Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

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1. Ep. 298 – Ann Tashi Slater

   27 oktober 2026 · 58 min

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   For episode 298, Sharon sits down with first-time guest Ann Tashi Slater. Lees meer

   Ann Tashi Slater is the author of Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World. She has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Oprah Daily, among others, and is a contributing editor at Tricycle, where she hosts an interview series about bardo and the art of living.

   Ann’s speaking and teaching engagements include Princeton, Columbia, Oxford, and The American University of Paris. Her work explores how our personal histories and cultural roots shape us—and how we find meaning in a world where everything changes and ends. This is Ann’s first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

   In this conversation, Ann and Sharon speak about:

   • Ann’s exploration of her Tibetan roots

   • The liminal periods of our lives

   • The definition of bardo

   • How Ann discovered bardo teachings

   • The Tibetan Book of the Dead

   • The story of Ann’s great-grandfather

   • Examples of everyday bardos

   • Becoming more intimate with uncertainty

   • Opening to being undefined in transitions

   • Bardo leading to the experience of non-self

   • How lovingkindness affects bardo periods

   • What role grief plays in bardo

   • The Buddhist story of Kisa Gotami

   • Non-Attachment, Acceptance, Attention

   • What Ann’s near-death experience taught her

   • Accepting reality without giving up hope

   • How do we live in a world where nothing lasts forever?

   Additional Resources

   The episode closes with Ann reading an excerpt from her book, Traveling in Bardo. You can learn more about Ann’s work right here.

   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2. Ep. 297 – Chris Germer

   13 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 21 min

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   For episode 297, Sharon sits down with Chris Germer to discuss his new book, Self-Compassion for Shame. Lees meer

   Chris Germer, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the author of several books including Self-Compassion for Burnout, co-authored with Dr. Kristin Neff. His new book, Self-Compassion for Shame: A Step-by-Step Guide to Inner Freedom was just released in September of 2026 from The Guilford Press. Chris lectures and leads workshops internationally and has a small psychotherapy practice in Massachusetts. This is his first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

   In this conversation, Sharon and Chris speak about:

   Chris’s early interest in psychology

   Learning meditation in the seventies

   Contemplative practice with psychology

   How Chris came to self-compassion

   Sharon’s influence in Chris’s path

   How loving-kindness changed Chris’s life

   Chris’s public speaking anxiety

   Sharon’s experience with public speaking

   How Chris became aware of his own shame

   Shame is an attack on the sense of self

   Shame compared to similar emotions and traits

   How we can learn to recognize shame

   How the new book is organized

   When shame can be helpful

   Dr Kristin Neff’s model of self-compassion

   Welcoming all parts of ourselves

   Taking responsibility for our shame

   Lean in, lean back, or let go

   Non-striving and non-fixing in self-compassion

   Self-compassion is the end of the struggle

   How Chris approaches his therapy practice

   Additional Resources:

   The episode closes with Chris leading a guided meditation on self-compassion for shame. You can learn more about Chris’s work right here.

   Related Metta Hour Episodes:

   Episode 252 Dr. Kristin Neff’s most recent appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2024.

   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3. Ep. 296 – Tim Desmond

   30 september 2026 · 56 min

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   For episode 296 Tim Desmond returns to the Metta Hour to discuss his new book series with Sharon. Lees meer

   Tim Desmond is a psychotherapist, best-selling author, Distinguished Faculty Scholar at Antioch University, and student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hạnh, under whom he was ordained into the Order of Interbeing in 2005. Founder of Peer Collective, and co-founder of Morning Sun Mindfulness Center, Tim lives in Oakland, CA, and teaches mindfulness and self-compassion practices to audiences around the world. He is the author of several books including Buddhist Practices for Healing Trauma, and Buddhist Practices for Overcoming Depression, released by W. W. Norton & Company in 2026, and the forthcoming Buddhist Practices for Calming Anxiety. This is Tim’s second appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

   In this conversation, Sharon and Tim speak about:

   • Tim’s new book series

   • Buddhism for mental health

   • Right and wrong mindfulness

   • Thich Nhat Hanh’s influence on Tim’s teaching

   • Buddhist Practices for Healing Trauma book

   • The “whole path” approach to mental health

   • The mind as the garden for working with trauma

   • What trauma-informed practice is

   • The better way to catch a snake

   • The Doors of Liberation teachings for trauma

   • Buddhist Practices for Overcoming Depression book

   • The role of Faith in working with depression

   • Cultivating the motivation/energy for healing

   • The self-sabotaging aspect of depression

   • Self-understanding is loving awareness

   • What offers resilience in the face of suffering

   • Thich Nhat Hanh’s Froglessness teaching

   • An update on Peer Collective

   Additional Resources

   The episode closes with a guided meditation from Tim. You can learn more about Tim’s work right here and learn about Peer Collective right here.

   Related Metta Hour Episodes

   Episode 194 Tim Desmond’s first appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2021.

