Episodes
Fear and anger can be overpowering. Especially when they’re grounded in past and deeply personal experience. While our fears may feel justified they can also hold us back from accomplishing our goals and living a happy life. Today we’re talking about how to uproot those tendencies in our lives and transform them for our happiness. Today’s guest, Krithi Byadgi, of San Francisco, shares how she used her Buddhist practice to transform her deep anger and fear into the courage and joy needed to...
Published 11/17/23
Amid a painful reality that can’t be changed, like a family member’s terminal disease, how can we still create hope? Today we’re discussing how tapping into our Buddhability—the limitless wisdom, courage, and compassion we each possess—can help us transform our attitude, create a beautiful life, and accomplish our dreams amid a difficult reality. Our guest is Jonathan Cheng, of New York City, who shares how he is courageously accomplishing his dreams as a filmmaker to honor his parents and...
Published 11/10/23
Today, we have for you the season finale of Buddhability Season 1, and we’re so excited to share some big updates about the show.  We’ve just passed the three-year anniversary of launching Buddhability, and with it, a huge milestone, surpassing 1 million podcast downloads, and well over 100 episodes. Thank you for your support and dedication to sharing the show all this time. Alongside this milestone, we’re welcoming a brand-new host who you’ll meet on today’s episode. Cassidy Bradford...
Published 10/12/23
Today, October 2nd, marks the three year anniversary since our launch! We are also celebrating a milestone- hitting 1 million downloads! To commemorate this, we're going to be closing out with an exciting season finale next week. Stay tuned. 
Published 10/03/23
Here's today's question: How can Buddhism help me with this stress caused by chronic physical pain?  How can I be happy living with chronic illness?  Buddhism teaches that falling to illness is not a form of failure or defeat. In fact illness can be an inspiration to bring out our best, most resilient...
Published 09/23/23
Here’s today’s question: Do I have to believe in chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo for it to work? This is a question nearly every person who starts to chant has in the back of their mind. Unless spirituality or a chanting-like practice has already been part of your life for a while, it can feel very new and hard to believe in. We want to approach this question from a few angles but first, to answer it directly: no, when you first start chanting, you do not have to believe in it or understand it...
Published 09/15/23
Here's today's question: How can I set healthy boundaries that honor myself and others?  One listener asked: “How can Buddhism help me and my family with setting boundaries? Setting boundaries at work seems easier than with family stuff.”  Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo about our situation ensures that we make our decisions based on wisdom, courage and compassion, rather than trends or...
Published 09/07/23
Here’s today’s question: What does Buddhism say about dealing with grief? Grief is something we all experience at some point in life.  One listener asked, “I've recently had a few folks die and I am trying to give myself space to have this new emotional experience but also be strong, move forward, help others and be happy. What should I do?”  Another listener wrote in, “What does Buddhism teach about grieving about sudden death and the trauma that comes with it?”    Today we’ll discuss the...
Published 08/25/23
Here’s today's question, ”Can I be angry when I chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo?” It’s actually a combination of a few questions we received. One person asked, “Some days I feel powerful and determined. Some days I feel sad and cry. But lately, I've been furious and angry. Is it okay to be furious and angry in front of my Gohonzon?” And another person asked, “Is there a way I can use my anger for good?” So let's talk about anger and...
Published 08/18/23
Here’s today’s question, “I’m starting a new job soon and I’m wondering if you could talk a little bit about stressful transitions in life?”  We actually got quite a lot of questions about work stress or challenging professional situations. We’ll answer the question and touch on what Buddhism says about work.
Published 08/09/23
Here’s today’s question: I’m dealing with a really stressful relationship with someone close to me. Do you have any advice on what to do when someone just keeps getting under your skin? Well first of all, who can’t relate to this one? Stress is an inevitable part of daily life, but when it manifests through a person, it tends to bring with it a whole host of other emotions – anger, frustration, blame, hopelessness, and feeling stuck in a cycle. But Buddhism does offer some great perspective...
Published 07/26/23
Today we have two exciting announcements. First, we’re launching a new 7-day series called “Change Your Relationship with Stress.” From July 24 to August 1, you'll receive inspiration in your inbox each day about how to transform stress in nearly every area of your life from relationship stress and financial stress to work and family stress. Visit us at Buddhability.org and sign up for our email newsletter to be a part of it.  Our second announcement: We’re launching a new summer podcast...
