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
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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 .
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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 .
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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.
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Ep. 150 - The Virtues of Boredom (The Most Boring Podcast Ever!)
07/30/2025
Ep. 150 - The Virtues of Boredom (The Most Boring Podcast Ever!)
This is the 150th episode of The Road Home Podcast! Yay, Big Deal! But, it’s—as always—also a conversation about the Dharma, and the mind, and how to work with your own experience. And your mind, especially during meditation, can be boring. Very boring. So why is boredom such a difficult, yet important—and creative—experience? What do we do about boredom in meditation practice, as well as boredom in daily life? Using a teaching on working with boredom in three stages, along with teachings from earliest Buddhism on the “hindrance” of restlessness, Ethan unpacks the creative power of boredom. It’s an incredibly important reframe of this very human experience, but don’t worry, it’s not that exciting after all. Enjoy! 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.
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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.
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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.
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Ep. 147 - Don’t Stop Believing - Faith and Awareness in The Six Bardos of Collapse and Rebirth
06/26/2025
Ep. 147 - Don’t Stop Believing - Faith and Awareness in The Six Bardos of Collapse and Rebirth
How we work with our minds in the spaces between collapse and rebirth (those uncomfortable gaps in life as well as the huge “gap” after death) hold the key to creating futures that do not replicate the stuckness and suffering of our past. This is true both personally and collectively. As always, with recent world events in mind, we discuss the six bardos of classic Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the three qualities we need to effectively navigate the space between the death of what was and the birth of what will be. 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.
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Ep. 146 - The Dissonance of 2025
06/11/2025
Ep. 146 - The Dissonance of 2025
Ethan visits a recurrent conversation he’s been having with his students, his friends, and within his own mind: the dissonance between feeling like your personal life and close community are in basically good places, while simultaneously raising your gaze to see the immense suffering and chaos of the world. How can we hold those two and find our compassion and skillful means? Framing thoughts around the massive ICE raids that are tearing families apart, followed by the subsequent mass protests in Los Angeles and across the country, Ethan examines how we can remain grounded in our own beings and work with any guilt we might feel for feeling safer than others right now. How can we stay grounded in ourselves and leverage what is classically called the “Precious Human Birth” to experience a harmonized practice on three levels of showing up: the personal, the interpersonal, and the collective? Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like , and more! The Meditation Group starts up again on May 15th, and a special podcast/meditation on “Intuition” was be released to paid subscribers this month. 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. 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.
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Ep. 145 - Always Meditate on Whatever Provokes Resentment
05/23/2025
Ep. 145 - Always Meditate on Whatever Provokes Resentment
What is resentment? Why is it so corrosive? How can we work with our resentments? How can we overcome a victim mentality while still protecting ourselves, protecting others, and protecting truth? In this solo episode, uses a classic Tantric Buddhist contemplative slogan from the Lojong mind training tradition that translates as either “Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment” or “stay close to your resentment.” Enjoy the listen! 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. Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like , and more! The Meditation Group starts up again on May 15th, and a special podcast/meditation on “Intuition” was be released to paid subscribers this month. 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.
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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.
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Ep. 143 - Meditations for Mortals with Oliver Burkeman
05/09/2025
Ep. 143 - Meditations for Mortals with Oliver Burkeman
How can we embrace the limitations of time and the certainty of death and create real fulfillment that thrives on an honest assessment of our human predicament? These are the questions at the heart of this episode. welcomes back bestselling author and journalist for a discussion of finitude, death, limitations, productivity, and dueling concepts of the meaning of meditation. Oliver Burkeman is the author of , and the bestselling , is now available. Oliver wrote a long-running weekly column on psychology for The Guardian, "This Column Will Change Your Life," and his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Psychologies, and New Philosopher. Learn more about him at , and subscribe to his regular newsletter, The Imperfectionist. 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 (, ,Ethan’s Website, 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.
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Ep. 142 - The White Lotus, The God Realm and Pop-Culture Dharma
04/30/2025
Ep. 142 - The White Lotus, The God Realm and Pop-Culture Dharma
In this episode, Ethan does what at least 40 people have asked him to do (special shout-out to Michele S. in Iowa who convinced him to devote a whole podcast episode to it!) - share his thoughts, as a Buddhist, on Season 3 of the Max streaming series The White Lotus. To do so, he explains three different ways to look at the concept of “Dharma Art,” along with a discussion of the three realms. He also ponders why pop culture seems to so rarely depict the act of meditation itself with any experiential accuracy. Note: a few moderate spoilers (though not major ones) are in the podcast, but the first twenty minutes primarily concern Dharma Art and The “God Realm.” 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 8th, 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 (, , Ethan’s Website, etc). Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor . Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as , are also available for download.
