Secular Buddhism

225 - The Audacity to Live

In this episode, I explore what death has to teach us about being fully alive, prompted by the recent death of mountaineer Nirmal "Nims" Purja in an avalanche in Pakistan

224 - The Long Way Home

In this episode, I explore the timeless wisdom found in Homer's The Odyssey through a secular Buddhist lens, drawing parallels between Odysseus's arduous journey home and

223 - Nothing is Missing

In this episode, I explore the concept of being "already whole" by examining two seemingly contradictory Buddhist stories: the Golden Buddha and peeling an onion. The Gol

222 - Holding Two Things at Once

In this episode, I explore the concept of holding two things at once, a practice that has become central to my own experience, especially during a recent personal transit

221 - Stars, Planets, and Black Holes

In this episode, I explore the cosmic metaphor of stars, planets, and black holes as three distinct ways humans experience the world. Drawing parallels from the Artemis I

220 - This Messy Gorgeous Love

In this episode, I talk to Devon and Nico Hase about their book, This Messy, Gorgeous Love. We explore how the Buddhist concept of dukkha, or inherent unsatisfactoriness,

219 - You Are Good, You Are Enough

In this episode, I talk to Lodro Rinzler about his book, You Are Good, You Are Enough, which explores the Buddhist concept of basic goodness. We discuss how life's experi

218 - Right Concentration

In this episode, I explore skillful concentration, the final aspect of the Eightfold Path, using a road trip analogy where concentration is like having steady hands on th

217 - Right Mindfulness

In this episode, I explore skillful mindfulness, the seventh aspect of the Eightfold Path, using analogies like a permanently attached camera and a train station to illus

216 - Right Effort

In this episode, I explore the concept of skillful effort, also known as right effort, which is the sixth aspect of the Eightfold Path. I explain that skillful effort isn

215 - Dying to Live

In this episode, I talk to Andy Chaleff about his book Dying to Live, which explores our societal discomfort with death and how confronting mortality can lead to a more m

214 - Skillful Means (10-Year Anniversary Episode)

In this episode, I celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Secular Buddhism podcast by announcing a new AI-powered website, EightfoldPath.com, which serves as a modern a

213 - No Water, No Moon

Why are we so uncomfortable with not knowing? We often race toward any answer, even a bad one, just to escape the anxiety of uncertainty. This episode explores the strang

212 - The War Within

In this episode, Noah reflects on the heaviness of living in a world filled with violence, hatred, and suffering. From school shootings to war and personal experiences of

211 - Right Livelihood

In this episode, Noah explores Right Livelihood, the next step on the Eightfold Path. More than just avoiding harmful professions, Right Livelihood invites us to reflect

210 - Right Action

In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Action—the fourth step on the path to mindful living. Rather than a rigid set of mo

209 - Unbecoming Ourselves (with Heather Schenck)

In this special interview episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow traveler on the path, Heather Schenck. Many of you may recognize Heather from our online community

208 - Right Speech

In this episode, we continue our journey through the Eightfold Path by exploring Right Speech. More than just speaking truthfully or avoiding gossip, Right Speech is a mi

207 - Be a Lamp Unto Yourself

In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, I explore what it means to “be a lamp unto yourself.” Drawing from personal stories, including my time teaching paraglidi

206 - Right Intention

In this episode, we continue our exploration of the Eightfold Path by diving into the second aspect of wisdom—Right Intention. We explore how intention functions like a c