The Sharon Salzberg Metta Hour features Buddhist philosophy in a practical, common-sense vernacular.
Sharon’s natural wisdom, sense of humour, and the ease with which she translates these teachings forge an intimate connection with the listener. From everyday experiences to pithy revelations, each podcast is a journey on the path of self-discovery.
Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. As one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over fifty years ago, she has inspired generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of fifteen books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness (now in its second edition) and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her upcoming workbook, Living Lovingkindness, will be released in January 2027 by St. Martin’s Essentials. Sharon’s podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed eight million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond.
For episode 298, Sharon sits down with first-time guest Ann Tashi Slater.
Ann Tashi Slater is the author ofTraveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World. She has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Paris Review, and Oprah Daily, among others, and is a contributing editor at Tricycle, where she hosts an interview series about bardo and the art of living.
Ann’s speaking and teaching engagements include Princeton, Columbia, Oxford, and The American University of Paris. Her work explores how our personal histories and cultural roots shape us—and how we find meaning in a world where everything changes and ends. This is Ann’s first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
For episode 297, Sharon sits down with Chris Germer to discuss his new book, Self-Compassion for Shame.
Chris Germer, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the author of several books including Self-Compassion for Burnout, co-authored with Dr. Kristin Neff. His new book, Self-Compassion for Shame: A Step-by-Step Guide to Inner Freedom was just released in September of 2026 from The Guilford Press. Chris lectures and leads workshops internationally and has a small psychotherapy practice in Massachusetts. This is his first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
In this conversation, Sharon and Chris speak about:
Chris’s early interest in psychology
Learning meditation in the seventies
Contemplative practice with psychology
How Chris came to self-compassion
Sharon’s influence in Chris’s path
How loving-kindness changed Chris’s life
Chris’s public speaking anxiety
Sharon’s experience with public speaking
How Chris became aware of his own shame
Shame is an attack on the sense of self
Shame compared to similar emotions and traits
How we can learn to recognize shame
How the new book is organized
When shame can be helpful
Dr Kristin Neff’s model of self-compassion
Welcoming all parts of ourselves
Taking responsibility for our shame
Lean in, lean back, or let go
Non-striving and non-fixing in self-compassion
Self-compassion is the end of the struggle
How Chris approaches his therapy practice
Additional Resources:
The episode closes with Chris leading a guided meditation on self-compassion for shame. You can learn more about Chris’s work right here.
Related Metta Hour Episodes:
Episode 252 Dr. Kristin Neff’s most recent appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2024.
Ep. 296 – Tim Desmond
Épisode 296
mercredi 30 septembre 2026 • Durée 56:26
For episode 296 Tim Desmond returns to the Metta Hour to discuss his new book series with Sharon.
Tim Desmond is a psychotherapist, best-selling author, Distinguished Faculty Scholar at Antioch University, and student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hạnh, under whom he was ordained into the Order of Interbeing in 2005. Founder of Peer Collective, and co-founder of Morning Sun Mindfulness Center, Tim lives in Oakland, CA, and teaches mindfulness and self-compassion practices to audiences around the world. He is the author of several books includingBuddhist Practices for Healing Trauma, andBuddhist Practices for Overcoming Depression, released by W. W. Norton & Company in 2026, and the forthcoming Buddhist Practices for Calming Anxiety. This is Tim’s second appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
Caverly Morgan joins Sharon for episode 295 of the Metta Hour Podcast to talk about her book, The Heart of Who We Are.
Caverly Morgan is a teacher of awakening, nonprofit founder, speaker, and author who blends the original spirit of Zen with a modern nondual and relational approach. Her practice began in 1995 and has included eight years of training in a silent Zen monastery. She has been teaching contemplative practice since 2001. Caverly supports others in remembering our true nature—not through more techniques or self-improvement strategies, but through presence, inquiry, and togetherness. The Heart of Who We Are was released in 2022 from St. Martin's Essentials. Her other book, A Kids Book About Mindfulness, was released in 2024. She is a founder of the nonprofits Peace in Schools and Realizing Freedom Together, and has pioneered ways for communities to awaken collectively, making teachings that lead to liberation accessible to all. This is Caverly’s first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
In this conversation, Caverly and Sharon speak about:
What drew Caverly to the dharma
Ep. 294 – George Mumford
Épisode 294
mardi 1 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:03:04
Beloved teacher, coach and author George Mumford returns to the Metta Hour for episode 294 to talk about the 2nd edition release of his book,The Mindful Athlete.
