How God Works

What 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 Shira Stutman will return to explore how people can find meaning, connection and growth through intentional practice, whatever their beliefs may be.Andrew Newberg is the director of research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health and a physician at Jefferson University Hospital. He is the author of several books on the neuroscience of spirituality, including How God Changes Your Brain and The Rabbi's Brain. Find out more about his work on his website.Shira Stutman is a nationally known faith-based leader and changemaker, currently serving as Senior Rabbi at Aspen Jewish Congregation. She is also co-host of the podcast Chutzpod and author of the book The Jewish Way to a Good Life: Find Happiness, Build Community, and Embrace Lovingkindness.

There's a lot of talk these days about a crisis of masculinity. But is it a genuine problem or just another culture war talking point? In this special episode, we'll talk to writer and researcher Richard Reeves about the real and worrying data around the male struggle for meaning and purpose, and what role community and ritual can play in helping men find answers. We'll also hear from Dr. Russell Moore and Pastor Rasool Berry about how and why religion can help support men, but also the dangers it can pose if they follow it down the wrong path. And we'll hear directly from some young men about the challenges they're facing around identity and the comfort they're finding in Christian community and scripture.Richard Reeves is the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men and the author of the book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It. Learn more about his work on his website. Dr. Russell Moore is a Christian theologian, pastor and the Editor in Chief of Christianity Today. Learn more about his work on his website. Rasool Berry is Teaching and Family Pastor at The Bridge Church and a leader of The Whole Man Project. Learn more about his work on his website.  Special thanks to Bennett Bullard, Clint Brown, Ben Chao, Mason Diab, Sean Enniss, Alex Leach, Baines Pierre, Ernst Lozin, and Dejan Zivkovic for sharing their stories of what it's like to be a man today with us.

 Hey listeners, we'll be back in two weeks with a special episode looking at the multiple challenges facing men in America today. But while you wait, we wanted to share an episode from Season 2 of our show that feels especially relevant to that conversation. Think of it as a prequel or primer, because part of the problem, and possibly part of the solution, may have to do with how boys become men in the first place. We hope you enjoy!When you're a teenager, you're kind of between two worlds. You're leaving the comforts and carefree days of childhood behind and stepping into the challenges and responsibilities adulthood brings. But when exactly should you make that change? And, more importantly, how can rites of passage help? Join Dave as he talks with psychologist Leah Somerville and religion scholar Connor Wood to explore the adolescent mind and how rituals can help it learn to “adult.” For more on Leah Somerville's work, click here. To read some of Connor Wood's writing, visit Science on Religion.

For centuries, Western science and philosophy have struggled to explain what consciousness is and where it comes from. What if the answer to both those questions is: everything?On this episode, we dive into panpsychism: the idea that consciousness may not be limited to humans, or even living beings, but could be a basic property of reality itself. We'll talk to philosopher Philip Goff about why this idea is gaining attention in academic circles, and to theologian Joanna Leidenhag about how panpsychism aligns with spiritual traditions from across cultures and throughout history. We'll also ask: could this strange-sounding idea reshape how we understand ourselves and our place in the world?Philip Goff is a professor of Philosophy and the author of Why?: The Purpose of the Universe, Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness and many other publications about panpsychism. Find out more about his work on his website.Joanna Leidenhag is a professor of Theology and Philosophy and the author of the book Minding Creation: Theological Panpsychism and the Doctrine of Creation. Find out more about her work here.

People 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 after.Find out more about Weave: The Social Fabric Project, the non-profit David founded at the Aspen Institute.

Many would agree there are few things better than sharing a delicious meal with the people you love, which is one reason why breaking bread together is a cornerstone of religions the world over. But so too is the opposite - going without food.  From Ramadan to Yom Kippur to Lent, fasting is an important ritual in many faiths. But why do so many religions periodically take away the very thing that nourishes our bodies and souls?  On this episode we'll talk with Khalil-Abdur Rashid about the role fasting plays in Islam, and why not eating and drinking is actually the easy part.  And we'll talk to Adam Cohen about some new research that suggests even one day of fasting could help deepen religious commitment and overall well being.Imam Dr. Khalil Abdur-Rashid is the first full-time University Muslim Chaplain at Harvard University, Instructor of Muslim Studies at Harvard Divinity School, and Public Policy Lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.Adam Cohen is a Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University. Learn more about his research here. 

