Rephonic
Artwork for New Books in Indian Religions

New Books in Indian Religions

Marshall Poe
Hinduism
Yoga
Buddhism
Sanskrit
Mahabharata
Caste
Islam
Jainism
India
Hindu Nationalism
Bhagavad Gita
Dharma
Religious Studies
Christianity
Colonialism
Material Culture
Ramayana
Hindutva
Globalization
Gandhi

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: ⁠newbooksnetwork.com⁠ Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes648Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HinduismReligion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for New Books in Indian Religions

Latest Episodes

A multimedia collection dedicated to John D. Smith on the occasion of his eightieth birthday, edited by Wendy J. Phillips Rodríguez and Simon Brodbeck.

Open Access here

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ... more

In Pursuit of the Inconceivable: An Investigation of Metaphysics and Mysticism (Essentia Books, 2025) is a compelling exploration of fundamental questions about existence, reality, and the meaning of life that challenges the traditional scepticism of... more

Established in the late fourteenth century in what is now Sindh Province, Pakistan, the Maklī necropolis grew over three centuries to a site of more than seventy monumental tombs and mosques, and hundreds, if not thousands, of graves. Maklī’s distinc... more

What can shared sacred sites tell us about religious coexistence in South Asia? Political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot joins Shreya Urvashi to discuss Shared Sacred Sites in South Asia: Negotiating Coexistence and Belonging (Hurst, 2026), co-edited... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Past Present Future
Past Present FutureDavid Runciman
The Ancients
The AncientsHistory Hit

Recent Guests

Peter G. Jones
Author of In Pursuit of the Inconceivable
Episode: In Pursuit of the Inconceivable: An Investigation of Metaphysics and Mysticism with Peter G. Jones (Essentia Books, 2025)
Christophe Jaffrelot
Political scientist researching nationalism, religion, and contemporary Indian politics
King's India Institute
Episode: Shared Sacred Sites in South Asia: Negotiating Coexistence and Belonging with Christophe Jaffrelot (Hurst, 2026)
Fatima Quraishi
Assistant professor of art and archaeology at Princeton University specializing in South Asian art and architecture.
Princeton University
Episode: Palimpsests Past and Present: The Sufis and Sultans of the Maklī Necropolis, 1380–1660 with Fatima Quraishi (UNC Press, 2026)
Maciej Karasinski
Scholar of Kerala Śākta Tantra and author of The Cultural Heritage of Śākta Tantric Communities in India
Episode: The Cultural Heritage of Śākta Tantric Communities in India: Goddesses and Magicians in the Holy Groves of Kerala with Maciej Karasinski (Routledge, 2026)
Dr. Yigal Bronner
Author of An Alaṅkāra Reader, Classical Indian Poetics
Columbia University Press
Episode: An Alaṅkāra Reader: Classical Indian Poetics with Yigal Bronner (Columbia UP, 2026)
Heleen De Jonckheere
Scholar of Jain literature and author of a study of Dharmaparīkṣā adaptations
Episode: The Examination of Religion (Dharmaparīkṣā): A Jain Tradition of Narrative Adaptations with Heleen De Jonckheere (Brill, 2026)
NS Gundur
Professor and translator of Allama Prabhu and the Shaiva Imagination
Sunni Press
Episode: Allama Prabhu and the Shaiva Imagination with N.S. Gundur
James D. Ryan
Professor Emeritus at the California Institute of Integral Studies
California Institute of Integral Studies
Episode: James D. Ryan, "The Upanisads as They Are: Brhadaranyaka, Chandogya, Aitareya, Taittiriya, Kausitaki" (Bloomsbury, 2026)
Tatjana Kochetkova
Co-author of the book, scholar in Indian traditions
University affiliation referenced in conversation
Episode: Tatjana Kochetkova and Anway Mukhopadhyay eds., "Transhumanism and Divine Humanity in Global Traditions" (Routledge, 2026)

Host

Raj Balakrishnan
Host of the network channel focused on Indian religions; long-running host with expertise in South Asian textual studies

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 48 ratings
  • My first review

    I was compelled to express my appreciation for this podcast. Ran Balkaran has such a soothing smart voice and open curiosity that each interview is a deep conversation, real dialogue, and fun exploration.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LatinaYogi
    United States5 years ago
  • Jennifer B. Saunders Is Ear Grating