George Mumford, a.k.a. The Performance Whisperer, is a globally recognized speaker, teacher, and pioneer in sports psychology and performance. Since 1989, he’s been honing his groundbreaking performance and mindfulness techniques with people from locker rooms to boardrooms, Yale to jail — as Phil Jackson’s ‘Secret Weapon’ to winning eight NBA Championships, helping Michael Jordan transform his leadership, and teaching Kobe Bryant to “just be.” George’s work incorporates principles based in positive psychology, mindfulness, philosophy, neuroscience, the recovery movement, group and organizational dynamics, and spiritual traditions from around the world. This is his third appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
In this conversation, George and Sharon speak about:
The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering?
How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.
For the ninth and final episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Shelly Tygielski. Philanthropist and social activist Shelly Tygielski has been hailed by individuals ranging from President Joe Biden to Arianna Huffington and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn to Maria Shriver. She is the founder of the global, grassroots mutual aid organization, Pandemic of Love and the co-founder of Partners in Kind, a purpose in production equity fund that invests in projects that focus on social impact in entertainment. Her work has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including CNN Heroes, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS This Morning, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. A Garrison Institute Fellow, Shelly has been called one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” by Mindful.org and teaches self-care and resilience at organizations and to audiences around the world. She is also the author of several books, “Sit Down to Rise Up” and “How We Ended Racism.” This is her second appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
In this conversation, Shelly and Sharon speak about:
• What motivated Shelly to get her PH.D.
• The definition of Mutual Aid
• Mutual Aid across history
Ep. 292 – Engaged Compassion: Rev. Paul Raushenbush
Épisode 292
jeudi 6 août 2026 • Durée 01:02:59
The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering?
How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.
For the eighth episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Rev. Paul Raushenbush. This is his first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast. Rev. Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush is a longtime interfaith leader and renowned advocate for civil rights and religious freedom. Rev. Raushenbush has published two books and contributed essays to several volumes on faith in public life. He also hosts the weekly podcast and radio show “The State of Belief,” in partnership with Religion News Service.
In this conversation, Sharon and Paul speak about:
• How Rev. Raushenbush came to service
• The Social Gospel
• Rev. Raushenbush’s interfaith family
• How spiritual practice can fuel activism
• Insisting on joy in moments of great sorrow
• Embodying the future we hope for now
• Rev. Raushenbush’s POV that we are all neighbors
• Figuring out how to help
• What inspired this Engaged Compassion series
Ep. 291 – Oneika Mays
Épisode 291
mardi 21 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:14:07
Author and teacher Oneika Mays joins Sharon for episode 291 of the Metta Hour podcast.
For over a decade, Oneika has brought yoga and mindfulness practices to people who have felt left out, judged, and alone— from correctional facilities to retreat centers, from Columbia Law School to Lincoln Center. She is the author of“Sit With Me: A No-BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation,” released by HarperOne in March of 2026, and the co-host of You Good? Podcast with Pamela Stokes Eggleston. This is her first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.
In this conversation, Oneika and Sharon speak about:
• Loving people doesn’t necessarily mean liking them
• Lovingkindness for oneself as a starting point
Ep. 290 – Remembering Bob Thurman with Mark Epstein
Épisode 290
mardi 7 juillet 2026 • Durée 01:16:59
Sharon comes together with Mark Epstein to remember the life of dear friend and colleague, Robert AF Thurman, for episode 290 of the Metta Hour.
Robert AF Thurman (August 3, 1941 – June 16, 2026) was an American Buddhist author and academic who wrote, edited, and translated books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics, and culture. He was the first Westerner to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and was the Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University before retiring in 2019. He was the co-founder and president of Tibet House US in New York, New York, and Menla Retreat in Phoenicia, New York.
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, there is a 49-day period of mourning after an individual dies, which is considered a transitional “bardo” time. This is a time to honor the individual and support them as they transition into their incarnation through ceremonies, offerings, and prayers. In that spirit, Sharon and Mark Epstein come together to share stories and reflections about Bob after his unexpected death.
