Eternal Search

This podcast features conversations on spiritual traditions, psychology and philosophy. Things people have used to answer questions like, what is the meaning of life? Why are we here? What happens after we die? Join me as I explore systems of thought that answer these questions: welcome to the eternal search.

19 - The Desert Fathers with Stephen Davis 02/14/2026

19 - The Desert Fathers with Stephen Davis This episode focuses on the Desert Fathers, early Christian hermits and ascetics whose practices formed the prototype for modern Christian moasticism. My guest is Stephen Davis, Professor of Religious Studies and Professor of History at Yale University. He has spent much of his career working in Egypt and studying the modern Egyptian monastic communities that trace their lineage back to the desert fathers. We start by talking about what the early Christian world was like before moving into the world of the Desert Fathers themselves. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/40109370

18 - Nietzsche & Zarathustra with David Storey 01/24/2026

18 - Nietzsche & Zarathustra with David Storey This interview focuses on Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher active during the late 1800s. While famously atheistic, Nietzsche still saw value in a spiritual life… just not a very traditional one. My guest today is David Storey, Professor of philosophy at Boston College. We discuss Nietzsche’s most fundamental ideas before honing in on his spiritual ones. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/39861455

17 - Christian Science with Scott Shivers 11/27/2025

17 - Christian Science with Scott Shivers This interview focuses on Christian Science, a denomination of Christianity founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1800’s New England. Herself a devout Christian, she formulated Christian Science as a way to make sense of a miraculous healing she experienced after an accident left her with severe injuries. My guest today is Scott Shivers, a Christian Science practitioner who works on the church’s Committees on Publications. We discuss Mary Baker Eddy’s life, key ideas of Christian Science Theology, and how Christian Science is different from other denominations of Christianity. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/39187340

16 - Confucius & The Ru with Yair Lior 11/12/2025

16 - Confucius & The Ru with Yair Lior This episode features a discussion on Confucius and his ideas. Confucius lived during a chaotic time period of Chinese history, and his ideas concentrated on how to restore order to society. Although he only achieved modest success during his lifetime, his ideas have been a key part of Chinese civilization for thousands of years. Yair Lior returns for this episode. He is a professor at Boston University's department of religion, and an expert in comparative theology. Unfortunately, I had some audio issues recording this episode. Its still listenable, but sounds more like a recorded zoom call than the in person conversation we had :( /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/39003205

15 - The Baháʼí Faith with Andrés Shahidinejad 10/18/2025

15 - The Baháʼí Faith with Andrés Shahidinejad This episode features the Baháʼí faith, a tradition started in 1800s Persia that emphasizes the essential unity of humanity. My guest is Andrés Shahidinejad, a member of Boston's Baháʼí community. We discuss the history of the tradition, as well as its core ideas and spiritual practices. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/38629200

14 - The Vedic Dream with Swami Tyagananda 08/09/2025

14 - The Vedic Dream with Swami Tyagananda Swami Tyagananda is chair of the Vedanta Society in Boston and serves as Hindu chaplain at Harvard and MIT. We briefly discuss the history of the Vedanta Society before moving into Vedic philosophy. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/37744535

13 - Kabbalah 101 with Yair Lior 07/18/2025

13 - Kabbalah 101 with Yair Lior Yair is senior lecturer at Boston University's department of religion. He studies comparative theology, particularly Kabbalah and Confucianism. We discuss the development of Kabbalah, and a basic overview of its key ideas. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/37455535

12 - Luther's Bible with Rev. James Hopkins 07/15/2025

12 - Luther's Bible with Rev. James Hopkins Rev. Hopkins is senior pastor of First Lutheran Church in Boston. He has an mdiv from Concordia theological seminary in Ft. Wayne Indiana. Topics include Rev. Hopkin's own spiritual background and a basic overview of Lutheran history, theology and worship. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/37421585

11 - Raël and the Elohim with Rob 07/06/2025

11 - Raël and the Elohim with Rob Rob is a guide within the Raëlean Movement. Topics include the extraterrestrial origins of humanity, and a new form of spirituality independent of god. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/37299275

