Anne Lamott grew up in a family with atheist parents and a great disdain for spirituality. Neal Allen was raised in a Protestant Christian family, but until he was 52 years old, he believed he had no use for god. They were married by an episcopal minister, a Jesuit priest, and the Buddhist author and teacher Jack Kornfield. In an interview for Lion’s Roar magazine, the joyous interfaith couple describes how they found the sweet spot where seemingly opposite beliefs meet.
Ways to Listen
Recent Episodes
Buddhist Wisdom for Working with Political Division with Tania Israel
Dr. Tania Israel, Professor of Counseling Psychology and Associate Dean for DEI at the University of California, Santa Barbara, offers invaluable insights on bridging political divides with compassion.
The Secret Lives of Buddhist Scholars with Pierce Salguero
Dr. Pierce Salguero speaks about a survey he conducted among Buddhist studies scholars, providing an insightful look into the changing landscape of Buddhist scholarship.
The Complete Path of Mindfulness with Melvin McLeod
In this conversation, Lion’s Roar associate publisher Beth Wallace speaks with editor-in-chief Melvin McLeod about the Complete Path of Mindfulness, which presents mindfulness as a way of life that integrates meditation with insight, ethics, compassion, and community.
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.