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Can Neuroscience Help Explain Spiritual Experience?

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Join UCLA psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Helen Lavretsky for a free evening exploring what science reveals about stress, emotional resilience, spirituality, and the surprising ways we can change how we experience life.

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Why do some people seem better able to navigate life’s challenges? Can meditation and mindfulness actually change the brain? And what does neuroscience tell us about finding greater meaning, connection, and peace in our everyday lives?

Discover how neuroscience and spiritual practices help us move beyond familiar patterns and experience life differently.

On November 10, Unlikely Collaborators welcomes UCLA psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Helen Lavretsky for a fascinating exploration of what modern science is discovering about practices people have turned to for centuries in search of greater well-being.

Drawing on decades of research and her new book, Living From the Soul: The Neuroscience of Spiritual Awakening, Dr. Lavretsky will explore:

Your brain and stress: What happens in the brain when we experience chronic stress, and how might contemplative practices help?The science of inner peace: What research tells us about meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and emotional well-being.Breaking familiar patterns: How greater self-awareness can help us recognize habitual reactions and respond differently.Purpose and connection: Why meaning, compassion, and connection matter for psychological well-being.Science meets spirituality: What neuroscience can—and cannot—tell us about experiences traditionally described as spiritual.

The evening also connects to Unlikely Collaborators’ Perception Box™ framework, which explores how our beliefs, experiences, and conditioning shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us.

The evening will take place in person at Unlikely Collaborators’ Santa Monica headquarters and will also be livestreamed online.

Event Schedule

5:00 p.m. — Doors open and reception
6:00 p.m. — Program begins promptly (late entry not permitted)
7:00 p.m. — Book signing and reception

Cost: Free (registration required)

In-person attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Living From the Soul: The Neuroscience of Spiritual Awakening.

Register to Attend in person

Register to join live online

About Dr. Helen Lavretsky

Dr. Helen Lavretsky is a Professor In-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA and a geriatric integrative psychiatrist with a federally funded research program focused on geriatric depression and integrative mental health using mind-body interventions.

She serves as Director of Research for the UCLA Integrative Medicine Collaborative and directs a clinical and research program in Integrative Psychiatry and the Brain Health Innovation Initiative. Her work explores the intersection of psychiatry, neuroscience, contemplative practices, and integrative approaches to mental health and well-being.

Lavretsky has received Career Development Awards from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Her honors include the 2020 Distinguished Investigator Awards for research in geriatric psychiatry from the American College of Psychiatrists and the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, as well as the Jack Weinberg Memorial Award in Geriatric Psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association.

She is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, and a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. She is also a past president of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.

Her book, Living From the Soul: The Neuroscience of Spiritual Awakening, explores how neuroscience and spiritual wisdom can inform our understanding of consciousness, resilience, compassion, and the pursuit of a more meaningful life.

About Spark Salons

Spark Salons are a signature program of Unlikely Collaborators, the nonprofit founded by Elizabeth R. Koch. These gatherings bring together grantees, researchers, artists, and collaborators for conversations that challenge perspectives and deepen connections.

Past Spark Salon speakers have included Harris III; Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD; Kim Shapira, MS, RD; John Bucher; Michael Norton, PhD; Vijay Gupta; Ellen Bennett; Candy Chang; Alexandra Samuel, PhD; Brennan Wood; Donna L. Schuurman, EdD; Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD; Wendy Suzuki, PhD; Nick Foster, RDI; Jade Wu, PhD; Krista Tippett; Eliot Stein; Theresa MacPhail, PhD; Ian Manuel; Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD; Cara Natterson, MD; Andrew Holecek, PhD; Katherine Center; Marisa T. Cohen, PhD; Valerie Steele, PhD; Cassandra Vieten, PhD; Jonathan Schooler, PhD; Stephen Asma, PhD; and Melissa Conklin.

