Hidden Gems (2025)

Lama Glenn Mullin is a spiritual teacher, Tibetologist, and author of over 30 books on Buddhism. 

In this video, we join Glenn before his retreat as he carries out his early morning circumambulation of the Great Stūpa of Boudhanath. As we walk, Glenn explains the story and significance of the renowned holy site, reveals the esoteric symbolism of stūpa design, and discusses the healing and spiritual power of pilgrimage.

Glenn also reflects on his own life experiences in Kathmandu, recalls his early dharma training, interacts with people around the stūpa, and considers the implications of Kālacakra prophecies for recent history and current events. 

Khandro Kunzang details her apprenticeship in Nepal under renowned ngakpa, Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche; outlines the course of her training from yidam practice to tummo and beyond; and reflects on the profound trust involved in the guru-disciple dynamic. 

Khandro Kunzang shares stories about Kunzang Dorje’s psychic powers, his testing the honesty and obedience of potential students and even other lamas, and the price he paid for adhering to his yogic ideals by refusing involvement in politics and religious institutions.

Lama Lhanang is a spiritual teacher of the Nyingma Longchen Nyingthig lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and an expert in meditation, geomancy, art, cultural and historical studies, and Tibetan medicine.

Lama Lhanang discusses the Tibetan Buddhist and traditional Tibetan medical beliefs about death, including a detailed description of the death process itself, physical signs of imminent death, and the system of divination and omens that can indicate that one’s life will soon end.

Lama Lhanang reveals the methods and mechanisms of the yogic death practices of phowa, tukdam, and rainbow body.

In this episode we explore the life story of Dr Nida Chenagtsang, master of Tibetan Medicine and lineage holder of the spiritual teachings of the Yuthok Nyingthig. 

We learn about Dr Nida’s childhood as a nomad on the high grasslands of Tibet and the lessons he learned immersed in nature.  We follow him to Lhasa, where he trained as a doctor of Tibetan medicine, and engaged in private spiritual training in lineages such as the Longchen Nyingthig, Dudjom Tersar, Yuthok Nyingthig and more.

We hear Dr Nida’s critique of the tulku system of locating and enthroning the reincarnations of spiritual masters as children, and discuss why it is that Dr Nida offers previously secret teachings so openly to the public.

Dr Ben Joffe is an anthropologist and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Dr Joffe leads a deep dive into the Western magickal tradition of spirit conjuration, traces their diverse forms through the centuries, and considers the range of beings described, from the land sprites of localised traditions to the high angels of the Enochian system of Renaissance polymath John Dee. 

Dr Joffe reflects on the origin and changing usage of terms such as “demon” and “devil”, laments the prevalence of dangerously lax invocation practices, considers the cultural impact of the grimoire tradition, compares the systems of demonology found in world religions, and notes striking similarities between Buddhist tantric mystic Padmasambhava and King Solomon.

I am joined by internationally renowned yoga teacher Angela Farmer.  Angela recounts the story of her life in yoga, from her birth in 1939 pre-war England, to her studies under yoga guru BKS Iyengar, to her international teaching career spanning over 50 years.

Angela reveals how after a decade of rigorous training under Iyengar, she broke away from strict asana practice to find her own path of listening to the body. Despite the resultant blacklisting by the yoga community, Angela uncovered a radically different way of practicing yoga.

Angela also shares what it means to be receptive to life in the face of fear, trauma, and change, and offers her heart advice to women of all ages.

I am joined by Rupert Spira: a teacher of the direct path method of Advaita, and an internationally acclaimed ceramic artist. Rupert discusses his childhood in British boarding school, his disenchantment with science, & his discovery of spirituality.

Rupert recounts his intensive apprenticeship with the Zen Master-like British studio potter Michaela Cardew, and shares the essence of his artistic process as it expresses both in ceramics and in his work as a teacher of nonduality.   

I am joined by Nicki Wells, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and composer. We learn about Nicki’s Himalayan upbringing in Dharmsala, India as part of the Sahaja Yoga group, a tradition of awakening that exposed Nicki to profound states of meditation as well as Indian classical music.