Mark Epstein, M.D., a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City, is the author of a number of books about the interface of Buddhism and psychotherapy, including “Thoughts without a Thinker” and “Going to Pieces without Falling Apart.” His latest work, “The Zen of Therapy,” was published in 2022 by Penguin Press. He has been a student of Vipassana meditation since 1974.
This episode also includes an excerpt of an archival recording of Sharon interviewing Bob from 2021. Originally aired on the Metta Hour in celebration of Bob’s book “Wisdom is Bliss,” this recording includes some classic zesty-Bob-banter with Sharon, as well as some wonderful teachings. The recording closes with Bob leading a guided meditation.
"When we opened the Insight Meditation Society in 1976, we discovered we had a near neighbor, about 40 minutes away in Amherst, MA: Professor Bob Thurman. I’ve felt so lucky to know him as a friend, to have the chance to teach with him through the years, and to collaborate with him on a book, “Love Your Enemies.” Though he was widely known as a dedicated scholar, I was always most struck by Bob as a person of faith in the best sense of the word— faith in each of our potential, in the very real possibility of freedom, in the blessings of lineage and the enormous gifts of people like HH Dalai Lama to the world. Before the sudden, unexpected news of his passing, I noted how much content he was putting on his
The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering?
How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.
For the seventh episode in the series, Sharon’s speaks with teacher Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, marking his first appearance on the Metta Hour.
Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, PhD, is the cofounder and director of the Emory-Tibet Partnership, a multi-dimensional initiative founded in 1998 to bring together the foremost contributions of the Western scholastic tradition and the Tibetan Buddhist sciences of mind and healing. He is also professor of practice in Emory University’s Department of Religion. In 2018, he launched, with the Dalai Lama, SEE Learning, a free compassion curriculum for children. Geshe Lobsang, a former monk, was born in Kinnaur, a small Himalayan kingdom adjoining Tibet. He began his monastic training at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and continued his education at Drepung Loseling Monastery in south India, where he received his Geshe Lharampa degree in 1994, the highest academic degree granted in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
In this conversation, Geshe and Sharon speak about:
• How Geshe grew up in the Himalayas
• Becoming a monk at age 14 in 1974
• Geshe and Sharon’s first meeting
•
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The episode closes with a guided meditation from George. You can learn more about George’s work right here and get a copy of the second edition of The Mindful Athlete right here.
Related Metta Hour Episodes
Episode 71 George Mumford’s first appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2018
Episode 214 George Mumford’s second appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2023 as part of the Mental Health Series.
The episode closes with Shelly leading a lovingkindness meditation. Learn more about Shelly’s work and her different books right here. Learn more about Pandemic of Love right here.
Related Metta Hour Episodes
Episode 121: Shelly’s first appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2020.
The episode closes with a reflection from Rev. Raushenbush. Learn more about Rev. Raushenbush’s work right here. Learn more about Interfaith Alliance right here, including its many local chapters.
Related Metta Hour Episodes
Episode 281: The first episode of the Engaged Compassion Series with Jerry Colonna, released in March of 2026.
The episode closes with a guided lovingkindness meditation from Oneika with added visualization. You can learn more about Oneika’s work right here and get a copy of her new book, “Sit With Me,” right here.
Related Metta Hour Episodes
Episode 212: Kimberly Brown’s interview as part of our Mental Health Series released in 2023.
, what seemed to me almost like a drive to help as many people as he could, to remind us all of hope in these very troubled times. His impact on so many people and the light he spread is so clear right now." - Sharon
Please join us as we celebrate and honor a dear friend and dharma teacher who filled our lives with such joy, wisdom, and laughter.
Additional Resources
Learn more about Robert AF Thurman’s life and work right here. Read some of the tributes for Bob right here and via Tricycle Magazine. Tune in to the weekly prayers for via the website for Tibet House US right here. Learn more about the book Bob and Sharon co-wrote, “Love Your Enemies” originally released in 2013 with a tenth anniversary edition release in 2023 in hardcover and ebook formats.
Related Metta Hour Episodes
Episode 107 Robert Thurman and Mark Epstein recorded live at Tibet House in 2018, released in the Metta Hour in 2019.
Episode 164 Robert Thurman interview on the Metta Hour (partially included in today’s episode), released in 2021.
Geshe Lobsang closes out the conversation with a guided gratitude practice from his book, Engaged Compassion. Learn more about Geshe Lobsang’s work right here. Get a copy of his new book right here and explore the SEE Learning Program right here.
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