Shows
Wisdom and PracticeBuilding Real Unity with Nava KavelinWhat if unity isn’t a lofty ideal, but a daily practice rooted in how we speak, act and build together?This week, Simran is joined by writer, podcaster, and spiritual thinker, Nava Kavelin, for a conversation that grounds the Baha’i teachings of oneness and justice in real, everyday action.Together, they reflect on the collective exhaustion so many are feeling and how spiritual frameworks can help us move from fragmentation to belonging. Nava invites us to imagine a world shaped by human education, universal language, and shared values.Through stories, questions, and...2025-08-1427 min
How God Works: The Science Behind SpiritualityHGW Presents: Kelly Corrigan Wonders (with Rainn Wilson)How God Works will be back with all new episodes this fall. In the meantime, we're taking the opportunity to share episodes from some of our favorite shows with you, our listeners. Today, we're excited to feature a conversation from the podcast Kelly Corrigan Wonders, featuring Rainn Wilson, creator of the book and podcast Soul Boom. "Going Deep with Rainn Wilson on Spirituality"Rainn Wilson (who you might know as Dwight Schrute) is making a serious call for a spiritual revolution based on joy, acts of service and being honest about our mixed natures. This i...2025-08-0349 minWisdom and PracticeWhen Doubt Builds Bridges Instead of WallsWhat happens when a poet, a rabbi and an imam walk into a room - not to debate, but to listen?In this special live episode of Wisdom and Practice, Simran moderates an honest, soul-stretching panel at NYU’s Fritzi Weitzmann Owens Memorial Lecture with Kaitlyn B. Curtice, Dr. Shaykh Faiyaz Jaffer, and Rabbi Joshua Stanton.Together, they wrestle with the tensions and truths of interfaith work - its’ beauty, its’ burdens and its’ urgent relevance today.They dive into the power of empathy, the gift of doubt, and what it means to scale co...2025-07-3143 minHow God Works: The Science Behind SpiritualityBonus: Losing Our Religion or Finding What Matters?As more Americans move away from organized religion, the moral and emotional needs once met by faith communities remain. What can secular society borrow from spiritual traditions — ritual, meaning, belonging and moral imagination — to nourish the human spirit and strengthen our shared civic life? In this conversation, recorded live at the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival, Dave explores how sacred wisdom can still guide character, compassion, and community in a post-religious age with Krista Tippett, Father Greg Boyle, and Rabbi Shira Stutman.Krista Tippet is the creator and host of the award winning podcast On Being and an awardee of t...2025-07-2045 minWisdom and PracticeThe Seeds of Community with Anurima BhargavaWhat if family isn’t just who you’re born to, but who you choose to grow with?This week on Wisdom and Practice, we’re joined by community organizer and thought leaderAnurima Bhargava. In this episode, we explore how presence, faith, and mutual care can reshape the way we build and belong. She invites us to see each other not as weeds to be managed, but as seeds to be nurtured - reminding us that healing communities start with how we show up for one another.Together, Simran and Anurima unpack what it means to bui...2025-07-1725 minWisdom and PracticeThe Surprising Science Behind Compassion with Laurie SantosWhat if good and evil aren’t as clear-cut as we think?This week, Simran sits down with Laurie Santos, a Yale professor and the mind behind the Science of Wellbeing course, to unpack the messy, complicated nature of human behavior. Together, they talk about small but powerful tools like ritual objects and cognitive reappraisal that help us manage our emotions and reshape our habits, rooting us more firmly in what truly matters. They explore how these visible, everyday practices create space for our values to live and breathe, both individually and in community.I...2025-07-0333 minWisdom and PracticeWhat’s So Funny About Service? With Chris DuffyWhere do we turn for hope when the world doesn’t make sense?This week, Simran welcomes comedian, storyteller, and How to Be a Better Human host Chris Duffy for a conversation that begins with laughter but opens into something far more tender.Simran and Chris explore how humor can be an offering, a bridge between pain and connection. They speak about the sacredness of listening, the beauty in imperfection, and the way small, everyday acts like making someone laugh or holding space in silence can become deeply spiritual practices.With grace and ho...2025-06-1932 min
