Best Interspiritual Podcasts (2025)

1
The Meal of Life: Cooking & Being Cooked in Zen and Sufism with Joshin Byrnes and Deepa Patel 1:05:59

1d ago1:05:59

1:05:59

Sensei Joshin Byrnes is a Zen priest and teacher in the White Plum lineage of Maezumi Roshi and Bernie Glassman Roshi (and a dharma successor of Roshi Joan Halifax), who founded the Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community in 2017, to be a hub for community-engaged Zen practice in Vermont. Alongside his religious vocation, Joshin spent much of his career …

1
Roadmap for How We Can Reclaim Our Democracy 59:00

5d ago59:00

59:00

In this episode, Dr. Zeitz is joined by Vinay Orekondy, an Australian-born attorney, mediator, and democracy innovator now working at the heart of America’s civic renewal movement. Vinay wears multiple hats as he serves as the Partnerships Director, Better Together America; Co-Chair, Braver Network (Braver Angels); and the Director of Programs and …

1
The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us To Have (with Regina Cates) 41:23

10d ago41:23

41:23

This week's episode features an insightful conversation with Regina Cates, author of the book The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us To Have: A Call To Bravery, Peace, and Love. At first, when I heard the title of the book, I was understandably sceptical. I figured Regina was just another progressive Christian trying to rehabilitate the church, the g…

1
Professor Lawrence Lessig on Healing Our Broken Democracy 58:07

19d ago58:07

58:07

Can we rescue American democracy before it’s too late? In this episode, Dr. Paul Zeitz sits down with renowned legal scholar and democracy innovation entrepreneur and leader, Professor Lawrence Lessig of Constitutional Law at Harvard University, to explore a bold path forward. From unraveling the corrupting influence of Super PACs and dark money to…

1
The 7 Mountains Mandate: The Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy (with Matthew Boedy) 49:23

1M ago49:23

49:23

Christian nationalism, by its very nature, is anti-democratic. I have come to believe that not only is this true, but it poses a serious threat to democracy not just in America, but indeed the world. With Donald Trump back in power--aided and abetted by another overwhelming majority of evangelicals--we are seeing the guardrails blown through and de…

1
Warrior of the Heart: Exploring Aikido as a Spiritual Path with Robert Wing Sensei 55:28

1M ago55:28

55:28

Robert Wing Sensei is the founder of the Mountain Warrior Institute, Warrior of the Heart seminars, and the director of Wise Actions. As an Aikido practitioner, Wing Sensei is a student of both Koichi Kashiwaya Sensei and Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, and founder of the Aikido curriculum at Naropa University, where he continues as the senior teacher of its…

1
You Only Get What You’re Organized to Take: A Kairos Moment with Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis 47:33

2M ago47:33

47:33

Is America at a breaking point—or at the cusp of a breakthrough? In this episode, Dr. Zeitz sits down with Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice. A lifelong theologian and anti-poverty organizer, Rev. Dr. Liz shares why we are living in a Kairos…

1
Helping People To Escape From Christianity (with Tim Mills) 1:19:10

2M ago1:19:10

1:19:10

It's finally arrived! This week's long-overdue discussion is here, featuring a super informative and helpful conversation with Tim Mills, host of "The Harmonic Atheist" podcast and YouTube channel. As a faithful Christian virtually all of his life, Tim has an unbelievable testimony--and this is not just about how dedicated he was both to God and th…

1
#unifyUSA: Dr. Paul Zeitz and Leigh Blake on Hitting Refresh on the U.S. Constitution 53:02

2M ago53:02

53:02

Welcome to season three of Revolutionary Optimism! In this episode, producer Cee Cee Huffman talks with Dr. Paul Zeitz and social impact filmmaker Leigh Blake to discuss the launch of #unifyUSA, a groundbreaking movement dedicated to refreshing the U.S. Constitution through citizen-led action. With a shared history of tackling the global HIV/AIDS c…

1
Ancestral Seeds: Intergenerational Trauma & Healing with Rabbi Tirzah Firestone 37:04

2M ago37:04

37:04

Rabbi Tirzah Firestone is a fellow student of Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, an author and psychotherapist focusing on intergenerational trauma, and one of the senior rabbis of the Jewish Renewal movement. Tirzah is the author of Wounds into Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Jewish Trauma, The Receiving: Reclaiming Jewish Women’s Wisdom, and the n…