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Ep. 141 - Strong Back, Soft Front: The Posture of Meditation is The Posture of Courage
04/21/2025
Ep. 141 - Strong Back, Soft Front: The Posture of Meditation is The Posture of Courage
In this episode, Ethan links a crucial set of instructions from mindfulness meditation teachers of the past regarding how we carry our posture to what it means to show up in this world at a time of chaos. He discusses the instructions on mindfulness meditation from the “warrior” tradition of enlightened society, as well as decoding the qualities of the instruction to maintain a “strong back, and a soft front.” 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! Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor . Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as , are also available for download.
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Ep. 140 - Equanimity Feels Different on a Roller Coaster
04/07/2025
Ep. 140 - Equanimity Feels Different on a Roller Coaster
After tariffs were broadly imposed by the current American regime (including, apparently on uninhabited islands populated mostly by penguins) causing a nearly unprecedented crash of the stock market, and after attending the lovely and unexpectedly massive protest marches that took place on April 5, ponders how to deal with extreme states of mind with a world on a roller coaster marked by fear and greed. The key, he says, is to be able to differentiate between arising mental emotions and the awareness that contains and welcomes them, and then to continuously generate compassion for all human beings. He offers two simple questions we can each ask ourselves when we encounter intense states of mind as humanity's roller coaster ride become increasingly topsy turvy—and perhaps increasingly hopeful—in the months ahead. 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! Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor . Free video courses, such as , are also available for download. Notes: To find further explanation of the eight worldly winds, check out Ethan's latest book or the adapted essay in .
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Ep. 139 - A Buddhist View of A.I. (It Ain't Great...)
03/28/2025
Ep. 139 - A Buddhist View of A.I. (It Ain't Great...)
In light of revelations about the theft of countless authors' work by one A.I. company (guess ), finally talks about a topic he's been requested to cover for a while: Buddhist views on artificial intelligence. He begins by positioning the conversation within the frame of View and Intention, asking the question of what "technology" is and why and how we even want it to progress, along with proposing the sacredness of human labor, wisdom and creativity as a basic Buddhist principle, as well as a principle of right livelihood. He also includes a Buddhist understanding of the meaning of consciousness, and why AI might never meet the standard. 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! Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor . Free video courses, such as , are also available for download. Notes: To see some of the energy usage date on artificial intelligence, see To see which author's works have been pirated, see . To read about The "Suzuki Roshi" Chatbot, . An alternate translation of Suzuki Roshi's famed quote to his students is: “Each of you is perfect the way you are ... and you can use a little improvement.”
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Ep. 138 - Torched Teslas, Fart Noises, And Right Action Against The Oligarchy
03/21/2025
Ep. 138 - Torched Teslas, Fart Noises, And Right Action Against The Oligarchy
delves further into right action during a time of protest and chaos, using the recent examples of Tesla cars and cybertrucks being set on fire as a launching point. In episode, he looked into the five precepts as guidelines for empowered and skillful action. In this episode, he looks into actions of mind as our guide: whether our actions are furthering our fixation on the three poisons of greed, hatred and delusion, or whether they are helping us liberate from those confused mentalities. Can we set samsara on fire instead? Ethan also makes a bad dad joke about using Tesla technology to make happen on a meditation retreat when our mind wanders or we need to wake up. 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! Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the , starting March 21 (this week!). Free video courses, such as , are also available for download.
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Ep. 137 - People-Pleasing: A Buddhist View
03/13/2025
Ep. 137 - People-Pleasing: A Buddhist View
delves into the Bodhisattva teachings on happiness, benefitting beings, and “,” or what happens when compassion becomes an ego construction. How do we tell the difference between helping others in a nourishing way, on the one hand, and doing things for others that we really don’t want to do that leave us burnt out and resentful? And what do you do if no one thanks you for the amazing charcuterie plate you made for them? 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! Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the , starting March 21 (next week!). Free video courses, such as , are also available for download.
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Ep. 136 - The Heart Sutra, Groundlessness, Joy, and Crumbling Patriarchy with Susan Piver
03/07/2025
Ep. 136 - The Heart Sutra, Groundlessness, Joy, and Crumbling Patriarchy with Susan Piver
welcomes bestselling author and Dharma teacher Susan Piver for a discussion of the groundlessness of our current world framed through her new book . If you'd like to read a translation of this classic Buddhist text, you can find that on . is the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including and . Her most recent book is . Susan has been a student of Buddhism since 1993, graduated from a Buddhist seminary in 2004 and began to teach meditation in 2005. In 2014, she founded The Open Heart Project, an online dharma center with nearly 20000 members. Please support the podcast via and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, extra podcast episodes and more! Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the , starting March 21. Free video courses, such as , are also available for download.
