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Tricycle Talks: Listen to Buddhist teachers, writers, and thinkers on life's big questions. Hosted by James Shaheen, editor in chief of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, the leading Buddhist magazine in the West. Life As It Is: Join James Shaheen with co-host Sharon Salzberg and learn how to bring Buddhist practice into your everyday life. Tricycle: The Buddhist Review creates award-winning editorial... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes203Founded13 years ago
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BuddhismReligion & SpiritualitySpirituality

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Latest Episodes

Ruth Ozeki is a novelist, filmmaker, and Zen priest. She recently published her first short story collection, The Typing Lady and Other Fictions. With characteristic wit and grace, Ozeki astutely explores themes of identity, longing, loss, and the cl... more

Equanimity can often be mistaken for passivity or indifference. But meditation teacher Margaret Cullen insists that it is actually about feeling the entire range of human experience—and, in the process, responding from a place of love and discernment... more

Andrew Holecek is an author and spiritual teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and he leads seminars and retreats on meditation, dream yoga, and death and dying. For the past thirty years, he has been engaging in a form of esoteric practice kno... more

Thanissaro Bhikkhu is an American Theravada Buddhist monk trained in the Thai forest tradition. He currently serves as abbot of the Metta Forest Monastery in San Diego County and is a frequent contributor to Tricycle. Over the years, he has written e... more

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Recent Guests

Ruth Ozeki
Novelist, filmmaker, and Zen Buddhist priest
Self-described; author of The Typing Lady and Other Fictions
Episode: Writing into the Void with Ruth Ozeki
Margaret Cullen
Licensed psychotherapist and mindfulness-based stress reduction instructor
Episode: Finding Balance to Engage More Fully with Margaret Cullen
Andrew Holecek
Author and spiritual teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition
Author of Total Eclipse of the Mind, Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing and Transformation
Episode: A Beginner’s Guide to Dark Retreat with Andrew Holecek
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
American Theravada Buddhist monk, abbot of Metta Forest Monastery
Metta Forest Monastery
Episode: Did the Buddha Really Teach That There Is No Self?
Maria Heim
Professor of Religion at Amherst College
Amherst College
Episode: A Buddhist Guide to Understanding Emotion with Maria Heim
Daisy Hernández
Associate professor at Northwestern University; Tricycle contributing editor; author
Northwestern University; Tricycle
Episode: Reimagining the Story of Citizenship with Daisy Hernández
Philip Ryan
Executive editor at Tricycle
Tricycle
Episode: Dementia and the Sense of Self with Philip Ryan
Richard Payne
Professor at the Institute of Buddhist Studies and ordained priest in the Shingon tradition of esoteric Japanese Buddhism.
Episode: Demystifying Tantra with Richard Payne
Li-Young Lee
Acclaimed American poet based in Chicago
Episode: Poet Li-Young Lee on Awe, Adoration, and Turning Toward the Unknown

Hosts

James Shaheen
Host of ongoing conversations exploring Buddhist philosophy and contemporary life; Editor-in-Chief of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review
Sharon Salzberg
Co-host and Buddhist teacher, frequently guiding conversations on practice and compassion

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 596 ratings
  • Leaning Into Darkness

    I recently joined a grief support group. Six months prior to my father‘s death, he informed me that he is not my biological father. While this is shocking in and of itself, our relationship was quite complicated in various ways. And the 10 years prior to his illness and death, we both worked hard to find places of intersection. Which led to a meaningful relationship. Now, with the news of what is known as a non-parental event, I am left perplexed. Still after his passing, I wanted to somehow emb... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Budding Realist
    United States2 months ago
  • A great podcast to go on a walk with…

    I am not a serious Buddhist, but I’ve always loved listening to Dharma talks and I’ve been dabbling with meditation for many years. I find the podcast has a lot of very interesting people and the conversations are quite authentic, something I find missing on a lot of podcast as people in the world are often speaking in the sound bites. That is definitely not the case on tricycle talks. I haven’t been motivated to review before because it’s so tricky you figuring out how to leave a review on Appl... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Awsome face 1254
    United States2 months ago
  • Enlightening

    I’ve enjoyed listening to James Shaheen interview Ocean Vuong, Pico Iyer, Kaira Jewel Lingo and Jake Garfield. He formulates intriguing questions and draws out his interviewees. I am moved to make a donation (Dana).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eneibru
    United States10 months ago
  • The Greek King….Maria Heim

    The episode mentioned above was not good. The speaker droned on and on about minuta and trivia.

