What Is Consciousness? Dr. Sharon Dirckx on the IJK Podcast | Ep 20

Is your sense of self just a product of brain activity—or does consciousness point to something more?

This is one of the most profound questions of our time, and it’s the focus of this episode of the IJK Podcast.
Host Imad Jack Karam welcomes Dr. Sharon Dirckx, neuroscientist, speaker, and author of the thought-provoking book Am I Just My Brain?.

With a PhD in brain imaging from the University of Cambridge, Sharon brings both scientific expertise and philosophical depth to the conversation. She has appeared on several BBC programmes, including Radio 2 – Good Morning Sunday and Radio 4 – Beyond Belief, and has contributed articles to The Times newspaper. In addition, she teaches with The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA) as an adjunct lecturer, where her work centers on life’s deepest spiritual and philosophical questions.

What We Discuss in This Episode

• The science of the brain: what neuroscience reveals about thought, memory, and identity
• The mystery of consciousness: why our inner world can’t be fully explained by neurons alone
• Whether the mind is more than matter: does consciousness point beyond the physical?
• How science and faith together can shed light on what it means to be human

This conversation explores the intersection of neuroscience, philosophy, and spirituality, offering insights for anyone curious about the nature of consciousness and the human mind.

Tune in to discover whether we are really “just our brains,” or if consciousness reveals a deeper dimension of who we are.