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On Being
Other namesFirst Person (2001–2003)
Speaking of Faith (2003–2010)
Genre
Running time51 minutes
Country of originUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SyndicatesPublic Radio Exchange
Hosted byKrista Tippett
Created byKrista Tippett
Executive producerKrista Tippett
Recording studioMinneapolis, Minnesota
Original releaseSeptember 22, 2001 –
present
No. of episodes283
Other themes"Seven League Boots" by Zoe Keating
Websiteonbeing.org

On Being is a podcast and a former public radio program. Hosted by Krista Tippett, it examines what it calls the "animating questions at the center of human life: What does it mean to be human, and how do we want to live?"[1]

Radio program and podcast

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Format

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On Being is an hour-long radio show and podcast, hosted by Krista Tippett.

Tippett has interviewed guests ranging from poets to physicists, doctors to historians, artists to activists.[2] Her guests include the 14th Dalai Lama, Maya Angelou, Mohammed Fairouz, Desmond Tutu, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rosanne Cash, Wangari Maathai, Yo-Yo Ma, Paulo Coehlo, Brian Greene, John Polkinghorne, Jean Vanier, Joanna Macy, Sylvia Earle, and Elie Wiesel.[3]

In 2006, On Being became the first national public radio show to offer unedited interviews alongside the produced radio show in their podcast and on their website.[4]

History

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Krista Tippett pitched a series of pilots on religion, meaning, and ethics to Bill Buzenberg,[5] then Vice President for News at Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media, in the late 1990s.[6][failed verification] The program became Speaking of Faith, a monthly series in 2001[7] and a weekly national program distributed by American Public Media (APM) in 2003.[8] In 2010, the show's name changed to On Being. In 2013, Tippett left APM to start the non-profit production company, Krista Tippett Public Productions, which she described as "a social enterprise with a radio show at its heart".[4][9]

As of July 2014, On Being aired on 334 public radio stations across the United States,[10] and the On Being podcast reached a global audience of 1.5 million listeners a month.[10] On Being was listed in the iTunes top ten podcasts of 2014.[11] In 2016, On Being changed distributors from APM to the Public Radio Exchange.[12]

In May 2022 it was announced that as of June 2022 the program would be changing from a weekly show to a "seasonal podcast," and the final weekly program aired in late June 2022.[13]

Content

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The Columbia Journalism Review said of On Being and Tippett, "To listen to her show is to hear how intelligent and thoughtful religious people can be when they are allowed to be subjective and not merely regurgitate dogma."[14] In 2008 the show produced a series of programs called "Repossessing Virtue", exploring the spiritual and moral aspects of the economic recession.[15][failed verification][who?] Other series have included "Revealing Ramadan" and "Living Islam" and "The Civil Conversations Project." In 2014, On Being produced two radio specials. "Science on Human Frontiers" included interviews with Brian Greene, Natalie Batalha, S. James Gates, Sylvia Earle, and Esther Sternberg. Most recently On Being produced a special series on "The American Consciousness," a collection of live interviews at the Chautauqua Institution with Michel Martin, Richard Rodriguez, Imani Perry, and Nathan Schneider. During part of the program's run, musician Lizzo rapped in the closing credits.[16]

Social enterprise

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Krista Tippett Public Productions (KTPP) was founded in 2013 by Krista Tippett as a non-profit production company with a 4,000-square-foot studio and live event space on Loring Park in Minneapolis.[9] KTPP managed the production and funding of the program, which is distributed by APM.[4] In 2018, KTPP changed its name to The On Being Project.[17][18]

Other Podcasts from The On Being Project

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On Being is the flagship podcast for The On Being Project, but the organization has also produced other podcasts. These include Becoming Wise, which is closely associated with Krista Tippett's 2016 book by the same name; Creating Our Own Lives, which ran from 2016 to 2017;[19] Poetry Unbound; This Movie Changed Me; and Living the Questions.[20]

