Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg
Alle afleveringen
300 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Ep. 298 – Ann Tashi Slater
27 oktober 2026 · 58 min
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.
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Ep. 297 – Chris Germer
13 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 21 min
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.
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Ep. 296 – Tim Desmond
30 september 2026 · 56 min
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.
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Ep. 295 – Caverly Morgan
15 september 2026 · 52 min
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.
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Ep. 294 – George Mumford
1 september 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
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.
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Ep. 293 – Engaged Compassion: Shelly Tygielski
19 augustus 2026 · 50 min
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…
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Ep. 292 – Engaged Compassion: Rev. Paul Raushenbush
6 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
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…
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Ep. 291 – Oneika Mays
21 juli 2026 · 1 uur 14 min
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.
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Ep. 290 – Remembering Bob Thurman with Mark Epstein
7 juli 2026 · 1 uur 17 min
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…
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Ep. 289 – Engaged Compassion: Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi
24 juni 2026 · 1 uur 20 min
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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Ep. 288 – Engaged Compassion: Reggie Hubbard
9 juni 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
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 sixth episode in the series, Sharon’s speaks with teacher and change-maker Reggie Hubbard, marking his third appearance on the Metta Hour. Reggie is an internationally recognized yoga and meditation teacher and the founder and chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga. Reggie's yoga and meditation practice have served as a sanctuary of peace and perspective while navigating the stresses of being a Black man in the world. He has been a featured speaker on new consciousness, racial justice, and civic engagement for leading wellness publications. In addition, Reggie has held many senior strategic and logistical roles across a variety of fields, ranging from global marketing to Presidential campaigning. His life's work sits at the intersection of bringing more peace and balance to activists, guiding the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens, and enhancing the well-being of all walks of life.
In this conversation, Reggie and Sharon speak about:
• Democracy as call and response
• Re-imagining our current circumstance
• What Reggie learned from his stroke
• The ability to hope is crucial
• Wisdom from Joanna Macy
• External circumstance is not the end of the story
• How spiritual life informs activism
• There is no harvest without p…
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Ep. 287 – Engaged Compassion: Mirabai Bush
26 mei 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
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 fifth episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Mirabai Bush, marking her third appearance on the Metta Hour. Mirabai is an author, social entrepreneur, teacher, and spiritual leader. She is recognized for her pioneering role in integrating mindfulness and contemplative practices into secular sectors of American life, including business, higher education, law, and social activism. Mirabai’s contributions include co-founding influential organizations such as the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society and the Seva Foundation and co-developing Google's Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute. She is also a longtime board member of the Love Serve Remember Foundation. Her latest book, Almost Home, is a memoir published in 2025.
Please note this conversation contains discussion of gun violence during and civil unrest at Kent State University in 1970.
https://youtu.be/ywY6HGunefw
In this conversation, Mirabai and Sharon speak about:
The process of writing a memoir
Why Mirabai went to the East
What drew Mirabai to activism
Meeting Ram Dass and Neem Karoli Baba
Mirabai in the civil rights movement
Sustaining engagement over time
Non-attachment alongside passion
Loving Awareness as taught by Ram Dass
How acceptance leads to change-making
The role of ho…
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Ep. 286 – Engaged Compassion: Parker J. Palmer & Jerry Colonna
14 mei 2026 · 51 min
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 fourth episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Parker J. Palmer and Jerry Colonna.
Parker J. Palmer is a writer, speaker and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. He is founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. Parker holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, as well as fourteen honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, and an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press. Parker is the author of ten books—including several award-winning titles—that have sold nearly two million copies and been translated into ten languages, including “On the Brink of Everything,” “Healing the Heart of Democracy,” and “The Promise of Paradox.”
Jerry Colonna is a renowned coach, writer, and speaker who specializes in leadership, business, and the practice of radical self-inquiry. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Reboot.io, a company inspired by the belief that work need not destroy us. He is also the author of two books: "Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up" (2019) and "Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong" (2023). For more than two decades, Jerry has championed the…
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Ep. 285 – Engaged Compassion: Anu Gupta
28 april 2026 · 1 uur 10 min
The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering? 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. Lees meer
For the third episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Anu Gupta, marking his fourth appearance on the Metta Hour. Anu Gupta is an educator, lawyer, scientist, and the founder and CEO of Be More with Anu. His work has reached 300+ organizations, trained more than 80,000 professionals, and impacted over 30 million lives. As a gay immigrant of color, Anu came to the work of breaking bias due to lifelong experiences with racism, homophobia, and Islamophobia. He is a trained meditation and yoga teacher with over 10,000 hours of meditation practice and has a JD from NYU Law and BA in International Relations and Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies. As a peer-reviewed author, Anu has written and spoken extensively, including on the TED stage, the Oprah Conversation, Fast Company, and Newsweek. His first book, “Breaking Bias” came out in 2024 from Hay House and he currently shares his writings via his Substack, Soul Force for the 21st Century.
In this conversation, Sharon and Anu speak about:
How to cultivate goodwill
Bearing witness to suffering
Working with anger and delusion
Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita
Compassion’s near and far enemies
Non-attachment in activism
Joseph Goldstein’s essential teachings
Equanimity in practice
Combining the spiritual, personal, and …
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Ep. 284 – devon and nico hase
14 april 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
For episode 284, devon and nico hase return to the Metta Hour to speak with Sharon about their new book, This Messy, Gorgeous Love: A Buddhist Guide to Lasting Partnership. Lees meer
devon and nico serve as guiding teachers of the online dharma community Refuge of Belonging. They teach at the Insight Meditation Society, Spirit Rock, and other centers, offer online and in-person retreats, and speak with students in one-on-one sessions. Their first book How Not to Be a Hot Mess, came out in 2020 and their 2026 release, This Messy, Gorgeous Love, is now available in paperback and audiobook formats. This is devon and nico’s second appearance on the Metta Hour.
In this conversation, devon, nico and Sharon speak about:
The motivation for the new book
After the “happily ever after”
Approaching relationship as practice
The healing of deep listening
Common myths of relationships
Buddhist personality types
Dukkha (suffering) in a relationship
Impermanence informing connection
Forgiveness practice
Different conflict styles
Learning how to repair after rupture
Making room for play and joy
Supporting each other’s joy
devon & nico's three-year retreat
This episode closes with a guided appreciation practice led by devon. Learn more about devon and nico’s new book, This Messy, Gorgeous Love, and other offerings by visiting their website right here.
Join Nico and Sharon virtually on May 9th, 2026 for a daylong teaching The Fire That Sustains.
You can hear devon and nico’s first appearance on Ep. 142 of the Metta Hour Podcast.