Watch the Spark Salons Trailer

About Unlikely Collaborators

Unlikely Collaborators is a nonprofit focused on helping people better understand themselves and each other. Founded and led by CEO Elizabeth R. Koch, the organization is built around the Perception Box™ framework, the idea that our beliefs, experiences, emotions, and conditioning shape how we interpret ourselves and the world around us. By becoming aware of that lens, we create more space for reflection, flexibility, and meaningful change.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/can-neuroscience-help-explain-spiritual-experience-302928480.html

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goeasy Ltd. Announces Voting Results from Special Meeting of Shareholders

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MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 3, 2026 /CNW/ — goeasy Ltd. (TSX: GSY) (“goeasy” or the “Company”), one of Canada’s leading consumer lenders focused on delivering a full suite of financial services to Canadians with non-prime credit scores, announced today that its shareholders passed the resolution ratifying, confirming and approving the Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors on May 12, 2026. The vote was conducted at the Company’s Special Meeting of Shareholders which took place on November 3, 2026. The results of the vote are set out below:

Number of Shares

Voted For

Percentage of

Votes Cast

Number of

Shares Voted

Against

Percentage of

Votes Cast

8,164,270

98.926 %

88,625

1.074 %

A full report on voting results is available under goeasy’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About goeasy

goeasy Ltd. is a leading Canadian provider of non-prime consumer lending solutions, offering a suite of financial products through its easyfinancial, easyhome, and LendCare brands. goeasy offers unsecured and secured instalment loans, point-of-sale financing, and lease-to-own merchandise through its omni-channel model, which spans online, mobile, and hundreds of locations nationwide.

Driven by its team members’ dedication to expand access to credit for underserved communities and helping customers strengthen their financial futures, goeasy has proudly served more than 1.6 million customers while building an award-winning culture. Shares of goeasy Ltd. are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol GSY. For more information, visit www.goeasy.com.

For investor inquiries, contact:

James Obright
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Capital Markets
investor_relations@goeasy.com

For media inquiries, contact:

mediainquiries@goeasy.com

SOURCE goeasy Ltd.

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Saigon Technology: Why Businesses Fear Modernizing Software in the AI Era

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SYDNEY, Nov. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Modernizing an entire software system often leaves businesses with two choices: invest heavily in an in-house team for a project that may not require the same resources later, or work with an experienced partner that already has the expertise in place.

While outsourcing offers greater flexibility, it also raises concerns about data security, business disruption, and finding a partner capable of handling complex systems.

Saigon Technology, an award-winning software engineering company with an AI-native delivery approach, believes businesses shouldn’t have to sacrifice security or stability to modernize. With the right partner, they can move forward while keeping everything under control.

66% of Australian Enterprises Lack Full Data Access Visibility

At many businesses, the existing systems may hold customer records, financial data, and core business processes. Giving a partner full access can create risks that businesses are not willing to take.

But modernization does not always require handing over the keys to the entire system.

Instead, companies can limit access to specific parts of their software, keep sensitive data in protected environments, and require approval before major changes are made. External engineers can work with test data or selected modules while the business keeps control of its main systems.

This allows businesses to gain the skills they need without giving up oversight of their most valuable technology assets.

Then Comes the Fear of Disruption

Data security is only half the concern. What happens if a system upgrade interrupts orders, payments, or customer services? For businesses that rely on software every day, even a short disruption can affect customers, staff, and revenue.

Yet upgrading software does not always mean shutting down the old system and moving everything to a new one overnight.

A safer approach is to make changes step by step. Parts of the system can be upgraded while the rest continues running. Old and new systems may also run side by side, giving teams time to test changes, check data, and fix issues before a full switch.

With clear backup and recovery plans, businesses can reduce risk and maintain essential services throughout the process.

The Way Forward: Modernize Without Losing Control

These concerns raise a key question: how can businesses move faster without taking on more risk? The answer lies in choosing a development partner that works within the client’s rules, rather than asking the client to give up control.

Saigon Technology takes a security-focused approach to enterprise software modernization. Depending on project needs, its engineering teams can apply multi-factor authentication (2FA), data encryption, VPN-secured access, and role-based permissions to protect sensitive information. With 3 development centers in Vietnam, the company also brings the engineering expertise and capacity needed to upgrade critical systems while minimizing disruption to daily operations.

Saigon Technology holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for information security management and ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management, reinforcing its commitment to secure software delivery.

“Businesses should not have to choose between keeping their systems safe and moving forward with new technology. A good engineering partner helps them do both, without putting daily operations at unnecessary risk.” Shared by Thanh Pham, CEO of Saigon Technology.

As AI creates new opportunities, Saigon Technology believes the businesses best placed to benefit will be those that can embrace change without losing control of what already works.