We often think of belief as a religious or cultural idea that is a hallmark of modern humans. But what if the early sparks of belief burned in our ancestors' minds long before modern humans walked the earth? What if beliefs about some of the biggest questions out there, like what happens after death, weren't just pondered by Homo sapiens?On this episode, evolutionary anthropologist Agustín Fuentes takes us on a journey spanning millions of years, from our primate relatives in the deep past to the complex spiritual and cultural traditions we know today. Along the way, we'll learn how the capacity for belief has helped shape our species and why it remains a powerful force in our lives today.Agustín Fuentes is a Professor of Anthropology at Princeton University and the author of the books Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being and The Creative Spark: How Imagination Made Humans Exceptional. Learn more about his work on his website, and be sure to check out his forthcoming book Sex is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary, due out in May 2025. 

When it comes to finding happiness, many religions see marriage as the gold standard: a path to love, stability, and fulfillment. But is that really true? And if so, why are marriage rates plummeting in so many parts of the world?In this episode, we'll talk to anthropologist Joseph Henrich about the surprising history of marriage and monogamy, including how these institutions helped lay the groundwork for much of our modern way of life. We'll also speak with psychologist Geoff MacDonald about what it means to live a happy, single life in a world that often prioritizes partnership, and why marriage might not offer the best road to fulfillment for everyone. Joseph Henrich is the Ruth Moore Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, and the author of The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous. Geoff MacDonald is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, where he leads the MacDonald Social Psychology Research Laboratory, which aims to study well-being in singlehood. 

Join us for Season 8 of How God Works, starting next week!

We'll be back with a whole new season of How God Works on March 9th. But in the meantime, we wanted to share shows from our archives that speak to some of the most pressing challenges we're all facing today. It's only February, and already this has been an intense year. So if you're feeling stressed today, how about… a breather?It's no accident that the Hebrew word for breath is the same as the word for spirit (ruach). Breath doesn't just give us life: it helps regulate everything from vital organ functions to cognition and emotional states. That's why spiritual traditions the world over incorporate it as a practice to help heal body and mind and walk the path towards peace.Join us as we explore the breath's connection to our nervous system with psychologist and neuroscientist Stephen Porges, creator of Polyvagal Theory. We'll also learn about the spiritual roots of breathwork and try out a few techniques with noted yoga, qigong and meditation teacher Amelia Barili.Learn more about Dr. Stephen Porges's work and Polyvagal Theory on his website, and be sure to check out his new book, co-authored with Seth Porges: Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us.Dr. Amelia Barili is faculty at the UCB Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and professor emerita from the University of California at Berkeley. Learn more about her work on her website and check out her YouTube channel the new paradigms.We also highly recommend the book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor.

We'll be back with a whole new season of How God Works starting in early March. But in the meantime, we wanted to share a few shows from our archives that speak to some of the most pressing challenges we're all facing today.Hate and prejudice based on ethnicity, religion, gender and sexual orientation are all too common in our world. But are we doomed to be this way? Or is it possible to create a world where cooperation and peace are the norm?Join Dave as he talks to NYU professor Jay van Bavel about the deeper mechanisms at work when it comes to group conflict (and how to avoid it), and with Zen Buddhism teacher Larry Ward about how the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village Tradition can help all of us to heal and foster a more equitable and caring world.Jay Van Bavel is co-author (with Dominic Packer) of The Power of Us: Harnessing Our Shared Identities to Improve Performance, Increase Cooperation, and Promote Social Harmony. Find out more about Jay's work on his website.Larry Ward is a co-founder of The Lotus Institute and host of the podcast Beyond the News, which explores current events through the lens of Buddhism and neuroscience. He is also the author of America's Racial Karma: An Invitation to Heal.The gathas heard in this episode are taken from Thich Nhat Hanh's book Peace Is Every Breath: A Practice for Our Busy Lives. Dave also makes reference to the 14 mindfulness trainings, which can be found in the book Interbeing, 4th Edition: The 14 Mindfulness Trainings of Engaged Buddhism.

Artificial Intelligence, and its possible applications to religion, have been in the news a lot lately, so while we're busy working on Season 8, we thought we'd share this episode from 2022 with you.Can you pray with a robot? Will people worship AI like a god? It's not science fiction. It's starting to happen now. But what does it mean if robots become priests, or AIs start offering ethical advice? And how do we know when to trust them?We'll talk to MIT social roboticist Cynthia Breazeal about how technology can manipulate our minds and emotions for good or ill, and with religion professor Robert Geraci about how technology is being used in religion, and why AI may need some spiritual training itself.Watch Cynthia Breazeal's TED talk here, and find out about her work on the MIT Media Lab website. Find out more about Robert Geraci's work on his website.Meet the robots: Nexi, Mindar, and SanTO.