10 - Sikh Saint Soldiers with Angad Pal Singh 06/21/2025

10 - Sikh Saint Soldiers with Angad Pal Singh Angad is a member of the local Sikh community in Everett Massachusettes and a trustee of United Sikhs, a non profit focused on humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Topics include basic overviews of Sikh history, scripture and philosophy. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/37098665

9 - Individual Judaism with Rav Tiferet Berenbaum 06/13/2025

9 - Individual Judaism with Rav Tiferet Berenbaum Rabbi Tiferet Berenbaum is the Rabbi of Congregational Learning and Programming at TBZ Brookline in Brookline, MA. She received rabbinic ordination as well as a Master’s of Jewish Education from Hebrew College in Newton, MA, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Topics include the history of Rabbinical responsibilities, the relationship of the Hebrew language to Jewish culture and the Hebrew Scriptures. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/37007305

8 - Alexandrian Wicca and Spiritualism with Priestess Tilia 05/31/2025

8 - Alexandrian Wicca and Spiritualism with Priestess Tilia Tilia is a Priestess of the Coven of Ildanach, an Alexandrian Wicca coven located in Massachusetts. She is also an ordained spiritualist. Topics include trance states, communicating with the dead and sex magic. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/36704295

7 - Unitarian Universalism with Rev. Joe Cherry 05/25/2025

7 - Unitarian Universalism with Rev. Joe Cherry Reverend Joe Cherry is a Unitarian Universalist minister currently working at First Parish in Brookline Massachusetts. Topics include the history of the tradition and spiritual pluralism in practice. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/36704170

6 - Brujería Blanca with Stefan 05/10/2025

6 - Brujería Blanca with Stefan Stefan is an ordained minister and practitioner of Indigenous and Folk practices of Central Mexico. Topics include the melting pot of spiritual traditions in Mexico, ancestor veneration and how to properly orient yourself with the spirit world. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/36518985

5 - Contemplative Christianity & The Episcopal Church with Rev. Won-Jae Hur 05/04/2025

5 - Contemplative Christianity & The Episcopal Church with Rev. Won-Jae Hur Rev. Won Jae Hur is an Episcopal priest serving as Rector at St. Paul's Church in Brookline, MA. He holds a PhD in Comparative Theology from Boston College, where he studied connections between Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism. Topics include the structure & theology of the Episcopal Church, the Book of Common Prayer and a comparison of Tibetan Buddhism with Contemplative Christianity. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/36425105

4 - The Catholic Sacraments with Father Chris Hickey 04/12/2025

4 - The Catholic Sacraments with Father Chris Hickey Father Chris is a Catholic priest at Our Lady of the Angels parish on the South Shore of Massachusetts. I sat down with him to discuss (among other things) the Catholic Sacraments, the heart of Jesus' story, and exorcisms. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/36110650

3 - Plum Village Mindfulness with Jo and Glen 04/12/2025

3 - Plum Village Mindfulness with Jo and Glen Jo and Glen are facilitators at Wake Up Boston, a Buddhist sangha in the Plum Village tradition. Topics include Tich Naht Hahn (the founder of Plum Village) and the importance of mindfulness in his tradition. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/36110635

2 - Islamic Prayer and the Qur'an with Imam Ismail 04/12/2025

2 - Islamic Prayer and the Qur'an with Imam Ismail Ismail is an Imam at several mosques in the greater Boston area. I met him at my local mosque during Ramadan to attend a prayer service and discuss the Qur'an, dreams, the Jinn and more. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/36110610

1 - Theravada Buddhism with Samitha Nedagamuwe 04/12/2025

1 - Theravada Buddhism with Samitha Nedagamuwe Samitha is a Sri Lankan monk ordained in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. He is currently resident monk at Peace House in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This episode is a combination of two interviews with Samitha. In the first, we discuss his own spiritual background, Buddhist practices in Sri Lanka and the Buddha's story. In the second, we examine the Buddha's fundamental teachings and the nature of meditation. /episode/index/show/86bedca0-7a15-4a17-b500-c3cc3b2f371b/id/36110580

Eternal Search

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