About Saigon Technology

Saigon Technology is an AI-driven software engineering company with over 400 engineers. Serving clients across Australia and global markets, the company combines AI expertise, secure engineering, and flexible delivery models to build sustainable digital solutions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/saigon-technology-why-businesses-fear-modernizing-software-in-the-ai-era-302927193.html

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I AM ALS COMMUNITY CELEBRATES AS ACT FOR ALS BECOMES LAW AND MAKES HISTORY

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Community Advocates, Including Co-Founders Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya and I AM ALS Ambassadors Late Actor Eric Dane and Former Pro Wrestler Tanea “Rebel” Brooks, Drive Landmark Win Securing Up to $500 Million in Funding and Therapy Access, and a Continued Path to a Cure

Download Photos/Logo Here
I AM ALS Celebration Video for ACT for ALS

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — I AM ALS and its national force of advocates are celebrating as the President signed the ACT for ALS reauthorization bill into law. This comes after the Senate approved the bill by unanimous consent with just hours left until the law expired, even after the House went home early. The I AM ALS community first identified a major gap in access to investigational treatments and co-authored the original ACT for ALS Act to address it in 2021. Now, with years of success underway, the law has five more years to scale research infrastructure and treatment access, representing an investment of up to an additional $500 million for ALS.

“Over the past 7+ years, this community has changed what’s possible in ALS,” said I AM ALS co-founder Brian Wallach. “The I AM ALS community’s leadership has brought us closer than ever to a cure by unlocking over $2 billion for federal ALS research, expanding and protecting access to life-changing therapies, and accelerating scientific breakthroughs. We thank our ALS congressional champions—including sponsors Senators Coons (D-DE) and Murkowski (R-AK) and Representatives Quigley (D-IL-05) and Calvert (R-CA-41)—and all the tireless advocates who helped renew this historic legislation for five more years.”

Today’s law passage is groundbreaking and thanks to the significant efforts of I AM ALS’ community-led movement. Since ACT for ALS was first signed into law, I AM ALS has monitored and reported on the ground-breaking success of its implementation. Leading into the reauthorization year, I AM ALS built and deployed a comprehensive, multi-pronged advocacy campaign, including:

Building and strengthening relationships with Congressional champions,Deploying a vast grassroots army of volunteer leaders from across the country,Partnering with researchers, other organizations, and celebrity ambassadors—most notably the late actor Eric Dane and professional wrestler Tanea “Rebel” Brooks—to strengthen and amplify our message, andEngaging with top experts in government affairs and public relations.

This year alone, I AM ALS held more than 430 in-person and virtual advocacy meetings and calls, secured more than 38,000 online actions, sent more than 95,000 emails, and gathered more than 20,100 petition signatures in the final weeks before expiration.

Unlike any other legislation the neurodegenerative landscape has ever seen, ACT for ALS has already invested hundreds of millions of dollars into ALS research, provided investigational therapy access for more than 800 patients who would not otherwise have qualified, and built lasting infrastructure for future learnings.

“These past months didn’t just get a critical bill passed; they inspired a community that continually renews itself, welcomes new advocates, develops new leaders, and ensures that every generation is ready to fight for the next breakthrough,” said Troy Fields, volunteer co-chair of the I AM ALS legislative affairs team, and person living with ALS. “ALS is relentless, but we continue to prove so are we.”

“For the past five years, the ACT for ALS has advanced scientific research and helped people with ALS access the promising treatments they need. This reauthorization of the bill continues that work and lends hope to a future where there is a cure for ALS,” said Congressman Quigley. “I’m glad this important bill was signed into law, and I’m thankful to my colleagues in both the House and the Senate for getting this done.”

“I’m thrilled that the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act has been signed into law, renewing our commitment to finding cures and treatments for ALS,” said Rep. Calvert. “As a Co-Chair of the bipartisan ALS Caucus, I know just how hard those impacted by ALS have worked to get this bill enacted and I applaud their tireless advocacy. With the ACT for ALS Reauthorization Act officially signed into law, we celebrate this victory while remaining focused on the work ahead to end this terrible disease.”

I AM ALS is calling on supporters to thank the Congressional champions who helped make this law possible at bit.ly/A4A-TY 

About I AM ALS

I AM ALS is a nonprofit organization leading what STAT News called the most successful patient advocacy campaign this century. We built a community movement to harness collective power and find treatments and a cure for ALS faster, while also creating lasting, systemic change. Our focus is on three areas:

Advocating for federal policy change to drive research, support, and treatments for ALS.Improving quality of life by providing volunteer and support opportunities to advocates and people living with ALS.Mobilizing and empowering advocates to raise awareness about ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases, and increase visibility of the ALS experience.

Learn more at www.iamals.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/i-am-als-community-celebrates-as-act-for-als-becomes-law-and-makes-history-302928523.html

SOURCE I AM ALS

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