The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern

The Road Home podcast with author and teacher is Ethan Nichtern is a contemporary exploration of Buddhist teachings and conversation with thought leaders interested in Psychology, Art, Culture, and Politics through the lens of mindfulness practice. Since 2002, Ethan has taught meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and workshops around the United States and online. He is the author of multiple books, including The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of The Buddhist Path. He is currently the head of the Yearlong Buddhist Studies Program for Dharmamoon.com. More info at EthanNichtern.com

Ep. 154 - How Do I Know If I’m Enlightened? 09/09/2025

Ep. 153 - You Won’t Heal Until You Love It : Inside The Neurological Storm with Reggie Hubbard 08/26/2025

Ep. 153 - You Won’t Heal Until You Love It : Inside The Neurological Storm with Reggie Hubbard 16 months ago, yoga/meditation/sound teacher Reggie Hubbard had a near-death experience, a major stroke. He visits the podcast to describe the experience of his "neurological storm" and the path of collapse and healing that he's been on ever since, and how it has profoundly affected his views as a practitioner, teacher, and his views of the neurological storm that the United States and the world is currently experiencing. If there's such a thing as a "must-listen" episode of this podcast, this it it. Reggie Hubbard is a senior political strategist, certified yoga and meditation teacher, and founder of . He bridges the worlds of activism and wellness, helping changemakers cultivate inner peace as a foundation for meaningful civic engagement. His mission is to support activists in finding balance while encouraging the wellness community to become more socially conscious. With a background in global marketing, government relations, and activism, Reggie holds a B.A. in philosophy from Yale and an M.B.A. in international strategy from Vlerick Business School. He turned to yoga in 2014 during a period of deepprofessional adversity, and has since studied with renowned teachers including Faith Hunter, Rod Stryker, Dharma Mittra, and Jack Kornfield. Through Active Peace Yoga, Reggie offers accessible yoga rooted in inclusion and healing, drawing inspiration fromartists like Prince and Jimi Hendrix. His teaching blends movement, meditation, and breathwork with honest conversation and compassion. Following a major stroke, his recovery journey further deepened his commitment to contemplative practice. A passionate advocate for equity in wellness, Reggie advises studios and organizations on diversity and inclusion. He has been featured by Yoga Journal, Kripalu, the Omega Institute, Be Here Now Network, and more. He also supports community programs including Black Boys Om and The Food Group. Reggie currently resides in Maryland. Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Additional links and show notes are available . Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like , and more! The Thursday Meditation Group happens each week at 8am ET on Thursdays, and a special was released this week. Another bonus podcast discussed a mindful take on the These are all available to paid subscribers. You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (, ,, etc). Ethan’s most recent book, was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive. Don’t forget to sign up for thee upcoming 5 day retreat at the lovely Garrison Institute Sep 29 - Oct 4, 2025 ! Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor , including a free webinar with David Nichtern on why become a meditation teacheron Sep 2th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as , are also available for download at . /episode/index/show/cb7e5c04-9e21-4fbc-b3a4-6df7005b92d7/id/37882245

Ep. 152 - Crucial Questions: What Is The Bodhisattva Vow? 08/13/2025

Ep. 152 - Crucial Questions: What Is The Bodhisattva Vow? Ethan discusses three reasons we take vows and make commitments from a Buddhist perspective, and gives special emphasis to The Bodhisattva Vow, where we commit to not only pursue our own path of liberation and awakening, but also vow to work for the benefit of all beings, to the limits of space, until all beings are awake. It is a commitment to the collective liberation of all beings. Of course, this is impossible (at least in our lifetimes), so why would we agree to do it? Using the classic structure of the vow, along with modern commentary, Ethan dissects the reasons we would take on such a commitment. Ethan briefly mentions a much earlier episode of the podcast, where he discusses the first vow along the Buddhist path (The refuge vow). That episode can be found . Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Additional links and show notes are available . Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like , and more! The Thursday Meditation Group happens each week at 8am ET on Thursdays, and a special was released this week. Another bonus podcast discussed a mindful take on the These are all available to paid subscribers. You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (, ,, etc). Ethan’s most recent book, was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive. Don’t forget to sign up for the August 23 “Windhorse Meditation” Online Retreatat and the upcoming 5 day retreat at the lovely Garrison Institute ! Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor , including a free webinar with David Nichtern on why become a meditation teacher on Sep 2th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as , are also available for download at . /episode/index/show/cb7e5c04-9e21-4fbc-b3a4-6df7005b92d7/id/37778025

Ep. 151 - Buddhist Geeks, 21st Century Practice, and The Duhkha of Palestine 08/06/2025

Ep. 151 - Buddhist Geeks, 21st Century Practice, and The Duhkha of Palestine Ethan welcomes Co-Founder, teacher, and Palestinian-American Dharma teacher . They discuss the rise of "podcast dharma" in the early 21st century, Vince's path to Vince's experience of his Palestinian heritage, why it's hard to get Dharma teachers to speak out about the genocide in Gaza, The Buddhist practice of , and the complex legacy of Chogyam Trungpa and Tibetan refugees in relation to the Palestinian experience. is part of a new generation bringing dharma, meditation, & mindfulness to life in the 21st century. A computer engineering dropout turned full-time meditator, Vince spent his 20s co-founding the ground-breaking project, , while simultaneously doing a full year, in total, of silent retreat practice. Vince began teaching in 2010 and has since been authorized in both the Pragmatic Dharma lineage of Kenneth Folk, and by Trudy Goodman (InsightLA) & Jack Kornfield of (Spirit Rock Meditation Center) in the Insight Meditation tradition. Since then he has spent thousands of hours supporting individuals, groups, & organizations in incorporating meditation practice into their lives. Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like , and more! The Thursday Meditation Group starts up again on July 10th, and a special was released this week. Another bonus podcast discussed a mindful take on the You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (, ,, etc). Ethan’s most recent book, was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive. Don’t forget to sign up for the August 23 “Windhorse Meditation” Online Retreat at and the upcoming 5 day retreat at the lovely Garrison Institute ! Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor , including the program beginning July 10th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as , are also available for download. /episode/index/show/cb7e5c04-9e21-4fbc-b3a4-6df7005b92d7/id/37686280

