Zen Bones : Ancient Wisdom For Modern Times

In this episode, Marc explores how wholeheartedness, generosity, and mindfulness help us find our true power. He reflects on the hero’s journey as a model for growth, weaving together the ordinary and the sacred. Through stories and teachings, Marc shows how challenges, resistance, and shifting our narratives can become opportunities for transformation.

Marc converses with his longtime friend Kaz Tanahashi, a renowned calligrapher, Zen teacher, peace activist, author and translator of Buddhist texts. They explore Zen in everyday life, creativity, leadership, and the importance of presence. Kaz shares insights from his activism—including efforts to combat nuclear weapons and reforest the Amazon—while reflecting on his profound contributions to Zen...

Ready to see the world with fresh eyes? Join Marc for a guided meditation and to explore the theme "Live What You See, Not What You Know," inspired by artist Ruth Asawa’s teaching and Zen philosophy. Through personal stories, Zen teachings, and poetry, Marc encourages embracing curiosity, direct experience, and perspective-taking in daily life. Tune in for practical wisdom on living with openness,...

In this episode of Mindful Leadership, Marc delves into the timeless Zen story emphasizing how we can navigate life's challenges and opportunities without avoiding difficulties. The episode begins with a guided meditation to center ourselves, followed by an insightful discussion on the Zen teaching that every day is a good day. Marc shares personal anecdotes and reflections on how this philosophy...

In this episode, Marc speaks with acclaimed novelist, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest Ruth Ozeki about her journey into Zen practice and her life as a writer. Ruth shares how her grandfather sparked her interest in meditation, her transition from Tibetan Buddhism to Zen, and how Zen helped her overcome writer’s block. They explore themes of timeless being, selflessness, creativity, and how her s...

This practice episode centers on 'The Seven Miracles of Mindfulness' by Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. The episode begins with a brief guided meditation focusing on mindfulness of the breath and body. Marc Lesser shares personal anecdotes from his time with Thich Nhat Hanh, and dives into the seven miracles of mindfulness, which include being present, making others present, nourishing oth...

Join Marc Lesser and guest Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler as we explore Zen teachings and their application to leadership and everyday life. Experience the power of navigating leadership through authentic presence. Jiryu currently serves as a co-Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center through his role as Abiding Abbot of Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. He is also co-editor of Becoming Yourself a new collectio...

In this milestone 50th episode of Mindful Leadership with Marc Lesser, we explore the art of catching sparks—those subtle, powerful moments of connection, inspiration, and presence that can transform how we live and lead. Marc draws from his experiences as a CEO, Zen teacher, and leadership coach to reflect on how mindfulness, breath awareness, and love help us tune into the energy exchanged betwe...

Marc speaks with Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks, about how leaders can enhance effectiveness through mindfulness, time management, and Zen philosophy. This episode challenges conventional leadership models and offers practical insights to spark creativity and resilience. A must-listen for anyone looking to lead authentically and build thriving teams.

Today's podcast features The Practice of Effort and Effortlessness. We begin with a short meditation. Then Marc talks about how practice should be directed from achievement to non-achievement. The aim is to get rid of unnecessary effort and to practice meditation with no gaining idea. The effort to let go of doing anything extra will reap great benefits to your mindful leadership practice and pres...

Poet David Whyte joins Marc to explore how not-knowing, presence, and poetry open the heart of authentic leadership.

New Name. Same Wisdom. Fresh Season. We’re excited to announce that Zen Bones is now Mindful Leadership with Marc Lesser — and Season 2 launches Thursday, May 8th! This season brings powerful new conversations on what it truly means to lead with mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and heart. If you’ve been on this journey with us, thank you. If you’re just joining—welcome. Follow the show and tun...

We begin today's episode with a short guided meditation focused on being present, fully here with nothing to accomplish. I give a short talk on embracing the mind of the poet and the mind of the business person, exploring these distinctions and lack of distinctions and how we can live and work and play with more meaning and connection.  Today's Zen Puzzler comes from a traditional koan about a buf...