1
Change Your Life Script: Dealing with Limiting Beliefs (with Austra Putnina) 54:51

2M ago54:51

54:51

This episodes features a wide-ranging and super helpful discussion with Austra Putnina, host of the "Chase The Impossible" podcast. Originally from Latvia, Austra now lives in Estonia--and has an amazing backstory. Ever struggle with the impostor syndrome? Ever struggle with those "tapes" that seem to play all the time in your mind? The ones that h…

1
Two Chapters From My Book "Not So Shiny Not So Happy People!" 19:09

3M ago19:09

19:09

I'm excited to be sharing the next two chapters from my book that came out last September. It's called Not So Shiny Not So Happy People: How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work, and was edited by my good friend Tim Sledge. If you haven't picked up a copy of the book yet, hopefully hearing these two chapters will mak…

1
Charis Interspirituality: Exploring Interspiritual Life and Practice with Rory McEntee 1:06:27

3M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

Rory McEntee is the the President and Executive Director of Charis Foundation for New Monasticism and Interspirituality, which he co-founded with Netanel Miles-Yépez and Adam Bucko. Rory holds a Ph.D. in Theological and Philosophical Studies in Religion from Drew University, has co-authored The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Conte…

1
What Happens When Jesus Isn't Enough? (with Rob Connelly) 56:42

3M ago56:42

56:42

This episode features an insightful conversation with former Southern Baptist Convention pastor--and now exvangelicala life coach and guide--Rob Connelly. After spending 37 years as a dedicated evangelical Christian, serving as a worship leader and pastor, Rob finally deconstructed his faith and walked away from it all. He's now sharing not only hi…

1
Should You Be Concerned About Trump's Project 2025 Agenda? (with Chris Shelton) 1:14:12

4M ago1:14:12

1:14:12

In this episode I'm joined once again by my very good friend, Chris Shelton, to revisit the issue of Trump's Project 2025 agenda. How concerned should you be, going forward? Last summer I started alerting listeners about the dangers posed by Project 2025's Mandate for Leadership, all designed as part of The Heritage Foundation's "presidential trans…

1
The Heart of Interreligious Dialogue: Exploring a Skills-Based Approach to Dialogue with Acharya Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown 1:11:19

4M ago1:11:19

1:11:19

Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown is Professor Emeritx of Religious Studies at Naropa University, where she has been on the faculty since 1978. She has practiced Tibetan Buddhism for almost 50 years and is a direct student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. She serves on the steering committee of the American Academy of Religion’s Contemplative Studies Group, and …

1
Lottocracy to Fix our Broken U.S Democracy with Alex Guerrero 53:24

4M ago53:24

53:24

Dr. Paul Zeitz is talking with philosopher and legal scholar Alex Guerrero, author of Lottocracy: Why Lottery Should Replace Elections. Alex delves into the bold concept of lottocracy, a reimagined form of democracy by lottocracy where randomly selected citizens replace traditional elections to create more equitable and accountable leadership. Draw…

1
Holy Terror Classic Edition: Catching up with Conway & Siegelman - A MindShift Sequel 1:09:44

5M ago1:09:44

1:09:44

Welcome to the first episode of The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast for 2025! This inaugural episode features a catch-up conversation with two old friends, Flo Conway and Jim Siegelman. They are the authors of the classic 1978 work on cults and mind control entitled Snapping: America's Epidemic of Sudden Personality Change. Their research into cult ps…

1
Action Alert: Reconstructing our Democracy with the People’s Voice 15:28

5M ago15:28

15:28

Dr. Paul Zeitz invites you to join a transformative movement to rebuild democracy with permanent Citizens’ Assemblies so that we can create a just, sustainable future. Reflecting on the challenges and opportunities of our time, Dr. Paul outlines a visionary path forward: mobilizing citizens' assemblies across the nation, culminating in a historic N…

1
Conscious Evolution: Exploring a Radical Spiritual Futurism with Ramon Parish 1:07:10

5M ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Ramon Parish, a returning guest, is associate professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Naropa University and works on climate justice initiatives with his wife Michelle Gabrieloff-Parish. In this episode, we discuss ‘radical futures’—novel ideas of how humanity will evolve into the future—looking at ethno-spiritual futurism (in particular, Afro-fu…

