Indian Religions Podcast

Conversations

Discussions on broad-ranging topics, with particular attention to online education and digital resources, as well as scholarly seminars and conferences.
A Conversation with Hanuman Dass

Raj Balkaran interviews Hanuman Dass, Chairman and Founder of Go Dharmic, about his far-reaching humanitarian work and universal vision if Hindu values. We also touch on his co-authored works with Dr. Nick Sutton of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Raj Balkaran is a scholar, educator, consultant, and life coach. For information see …

Guest: Hanuman DassDate: 1/27/2022
A Conversation with Laurie Patton

Raj Balkaran speaks with Laurie Patton, Professor of Religions and President at Middlebury College, about her scholarly journey, educational administration, poetry, trends in scholarship, the significance of Indian myth, and more.Raj Balkaran is a scholar, educator, consultant, and life coach. For information see rajbalkaran.com.

Guest: Laurie PattonDate: 1/13/2022
Neha Sahgal on the Pew Study “Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation”

Neha Sahgal, Associate Director, Research, at the Pew Research Center speaks of Pew’s ground-breaking research on Indian public opinion on religion. The data shows that Indians maintain a commitment to religious tolerance while also living highly religiously segregated lives. The survey report explores these themes in greater detail along with …

Guest: Neha SahgalDate: 1/6/2022
A Conversation with Vasudha Narayanan about Hindu Studies

Raj Balkaran has a candid conversation with seasoned scholar Dr. Vasudha Narayanan about her academic journey, the current state of Hindu Studies and her ground-breaking work on Hindu temples and traditions in Cambodia. Dr. Narayanan is Distinguished Professor, Department of Religion, at the University of Florida, Director for the Centre for the …

Guest: Vasudha NarayananDate: 12/21/2021
Sanskrit Tools on the Web (Part 2)

This interview continues the conversation with Martin Gluckman, Researcher at University of Capetown and Director at Sanskrit Research Institute. We discuss his Panini Research Tool, Sanskrit Writer, Text to Speech Sanskrit Tool and research into the Indus Valley Script. For the first part of this interview, go here.  Raj Balkaran is a scholar, …

Guest: Martin GluckmanDate: 11/18/2021
Sanskrit Tools on the Web (Part 1)

This interview features amazing open-access digital Sanskrit projects spearheaded by Martin Gluckman, Researcher at University of Capetown and Director at Sanskrit Research Institute. We discuss Martin’s Sanskrit and computer science backgrounds as well as the on-line Sanskrit dictionary.  For the second part of this interview, go here.  Raj …

Guest: Martin GluckmanDate: 11/11/2021
Mark Van Buren on Meditation and Mindfulness Training

This podcast features the wisdom and work of Mark Van Buren, Bergen County's go-to guide for all meditation and mindfulness-based training. With well over a decade of experience in the field, Mark instructs meditation workshops, lectures, professional development days, corporate wellness classes, and silent retreats in a practical, yet accessible …

Guest: Mark Van BurenDate: 9/22/2021
Online Dharmaśāstra Library

Dr. Don Davis (Professor and Chair, Department of Asian Studies) speaks about the newly launched Resource Library for Dharmaśāstra Studies, a digitized open educational resource hosted at the University of Texas, Austin. We discuss the genesis and utility of this important online resource, highlighting the herculean efforts of Dr. Patrick Olivelle.

Guest: Don DavisDate: 9/9/2021
Open Access Publishing

What is Open Access Publishing and why is it important? Listen in as Raj Balkaran interviews Dominik A. Haas on his Fair Open Access Publishing in South Asian Studies (FOASAS) initiative which maintains a list of relevant publishers, journals, book series and other publication media. The list is available here. If you know of any other FOA …

Guest: Dominik A. HaasDate: 8/26/2021
Pamela Ayo Yetunde on being Black and Buddhist

What does it mean to be black and Buddhist, and what does that have to do with Life Wisdom? This episode of Life Wisdom features the dynamic work of Pamela Ayo Yetunde, Pastoral Counsellor, Co-Founder of Centre of the Heart, Buddhist Justice Reporter and co-editor of Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us about Race, Resilience, …

Guest: Pamela Ayo YetundeDate: 8/25/2021