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Ep. 283 – Engaged Compassion: Valarie Kaur
31 maart 2026 · 1 uur 2 min
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 second episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Valarie Kaur, making her third appearance on the Metta Hour.
Valarie is a renowned social justice leader, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, faith leader, mother, and best-selling author of See No Stranger, Sage Warrior, and World of Wonder. She leads the Revolutionary Love Project, building a movement to reclaim love as a force for justice. A daughter of Punjabi Sikh farmers in California, Valarie earned degrees at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School and holds several honorary doctorates. She lives in LA in a multi-generational family.
Please note this conversation contains discussion of gun violence and ICE brutality.
In this conversation, Valarie and Sharon speak about:
Valarie’s Revolutionary Bus Tour
Embodying a world we want to live in
Engagement over Escapism
Wisdom from Angela Harrelson
Valerie’s recent time in Minneapolis
Redefining what it is to be a “neighbor”
Reclaiming the best of our ancestral wisdom
Shifting from either/our to both/and
Breathing to alchemize suffering
A future that leaves no one behind
Love as our birthright
How to love opponents without giving in
The importance of humanizing the enemy
The whole world is our family
We don’t go to battl…
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Ep. 282 – Elisha Goldstein
17 maart 2026 · 59 min
For episode 282, Elisha Goldstein, PhD, returns to the Metta Hour to speak with Sharon about his new book, Tiny Shifts: How Emotional Health Transforms Stress, Relationships, and Longevity. Lees meer
Elisha Goldstein is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and the co-founder of The Center for Mindful Living and Psychotherapy in Los Angeles. For over two decades, he has helped people break free from the conditioning that keeps them stuck in cycles of stress and overwhelm, uncovering how emotional health naturally transforms stress, relationships, and longevity. Elisha is the author of several books, including Uncovering Happiness, and The Now Effect, as well as hosting The Emotional Longevity Podcast.
In this conversation, Sharon and Elisha speak about:
Living in a culture of overwhelm
David Foster Wallace’s fish story
Insight alone doesn’t create change
Underlying conditioning of chronic stress
Realizing our natural intelligence
The challenge of practicing wisdom
How tiny shifts create lasting change
Interrupting stress patterns
Emotional regulation and impulse control
The 4R method: Recognize, Release, Refocus, Reinforce
How emotional health supports longevity
Listening to the body’s signals
Reclaiming our attention
This episode closes with a guided meditation led by Elisha.
Learn more about Elisha’s new book Tiny Shifts: How Emotional Health Transforms Stress, Relationships, and Longevity and his other offerings, by visiting his website right here. You can listen to Elisha’s first appearance on the Metta Hour from 2018 right here.
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Ep. 281 – Engaged Compassion Series: Jerry Colonna
4 maart 2026 · 58 min
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 inaugural episode, Sharon’s speaks with longtime friend and colleague, Jerry Colonna—a renowned coach, writer, and speaker who specializes in leadership, business, and the practice of radical self-inquiry. Jerry is the Co-founder and CEO of Reboot.io, a company inspired by the belief that work need not destroy us. He is also the author of two books: "Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up" (2019) and "Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong" (2023). For more than two decades, Jerry has championed the idea that work should be non-violent to the self, the community, and the planet. This marks his third appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
In this conversation, Sharon and Jerry speak about:
Suffering and the end of suffering
The Four Noble Truths
Sara Bareilles and Gavin Creel
Holding many things at once
Where resilience comes from
How generosity can appear in extreme loss
Jerry’s time in India after an earthquake
The dynamics of hope and fear
How we actually “get over loss”
Misunderstanding karma
Control veiled as “magical thinking”
How unworthiness leads to isolation
Compassion is not hierarchical
The Dalai Lama winning a Grammy
Suffering versus Extra Suffering
Facing our helplessness
The fixation with fixing things
Finding fuel f…
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Ep. 280 – IMS 50th Anniversary w/ Dipa Ma
18 februari 2026 · 1 uur
For episode 280 of the Metta Hour, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Insight Meditation Society, which opened doors on Valentine’s Day in 1976. Lees meer
Today, IMS is one of the Western world’s oldest and most respected meditation retreat centers, dedicated to providing a spiritual refuge for all who seek freedom of mind and heart. The Retreat Center offers a range of silent meditation courses, ranging from a weekend to three months. IMS Online offers retreats, sanghas, dharma talks, courses, and other programming to support your practice from our virtual meditation hall. IMS also has two adjacent retreat facilities – the Retreat Center and the Forest Refuge – that are set among almost 400 secluded wooded acres in the quiet country of central Massachusetts.
In this episode, Sharon presents a special episode from the archives of IMS history featuring her teacher Dipa Ma. Originally recorded in October of 1984, when Dipa Ma was visiting IMS, this dharma talk was given as part of the 1984 three-month retreat. Through an interpreter, Dipa Ma shares the story of how we came to meditation following tremendous loss. She reflects on her early years of practice under the tutelage of Anagarika Munindra and how she gradually began teaching meditation. She also takes questions from the audience about her practice from the attending three-month retreatants.
Resources
A full transcript of this episode is available right here.
To learn more about the Insight Mediation Society, click here.
To learn more about Dipa Ma, click here.
To learn more about the Dharma Seed archive, click here.
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Ep. 279 – Jack Kornfield
3 februari 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
For episode 279, Jack Kornfield returns to the Metta Hour to talk about his new book, “All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World.” Lees meer
Jack trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma, and India and has taught worldwide since 1974. He is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practices to the West. He is the cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and of Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. He holds a PhD in clinical psychology and has written more than fifteen books, including The Wise Heart, A Path with Heart, and more.
In this conversation, Sharon and Jack speak about:
The impetus for Jack’s new book
The universe is made of stories
Beginner’s Mind as the goal of practice
Ajahn Chah’s squirrel story
How repetition factors into storytelling
Trusting the gifts of interconnectedness
Ram Dass as the great public neurotic
The glance of mercy
The Bodhisattva Vow
Envisioning generosity to change the world
Working with our expectations
Despair is not the end of the story
Mindful Service as a source of happiness
The Insight Meditation Society's 50th anniversary
The founding of IMS told by Jack
How the Dharma evolves across cultures
This episode closes with a guided meditation from Jack. Learn more about Jack’s many offerings right here and get yourself a copy of his new book All in This Together.
Join the IMS 50th anniversary online celebration on February 14th, 2026! Learn more and register right here.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 278 – Parvati Markus
20 januari 2026 · 55 min
For episode 278, Sharon sits down with author and friend, Parvati Markus, the editor of the new Ram Dass book, “There is No Other: The Way to Harmony and Wholeness.” Lees meer
Parvati is a developmental editor who has been midwifing non-fiction books and memoirs since her first efforts with Ram Dass’s classic Be Here Now. She serves on the Board of Advisors for the Love Serve Remember Foundation and has helped with many other spiritual organizations and events. Parvati is also the author of numerous books, including Whisper in the Heart and Love Everyone. This is Parvati’s first appearance on the Metta Hour.
