Archives: Podcasts
A Zen Priest’s Journey in Unitarian Universalism with James Ishmael Ford
In this episode, Lion's Roar Assistant Editor Sandi Rankaduwa speaks with James Ishmael Ford, a Zen priest and Unitarian Universalist minister.
Designing the Modern Contemplative’s Toolkit with David Germano
Tibetologist David Germano discusses his work on the Generative Contemplation Initiative, a suite of projects that explore in depth the research on contemplative practices.
The Role of a Death Doula with Rosamaria Segura
Mariana Restrepo, deputy editor of Buddhadharma, speaks with Rosamaría Segura about how her Buddhist practice shapes her approach to death and dying.
How to Overcome Othering and the Root of Conflict with Tara Brach
Following her insightful and compassionate commentaries on the war in Gaza for lionsroar.com, Buddhist teacher Tara Brach sits down with editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod to talk about the ultimate root of conflict, the destructive dehumanizing known as othering, and how we can overcome it in ourselves and society.
The Power of Acceptance and Inclusivity with Rev. Melissa Opel
Assistant editor Sandi Rankaduwa talks to Reverend Melissa Opel, a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a minister at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco — the oldest Jodo Shinshu, or Shin Buddhist, church in the mainland United States.
Celebrating Buddhist Women on Film with Sharon A. Suh and Gaetano Kazuo Maida
In this conversation from BuddhaFest 2024, Gaetano Maida, executive director of the Buddhist Film Foundation, explores the intersection of film and Buddhism with Sharon Suh, president of the Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, and author of Silver Screen Buddha. Together, they discuss the importance of telling women’s stories through film, the profound contributions of female filmmakers, and their own experiences watching this year’s selected BuddhaFest films.
Visualizing Compassion through Chenrezig Practice with Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön
Mariana Restrepo speaks to Buddhist teacher and translator Lama Karma Yeshe Chödrön about visualization practice, a central aspect of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, followed by a guided Chenrezig visualization practice.
Tibet’s Indigenous Religion with Harvey Rice and Jackie Cole
The authors of Flight of the Bön discuss Tibet’s indigenous religion, its influence on Tibetan Buddhism, and why its earth-centered spirituality is so important today.
Embodying Loving-Kindness with Arisika Razak
East Bay Meditation Center teacher Arisika Razak talks about loving-kindness, intergenerational trauma, recognizing our shared humanity, and the vulnerability in “ugly crying.” Razak then leads a loving-kindness meditation practice.
Buddhanature and Skillful Means with Joseph Goldstein
A deep conversation between Rod Meade Sperry and Joseph Goldstein exploring the nature of mind, buddhanature, enlightenment, and the balance between various teachings.
The Power of Pilgrimage with Shantum Seth
Shantum Seth shares insights on the transformative power of retracing the Buddha's footsteps in India, including the personal pilgrimage of his teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, the vibrant essence of sacred sites, and the profound implications of reconnecting Buddhism to its birthplace.
Mindfulness in Your Workplace with Stacy McClendon
Stacy McClendon, teacher and co-founder of the BIPOC Sangha at Common Ground Meditation Center, talks with Lion's Roar's Pamela Ayo Yetunde about how mindfulness can transform the way we work.
Meditation 103 with Michael and Victoria Imperioli
White Lotus and Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli is also a novelist, screenwriter, director and musician. He and his partner Victoria Imperioli, a well-known interior designer, talk about how Buddhism informs their life together as artists and entrepreneurs.
The Wisdom of Desire with Judy Lief, Cheryl Fraser & Jeff Wilson
Judy Lief, a Buddhist teacher in the Tibetan tradition, talks about how you can work with your desires to find peace. Then Cheryl Fraser, a sex therapist and dharma teacher, shares her article, How to Have Mindful Sex. To close, professor, minister, and author of Living Nembutsu: Applying Shinran’s Radically Engaged Buddhism in Life and Society, Jeff Wilson, talks about the radically inclusive founder of the Jodo Shinshu tradition, Shinran.
Meditation for Kids with Catherine Bailey & Vanessa Zuisei Goddard
In this episode, Catherine Bailey talks about the characters in her children’s book Dinos Don’t Meditate and shares a 30-second meditation you can do with your kids. Then, author and Zen teacher Vanessa Zuisei Goddard talks about her children’s book Weather Any Storm in which the “Wildering Billies” are a metaphor for waves of emotion that create an inner storm, plus a short breathing meditation for kids.
Fear, Forgiveness & Self-care with Mushim Ikeda
In this selection from Lion’s Roar’s online course, Medicine for Fear, dharma teacher Mushim Patricia Ikeda talks about the art of “feeling all the feelings” without causing harm to yourself and others, and why the smallest act of kindness can be a powerful form of activism.
Humane AI and the Role of Buddhism with Randima Fernando
The Center for Humane Technology is featured in the Emmy award-winning Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma and co-founded by Randima Fernando. He talks about the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence, the existential questions it inspires, how Buddhism is uniquely suited to answering them, and how you can approach this new technology that has the…
Creativity, Spirituality & the True Nature of Mind with Jane Hirshfield & Anouk Shambrook
Jane Hirshfield is the author of ten poetry collections, the most recent being The Asking: New and Selected Poems. She talks about creativity in the liminal state, and then Anouk Shambrook—an astrophysicist turned meditation teacher—discusses the intersections between science and spirituality. First, a short reading from Buddhadharma’s Rod Meade Sperry of an article by world-renowned…
The Japanese Immigrant Influence on American Buddhism with Scott Mitchell
Dean of Students at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, Scott Mitchell, talks about his book The Making of American Buddhism and how Western scholarship has largely ignored the role of Japanese immigrants and their American descendants in developing Buddhism in America.
Barbie’s Journey to Enlightenment with Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
In the Greta Gerwig-directed box-office hit movie, Barbie, the iconic doll embarks on a pink-tinted journey toward enlightenment not unlike the historical Buddha’s. When author and pop culture writer Jennifer Keishin Armstrong saw Barbie, she couldn’t stop thinking about the film’s explorations of suffering, impermanence, and awakening. Here, in conversation Lion’s Roar associate editor Mihiri Tillakaratne, she discusses the surprisingly Buddhist lessons of Barbie’s journey to enlightenment.