The Civil Conversations Project

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In 2012, On Being began a series of interviews and live events which became the Civil Conversations Project. The initial four-part series was a collaboration of the Brookings Institution, the Humphrey School, and the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. The project grew out of a sentiment that Tippett heard from many Americans who felt that our "civic life is broken, that bipartisan consensus is inconceivable".[21] Tippett says that "conduct in public spaces may be as important as the positions we take"; and "How do we walk in disagreement while keeping as much of our society intact as we can?"[21]

The Civil Conversations Project has been described in southwestjournal.com as "an ever-evolving effort to help others host the kind of nuanced and empathetic discussions they hear on On Being",[9] and a "lab for returning civility to civic life",[9] with a website containing conversation starters, video of live events, and interviews.[4] Tippett describes the program as about "equipping people, wherever they may live, to create new conversational spaces".[22]

Harvard Law School has used resources from the Civil Conversations Project.[4] In 2014, the Civil Conversations Project led an international pilot program in places such as Northern Ireland and Jordan.[4]

Awards

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  • President Barack Obama awarded Tippett the National Humanities Medal for:

    "thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence. On the air and in print, Ms. Tippett avoids easy answers, embracing complexity and inviting people of every background to join her conversation about faith, ethics, and moral wisdom."[23][24]

  • George Foster Peabody Award for its radio and online production "The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi" in 2007, featuring interview with scholar Fatemeh Keshavarz.[25]
  • Webby Award: 2014,[26] 2008,[27] and 2005.[28]
  • Wilbur Award, Religion Communicators Council, for "Religion in a Time of War," and "Progressive Islam in America."[29]
  • Ambies Award: 2021.[30]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

On Being

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
On Being is an American hosted by that features extended interviews with scientists, poets, spiritual leaders, and thinkers to probe questions of meaning, , and at the of , , and social healing. Launched in 2003 as the public radio program Speaking of Faith under American Public Media, the show rebranded to On Being in 2014 to encompass a wider range of inquiries into the "mystery and art of living," drawing on a 20-year archive of conversations with figures such as , , and Thich Nhat Hanh. The program, produced by The On Being Project—a founded by Tippett—emphasizes paradoxical curiosity, moral imagination, and as tools for navigating contemporary challenges like division and despair, while prioritizing substantive over soundbites. Initially distributed via public radio networks including affiliates, On Being transitioned to an independent podcast model in 2022 after parting ways with in 2013, citing a desire for deeper engagement beyond traditional broadcasting constraints. Tippett, a recipient of the in 2013, has positioned the show as a space for elevating wisdom traditions amid toward , though it has drawn criticism from secular audiences for occasionally prioritizing theological perspectives and accommodationist tones over rigorous empirical scrutiny. Notable for its focus on post-9/11 elevation of diverse voices including Muslim perspectives and explorations of love as a public ethic, On Being has influenced listeners through companion offerings like the Poetry Unbound and resources on hope and repair, fostering an ecosystem for reflective practice rather than prescriptive answers. While praised for its humane depth in an era of polarized discourse, the project's spiritual orientation has elicited critiques of intellectual coyness and overemphasis on subjective experience, reflecting broader tensions between faith-infused inquiry and evidence-based reasoning in public intellectual spaces.

Historical Development

Inception as Speaking of Faith (2003–2013)

Speaking of Faith premiered in 2003 as a weekly hour-long public radio program hosted by , who conceived it to address a perceived gap in media coverage of religion and spirituality beyond reactive news events. Tippett, a former journalist with experience in Cold War-era and theology studies at , aimed to facilitate intelligent conversations on faith's role in public life, drawing from her observation that post-9/11 discourse often reduced complex beliefs to stereotypes or conflicts. Produced and distributed by (APM) in collaboration with , the program launched with initial funding from , starting broadcast on a limited number of stations before expanding nationally. The format centered on extended, unhurried interviews with diverse guests including theologians, , ethicists, and practitioners from various traditions, emphasizing personal narratives and philosophical depth over or . Episodes typically featured Tippett's probing questions followed by archival audio, readings, or musical interludes to contextualize themes such as justice, science-religion intersections, and moral imagination. Production occurred in studios, with APM handling distribution to public radio affiliates, maintaining a non-partisan stance that privileged listeners' exploration of meaning amid secularizing trends. This approach contrasted with contemporaneous , which Tippett critiqued for lacking intellectual rigor or broad appeal. Over the decade, the program grew significantly, reaching over 330 stations by with an annual budget exceeding $1.3 million by , reflecting audience demand for substantive engagement with spiritual questions in an era of cultural polarization. Key developments included Tippett's 2011 initiation of the Civil Conversations Project, which extended the show's model to live events fostering on divisive issues like . Broadcasts covered topics from evolutionary biology's implications for to interfaith , featuring guests such as and , while maintaining a focus on experiential wisdom over doctrinal assertion. By , as APM ties loosened, the program positioned itself for independence, having established a listener base valuing its commitment to civil, exploratory inquiry.