In this conversation, Parvati and Sharon speak about:
How Parvati found her path
Meeting Neem Karoli Baba
Ram Dass and Parvati’s friendship
Parvati’s contribution to “Be Here Now”
The inspiration for “There is No Other”
Moving past “us” and “them”
Balancing real life & spiritual life
Substituting noticing for judging
Neem Karoli Baba’s directive of service
Ram Dass learning to accept help
Moving from Role to Soul
How to be here now in times of difficulty
Community as the future Buddha
Joseph Goldstein’s fateful meeting with Ram Dass
What is Loving Awareness
Ram Dass’s final public appearance
This episode closes with a guided meditation from Ram Dass that invites us to let go of the heaviness of confusion and our rigid models of who we are and how it is.
Learn more about Parvati’s many book projects right here and get yourself a copy of Ram Dass’s new book “There is No Other” right here in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats.
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Ep. 277 – Kid's Series: Richie J. Davidson
7 januari 2026 · 1 uur 1 min
For episode 277, we are continuing a new series on the Metta Hour, centered on kids, in honor of Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl, released on December 9th! Lees meer
Written with Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness.
For this podcast series, Sharon speaks with educators, caregivers, and researchers about the ways meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness can impact children of all ages and the family systems that support them. For the sixth episode of the series, Sharon speaks with Richie J. Davidson.
Richie is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Founder and Director of the Center for Healthy Minds. He is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought-after expert and speaker, leading conversations on well-being on international stages such as the World Economic Forum, where he serves on the Global Council on Mental Health.
In this conversation, Sharon and Richie speak about:
Richie’s pillars for human flourishing
Free Kindness Curriculum app
How to nurture enduring traits
Lovingkindness as a training
Our whole being is malleable
Flourishing is contagious
Temporary states vs lasting traits
We are born to be kind
The Born to Flourish book, coming in March
Changing our narratives
Affective Neuroscience
Six basic emotional styles
Evolving the K-12 education space
Supporting Healthcare providers
Community as contemplative intervention
What is Contemplative Neuroscience?
The conversation closes with a guided meditation led by Richie. To learn more about Riche’s work or his different books, you can visit his website and access the free Healthy Minds Kindness Curriculum right here in English or Spanish.
You can learn more about Sharon’s brand-new children’s book, Kind Karl, right here.
S…
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Ep. 276 – Kid's Series: Sumi Loundon Kim
24 december 2025 · 1 uur 2 min
For episode 276, we are continuing a new series on the Metta Hour, centered on kids, in honor of Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl, released on December 9th! Lees meer
Written with Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness.
In this podcast series, Sharon speaks with educators, caregivers, and researchers about the ways meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness can impact children of all ages and the family systems that support them.
For the fifth episode of the series, Sharon speaks with Sumi Loundon Kim. Sumi is the Buddhist chaplain at Yale University. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, she is the founding teacher of Buddhist Families of Durham (NC). She is the author of Blue Jean Buddha; The Buddha’s Apprentices; Sitting Together and of the children's book Goodnight Love: A Bedtime Meditation Story.
In this conversation, Sumi and Sharon speak about:
Sumi’s early life in Zen community
Sumi’s first visit to IMS at age 16
The value of spiritual practice during adolescence
Teaching meditation to kids through song
Benefits of group practice for parents and kids
Working with the five senses
Implicit learning, leading by example
Nurturing kindness in self-talk
Creating a home as a sanctuary
Designated device-free family time
Meditation for college students
Social connection promoting self-regulation
Psychological fluency
A bedtime meditation for kids: “Goodnight Love”
Get a copy of Sumi’s book “Goodnight Love” right here.
You can learn more about Sharon’s brand-new children’s book, Kind Karl, right here.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 275 – Kid's Series: Holistic Life Foundation
9 december 2025 · 1 uur 11 min
For episode 275, we are continuing a new series on the Metta Hour, centered on kids, in honor of Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl, out now! Lees meer
Co-authored by Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a new children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness.
To learn more about Sharon’s children’s book, Kind Karl, and pre-order a copy with a special pre-order gift, you can visit Sharon’s website, right here.
For this podcast series, Sharon speaks with educators, caregivers, and researchers about the ways meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness can impact children of all ages and the family systems that support them. For the fourth episode of the series, Sharon speaks with Ali Smith, Andres Gonzales and Atman Smith of the Holistic Life Foundation.
Andy, Ali, and Atman co-founded the Holistic Life Foundation in 2001, a non-profit organization bringing yoga, meditation, and breath-work to thousands of at-risk kids in Baltimore and beyond. Their work has received wide national attention due to their remarkable results in public schools where suspension rates plummet and graduation rates skyrocket. Outside of the Holistic Life Foundation, Ali, Atman, and Andy also teach to diverse populations worldwide, including drug treatment centers, mental crisis facilities, homeless shelters, and Yoga, Wellness, and Mindfulness Festivals.
Their first book, “Let Your Light Shine” was published in 2022 by Penguin Random House.
In this conversation, Sharon, Atman, Andres and Ali speak about:
• The creation of the Holistic Life Foundation
• Experiencing meditation early in life
• Working in underserved communities
• Teaching with trauma awareness
• HLF Retreats and certification programs
• The importance of sharing love
• Benefits of mindfulness for kids
• Partnering with schools and education systems
• Modifying practice for younger minds
• How to champion love
• Encouraging authentic, in-person interaction
• Giving fr…
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Kind Karl Book Launch with Duncan Trussell and Raghu Markus!
5 december 2025 · 53 min
Sharon joins Raghu and Duncan on the Mindrolling Podcast to discuss the loving-kindness lessons in her first children’s book, Kind Karl. Together, they explore how mindful kids grow into mindful adults and why these teachings matter. Lees meer
Kind Karl will be released on 12/9! Co-authored by Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a new children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness. To learn more about Sharon’s forthcoming children’s book, Kind Karl, and pre-order a copy with a special pre-order gift, you can visit Sharon’s website, right here.
This time on Mindrolling, Duncan, Sharon, and Raghu connect over:
Sharon’s upcoming children’s book on mindfulness and loving-kindness, Kind Karl
Understanding how habits like greed and fear begin in early childhood
How issues like greed have roots in early childhood
Learning from Karl the Crocodile: navigating big feelings, mistakes, and emotional complexity
Karl the Crocodile as an inspiration for parents dealing with guilt and stress
Making mindfulness accessible and engaging for children of all ages
Putting our thoughts onto clouds and allowing them to float away
Loving-kindness meditations for kids: getting the whole family into mindfulness practice
About Sharon Salzberg:
Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed five million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. Learn more about Sharon and her books…
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Ep. 274 – Kid's Series: Meena Srinivasan
26 november 2025 · 1 uur 6 min
For episode 274, we are continuing a new series on the Metta Hour, centered on kids, in honor of Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl, coming out on December 9th! Lees meer
Co-authored by Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a new children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness.
