The 16 Best Buddhism Podcasts (2026)

Tara Brach has been doing this for a long time. She's a clinical psychologist with a PhD and a meditation teacher who trained in Buddhist traditions, and her podcast reflects that dual foundation. Each week she alternates between dharma talks and guided meditations, blending insights from Western psychology with Eastern contemplative practice. The result is something that feels both intellectually grounded and deeply calming.

With over 1,600 episodes and a 4.8 star rating from more than 10,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts, this is one of the most established meditation podcasts in existence. Brach has a voice that genuinely puts you at ease. Her talks explore themes like self-compassion, letting go of control, befriending difficult emotions, and learning to see goodness in yourself and others. She references research when it's relevant but never makes the show feel academic. It's more like sitting with a wise friend who happens to know a lot about neuroscience and Buddhist philosophy.

The guided meditations range from 15 to 45 minutes and are excellent for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Brach uses a technique she calls RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) that has become widely adopted in therapeutic settings. New episodes drop twice a week, and the back catalog alone could keep you busy for years. If you're looking for a podcast that addresses emotional pain through mindfulness without getting preachy or overly woo-woo, Tara Brach consistently delivers something genuine and useful.

Jack Kornfield is one of the people most responsible for bringing Theravada Buddhism to America. He trained as a monk in Thailand, India, and Burma, then co-founded the Insight Meditation Society with Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein. So when he talks, he's drawing on decades of direct practice and teaching. Heart Wisdom runs about 316 episodes and updates every two weeks.

The format is a mix of solo teachings and conversations with guests. Jack has this remarkable ability to fold Buddhist concepts into stories from daily life, from parenting struggles to political anxiety, without ever sounding preachy. His episodes with guests like Anne Lamott or Tami Simon feel more like genuine friendships than stiff interviews. You can hear them laughing, disagreeing gently, working through ideas together.

Episodes typically run 35-40 minutes, which feels just right. Long enough to develop a real idea but short enough for a commute or lunch break. Jack's storytelling is a real strength here. He'll share something from his time in a Thai monastery, pivot to a Mary Oliver poem, and then land on a practical insight about handling grief or anger. The 4.7-star rating with over 1,400 reviews reflects a loyal audience that keeps coming back.

Produced by Be Here Now Network, the show carries Ram Dass's legacy of accessible spirituality forward. Jack's warmth and occasional self-deprecating humor make Buddhist wisdom feel personal rather than distant.

Joseph Goldstein is basically the elder statesman of American vipassana meditation. He spent years studying in India and Burma with masters like Anagarika Munindra and Dipa Ma, and he co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts. His podcast has 260 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from over 900 reviewers, which tells you the teaching is consistently strong.

The format is mostly solo dharma talks, sometimes with Q&A segments. Joseph has a precise, almost scholarly way of explaining meditation concepts, but he keeps things grounded with personal anecdotes and the kind of dry humor that sneaks up on you. He'll unpack a single Pali term for twenty minutes and somehow make it fascinating. Episodes run 45-60 minutes on average, and they reward careful listening.

Recent episodes tackle topics like aspiration in Buddhist practice, the nature of consciousness, and working with difficult emotions. Joseph doesn't simplify things beyond their actual complexity, which is refreshing. He treats his listeners like intelligent adults who can handle nuance. At the same time, he has a gift for finding the practical application in even the most abstract teachings.

This is not a beginner's podcast, though newcomers can certainly benefit. It's best for people who already have some meditation experience and want to go deeper into the Theravada tradition. Joseph's voice is calm and measured, and there's a clarity to his teaching that makes even dense material feel manageable. Another solid offering from the Be Here Now Network.

Sharon Salzberg helped bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream America over 45 years ago. She's a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society, and Metta Hour is where she extends that work through conversation. With over six million downloads and 282 episodes, the podcast has built a serious following.