Rebranding to On Being and Path to Independence (2014–present)

In 2013, host and a core team of four producers transitioned On Being from production under (APM) to independent nonprofit operation through the newly formed On Being Project, marking the program's full spin-off after its 2010 rebranding from Speaking of Faith. This shift allowed greater creative control and alignment with Tippett's vision of integrating spiritual inquiry, science, and , free from public radio syndication constraints. By 2014, the independent On Being Project had established itself as a , emphasizing live events, , and the Civil Conversations Project to foster on human mysteries amid cultural polarization. The program continued weekly distribution to nearly 400 public radio stations via PRX while building direct listener support through subscriptions and philanthropy, reflecting a deliberate pivot toward sustainability outside traditional broadcasting models. This period saw expansion into ancillary media, including the launch of shorter-form podcasts like Poetry Unbound in 2019, which drew on the core style but focused on individual poems to explore personal and collective resilience. The path to fuller independence accelerated in 2022, when On Being discontinued its weekly public radio format after nearly two decades, adopting a seasonal model with two release cycles per year to prioritize depth over volume. Tippett cited the need to evolve beyond radio's episodic demands, enabling longer production times for conversations with guests ranging from scientists to poets, while maintaining accessibility via platforms like and the project's website. This transition, effective after the June 23, 2022, episode, positioned the On Being Project as a standalone media entity reliant on donor and memberships, with over 9,000 reviews averaging 4.6 stars on by 2023. Since 2022, the project has sustained growth through initiatives like The Pause newsletter and curated audio courses, emphasizing timeless themes over current events, while navigating challenges in public media funding landscapes. structure has enabled unscripted, generative interviewing—distinct from journalistic formats—fostering listener engagement without institutional intermediaries.

Program Format and Production

Episode Structure and Interview Style

Episodes of On Being adhere to a consistent yet adaptable structure centered on extended, introspective interviews, typically spanning 50 to in duration to accommodate unhurried exploration of complex themes. Each begins with a brief introduction from host , who frames the episode's focus—drawing from spiritual inquiry, science, , or human resilience—and introduces the guest's background and contributions. This opening segment, often 2 to 5 minutes, orients listeners without rushing into dialogue, emphasizing the episode's intent to evoke wisdom rather than extract facts. The interview proper initiates with Tippett's recurring foundational question: inquiring about the guest's religious or spiritual background from childhood, which elicits personal narratives and establishes as a entry point for broader discussion. This evolves into a fluid, conversational exchange lasting 30 to 45 minutes, where Tippett employs a style rooted in deep listening, open-ended prompts, and relational curiosity, eschewing confrontational probing in favor of questions that surface dignity, revelation, and interdisciplinary insights. Guests, such as poets like David Whyte or scientists like , respond with reflections often interwoven with recitations of poetry, excerpts from writings, or illustrative anecdotes, creating a rhythm that mirrors the "conversational nature of reality" Tippett seeks to illuminate. Interludes of original music or sound design punctuate the dialogue, providing contemplative pauses that underscore emotional or philosophical pivots, while post-interview segments may include Tippett's closing reflections or curated clips reinforcing key ideas. This format, produced independently by The On Being Project and edited for clarity and resonance, prioritizes generative encounter over debate, distinguishing it from journalistic interrogations by fostering an atmosphere of mutual discovery. The style reflects Tippett's journalistic evolution toward "wisdom interviews," where the aim is not resolution but enriched orientation amid life's ambiguities.

