Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

Ep. 108 – Lily Cushman with Special Guests Krishna Das and Catherine Burns

For episode 108 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon sits down with her Director of Operations, Lily Cushman. Lily is a teacher, musician, and author, and for nearly a decade, was the Owner and Director of the Brooklyn Yoga School , a lineage-based school run entirely by donation. Her work is a synthesis of the practices of Classical Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Insight Meditation and her first book “A Little Bit of Mantras: An Introduction to Sacred Sounds” was released in March 2019 from Sterling Publis...

Ep. 107 – Meditating on Selflessness with Robert Thurman & Mark Epstein

For Episode 107 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon is joined by Mark Epstein and Bob Thurman. This episode was recorded live at Tibet House in 2018. In this recording, Sharon, Mark and Bob discuss the topic of the ego , related to the self, through the lens of Buddhist Psychology, and how that relates to our sense of well-being. Bob leads a guided meditation on the topic, followed by questions from the audience. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at http...

Ep. 106 – Mindful Leadership with Marc Lesser

For the 106th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with friend and colleague, Marc Lesser. Marc is a speaker, facilitator, workshop leader, and executive coach, known for his engaging, experiential presentations that integrate mindfulness and emotional intelligence practices and training. He is the author of four books, including his 2019 release, “Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen.” Marc was the co-founder and CEO of the Search Insi...

Ep. 105 – The Spectrum of Awareness with Diana Winston

For the 105th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with author and teacher, Diana Winston. Diana Winston is the Director of Mindfulness Education at the Semel Institute’s Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA. She is the author of “The Little Book of Being” and the co-author of “Fully Present: The Science, Art and Practice of Mindfulness.” In this episode, Sharon and Diana speak at length about Diana’s new book, “The Little Book of Being” released in the Spring of 2019. They disc...

Ep. 104 – Dr. Judson Brewer

For episode 104 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with friend and colleague Dr. Judson Brewer MD PhD. Dr. Judson Brewer is a thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery”, having combined over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training with his scientific research. In this episode, Sharon and Dr. Jud speak about how Dr. Jud came to the path of mindfulness and meditation while in medical school, and how that evolved to become a cornerstone of his work....

Ep. 103 – Mindful Parent, Mindful Child with Susan Kaiser Greenland

For episode 103 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with friend and colleague, Susan Kaiser Greenland. Susan Kaiser Greenland is an internationally recognized leader in teaching mindfulness and meditation to children, teens, and families. She is the co-founder of The Inner Kids Foundation and was on the clinical team of the Pediatric Pain Clinic at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. In this episode, Susan and Sharon speak about how Susan began her work bringing the tools of mindfulness to par...

Ep. 102 – Reboot with Jerry Colonna

For the 102nd episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon sits down with her longtime friend Jerry Colonna. In this episode, Sharon and Jerry speak at length about Jerry’s journey of meditation and self-discovery. Looking at how he has brought those experiences to the field of leadership and business. To learn more about Jerry’s work, visit: rebootbyjerry.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....

Ep. 101 – Urszula Klich

For the 101st episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Urszula Klich. In this conversation, Sharon and Urszula speak at length about techniques for working with pain by applying mindfulness, compassion and biofeedback. Urszula also leads a 12-minute guided meditation practice as part of this episode. To learn more about Urzsula’s work, visit: MyMindfulWayOfLife.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at ...

Ep.100 – Sarah Ruhl

Sharon sits down with playwright, Sarah Ruhl. Sarah is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and is currently on the faculty of the Yale School of Drama. She has been the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, the Helen Merrill Emerging Playwrights Award, and the Whiting Writers’ Award. Sarah is the author of several books, including her collection of essays “100 Essays I Don’t Have Time to Write,” which was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2014, and “Letters from Max: A Book of Friends...

Ep. 99 – Sebene Selassie

For the 99th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks will colleague and friend, Sebene Selassie. In this episode, Sharon and Sebene discuss how Sebene came to the path of meditation, her work as a teacher, identity, community and much more. Sebene also leads a guided meditation to close the conversation. Sebene is a dharma teacher, writer, coach and consultant. She began studying Buddhism over 25 years ago and has an MA from the New School where she focused on race and cultural studies....