Published 07/18/23
“Tips & Insights” is an episode series in which we introduce one Buddhist concept each month and share how it can be applied to your life! Today’s episode is about suffering, an inescapable fact of life for all living beings, but one that Buddhism offers a refreshing and concrete perspective...
Published 07/07/23
This week we're airing a rerun of one of our most popular episodes from June, 2021 with lawyer Dan Foley. 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...
Published 06/27/23
Today, we’re talking about how Buddhism can help you find the wisdom to overcome anything in life. In particular, the challenges that sometimes come with love and relationships. Our guest is Bryant Ríos-Niño, of Connecticut. He shares his parallel journeys of developing his Buddhist practice and learning what love, relationships and supporting your family truly takes. 
Published 06/14/23
oday we are talking about how to tap into your potential, even when you can’t see it and even when your circumstances make you feel incapable. Our guest is Lance Powell, of Georgia, who shares how he encountered Buddhism at a time when hope for the future was hard to find, and how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo allowed him to finally tap into the potential he knew he had, but had never quite been able to access before.
Published 06/08/23
“Tips & Insights” is a miniseries in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life. Today’s is: Winning in the morning.
Published 05/23/23
Today, we’re talking about what winning over yourself really takes: an honest look at what is causing you to suffer and the courage to transform it deep within.  Our guest is Jamie Bautista from Davis, California, who shares her journey using her Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to battle her own anger, which manifested at a young age. In the process, she discovered a beautiful person within.
Published 05/12/23
Today we’re talking about what inner transformation or human revolution looks like through a consistent practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.  Our guest is Judy Juanita from Oakland, California. A writer and lecturer, she shares her incredible journey of many decades practicing Buddhism and how it helped her find the courage to change the things that held her back.  SHOW NOTES:  1:33 Judy discovers Buddhism  9:05 Identifying the thing that was holding her back  20:56 Transforming a part...
Published 05/03/23
Today, we’re talking about what it really takes to build a foundation for your life. It’s a theme we’ve explored before on the show but one that looks different for all of us. Our guest is George Wong, of San Francisco, California, who shares how his Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has allowed him to turn his difficulties with school and self-worth into a career creating value from every experience. SHOW NOTES:  2:44 Getting rejected from college inspires George to start...
Published 04/20/23
The teachings of Buddhism are vast and profound, that's why Buddhist study is a crucial part of deepening our practice. We're excited to announce our first ever Buddhability Beginner Email Course.  So if you're new or just need a little refresher, you can go to https://buddhability.org/practice/emailcourse/ to sign up for seven short lessons, which will be delivered to your inbox over the course of four weeks. 
Published 04/11/23
Today, we're talking about what it really takes to face your reality, especially when that requires taking a hard look at yourself. Our guest is Miho Saito, of Long Beach, California who shares the ups and downs of a journey in which she continually left home in search of herself in an effort to avoid things that felt too difficult to face. Eventually, through her Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, Miho found the courage to come home to herself. SHOW NOTES:  1:37 How Miho...
Published 04/03/23
“Tips & Insights” is a miniseries in which we’ll introduce one Buddhist concept each month and how it can be applied to your life. Today’s is: Buddhism and the real world. References: “The Kalpa of Decrease,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 1121 The Power to Win Each Day The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, p. 88 My Dear Friends in America, third edition, p. 83 Discussions on Youth, p. 71
Published 03/24/23
Today, we're talking about how Buddhism sees obstacles in particular, those big challenges, life throws your way when you're least expecting it. Our guest is Brian Lindgren of Virginia who shares about how his buddhist practice helped him challenge his circumstances with fresh energy, helped him find a life in music and understand the deeper meaning of his problems.  SHOW NOTES:  1:30 How Brian encountered Buddhism  10:40 Trying to create a life as a musician in New York and facing...
Published 03/17/23
Our guest is James, of New York, who shares how a consistent practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helps him navigate some of the toughest moments of his life from dealing with addiction to finding his place and purpose.  Note: Buddhism does not contradict medical science. If anything, for Buddhists, seeking out professional advice and support is an important step toward caring for ourselves. If you or a friend is struggling with addiction, please seek out professional help.  SHOW...
Published 03/09/23