Mental Health and Wellbeing by Nanak NaamMaking Room for the Divine Within with Satpal Singh | Wisdom and Practice | Simran Jeet SinghWhat does it mean to experience the divine from within?This week, Simran invites us into a rich conversation with Satpal Singh, founder of the nonprofit Nanak Naam, to explore a spirituality that focuses less on dogma and more on direct experience. Together, they reflect on a radical reimagining of God—not as an external figure, but as an inner current of oneness available to all.Through stories of spiritual awakening and emotional resilience, they discuss the impact of Western paradigms like capitalism on the soul, the challenges of staying grounded amidst chaos, and the da...2025-06-1932 minHow God Works: The Science Behind SpiritualityThe Soul and Science of PrayerWhat is prayer? And why do it? People pray for all kinds of reasons, and in all kinds of ways: alone, together, aloud, in silence, from memory, or from instinct. But whatever form it takes, there’s a reason prayer has been part of just about every spiritual tradition out there: its effects run deep. On this episode, we’re digging into the science and spirit of prayer. We’ll talk to neuroscientist Andrew Newberg about what prayer does to our minds and bodies, and how it helps shape us as people. And friend of the show Rabbi S...2025-06-1541 minWisdom and PracticeWhat Imperfection Can Teach Us with Amy GalloHow do we teach our children to be kind in a fractured world?Simran sits down with author and workplace expert Amy Gallo to explore how spiritual and emotional intelligence can begin at home and ripple outward.Reflecting on the lifelong impact of raising children with an inner compass rooted in faith, empathy, and self-awareness, Simran and Amy unpack how embracing imperfection can be a powerful gateway to conflict resolution and deeper connection.They explore the art of humanizing difficult interactions, cultivating resilience through compassion, and practicing empathy not just as a feeling...2025-06-0534 minWisdom and PracticeMaking Room for the Divine Within with Satpal SinghWhat does it mean to experience the divine from within?This week, Simran invites us into a rich conversation with Satpal Singh, founder of the nonprofit Nanak Naam, to explore a spirituality that focuses less on dogma and more on direct experience. Together, they reflect on a radical reimagining of God—not as an external figure, but as an inner current of oneness available to all.Through stories of spiritual awakening and emotional resilience, they discuss the impact of Western paradigms like capitalism on the soul, the challenges of staying grounded amidst chaos, and the da...2025-05-2232 minWisdom and PracticeRadical Hospitality with Rabbi Shira StutmanHow can radical welcoming transform the way we build spiritual community?This week, Simran sits down with Rabbi Shira Statman for a moving conversation about belonging, identity, and the evolving face of faith. Raised in a predominantly Christian town, Rabbi Shira shares how her early experiences shaped her understanding of what it means to hold space for difference—and why radical hospitality is central to her Jewish practice.Together, they explore the meaning behind prayers across spiritual traditions, the friction of political division within congregations, and the sacred responsibility of making room for those on th...2025-05-0827 min
Sixth & I LIVERabbi Shira Stutman with David BrooksIn her debut book The Jewish Way to a Good Life: Find Happiness, Build Community, and Embrace Lovingkindness, Rabbi Shira—Sixth & I’s former long-time and much beloved Senior Rabbi—distills 3,500 years of Jewish wisdom and culture into practical, time-tested strategies that anyone can adopt to find meaning, cultivate good values, and experience joy. In conversation with David Brooks, a New York Times Opinion columnist and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mountain and The Road to Character, among other books. This program was held on March 31, 2025. Thanks to our promotional partners, JWI, GatherDC...2025-05-021h 10Wisdom and PracticeViewing Death as Part of Life with Adrianna ProsserHow might facing our mortality help us cherish the beauty in each moment?This week, Simran sits down with death doula Adrianna Prosser for a heartfelt exploration of life’s most universal—and often avoided—truth: death. Adrianna opens up about her deeply personal journey into death care, shaped by the trauma of her brother’s suicide. These moments became the catalyst for her calling: to hold space for others at the end of life, and for those left behind in mourning.Now working as a death doula, Adrianna offers emotional and spiritual support to individu...2025-04-2433 minHow God Works: The Science Behind SpiritualityFound By FaithPeople find faith or change faiths for many reasons: marriage, raising a family, dealing with grief or crisis. But