KCRW's Life Examined is a one-hour weekly show exploring science, philosophy, faith — and finding meaning in the modern world. The show is hosted by Jonathan Bastian. Please tune in Saturdays at 9 a.m., or find it as a podcast.
“We pathologize the dead.” Mortician Caitlin Doughty on funeral rituals and why death is often hidden away
Some Native Americans have long believed that death is part of the natural cycle of life and many cultures believe the dead spirit continues to “walk on” implying the continuation…
The role of spirituality and prayer in the Black Lives Matter movement
KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian talks with Melina Abdullah, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and Professor of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles and…
The history, legacy and future of the Black Church
Howard University professor Yolanda Pierce talks with KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian about the origins of the Black church from slavery to the Civil Rights movement and it’s legacy to Black…
Timothy Egan on finding faith on the pilgrim’s trail
Journalist and a New York Times bestselling author Timothy Egan , talks to KCRW host Jonathan Bastian about his adventures walking the Via Francigena trail and describes how…
The external and internal pilgrimage: Author Pico Iyer on the purpose of journeying in modern times
Author Pico Iyer and Pravrajika Vrajaprana, a Vedanta nun, talk with KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian about the purpose of pilgrimage in modern day times following his interview with NYT…
Christian Wiman: Seeking truth and strength through poetry
Poet and professor of divinity Christian Wiman says that there are all kinds of poems he’s turned to during this pandemic. He especially enjoys poems that are joyful and have helped…
Jane Hirshfield on why poets treasure pondering life’s abysses
Jane Hirshfield , a ward-winning poet and essayist joins KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian from her home in Northern California to discuss her newest collection of poems, “Ledger.”
Dream researcher and professor of depth psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, California Stephen Aizenstat and Mark Blagrove, professor of…
Quarantine dreams: Researcher Deirdre Barrett on the science of sleep
Deirdre Barrett, dream researcher and assistant professor of psychology at Harvard University sits down with KCRW’s Jonathan Bastian to discuss how the prolonged global pandemic has…
David Kessler on learning to live with grief in a “grief-illiterate” culture
Author and world renowned expert on grief and loss David Kessler offers guidance and insight on how to deal with and accept feelings of anxiety, sadness, and death.
Lita Albuquerque and Stephen Batchelor on what spirituality and art teaches us about life and death
Buddhist teacher and author Stephen Batchelor and artist Lita Albuquerque discuss their views on life, death, and the concept of impermanence with KCRW host Jonathan…
Physicist Brian Greene on the science behind impermanence
The coronavirus pandemic is a reminder that things can change — fast and unexpectedly. As much as we look for stability, things come and go, and we live and die.
California’s Surgeon General on the science of toxic stress
California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris talks about the latest science behind trauma, and how toxic stress can literally change our brains, our immune systems and our genes.