We go into depth about the Sahaja Yoga system, including its approach to kundalini energy, darshan, and spiritual evolution, as well as Nicki’s own spiritual epiphanies.

In this video documentary, we gain an intimate glimpse into the lives of Ngakpa Chögyam and Khandro Déchen as they open their home, shrine room, and writing spaces.

Ngakpa Chögyam reveals the art and practice of clothing and we learn why the Fender Telecaster is a doorway to compassion. The Lamas talk candidly about the skepticism of their authenticity, we hear stories about Mahasiddhas and Crazy Wisdom masters.

In this episode I am joined by Drukmo Gyal Dakini (འབྲུག་མོ་རྒྱལ), an International singer, recording artist, and practitioner of Tibetan mantra healing. Drukmo discusses her childhood in Amdo, Tibet, and the early musical and spiritual influences of her family and community.

Drukmo reveals how a chance meeting with the man who would become her root guru, Dr Nida Chenagtsang, kindled a passion for Tibetan medicine and spiritual practice in the Yuthok Nyingthig tradition.

Drukmo talks about her experiences of cultural differences between East and West, the history and power of mantra for healing, the importance of personal practice, and addresses common misconceptions about being the devotee of a guru.

Radha Krishna Upadhyaya is an astrologer, clairvoyant, Kriya Yogi, and disciple of Tibetan Buddhist master Sakya Trizin.

Radha Krishna recounts details of his years in forest retreat, his practice of Kriya Yoga and Advaita Vedanta and the process of purifying the energy channels, and why an encounter with Sakya Trizin radically reoriented his life towards Buddhist practice.

Radha Krishna also discusses his own and his family’s history of siddhi powers, his encounters with spiritual beings and mysterious forest creatures, describes his unique astrological method, and shares five observations about the Westerners for whom he has provided divination services. 

Dorje is an American Vajrayana practitioner born in 1947 who’s life spans the early days of gay liberation, the AIDS crisis, and beyond.

Dorje recounts his childhood in the American South, his move to San Francisco in 1968, and his involvement in the early days of the gay liberation movement. He recalls the arrival of AIDS in 1981, the traumatic deaths of his close friends, and the impact of his own HIV diagnosis.

Dorje explains his conversion to Buddhism in the midst of a chaotic and stressful life, his 25 years as an ordained monk, the power of Yamantaka practice, and his understanding of the spiritual path.   

Lorin Roche PhD is a meditation teacher and author of ‘The Radiance Sutras’ and co-author of ‘Meditation Secrets for Women’.

Lorin describes meditation as an affair with life force itself, explores the role of sleep and rest, and explains the discipline of following the cosmic impulse in one’s practice.

In the context of this meditative view and drawing from his experience of 40 years of marriage, Loren reflects on intimate relationship, including his own journey in understanding intimacy, meditation keys to a thriving relationship, and how to use meditation to keep love alive.

Jina Kusala is a wandering Theravada monk, originally from Norway. 

Jina tells the story of his traumatic childhood, the mental suffering and instability it caused, and how the Buddhist path provided a means to reckon with the pain.

Jina shares encounters with religious leaders such as Mingyur Rinpoche, recounts meeting previous podcast guest Bhante Jason and reflects on the profound time he spent under Bhante’s instruction. 

Jina recalls his Himalayan wanderings and cave retreats, discusses the power of the 4 foundations of mindfulness, details the differences between Hīnayāna and Vajrayāna realisations, and explains why with incremental progress one may aim for sainthood.

In this interview I am joined by Thupten Phuntsok, Buddhist teacher who, after 21 years as a monk in the Gelugpa order, disrobed to live the life of a lay person in New York City.

Phuntsok describes his childhood in Haiti, and the awakening of his desire to become Christ-like and dedicate his life to spiritual contemplation. Phuntsok shares his subsequent explorations in Western Esotericism, Indian yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism including studies under Rato Rinpoche and Geshe Lobsang Tharchin.

Phuntsok also shares his views on the dysfunctions of modern sexuality, the scholastic emphasis of his Gelugpa training, the 6 Yogas of Naropa, and reveals the surprising reasons why after two decades he chose to leave the monastic life behind.