Buddhability
Episodes
Buddhability Short: How to End 2025 on a High Note
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You’re almost to the finish line of 2025! Today we’re talking about how you can end the year feeling victorious and hopeful rather than dragging y...
Why Some Relationships Feel Hard and What Actually Helps: Advice From Mental Health Experts
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are as many unique relationships as there are people. Why is it that some of them are so difficult and how can we actually change them? Three me...
Finding Happiness in My Family After Childhood Trauma
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some things feel truly insurmountable. But what happens when someone truly believes in the value and power of your life? Jason Lions, of LA, experienc...
How I Embrace Life as a Touring Musician and Caregiver
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when a family emergency calls you away from your career and back to your hometown? Adam W. Sadberry, of Montgomery, Texas, shares the s...
Buddhability Short: How long should I chant for?
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today we’...
From Starving Artists to Fulfilled Creators: How a Sculptor and an Animator Use Buddhism to Succeed
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The gap between our dreams and reality can sometimes feel impossible to close. Especially when our dream means pursuing a field that’s less traditio...
Building My Buddhist Muscle Memory
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A strong routine can be crucial to getting through the day when you have a full plate. But that discipline doesn’t happen over night. Enoa Reid, of ...
Who Am I After My Loved One Dies?
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can one of the most inevitable things in life still be so shocking and confusing? Oona Friedland, of Berkley, Michigan, shares the story of how sh...
Buddhability Short: Is Overcoming Divisiveness Really Possible?
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today we’...
Recognizing My Worth Changed Everything
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If someone asked you to identify something getting in the way of your happiness right now, could you? It can be challenging to see ourselves clearly b...
Buddhability Short: How to Handle Societal Stress
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge, we’ve touched on in an interview. Today we’...
Being Unafraid to Change Your Career
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There isn’t an expiration date for our dreams. It’s our own limiting beliefs that hold us back from pursuing them. Today’s guest, Jee Hyo Kim, o...
Buddhability Short: Starting a New Life Chapter
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge, we’ve touched on in an interview. Today we’...
Learning to Love Myself [April 2024]
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It can be hard to embrace ourselves when society often makes us feel otherwise. In this episode, we’re talking about how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-ky...
How Living True to Myself Improved My Relationships [January 2024]
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether we like it or not, we don’t exist in isolation. The interconnection of life means that when we change, our environment changes as well. Toda...
Breaking Free from Self-Imposed Limitations [December 2023]
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Believing that we each possess limitless wisdom, courage and compassion—what we call Buddhability—can be a daily battle. Many of us impose limitat...
4 Science and Aerospace Professionals Discuss Buddhism and Space
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special Buddhability episode, we sit down with four science and aerospace professionals, speaking as private citizens, to discuss the relation...
Seeing Myself Differently Helped Me Find Good Friends
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest, Dominic Califano, of San Diego, was a timid kid who struggled to make good friends. When he started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, how...
Buddhability Short: Why aren’t the things I chant for happening faster?
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. This summe...
How to Listen to Yourself and Create the Life You Want
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It can be hard to find your inner voice let alone follow it. Today’s guest, Sedem Adiabu, shares how she developed the courage and strength to liste...
Don’t Let Your Busy Schedule Crush You
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Why is it that one person can accomplish so much more than another in those 24 hours? Buddhism teaches that ev...
Buddhability Short: How do I chant for ____?
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. This summe...
Can One Person Really Change the World?
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Eddie Laiche, of San Luis Obispo, CA, wondered what one person could possibly do about the threat of nuclear war. Today he relies on his Buddhist prac...
Announcement: Ask Buddhability!
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This summer, we're answering your questions about Buddhism and how to apply it to your life! For the next two weeks you can send us any questions you ...
Buddhability Short: How to Not Get Caught in the Perfectionist Trap
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
Running Away From Things Doesn’t Make Them Go Away
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Markell Holliday II, of Atlanta, had a habit of running away when he didn’t want to deal with something. Through chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and ap...
A Business Expert on The Approach That Changed His Career
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re talking about how we can live the most abundant life based on what is in our hearts rather than the material things we own. Sherman Edmi...
Placing Limits on Your Life Without Realizing It
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Yurika Watanabe grew up in Guam focused on her day-to-day and supporting her family. After a Buddhist family friend encouraged her to dream big, she s...
How to Keep Going When You Can't See The End
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There is a Buddhist writing that says, “Winter always turns to spring.” But when your life is in the season of winter, sometimes if can feel unend...
Buddhability Short: 3 Questions to Help You Find a Fulfilling Job
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
Finding My Voice and Trusting It
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Asking for the opinions of others can be helpful but what happens when you hear their voice louder than your own? Today’s guest, Moeko Fukada Teter,...
Opening Yourself Up to Perspectives and People
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Truly hearing and seeing someone else can be tough. Especially if we think we’re in the right or know best. Fortunately, Buddhist practice helps us ...
How a Trailblazing Coach Made History
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does a student athlete and mother become a superstar coach to students and even Olympians? Karen Dennis, of Columbus, Ohio, shares how her Buddhis...
