Ep. 108 - Want Confidence? Practice Compassion
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Release Date: 05/19/2024
Ep. 126 - Rock-Bottom Individualism and The Possibility of Sangha
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan discusses the addiction concept of "rock-bottom" and how that concept can be transposed onto the worldview of individualism and individual power. In what ways, from a Buddhist standpoint, is individualism healthy and necessary? In what ways is it confused? Can we transition to a more collective or community-oriented worldview, and what is the role of the sangha in all this? Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Check out the free talk on on December 11th.free talk on on December 19th. Get on Ethan's monthly email list ....
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Ep. 125 - After The Apocalypse
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan shares thoughts in the aftermath of the shocking (to him, at least) results of the US presidential election. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Check out the free talk on on November 14th and the free talk on on December 11th. Get on Ethan's monthly email list . Order his new book here.
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Ep. 124 - "Does It Count?" - Cortland Dahl on Short Meditation, Mindful Living, And Feeling Allergic To Religion
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan talks to author, teacher, and scientist about his new book . They discuss research on short meditation sessions, mindful living, and touch on the meaning of "guru" in the modern world. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Check out the free . Get on Ethan's monthly email list . Order his new book here. . is a leading expert on mindfulness, meditation, and the science of wellbeing. His eclectic background includes long periods of solitary retreat in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal and the translation of...
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Ep. 123 - No But Really, We're All In This Together
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Reeling from the events of the last 10 days in Western North Carolina (which directly and tragically affected two friends who have been on The Road Home podcast), as well as close friends directly affected by the bombing and aggression in the Middle East, Ethan returns to some basic thoughts on the truth of our interdependence, and the limits of looking at our path from an individual perspective. If you'd like to make a donation to Pandemic of Love to directly help their mutual aid work in Western North Carolina/Asheville, please Venmo as they give $250 grants to vetted families in...
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Ep. 122 - Meditating With Anxiety (For Election Season and Beyond)
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan looks at the nature of anxiety as a special-case emotion and offers a short dharma talk on working with anxiety, then guides a 15-minute lovingkindness with supportive visualization practice for working with any anxiety we might be feeling during election season or beyond. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and , starting October 11. Buy wherever books are sold in paperback, audiobook or e-book! Visit to join Ethan's maililng list and see his latest offerings!
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Ep. 121 - Why We Stereotype and How to Break Bias with Anu Gupta
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan talks to author, meditation teacher, scientist and lawyer about his new book . They discuss Anu's life, how bias brought him to the brink of taking his own life, and his extensive work with organizations getting to the roots of internalized biases. They get into bias from both a Buddhist philosophical and scientific perspective. Finally, discuss the current state of America in terms of bias, as well how prejudice might be affecting our experience of the upcoming elections. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and Mindful...
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Ep. 120 - A Buddhist Perspective on "The Shadow" and Shadow Work
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan provides a dharma talk on the (originally Jungian) idea of The Shadow and the current popularization of "Shadow Work." He explores the ways that Tantric Buddhism offers to work with our more difficult and suppressed experiences, as well as the concept of treating our most difficult experience as "beautiful monsters." Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Check out the free with Rebecca D'onofrio and David Nichtern! Visit for books, upcoming events, classes, and to get on his monthly...
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Ep. 119 - Why Is Self-Compassion So Hard To Practice???
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan provides a dharma talk on why practicing self-compassion can be so tricky and so "blocked." He offers some helpful tips you might not have considered (or maybe you have!) for practicing lovingkindness and compassion, both on the meditation seat and in life in general. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Check out the free with Duncan Trussell and David Nichtern! Visit for books, upcoming events, classes, and to get on his monthly email list!
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Ep. 118 - The Mindful Rebel: Holding Space To Just Be with Shawn J. Moore
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan talks to teacher , aka The Mindful Rebel, aka "Part Buddha, Part Biggie" about his somewhat unique path to mindfulness and dharma, and about the meaning of holding space, allowing yourself to just be, and transformational leadership. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Check out the free with Duncan Trussell and David Nichtern! About the Guest: Residing at the intersection of leadership and mindfulness, creates sacred spaces for stillness and self-inquiry to help social impact...
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Ep. 117 - Crucial Questions: On Remorse and The Four Powers of Karmic Transformation
The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern
Ethan provides a dharma talk on the relationship between Self, Non-Self, Guilt and Remorse, and delves into a classic teaching called the "four powers" for how we meet our habitual stuck places and negative behavior with an eye toward gradual transformation. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Check out the free with Duncan Trussell and David Nichtern! Visit for books, upcoming events, classes, and to get on his monthly email list!
info_outlineEthan continues to explore the themes of his new book by looking at the first of the "four powers of confidence." Why does the practice of compassion help us overcome insecurity and show up when life gets hard? What are the three elements of compassion?
Please remember to pick up a copy of Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life's Eight Worldly Winds out this week!
Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor Dharma Moon, including upcoming Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training starting June 14. Sign up for the free online lecture with David Nichtern on May 28 on "Teaching Meditation and The Role of The Teacher."