A Christian and a Buddhist walk in to a bar

We have more divine music! This week looking in to the ephemeral Sarah Blasco, her life growing up in a cult, and how its created her sound and message.    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/08/sarah-blasko-i-just-need-to-conquer-this-mountain-album-interview? CMP=share_btn_url  

Today, Jacob has a question. What is the role of hope? This launches us off on one of our regular rambles, on all things hope, reincarnation, Buddhism and everything in between.   

Meshell Ndegeocello is a legend. A legend that so few have heard of. Today we unpack her song 'the Way' from her 1996 album, Peace Beyond Passion. We go in to how some artists just are drawn by the music, and how a song can convey so much more than what the words say.    Enjoy!    https://open.spotify.com/track/3txICxEvBgCBV63B4ednNB?autoplay=true

We are back! kicking off 2025 with a ramble about Jamal's recent experiences on a Zen retreat. How he found it, how it was different to others, and what he'll take away.

Merry Buddhamas all! As you gather around the Christmas tree to listen to this years episode, we thought we'd share a bit about where this holy tree came from. And look in to... is it Christian? or is it Capitalism in disguise? Have a great holidays, we will take a few weeks off and be back mid January    https://theconversation.com/a-story-of-legends-families-and-capitalism-a-candid-history-of-th...

Forgiveness. Is it Buddhist? Or is it Anti Buddhist?! Today we look in to this fascinating topic, and more. With your usual rambles and side quests.  https://tricycle.org/magazine/forgiveness-not-buddhist/

We have made it to 100 episodes! wow, what a journey. Today we go back to where it all started and talk about the first time we met at a bar and how we got to where we are now. Thanks for the memories everyone! 

We have more questions, more problems, more off the cuff answers! Enjoy :D  Perhaps listen to part 1 first if you haven't for this one. 

If you got God problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 questions...   Some astute listeners listed out 99 questions they would like us to answer. We try to answer them all in one episode. We failed, so there's 2 parts!

What is the sound of two guys talking in to a microphone?  Today we embark on the world of Koans! the Zen riddles that befuddle and bemuse the mind, and make you enlightened in the process.   

We like to tackle the big questions on Christian Buddhist bar. Today we go where only aliens have gone before, and ask : is faith a conspiracy theory?  https://theconversation.com/how-to-spot-a-conspiracy-theory-when-you-see-one-133574

An innocent question about dinosaurs leads us into surprising theological depths. How old is the creation? And when did Jesus start existing?   But also... dinosaurs 

Today we are back again to ramble along the running trail and talk all things music, running, meditation, and much more! 

We head back to one of our favorite divine music episodes!   Ray Charles - King of soul. But was he a big rip off of Jesus Christ  - King of heaven?   This week's divine music takes us to the opposite of normal. Songs that are based on religion, but about...not-religion. 

Jamal went to the monastery recently - he talks about what he learnt, and how his journey in to 'being pace' is going. 

Jacob wrote an article! God,  climate change, how we should think about it. Today we talk to the author himself about it, and hear if God does indeed care about how humans interact with the planet. 

"Reality Shifting". Cool transcendental phenomena, or problematic youth culture?  Today we explore this new trend, and ask if we are in this reality, or another?    https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/03/20/a-psychologist-explains-the-phenomenon-of-reality-shifting/  

In the usual manner, today we decide to just turn on the mics and continue a conversation we started on daily practice. What that looks like, what it does, why we do it. BONUS - Jacob joins Jamal's meditation group for a session mid pod, and reflects on his experiences. 

Doggos. Need we say more? Today we talk about Dogs, and God, and Dog God?    https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/aug/18/i-wag-therefore-i-am-the-philosophy-of-dogs? CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other  

Those Thai monks are at it again. Today we talk about recent coverage of what is now an ongoing scandal with monks, drugs, money laundering, and everything not particularly Holy that's going on in Thai Buddhism.      https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-08/thailand-misbehaving-monks-foreign-correspondent/104184056

While Jacob is still on holiday we ask once again: what is it about the immoral acts of religious leaders that make them particularly shocking? To answer this Jacob takes us all the way back to 1518 and the Heidlberg Disputation, and the idea that maybe being righteous sometimes gets in our own way...   https://bookofconcord.org/other-resources/sources-and-context/heidelberg-disputation/ 

We’re back with our favourite divine music episode! Today letting Jamal super-fan out over Yusuf/Cat Stevens and the peace train.     https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/yusuf-islams-golden-years-cat-stevens-on-islam-and-his-return-to-music-241159/?fbclid=IwAR3VVBvyYv8MCn5zEqo7-ix-BGWubIgpo9taFUi2IRgd6wZmeyd9ZklMdfQ     

The blessed  Carlos Acutis. Catholic saint, venerated holy person, Millenial web designer. This week we take a look at the newest of the saints, and talk about what it says and means about the Church.    https://theconversation.com/carlo-acutis-what-the-first-millennial-saint-says-about-the-catholic-churchs-future-231086

More and more athletes are openly expressing their religion. Passing fad or God at work? Today we succumb to the Olympics podcast fever, and have a chat about what's driving God in Paris.   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/03/the-way-the-truth-and-the-olympic-record-how-god-struck-gold-in-paris  

Jamal continues his reflections on his time in Catholic Italy, particularly Assisi. We wonder about the role of peace, and how to interpret personal religious experiences.