Buddhability Short: How to Make Hard Decisions
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
Heartbreak Made Me a Better Mathematician
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhism teaches that all our problems are opportunities for growth. But how could heartbreak possibly make someone better at math? Alex Scheffelin, o...
Why I Appreciate My College Rejections [May 2024]
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With college decisions trickling in, we're airing a rerun of a May 2024 episode about college rejections.When Ashley Park didn’t get into her first ...
The Grind: Self-Mastery and Success in Business
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chip Grossman, of Santa Monica, always thought spirituality and business were opposing goals. It wasn’t until he encountered SGI Nichiren Buddhism t...
Buddhability Short: It's Never Too Late
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
When Plans Unexpectedly Change
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Life can’t always go according to plan. So, what do we do when things change? Buddhist practice helps us to be flexible and turn everything into an ...
Seeing Beyond My Complaints and Problems
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daily life throws a lot at us. When our state of life is low, it can be easy to get wrapped up in complaint. Buddhism teaches that caring for others h...
Perseverance is a Skill
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you’ve failed at your goal… more than once? Today’s guest, Ayumi Sasaki, of Detroit, had a big career goal that took two years...
Buddhability Short: What Is Love?
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re lea...
Believing in My Family Instead of Trying to Control Them
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we want others to change, we’re at the whim of our environment. One moment we’re happy with their actions and another we’re upset with some...
Buddhability Short: Why Do We Have a Daily Practice?
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
Your Past Decisions Don’t Define Your Future
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We might have a laundry list of regrets but we don’t have to let them determine our lives today or tomorrow. Today’s guest, Jesse Thompson of Colu...
How a Tattoo Artist is Revitalizing Her Community
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhist practice empowers us to positively impact our environment. Amber Owens, of Anniston, Alabama, uncovered a deep sense of purpose in revitalizi...
Buddhability Short: How to face the thing you've been avoiding
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s Short, we talk about how to do the thing we’ve said we would do for days, months or years. Buddhability Shorts is a series where we bre...
Rewriting The Story I Tell Myself About Who I Am and Who I Can Be
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all have narratives we tell ourselves about what is possible for our lives. Today’s guest, Jackie Alexander, of Chicago, shares how she overcame ...
3 Things I Learned This Year and 2 Things I’m Bringing into Next Year
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thank you for an incredible year! Today we’re reflecting back on Buddhability’s 2024 guests and some things we’ve learned from them. We can’t ...
The Courage to Live Authentically and Embrace Others
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The journey of self-discovery can sometimes be long and winding. Ray Guida, of Columbus, Ohio, shares how he developed the compassion and courage to l...
Buddhist History Pt.3: Buddhism Today
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With so much to learn about Buddhist history, it can be hard to know where to start! This month, we’re doing a short series covering Buddhist histor...
Buddhist History Pt.2: Nichiren Daishonin and Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With so much to learn about Buddhist history, it can be hard to know where to start! This month, we’re doing a short series covering Buddhist histor...
Buddhist History Pt.1: Shakyamuni and The Lotus Sutra
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With so much to learn about Buddhist history, it can be hard to know where to start! This month, we’re doing a short series covering Buddhist histor...
A Psychiatrist’s Experience with Buddhism and Mental Health
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest, Bora Colak, is a psychiatrist in Brooklyn who struggled with depression for years after graduating from Harvard. When he started to p...
How I Stopped Tying My Self-Worth to Relationships
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Self-worth is tough to cultivate when we look to others for validation. One moment we’re flying high, then one harsh word sends us spiraling. Today’...
Buddhability Short: Refreshing Your Life
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel overwhelmed and exhausted? In today’s Short, we talk about how to refresh yourself when you feel pulled in too many directions. Buddhabi...
Finding My Path as an Art Therapist
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What does it look like to have a fulfilling career? While no one can tell us the best life path for us, Buddhism offers a clear framework for understa...
A Change in My Heart Changed My Family Relationships
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes we may wish the people around us were different. Today’s guest, Brigid Perry of Boston, shares how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo honestly a...
Orlando Bloom Opens Up About His Buddhist Practice: Staying Grounded, Facing Fears and Living Fully
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We have a very special episode of Buddhability! You can listen as usual or watch the video on YouTube. Today’s guest, Orlando Bloom, sits down to d...
How I Feel Hope While Living with Anxiety and Depression
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ariana Jaramillo, of Santa Cruz, started experiencing panic attacks in high school. Right around that time, she started to regularly chant Nam-myoho-r...
Buddhability Short: How to Chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s Short, we’re breaking down the Buddhist mantra Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and explaining how to chant it step-by-step. By the end of the episo...
Rejection Helped Me Become a Published Researcher at 18
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nikita Agrawal, a recent high school graduate from Chicago, was determined to use her research to contribute to the world. Being the first author of a...
Why You Started Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are limitless reasons why someone might try chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo! For some, it’s an easy leap. For others, it might feel a bit intimid...
Changing My Perspective on Success
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vishvak Prakkruth encountered Buddhism in Mumbai when he was an aspiring filmmaker. As he moved to New York and Los Angeles to further his career, he ...