The format is primarily interviews. Sharon sits down with fellow meditation teachers, authors, psychologists, and spiritual practitioners for discussions that run 55 minutes to just over an hour. Recent guests include Jack Kornfield, Roshi Joan Halifax, and various figures from the broader mindfulness community. What makes these conversations stand out is Sharon's genuine curiosity. She asks questions that don't have rehearsed answers, and she's comfortable with silence and reflection in the middle of a discussion.

Sharon's whole thing is metta, lovingkindness, and it comes through in how she holds space for her guests. She'll gently push back on ideas when needed, but there's never any ego in it. The show occasionally includes guided meditations, which offer a nice change of pace from the interview format.

Her 4.6-star rating from 660+ reviews reflects a dedicated listener base. The podcast feels intimate, like sitting in on a private conversation between two people who have spent decades thinking seriously about the mind. If you're interested in lovingkindness practice specifically, or just want to hear thoughtful conversations between experienced practitioners, this delivers consistently.

Noah Rasheta opens with a quote that basically sums up his whole approach: "Don't use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist. Use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are." That single line tells you more about this podcast than a paragraph ever could. With 219 episodes, a 4.8-star rating, and nearly 2,600 reviews, Secular Buddhism has found an audience that appreciates Buddhist philosophy without the religious scaffolding.

Noah's format is mostly solo episodes running about 25-35 minutes. He takes core Buddhist concepts like the Eightfold Path, the Four Noble Truths, and dependent origination, and explains them through relatable metaphors. A recent episode on Right Effort uses gardening as its central image, which is the kind of concrete, grounded teaching that makes this show work. He also brings in modern psychology and neuroscience to back up what he's presenting, which gives the material extra credibility for skeptically-minded listeners.

The production is clean and the pacing is deliberate. Noah doesn't rush. He recently launched a companion website called EightfoldPath.com with full transcripts, guided meditations, and even an AI tool trained on his past content. That's a sign of someone who's genuinely invested in making these teachings accessible.

This is a great entry point for people who are curious about Buddhism but turned off by incense and chanting. Noah strips away the ritual and focuses on practical wisdom. He's been at it for ten years now, and the consistency shows.

This podcast pairs Brother Phap Huu, who served as Thich Nhat Hanh's personal attendant for 17 years and now leads Plum Village's Upper Hamlet, with Jo Confino, a leadership coach and former journalist. It's an unusual combination that works beautifully. Brother Phap Huu brings the lived monastic experience; Jo brings the questions that a thoughtful layperson would actually ask.

With 104 episodes and a stunning 4.9-star rating from over 1,300 listeners, this is one of the highest-rated Buddhism podcasts on Apple. Episodes run about 90 minutes, which is long, but the conversational pace makes them feel natural rather than bloated. They sit together at Plum Village in France and talk through themes like fear, anger, love, and what it means to truly be present. The name comes from Thich Nhat Hanh's calligraphy, pointing to the idea that the way out of difficulty is to look within.

The production quality is excellent, co-produced by the Plum Village App and Global Optimism. You can hear birds in the background sometimes, the monastery grounds bleeding into the recording. Brother Phap Huu shares stories from 25 years of monastic life with remarkable openness, including the vulnerable moments and the doubts.

This is specifically rooted in Thich Nhat Hanh's Zen tradition, so if you're drawn to that lineage, it's essential listening. But even if you're not, the warmth and groundedness of these conversations makes them appealing to anyone interested in how contemplative life intersects with the modern world.

Tricycle magazine has been the most prominent Buddhist publication in the English-speaking world for over three decades, and their podcast carries that same editorial seriousness. Hosted by editor-in-chief James Shaheen, Tricycle Talks features interviews with Buddhist teachers, scholars, writers, and artists. The guest list reads like a who's who of contemporary Buddhism.

The show has 192 episodes and updates biweekly. Conversations typically run 45-70 minutes and cover everything from classical Tibetan philosophy to how Buddhist poets approach their craft. Recent episodes have featured poet Li-Young Lee discussing awe and the unknown. There's also a companion segment called "Life As It Is," co-hosted with Sharon Salzberg, that focuses specifically on integrating practice into daily life.

