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Artwork for Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot
Buddhism
Mindfulness
Compassion
Zen Buddhism
Dogen
Zazen
Zen
Zen Practice
Bodhisattva
Suffering
Upaya Zen Center
Death
Social Justice
Climate Change
Community
Meditation
Paradox
Love
Zhao Zhou
Sesshin

The Upaya Dharma Podcast features Wednesday evening Dharma Talks and recordings from Upaya’s diverse array of programs. Our podcasts exemplify Upaya’s focus on socially engaged Buddhism, including prison work, end-of-life care, serving the homeless, training in socially engaged practices, peace & nonviolence, compassionate care training, and delivering healthcare in the Himalayas.

PublishesDailyEpisodes73Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BuddhismPhilosophyReligion & SpiritualitySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

Latest Episodes

In this Wednesday night Dharma talk, Genryu Clayton Dalton explores papañca, the Pali term for the way the mind turns experience into ever-multiplying stories. Most of the time we don’t notice this happening. A narrative takes shape, and we accept it... more

In this session of The Measure of Our Humanity, meditation teacher and author Jack Kornfield explores freedom as something already ours rather than a reward for spiritual effort. Many of us treat practice as a self-improvement project, a dutiful effo... more

On the sixth and final day of the Fall Practice Period sesshin, Sensei Kathie Fischer takes up a koan in which a monk asks Zhao Zhou a sweeping question about oneness, only to hear about a shirt he once made. Kathie hears in that reply the meeting of... more

On the fifth day of the Fall Practice Period sesshin, Sensei Shinzan turns to an exchange between Zhao Zhou and his teacher, Nanquan. Shinzan reads the story as a gentle test of how deeply insight has settled into the body. Realizing that every activ... more

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Recent Guests

Kathie Fischer
Zen teacher and Sensei at Upaya Zen Center
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: FPP 2026 Sesshin Day 6: When Boundlessness Makes a Seven-Pound Shirt
Shinzan Pama
Zen teacher who leads sesshin practice and gives Dharma talks
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: FPP 2026 Sesshin Day 5: Letting Practice Be Ordinary
Cynthia Ryotan Kear
Zen teacher who gives Dharma talks at Upaya Zen Center
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: Zhao Zhou’s Instructions for Finding Our True Home
Shinzan Palma
Zen teacher giving a Dharma talk during Upaya's Fall Practice Period Sesshin
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: FPP 2026 Sesshin Day 2: Going Straight On
Kathie Fisher
Sensei and Zen teacher
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: FPP 2026: The Space All Around Thoughts (Part 3)
Cynthia Kear
Speaker for the episode
Episode: Ancestral Stories: A Dharma Gate of Intimacy with Our Lives
Koshin Flint Sparks
Poet and teacher, presenting and reading poems about loss and grief
Koshin Flint Sparks (poet)
Episode: LOVE and DEATH 2026: Guided by Grief (Part 3B)
Frank Ostaseski
Speaker and facilitator, renowned Buddhist teacher in end-of-life care
Upaya Zen Center
Episode: LOVE and DEATH 2026: Guided by Grief (Part 3B)
Jarvis Masters
Buddhist practitioner, writer on death row
San Quentin State Prison (former inmate)
Episode: Grace in Prison

Host

Joan Halifax
Host of Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast (and related programs); founder and senior teacher at Upaya Zen Center; renowned for socially engaged Buddhism and interfaith, end-of-life care, and prison-work initiatives.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 421 ratings
  • Anchoring

    A powerful anchor in these challenging times. How to face difficulties? Welcome.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coriolis86
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love Upaya

    Always appreciate their content but Awareness In Action is world class thought leadership worth so much more than the time it takes to listen (or go to the website and watch it - even better).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ro.views
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • A wonderful Dharma experience

    This podcast is the next best thing to a visit to the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe. Wonderful wisdom and compassion come from the teachings of Roshi Joan, Wendy Lau, and Kaz Tanahashi (who creates wonderful art that is infused with his being).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jon Katz Defense
    United States2 years ago
  • Gratitude

    these reviews are from years ago

    important and timely teachings in this age of violence and suffering to engage in activism and how to work with deep emotions isn’t just “ a teaching” but needed for the survival of the planet

    deep bow of thanks and blessings

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mtyogini
    United States3 years ago
  • Thank you for the sangha

    It is a beautiful experience to “find your people.” I am so grateful to hear words from many humans at Upaya that exemplify something worthy of embodiment. Thank you. 🙏🏼🪬!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dhattura S
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is a trusted source for mindful activism and ethical leadership
Episodes are described as both uplifting and practically actionable
Listeners praise clarity, compassion, and practical wisdom from teachers
Guests are diverse, bringing deep expertise and lived experience to important issues

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

FPP 2026: Introduction to the Text: Zhao Zhou’s Legacy and Teachings (Part 2)
Q: Which text are you going to focus on?
Shinzan says he plans to use one of the texts and directs the participant to the practice-period reader, which combines material from three books and includes Zhao Zhou's sayings.
Zen History: Informing our Practice and Lives Today
Q: How did the practice of focusing on your feet while running evolve for you, since it was hard to enjoy running while thinking about your feet?
Fischer said she persisted because the practice felt necessary for her safety and her ability to keep running; enjoyment came later, after she had practiced for a while.
Zen History: Informing our Practice and Lives Today
Q: How did you find this path at 19?
Fischer said she began reading about Zen at 14 and felt drawn to it after rejecting the work and worldview represented by her father and uncles, including work on anti-ballistic missiles, the CIA, and the Manhattan Project.
Being real
Q: What happens when someone asks you to 'be real' in a conversation?
The host suggests that being real often means showing up as your true self rather than delivering a polished or strategic response, and that the aim is to be fully present rather than perform for others.
Being real
Q: Does this make sense to you so far?
The speaker invites live feedback from the audience, emphasizing that being real is a practice of staying with the present moment and not forcing a particular experience, while acknowledging that some may be unsure and encouraging honest engagement.

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 Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

What is Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations center on compassionate action, ethical leadership, and social engagement through Buddhist practice. Episodes frequently blend Dharma with real-world crises—democracy, climate, health care, incarceration, Indigenous lifeways, and community resilience—while offering practical guidance for personal practice and civic responsibility. The show's strength lies in integrating traditional teachings with contemporary challenges, featuring a mix of senior teachers, clinicians, Indigenous scholars, and community organizers who illuminate how wisdom can inform everyday action and systemic change. Potential guests and topics tend to emphasize humility, interdependence, and planetary stewardship, making it valuable for listeners seeking mi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast:

1. Tricycle Talks
2. Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg
3. The Zen Studies Podcast
4. The Way Out Is In
5. Sounds True: Insights at the Edge

How many episodes of Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast are there?

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast launched 21 years ago and published 73 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 Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast?

Recent guests on Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast include:

1. Kathie Fischer
2. Shinzan Pama
3. Cynthia Ryotan Kear
4. Shinzan Palma
5. Kathie Fisher
6. Cynthia Kear
7. Koshin Flint Sparks
8. Frank Ostaseski

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