sometimes it happens the other way around… faith finds you. A believing takes hold, a sense that something divine is there. And maybe not in the way or role that you might have expected. It’s not uncommon. Data show that these types of experiences happen to about 30% of people. On this episode we’ll talk to one of these people –New York Times columnist and best selling author David Brooks– about his unexpected encounter with faith and what came af...2025-04-2035 minWisdom and PracticeThe Spiritual Wisdom of Slowing Down with Pico IyerWhat can silence teach us about presence, purpose, and connection? How might traveling inward be as transformative as journeying across the globe?This week, Simran journeys into stillness and simplicity with celebrated writer Pico Iyer. Together, they explore the quiet truths discovered through travel, solitude, and spiritual seeking.Pico reflects on his life between worlds—from the stillness of a Japanese suburb to the vibrant chaos of New York, and the contemplative silence of monasteries. He shares how his multicultural upbringing and diverse spiritual influences have shaped his understanding of identity, belonging, and meaning....2025-04-1030 minWisdom and PracticeThe Revolutionary Act of Kindness with Naomi Shihab NyeHow do words shape the way we understand ourselves and each other? Can poetry and kindness be powerful tools for healing and connection in a fragmented world?This week, Simran explores the profound impact of poetry and kindness with acclaimed poet Naomi Shihab Nye. Together, they unpack her evolving understanding of identity—not as a rigid box, but as something fluid and ever-changing. Naomi shares how poetry became her lifelong practice of reflection and connection, offering solace in times of uncertainty and a bridge between people and cultures. They address the importance of kindness, the nec...2025-03-2726 minWisdom and PracticeAncient Rituals, Modern Impact with Rabbi Sharon BrousWe often think that purpose comes from big moments or grand gestures. But what if it’s the small, quiet connections that truly shape the way we see the world?In this week’s episode, Simran speaks with Rabbi Sharon Brous, a spiritual leader whose journey to faith is deeply intertwined with her passion for social justice. Rabbi Brous shares how her path shifted from aspiring civil rights attorney to becoming a rabbi, and how a spiritual awakening in college led her to discover the powerful intersection of faith and justice.She takes us through anci...2025-03-1327 minWisdom and PracticeHolding Onto Hope with Nicholas KristofIt can be easy to assume that purpose comes from grand gestures or major life events. But what about the moments of quiet connection that shape how we see the world?In this week’s episode, Simran speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. From reflecting on remarkable experiences in the midst of global conflicts, to a childhood memory of spiritual connection in the wilderness, we explore the life-changing encounters that fuel his reporting and writing.Nicholas takes us back to the stories that have stayed with him—the real peop...2025-02-2731 min
WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Audio ArchivesWorld Ocean Radio 2/19/25: Water as Resistance for MetaphorHost: Peter Neill Producer: Trisha Badger ABOUT THIS EPISODE “Power is like water. It flows all around us at all times. Sometimes it takes the liquid form of politics-in-action…Sometimes it takes the solid form of settled law: policy is power frozen. Sometimes it is like vapor in the air, invisibly shaping the climate and our behavior in just the way beliefs or ideology or emotions do…” So states Eric Liu, founder of Citizen University and Director of the Aspen Institute Program on Citizen and American Identity. This week on World Ocean Radio, founder Peter Neill expands upon water as metaph...2025-02-1904 minWisdom and PracticeFinding Meaning in the Mess with Kelly CorriganIt can feel natural to seek wisdom in the big moments of life. But what about looking for wisdom in the smaller moments, the everyday encounters that shape us?In this week’s episode, Simran speaks with bestselling memoirist, Kelly Corrigan. She opens up about the transformative experiences that shaped her life, from a spiritual experience in her youth to the quiet interactions that often hold the deepest meaning. Kelly then takes us back to her childhood memories, reflecting on the power of connection and how the simple act of being present has made all the...2025-02-1329 minWisdom and PracticeMeaning, Addiction, and Spirituality with Nadia Bolz-WeberGrowing up in a strict religious environment can leave deep imprints on us. Addiction can too. So what happens when we dare to step beyond these and