Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

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.