Kristin is founder and CEO at Nia Impact Capital. She is a pioneer in the field of impact investing. She is devoted to re-envisioning capitalism, to changing the face of finance, and to promoting inclusion and diversity in leadership. In our conversation we talk about the importance of understanding money, finance, and investing and the life-changing force that money has. We speak about creating h...

Today's podcast features The Power of Priming. We begin with a short meditation. Then Marc talks about how the world tends to prime us for anxiety and speed. As an antidote and practice, we can prime ourselves to be present, open, curious, and creative. Meditation practice is a form of priming. We can utilize priming in all parts of our days, from waking up to starting meetings. Today's Zen puzzle...

Henry Shukman is a poet, writer and Zen teacher. He has written a best selling Zen memoir called One Blade of Grass. He is a guiding teacher of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In this episode we talk about grace: the grace of acknowledging and living from the perspective that everything is gift. We address the tension of practicing with money, success and failure and working...

What is my offering is today's episode. We begin with a short guided meditation on warmhearted curiosity. Then Marc talks about the difference between helping, fixing, and serving - with an emphasis on practices for discovering your own offering. Today's Zen puzzler is using this phrase, What is my offering, as a Zen koan, or a support for going deeper into this realm of discovery.

I'm doing what I can is today's episode. We begin with a short guided meditation. Then I give a short talk about pessimism, optimism, grief, and joy, and address ways of cutting through the dualities of our modern life and doing what we can, with spaciousness and possibility. Today's Zen puzzler is Pai Chang's fox, a traditional Zen koan, about not avoiding cause and effect, or finding our freedom...

This episode is More Acceptance and Less Unnecessary Effort. We begin with a short guided meditation, followed by a talk on the practice of saying yes - opening and accepting whatever comes our way. It means noticing and saying yes to the pains and possibilities, our resistance and our joy. Today's Zen puzzler is based on a traditional Zen dialogue. What is the Way? Everyday mind is the way.

In this episode, Say Yes to Everything, we begin with a short guided meditation, followed by a talk on the practice of saying yes - opening and accepting whatever comes our way. It means noticing and saying yes to the pains and possibilities, our resistance and our joy. Today's Zen puzzler is based on a traditional Zen dialogue. What is the Way? Everyday mind is the way.

In this practice episode Marc talks about working with change, uncertainty, and transition. He unpacks the teachings of Zen teacher Dongshan who describes 3 strategies for working more skillfully with change: the bird path, the mysterious way, and the open hand. -- leaving no trace, appreciating the unknown, and living with an open hand instead of a closed fist. Today's Zen puzzler is about contro...

Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center.    In this episode we unpack the power of awe - seeing the world fresh and new and how it can benefit our well being, our relationships, and help heal the rifts in our culture. Dacher tells heartfelt personal stories about his own life and the role of awe....

In this episode we do a short meditation on finding more spaciousness, as a way of being. Marc gives a short talk on integrating the ordinary world and the sacred world, including the practice of setting an intention, practicing spaciousness, accountability, and ongoing learning.   Today's Zen puzzler is about seeing the world through the lens of non-duality.

Lynne Twist has been a recognized global visionary committed to alleviating poverty, ending world hunger, and supporting social justice and sustainability for more than forty years. She is also the cofounder of the Pachamama Alliance and founder of the Soul of Money Institute.   In today's episode Lynn and Marc explore the power of commitment - on many levels, personal, relationships, work, and mo...

Today's episode is called Thriving in Change and Uncertainty. It begins with a short guided meditation, and then a talk about three practices for navigating and shifting our relationship with change and uncertainty.   Then, today's Zen puzzler comes from the words of Dongshan, a 9th century Chinese Zen teacher, that includes the phrase, everyone wants to leave the endless changes. It address the p...