James Shaheen is a skilled interviewer. He clearly does his homework, asking questions that go beyond surface-level and giving guests room to develop their thoughts fully. The conversations have an intellectual rigor you don't always find in spiritual podcasts, but they stay accessible. You don't need a degree in Buddhist studies to follow along.

The 4.6-star rating from 349 reviews is solid, especially for a more cerebral offering. This is the podcast for listeners who read books about Buddhism, who want to understand the philosophical and cultural dimensions alongside the practical. It bridges the academic and the experiential in a way that feels distinctly Tricycle.

Domyo Burk is a Soto Zen priest who founded Bright Way Zen near Portland, Oregon, and she's put together something genuinely useful here. The Zen Studies Podcast has 335 episodes spanning teachings, history, practices, and classical texts, all recorded specifically for podcast listeners rather than repurposed from live talks. That intentionality shows in the pacing and structure.

The format cycles through five categories: Buddhism Today, Buddhist Teachings, Buddhist History, Buddhist Practices, and Buddhist Texts. This rotation keeps things fresh and gives the show an almost educational-series quality. Episodes run 30-40 minutes on average, though koan discussions can be shorter. A recent episode on Yunmen's famous koan "Every Day Is a Good Day" from the Blue Cliff Record ran just 22 minutes but packed in genuine insight.

Domyo's teaching style is clear and methodical without being dry. She explains Zen concepts in plain language and isn't afraid to say when something is complicated or when the tradition itself contains contradictions. The show has earned a 4.8-star rating from 384 reviewers, and all content is offered for free, which she frames as a commitment to making the Dharma universally accessible.

If you want a systematic education in Zen Buddhism, this is probably the best podcast for it. Domyo covers historical figures, ritual practices, ethical precepts, and meditation techniques with equal care. It's also the author of Idiot's Guides: Zen Living, which gives you a sense of her commitment to making Zen approachable.

Buddhist Geeks has been around since 2006, making it one of the longest-running Buddhism podcasts in existence. Vince Fakhoury Horn started it when he was a college student interested in where Buddhism and technology intersect, and 475 episodes later, that intersection has only gotten more interesting. The show now lives on Substack, which fits its independent, community-driven spirit.

The tagline is "Evolving Dharma in the Age of the Network," and that's not just marketing. Vince explores topics most Buddhist podcasts won't touch: AI consciousness, psychedelics and meditation, neuroscience of awakening, social justice within Buddhist communities. A recent episode discussed Bhutan's plan to build a million-person city centered on mindfulness principles. That's the kind of forward-looking content you'll find here.

The format varies. Some episodes are in-depth interviews with teachers and researchers; others are shorter solo commentaries or dialogues. Episode lengths range widely from 11 minutes to over an hour. Vince's interviewing style is sharp and informed. He's not afraid to challenge conventional Buddhist thinking or to sit with uncomfortable questions about how the dharma functions in contemporary society.

The 4.2-star rating from 397 reviews is slightly lower than some peers, likely because the show's willingness to provoke doesn't appeal to everyone. But that's precisely what makes it valuable. If you want Buddhism that engages critically with modernity rather than retreating from it, Buddhist Geeks is doing work nobody else is doing.

This is a treasury of recorded dharma talks from Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen master who passed away in January 2022. Curated by Kenley Neufeld, the collection spans 298 episodes of teachings delivered at Plum Village, Deer Park Monastery, and retreat centers around the world over several decades. The last episode was uploaded in February 2021, so this is a completed archive rather than an active show.

Thich Nhat Hanh had a way of saying profound things in the simplest possible language. His talks on interbeing, walking meditation, and mindful breathing have influenced millions of people worldwide. Listening to these recordings, you get the full experience of his teaching style: the long pauses, the gentle bell invitations, the stories that seem simple until you realize they've rearranged something in your understanding.

Episode lengths vary dramatically, from quick 8-minute reflections to nearly two-hour dharma talks. Some recordings are in English; others are translated from French or Vietnamese. The audio quality varies since these span many years and venues, but the content is consistently remarkable. The 4.6-star rating from 483 reviewers reflects deep appreciation for this archive.