1
Resisting Authoritarianism with Creativity and Courage with Srđa Popović 43:40

6M ago43:40

43:40

In this episode of Revolutionary Optimism, host Dr. Paul Zeitz sits down with renowned activist and strategist Srđa Popović, co-founder of Center for Applied Non-Violent Actions and Strategies: CANVAS, and leader of the Otpor! movement that ousted Serbian dictator Slobodan Milošević. Srđa shares gripping stories from his activism journey, including…

1
Interspirituality: Ten Words To Make The World A Better Place (with Lauryn Axelrod) 50:46

6M ago50:46

50:46

For this final podcast of 2024, I recently connected with Lauryn Axelrod--she's an interfaith/interspiritual minister, chaplain, spiritual director, and teacher out of Vermont. This is an especially poignant interview, as I've talked to several people this year about concepts of spirituality. Lauryn's suggestion that incorporating "Ten Words" into …

1
Vision for Reconstructing U.S. Democracy with Nick Coccoma 53:20

6M ago53:20

53:20

In this episode, Dr. Zeitz sits down with political thought leader Nick Coccoma to explore bold visions for transforming democracy in the United States. From his deep-rooted experiences in a tight-knit community to his journey through theology, philosophy, and democratic innovation, Nick shares his perspective on how citizens' assemblies and sortit…

1
Rift: Breaking Away From Christian Patriarchy (with Cait West) 46:52

6M ago46:52

46:52

I recently caught up with returning guest Cait West, who has just come out with a great book entitled Rift: A Memoir of Breaking Away From Christian Patriarchy. Cait grew up in what is called the "stay-at-home-daughters" movement, which is a version of Christian patriarchy that, while seemingly extreme, is gaining traction in a lot of Christian hom…

1
Time to Fix the Global “Casino” Financial System for Justice with Ann Pettifor 56:53

6M ago56:53

56:53

Dr. Paul Zeitz is joined by Ann Pettifor, a trailblazing economist and author known for her pivotal work on sovereign debt and the Green New Deal. Ann shares her journey from apartheid South Africa to becoming a leading advocate for reconstructing the “global casino” into a new financial system that serves people and the planet. Together, they expl…

1
Blue Jellyfish Syndrome: Mental Health After Leaving Religion and an Abusive Marriage (with Karen Unrue) 54:26

7M ago54:26

54:26

This week's guest features author Karen Unrue, whose book Blue Jellyfish Syndrome: How To Break Free From Stigma and Maintain Hope While Living With a Mental Illness is a great resource for those who have left either controlling religion or abusive relationships behind. But simply escaping is far from the end of the story. We can still be triggered…

1
Citizen-Led Decision-Making and the Democracy Crisis with Terry Bouricius 57:01

7M ago57:01

57:01

In this episode, Terry Bouricius, prominent political theorist and former Vermont legislator, highlights the shortcomings of traditional electoral systems in achieving true demographic representation and effective decision-making. Drawing from his experiences in legislative bodies, Bouricius emphasizes the disconnect between lawmakers and the popul…

1
Bonus Episode! The Violent Take It By Force: Christian Nationalism is a Threat to American Democracy (with Matthew D Taylor) 1:01:18

7M ago1:01:18

1:01:18

In this special election special bonus episode, I reached out to returning guest Matthew D Taylor, who has just come out with a brand-new book called The Violent Take it by Force: The Christian Movement that is Threatening Our Democracy. For those who are still undecided about their vote in the upcoming election, this is a must-listen. Given the fa…

1
Paradise Undone: A Novel of Jonestown (with Annie Dawid) 47:31

7M ago47:31

47:31

This week's episode takes an in-depth look at the tragic murder/suicide that took place in Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978. Cult leader Jim Jones was responsible for not only controlling and manipulating his numerous dedicated followers, in the end, he forced nearly 1000 of them to commit suicide or be murdered. In the wake of this tragedy that occurred…