discover spirituality on our own terms? In this week’s episode, Simran Jeet Singh sits down with Nadia Bolz-Weber, ordained Lutheran pastor, best-selling author, and founder of the House for All Sinners and Saints, to explore the journey of transformation and radical honesty.Together, Simran and Nadia reflect on the path from rigid belief systems to a faith that is deeply personal and inclusive. Nadia shares her story of...2025-01-3026 minWisdom and PracticeChoosing Love with Krista TippettLeaning into love and compassion doesn’t always feel natural, especially when the people we’re dealing with are fueled by hate. But what happens when we resist our urges to hate, and instead, see humanity in one another? And how might we begin to do that? In this week’s episode, Krista Tippett, Peabody award-winning journalist and the host of the podcast On Being, explores how we can practice love in times of divisions and hatred. Together, Simran and Krista speak openly with one another about the challenges that come with sustaining relationships, as well...2025-01-1626 minWisdom and PracticeBONUS: "A Guiding Light" from Know What You SeeToday, we have a special episode for you! If you’ve been enjoying this show, Wisdom and Practice, here's another podcast we think you’ll like.On “Know What You See”, host Brian Lowery delves into the ways our fundamental need to connect with others profoundly shapes our experience of life. Brian is a professor of social psychology at Stanford University, and on his podcast, he explores the surprising, perplexing and sometimes transcendent lives we create together. In this conversation, Brian is joined by Simran to explore the intersection of faith, purpose, and daily...2025-01-0229 minWisdom and PracticeThe Science of Spirituality with David DeStenoWhat happens when spiritual wisdom meets scientific inquiry? In this episode of Wisdom and Practice, host Simran Jeet Singh engages in a thought-provoking conversation with David DeSteno—renowned psychologist, Northeastern University professor, and host of the How God Works podcast.From his Catholic roots to his journey as a scientist and agnostic, David shares how his exploration of human behavior revealed unexpected truths about the power of ancient spiritual practices. Their conversation unpacks how traditions like gratitude, meditation, and rituals can elevate compassion, build community, and fortify resilience—offering practical tools for navigating the complexities of modern life...2024-12-1930 minWisdom and PracticeThe Wisdom of Habits with Charles DuhiggHave you ever thought that discipline was a burden? Well, you’re not the only one. So many people have felt the same way. And yet, for Pulitzer Prize-winning author Charles Duhigg, discipline may be a path to freedom for many.Simran and Charles unpack the science of habit formation—why cues, routines, and rewards are the secret to sustainable change— like laying out gym clothes or finding moments of presence—can transform our lives. And in turn explore how spiritual practices, whether in daily prayer or simply savoring a moment with loved ones, can grou...2024-12-0530 minWisdom and PracticeMinistering in Uprisings, Defending Our ChildrenCollege, for many of us, is a time of intense growth, self discovery and exploration. That was certainly the case for Starsky Wilson, an activist, philanthropist, and public theologian. Though in Starsky’s case, that journey was one of deep introspection about one question that began to gnaw at him: what was his purpose? From his early years growing up in Dallas attending a Baptist Church to discovering greater meaning at Xavier University to leading and ministering during the uprisings in Ferguson, Starsky shares how his experiences have shaped his commitment to brin...2024-11-2123 minWisdom and PracticeBlack Liberation, Buddhist Liberation: Rima Vesely-FladOur experiences in faith communities can be as diverse and layered as the facets of our identities. For Rima Vesely-Flad, a visiting fellow at Princeton University, her winding journey to the Theravada Buddhist tradition has also been a path to finding a community where she feels seen and challenged to live with radical compassion. Rima is the author of Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition: The Practice of Stillness in the Movement for Liberation. In this conversation, Rima and Simran speak honestly about what it’s like navigating fait...2024-11-0726 minWisdom and PracticeHow to Use Mindfulness to Break Bias with Anu GuptaBiases shape how we see the world, how we interact with others, and even how we see ourselves. But what if we could reimagine those patterns and break free from them? Today’s guest, Anu Gupta, has made it his mission to do just that.Anu is a thought