    Tip to all future speakers, just because you find something fascinating, don’t assume your audience also finds it fascinating.

    Self awareness!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    T-marco
    United Statesa year ago
  • the grieving episode

    Mary Francis seems like she bypasses the deep despair in grieving - and how suicide can be an answer to grief

    yes it’s just thoughts - but…. that’s how some people deal with it something about her jovial tones do not match the depth of all the loss we all are experiencing today in this violent time -

    at least she worked with Roshi Joan

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mtnmliver
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise deep, thoughtful conversations and authenticity of guests.
Fans value fresh perspectives that combine scholarship with practical guidance.
Critiques sometimes note uneven pacing or guest fit on certain episodes.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Writing into the Void with Ruth Ozeki
Q: Tell us about the figure of The Typing Lady and how doubling works in your stories.
The Typing Lady is a semi-autobiographical figure who both observes and participates in the stories, mirroring the author and highlighting how identity can be multiple and recursive. This doubling creates a metatextual loop where the narrator, author, and character blur together, illustrating the co-creative nature of storytelling.
A Beginner’s Guide to Dark Retreat with Andrew Holecek
Q: how does one integrate the insights gained in darkness into daily life after the retreat?
Focus on maturation from states to traits, stabilize experiences through ongoing practice, and reinstate the conditions that foster learning in daily life; use practices like bodywork, mindfulness, and social sangha support to embed insights; plan for gradual reinforcement rather than chasing peak experiences.
A Beginner’s Guide to Dark Retreat with Andrew Holecek
Q: how would you recommend starting a dark retreat practice?
Start gradually with accessible, low-stakes steps, such as using eye masks to block light and practicing in a controlled, familiar space; titrate time in the dark—begin with seconds, then minutes, then hours; prioritize safety, guidance, and a graduated plan to avoid overdoing it and triggering ego-driven self-harm; eventually, progress to longer sessions with proper environment and support.
Did the Buddha Really Teach That There Is No Self?
Q: How should practitioners balance views and not-self as we progress on the path, given the risk that views themselves become fetters?
Views are useful tools on the path if used skillfully and with the aim of awakening. As practice deepens, one should let go of views entirely, recognizing the instrumental nature of these concepts and not allowing them to ossify into dogma.
Did the Buddha Really Teach That There Is No Self?
Q: What happens when the Buddha is asked directly about the existence of the self, and why does he remain silent?
He remains silent to avoid aligning with either eternalism or annihilationism, both of which would hinder understanding and practice. The aim is to redirect attention to how actions and perceptions contribute to suffering and its end.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tricycle Talks

What is Tricycle Talks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, in-depth dialogue series exploring Buddhist practice, philosophy, and its relevance to modern life. Episodes frequently cover meditative disciplines (including dark retreat and mindfulness), ethical living, grief and healing, translation and poetry, and social themes like citizenship, memory, and identity through a Buddhist lens. Noteworthy is the willingness to blend rigorous doctrine with personal storytelling, guest experts, and cross-disciplinary conversations (poetry, medicine, education), offering both practical guidance and contemplative insight for listeners curious about how Buddhist perspectives illuminate everyday challenges. The show often features prominent teachers and writers, a steady host pairing, and occasion... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Tricycle Talks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Tricycle Talks:

1. The Wisdom Podcast
2. Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein
3. Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield
4. Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg
5. Mind & Life

How many episodes of Tricycle Talks are there?

Tricycle Talks launched 13 years ago and published 203 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 Tricycle Talks?

Recent guests on Tricycle Talks include:

1. Ruth Ozeki
2. Margaret Cullen
3. Andrew Holecek
4. Thanissaro Bhikkhu
5. Maria Heim
6. Daisy Hernández
7. Philip Ryan
8. Richard Payne

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