), at New College, with a joint appointment to the Department of Psychiatry, in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine. She is cross-appointmented to the Dalla Lana School of Public Health in their Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME). This event is part of the 20th Anniversary Lecture Series for the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program https://www.newcollege.utoronto.ca/bp... Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program New College, University of Toronto https://www.newcollege.utoronto.ca/pr... This lecture was co-sponsored by the BPMH program, the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Centre for Buddhist Studies, VicWell, New College, and the Buddhism and Psychology Student Union.