    I only listened to one episode before I unsubscribed. Jennifer B. Saunders has the most broken speech I’ve ever heard for someone qualified and educated. She says um like every other word, come on. Speak better, your voice is so slow, and the “um”s need to stop.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Kata R
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests praise the depth and rigor of conversations and the opportunity to discuss recent scholarly works.
Overall sentiment skews positive about scholarly value and intellectual curiosity.
A few listeners highlight variance in pacing or delivery across episodes, with some voices described as very analytical.
Some listeners note a highly dialogic, exploratory interview style that can feel like a deep-dive academic seminar.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

In Pursuit of the Inconceivable: An Investigation of Metaphysics and Mysticism with Peter G. Jones (Essentia Books, 2025)
Q: How are we understanding what metaphysics is?
Jones defines metaphysics as the theoretical method for studying the fundamental nature of reality and mysticism as the experimental method. He says they are distinct but harmonious approaches that arrive at the same conclusions.
In Pursuit of the Inconceivable: An Investigation of Metaphysics and Mysticism with Peter G. Jones (Essentia Books, 2025)
Q: What's the seed, what's the genesis of this project for you?
Jones became interested in consciousness studies as an amateur, then turned to metaphysics after finding empirical science insufficient for studying consciousness. A Buddhist recognized the metaphysical solution Jones had independently reached, prompting years of research and the book.
The Examination of Religion (Dharmaparīkṣā): A Jain Tradition of Narrative Adaptations with Heleen De Jonckheere (Brill, 2026)
Q: What would you say is the main argument or takeaway from the book?
She sees the book as showing many aspects of Jain writing, including multilingual literary practices, adaptation, translation, and the history of literary languages.
The Examination of Religion (Dharmaparīkṣā): A Jain Tradition of Narrative Adaptations with Heleen De Jonckheere (Brill, 2026)
Q: What are you looking at?
De Jonckheere studies multiple texts called Dharmaparīkṣā, including six versions in Sanskrit and vernacular languages, and treats them as a connected tradition of adaptations.
Palimpsests Past and Present: The Sufis and Sultans of the Maklī Necropolis, 1380–1660 with Fatima Quraishi (UNC Press, 2026)
Q: When the Mughals took over Sindh, what is the impact in Maklī?
Quraishi says Mughal rule did not produce a dramatic stylistic break because of existing connections and continuing local patronage. Instead, monumental scale, especially at the tomb of Isa Khan Tarkhan II, reshaped how the necropolis was perceived.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About New Books in Indian Religions

What is New Books in Indian Religions about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This channel features scholarly conversations around recent scholarly works in South Asian religion, philosophy, ethics, and textual studies. Episodes commonly center on translations, editorial history, and methodological approaches to ancient texts; they often explore how religious traditions, ethics, and ritual practices intersect with broader cultural, political, and historical contexts. Notable differentiators include a strong emphasis on open-access publishing models, cross-disciplinary methods, and a focus on how language, textual transmission, and tradition shape interpretation for contemporary audiences. The conversation style tends to be rigorous yet accessible, with guest scholars presenting their work and answering questions that... more

Where can I find podcast stats for New Books in Indian Religions?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for New Books in Indian Religions. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to New Books in Indian Religions and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does New Books in Indian Religions get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for New Books in Indian Religions, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for New Books in Indian Religions?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for New Books in Indian Religions, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does New Books in Indian Religions have?

To see how many followers or subscribers New Books in Indian Religions has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to New Books in Indian Religions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with New Books in Indian Religions:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. The Rest Is History
3. The Mishal Husain Show
4. Past Present Future
5. The Ancients

How many episodes of New Books in Indian Religions are there?

New Books in Indian Religions launched 12 years ago and published 648 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact New Books in Indian Religions?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for New Books in Indian Religions?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for New Books in Indian Religions from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for New Books in Indian Religions?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of New Books in Indian Religions. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on New Books in Indian Religions?

Recent guests on New Books in Indian Religions include:

1. Peter G. Jones
2. Christophe Jaffrelot
3. Fatima Quraishi
4. Maciej Karasinski
5. Dr. Yigal Bronner
6. Heleen De Jonckheere
7. NS Gundur
8. James D. Ryan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days