For anyone drawn to the Plum Village tradition, this is irreplaceable primary source material. You're hearing one of the 20th century's most important Buddhist teachers speak directly. Even if you've read Thich Nhat Hanh's books, hearing him deliver these teachings in his own voice adds a dimension that print can't capture. It's a gift that this material exists in podcast form.

Every episode is about five minutes long. That's it. And honestly, that's what makes Buddhist Boot Camp so effective. Timber Hawkeye is a bestselling author who takes Buddhist-inspired reflections on gratitude, non-attachment, and inner peace and distills them into bite-sized episodes that you can listen to while making coffee.

The show has 183 episodes and updates twice a month. Timber's approach is explicitly secular. He's not interested in ritual or tradition for its own sake. His guiding philosophy mirrors Noah Rasheta's: use Buddhist wisdom to become a better version of yourself, not to adopt a new identity. The 4.8-star rating from 857 reviewers shows this resonates strongly.

Timber's delivery is warm and direct. Each episode picks a single theme, like letting go of past experiences in a recent episode called "Cling No More," and explores it through personal reflection and practical advice. The brevity forces him to be precise. There's no filler, no rambling, no unnecessary detours. You get one clean idea, developed just enough to land, and then it's done.

The short format makes this a perfect companion podcast. You might listen to a longer dharma talk from another teacher and then use Buddhist Boot Camp as a daily touchpoint to keep the ideas alive. It's also an ideal starting point for people who find longer Buddhist podcasts intimidating. Five minutes of Timber's grounded, accessible wisdom can shift your whole morning.

Norman Fischer is a poet, a Zen priest, and a former abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center. That combination of literary sensibility and deep institutional Zen experience makes the Everyday Zen Podcast distinctive. With 299 episodes updated twice a week, Norman has built an extensive library of dharma talks through the Everyday Zen Foundation, which he founded in 2001 to adapt Zen teaching for Western culture.

The format is solo dharma talks, often organized into teaching series. Recent episodes work through the Dhammapada text by text, which gives the show a structured, almost seminar-like quality. Episodes run 50-60 minutes on average, and Norman's delivery has the measured cadence of someone who's been teaching for decades and knows exactly where he's going with each point.

Norman brings a poet's attention to language. He'll linger on a word in a sutra and open up layers of meaning that a less literary teacher might skip past. He also features other teachers from the Everyday Zen community, including Kathie Fischer, Sue Moon, and Christopher Dumbleton, which adds welcome variety to the perspectives on offer.

The 4.6-star rating from 155 reviews suggests a smaller but devoted audience. This is a podcast for people who appreciate depth and don't mind long-form exploration. Norman doesn't try to make Zen trendy or palatable. He presents it as a serious, lifelong practice that requires patience and dedication. All talks are offered freely with a suggested donation, in keeping with the Buddhist tradition of dana.

Wisdom Publications has been the gold standard in Buddhist book publishing for decades. Their podcast, hosted by Daniel Aitken, essentially gives you access to the same caliber of guests who write those books. The guest list is staggering: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Karmapa, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Bhikkhu Bodhi, Robert Thurman, Tara Brach, Joseph Goldstein, and Sharon Salzberg have all appeared.

With 225 episodes updating twice a month, the format is long-form interviews that typically run about an hour. Daniel is a thoughtful host who draws out his guests with well-researched questions, and the conversations span a genuinely impressive range of Buddhist traditions. One episode might feature a Tibetan scholar discussing shamatha and vipashyana; the next might explore early Buddhist philosophy with a Theravada monk. That cross-tradition range is rare.

The 4.7-star rating from 333 reviews reflects an audience that values serious scholarship presented in accessible conversation. This isn't a meditation instruction podcast. It's more like sitting in on fascinating discussions between people who have devoted their lives to understanding and practicing the dharma.

