Buddhability

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 li...

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, whic...

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 sh...

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 Ameri...

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 peopl...

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 h...

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...

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...

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...

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: W...

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, w...

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 othe...

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 pra...

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...

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://buddhabili...

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 ch...

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, strugg...

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...

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

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 t...

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 intertwine...

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 cre...

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 moveme...

Today we're talking about how not to give up on your dream. Even if we discover our dream job or purpose at a young age, on the path to pursuing it, we often have to grapple with our own self-doubt, tough decisions, and at times, challenging and unexpected obstacles. Today we’re talking to Michael Cornell, a 5th-grade teacher in New York City. After struggling with anxiety and depression during gr...

Today we’re talking to Lorenna Garcia-Bochas, a young woman in Georgia who grew up around the Buddhist community and chanting. Her own practice developed when she started college and faced some major challenges in her family and with her own mental health, which drove her to dig deep into her own heart to find a way forward.  We cover a lot today: how to grapple with multiple identities and feelin...