Famous for its hot tubs and its yoga and massage workshops, Esalen Institute actually began as a place to explore the underlying philosophy of spiritual experience, and then popularized America's particular brand of "spirituality without religion." Sitting on the deck of Murphy House at Esalen, Steve Paulson talks with co-founder Michael Murphy and comparative religion scholar Jeffrey Kripal, author of the definitive history of Esalen.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
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From The Sopranos and Friday Night Lights to The Wire and Breaking Bad, we're living through a TV revolution. TV critic Alan Sepinwall gives the backstory of this explosion of great shows.
To read Alan Sepinwall's blog, click here.
Studs Terkel tells Steve Paulson why his friend Nelson Algren is one of America's great literary secrets. Among Terkel's latest books is "Hope Dies Last."
Thomas Dumm tells Anne Strainchamps why he thinks a lonely society can be a dangerous one and he's worried about America. His book is "Loneliness As a Way of Life."
Stephen Batchelor wants contemporary Buddhists to re-think the life of the Buddha.
T.C. Boyle's new novel features a face-off between an animals rights activist and a biologist.
British comedian Ross Noble hosts a show for the BBC. The premise is to go to remote places in the world and try to do stand-up.
Music writer Peter Guralnick tells us how the legendary Sam Phillips created rock and roll as a musical protest.
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