Top 10 Buddhist Podcasts

Time to Get Free

Green Tara, by Jessica Van Hulle

Please realise how precious this opportunity is: to receive and practice these teachings that lead to full awakening, full embodiment of our boundless buddha nature. To become our most free and authrentic selves!

In the past, people would risk life and limb walking for days and even months to meet a teacher and hear just an hour of these liberating instructions!

And now they’re yours – for free, anytime, anyplace. All because of the kindness of these people who have endeavoured to make them accessible and available to all.

Remember – Buddhism is not a religion! It is a system of teachings and practices for getting free from suffering, by fully realising the nature of self, mind, world and consciousness. And it works, as hundreds of thousands of awakened individuals throughout history will attest. If you encounter the teachings, you are an unspeakably lucky individual.

So with gratitude, here are my Top 10 Buddhist podcasts.

The links are to Spotify currently my podcast platform of choice, but if you search the names you’ll find them on any other established podcast platform.

So – time to dive in!

Happy listening.

Top 10 Buddhist Podcasts:

1. Bob Thurman – Buddhas Have More Fun. This podcast is a radiant, wish-fulfilling jewel. In addition to fully embodying the “crazy wisdom” energy, Bob is a practitioner of the deepest insight and a scholar of profound eloquence and erudition. These talks are sure to expand – if not explode – your mind and your basic assumptions about reality. Enjoy!
2. Lion Faced Guru Podcast. This has rocked my world recently, due to the clarity of Amrita Baba’s understanding of the path and his development/re-discovery of some highly effective techniques to cultivate rapid and permanent awakening (insight into emptiness). I thought the “Mahasiddha interviews” with ordinary working people who have walked the path to full awakening in just a matter of years, were incredibly inspiring. It’s possible, people!
3. The Wisdom Podcast. Podcast of Wisdom Publications, this contains many profound interviews and discussions with Buddhist teachers from all different traditions.
4. Wisdom of the Masters. Australian Buddhist nun Samaneri Jayaseri has done the world a deep service by making many beautiful audio recordings of some of the deepest and most precious Buddhist meditation instructions. Particular highlights are the Dzogchen (Great Perfection) meditations on the nature of mind; the pinnacle of Tibetan Buddhist practice and insight. What a resource!
5. Tara Brach Podcast. Tara is dear to me, due to her immense care and kindness and understanding of the needs of Western hearts and minds. Listening to her really helped get onto the path in a deep and life-affirming way. Her short guided meditations are just perfect for weaving into everyday life. Her choice of mystical poetry is always spot on, too!
6. Joseph Goldstein Insight Hour. Another classic, Joseph communicates classical dharma with many great stories and analogies. Very helpful for getting established with the basics of the Buddhist worldview and practice path.
7. Buddhist Geeks. I love this one because it ventures into the political, technological, futuristic, psychological and more! Brings the dharma right up into our current historical moment and the metamodern labyrinth/rainforest of varying perspectives – right where it needs to be!
8. Rebel Buddhist. Ana Verzone is a badass on a mission – and a totally down-to-earth woman with a great understanding of how Buddhist teachings fit with psychological healing and soul-development. I liked the “Wild Mind” episodes on Bill Plotkin’s work especially.
9. Buddha at the Gas Pump. Almost 700 interviews and discussions with some of the most interesting and insightful people on the planet. Get stuck in!
10. The Way Out Is In. Straight out of Plum Village, hosted by the attendant of legendary Zen master (and sweetheart) Thich Nhat Hanh, this podcast is like a soothing mind-balm of clarity, sanity and awakened presence. This tradition shines for its emphasis on integrating mindful loving presence with the activities of daily life.
11. Bonus: Deconstructing Yourself. I like Michael Taft too damn much to leave him out of this list. Wide-ranging conversations and liberating perspectives abound.

So, there it is!

Let me know what you discover and if you know of any other gems.

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Love, Will