Faith has always been a strong force in human history – but in modern times, it may feel antiquated to have it. This is an episode of the How to Be a Better Human podcast in which Dave talks about his research exploring questions of faith, his findings, and why we shouldn't leave spiritual wisdom behind, even in the age of science. Hosted by comedian Chris Duffy, How to Be a Better Human features conversations that uncover sharp insights and give clear takeaways on how you can improve your life.  From your work to your home and your head to your heart, How to Be a Better Human looks in unexpected places for new ways to improve and show up for one another.If you liked this episode, you can find How to Be a Better Human wherever you get your podcasts

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy. But all too often, the darker, colder days of winter, and even the stress of preparing for the holidays themselves, can lead people to feel something else: rushed, stressed, lonely, or even hopeless. How can you make sure this year is bright? Science shows that there's a wisdom to parts of traditional winter celebrations – a wisdom that's been honed over centuries to help us all find light, joy, and connection during the darkest and coldest time of the year. Join Dave as he chats with Laurie Santos about how to unpack the psychological secrets of celebrations from Christmas, to Hanukkah, to Yule, and more. They'll also discuss how we can put that wisdom into practice, whatever our beliefs, to make this season a happier and healthier one for all.Laurie Santos hosts the podcast The Happiness Lab and is a Professor of Psychology at Yale, where she teaches the most popular class in the university's history. Learn more about her work at her website. 

This episode from 2023 is one of our all-time listener favorites. We're sharing it again for anyone who may have missed it, or could do with a refresher, especially at the holiday season! Surveys show feelings of sadness and despair peaked in 2023. So as we look to the new year, it's understandable why any of us might be feeling pessimistic, even hopeless. But these feelings aren't written in stone. We always have a choice. It's in these darkest of times, when all feels lost, that hope helps us find our way … not just to heal ourselves, but also the world around us.On this episode, we'll talk with the Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, about how he remains motivated and hopeful, even while covering some of the most tragic events in recent history. And he'll offer a little advice for ways we can all rise above despair.And we'll talk with Roshi Joan Halifax — ecologist, civil rights activist, hospice caregiver, and founder of the Upaya Zen Center — about the Buddhist-informed notion of wise hope, the equanimity it can bring, and the fierce compassion it can unleash.Nicholas Kristof is the author of the  book Chasing Hope: A Reporter's Life. Read his NYT columns here, and find out more about the cider he makes here.Roshi Joan Halifax leads the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Learn more about her work on her website.

Lots of religions embrace the idea of hell – a place of eternal punishment for wrong doers. But where did that idea come from? How has it changed through time? And how does a belief in it (or not) affect us while we're alive? We'll talk with Bart Ehrman about the history of beliefs in hell from ancient Mesopotamia through modern Christianity. And with Shadi Hamid about why he thinks it can be a good thing for people to believe in hell, and how that belief shapes our political and social lives.  Bart Ehrman is the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the author of Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife and Journeys to Heaven and Hell: Tours of the Afterlife in the Early Christian Tradition. Find out more about Bart's work, including his many other writings about the New Testament and early Christianity, at his website.Shadi Hamid is a columnist at The Washington Post, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, and a research professor of Islamic studies at Fuller Seminary.

People have been having Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) all over the world for as long as we can look back into history. And the strange thing is… these experiences seem to have a lot in common. Why? Is it a look into the afterlife? Is it just our neurons firing in weird ways as the brain dies? We'll talk to psychiatrist Bruce Greyson, one of the world's leading experts on Near-Death Experiences, about the research that led him to rethink his understanding of the nature of life, death, and the continuity of consciousness. We'll explore the science behind how these experiences can provide comfort, heal past trauma, and even create transcendent experiences that help us make as much sense of our lives as of impending death. And we'll also consider the bigger question of what NDEs suggest, if anything, about our understanding of reality. Bruce Greyson, M.D. is the author of “After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life and Beyond.” Find out more about his book, and his over 45 years of experience researching NDEs, on his website. Here are links to the recordings of people you heard talking about their NDEs throughout the episode: Sharon Stone, Dr. Mary Neal, Renee Pasarow, Cherie Aimee, Jayne Smith.Here's a video of Dr. Gregory Shushan talking about his research on NDEs in ancient religions. 

