Today we’re speaking with two friends and scientists, Tee Ponsukcharoen and Siraput Jongaramrungruang, about their intertwined journeys from studying science to practicing Buddhism together. Originally from Thailand, they both came to California to complete their doctorates, but along the way, they discovered a far greater sense of purpose than they could have imagined. We cover everything from how and why they were attracted to Buddhism, how they navigated their own attachments to logic, and ho...
Feb 08, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Today we’re talking about the battle with our own inner negativity, whatever form it may take: self-doubt, self-hatred, regret, worry or anything else. Jimmy Anicet, of Boston, shares about the significant personal journey he went on during 2019. Jimmy decided to tackle his own sense of regret and self-doubt once and for all by digging deeply into his Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Then, just a month after he arrived at a significant epiphany and things started looking up, he...
Feb 01, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 53
Today we are talking about how to open a new path if you’re feeling stuck where you are, whether at work or in any other situation. Our guest is Fernanda Kelly, actress, entrepreneur and TV and radio host. While her career in media has been successful, Fernanda’s childhood dream was always to be an actress. Today, she opens up about what it took for her to grapple with that dream not coming true in the way she hoped, and how she used her Buddhist practice to deepen her faith in herself and becom...
Jan 25, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Today we’re talking about the amazing difference that a month of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can make in your life, told through the story of Alex McClintock, of Hawaii. Alex is currently a diver in the Coast Guard, one of the hardest careers to train for, but his story starts in his early 20s when he felt completely stagnant. After dropping out of college and feeling increasingly lost, Alex decided to try chanting for one month, just to see what happened. He quickly realized that he didn’t val...
Jan 18, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 51
As we kick off our 31-day chanting Journey on January 18, today we are discussing how and why to make chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo a daily habit. Celize Christy, of Iowa, shares her own process of recommitting to her daily Buddhist practice over the last two years, as well as tips for chanting every day and what happens when you do. Here’s the key point: In a world that can feel increasingly overwhelming and negative, it’s important to have ways we can refresh our spirit. That’s precisely what c...
Jan 12, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Today we’re exploring what the power of a daily practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can really do for you, specifically if you struggle with feelings of helplessness, anxiety or a need to control things. Will Moody, of New Orleans, shares his story of what Buddhism calls “human revolution,” or inner transformation, the process of tapping into your Buddhability on a daily basis to change your life and environment. After struggling with anxiety and a tendency to micromanage everyone in his en...
Jan 05, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 49
A short message to thank all of our amazing listeners and guests for a fantastic year! We’re taking a break for the holidays and will be back with a new episode on Monday, January 3. In the meantime, to sign-up for our weekly newsletter visit: https://buddhability.org/connect/
Dec 22, 2021•1 min
Today we’re talking about self-love and relationships, and, specifically, how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo can empower you to become the protagonist in all your relationships, whether they are romantic or family-oriented, or you just want to better how you interact with other people. Marilena Ward, of Queens, New York, shares her story today, which begins with one of the toughest periods of her life, when she moved from Panama to New York by herself to learn English and begin a new life. On a de...
Dec 13, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Consider any situation you’ve found yourself in where you felt like you couldn’t truly be yourself. Have you ever changed your behavior to fit in or impress others? On this episode, we’re talking with Brandon Poythress, of Dallas, who struggled with exactly that from a young age. When he started practicing SGI Nichiren Buddhism, he quickly discovered he was seeking approval from other people, which, in Buddhism, means you are seeking happiness outside yourself. Today we’ll cover how to flip that...
Dec 06, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Today we are addressing a topic that’s universally challenging in close human relationships: How do you care for someone who struggles to care for themself? What if your belief in them is greater than their belief in themself? To address these questions, we are speaking with Katie Thornber, of Los Angeles, who bravely shares a very personal journey she went through with her late father, and how she used her Buddhist practice to support him through the toughest time of his life. This story is an ...
Nov 29, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Today we're tackling social anxiety, which feels like it has become ubiquitous since the pandemic began. Social interactions seem to take more energy after being physically distanced for so long. The world feels more polarized and therefore, a bit more intimidating. And then there's the real fear of social interaction. Given all of this, the approaching holiday season and the fact that many Americans are still adjusting to in-person school and work, we reached out to a few Buddhist teenagers to ...