   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-n…

4. Ep. 295 – Caverly Morgan

   15 september 2026 · 52 min

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   Caverly Morgan joins Sharon for episode 295 of the Metta Hour Podcast to talk about her book, The Heart of Who We Are. Lees meer

   Caverly Morgan is a teacher of awakening, nonprofit founder, speaker, and author who blends the original spirit of Zen with a modern nondual and relational approach. Her practice began in 1995 and has included eight years of training in a silent Zen monastery. She has been teaching contemplative practice since 2001. Caverly supports others in remembering our true nature—not through more techniques or self-improvement strategies, but through presence, inquiry, and togetherness. The Heart of Who We Are was released in 2022 from St. Martin's Essentials. Her other book, A Kids Book About Mindfulness, was released in 2024. She is a founder of the nonprofits Peace in Schools and Realizing Freedom Together, and has pioneered ways for communities to awaken collectively, making teachings that lead to liberation accessible to all. This is Caverly’s first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

   In this conversation, Caverly and Sharon speak about:

   What drew Caverly to the dharma

   Her eight years in a Zen monastery

   Going from monastic life to teaching youth

   Caverly’s definitions of Zen and non-duality

   Being aware of awareness itself

   The shadows of any practice

   The practice of inquiry and togetherness

   What inspired the book, The Heart of Who We Are

   The CARE framework

   What self-compassion offers

   Caverly’s work with Dr. Kristin Neff

   How personal practice impacts others

   Mindfulness with young kids

   The Realizing Freedom Together nonprofit

   Additional Resources:

   The episode closes with a guided meditation from Caverly. You can learn more about Caverly’s work right here.

   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5. Ep. 294 – George Mumford

   1 september 2026 · 1 uur 3 min

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   Beloved teacher, coach and author George Mumford returns to the Metta Hour for episode 294 to talk about the 2nd edition release of his book, The Mindful Athlete. Lees meer

   George Mumford, a.k.a. The Performance Whisperer, is a globally recognized speaker, teacher, and pioneer in sports psychology and performance. Since 1989, he’s been honing his groundbreaking performance and mindfulness techniques with people from locker rooms to boardrooms, Yale to jail — as Phil Jackson’s ‘Secret Weapon’ to winning eight NBA Championships, helping Michael Jordan transform his leadership, and teaching Kobe Bryant to “just be.” George’s work incorporates principles based in positive psychology, mindfulness, philosophy, neuroscience, the recovery movement, group and organizational dynamics, and spiritual traditions from around the world. This is his third appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

   In this conversation, George and Sharon speak about:

   • The second edition of The Mindful Athlete

   • George’s three-fold training

   • Debunking mindfulness myths

   • Mindfulness versus right mindfulness

   • The Five Superpowers

   • How George adapts teachings

   • Compassion’s role in peak performance

   • Dissolution of ego for team success

   • Why George reads a book-a-day

   • Circular learning style

   • Ajahn Sumedho’s wisdom

   • The resilience of the NY Knicks

   • Finding our enthusiasm

   • How effort creates energy

   Additional Resources

   The episode closes with a guided meditation from George. You can learn more about George’s work right here and get a copy of the second edition of The Mindful Athlete right here.

   Related Metta Hour Episodes

   Episode 71 George Mumford’s first appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2018

   Episode 214 George Mumford’s second appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2023 as part of the Mental Health Series.

   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

6. Ep. 293 – Engaged Compassion: Shelly Tygielski

   19 augustus 2026 · 50 min

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   The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering? Lees meer

   How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.

   For the ninth and final episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Shelly Tygielski. Philanthropist and social activist Shelly Tygielski has been hailed by individuals ranging from President Joe Biden to Arianna Huffington and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn to Maria Shriver. She is the founder of the global, grassroots mutual aid organization, Pandemic of Love and the co-founder of Partners in Kind, a purpose in production equity fund that invests in projects that focus on social impact in entertainment. Her work has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including CNN Heroes, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS This Morning, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. A Garrison Institute Fellow, Shelly has been called one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” by Mindful.org and teaches self-care and resilience at organizations and to audiences around the world. She is also the author of several books, “Sit Down to Rise Up” and “How We Ended Racism.” This is her second appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

   In this conversation, Shelly and Sharon speak about:

   • What motivated Shelly to get her PH.D.

   • The definition of Mutual Aid

   • Mutual Aid across history

   • Peter Kropotkin’s view of society

   • Cooperation vs competition in society

   • Thriving interspecies ecosys…

7. Ep. 292 – Engaged Compassion: Rev. Paul Raushenbush

   6 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 3 min

   Afspelen
   The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering? Lees meer

   How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.

   For the eighth episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Rev. Paul Raushenbush. This is his first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast. Rev. Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush is a longtime interfaith leader and renowned advocate for civil rights and religious freedom. Rev. Raushenbush has published two books and contributed essays to several volumes on faith in public life. He also hosts the weekly podcast and radio show “The State of Belief,” in partnership with Religion News Service.