If you read books from Wisdom Publications, the podcast is a natural extension. If you don't, it's an excellent introduction to the depth and diversity of Buddhist thought. The conversations consistently go beyond surface-level and reward multiple listens. It occupies a unique space between academic rigor and genuine spiritual warmth.

Matthew O'Connell started The Imperfect Buddha Podcast in 2015 because he felt something was missing from the Buddhist podcast world: honest, critical engagement with how Buddhism actually functions in contemporary Western life. Now hosted through the New Books Network, the show has 125 episodes and a 4.9-star rating, though from only 8 reviewers, so it's clearly a niche audience.

The show explicitly tackles anti-intellectualism and ideological capture in Western Buddhism and spirituality. Matthew interviews guests and produces think-pieces that ask uncomfortable questions about power dynamics in sanghas, the commercialization of mindfulness, and the gap between Buddhist ideals and institutional realities. It's tagged as explicit content, which tells you something about the directness of the conversations.

Episodes run about an hour on average, though some stretch past two hours. Matthew's background as a life coach and counselor gives him a therapeutic ear. He listens well, asks probing follow-up questions, and isn't afraid to sit with tension or disagreement. A recent episode with Dr. Michael Uebel reimagining equanimity is a good example of the show's willingness to take traditional concepts apart and examine them honestly.

This podcast fills an important gap. Most Buddhist podcasts present the tradition in a uniformly positive light. The Imperfect Buddha asks what happens when Buddhist communities cause harm, when teachers abuse power, and when spiritual ideals become obstacles to clear thinking. It's not for everyone, but for listeners who value intellectual honesty, it's essential.

Roshi Joan Halifax founded Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and her podcast brings the center's Wednesday evening dharma talks and program recordings directly to listeners. Joan is an anthropologist, ecologist, and Zen teacher who has worked extensively with dying people, prisoners, and communities in the Himalayas. That range of experience gives the podcast a distinctive flavor you won't find elsewhere.

The show features Joan alongside a rotating cast of resident and visiting teachers, including Senseis Kodo, Dainin, and Wendy Johnson. Episodes run 45-55 minutes on average, and the content reflects Upaya's deep commitment to socially engaged Buddhism: prison work, end-of-life care, environmental activism, and compassionate care training all show up regularly.

With 51 episodes on the current Apple Podcasts feed and weekly updates, this is a smaller catalog than some peers. But Upaya has been podcasting since the very early days of the medium, and Joan's recorded teachings number in the hundreds through the center's website. The 4.5-star rating from 258 reviewers reflects consistent quality.

What makes this stand out is the social engagement angle. Most Buddhist podcasts focus on personal practice and inner transformation. Upaya doesn't neglect those, but it consistently asks how practice connects to service, justice, and the suffering of others. Joan's voice carries the authority of someone who has held space for people in their most difficult moments. That lived experience is palpable in every episode.

Michael W. Taft has been meditating for over 35 years, from Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, and his podcast reflects that eclecticism. Deconstructing Yourself bills itself as a "radical cafe" for exploring awakening, and the 4.9-star rating from 397 reviewers suggests the cafe has excellent regulars.

The format is interview-based, with Michael talking to thinkers, authors, and teachers who span traditions. Recent episodes explore topics like the Stack Model for deconstructing sensory experience, nondual Vajrayana methods, and neurofeedback for meditation. The guest list pulls from Dzogchen, Advaita Vedanta, nondual Shaiva Tantra, post-traditional Buddhism, and neuroscience. If that sounds like a lot, it is, and that's the point. Michael isn't loyal to any single tradition.

Episodes run 45-60 minutes and come out roughly every couple of weeks. Michael's interviewing style is direct and well-informed. He's written several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek, so he brings an author's precision to his questions. He pushes conversations past the comfortable talking points into territory where things get genuinely interesting.

The show sits at the intersection of hardcore meditation practice and intellectual inquiry. It's not for casual listeners looking for relaxation tips. It's for people who want to understand the mechanics of consciousness and are willing to follow ideas across traditional boundaries to get there. Michael calls it "fearlessly investigating" awakening, and that's an accurate description of what you'll find here.