There's no question we're living in difficult times that lead many of us to adopt a cynical outlook. But while cynicism might feel smart, science shows it's corrosive not only to our own wellbeing, but to society as a whole. We'll talk to Stanford Professor of Psychology Jamil Zaki about the surprising benefits that a willingness to trust in the goodness of others can offer, and how to build this skill in a wise way through habits of mind and action.We'll also speak with political writer Peter Wehner about how cynicism leads to the political division and discord so prominent in politics today, and how religion, when practiced in its best form, can help overcome it.Jamil Zaki is the author of the new book Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness, and the author of The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured Word. Find out more about his work on his website.   Peter Wehner is a contributing writer for The New York Times and The Atlantic who served in three Republican administrations. He is the author of The Death of Politics: How to Heal Our Frayed Republic After Trump and City of Man: Religion and Politics in a New Era.  

We spend a lot of time on How God Works talking about how spirituality can offer tools to become better versions of ourselves.  And while learning to be happier, healthier and more resilient are all positive things to strive for, they can also lead us down a different path - an obsession with productivity and self-optimization… which can lead to a culture of trying to grind or life-hack our way through everything.But what if the secret to success lies in doing less, not more? On this episode, we'll explore the Chinese concept of wu wei, effortless action. We'll talk to Edward Slingerland about how modern cognitive science has proven many early Chinese thinkers right, why wu wei is still relevant today, and how learning how not to try can help us forge a different path toward the good life.Edward Slingerland is a professor of religion at the University of British Columbia and the author of Trying Not To Try: Ancient China, Modern Science and the Power of Spontaneity. Find out more about his work, and his other books, on his website.Other texts we've discussed during this episode include: -Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi-Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, by Immanuel Kant-The Analects or Sayings of Confucius, attributed to Confucius-The Tao Te Ching or Laozi, attributed to Laozi-The Mencius, attributed to Mencius

Regret can be a double-edged sword.  It can be painful, and enduring, but we can also learn important lessons from it - IF we treat it right. Most religions speak of forgiveness and compassion, not only toward others but also toward oneself. Still, letting go can be difficult to do at times. So how do we learn from regret and start anew?Dave speaks with best selling author Daniel Pink, and renowned Buddhist teacher Sharon Salzberg to learn about the science of regret and how some spiritual wisdom and practices can help us move beyond it and begin again. Daniel Pink is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Learn more about his work, and where to purchase his books, on his website. Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. Learn more about her teachings, and find her other media appearances and books, on her website.

For many people, the word “sin” is associated with harsh judgment and shame. Or, it's used to talk about guilty pleasures like consuming decadent desserts... But is this concept as harmful or outdated as it seems?Join Dave as he talks with Elizabeth Oldfield about Christianity's Seven Deadly Sins, and how reconceptualizing them for modern life can offer a science-backed user's manual of sorts to find joy and connection in this world, whatever your beliefs.  Elizabeth Oldfield is host of The Sacred podcast and author of the book Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times. She also writes the Substack newsletter Fully Alive and works as a coach, consultant and facilitator. Find out more about her work on her website.

Join us for Season 7 of How God Works, starting next week! 

We've had a lot of new listeners join us of the past year, so while we're hard at work on our next season, we thought we'd share some favorites you might have missed from the archives.Have you ever heard a voice, seen an image, or felt a presence around you that you couldn't explain? If you have, you're not alone. More people than you might think report having these kinds of experiences. For some, it can be easy to write these off as tricks of the mind. But for others, especially the religious and spiritually-inclined, these events are often transformative and can profoundly alter the way they feel about their faith. So how is it that gods come to feel real to people? What do these experiences do for those who have them? And why, sometimes, does it feel like the supernatural world is connecting with us out of the blue?Tanya Luhrmann is an anthropologist at Stanford University. Find out more about her book, How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others, on her website, where you'll also find links to her other writing and media appearances.Michael Ferguson is a neuroscientist at Harvard University. Find out more about his research and teaching through his website.Reverend Liz Milner is ordained in the Episcopal Church. She works with prison inmates in northern California.Episode info and transcript available here.

We've had a lot of new listeners join us of the past year, so while we're hard at work on our next season, we thought we'd share some favorites you might have missed from the archives.As a society that fears death, we tend to avoid the subject. But the key to having a positive end-of-life experience might come in doing just the opposite. On this episode, we'll hear from philosopher Simon Critchley, Boston-area chaplains Ruth Delfiner, Sarah Byrne-Martelli, and Maude Quinn, and Threshold Choir singer Leigh Davis about what makes a good death, and the many rituals, spiritual or secular, that ease our transition out of this world.Simon Critchley is the author of many books about death, including The Book of Dead Philosophers and How to Stop Living and Start Worrying. Find out more about his other work, including his most recent book, Bald, on his website.In addition to her work as a chaplain, Sarah Byrne-Martelli is the author of Memory Eternal: Living with Grief as Orthodox Christians, due out this summer.Find out about Leigh Davis's art on her website, where you can also see some of her collaborations with the Threshold Choir. Find out more about the Threshold Choir here. See Threshold Choir song credits here.Episode info and transcript available here.