1
New Monastics Roundtable: Space Travel with Carla Burns 55:30

7M ago55:30

55:30

In this episode, we have a roundtable discussion of spiritual issues with educator Carla Burns. In Part I, we talk about how to slow down and make the ’space’ to hold complexity in our society. In Part II, we discuss the film The Martian and what it has to say about humanity and humanity’s needs. And in Part III, we explore the idea of our planet’s…

1
Reclaiming Democracy through Transformational Advocacy with Sam Daley-Harris 43:02

7M ago43:02

43:02

In this episode, Dr. Zeitz sits down with Sam Daley-Harris, a renowned author, activist, and founder of Results, an organization focused on ending poverty and promoting social justice. Sam shares the journey that led him from the world of music to advocating for global change, and why he updated his groundbreaking book, Reclaiming Our Democracy, fo…

1
Breaking! Updates to Project 2025 and the Cult of Trump (with Chris Shelton) 58:20

8M ago58:20

58:20

If you've been following the storyline of what's happening to Project 2025, The Heritage Foundation, and Trump's presidential campaign, then you'll be familiar with some of what Chris Shelton and I discuss in this episode. There have been a number of important developments in this ongoing narrative, as Project 2025 began to be increasingly exposed …

1
The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World (with Larry Jordan) 46:33

8M ago46:33

46:33

How many of us have left religious beliefs behind, but have not entertained the idea that we might be able to find an aspect of spirituality that is truly meaningful? For those of us who've left controlling religions, it can be incredibly difficult even to entertain the notion that there might even be any aspect of spirituality that is appealing to…

1
New Monastics Poetry Share: Impotence & The All-Possible with Deepa Patel 57:00

8M ago57:00

57:00

In this episode, Netanel plays hooky, and Daniel is joined by Deepa Patel, a teacher of Inayati Sufism, partner of the Charis Foundation, and recurring guest, to share poems close to each of their hearts. In the course of reading and reflecting on the poems listed below, they explore coping with harrowing world events, honoring the preciousness of …

1
Tim Sledge Interviews Me About My New Book "Not So Shiny Not So Happy People!" 50:35

9M ago50:35

50:35

For the first time ever, my show has been hijacked! My very good friend Tim Sledge, who is the editor and publisher of my new book, Not So Shiny Not So Happy People: How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work interviewed me recently about my book. Aside from me, there is nobody else on Earth who knows more about my boo…

1
Not So Shiny Not So Happy People: "The Terror of an Empty House" Chapter Reading 25:24

9M ago25:24

25:24

I'm excited to announce that my new book, Not So Shiny Not So Happy People: How Bill Gothard, Church, and Family Taught Me Christianity Doesn't Work is now available as of today!! The book is available as a paperback, Kindle EBook, and Audible Virtual Voice versions now. In this special episode, I'm reading the Preface chapter to the book, which is…

1
The Fullness of the Measure: Unfolding an Interspiritual Dharma with the Venerable Pannavati 1:10:15

9M ago1:10:15

1:10:15

The Venerable Dr. Pannavati Bhikkuni is the founder of Heartwood Refuge, an intentional spiritual community in North Carolina, and abbess of Embracing Simplicity Hermitage, a 21st century trans-lineage Buddhist Order. A former Christian pastor, the Venerable Pannavati is often thought to be the only fully-ordained African-American woman in the Ther…

1
Creating Peace: Enduring Suffering Without God (with Dean Krosecz) 41:27

9M ago41:27

41:27

For those of us who came out of fundamentalist Christianity, what happens when things go badly wrong in our lives? Do you have the temptation to pray, read the Bible, seek out a wise Christian counselor to discover answers for why this is happening to you? Within evangelicalism, the problem of suffering is a huge issue. There always has to be "an a…

1
A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy (with Tia Levings) 48:55

10M ago48:55

48:55

A few months ago I caught up with author Tia Levings to discuss her new book, A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy. Tia is perhaps best known for her viral TikTok video, "Fundy Baby Voice"--and she knows what she's talking about. A product of the Bill Gothard "cult without walls," Tia was raised in the "modesty culture" and taug…

1
Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Spiritual Abuse (with Ryan George) 50:30

10M ago50:30

50:30

Months ago I had a great conversation with author and adrenaline junkie, Ryan George. Following on in the trend of interviewing more progressive Christians--after chatting with Keith Giles recently--this seemed like a great time to drop this episode. Although he's been able to reclaim a version of Christianity for himself, Ryan and I found that we …