To learn more about Sharon’s forthcoming children’s book, Kind Karl, and pre-order a copy with a special pre-order gift, you can visit Sharon’s website, right here.
For this podcast series, Sharon speaks with educators, caregivers, and researchers about the ways meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness can impact children of all ages and the family systems that support them. For the third episode of the series, Sharon speaks with Meena Srinivasan.
Meena Srinivasan is an educational leader, speaker, author, and visionary edupreneur. With over two decades of dedicated service, she has consistently championing the fusion of Mindfulness and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). In 2022, she was featured as one of Mindful Magazine's "Ten Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement," while also gaining recognition in Educational Leadership Magazine for her insights into Mindful Leadership and Wellbeing. Her recent TEDx Talk on Tenderness is one of the most popular talks of 2024 with more than 2 million views. A dedicated practitioner for more than 25 years, Meena is a newly ordained lay Dharma teacher in the Plum Village tradition, in the lineage of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, who calls her a “precious ambassador of mindfulness.”
In this conversation, Meena and Sharon speak about:
Aligning inner life with outer work
Meena’s early spiritual foundation in Hindu culture
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL practices for different ages & environments
Smell the Flower and Blow Out the Candle meditations
Supporting kids in crisis
Thích Nhất Hạnh’s School of Interbeing
The importance of parents'’ and educators’ well-being
Community practice as…
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Ep. 273 – Kid's Series: Dr. Christopher Willard
12 november 2025 · 1 uur 17 min
For episode 273, we are continuing a new series on the Metta Hour, centered on kids, in honor of Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl, coming out on December 9th! Lees meer
Co-authored by Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a new children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness.
For this podcast series, Sharon speaks with educators, caregivers, and researchers about the ways meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness can impact children of all ages and the family systems that support them. For the second episode of the series, Sharon speaks with Dr. Christopher Willard.
Chris is a clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School and author of numerous publications for children and adults. An internationally sought-after speaker and mindfulness educator, his books include Growing Up Mindful, Raising Resilience, and Alphabreaths.
In this conversation, Sharon and Chris speak about:
The benefits of mindfulness in family systems
Chris’s personal journey with mindfulness
How mindfulness can be accessible for kids
Emotional growth and connection at any age
Simple at-home practices
Modeling calm compassion
How kids can emotionally regulate
The benefits of meditation in schools
Challenges of technology in family life
How self-compassion prevents burnout
Nurturing empathy, presence and resilience
The goal of presence, not perfection
The episode closes with Chris leading guided practice. You can learn more about Chris’s work on his website, right here.
To learn more about Sharon’s forthcoming children’s book, Kind Karl, and pre-order a copy with a special pre-order gift, you can visit Sharon’s website, right here.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 272 – Kid’s Series: Susan Kaiser Greenland
28 oktober 2025 · 55 min
For episode 272, we are launching a new series on the Metta Hour, centered on kids, in honor of Sharon’s first children’s book, Kind Karl, coming out on December 9th! Lees meer
Co-authored by Jason Gruhl, this illustrated picture book is for 4-8 year-olds and is a new children’s adaptation of Sharon’s beloved book Lovingkindness. To learn more about Sharon’s forthcoming children’s book, Kind Karl, and pre-order a copy with a special pre-order gift, you can visit Sharon’s website, right here.
For this podcast series, Sharon speaks with educators, caregivers, and researchers about the ways meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness can impact children of all ages and the family systems that support them.
For the first episode of the series, Sharon speaks with Susan Kaiser Greenland. Susan is a mindfulness educator and bestselling author, specializing in distilling global wisdom traditions and scientific research into straightforward everyday practices. In the early 2000s, she helped pioneer the introduction of secular mindfulness into classrooms through her Inner Kids model. After decades of working with children and adults and writing two widely translated books, Susan’s latest book, Real-World Enlightenment, was published in 2024 by Shambhala.
In this conversation, Susan and Sharon speak about:
Susan’s journey with meditation
Meditation’s effect on Susan’s son
Inspiration for writing The Mindful Child
Volunteering in schools
Creating the Inner Kids program
The importance of storytelling
The playful approach for young ages
The positive effects of mindfulness in schools
The “Pink Bubble” compassion exercise
Mindfulness for family dynamics
Susan’s UCLA research findings
Susan’s most recent book, Real World Enlightenment
The episode closes with Susan leading guided practice. You can learn more about Susan’s work on her website, right here.
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Ep. 271 – Henry Shukman
15 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 3 min
For episode 271, Sharon sits down with poet, author and Zen master Henry Shukman. Lees meer
After a spontaneous spiritual awakening at the age of 19, Henry embarked on a long journey of healing and deeper awakening through meditation. Since then, he has been leading a growing number of practitioners in Europe and the US. He is the Spiritual Director Emeritus of Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Henry has also created the app, The Way, and is the author of several books, including his latest 2024 release, “Original Love.” This is Henry’s first appearance on the podcast.
In this conversation, Sharon and Henry speak about:
Henry’s challenges in early life
Discovering Zen teachings
Henry’s new book, Original Love
Mindfulness, Support, Absorption, Awakening
Original Love versus Original Sin
Mental health in spiritual practice
The power of community and connection
Henry’s meditation app, The Way
How to microdose lovingkindness
The episode closes with Henry leading a guided meditation.
You can learn more about Henry’s books and teachings on his website right here. You can also learn about his app, The Way, right here.
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Ep. 270 – Lovingkindness in Difficult Circumstances Part 2
26 september 2025 · 49 min
For episode 270, we bring you the second of a two-part episode from the archives. Lees meer
Recorded in the early 2010s in a visit to Asheville, North Carolina, Sharon is teaching on Lovingkindness in Difficult Circumstances.
In this teaching, Sharon speaks about:
• Brief History of IMS
• The word Lovingkindness
• the cultural baggage of “love”
• The reality of interconnection
• “Never throw anyone out of your heart” - NKB
• Looking for the good
• How to make a gratitude list
• Sharon’s only joke
• Making different choices
Sharon then takes some questions from the audience on
• Feeling the sorrow of the world
• Balancing concentration in practice
• How do we open despite our conditioning
• Learn to let go of grievances
• The spaces between the breath
You can listen to the first part of this teaching in Episode 269 of the Metta Hour, released on September 3, 2025 entitled Lovingkindness in Difficult Circumstances Part 1.
