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© Copyright 2026 Doug Swift
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Can the Tibetan Buddhist practices of compassion apply in a hostile modern world? Doug Swift spends a year with the KTC Buddhist Center in Columbus, Ohio. He tells the stories of Lama Kathy Wesley, the resident teacher, neurologist Julie Brevzinsky-Lewis, therapist Bethany Dwinnel, and many others at the center, as they apply the practices to some of the biggest challenges in their lives. Swift turns the year-long project into an experiment for himself. Listen to learn how it turns out.
9 Episodes
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Why did Kathy Wesley transition from journalism to become a Tibetan Buddhist Lama? Why did neurologist Julie Brefczynski-Lewis incorporate Tibetan Buddhist compassion practices into her research? Both are addressing modern problems at the root: the essential challenge.
Studies show that toddlers get more pleasure giving than receiving. But culture can override these natural impulses. We find a place where kids are taught compassion practices, an important skill to have in the context of our mental health crisis.
Huck, a high school theater kid who was raised with the KTC Center teachings, was excited to have the lead role in Radium Girls. He didn't expect to be taunted while performing, or for the bullying to continue and intensify in the weeks to come. Meanwhile, the state of Ohio was passing a raft of anti-trans legislation, another kind of bullying. How could compassion practice help in this kind of environment?
Rohit Singh studies Tibetan Budhism in Nepal and Northern India, and teaches the subject at Denison University in Ohio. He believes that western education is very successful in some ways, but it doesn't do much to develop our emotional intelligence. We also hear from a therapist and a radio journalist who have integrated the compassion practices to develop their own emotional intelligence in today's western world.
Pastor Jeff Gill advocated for the removal of a gold course from a 2,000 year-old Hopewell Earthwork. Not everyone in his social circle agreed with his actions. He faced tense moments. His good friend, Lama Kathy Wesley, taught him a compassion practice called Tonglen to use on the spot in these moments. He should breath in the toxicity, and give out blessings. Sound crazy? Hear how it goes!
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