

Tricycle Talks
Tricycle: The Buddhist Review
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, podcasts, events, and video courses. Unlock access to all this Buddhist knowledge by subscribing to the magazine at tricycle.org/join
Episodes
Mentioned books

4 snips
Aug 27, 2025 • 1h 4min
Ethical Living in Uncertain Times with Stephen Batchelor
In this conversation, Stephen Batchelor, a writer and Tricycle contributing editor from southwest France, shares insights from his book on navigating ethical living through uncertainty. He explores how the teachings of the Buddha and Socrates can inspire creativity and empathy in challenging times. Batchelor discusses the 'cartography of care' in Buddhist ethics and connects individual actions to societal development. He promotes a balance of certainty and uncertainty in decision-making, urging listeners to reflect on their ethical choices amidst modern dilemmas.

Aug 20, 2025 • 56min
Learning to Live Fully with Serious Illness with Susan Bauer-Wu
Living with a serious illness can be an isolating experience, and it can often provoke feelings of anger, anxiety, and fear. As a former oncology nurse, a mindfulness teacher, a clinical researcher, and a retreat facilitator for people living with serious illness, Susan Bauer-Wu has dedicated much of her life to developing practices to help people with serious illness live fully in the face of these challenges. In her book, Leaves Falling Gently: Living Fully with Serious Illness through Mindfulness, Compassion, and Connectedness, she lays out accessible meditations for people living with illness and their caregivers.
In this episode of Life As It Is, Tricycle’s editor-in-chief, James Shaheen, and meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg sit down with Bauer-Wu to discuss what it means to live fully with serious illness, methods for finding spaciousness in the midst of constriction, how to adapt mindfulness practices in the context of pain, and how the quality of each moment can determine the quality of our lives. Plus, Bauer-Wu leads a guided meditation.

Aug 13, 2025 • 1h 1min
Writing in Exile with Bhuchung D. Sonam
Bhuchung D. Sonam is an exiled Tibetan writer, poet, translator, and publisher currently based in Dharamshala. His press, TibetWrites, has published more than fifty books by contemporary Tibetan writers.
In this episode of Tricycle Talks, Tricycle’s editor-in-chief, James Shaheen, sits down with Sonam to discuss how writing has helped him navigate life in exile, the importance of centering the stories of ordinary Tibetans, why he views writing as a form of resistance, and how literature can serve as a bridge across cultures. Plus, Sonam reads a few of his poems.

Jul 23, 2025 • 58min
The Work of Not Knowing with Marie Howe
Marie Howe, the poet in residence at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and a recipient of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for her collection, discusses the profound role of not knowing in poetry. She shares how writing acts as a form of prayer, helping us confront life's difficulties and embrace uncertainty. Howe reflects on her personal journey through loss, spirituality, and the transformative nature of acceptance. With insights influenced by Christian mystic Meister Eckhart, her anecdotes illuminate the deep connections between poetry, nature, and the divine.

Jul 16, 2025 • 1h 11min
A Fearless Heart with Thupten Jinpa
Thupten Jinpa, a Tibetan Buddhist scholar and former monk, shares wisdom from his forty years as the Dalai Lama's English translator. He explores the vital connection between compassion and courage, emphasizing that true empathy requires embracing our vulnerabilities. Jinpa reflects on his journey from refugee to translator, revealing the complexities of conveying compassion across cultures. He also discusses societal resistance to compassion and the importance of incorporating it into our lives for personal and collective well-being, guiding listeners through a meditation on self-compassion.

10 snips
Jul 9, 2025 • 54min
Forever a Student with Sarah Ruhl
In this engaging conversation, Sarah Ruhl, a celebrated playwright, poet, and professor, shares insights from her new essay collection, reflecting on the profound lessons learned from teachers throughout her life. She discusses the significance of authentic listening, the challenges of technology on real connections, and the transformative value of art in addressing grief. Ruhl also highlights the invaluable lessons from non-traditional teachers and the impact of loving relationships, underscoring her belief in lifelong learning and the beauty of spontaneity in human interactions.

5 snips
Jun 25, 2025 • 36min
Personal Liturgy with Jefre Cantu-Ledesma
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, Zen priest, and hospice chaplain, shares his unique journey blending spirituality and creativity. He delves into the transformative power of liturgy and music, discussing how rituals shape his artistic and chaplaincy practices. Cantu-Ledesma reveals how music serves as a personal offering and reflects on the significance of authenticity in both art and spiritual support. His insights into collaborative processes and communal spaces for emotional expression highlight the profound connections between grief, creativity, and devotion.

29 snips
Jun 18, 2025 • 1h 12min
How Compassion Works with John Makransky
In this engaging discussion, Lama John Makransky, a respected figure in Tibetan Buddhism and former professor, dives into the transformative power of compassion. He explains how our well-being and relationships depend on accessing our innate compassion. Topics include the balance of empathy and action, the cultivation of compassion as a skill rather than an inherent trait, and practical meditation techniques for self-awareness. Makransky also guides listeners through a meditation, helping them tap into their deeper qualities and recognize their shared humanity.

Jun 11, 2025 • 1h 1min
Buddhist Masters of Modern China with Benjamin Brose
Benjamin Brose is Professor of Buddhist and Chinese Studies and chair of the department of Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan. His new book, Buddhist Masters of Modern China: The Lives and Legacies of Eight Eminent Teachers, explores the histories and teachings of eight masters who brought about a Buddhist revival during the political turmoil of the 20th century.
In this episode of Tricycle Talks, Tricycle’s editor-in-chief, James Shaheen, sits down with Brose to discuss the persecution that Chinese Buddhists faced at the turn of the 20th century, the creativity and innovation with which many Buddhist monks and nuns responded to these challenges, the variety of approaches taken to revitalize the Buddhist tradition, and the remarkable life of the Chan master Laiguo.

13 snips
May 28, 2025 • 56min
The Greek King and the Buddhist Monk with Maria Heim
Maria Heim, a Professor of Religion at Amherst College and translator of The Questions of Milinda, engages in a captivating dialogue about this foundational Buddhist text. She explores the philosophical exchanges between Indo-Greek King Milinda and the monk Nagasena, showcasing how their discussion illuminates concepts like no-self and the transient nature of identity. Heim highlights the significance of analogies in Buddhist thought, including the famous chariot metaphor, and demonstrates how literary qualities enrich our understanding of these profound teachings.