Episode 128: Venerable Ani Choyang: A Buddhist Nun’s Path to Liberation
Release Date: 06/26/2025
Episode 128: Venerable Ani Choyang: A Buddhist Nun’s Path to Liberation
Sacred Stream Radio
Welcome to the Sacred Stream Radio Podcast. I’m your host, Laura Chandler, and on today’s episode, I speak with Tibetan Buddhist nun, Venerable Ani Choyang. Ani is part of a distinguished group of Tibetan nuns on the path to earning the highest degree in Buddhist Philosophy—an honor that, until recently, was reserved exclusively for men. Her academic achievements extend beyond traditional studies into the realm of Western science. In this conversation, Ani shares the powerful story of her escape from Chinese-occupied Tibet, where she spent her early years working in a factory with...
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Episode 127: Isa and Laura: Healing with Depth Hypnosis
Sacred Stream Radio
On this episode, Laura is joined by author, counselor, and renowned teacher, Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D., to discuss her new book, . Isa is the creator of Depth Hypnosis, a pioneering psycho-spiritual healing modality that has empowered thousands to lead happier, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. Depth Hypnosis is a unique, integrative approach that weaves together ancient wisdom and contemporary psychological insight. Drawing from traditions such as Buddhism, shamanism, energy medicine, and transpersonal psychology, it effectively addresses a wide range of issues, including addiction, anxiety,...
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Episode 126: Thupten Jinpa: Part 2: A Live Q&A
Sacred Stream Radio
In this edition, we welcome renowned Buddhist scholar and teacher, Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D., as he answers audience questions following a recent talk at the Sacred Stream. An excerpt from this compelling conversation can be heard in . In this thoughtful Q&A session, Jinpa shares deep insights on parenting, cultivating compassion amidst adversity, navigating difficult emotions, and facing death with clarity and courage. Drawing on decades of experience, he also recounts a powerful and personal story of his childhood escape from Tibet and the hardships he faced growing up in exile in India....
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Episode 125: Thupten Jinpa: Part 1: Making Friends with our Minds
Sacred Stream Radio
On this episode, we are sharing an excerpt from a recent talk at the Sacred Stream by esteemed author, former Tibetan Buddhist monk, and renowned Buddhist teacher, Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D. Jinpa has been the principal English translator for the Dalai Lama since 1985 and has translated and edited more than ten of his books, along with writing several of his own. He serves as the Board Chair of the Mind & Life Institute, is the founder and president of the Compassion Institute, and is a visiting research scholar at the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neurosciences. In...
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Episode 124: Carolyn Sharp: Reigniting Joy in Your Relationships
Sacred Stream Radio
On this episode of the Sacred Stream Radio podcast, Laura speaks with couples therapist and author of , . Carolyn leads relationships retreats throughout the country and has over twenty-five years of experience helping people build vital, vibrant, and secure functioning relationships. Early in her career she was a social worker in the foster care system and later became the Clinical Director of the YMCA’s Mental Health programs before going into private practice. Today, Carolyn combines her passion for helping people with her widespread experience to assist people in creating the healthiest...
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Episode 123: Simon Ruffell: Onaya Psychedelic Research
Sacred Stream Radio
On this episode of the Sacred Stream Radio podcast, Laura speaks with Dr. Simon Ruffell. Simon is a psychiatrist and the founder and CEO of Onaya Science, an organization that conducts research into the effects of psychedelic plant medicine ceremonies on body, mind, and spirit. Onaya also offers a Psychedelic Mentorship Training program. Simon follows a collaborative approach to research that combines tradition with science, emphasizing the importance of listening to indigenous healers and including them in every step of the research process. Currently, Onaya is engaged in an ongoing of plant...
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Episode 122: 2024: A Retrospective
Sacred Stream Radio
On this episode, Laura reflects on some of the highlights from interviews over the past year. Featured guests include Maria Guidice, best-selling author and founder/former CEO of Hot Studio; Fritz Clay, founder of Fostering Connections; Lauren Markham, journalist and best-selling author of ; and Henry Shukman, Zen master and author of . Thank you for listening, liking, reviewing, and subscribing! For more information about these guests, you can visit their websites: , , , and .
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Episode 121: Henry Shukman: Original Love
Sacred Stream Radio
On this episode of the Sacred Stream Radio podcast, Laura is joined by poet, author, and Zen master, Henry Shukman. Henry is the author of two recent books, , and the memoir, . He is also co-founder of the single-path meditation app , founder of the meditation program, and spiritual director emeritus at . Original Love is a new approach to the ancient path of meditation. It is a broad meditation training based primarily on traditional teachings of Zen and Early Buddhism. Through finding the intrinsic lovingness, energy, peace and joy that are already within us, even if they sometimes feel...
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Episode 120: Finding Your Spiritual Path
Sacred Stream Radio
This episode is taken from a recent live stream event with Isa and Laura. Isa is an author and the Founding Director of the Sacred Stream. Today they are talking about finding your spiritual path. We are all spiritual beings, but in our everyday lives, it’s easy to forget that we have a spirit that needs to be recognized, listened to, and nourished. Laura and Isa discuss the importance of prioritizing our spirits and finding a spiritual path that supports us. Whether it’s a religious practice, spending time in nature, quiet contemplation, music, or the simple practice of being kind, we...
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Episode 119: Lauren Markham: A Map of Future Ruins
Sacred Stream Radio
Lauren Markham, journalist and author of , is the guest on this episode. Lauren’s latest book draws on her career reporting on migration and the issues asylum seekers face in the US and abroad. It centers around the story of the fire that burned down the largest refugee camp in Europe on the island of Lesvos, Greece, and the six young Afghan refugees accused of arson in spite of scant evidence. It takes us deep into causes of migration and offers thoughtful ideas for more humane approaches to dealing with the issues. Lauren’s book turns the journalist lens on herself as she questions the...
info_outlineWelcome to the Sacred Stream Radio Podcast. I’m your host, Laura Chandler, and on today’s episode, I speak with Tibetan Buddhist nun, Venerable Ani Choyang. Ani is part of a distinguished group of Tibetan nuns on the path to earning the highest degree in Buddhist Philosophy—an honor that, until recently, was reserved exclusively for men. Her academic achievements extend beyond traditional studies into the realm of Western science.
In this conversation, Ani shares the powerful story of her escape from Chinese-occupied Tibet, where she spent her early years working in a factory with limited access to education. She speaks about the challenges and triumphs of learning the Tibetan language and discovering Tibetan culture for the first time at age 18. We also explore her inspiring academic journey and her unwavering commitment to expanding educational opportunities for nuns and women alike.
Ani Choyang was the first nun from Tibet to be awarded the prestigious Tenzin Gyatso Science Scholarship from Emory University in Atlanta. She has also completed an internship in neuroscience at Northwestern University and is currently involved in a groundbreaking research project on lucid dreaming and dream yoga. Ani is a resident nun and science teacher at Jangchub Choeling Nunnery in Mundgod, India. She also serves as the Coordinator of the Library and Learning Center, a new facility under development at the nunnery that will offer nuns a comprehensive education in both Buddhist studies and Western subjects.