CategoryBuddhability

“Are people born wicked or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” rings in your ear listening to Wicked: The Musical soundtrack. Or, while bingeing Killing Eve, the question of whether people can actually change is a constant thought. Probably since the beginning of time, people have questioned whether their personality is predestined or if

This episode talks about what it takes to become unshakable. Our guest is Brittany Jones, who recently became the youngest elementary school principal in the country’s second largest school district. She shares her journey in the field of education, and how, at a crucial turning point in her career as an educational leader, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo

What we expect from our relationships and what we experience can be two different things. But it’s the disconnect between the two that causes feelings of loneliness. That’s why even if we’re around people, it doesn’t offer a sense of connection. What’s needed to develop more meaningful connections with those around us? These three points

Today we’re talking about the impact our environment has on us. To unpack this idea, we’re speaking with Nile Ross, of Santa Monica, California, about how his practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has enabled him to become someone whose internal sense of confidence and self-love outweigh any negativity he experiences from his environment. Based on this

In this episode, we talk identity and relationships with Briana Boche, of Seattle, who shares her story of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and how she developed confidence in the practice of human revolution, that is, the process of continually revealing our courage, wisdom and compassion for ourselves and others. We discuss with Briana how her Buddhist practice

We’re trying to love ourselves, but our negative self-talk keeps getting in the way. It’s easy to get trapped into thinking that the negative voice in our head is the truth about who we are. But, we’re here to say, it’s not. Buddhism is a philosophy about uncovering the inherent goodness and value within each

In this episode, Melissa Hirsch, of New York, talks about how her Buddhist practice helps her navigate her career journey. This episode is especially relevant for anyone who may have a dream they are pursuing but is finding the path to get there a bit more winding than expected. Melissa explains how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped

This episode talks about the startup journey, though it is filled with lessons for anyone starting anything, be it a company, a project or just a fresh path in life. Tushar Dadlani, of Dublin, California, discusses his journey of moving to Silicon Valley to start a company and how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped him navigate the

Society tends to focus on our past deeds. In many ways, our past can either enhance or limit our present opportunities. It can be said, though, that our own overemphasis on our past can influence our happiness even more strongly than how others see us. For example, we might allow past failures to lead us

In this episode, we talk about how to move forward after experiencing loss. Hannah Jones, of Ohio, talks about how she encountered SGI Nichiren Buddhism while in high school, and how it helped her navigate the loss of her best friend—her older brother—and ultimately find her way back to her dreams. Click here to listen.

In this episode, we talk about what it takes to tear down your inner walls if you have trouble showing up as your authentic self. Jermira Trapp, of Chicago, discusses how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo has enabled her to transform painful family dynamics into fuel to show up as her true self. This shift has impacted every

Nikolas Spayne, of Chicago, started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo last year after he heard about Buddhism and decided to look it up. Like many of us, the stress of the pandemic, the constant stream of negative news and big questions about his own life and future had him seeking a fresh path forward. In this episode, he

Meet Anna Wrede, of Seattle, an artist who uses her Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to never give up on her dreams. She transforms the loneliness she experienced growing up into a sense of purpose to create genuine connection through her art.  

Two friends and scientists, Tee Ponsukcharoen and Siraput Jongaramrungruang, talk about their intertwined journeys from studying science to practicing Buddhism together. Originally from Thailand, they both came to California to complete their doctorates, but along the way, they discovered a far greater sense of purpose than they could have imagined. They cover everything from why

Episode #53 is “Defeating the doubt within.” Jimmy Anicet, of Boston, shares about the significant personal journey he went on during 2019. He decided to tackle his own sense of regret and self-doubt once and for all by digging deeply into his Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Then, just a month after he arrived at

In episode 47 of the Buddhability podcast series, Brandon Poythress shares how his Buddhist practice helped him stop seeking approval from others and become comfortable with himself. Click here to listen.

Episode #45 is “Advice from Buddhist teens on social anxiety.” After being physically distanced for so long, to many, society looks and feels more polarized, and therefore more intimidating, than ever. For those experiencing a new or heightened sense of social anxiety, you’re not alone. Buddhability reached out to some Buddhist teens and asked how

Episode #44 is “What you do isn’t who you are.” In this week’s episode, Luca Manganaro shares his journey with acting and Buddhism and the lessons he learned along the way. The key takeaway? What you do professionally, especially if you’re currently pursuing a big dream or goal that seems far away, isn’t who you

Can we actually influence what’s happening around us for the better? Do we really have control over our 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.

On Episode 41 of the Buddhability podcast series, sisters Lauren and Molly Leebove, of Michigan, share how they transformed their relationship with their parents through their Buddhist practice when they felt unable to reconcile their differences with them. Click here to listen.