Distribution and Accessibility Evolution

Originally distributed as a syndicated public radio program through (APM), On Being reached audiences via hundreds of (NPR) affiliate stations across the , with episodes airing weekly from its inception in 2003 as Speaking of Faith through the rebranding in 2014. This broadcast model limited accessibility to scheduled air times and geographic coverage of stations, though rebroadcasts and archives began emerging in the early digital era to extend listenership. The introduction of podcasting in the mid-2000s marked an initial shift toward on-demand digital distribution, allowing episodes to be downloaded or streamed via feeds and platforms like , thereby decoupling consumption from radio schedules and broadening reach to international audiences without traditional syndication barriers. By the , On Being maintained dual distribution—radio syndication alongside podcasts—facilitating hybrid accessibility, with online transcripts and resources on the program's website enhancing engagement for non-audio users. In March 2022, host announced the end of weekly radio production after nearly 20 years, transitioning On Being to a seasonal format with two releases per year to prioritize depth over frequency. This move eliminated reliance on public radio infrastructure, shifting fully to digital platforms such as , , and the On Being Project's website, which hosts an extensive archive of over 500 episodes. The change amplified global accessibility, as enable anytime, device-agnostic listening and algorithmic discovery, unencumbered by broadcast regulations or station carriage decisions. Further evolution occurred in July 2025, when APM and Tippett finalized an agreement severing formal ties, enabling On Being to operate as an fully independent production under The On Being Project nonprofit. This independence streamlined distribution control, allowing direct integration with emerging audio technologies like smart speakers and apps, while emphasizing open-access features such as free episode downloads and multilingual subtitles in select content to address diverse user needs. The transition reflects broader industry trends away from linear broadcasting toward scalable, listener-driven models, with On Being's audience reportedly growing post-radio exit due to enhanced digital discoverability.

Content Themes and Approach

Spiritual Inquiry and Philosophical Depth

The "On Being" podcast centers spiritual inquiry on perennial questions of human meaning and existence, such as "What does it mean to be human?" and "How do we want to live?", approached through conversations that resist reductive answers in favor of layered, experiential wisdom. Host , drawing from her background in and , facilitates dialogues that probe the "mystery and art of living," as articulated in her 2016 book Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, where she compiles insights from two decades of interviews emphasizing embodied knowledge over abstract doctrine. This method privileges first-person narratives from practitioners across traditions, revealing as a dynamic process shaped by doubt, presence, and relational ethics rather than institutional orthodoxy. Philosophical depth emerges in episodes that synthesize Eastern and Western thought without syncretism's pitfalls, as seen in Batchelor's 2018 discussion of "wondrous doubt" in , where he reframes as rigorous questioning of conditioned assumptions to foster vitality in . Similarly, Matthieu Ricard's 2017 exploration of frames it as "human flourishing" via contemplative , citing studies showing meditation's measurable effects on plasticity and emotional , thus grounding philosophical ideals in empirical of mental states. These exchanges highlight causal mechanisms—such as habitual attention shaping neural pathways—over vague affirmations, aligning inquiry with observable human capacities for adaptation. Tippett's interviews with in 2009 exemplify this depth by dissecting ego identification as a barrier to presence, synthesizing core elements from , , and into a phenomenology of that prioritizes direct over belief systems. Tolle describes the "pain-body" as accumulated emotional residue driving reactive behavior, a concept verifiable through introspective reports and echoed in on trauma's somatic persistence, urging listeners toward disidentification as a practical philosophical tool. John O'Donohue's 2000 conversation further enriches this by weaving Celtic philosophy with phenomenology, positing beauty as an "inner landscape" that orients ethical being amid modernity's disenchantment, formed through early encounters with nature and literature that cultivate perceptual acuity. Critics note that while these explorations yield profound personal resonance—evidenced by the podcast's for distinguished electronic media achievement in 2014 and 2016—they occasionally favor anecdotal elevation over falsifiable critique, though Tippett counters this by cross-pollinating spiritual claims with scientific guests like neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, who in 2009 linked mystical states to specific brain activations via SPECT imaging. Overall, the podcast's philosophical rigor lies in its refusal of ideological closure, modeling inquiry as an ongoing human endeavor that integrates empirical scrutiny with transcendent wonder.