We've had a lot of new listeners join us of the past year, so while we're hard at work on our next season, we thought we'd share some favorites you might have missed from the archives.For centuries, many cultures have used psychedelics to induce mystical states. And while in the US they've mostly been used as recreational drugs, interest in their power to offer a rapid route to transcendence has recently been growing. But in our haste to use these chemicals to alter, and perhaps even heal, the mind, we might be losing sight that with speed comes risk.Join Dave as he talks with author Michael Pollan and researcher David Yaden about the nature of self-transcendent experiences, the science of how psychedelics can bring them on, and the dangers of disregarding centuries of shamanic knowledge about how to use them wisely.Episode info and transcript available here.

We've had a lot of new listeners join us of the past year, so while we're hard at work on our next season, we thought we'd share some favorites you might have missed from the archives. Since this episode was first published, the Surgeon General has issued an advisory about the effects of social media on youth mental health, and, more recently, called for warning label on all social media platforms. Time with family, friends and loved ones is supposed to be at the center of the holiday season … but in our screen-dominated world, how many of us can say that's still true?Our devices are purposefully designed to monopolize our attention and make themselves hard to put down. So even though we know that spending too much time staring at screens is bad for us, the addiction can be hard to break. With the New Year almost upon us, why not try to make a new start? Join Dave as he tries to put down his phone and find a little spiritual renewal with advice from marketing professor Adam Alter and Tech Shabbat advocate Rabbi Sydney Mintz. Adam Alter is the author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. To find out more about Adam's work, including his forthcoming book, Anatomy of a Breakthrough, visit his website. In addition to serving as the Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco for 25 years, Sydney Mintz is also an activist, writer, and performer. Find out more about the many projects she's involved in on her website. Find out more about the ideas behind Tech Shabbat in Tiffany Shlain's book 24/6: Giving Up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection. To learn more about the spiritual aspects of Shabbat, Rabbi Mintz recommends reading The Sabbath, by Abraham Joshua Heschel.

Hey Listeners, as we plan future seasons, we'd love to know what you appreciate most about the show... and what you think we can improve or would like to see us cover. If you have five minutes to spare, please consider responding to our audience survey. Thanks!

Hey Listeners, we also want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to fill out our audience survey and be a part of shaping future seasons. Anger, loneliness, and despair are hitting record levels in the US. Our social and political fabrics are fraying. Is the turn away from religion in the US part of the problem? And if so, might a spiritual renaissance (even among the secular left) help us find new ways to flourish? Join Dave as he talks with podcast host Krista Tippett and US Senator Chris Murphy about the role spirituality (or the lack thereof) plays in our individual and societal wellbeing.Krista Tippett is the host of the acclaimed podcast and radio show On Being. Learn more about the On Being Project's work in the world here, and be sure to check out their YouTube channel for a rich selection of inspiring and informative videos.Chris Murphy is a U.S. Senator representing the State of Connecticut. Learn more about his work on his website, and read his column on the need for a spiritual revival among the political left here.

Science and religion can often seem at loggerheads. But does it have to be that way? Dr. Francis Collins, one of the world's leading scientists, doesn't think so. As an internationally renowned geneticist, a recent past director of the US National Institutes of Health (where he helped guide the U.S. response to COVID), and an avowed Christian, he's a leading voice for how and why belief in God can be rational, and for a greater openness to science among Evangelical Christians.In a special live interview, Dave talks with Francis about his journey from skeptic to believer, why he thinks science and religion aren't incompatible, what New Atheists like Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker get wrong in their battles against religion, and the ways in which religion can help (e.g. reducing suffering) or hinder (e.g. resistance to COVID vaccines) people's health. For much of human history, religion and science coexisted and even learned from one another. Join Dave to explore how that can still be true. Francis Collins is the founder of BioLogos, which is dedicated to showing how science and faith can work hand in hand. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Language of God.