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Ep. 269 – Lovingkindness in Difficult Circumstances Part 1
3 september 2025 · 52 min
For episode 269, we bring you the first of a two-part episode from the archives.Recorded in the early 2010s in a visit to Asheville, North Carolina, Sharon is teaching on Lovingkindness in Difficult Circumstances. Lees meer
In this teaching, Sharon speaks about:
• Her travel adventure to North Carolina
• Her first impressions of Asian philosophy
• Changing our relationship to joy & delight
• Transforming our relationship to suffering
• Awakening to the realm of neutral experiences
• Sharon’s first time meditating
• The three skills of meditation
• Sharon’s mantra of “something will happen”
• The deepening of concentration
• Our tendency to project into the future
• Mindfulness is not passive
• The magic moment in meditation
The episode closes with Sharon leading a guided meditation practice. Stay tuned for the second half of this teaching, which will be released in two weeks' time in Part 2 of Lovingkindness in Difficult Circumstances.
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Ep. 268 – Anxiety Series: Emma Seppälä
23 juli 2025 · 1 uur 3 min
For episode 268, Emma Seppälä returns to the Metta Hour for our ongoing Anxiety Series. Lees meer
In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and different researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. This is the eighth episode in the series.
Emma Seppälä is a best-selling author, Yale lecturer, and international keynote speaker. She teaches executives at the Yale School of Management and is faculty director of the Yale School of Management’s Women’s Leadership Program. She is also the Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. A psychologist and research scientist by training, Emma’s expertise is the science of happiness, emotional intelligence, and social connection. Her latest book, “Sovereign: Reclaim Your Freedom, Energy, and Power in a Time of Distraction, Uncertainty, and Chaos” came out in 2024.
In this conversation, Emma and Sharon speak about:
Mental Health study on university students
How self-compassion figures into wellbeing
Reflective Best-Self Exercise
How the Dalai Lama made a mistake
Sovereignty: awareness + courage + energy
Suppressing emotions makes them stronger
Emma’s experience with an Eating Disorder
Working with difficult emotions
Different regulation techniques
Breathing techniques for regulation
Research on Lovingkindness
Benefits of meditation
How intuition can help our anxiety
Emma closes the conversation with a guided breathing practice. To learn more about Emma’s work and get a copy of “Sovereign” on her website right here. Learn about Emma’s 6-week course, the Science of Sovereignty right here.
Check out the first episode in the Anxiety Podcast Series with Dr. Jud Brewer on Ep.260 of the Metta Hour Podcast.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 267 – Anxiety Series: Deb Dana
8 juli 2025 · 1 uur 5 min
For episode 267, Deb Dana makes her first appearance on the Metta Hour for our ongoing Anxiety Series. Lees meer
In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and different researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. This is the seventh episode in the series.
Deb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, author, and international lecturer on polyvagal theory-informed work with trauma survivors and is the leading translator of this scientific work to the public and mental health professionals. A founding member of the Polyvagal Institute, Deb developed the signature Rhythm of Regulation® Clinical Training Series: The Science of Feeling Safe Enough To Fall in Love with Life and Take the Risks of Living. She is also the author of many books, her most recent 2025 release, Glimmers Journal: Reflect on the Small Moments That Bring You Joy, Safety, and Connection.
In this conversation, Deb and Sharon speak about:
Overview of Polyvagal Theory
How Deb came to her work
Understanding our nervous system
How Polyvagal Theory impacts anxiety
Being with anxiety vs being hijacked by it
The spaciousness of Ventral Regulation
Sympathetic versus parasympathetic
The biological imperative of connection
History of co-regulation in PVT
The Autonomic Ladder
Impact of a clinician’s compassion
Transmitting cues of safety to others
Savoring the practice of 30 seconds
The difference between inconvenience and danger
The Rhythm of Regulation
Breath as a regulatory tool
Gathering Glimmers
Building the capacity to face suffering differently
Breakdown of a glimmer practice
Having a sensitivity to our trauma
Deb closes the conversation with a guided practice on the Story of the Three States.
To learn more about Deb’s work, you can visit her website right here and checkout her latest books: the Glimmers Journal and the Nervous System Workbook.
Check out the first episode in the Anxiety Podcast Series with Dr. Jud Brewer on Ep…
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Ep. 266 – Anxiety Series: Amishi Jha
24 juni 2025 · 1 uur 8 min
For episode 266, Amishi Jha returns to the Metta Hour for our ongoing Anxiety Series. Lees meer
In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and different researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. This is the sixth episode in the series.
Amishi is Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. She studies the brain’s attention system and the effects of mindfulness training on resilience and performance in high-demand professions, including the military, emergency services, and medicine. Her research has been supported by the Dept. of Defense and featured by TED, NATO, the World Economic Forum, The New York Times, and NPR. She led the first large-scale study of mindfulness training with active-duty service members. She is the author of the national bestseller Peak Mind and creator of the Pushups for the Mind app.
In this episode, Amishi and Sharon speak about:
• Mindfulness in mental health
• Cognitive resilience
• Eustress and how it serves us
• Mismatch between capacity and challenge
• Attention as resilience
• Flashlight attention for clarification & focus
• Floodlight attention for situation awareness
• Executive Functioning
• How to begin attention training
• Myths about stress and anxiety
• The participatory nature of the brain
• The attentional decline of burnout
• Compassion Fatigue
• Cognitive versus emotional empathy
• Amishi’s new app, Pushups for the Mind
• The minimum effective dose of meditation
To learn more about Amishi’s work, you can visit her website right here and download her new app right here. Please note that the Pushups for the Mind app is free for all U.S. active service military members.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 265 – Shannon Watts
11 juni 2025 · 1 uur 13 min
For episode 265, Sharon speaks with and activist and author, Shanon Watts about her new book, Fired Up. Lees meer
Shannon is the founder of Moms Demand Action, the largest grassroots group fighting gun violence in the U.S. Known as the ‘summoner of women’s audacity,’ she has been named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, a Forbes 50 over 50 Changemaker, and a Glamour Woman of the Year. Shannon is also an active board member of Emerge America, one of the nation’s leading organizations for recruiting and training women to run for office. Helping to redefine what’s possible when audacious women unite to drive change, she writes regularly about culture, politics and women’s issues for her Substack, Playing with Fire, and outlets like The Washington Post, Elle, Time, The 19th. Her new book, Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark Into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age, is coming out on June 17th, 2025. To learn more about Shannon’s work, or get a copy of Fired Up you can visit her website here.