Nov 22, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Today we speak with Los Angeles-based actor Luca Manganaro, who shares his intertwined journey with acting and Buddhism and the lessons he learned along the way. Key takeaway: what you do, especially if you’re currently pursuing a big dream or goal that seems far away, isn’t who you are. Who you are is based on what you practice every day, how you show up in relationships, how you treat the people around you and what you base your self-worth on. CHEAT SHEET 1:46 How Luca started practicing Buddh...
Nov 08, 2021•56 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses trauma and attempted suicide. Today’s episode is about mental health. Our guest is Tanushree Salvi of Boise, Idaho, who started her practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism when she came to the U.S. for school and was introduced to chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo by a college roommate. Tanushree shares the story of how she was able to take the steps to take care of her own mental health through a combination of professional support and her Buddhist practice, as well...
Nov 01, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Today we’re talking about college: how hard it can be to decide where to go and what to pursue, and how to find your purpose while there. Our guest is Josef Gaudiesus, a football coach and high school teacher in Texas, who shares his own journey of getting into college and how beginning his Buddhist practice while there helped him find confidence, a winning attitude and a sense of purpose. CHEAT SHEET 1:32 How Josef got introduced to Buddhism 2:17 How he decided to become a teacher and football ...
Oct 25, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Today we’re talking about family and what to do if you just can’t reconcile differences with them. Our guests are sisters Lauren and Molly Leebove from Michigan, whose intertwined stories of beginning their Buddhist practice and transforming their relationship with their parents are rich with lessons on what Buddhability looks like in a family setting. CHEAT SHEET 1:22 Quote from Daisaku Ikeda in The New Human Revolution , vol. 26 p. 203–4. 2:04 Introduction to Molly and Lauren 2:54 How Molly st...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Today we have a trailer for a new video that we just released: Oneness of Life and Environment Explained . Can I actually influence what’s happening around me for the better? Do I really have control over my circumstances? At times it may seem like we don’t have much say in how our lives will go. But Buddhism teaches that people and their surroundings are interconnected. This is a key concept to understand on your Buddhability journey, in order to realize that we are the protagonists of our live...
Oct 11, 2021•2 min
To celebrate our 40th episode and one year since we launched Buddhability, we’re looking back at highlights from past episodes. Reflecting on the feelings described by social psychologist Amy Cuddy and writer JillEllyn Riley in their recent article about “pandemic flux syndrome ” we consider 4 tips on how to refresh yourself if you’re feeling worn out or anxious. Episodes referenced: Episode 7: Winning morning, winning life Episode 24: On boundaries and true self-care Episode 32: Navigating deat...
Oct 04, 2021•17 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Today we’re addressing a feeling that can be experienced universally: feeling disconnected from yourself. Sometimes, our life looks pretty good on paper and we’re lucky enough to have meaningful work and relationships, but still, deep inside, we feel…nothing. Our guest is Rodrigo Carvalhedo, an animator and writer based in Los Angeles who started practicing SGI Nichiren Buddhism a few years ago, when he moved to the U.S. from Brazil to pursue an artistic career. Ever since then, he has been taki...
Sep 27, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Today we’re speaking with Krystal Kalima, a 22-year-old college student from Hawai’i who started practicing SGI Nichiren Buddhism when she was in high school. Krystal’s story is a lesson in what it takes to overcome shame and become proud of where you’re from. Growing up, she and her mom experienced extreme financial hardship, which led her to feel ashamed about sharing her circumstances with other people. Around this time, she started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to address the deeper feelings ...
Sep 21, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Today we’re talking about music and creativity with special guest Nikolai Fraiture, who is best known for being the bassist of The Strokes. He also created a new theme song for Buddhability, which we’re so excited for you to hear! Nikolai started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, which is the core practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism, just a few years ago. Today he shares how he has seen his Buddhist practice impact his life and his work. Plus, this year, which is the 20th anniversary of their breakout...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Today’s episode is about the power of believing in yourself, even if the people around you don’t. Having the courage to pursue the life you want isn’t easy, and it’s especially hard when the people around you put you in a box, or limit what they believe you can do. But Buddhism teaches us how to live a life of unlimited courage. Our guest is Jenny Ye, of Michigan who started her practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism as a teenager in South Korea. After being given little choice about her career optio...