When it comes to how we treat other animals, humanity's track record is spotty at best. Has it always been that way? And how do the beliefs we hold about animals shape how we treat them? Are they really as different from us as Western culture has long suggested? Join Dave as he speaks with anthropologist Dave Aftandilian about how different religious traditions may play a role in influencing the way people relate to other animals, and with biologist turned wildlife filmmaker and writer Tom Mustill about what the latest advances in science are revealing about animals' internal lives. Dave Aftandilian is founding Director of the Human-Animal Relationships program at Texas Christian University, and the lead editor of the recently published Animals and Religion. Find out about his other publications and activities here. The storytellers Dave mentions during the episode are Mary Ulmer Chiltoskey and Basil Johnston. And the audio of Koyukon people talking about animals and hunting is from the excellent documentary series Make Prayers to the Raven, available on YouTube. Tom Mustill is the author of How To Speak Whale: The Power and Wonder of Speaking To Animals. Find out more about his other work, including several films and a podcast, on his website. Thanks again to Tom for sharing his recordings of whale song with us for this episode. For listeners interested in reading more about animal welfare, we recommend checking out Vox writer Kenny Torrella's work. If you're wondering where to donate to help reduce animal suffering, start here. Also, here are two recent New York Times articles on topics related to this episode: Scientists Find an ‘Alphabet' in Whale Songs How Do We Know What Animals Are Really Feeling?

Do you feel connected to nature's rhythms and the peace that they provide? Are cooking, crafting, or other small daily rituals a form of spell work or spirituality for you? If you're a witch, the answers are a definite yes. Long in the shadows, Wicca and witchcraft are now on the rise. Join Dave as we explore what's driving interest in these religions and dispel some of the stereotypes around them.  We'll talk to Thorn Mooney, a Wiccan high priestess and religious studies scholar  about what it means to be a witch and why many people find it empowering, and with Hannah Hawthorn, one of the original WitchTokers, about her spiritual journey from Evangelical Christian to Pagan Witch, and how social media is shaping the practice of witchcraft today. Thorn Mooney is the author of several books, including the forthcoming Witches Among Us: A Concise Guide to Contemporary Witchcraft and Wicca (Llewellyn, October 2024). Learn more about her practice and other writings on her website and YouTube channel. Hannah Hawthorn has been sharing her practice online since 2020. Learn about her practice and find links to all her social media on her website. Find out about her book The Magick of Birthdays: Rituals, Spells, and Recipes for Honoring Your Solar Return,  here.

Ever heard of the Bartonian Metaphysical Society? How about the Druze? If you're like most people, you probably haven't. On this episode, we ask: What's it like to be a member of a tiny religion in a world dominated by “Big God”? From the early days of new religious movements to the precarious old age of ancient faiths, join Dave as we explore the unique experiences, joys and challenges of being one of the few rather than one of the many. We'll talk to sociologist Susan Jean Palmer about what religions are like when they're brand new, how they're born, and what it takes for them to grow. And we'll talk to Zoroastrian Studies researcher Nazneen Engineer about the challenges of population decline and the enduring cultural legacy of her faith as its numbers dwindle. Susan Jean Palmer is the author of eleven book-length sociological studies of new religious movements, including Aliens Adored: Rael's New Religion, Moon Sisters, Krishna Mothers, Rajneesh Lovers and Storming Zion: Government Raids on Religious Communities. Find out more about her work here and learn about her research on children raised in minority religions here. Nazneen Engineer was the first Postdoctoral Researcher at the Shapoorji Pallonji Institute of Zoroastrian Studies based at SOAS, University of London. Find out more about her work here, and learn about the survey of Zoroastrians she managed, Gen Z and Beyond: A Survey for Every Generation, here.

Religion is often about powerful beings coming down from the skies and humans yearning to go up to join them. Does that mean we can swap aliens in for God? More and more people seem to think so. In fact, many spiritually-minded people are looking to UFOs as opportunities to commune with enlightened alien teachers. Some believe they're even aliens themselves, sent here to prepare us for a new age. But when religion gets mixed with conspiracy theory, things can sometimes take a darker turn. Join Dave as he speaks with religious studies professor Diana Walsh Pasulka, about what belief in UFOs might share with other religions, and with anthropologist Susannah Crockford about how and why conspiracy theories are giving rise to a new spiritual movement. Diana Walsh Pasulka is the author of Encounters: Experiences with Nonhuman Intelligence and  American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology. Find out more about her work on her website. Susannah Crockford is the author of Ripples of the Universe: Spirituality in Sedona, Arizona, and the host of the new podcast Miss Information, a podcast about the ways online misinformation and conspiracy theories infiltrate wellness communities and conservative Christian spaces. Also, be sure to check out Dave's recent article in the Boston Globe on aliens as a new spiritual movement!