In this conversation, Shannon and Sharon speak about:
The impetus for Shannon’s book
How to live a life on fire
Shannon’s personal story
Marrying our abilities, values & desires
Being burned up by our anger
Survivors of gun violence
What holds us back
Sharon’s fear of public speaking
The firestarter triangle
How we find our desires & aspirations
Sharon and Sharon’s top values
Living with a sense of what you care about
How do we sustain our fire?
Community Building
Firestarter University
Shannon closes the conversation with a short reading from her book, Fired Up.
Join Sharon for her new online course, Intro to Meditation, starting June 21st. With meditation becoming increasingly popular, it can be hard to know where to begin. This four-day introductory course is designed to teach you the fundamentals of meditation. This course is ideal for beginners who want to establish a practice, as well as experienced students seeking a refresher course. Learn more: Intro to Meditati…
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Ep. 264 – Anxiety Series: Soren Gordhamer
28 mei 2025 · 1 uur 24 min
For episode 264, Soren Gordhamer returns to the Metta Hour for our ongoing Anxiety Series. Lees meer
In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and different researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. This is the fifth episode in the series.
Soren Gordhamer is the founder and host of Wisdom 2.0, the premier conference exploring living with greater mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion in the modern age. He is also a Co-Founder and General Partner of Wisdom Ventures, along with Jack Kornfield and Yung Pueblo, which invests in companies creating a more just and compassionate world. Soren is also the founder of the Lineage Project in NYC, and also spent a year on the Global Walk for a Livable World, a three-and-a-half world walk. He and Jon Kabat-Zinn also co-hosted the Mitigation Retreat, which was a free 3-month course held every weekday offering meditations and teachings during Covid.
Soren is the author of numerous books. His latest, The Essential: Discovering What Really Matters in an Age of Distraction, was released in May of 2025.
In this episode, Sharon and Soren speak about:
The context for cultural anxiety
The development of social media
Becoming aware of our stories
Do we need a new narrative?
Redefining our worth
Revamping our North Star
Harnessing all our energies
Dismantling our armor
How shame drives mental health
The point of vulnerability
Dalai Lama meeting formerly incarcerated
Living from a place of lack
Ram Dass’ somebody-ness
Soren walking the world
The role information plays in anxiety
Soren closes the conversation with a guided meditation. To get a copy of Soren’s new book, The Essential, visit his website right here.
Listen to Soren’s first appearance on the Metta House from 2020 right here.
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Ep. 263 – Anxiety Series: Richie Davidson
13 mei 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
For episode 263 of the Metta Hour, we are continuing our Anxiety Series with a re-release of a conversation with Dr. Richie J. Davidson, PhD, that originally aired in 2023. Lees meer
In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers, and different researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. This is the fourth episode in the series. Richie Davidson is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Founder and Director of the Center for Healthy Minds. He is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought-after expert and speaker, leading conversations on well-being on international stages such as the World Economic Forum, where he serves on the Global Council on Mental Health.
Join Richie’s upcoming course The Science of Flourishing: Well-Being Skills for Daily Life. Save 20% off the course using the coupon code METTA20.
In this episode, Sharon and Richie discuss:
• How Richie came to this path
• Meeting Daniel Goleman and Ram Dass
• How Danny Goleman brought Sharon to her first retreat
• The term “Mental Health”
• Innate Goodness
• Believing in Growth Mindset
• A vision of possibility for ourselves
• The role of systemic oppression in mental well-being
• Intergenerational Resilience
• Richie’s four pillars of well-being
• Personal mental hygiene
• “The road to Lhasa goes up and down” - Mingyur Rinpoche
• The value of community and teachers in mental health
• Richie driving Mingyur Rinpoche
• Contemplative Neuroscience
• The Science of Flourishing Course
• Richie’s new book project
• The conversation closes with a guided meditation led by Richie.
To learn more about Riche’s work or his different books, you can visit his website and check out the Center for Healthy Minds.
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Ep. 262 – Anxiety Series: Scott Barry Kaufman
15 april 2025 · 50 min
For episode 262, Sharon speaks with Scott Barry Kaufman as part of the Metta Hour Anxiety Series. Lees meer
In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times.
Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., is a cognitive scientist and humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential. He is founder of the Center for Human Potential and founder of Self-Actualization Coaching. Scott is the author of eleven books, including Rise Above, his forthcoming book set for release in 2025. Scott is also host of The Psychology Podcast— which has received over 30 million downloads.
In this conversation, Sharon and Scott speak about:
• Having growth motivation
• Shifting the narrative of anxiety
• Scott’s childhood experiences
• Curiosity versus grit
• How to shift out of fear
• Creating space around anxiety
• Welcoming our beautiful monsters
• Broadening the Window of Tolerance
• Experiencing a sense of bothness
• Scott’s new book, Rise Above
• Victim versus empowerment mindset
• Learned Hopefulness
• Finding the light within
• Pros and cons of sensitivity
• The blessings of gratitude and awe
The episode closes with Scott leading a Tonglen practice.
You can learn more about Scott’s work right here and check out his new book, Rise Above, right here.
Check out the first two episodes in the Anxiety Podcast Series with Dr. Jud Brewer right here and Dr. Jenny Taitz right here.
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Ep. 261 – Anxiety Series: Jenny Taitz
1 april 2025 · 1 uur 2 min
For episode 261, Dr. Jenny Taitz returns to the Metta Hour for our Anxiety Series. Lees meer
Jenny is a clinical psychologist and an assistant clinical professor in psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed her fellowship in psychology at Yale University School of Medicine and achieved board certifications in cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. In addition to treating clients in her private therapy practice, LA CBT DBT, she is the author of How to Be Single and Happy and End Emotional Eating. Her new book, Stress Resets: How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes, is now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Join Sharon for a free live conversation and interactive Q&A exploring the power of real connection—with ourselves, each other, and the world around us. Throughout the discussion, Sharon, Jackie Dobrinska, and Raghu Markus will weave in the wisdom of Ram Dass, reflecting on how intimacy can be a profound path to awakening. Join this free live call on April 7th: Click Here To Learn More
In this episode, Sharon and Jenny discuss:
Jenny’s approach to anxiety
Emotions are contagious
The superpower of emotional regulation
Cultivating an inner life
Three-point check-in
How to break-up with overthinking
Getting grounding
Cognitive diffusion
Naming your inner critic
Sitting with uncertainty
Building a hope kit
Box-breathing
Lovingkindness
Doing good deeds
Examining assumptions
Surfing emotional urges
Sharon closes with a hypothetical situation about anxiety which Jenny advises on. You can learn more about Jenny’s work and get a copy of her book, Stress Resets, on her website.