Ep. 98 – Dr. Kristin Neff

For episode 98 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon shares a conversation with Dr. Kristin Neff Ph.D. Dr. Kristin Neff is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Neff is a pioneer in the field of self-compassion research, conducting the first studies on self-compassion fifteen years ago. She is the author of Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook . In this conversation, Sharon and Kristi...

Ep. 97 – Raising Resilient Children with Dr. Christopher Willard and Dr. Mark Bertin

For the 97th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon shares a conversation about raising resilient children with Mark Bertin, MD & Christopher Willard, PsyD. Buzz words such as “thriving,” “resilience,” and “mindfulness” may fill headlines and sell books, but what do they really mean, and how do we cultivate these traits in ourselves and our families? Sharon and her guests look beyond the buzzwords and towards the basic concepts of skillful parenting that have been known across cultures fo...

Ep. 96 – Dr. Amishi Jha

For the 98th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with Dr. Amishi Jha Ph.D. Amishi is a Neuroscientist, an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, and the Director of Contemplative Neuroscience for the Mindfulness Research and Practice Initiative. Amishi studies the neural bases of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion and resilience. In this episode, Amishi and Sharon speak about how Amishi came to the path of me...

Ep. 95 – Gary Gach

For the 95th Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon converses with meditation teacher and author Gary Gach. Gary has been meditating and writing for nearly 60 years, and published numerous magazines and anthologies. He is the author of Complete Idiot's Guide to Buddhism and his moment recent release, Pause ... Breathe ... Smile ~ Awakening Mindfulness When Meditation Is Not Enough . He's been hosting a weekly Zen mindfulness practice group for nearly a decade in San Francisco and is lay-ordained in the Plum...

Ep. 94 – Ram Dass & Mirabai Bush

For the 94th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon shares the stage with Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush! Live from the 2018 “Open Your Heart in Paradise” retreat, Sharon speaks with Ram Dass and Mirabai about embracing the dying process. How can we be with one another as souls, to live and die consciously? The group of old friends explore these questions and share a reading from Mirabai and Ram Dass’s final book, Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving and Dying . See Privacy Policy at h...

Ep. 93 – Eddie Stern

For the 94th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon sits down with author and teacher Eddie Stern. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ep. 92 – Lynn Nottage

Sharon and Lynn Nottage discuss art as social action and the way that Lynn’s sees her own writing as a way to cultivate more empathy in the world. They also speak about the correlation between the spiritual path and creative process. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Ep. 91 – Ellen Agler

For episode 91 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with friend and author, Ellen Agler. Ellen serves as the CEO of the END Fund, a private philanthropic initiative working to see an end of the suffering caused by five neglected tropical diseases affecting 1.5 billion people. The END Fund actively supports programs with dozens of partners in more than 25 countries, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Ellen’s first book, “Under the Big Tree: Extraordinary Stories from the Movement to End Negl...

Ep. 90 – Guy Armstrong

For Sharon’s 90th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, she speaks with longtime friend, Guy Armstrong. Guy Armstrong has practiced Insight Meditation for over 40 years, including training as a Buddhist monk in Thailand with Ajahn Buddhadasa. He began teaching in 1984 and has led retreats worldwide. He is a guiding teacher at the Insight Meditation Society, where he works with three-month retreatants, as well as offering online courses of his teachings. In this conversation, Guy begins by sharing h...

Ep. 89 – Krishna Das

Ep. 88 – Frank Ostaseski celebrating Joan Halifax Book “Standing at the Edge”

In Episode 88 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon joins Frank Ostaseski at an event that was recorded live at the JCC Manhattan in September of 2018 in celebration of Joan Halifax’s new book release, “Standing at the Edge.” Due to travel complications, Joan was unable to join this event until the end of the evening, creating the unique experience of Sharon and Frank discussing Joan’s teaching at length, as well as many of the themes of her new book, like the different paths of the warrior, the rol...