Ep. 150 - The Virtues of Boredom (The Most Boring Podcast Ever!) 07/30/2025

Ep. 149 - The Whole World Is Gold To Me: Tantra and Generosity 07/21/2025

Ep. 149 - The Whole World Is Gold To Me: Tantra and Generosity (This episode of The Road Home is dedicated to the memory of —founder of the Eco-Dharma and Deep Ecology Movements—who passed this weekend at the age of 96) On this episode, a follow-up to episode 148, Ethan explores wealth and generosity from a tantric perspective. If you could take the view, for just one moment, that you, your perceptions, and your world were all perfect in being exactly what they were, how would that change your experience of yourself, your resources, and your participation in society? What is generosity (“dana” in the Buddhist languages) from a Tantric perspective? How does tantra change our ability to practice Dana, or "fluid exchange" with our experience? In the second part of a two episode discussion, Ethan looks at an understanding of wealth and generosity in the Vajrayana systems of Buddhist practice, incorporating themes of spacious awareness, teacher Rick Hanson’s crucial four-step practice of “,” and the practices of Ratna Jewel, Golden Key and Enriching Presence from the Tantric and Shambhala traditions. Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like , and more! The Thursday Meditation Group starts up again on July 10th, and a special was released this month. Another bonus podcast discussed a mindful take on the You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (, ,, etc). Ethan’s most recent book, was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive. Don’t forget to sign up for the August 23 “Windhorse Meditation” Online Retreat at and the upcoming 5 day retreat at the lovely Garrison Institute ! Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor , including the program beginning July 10th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as , are also available for download. /episode/index/show/cb7e5c04-9e21-4fbc-b3a4-6df7005b92d7/id/37473025

Ep. 148 - No More Billionaires - Wealth, Livelihood and Generosity in the Hinayana and Mahayana 07/14/2025

Ep. 148 - No More Billionaires - Wealth, Livelihood and Generosity in the Hinayana and Mahayana What is generosity (“dana” in the Buddhist languages), and how does it relate to our experience of wealth, our consumption, our labor, and our shared values as a society? How can we work with our craving for always have more like one of those a metal claw machines in a video game arcade, leaving us unable to live in the practice of Dana, or "fluid exchange" with our experience? Similarly, how do we create a society that acknowledges the sacredness of labor and the social benefits of collective generosity? How can we as a society generate wealth without the fixation to hoard billions of dollars? In the first part of a two episode discussion, Ethan looks at an understanding of wealth and generosity in the "Hinayana" and "Mahayana" systems of Buddhist practice, and next week in Episode 149 he will look at a Vajrayana understanding of wealth and generosity through the "Ratna Jewel of Enriching Presence." Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like , and more! The Thursday Meditation Group starts up again on July 10th, and a special was released this month. Another bonus podcast discussed a mindful take on the You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (, ,, etc). Ethan’s most recent book, was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive. Don’t forget to sign up for the August 23 “Windhorse Meditation” Online Retreatat ! Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor , including the program beginning July 10th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as , are also available for download. /episode/index/show/cb7e5c04-9e21-4fbc-b3a4-6df7005b92d7/id/37390270

Ep. 147 - Don’t Stop Believing - Faith and Awareness in The Six Bardos of Collapse and Rebirth 06/26/2025

Ep. 146 - The Dissonance of 2025 06/11/2025

Ep. 145 - Always Meditate on Whatever Provokes Resentment 05/23/2025

Ep. 144 - Microdosing Grief and The Practice of Saying Goodbye 05/15/2025

Ep. 144 - Microdosing Grief and The Practice of Saying Goodbye In a spontaneous episode, Ethan discusses grief and loss while processing multiple events. At a recent compassion meditation retreat, colleague and friend René Fay gave a presentation where she discussed the need to “Microdose Grief,” to take it in little by little so that we can honor the small moments of loss to develop familiarity with the experience when the big waves come. Through remembering the life and the recent death of a dharma friend, Ethan explores a famous buddhist quote about impermanence (“The Cup Is Already Broken”) and explores how grief can be used as a tool for popping our hearts and minds outside of the confines of linear time, into the spontaneous presence and open-heartedness of what the Zen masters call “Being Time.” This episode of The Road Home is dedicated to the memory of , who was a friend (and ) who passed away suddenly on May 10, 2025. Ralph was a dharma teacher and trauma therapist, as well as the author of three books which each explored Internal Family Systems and Somatic Therapy in relation to Tantric Buddhist thought: , , and . For resources for processing Ralph’s passing, you can follow the information posted in the youtube video, or reach out to Ralph’s assistant, Amanda Ludwig. Visit for the show notes that include the prophetic and poignant last Dharma talk that Ralph gave the day before he/they passed away. Support The Road Home: Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, and more! The Meditation Group starts up again on May 15th, and a special podcast/meditation on “Intuition” will be released to paid subscribers this Friday, May 2nd. You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (, ,, etc). Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor , including the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training program beginning June 13th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as , are also available for download. /episode/index/show/cb7e5c04-9e21-4fbc-b3a4-6df7005b92d7/id/36578540