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Ep. 260 – Anxiety Series: Dr. Jud Brewer
18 maart 2025 · 1 uur 7 min
For episode 260, we are launching a new Anxiety Series on the Metta Hour. Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. To launch the series, Sharon sits down with Dr. Jud Brewer MD, Ph.D. Lees meer
Dr, Jud is a New York Times best-selling author and thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery,” who blends over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training and a career in scientific research. He is passionate about understanding how our brains work, and how to use that knowledge to help people make deep, permanent change in their lives — with the goal of reducing suffering in the world at large. Dr. Jud is the director of research and innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, where he also serves as an associate professor in Behavioral and Social Sciences at the School of Public Health and Psychiatry at the School of Medicine at Brown University, and a research affiliate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In this episode, Sharon and Dr. Jud discuss:
The neuroscientific definition of anxiety
Fear of the future
How we simulate the future
The difference between planning and worrying
Anxious feeling versus thought
Qualifiers for mental health diagnoses
The research behind Mental Noting
The antidote to anxiety is curiosity
Exploring gratification to its end
How much does worrying help?
Thinking isn’t what changes behavior
We’re wired for happiness
Neuroscientists don’t talk about willpower
Internet myths about anxiety
Deprivation curiosity
How misinformation fuels anxiety
Collective anxiety
Default Mode Network
Five Finger Breathing
Noticing our “oh no” moments
Kindness and curiosity are best friends
The Unwinding Anxiety App
The conversation closes with a short guided curiosity practice. You can learn more about Dr. Jud’s work and get a copy of his book, Unwinding Anxiety, right here and learn more about his M…
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Ep. 259 – The Force of Kindness Pt. 2
4 maart 2025 · 1 uur 18 min
For episode 259, we bring you the second half of a two-part series on the Force of Kindness. Lees meer
Listen to the first part of this series released earlier in February of 2025 right here.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has stated, “My true religion is kindness.” Although frequently denigrated in our culture as simplistic and weak, the quality of kindness has an inherent power to transform our worldview from one of fear and isolation to one rooted in clarity, courage and compassion in action. Kindness is the fuel that helps us truly “walk our talk” of love. Recording in December or 2024 by the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion.
In this recording, Sharon teaches on:
The aspiration of kindness
Brahma Viharas as a basis for aspiration
Lovingkindness as Connection
Our Subway Car
Reflection on Interconnection
The definition of Compassion
Sympathetic Joy
Gratitude as the energizer
Equanimity as the secret ingredient
The eight vicissitudes
The episode closes with Sharon taking some questions from the audience
Join Sharon’s upcoming ten-day wisdom course exploring Equanimity starting March 5th. Learn more right here.
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Ep. 258 – The Force of Kindness Pt. 1
18 februari 2025 · 50 min
For episode 258, we bring you the first half of a two-part series on the Force of Kindness. Lees meer
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has stated, “My true religion is kindness.” Although frequently denigrated in our culture as simplistic and weak, the quality of kindness has an inherent power to transform our worldview from one of fear and isolation to one rooted in clarity, courage and compassion in action. Kindness is the fuel that helps us truly “walk our talk” of love. Recording in December or 2024 by the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion.
In this recording, Sharon teaches on:
The conditioning we face
How our culture defines kindness
The compassionate witness
A ministry of presence
Kindness as a motivational state
The emergent properties of how we pay attention
Who do we pay attention to?
Practicing kindness for ourselves
Guided meditation on how we speak to ourselves
Punitive environments cannot sustain growth
How resilience is developed
Sayadaw U Pandita’s trick question
Stay tuned for the second part of this series coming in February of 2025. Join Sharon’s upcoming ten-day wisdom course exploring Equanimity starting March 5th. Learn more right here.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 257 – Fireside Chat with Christina Feldman
28 januari 2025 · 1 uur 33 min
For episode 257 we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Christina Feldman. Lees meer
This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the seventh episode in this series. Christina is of the generation of dharma teachers that began teaching in the west in 1975 after spending some years in Asia studying and practice in both the Mahayana and Theravadan traditions. She is a co-founder of Gaia House and served as a guiding teacher of IMS beginning in its early days. She teaches Buddhist psychology in several university settings in Europe, and she teaches both traditional retreats and study programs. Christina is the author of Boundless Heart: The Buddha’s Path of Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity and co-author of Mindfulness: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Psychology, among other books. The conversation begins with a guided practice led by Christina.
In this conversation, Christina and Sharon discuss:
How Christina accidentally ended up in India
First encountering Tibetan refugees
Christina first learning meditation
Dharma as an immersive experience
Sharon’s first attempts to meditate
Different techniques in Christina’s early practice
Goenka’s impact on Sharon
Secular Mindfulness
Practice versus Path
Definitions of Dukkha
What Christina is teaching lately
Bodhi College
Sharon’s work with caregivers
Equanimity as embodied understanding
How Christina has developed as a teacher
The conversation segues to questions from the audience with a guided meditation from Christina. Sharon and Christina then take questions on specificity of intention, working with physical pain, emptiness as a practice, moving from knowing a truth to living a truth, and Christina’s yearly intentions.
You can learn more about Christina’s work right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here.
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Ep. 256 – Norma Wong
14 januari 2025 · 53 min
For episode 256, we start off the year in podcasts with a conversation between Sharon and first-time guest Norma Ryuko Kawelokū Wong Roshi. Lees meer
Norma is a thought partner, a strategist, and a teacher. She is the abbot of Anko-in, an independent branch temple of Daihonzan Chozen-ji and serves practice communities in Hawai‘i, across the continental U.S., and in Toronto, Canada. She is an 86th-generation Zen Master, having trained at Chozen-ji for over 40 years. Norma has decades of experience in organizing, policy, strategy, and politics in Hawaiʻi, particularly in the area of Native Hawaiian issues, serving in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature and beyond. In the Fall of 2024, she released the book, “When No Things Work,” telling stories, weaving poetry, and offering wisdom at the intersections of strategy, politics, and spiritual activism.
In this conversation, Norma and Sharon speak about:
How Norma became an activist
Taking the long multi-generational view
How to face discord by seeing the whole
When Norms found spiritual teachings
The inspiration for writing her book
How Norma approaches faith
Collective versus individual work
Sharon getting humid in Maui
Opening to joy and goodness
Methods to interrupt habits
The rebuild of the Lahaina fires on Maui
The episode closes with Norma leading a resonant breathing practice. You can learn more about Norma’s work right here.
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Ep. 255 – Elizabeth Gilbert
31 december 2024 · 1 uur 5 min
For episode 255, Sharon closes out the 2024 year in podcasts with an intimate conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert. Lees meer
Liz is the New York Times bestselling author of Eat Pray Love, Big Magic, the novels City of Girls and The Signature of All Things, and six other books of fiction and nonfiction — which altogether have sold over 25 million copies worldwide. She travels the globe giving talks and workshops that encourage people to lead brave, authentic, and creative lives, and her TED talk, “Your Elusive Creative Genius,” is among their most viewed talks ever. Liz is also the founder of both the Onward Book Club, and the Letters From Love project on Substack.
