Mindfulness meditation has become the mental health practice du jour, and rightfully so, given all of its benefits: greater presence, clarity and calm. But for people who have endured trauma, meditation can backfire, resulting in more rather than less suffering. Why is that? And does that mean survivors of trauma should not practice it? Is there a safe way t ... Show More
Oct 6
The Perils of Tantra, with Susannah Deane
Today, host Prof. Pierce Salguero sits down with Susannah Deane, a scholar of Tibetan medicine, Buddhism, and psychiatry. Together, we delve into her work on Tibetan concepts of "wind disorders" and Tantric practice gone wrong. Along the way, we talk about losing control of spiri ... Show More
57m 11s
Sep 7
Christopher Willard et al., "College Mental Health 101: A Guide for Students, Parents, and Professionals" (Oxford UP, 2025)
With a growing number of students entering college with an existing mental health diagnosis, College Mental Health 101: A Guide for Students, Parents, and Professionals (Oxford UP, 2025) offers hope and clear direction to those struggling with mental illness. There is an undeniab ... Show More
43m 26s
Sep 7
Michel-Yves Bollore and Olivier Bonnassies, "God, the Science, the Evidence" (Palomar, 2025)
For more than four centuries, the scientific discoveries of Copernicus, Galileo, Darwin, and Freud created the impression that we could explain the workings of the Universe without the idea of a creator--God. By the beginning of the twentieth century, materialism had become the d ... Show More
43m 54s
May 2022
Becoming a Trauma-Informed Spiritual Explorer
David Treleaven, PhD, is a writer, educator, and trauma professional working at the intersection of mindfulness and trauma. He is the author of Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness and a visiting scholar at Brown University. David is the founder of Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness (TSM), a c ... Show More
1h 5m
Aug 2023
Mark Forman (Part 1) - Hot Button Issues in Mental Health & Psychotherapy: Trauma, Transgender, Psychedelics, SuperShrinks, Feminism's Shadow & the Loneliness Epidemic
Ep. 91 (Part 1 of 3) | Integral psychotherapist Mark Forman, author of the seminal work A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy, doesn’t mince words when it comes to the field he is passionate about: helping people out of their mental pain and dysphoria. Mark’s Integral perspective and ... Show More
56m 38s
Nov 2023
Ep. 227 – Mental Health Series with Joe Loizzo
For episode 227 of the Metta Hour, we are continuing our Mental Health Series. In this series, Sharon sits down with different teachers, experts, and health advocates to explore and destigmatize mental health by applying the tools of Buddhist wisdom and spiritual practice.For thi ... Show More
1h 12m
May 2023
Ep. 210 – Mental Health Series with Reggie Hubbard
For episode 210 of the Metta Hour, we are beginning a special Mental Health Series!In this series, Sharon sits down with different teachers, experts, and health advocates to explore and destigmatize mental health. Applying the tools of Buddhist wisdom and spiritual practice, this ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2019
Meditation, Therapy, and "Murderous Rage", Dr. Susan Pollak
Dr. Susan Pollak found refuge in meditation at a young age, introduced to it by a family member. Describing herself as an anxious and neurotic kid, she noticed how meditation offered her some relief. Pollak has remained fascinated with meditation ever since. She earned degrees in ... Show More
1h 28m
Oct 2020
Dr. Shauna Shapiro on Transformative Mindfulness
Dr. Shauna Shapiro is a professor, best-selling author, clinical psychologist, and internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and compassion. She has published over 150 journal articles and 3 critically acclaimed books translated into 16 languages. Her most recent book is c ... Show More
44m 6s