What makes a trip a pilgrimage? And why have people from across the globe made these treks for millennia? Is it the destination that makes these journeys so important to so many cultures? Or is it the community and meaning-making that happen along the way?  And how are people changed by the experience after they come home? Join Dave as he talks with writer and New York Times contributor Aatish Taseer about what he saw last year when he went on pilgrimages into the hearts of three faiths. And with psychologist and leading pilgrimage scholar Heather Warfield, about how these treks, even in secular form, can improve mental health and wellbeing. Aatish Taseer is the author of A Pilgrimage Year. Special thanks to Aatish for sharing recordings from his travels with us for use in today's episode. Follow him on X @aatishtaseer and Instagram @aatishalitaseer. Heather Warfield is a professor at Antioch University New England. Learn more about her work in the field of Pilgrimage Studies on her website.

Is religion a source of conflict, or a way to end it? From the tragic situation in the Middle East to rising Christian Nationalism in the US, it might seem the former. But for faiths that emphasize love, compassion, and forgiveness, might the latter also be true? Join Dave as he talks with theologian Miroslav Volf about how religion blurs with political identity and violent ideologies, and why the answer to this problem might not be to remove religion from our lives and the public square, but to have more of it in both. And with anthropologist Benjamin Purzycki about how our views of what God wants can change in the face of conflict. Miroslav Volf is a Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and the Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture. Learn more about his work here and check out his podcast For the Life of the World. Benjamin Grant Purzycki is an Associate Professor in the Department of the Study of Religion at Aarhus University in Denmark. Learn more about his work here and here.

Join us for Season 6 of How God Works, starting next week!

Hey How God Works listeners! While we're hard at work on Season 6, we'd like to invite you to check out No Small Endeavor, a podcast that explores what it means to live a good life, hosted by professor of theology and ethics Lee C. Camp.

Surveys show feelings of sadness and despair peaked in 2023. So as we look to the new year, it's understandable why any of us might be feeling pessimistic, even hopeless. But these feelings aren't written in stone. We always have a choice. It's in these darkest of times, when all feels lost, that hope helps us find our way...not just to heal ourselves, but also the world around us. On this episode, we'll talk with the Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, about how he remains motivated and hopeful, even while covering some of the most tragic events in recent history. And he'll offer a little advice for ways we can all rise above despair. And we'll talk with Roshi Joan Halifax -- ecologist, civil rights activist, hospice caregiver, and founder of the Upaya Zen Center --  about the Buddhist-informed notion of wise hope, the equanimity it can bring, and the fierce compassion it can unleash. Nicholas Kristof is the author of the forthcoming book Chasing Hope. Read his NYT columns here, and find out more about the cider he makes here. Roshi Joan Halifax leads the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Learn more about her work on her website.

When it comes to treating addiction, twelve-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are some of the most often used in the US. But while twelve-step programs have several components, one of the most central is surrendering control to a higher power. But how important is that idea? Does relying on a divine influence help or hurt? And might there be other routes to recovery? We'll talk with bestselling author and New York Times opinion writer Maia Szalavitz about what the research on addiction and addiction recovery shows, as well as her own path out of drug abuse. And we'll discuss the relationship between perceptions of “divine control” and personal wellbeing with sociologist Laura Upenieks. Maia Szalavitz is the author of Undoing Drugs: How Harm Reduction is Changing the Future of Drugs and Addiction. Learn more about the book, and her other writings, on her website. Laura Upenieks is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Baylor University. Learn more about her research here. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction there are many resources out there to help. Among the options Maia recommends exploring to see if they are right for you: SMART Recovery, Women for Sobriety, and Alcoholics Anonymous.

For most of the past 200 years, religion and psychiatry didn't get along too well.  Or so the story goes. But if you go back far enough, the two have more in common than you might think. On this episode, we'll hear about the deep history of integrating spirituality into mental health treatments, and how it's being rediscovered today at some of the world's top mental health facilities. We'll talk with psychiatrist Rania Awaad about her work reconnecting the Muslim community to Islam's long, but often forgotten, history of mental health treatment. And with psychologist David Rosmarin about the program he's pioneered at McLean hospital to integrate spirituality into psychiatric treatment. Dr. Rania Awaad M.D., is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab as well as Stanford University's Affiliate Chaplain and Affiliate Professor of Islamic Studies. Find out more about her work here. Dr. David Rosmarin is the director of the Spirituality and Mental Health Program at McLean Hospital and an associate professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the author of the book Thriving with Anxiety: 9 Tools to Make your Anxiety Work for You. Learn about his work, and his book on his website.