In this conversation, Liz and Sharon speak about:
How Liz came to her spiritual practice
What love said to Liz twenty years ago
Sharon’s experience doing Letters from Love
Cultivating a ministry of presence
Liz’s twelve-step work with Love and Sex Addiction
Two-Way Prayer
The ability to receive
Love is not a UPS package
Earth School
What is my next right action?
The beginnings of resilience
Why is not a spiritual question
Acknowledging the interconnection of things
The episode closes with Liz leading a Letter From Love practice. You can learn more about Liz’s work right here.
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Ep. 254 – Fireside Chat with Ruth King
17 december 2024 · 1 uur 13 min
For episode 254, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Ruth King. Lees meer
This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the sixth episode in this series. Ruth King is the Founder of Mindful of Race Institute, LLC, and is a celebrated author, educator, and meditation teacher. She teaches mindfulness meditation retreats worldwide and develops meditation practitioners at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, and the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. Ruth is the author of several publications including her most recent, Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism From The Inside Out.
In this conversation, Ruth and Sharon discuss:
Ruth’s first invitation to meditation
First hearing Jack Kornfield teach
The deep calling to teach
Initial misconceptions about meditation
Ram Dass giving Joseph Goldstein his first teaching job
Sharon’s first teaching retreat
Ruth’s first teaching in the DC area
Ruth’s life as a writer
Artistry and mindfulness
Ruth’s BIPOC teaching & online academy
The season of eldership
The process of downsizing and moving
Letting go versus not holding on
Nothing is permanent, perfect, or personal
This episode closes with a guided meditation by Ruth.
You can learn more about Ruth’s work right here and get a copy of Mindful of Race right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. Listen to Ruth’s first episode on the Metta Hour from 2018, Episode 87, right here.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Ep. 253 – Cory Allen
26 november 2024 · 53 min
For episode 252, Cory Allen makes his first appearance on the Metta Hour podcast. Lees meer
Cory Allen is an author, coach, podcaster, and influencer from Austin, Texas. He writes daily thoughts on mindfulness and mental clarity for his large Instagram following, reaching over a million people a week. Cory is the author of two books, his most recent, Brave New You, has just been released from Hay House in 2024 in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats. His podcast And Then It Hit Me, has over 300 episodes to date.
In this conversation, Sharon and Cory discuss:
Meditation Barbie
Cory’s origin story
Opening to greater possibility
Cultivating greater agency
Story is everything
Keeping language real
Having an original mind
The importance of self-trust
How our faith evolves
How Sharon challenges herself
Intuition as an entryway to our deeper self
Cory closes the conversation with a guided meditation. You can learn more about Cory’s work right here and get a copy of his new book, Brave New You, right here.
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Ep. 252 – Kristin Neff
12 november 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
For episode 252, Kristin Neff returns to the Metta Hour for her third appearance on the podcast. Lees meer
Dr. Kristin Neff is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-compassion more than twenty years ago. She has been recognized as one of the most influential researchers in psychology worldwide is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Kristin runs the Self-Compassion Community, an online learning platform where people can learn the skill of self-compassion with the help of others, and is author of the bestselling books Self-Compassion and Fierce Self-Compassion. Her new book, Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout, co-authored with Chris Germer, is now available everywhere.
In this conversation, Kristin and Sharon discuss:
Kristin’s personal burnout
Kristin’s definition of compassion
Myths of self-compassion
What happens in burnout
Negativity bias sinkholes
The necessity of positive states
Healthy boundaries
Loving the Inner critic
Research on Self-Compassion
Self-Compassion Example Scenarios
Kristin’s new community offering
Kristin closes the conversation with a guided meditation on Self-Compassion.
You can learn more about Kristin’s work right here and get a copy of her new book, Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout right here.
You can join Kristin’s Self-Compassion Community right here and take her Self-Compassion Quiz right here.
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Ep. 251 – Ethan Nichtern
28 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
For episode 251, Ethan Nichtern returns to the Metta Hour to talk about his new book, Confidence: Holding Your Seat through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds. Lees meer
Ethan is a contemporary Buddhist teacher and the host of The Road Home Podcast. He is the author of several books, including The Road Home, and has been featured by CNN, NPR, the New York Times, Vogue, and Business Insider, and more.
In this conversation, Sharon and Ethan discuss:
What Ethan’s been up to the past 7 years
What inspired Ethan’s new book
The image of tube people
The dichotomy of hope/fear
The eight vicissitudes
Ethan’s definition of equanimity
Holding Your Seat
Learning to stay with your own mind
The positive sense of pride
Confidence as self-respect
Building confidence if trauma is present
Window of Tolerance
The Four Powers of Confidence
Ethan’s life as a Dad
Ethan closes the conversation with a guided meditation on Raising Windhorse. You can learn more about Ethan’s work and get a copy of his new book, Confidence, right here. Listen to Ethan’s Road Home Podcast right here.
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Ep. 250 – Election Stress with Reggie Hubbard
7 oktober 2024 · 1 uur 5 min
For episode 250, Reggie Hubbard returns to the Metta Hour podcast to talk about Election Stress. Lees meer
Reggie is a certified yoga and meditation teacher and the founder/chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga. He has taught Members of Congress, Congressional Staff, major labor unions, leading progressive organizations, and individuals from all walks of life the simple tools for managing stress and bringing peace to mind, body, and spirit. Reggie’s life work sits at the intersection of bringing more peace and balance to activists; guiding the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens; and enhancing the well-being of all walks of life.
Join Sharon for a 7-day online course that helps us reclaim kindness as the superpower it truly is. Distilling over 50 years of Buddhist teaching into practical, accessible and actionable lessons, Sharon’s course points us to the core of what it means to be alive, connected, and whole. Learn more: Kindness In A Fractured World
In this conversation, Sharon and Reggie discuss:
Reggie’s recent health emergency
Finding agency to take action
Life is not a race
Recovery process
Voting is a sacred act
Life in the margins
Working w/ intense emotions
Reggie’s work with systems
Boundaries are our friends
The sanctity of your nervous system
Grounding into the body
Lovingkindness in activism
Less pointing fingers, more opening arms
Equanimity supporting the process
A daily wellness election checklist
Sharon’s Ishta Deva, Lady Liberty
Reggie closes the conversation with a healing sound meditation. You can learn more about Reggie’s work right here.
For Election Resources from Sharon, click right here.
You can check out Reggie’s previous appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast in Episode 201 right here, that was part of our Mental Health Series.
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