Ep. 87 – Ruth King

In Episode 87 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with author, teacher and activist, Ruth King. Ruth King is an international teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition, blending mindfulness and meditation principles with an exploration of racial conditioning and its impact. She is the author of several publications including her most recent release, Mindful of Race. In this episode, Ruth shares her personal story of what brought her to meditation practice, and how it has impacted her life...

Ep. 86 – Oren Jay Sofer

In Episode 86 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with teacher and author, Oren Jay Sofer. Find show notes and links here: https://beherenownetwork.com/sharon-salzberg-metta-hour-ep-86-oren-jay-sofer/ Oren Jay Sofer is a member of the Spirit Rock Teacher’s Council, a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication, and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for healing trauma. His first book, “Say What You Mean” comes out in December 2018. In this conversation, Sharon and Oren discuss how Oren c...

Ep. 85 – Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.

Find show notes and resources here: https://beherenownetwork.com/sharon-salzberg-metta-hour-ep-85-elisha-goldstein/ Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is a co-founder of The Center for Mindful Living in West Los Angeles and creator of the 6-month coaching and mentorship program, A Course in Mindful Living . A psychologist, and international speaker and mindfulness educator, his books include Uncovering Happiness and The Now Effect . Learn more at elishagoldstein.com . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.co...

Ep. 84 – Lama Tsomo

For Episode 84 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with Lama Tsomo, an American lama, author, and co-founder of the Namchak Foundation. Find show notes and resources here: https://beherenownetwork.com/metta-hour-ep-84-lama-tsomo/ Lama Tsomo has followed a path of spiritual inquiry and study that ultimately led to her ordination as one of the few American lamas in Tibetan Buddhism. Lama learned Tibetan to study with her teacher Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, and now shares the teachings of the Namch...

Ep. 83 – John O’Donohue

For Episode 83 of the Metta Hour Podcast, enjoy this conversation from the archives between Sharon and beloved author and Celtic mystic, John O’Donohue. Find show notes and resources here: https://beherenownetwork.com/metta-hour-ep-83-john-odonohue/ This conversation “Dawning of the Spirit” was recorded in 1998 in Boston, MA by the Omega Institute. The conversation is an exploration of the crossover between the practical application and mysticism of Buddhism and Christianity. Sharon and John dis...

Ep. 82 – Rich Fernandez

In Episode 82 of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon speaks with Rich Fernandez, Ph.D. Find show notes and resources here: https://beherenownetwork.com/?p=14879&preview=true Rich Fernandez is the CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute and co-founded Wisdom Labs, an organization that brings the science of mindfulness, resilience and thriving into organizations. In this episode, Sharon and Rich speak about how Rich came to the practice of mindfulness, and how that evolved into his p...

Ep. 81 – Lama Tsultrim Allione

Sharon speaks with longtime colleague Lama Tsultrim Allione for the 81st episode of the Metta Hour Podcast. Find show notes and resources here: https://beherenownetwork.com/metta-hour-ep-81-lama-tsultrim-allione/ Sharon and Lama open the conversation reminiscing about their similar paths going to India in their late teens, and the magic they discovered there. Lama speaks about her path in Vajrayana Buddhism and the sacred form of the feminine as the Dakini. Sharon and Lama speak in depth about L...

Ep. 80 – Rhonda V. Magee

For the 80th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon sits down with colleague Rhonda V. Magee. Rhonda V. Magee is Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco and is an internationally-recognized thought and practice leader on integrating Mindfulness into Higher Education, Law and Social Justice. Sharon and Rhonda speak about Rhonda’s personal practice, her forthcoming book on racial justice, and her work bringing contemplative practice and mindfulness to lawyers. They discuss a holisti...

Ep. 79 – Radical Love with Dr. Omid Safi

For the 79th episode of the Metta Hour Podcast, Sharon sits down with writer and teacher, Omid Safi. Omid is the Director of Duke University’s Islamic Studies Center and is the author of several books, including his most recent release, “ Radical Love: Teachings from the Islamic Mystical Traditions .” In this episode, Sharon and Omid discuss Omid’s life story, and how he came to his work of sharing the history and culture of Islamic studies. They also talk all about love across different culture...