Opening Dharma Access: Listening to BIPOC Teachers & Practitioners

Rev. Liên Shutt & Rev. Dana Takagi

Buddhism

Meditation

Mindfulness

Asian American Identity

Asian American Buddhism

BIPOC Practitioners

May We Gather

Social Justice

Multiculturalism

Teaching Practices

Cultural Heritage

Asian American Experiences

Asian Diaspora

Atlanta Shootings

Identity

Won Buddhism

Affinity Groups

Inclusivity

Grief

Anti-Asian Violence

Welcome to "Opening Dharma Access," a podcast where we hear stories from BIPOC teachers & practitioners about their Dharma experiences and practice, and how those inform the ways they are sharing & practicing the Dharma today. Season 3 & 4 description: Hosted by Rev. Liên Shutt & Rev. Dana TakagiThis season, we will have a new focus: Uplifting and Forwarding Asian American/Asian Diasporic Buddhist... more

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Publishes	Twice monthly	Episodes	110	Founded	4 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	BuddhismReligion & Spirituality

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Guests Hosts Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

Reverend Joseph Cheah: Lived Experience as the Core of Spiritual Practice

Reverend Joseph Cheah sits down with Dana to discuss his research and writings which push back against dominant understandings of Asian religions that were propagated by Western frameworks. He brings his combination of familial and cultural Buddhist ... more

3 Mar 2026 • 35 min

All Our Ancient Twisted Karma w/ Rev. Dana Takagi

This month on Opening Dharma Access, we continue to shift from our regular schedule to focus on the ongoing ICE occupation and state-supported destruction impacting the globe. Rev. Dana Takagi reflects on her personal experience of returning to some ... more

17 Feb 2026 • 10 min

Ideas for Practicing Dharma in the Midst of Fascism w/ Rev. Dana Takagi

This month on Opening Dharma Access, we continue to shift from our regular schedule to focus on the ongoing ICE agency violence. Rev. Dana Takagi speaks about the many ways to respond to fascism from a Dharma perspective, whether that be peaceful pro... more

3 Feb 2026 • 28 min

5 Ways to Respond to the Cries of the World (aka Activism from Giving) with Rev. Liên Shutt

The 5 Ways of "a superior person's gift" are (as ordered in this talk): right time, respectfully, with a generous heart, without denigration, & out of faith.

Given the heart-breaking events in the US this week, ODA will present a series of offering... more

28 Jan 2026 • 33 min

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Recent Guests

Joseph Cheah

Professor of Religious Studies and Theology; Catholic priest; expert on Asian American religions, Buddhist studies, and race and religion in American Buddhism

University of St. Joseph, Connecticut

Episode: Reverend Joseph Cheah: Lived Experience as the Core of Spiritual Practice

Sharon A. Suh

Professor of Buddhism and Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship and Strategic Initiatives at Seattle University

Seattle University

Episode: Asian American Feminist Buddhists: Undefined! with Prof. Sharon Suh & Rev. Syd Yang

Syd Yang

Mixed-race, Taiwanese American queer, trans, non-binary Buddhist minister, movement chaplain, and writer

Blue Jaguar Healing Arts

Episode: Asian American Feminist Buddhists: Undefined! with Prof. Sharon Suh & Rev. Syd Yang

Yuko Yamada

Abbess of Shogakuji Temple and a key figure in Soto Zen practice

Shogakuji Temple, Tokyo

Episode: Reintroducing Contemplative Zen in Japan w/ Abbot Yuko Yamada

Eunji Son

Korean American diasporic practitioner, editor, and admin for Access to Zen

Access to Zen

Episode: "How Am I Going to Serve My Purpose Today?" with Eunji Son

Siddhesh Mukerji

Practitioner of Soto Zen, discusses Zazen and emotions.

Episode: Life Aching for Itself: Zazen & Working with Difficult Emotions

Judy Yushin Nakatomi

Mother, partner, anti-writer, and community cultivator nurturing BIPOC sanghas.

Plum Village tradition

Episode: Belonging to Zen, Belonging to Shin: Two Traditions, One Engaged Heart w/ Judy Yushin Nakatomi

Michael Omi

Professor emeritus of ethnic studies at the University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

Episode: The Struggle to Construct Racial Meaning with Michael Omi

Alice Yang

Chair and Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, Santa Cruz

Episode: Our Heritage of Othering and Resistance with Historian Alice Yang

Hosts

Dana Takagi

Co-host of Opening Dharma Access; prominent voice in Asian American Buddhist communities; facilitates conversations around leadership, gender, and inclusion in practice.

Liên Shutt

Co-host of Opening Dharma Access; long-time facilitator and teacher in Buddhist communities with focus on antiracism and engaged Buddhism.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#199	United Kingdom/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#115	Germany/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#155	Australia/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#188	Italy/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#95	Indonesia/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism
Apple Podcasts	#145	Switzerland/Religion & Spirituality/Buddhism

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Life Aching for Itself: Zazen & Working with Difficult Emotions

Q: Would you share with us how you work with anger or sorrow or grief or loneliness or another emotion that's up for you right now?

Siddhesh discusses his experiences with emotional pain, viewing Zazen as a means of immersing in these feelings rather than attempting to remove them.

Buddhism as Engaged & Political with Siddhesh Mukerji

Q: What can we learn from social work?

Many social workers and contemporary Buddhists are looking at similar issues of social justice, so they can learn from each other's perspectives and methodologies.

Buddhism as Engaged & Political with Siddhesh Mukerji

Q: What's your take these days about what is Asian or Asian Diasporic Buddhist practice?

It's complex and blends various traditions with Western influences, making it hard to separate what's purely Asian.

Belonging to Zen, Belonging to Shin: Two Traditions, One Engaged Heart w/ Judy Yushin Nakatomi

Q: How do you think trauma-informed practices and dharma practices intertwine?

Practices like pausing and being mindful play a crucial role in acknowledging and processing trauma within our communities.

Belonging to Zen, Belonging to Shin: Two Traditions, One Engaged Heart w/ Judy Yushin Nakatomi

Q: So maybe you share with us a little bit about that background and how that, you know, moved into your positionality as a teacher in the Palm Village tradition?

I attended Jodo Shinshu Dharma School and then stumbled upon Thich Nhat Hanh's community, which helped me understand my roots alongside my practice.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers BIPOC Buddhist teachers and practitioners, exploring how their Asian American and Asian Diasporic identities shape their Dharma practice, teaching, and community engagement in the West. Across episodes, listeners encounter conversations about gender and lineage leadership, racial justice, trauma and healing, embodiment, and the intersection of faith with social action. A distinctive thread is the ongoing examination of belonging, authenticity, and transmission of Dharma within diverse communities, often framed through personal narratives and scholarly perspectives. The show tends to feature academics, Zen and Plum Village lineages, trans and queer voices, and Asian American feminist perspectives, making it a credible re... more

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1. The Way Out Is In

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this podcast launched 4 years ago and published 110 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Joseph Cheah
2. Sharon A. Suh
3. Syd Yang
4. Yuko Yamada
5. Eunji Son
6. Siddhesh Mukerji
7. Judy Yushin Nakatomi
8. Michael Omi

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