How Loss Deepened My Appreciation for Life
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alexandria Jones, of San Diego, grew up with many examples of the power of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. It wasn’t until becoming a young adult that...
Announcement: Tell us why you started chanting!
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re making a listener episode with your stories about starting your Buddhist practice! You can submit a voice message telling us, in a minute or l...
Valuing My Life: Making My Childhood Self Proud
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An 8-year-old Kimberly Cadillo struggled to find her place in a new culture, language and country. Moving from Peru to New Jersey brought many challen...
Buddhability Short: Cultivating wisdom in an age of misinformation
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
Buddhability Short: How to make the most of your time
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
Buddhability Short: Looking at yourself with fresh eyes
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
The Strength to Challenge Every Limitation
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Keiko Brunson, of Denver, entered the world with a bang and continued to challenge every perceived limitation placed on her. Today she shares how chan...
My Problems Remind Me of My Potential
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It isn’t always easy to believe you can make a change. Immaculate Mutebi, of New York City, has challenged that disbelief many times. In today’s e...
How Connecting with People Enhanced My Self-Care
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cam Morose, a Boston school psychologist, found Buddhism at a crucial time. He was struggling with anxiety that felt impossible to challenge. In today...
Buddhability Short: How to find your power in a chaotic world
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
Finding Purpose in My First Year of Buddhist Practice
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Daylen Heidt, of Houston, grew up labeled as a “bad kid.” Everything changed when they started practicing Buddhism just over a year ago. Buddhism ...
Why I Appreciate My College Rejections
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Ashley Park didn’t get into her first choice colleges, she was stuck in New York City balancing a jam-packed schedule. Buddhism teaches that ev...
Winning Over Perfectionism
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhism teaches us that our lives are precious just as they are. This can be hard to believe if we struggle with self-criticism and strive for flawle...
Buddhability Short: Uncertainty after graduation
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re tal...
Learning to Love Myself
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It can be hard to embrace ourselves when society often makes us feel otherwise. In this episode, we’re talking about how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-ky...
Happiness That Can’t Be Destroyed
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Daily life can feel like a roller coaster where we’re tossed around by the ups and downs of our health, school, family relationships and so on. Thro...
Buddhability Short: Making meaningful friendships
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a series where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. Today, we’re talking about how chant...
Facing the Fear of Death
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s natural to want to look away from the inevitable reality of death but Buddhism teaches that death is an alternate phase of life and makes up a ...
Buddhability Short: How to increase your life force
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. This month, we’re talking ab...
Overcoming Loneliness
08 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Experts say the U.S. is dealing with a serious “loneliness epidemic” as adults feel more isolated and alone than ever. How can Buddhism help us br...
How I Beat Burnout
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our daily lives can be challenging and we might be asking ourselves, “Is there anything more to life than sleeping, eating and going to a job I don’...
Breaking Through Stagnation
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever feel like you’re not making any progress even though you’ve been trying to reach a goal for what feels like forever? Today’s guest, ...
Buddhability Short: Finding your purpose
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. This month, we’re talking ab...
What It Took to Make My Dreams a Reality
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhism helps us to build a solid inner life that isn’t swayed by our circumstances. That strength is the key to having the confidence needed to ta...
A Skeptic's Approach to Buddhism
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s natural to have doubt. The key, however, is whether we use our questions as fuel to seek out answers. Confidence in the power of Buddhist pract...
How Living True to Myself Improved My Relationships
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whether we like it or not, we don’t exist in isolation. The interconnection of life means that when we change, our environment changes as well. T...
Buddhability Short: Caring for ourselves and others
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Buddhability Shorts are monthly episodes where we break down a Buddhist concept that we’ve touched on in an interview. This month, we’re talking a...
Anatomy of a Dream
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we’re talking about dreams. How do we dream? How do we find purpose in our dreams? And if we have a clear dream, how we pursue it. We’r...
Your Stories of Gratitude
22 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we head into the final stretch of the year, we bring you the voices of several Buddhability listeners sharing appreciation for someone in their lif...
Breaking Free from Self-Imposed Limitations
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Believing that we each possess limitless wisdom, courage and compassion—what we call Buddhability—can be a daily battle. Many of us impose limitat...
Listener Episode: Send us your stories on gratitude!
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re creating a special episode about gratitude with stories from listeners. To submit, send a voice memo of no more than 1 minute to connect@sgi-...
SGI President Daisaku Ikeda Passes Away
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we share the news of Buddhist philosopher and Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda’s passing and the impacts of his life an...
How I Stopped Letting Anger and Fear Control Me
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fear and anger can be overpowering. Especially when they’re grounded in past and deeply personal experience. While our fears may feel justified they...
Honoring My Parents by Fighting for My Dreams
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Amid a painful reality that can’t be changed, like a family member’s terminal disease, how can we still create hope? Today we’re discussing how ...
Season Finale: New Beginnings
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we have for you the season finale of Buddhability Season 1, and we’re so excited to share some big updates about the show. We’ve just pass...
Announcement: Season Finale
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, October 2nd, marks the three year anniversary since our launch! We are also celebrating a milestone- hitting 1 million downloads! To commemorat...