It's no accident that the Hebrew word for breath is the same as the word for spirit (ruach). Breath doesn't just give us life: it helps regulate everything from vital organ functions to cognition and emotional states. That's why spiritual traditions the world over incorporate it as a practice to help heal body and mind and walk the path towards peace. Join us as we explore the breath's connection to our nervous system with psychologist and neuroscientist Stephen Porges, creator of Polyvagal Theory. We'll also learn about the spiritual roots of breathwork and try out a few techniques with noted yoga, qigong and meditation teacher Amelia Barili. Learn more about Dr. Stephen Porges's work and Polyvagal Theory on his website, and be sure to check out his new book, co-authored with Seth Porges: Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us. Dr. Amelia Barili is faculty at the UCB Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and professor emerita from the University of California at Berkeley. Learn more about her work on her website and check out her YouTube channel the new paradigms. We also highly recommend the book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor.

We've all heard of spiritual experiences – moments of feeling intense awe and deep love and connection. People who've had them – and it's a lot more than you might think – see them as some of the most profound moments of their lives. Moments that change them for the better in enduring ways. But what's going on in our brains when these experiences happen? Do you even need religious beliefs to have them? And, if you're so inclined, how might you start? Episode Guests: David Yaden is Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Find out more about his research here. Robert Forman is a former Professor of Religion and author of many books about spirituality. Find out more about his work here.

Today we're featuring an episode from the new PRX podcast Mother is a Question. What is Unteachable about Mothering? Our journey into this territory of mothering begins. Tasha searches out someone whose deep wisdom about mothering was totally lost on her when they first met ten years ago. Back then, Teourialier Johnson—who Tasha met as “T”—was a teacher of motherhood in an unlikely context. Now, for us, she's a teacher of so much more, opening to transformation even when it seems all has been lost. Join us as “T” navigates some of the greatest challenges a mother can face, and shares how she attunes to the eternal dance of mothering another human: the graceful movement between listening and guiding, giving and taking, the known and the unknown.

Around the world, gender diversity isn't the exception; it's fairly common. It's also not a new invention. Many indigenous societies have long recognized a wide variety of gender expressions, and given leadership roles in spiritual life to gender fluid people. And while colonization has often influenced gender norms, leading to discrimination and violence, many of these traditions are still very much alive. Join Dave as he explores the history, present, and future of life beyond the binary. Episode Guests: Dr. Sharyn Graham Davies is Director of the Herb Feith Indonesia Engagement Centre at Monash University. Her research focuses on gender, sexuality and health in the Asia-Pacific region. Read more about her work among the Bugis community of Sulawesi here. Marca Cassity is an enrolled citizen of the Osage Nation and a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in LGBTQ and Native American trauma. A songwriter, performing under the non-binary version of their name Marx Cassity, their forthcoming album, which can be heard throughout this episode, is steeped in themes of queer and indigenous visibility and resilience. This episode also benefited from the research of historian Gregory D. Smithers. We highly recommend his book: Reclaiming Two-Spirits: Sexuality, Spiritual Renewal & Sovereignty in Native America. This episode mentions some forms of violence and trauma, and discusses the existence of ideas and terms that could bring up painful issues for many gender nonconforming people. If you or someone you know is struggling with notions of self-harm or suicidal ideation, please reach out for help. A list of resources for LGBTQ2S people is available here. The phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

Christianity and Judaism have had long standing theological concerns with LGBTQ+ issues. BUT from the Vatican to certain Jewish denominations, there are movements afoot to be more open, tolerant, and accepting. In the first of a two-part series on gender and spirituality, we'll talk with Father James Martin and Rabbi Shira Stutman about the history of discrimination in their traditions and how that's starting to change. We'll also take a look at the science behind how religion can directly impact people's attitudes toward LGBTQ issues on an emotional level, and hear from Meli Barber, the president of Dignity USA about her difficult experiences with the church and her hopes for change. Father James Martin's new book Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus's Greatest Miracle is now available for purchase. For more information on his ministry and work providing resources for LGBTQ Catholics, visit the Outreach website. Rabbi Shira Stutman is a nationally known faith-based leader and advocate for LGBTQ rights. Check out her wonderful podcast, Chutzpod! here. Meli Barber is the current president of Dignity USA, an organization for LGBTQIA+ Catholics. Learn more about their work here. Read Dave's paper about the influence of emotions on implicit biases here.