1
Psychology East and West: A Retrospective on a Dialogue between Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Ram Dass 1:32:35

10M ago1:32:35

1:32:35

In this episode, we do a retrospective on a dialogue that took place in 1974 during the first summer session of the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. The dialogue was called “Psychology East and West” and explored a number of differences in understanding and approach to the notion of ego between so-called “Western psychology” and what were the…

1
EOP: Call for a US Declaration of Interdependence 14:22

11M ago14:22

14:22

In this special episode of the Emergency Opportunity Podcast (EOP), Dr. Zeitz unveils the call for a US Declaration of Interdependence and calls for an open National People's Convention to find new leaders and heal the nation's divides. As the country faces unprecedented challenges—from political instability to social injustice—he calls for a colle…

1
Leaning Into the Deconstruction Thing (with Keith Giles) 54:27

11M ago54:27

54:27

This week's conversation features author, podcaster, and "freelance theologian" Keith Giles, who--although definitely no evangelical Christian--has moved past even being a progressive Christian. What does that make him? I don't know exactly, but it does make for a fascinating conversation with someone who has deconstructed his former fundamentalist…

1
New Monastics Roundtable: Teachers, Caves, and Technology with Lisa Chatham 1:00:43

11M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

In this episode, we have a roundtable discussion of spiritual issues with psychotherapist, Lisa Chatham. In Part I, we talk about the complex legacies of brilliant spiritual teachers, like Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, who are associated with inappropriate behavior or scandals. In Part II, we explore the spirituality of our most distant past in Europea…

1
Surviving Roy Masters' "Foundation of Human Understanding" Cult (with Marissa Hackett) 45:31

12M ago45:31

45:31

This week's episode features a fascinating conversation with Marissa Hackett, who grew up in a right-wing cult started by controversial radio host, Roy Masters. Originally starting out in the early 1960s, Masters spread his message nationwide through his radio show, tapes, and book sales. Based originally out of Los Angeles, Masters bought a ranch …

1
The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church (with Sarah McCammon) 50:27

12M ago50:27

50:27

In this conversation with journalist and author Sarah McCammon, we discuss her book that just came out in March, called The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. Not only does Sarah do a masterful job of explaining why so many "exvangelicals" have left the white evangelical church behind, she shares her own story …

1
Re-rooting in the Worlds: Exploring Societal Healing with Grandmother Arapata 1:00:00

1y ago1:00:00

1:00:00

Born in Aotearoa (New Zealand), Grandmother Arapata is a healer who holds the indigenous lineages of both the Maori and Samoan ancestral bloodlines. In this episode we talk about Grandmother Arapata’s upbringing with traditional teachings, the stigmas of colonization, the different challenges of indigenous peoples in the United States and New Zeala…

1
Bonus Episode! We Have Ruined God: My Journey Out of Religion and Into Unconditional Love (with Dr Sheri Pallas) 54:14

1y ago54:14

54:14

In this special bonus episode, I caught up with returning guest, Dr Sheri Pallas, as we discussed her brand-new book that just dropped on the 2nd of May, 2024. It's titled We Have Ruined God: My Journey Out of Religion and Into Unconditional Love, and from the conversation we had, it sounds like a fascinating and intriguing book. Why should people …

1
Revolutionary Faith into Action with Rev. Redeem Robinson 43:03

1y ago43:03

43:03

Dr. Zeitz and Reverend Redeem Robinson are shedding light on the challenges and triumphs of grassroots advocacy in the modern era. After delving into their shared experiences of activism, including their arrest for demanding climate action at the White House, they address the pressing issues of voter apathy, the complexities of the 2024 election la…

1
Dismantling Doctrine Part 1 with Anna and Kari Jo of the Heretical Hippies Podcast 39:25

1y ago39:25

39:25

I truly hope that you enjoy this great collaborative episode I recently did with Anna and Kari Jo, hosts of the fantastic Heretical Hippies podcast! We covered a lot of ground about their backstory, deconstruction of their former faith, and what they are doing--and believing--currently. I believe this will be a helpful discussion for all those who …

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