Sep 04, 2021•37 min•Season 1Ep. 36
You’re invited to a conversation hosted by Buddhability on how to overcome negative self-talk. We teamed up with Celebrity Makeup Artist Janice Kinjo, Former NFL Player Josh Scobey and Learning Behavior Specialist Jennifer Cook who will share their stories of overcoming self-doubt and negative self talk. When: Saturday, August 28, 2021 @ 11am PT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET Register here: https://buddhability.org/practice/buddhability-talk-how-to-overcome-negative-self-talk/
Aug 25, 2021•1 min
Today we’re talking about work and more specifically, how to deal with feeling stuck. If you're feeling trapped by your job or routine, or if you have a secret dream that you haven't yet had the courage to pursue, this episode is for you. Our guest is Clara Kitongo, a young woman who started practicing Buddhism at a time when she was really feeling stuck in her career and life. Her journey with chanting opened up an entirely new perspective on what a creative life means, and now she's living the...
Aug 14, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Today’s episode is an in-depth conversation with actor Vinessa Shaw, who is known for her success as a child actor in movies such as Ladybugs and Hocus Pocus and then, as an adult, in Eyes Wide Shut and most recently, 12 Mighty Orphans , which is in theaters. Vinessa has been practicing Buddhism since childhood, and today she shares her honest experience dealing with success at a young age, struggling with perfectionism and finding true self-worth. She also shares advice on auditioning and rejec...
Aug 07, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Tomorrow, we are kicking off our 31-Day Chanting Journey so today’s episode is filled with practical tips and advice on how to make the most of it, especially if one of your reasons for doing it is to address negative self-talk. Out guest is Erin Harris, who grew up practicing Buddhism in the Bay Area. Erin’s own story is so moving. She grew up with a stutter and at a young age, realized that the only time she felt she could really be her authentic self and not stutter was while chanting. Today,...
Jul 31, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Just a short announcement today to share that starting August 1 we are doing another 31-Day Buddhability Journey where we invite you to try chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for the month of August! Sign up at www.buddhability.org/journey
Jul 25, 2021•2 min
Today we are addressing how to navigate the loss of a loved one or support them through serious illness. While everyone's experience and circumstances are different, our guest, Jonathan Teran, shares his family's story, and the takeaways feel truly universal. In August 2020, Jonathan lost his father to pulmonary fibrosis, and today he shares how his family used their Buddhist practice to navigate the journey, from finding him care, to supporting him during hospice, to dealing with the grief that...
Jul 17, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Today we are talking about relationships and specifically addressing a few questions that we’ve received from listeners, which are: How do I decide if the person I’m with is the one ? What does Buddhism say about creating a healthy long-term relationship? And how can I support my partner while also supporting myself? Our guest is Faith Jones, a young woman whose journey with Buddhism is intertwined with her relationship experience. Practicing Buddhism helped her identify a tendency to seek happi...
Jul 10, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Today we’re discussing creative work, but the lessons apply to virtually anything in your life that brings out feelings of resistance, fear or self-doubt. Our guest is Monica Ong , a Connecticut-based visual poet and designer. She’s been practicing Buddhism ever since discovering it on study abroad in high school and our conversation today is filled with practical insights on how to navigate a creative career as a Buddhist. Monica’s own story is about identity and paving her own way as a visual ...
Jul 02, 2021•57 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Six years ago today, on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ratified same-sex marriage, a monumental achievement after a more than 25-year battle across the country. Recently, journalist Sasha Issenberg published a riveting, comprehensive history of that struggle, titled The Engagement: America’s Quarter Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage , tracing it back to 1990, when the political movement took off with a case in the Hawaii Supreme Court. At that point, Issenberg explains, no significa...
Jun 26, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 29
