NTI Conversations series

Welcome to NTI’s new Conversations series, a dynamic new initiative offering a series of informative free talks, designed to spark curiosity and foster knowledge sharing within our communities.

Each session will feature an expert speaker or panel who will tackle a range of topics covering contemporary issues relating to health, wellness, faith and spiritual practice, mental health and mindfulness. Join NTI Conversations online or in-person to discover the latest thinking on a range of issues and approaches to practice that can change the way we live.

If you would like to catch up on our previous NTI Conversations series, please visit our YouTube page.

2026 NTI Conversations Schedule

27 February 2026	The Art of Buddhist Filmmaking: “Meeting the Buddha” Dr Nadine Levy and Márta György-Kessler 12:30pm – 1:30pm (AEDT) Online via Zoom
4 March 2026	Jesus and the Buddha: Reorienting Lived Religion Dr Milan Milani (UWS) and Dr Elizabeth McDougal 10:00am – 11:30am (AEDT) On site and online via Zoom
9 March 2026	Women’s Buddhist Journeys: Leadership, Liberation and Celebration on IWD Panel discussion featuring Venerable Juefang, Ayya Upekkha and Subhana Roshi, hosted by Dr Nadine Levy 12:45 – 1:45pm (AEDT) On site and online via Zoom
9 April 2026	How to be Good Professor Alistair Noble and Associate Professor Sarah Lawrence 12:30 – 2:00pm (AEST) On site and online via Zoom
15 April 2026	Human Agency, Dharma Transmission and the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence Dr Elizabeth McDougal and NTI students Sheena Anderson and Jodi Bush 12:00 – 1:15pm (AEST) Online via Zoom
13 May 2026	Conversation on his book Going Beyond: Western thought meets Buddhism Dr Elizabeth McDougal and Dr Peter Oldmeadow 12:00 – 1:15pm (AEST) On site
25 May 2026	On Life and Death Venerable Juefang and Venerable Dr Huei Kai (Time to be confirmed) On site and on campus
23 June 2026	Buddhist in a Changing World: Panel discussion Dr Stefania Travagnin, Assocociate Professor Jack Chia and Associate Professor Venerable Juewei (Time to be confirmed) On site and on campus
22 July 2026	Buddhism in Australia 1: Wellbeing, Belonging and Social Engagement Professor Anna Halafoff and Associate Professor Venerable Juewei (Time to be confirmed) On site
12 August 2026	Buddhism in Australia 2: A Nationwide Survey Professor Andrew Singleton and Associate Professor Venerable Juewei (Time to be confirmed) On site and online via Zoom
2 September 2026	To Hear the Cry of the Earth: Personal Reflection and Response to the Work of Thich Nhat Hanh in Mindful Nature Connection Kerryn Coombs-Valeontis and Sylvia Neubacher 12:30 – 2:00pm (AEST) On site

Information Overload to Inner Knowledge

Presented by Lara Ryan

We live in an age of endless information, where advice about food is abundant yet often confusing. Nutritional guidance changes rapidly, headlines contradict one another, and certainty is often presented louder than wisdom. In this environment, it can be easy to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or disconnected from our own inner knowing around food.

Social media has intensified this confusion. Short videos, influencer opinions, and algorithm-driven trends often reduce complex nutrition science into absolutes. These messages are designed to provoke reaction rather than reflection, and can quietly cultivate craving, aversion, and self-doubt. Without mindful discernment, it becomes easy to outsource our trust to voices that do not know our bodies, our context, or our lives.

This one-hour presentation offers a Buddhist-informed approach to nutrition rooted in mindfulness, discernment (paññā), and the Middle Way. Rather than chasing perfection or rigid food ideals, we explore how to meet food choices with clarity, balance, and compassion. Nutrition becomes not another source of stress, but an opportunity to practice awareness in daily life.

You will learn how to read food and supplement labels with mindful attention, how to make informed choices around fresh and processed foods and how to recognise marketing and health claims without fear or confusion. The emphasis is not on control, but on understanding, supporting choices that are grounded, flexible, and sustainable.

If you are feeling weary of conflicting advice, curious about cultivating a calmer relationship with food, or seeking a way to nourish both body and mind with greater clarity, this session is an invitation to pause and re-orient. You are warmly invited to attend, reflect, and continue the journey from information overload toward inner knowledge.

About the Presenter

This event is led by Lara Ryan, an accredited Nutritionist and Naturopath with extensive experience in integrative mental health and wellness. Lara’s background includes senior lecturing roles, clinical supervision, and a private practice supporting clients facing chronic health conditions, mental health challenges, and complex emotional needs. Known for her compassionate approach, Lara also writes about resilience, trauma, and self-compassion, offering insights into navigating life’s challenges with strength and hope.