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Ep. 135 - The Three Lords of Materialism
02/26/2025
Ep. 135 - The Three Lords of Materialism
Ethan discusses the classic origins of the worldview of "Materialism," as well a framework developed by the Tibetan teacher Chogyam Trungpa called "The Three Lords of Materialism" for looking at how we can notice our tendency to chase peak experiences in the arenas of the physical world, intellectual experience, and of course, our spiritual paths. Please support the podcast via Substack and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, extra podcast episodes and more. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the , starting March 21. Free courses, such as , are also available for download. Also check out free upcoming events with Professor
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Ep. 134 - The Power of Choice: The Five Precepts as a Recipe for Transformation
01/31/2025
Ep. 134 - The Power of Choice: The Five Precepts as a Recipe for Transformation
Ethan discusses a classic Buddhist concept, sīla (or shila), through the lens of knowing where to place our attention and action, knowing "what to cultivate and what to reject." Choices shift energy and energy can build power, and that power can be the difference between awakening and confusion. Ethan also argues, using the five precepts (or five mindfulness trainings) as a guide, that this might be the key to building new powerful systems in the world. He also examines a rule for social change involving only 3.5% of us making different, more awakened choices. Imagine if only a few percent of us shifted our energy from harmful systems into something healthier. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the (The first 6-Week module, , is open to all) and , starting March 21. Free courses, such as , are also available for download. Also check out free upcoming events with and
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Ep. 133 - The Dharma of Film: A Complete Unknown, Or A Cesspool of Ego? with Andrew Buckland
01/24/2025
Ep. 133 - The Dharma of Film: A Complete Unknown, Or A Cesspool of Ego? with Andrew Buckland
Ethan is joined for an insightful discussion about Dharma Art with Academy Award-winning film editor and Buddhist meditator Andrew Buckland. They discuss the practice of filmmaking and creativity more generally, as well as Andrew's path, the film A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan biopic which was Andrew's latest editing project. Finally, they discuss why working in the film profession sometimes feels like "A Cesspool of Ego." Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the (The first 6-Week module, , is open to all and starts January 28, 2025) and . About Andrew Buckland ACE: Andrew is an Academy Award winning film editor who won the Oscar for his work on FORD v FERRARI alongside Michael McCusker ACE. He received his B.F.A. in Film from Purchase College and landed his first job on Alan Pakula’s THE DEVIL’s OWN as an apprentice editor. Since then Andrew has been a part of the editorial teams on many high-profile films including Mike Nichol’s CLOSER and CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR. Andrew subsequently directed two documentary films THE LONG WALL HOME and SOMOS WICHI, which won the 2012 Documentary Expose Award at The Peace OnEarth Film Festival, Chicago USA. Andrew began his collaboration with James Mangold on KNIGHT AND DAY and THE WOLVERINE, and later edited FORD v FERRARI, and INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY. Other credits include Co-Editing Tate Taylor’s THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and Additional Editing GET ON UP. His most recent collaboration with James Mangold is editing A COMPLETE UNKNOWN.
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Ep. 132 - Is Mindfulness Enough (Why Study Buddhist Philosophy)?
01/15/2025
Ep. 132 - Is Mindfulness Enough (Why Study Buddhist Philosophy)?
Ethan is joined for an insightful discussion about Entering the Study of Buddhism with the faculty of Dharma Moon's Yearlong Buddhist Studies program. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the (The first 6-Week module, , is open to all and starts January 28, 2025) and . About the Faculty: Lou Sharma has been part of the Buddhist Studies faculty for four years. She is interested in the ways mindfulness can empower more compassionate cultures of work, inspired by 10+ years of experience as a corporate researcher and brand strategist. Jackie Stewart is a meditation teacher and mindfulness advisor based in NYC. She is currently a student of Mingyur Rinpoche, and serves as a practice leader in his international community, Tergar. Maho Kawachi was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Maho first encountered meditation and Buddhism in downtown Manhattan in 2000. She became an avid practitioner in 2008 and has over a decade of experience, practice, training, and certification credentials including completion of the Interdependence Project Teachers Training, Mindful Meditation Teachers Certified Program, and Mindful Mentor Training. Heather Shaw has been a student/teacher of yoga and meditation, steeped in the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as Western psychotherapy and neuroscience since 1998. Eric Gerard is an actor from Chicago,and also serves as the Co-Owner and Artistic Director at Blackbox Acting, a school that aims to prepare artists for their careers through a holistic approach.