leader, mindfulness expert, and the author of the groundbreaking book Breaking Bias. Simran, in hearing about Anu’s rich tapestry of spiritual exploration, Simran uncovers the early influences that shaped his worldview.Through practices like mindfulness and Kriya Yoga, Anu expl...2024-10-2432 minWisdom and PracticeTurning to Faith with Rainn WilsonDespite having grown within The Baháʼí Faith, Rainn Wilson didn’t feel particularly connected to God or really any sense of spirituality. But during the height of his career, while he was starring in the hit TV series “The Office”, in which he played Dwight Shrute– the strong willed, over-confident and ever-nerdy assistant regional manager to Michael Scott at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company– Rainn Wilson found himself unhappy and dissatisfied.This wasn’t the first time Rainn was looking for answers. He’d seen disconnects before, including in his upbringing within the Baha’i faith. ...2024-10-1025 minWisdom and PracticeFrom Hollywood to Harvard: Hussein Rashid on Islam, Pop Culture, and JusticeGrowing up as a Muslim in America comes with its own challenges. For Assistant Dean for Religion and Public Life at Harvard Divinity School, Hussein Rashid, that struggle lies at the center of his work on modern day pop culture and its representations of Islam.In this raw and candid conversation, Simran and Hussein discuss different forms of Islamic practice and growing up code-switching, with multicultural identities in a religiously diverse society.And most importantly, we’ll hear how recognizing the beauty in our spi...2024-09-2628 minWisdom and PracticeHow Rabbi Rick Jacobs Navigates Faith in a Modern WorldDid you have a profound spiritual experience in your youth? Rabbi Rick Jacobs' spiritual connection came during his summer camps in Northern California. Forging a bond with the natural world shaped his approach to blending traditional religious practices with universal spirituality, and they also inspired an appreciation for spiritual experiences outside conventional settings of worship. Now serving as the President of the Union for Reform Judaism, he emphasizes the importance of curiosity, asking questions, and caring for people of all backgrounds in the universal quest for holiness.2024-09-1224 minWisdom and PracticeFinding Magic in the Everyday with Katherine MayDoes life ever feel too predictable? Boring? Anodyne? Do you ever crave for a sense of adventure, to turn mundane tasks into opportunities for excitement and new experiences?That’s how author of “Enchantment” and host of “How We Live Now”, Katherine May, actively engages in embracing the beauty and wonder of the mundane. She perceives the world with adventure, the richness of diverse experiences and the importance of embracing rather than taming the natural world.In this episode, host Simran Jeet Singh speaks with her about the loss of sense of...2024-08-2927 min
voice#8 Simran JeetSimran Jeet Singh, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of History at Union Theological Seminary and Senior Advisor for the Aspen Institute’s Religion & Society Program. He is the national bestselling author of The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life (Riverhead, Penguin Random House), which is now out in paperback, and he hosts the new podcast, Wisdom & Practice, which is produced in partnership with PRX and The Aspen Institute.
Activities you are particularly passionate about (hobbies are also welcome ): Reading, writing, teaching, running, sports, exercise
Announcement (if any): New Podcast! Wisdom & Practice fr...2024-08-1641 minWisdom and PracticeHow Miroslav Volf’s Doubt Led to His DevotionIn this first episode, host Simran Jeet Singh reflects on a life-changing conversation with his father that sparked a mid-life reflection on his journey of faith, doubt, and the quest for meaning. He explores the concept of doubt and faith with Miroslav Volf, the Founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture.Through the lens of Christianity and his personal journey, Miroslav discusses the importance of intentionality and vision, how faith and doubt can coexist and enrich one another, and the role that practices play in helping us live according to our beliefs and ideas.2024-08-1529 min
The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New YorkerJamil Jan Kochai Reads “On the Night of the Khatam”Jamil Jan Kochai reads his story “On the Night of the Khatam” from the February 26, 2024, issue of the magazine. Kochai is the author of the novel “99 Nights in Logar” and the collection “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories” which was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2022 and won the 2023 Aspen Words Literary Prize.
Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices2024-02-1934 min
RevealIt's Not Easy Going GreenWhen they were invented in the ’90s, renewable energy certificates were meant to stimulate the green energy market. Back then, building wind and solar farms was way more expensive than it is today. The idea was that renewable energy producers could sell certificates that represented the “greenness” of the energy they made. Anyone buying those certificates, or RECs, could claim that green power and also claim they were helping the environment.
For years, corporations have bought RECs as a low-commitment way to claim they’re “going green” – all while using the same old fossil fuel-powered electricity.
So how exa...2023-12-2349 min
JSEDirect with Simon BrownAspen back? Making deals and looking cheap? (#552) Aspen looking cheap? Aspen (JSE code: APN) announces a acquisition in Latin America for US$290m on a price/sales of ±3x and PE of ±5x. This is a classic Stephen Saad sort of deal. Strong cash generation to pay down the debt. After having gone quiet when the balance sheet case under serious pressure (with debt of ±R50billion) Aspen is back? Chart looking good for a break higher. Forward PE of ±12x is below 1 standard deviation over last twenty years and looking cheap. 2023-08-0219 minWorldWide Markets with Simon BrownAspen back? Making deals and looking cheap? (#552) Aspen looking cheap? Aspen (JSE code: APN) announces a acquisition in Latin America for US$290m on a price/sales of ±3x and PE of ±5x. This is a classic Stephen Saad sort of deal. Strong cash generation to pay down the debt. After having gone quiet when the balance sheet case under serious pressure (with debt of ±R50billion) Aspen is back? Chart looking good for a break higher. Forward PE of ±12x is below 1 standard deviation over last twenty years and looking cheap. 2023-08-0219 minRevealIt's Not Easy Going GreenWhen they were invented in the ’90s, renewable energy certificates were meant to stimulate the green energy market. Back then, building wind and solar farms was way more expensive than it is today. The idea was that renewable energy producers could sell certificates that represented the “greenness” of the energy they made. Anyone buying those certificates, or RECs, could claim that green power and also claim they were helping the environment.
For years, corporations have bought RECs as a low-commitment way to claim they’re “going green” – all while using the same old fossil fuel-powered electricity.
So how exa...2023-07-2250 minHow God Works: The Science Behind SpiritualityUniter or Divider? Explore Religion in Modern America. A How God Works Live Event.If you ask people what they think about religion, you often get one of two answers: Religion is the source of war, violence, abuse, and hypocrisy OR a route to love, kindness, tolerance, and mercy. Put another way, it’s either what divides us or it’s the thing that can actually bring us together. In a country deeply divided over social, political, and moral issues that seems to be moving further apart by the day, the answer’s not likely to be a simple one.
How God Works held its first live event in December to explor...2023-01-081h 23
Politics with Amy WalterDemocrats DividedThe ongoing migrant crisis is getting worse, as the Department of Homeland Security is running out of room to house the increasing number of migrants detained at the border. And when evidence of the conditions dominated the news cycle earlier this month, the outrage prompted lawmakers to get involved. But how that involvement played out became the latest point of contention between factions within the Democratic Party.
The Senate passed a spending bill aimed at alleviating what the Trump administration said was a lack of funding to properly house detained migrants. But the Democratic-controlled House, wary of...2019-07-1347 minPolitics with Amy WalterUnpacking the Democratic Debates from the Aspen Ideas FestivalAt this year's Aspen Ideas Festival, Amy hosted back-to-back post-debate discussions with a panel of influential writers. We'll hear excerpts from the conversation, in an effort to provide analysis of the first Democratic debates of the 2020 presidential campaign.
We also talk with two academics to discuss how their policy work could be used in tandem with politics to bring about change in areas of technology and inequality.
Finally, Amy reflects on the LGBTQ movement, on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
Guests:
Kristen Soltis Anderson, co-founder of Echelon Insights and au...2019-06-2847 min