   In this conversation, Sharon and Paul speak about:

   • How Rev. Raushenbush came to service

   • The Social Gospel

   • Rev. Raushenbush’s interfaith family

   • How spiritual practice can fuel activism

   • Insisting on joy in moments of great sorrow

   • Embodying the future we hope for now

   • Rev. Raushenbush’s POV that we are all neighbors

   • Figuring out how to help

   • What inspired this Engaged Compassion series

   • How art can be resistance

   • Where Rev. Raushenbush turns for inspiration

   • The work of Interfaith Alliance

   • The possibilities of lovingkindness

   • Rev. Raushenbush’s husband’s new book, “Good Morning Moon”

   Additional Resources

   The episode closes with a reflection from Rev. Raushenbush. Learn more about Rev…

8. Ep. 291 – Oneika Mays

   21 juli 2026 · 1 uur 14 min

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   Author and teacher Oneika Mays joins Sharon for episode 291 of the Metta Hour podcast. Lees meer

   For over a decade, Oneika has brought yoga and mindfulness practices to people who have felt left out, judged, and alone— from correctional facilities to retreat centers, from Columbia Law School to Lincoln Center. She is the author of “Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation,” released by HarperOne in March of 2026, and the co-host of You Good? Podcast with Pamela Stokes Eggleston. This is her first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

   In this conversation, Oneika and Sharon speak about:

   • How Oneika’s spiritual journey began

   • Training with teacher, Kimberly Brown

   • Metta’s impact on Oneika’s existing practice

   • The challenges of metta for the neutral person

   • Working at Riker’s Island Correctional Facility

   • Oneika’s new book, “Sit With Me”

   • The importance of forgiveness

   • What inspired Oneika’s new book

   • Loving people doesn’t necessarily mean liking them

   • Lovingkindness for oneself as a starting point

   • Working with the difficult person

   • The gift of grieving what’s broken

   • Navigating life within harmful systems

   • Teaching lovingkindness in prison

   • The NY Knicks and Collective Effervescence

   Additional Resources

   The episode closes with a guided lovingkindness meditation from Oneika with added visualization. You can learn more about Oneika’s work right here and get a copy of her new book, “Sit With Me,” right here.

   Related Metta Hour Episodes

   Episode 212: Kimberly Brown’s interview as part of our Mental Health Series released in 2023.

   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9. Ep. 290 – Remembering Bob Thurman with Mark Epstein

   7 juli 2026 · 1 uur 17 min

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   Sharon comes together with Mark Epstein to remember the life of dear friend and colleague, Robert AF Thurman, for episode 290 of the Metta Hour. Lees meer

   Robert AF Thurman (August 3, 1941 – June 16, 2026) was an American Buddhist author and academic who wrote, edited, and translated books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics, and culture. He was the first Westerner to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and was the Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University before retiring in 2019. He was the co-founder and president of Tibet House US in New York, New York, and Menla Retreat in Phoenicia, New York.

   In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, there is a 49-day period of mourning after an individual dies, which is considered a transitional “bardo” time. This is a time to honor the individual and support them as they transition into their incarnation through ceremonies, offerings, and prayers. In that spirit, Sharon and Mark Epstein come together to share stories and reflections about Bob after his unexpected death.

   Mark Epstein, M.D., a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City, is the author of a number of books about the interface of Buddhism and psychotherapy, including “Thoughts without a Thinker” and “Going to Pieces without Falling Apart.” His latest work, “The Zen of Therapy,” was published in 2022 by Penguin Press. He has been a student of Vipassana meditation since 1974.

   This episode also includes an excerpt of an archival recording of Sharon interviewing Bob from 2021. Originally aired on the Metta Hour in celebration of Bob’s book “Wisdom is Bliss,” this recording includes some classic zesty-Bob-banter with Sharon, as well as some wonderful teachings. The recording closes with Bob leading a guided meditation.

   "When we opened the Insight Meditation Society in 1976, we discovered we had a near neighbor, about 40 minutes away in Amherst, MA: Professor Bob Thurman. I’ve felt so lucky to know him as…

10. Ep. 289 – Engaged Compassion: Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi

    24 juni 2026 · 1 uur 20 min

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    The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering? Lees meer

    How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.

    For the seventh episode in the series, Sharon’s speaks with teacher Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, marking his first appearance on the Metta Hour.

    Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, PhD, is the cofounder and director of the Emory-Tibet Partnership, a multi-dimensional initiative founded in 1998 to bring together the foremost contributions of the Western scholastic tradition and the Tibetan Buddhist sciences of mind and healing. He is also professor of practice in Emory University’s Department of Religion. In 2018, he launched, with the Dalai Lama, SEE Learning, a free compassion curriculum for children. Geshe Lobsang, a former monk, was born in Kinnaur, a small Himalayan kingdom adjoining Tibet. He began his monastic training at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and continued his education at Drepung Loseling Monastery in south India, where he received his Geshe Lharampa degree in 1994, the highest academic degree granted in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

    In this conversation, Geshe and Sharon speak about:

    • How Geshe grew up in the Himalayas

    • Becoming a monk at age 14 in 1974

    • Geshe and Sharon’s first meeting

    • Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics

    • Cognitively Based Compassion Training

    • What neuroscience says about compassion

    • Tania Singe…

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