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Ep. 131 - The World Is On Fire
01/13/2025
Ep. 131 - The World Is On Fire
Ethan offers a lovingkindness (metta/maitri) meditation for all who are effected by the climate crisis, and discusses why when global crises require our action, our practice might be a privilege, but it's also a necessity. The climate crisis recognizes no borders, and we are truly all in this together. Just a few links to help and get involved with the Los Angeles wildfires are: , , and our friends at . Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the (starts January 28, 2025) and .
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Ep. 130 - Five Keys To A Sustainable Meditation Practice
01/03/2025
Ep. 130 - Five Keys To A Sustainable Meditation Practice
discusses the difficulty with keeping a meditation practice going that is relevant for those who are new to practice as well as those who have been finding their seat for many years. He offers five keys to making your practice more sustainable this year. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the (starts January 28, 2025) and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Check out the free talk on on January 7th. Get on Ethan's monthly email list . Order his new book here.
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Ep 129 - The Astrology of 2025 (Not A Chapter, A Whole New Book) with Juliana McCarthy
12/26/2024
Ep 129 - The Astrology of 2025 (Not A Chapter, A Whole New Book) with Juliana McCarthy
is joined again by friend, , dharma practitioner and astrologer . They discuss the various movements in astrology in 2024 and 2025 from a mindful perspective. Juliana gives her optimistic take on what is to come, calling Mid 2025 onward "Not A New Chapter, But A Whole New Book," why Ethan is praying for Star Trek aliens,and they discuss world events and how the US might avoid what appears to be an astrological repeat of The French Revolution. Juliana runs a popular Instagram feed, . She regularly and leads various . If you’re interested in online talks, videos, and class, visit her . She also wrote a called, , published by Roost Books and distributed by Penguin Random House. Learn more about it . Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the (starts January 28, 2025) and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. Join Ethan for our annual on December 31 at 3-4pm ET. Check out the free talk on on January 7th. Get on Ethan's monthly email list . Order his new book here.
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Ep. 128 - Enlightened Society with David Nichtern
12/17/2024
Ep. 128 - Enlightened Society with David Nichtern
Ethan is joined by Dharma Moon founder and award winning musician/composer David Nichtern for a true moment of Nichternity. They engage in a wide-ranging discussion (the only kind they know how to have) about Wicked, Ariana Grande, Ethan's issue with musicals, the death of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, the Kaliyuga or "dark ages," fear of impermanence, building an awakened environment of art and culture, and, finally, the elusive concept called "Enlightened Society." is a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 40 years. He is the author of the critically acclaimed books Awakening From the Daydream: Reimagining The Buddha's Wheel of Life and Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck. He mentors individual students both in person and online, and leads meditation teacher training programs around the world. He is also a four time Emmy-winning and two time Grammy-nominated composer and producer, as well as the founder of Dharma Moon Records and 5 Points Records. Check out all the cool offerings at our sponsor including the (starts January 28, 2025) and Mindful Meditation Teacher Training. free talk on on December 19th. Join us for our annual on December 31 at 3-4pm ET. Check out the free talk on on January 7th. Get on Ethan's monthly email list . Order his new book here.
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Ep. 127 - Conspirituality: Compassion Down The Rabbithole with Derek Beres
12/02/2024
Ep. 127 - Conspirituality: Compassion Down The Rabbithole with Derek Beres
Ethan is joined by health journalist and podcaster Derek Beres to discuss the dominance of misinformation in the health, wellness and spiritual spaces, and how we might be able to understand and converse with the people—and the parts of ourselves—that have gone "down the rabbithole." is a multi-faceted author, speaker, and podcaster based in Portland, Oregon. He has served in senior editorial positions at a number of tech companies and has years of experience in health, science, and music writing. He regularly speaks on science and media literacy. Derek is the co-host of the . 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. Join us for our annual New Year's Eve contemplation practice gathering on December 31 at 3-4pm ET Get on Ethan's monthly email list . Order his new book here.
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Ep. 126 - Rock-Bottom Individualism and The Possibility of Sangha
11/25/2024
Ep. 126 - Rock-Bottom Individualism and The Possibility of Sangha
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 . Order his new book here.
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Ep. 125 - After The Apocalypse
11/11/2024
Ep. 125 - After The Apocalypse
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
10/15/2024
Ep. 124 - "Does It Count?" - Cortland Dahl on Short Meditation, Mindful Living, And Feeling Allergic To Religion
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 ancient Tibetan meditation manuals, as well as cutting-edge research on the science of wellbeing and the creation of an acclaimed meditation app. He is a scientist, author, translator, entrepreneur, and meditation teacher, but his true passion is using ancient wisdom and modern science to help people flourish.
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