Integration of Science, Poetry, and Human Experience

The On Being podcast integrates scientific inquiry with poetic language and lived human narratives to probe the mysteries of existence, emphasizing emergent wisdom over doctrinal assertions. Host Krista Tippett structures conversations to bridge empirical findings from fields like physics and psychology with the evocative power of poetry, fostering reflections on consciousness, awe, and relationality that resonate across disciplines. This approach counters reductionist views by highlighting how scientific data—such as studies on awe's physiological effects—intersects with poetic articulations of wonder, revealing patterns in human perception that transcend isolated analysis. Scientific guests, including physicist Arthur Zajonc, discuss contemplative practices alongside to explore "holding life consciously," linking measurable phenomena like light's wave-particle duality to subjective and ethical living. Similarly, Natalie Batalha recounts discovering exoplanets, framing Kepler mission data as evoking a "planetary of " that connects cosmic scales to intimate human bonds, without anthropomorphizing unverified . These dialogues ground abstract theories in experiential anchors, such as the immune-boosting correlates of identified in , to affirm causal links between environmental immersion and . Poetry serves as a to scientific precision, capturing the ineffable qualities of human experience that data alone cannot quantify. Episodes feature readings from poets like , who merges observation with ecological science to evoke "the fullness of things," illustrating how verse distills sensory encounters into insights on impermanence and interconnection. David Whyte's contributions emphasize language as a vessel for navigating loss and celebration, drawing on etymological roots to reveal how words shape perceptual realities in ways complementary to neuroscientific models of narrative cognition. The companion Poetry Unbound series extends this by isolating poems for meditation, such as those probing species extinction or gravitational anomalies, to humanize scientific abstractions like relativity or . This triadic integration manifests in initiatives like The Universe in Verse, an annual event curated by that pairs scientific narratives—on topics from to cosmology—with poetry to celebrate reality's wonder, attracting interdisciplinary audiences without prioritizing ideological conformity. By juxtaposing, for instance, physicist Carlo Rovelli's relational quantum interpretations with poetic evocations of intimacy, the project underscores causal realism: human understanding arises from iterative dialogues between observation, metaphor, and testimony, rather than siloed expertise. Such synthesis has sustained listener engagement, with episodes averaging thousands of downloads, by addressing verifiable phenomena—like mortality's role—through lenses that affirm experiential validity over speculative optimism.

Engagement with Social and Ethical Challenges

The On Being podcast engages social and ethical challenges through extended interviews that emphasize moral imagination, redemption, and human dignity as pathways to societal repair, often drawing on guests' lived experiences rather than partisan . For instance, in a December 3, 2020 episode, host converses with lawyer and activist , founder of the , who argues that addressing racial injustice and mass incarceration requires confronting historical truths and extending , encapsulated in his principle that "each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done." Stevenson highlights ethical imperatives like truth-telling about slavery's legacy and to foster collective healing, insisting that "we all need , we all need justice, and—perhaps—we all need some measure of unmerited grace." Economic and political ethics receive scrutiny in episodes probing systemic failures, such as the May 21, 2020 discussion with Acumen CEO Jacqueline Novogratz, who calls for a "moral revolution" reorienting capitalism toward human dignity over profit, critiquing how current structures exacerbate inequality by prioritizing money, power, and fame. Novogratz advocates measuring success by released human potential and fair marketplaces that empower the poor, linking political unrest—like the 2016 U.S. election—to unmet needs for visibility and voice, while urging moral courage to redesign economies for planetary and social sustainability. Reproductive rights and ethics are explored with nuance in the September 27, 2018 episode featuring Frances Kissling, president of for Health, and Social Policy, who challenges absolutist positions by emphasizing for opposing views and the moral weight of fetal life alongside women's . Similarly, technological emerge in the January 12, 2017 interview with technologist , who critiques Valley's power imbalances and calls for ethical accountability in digital innovation to prevent exploitation. Civil rights legacies inform ethical action in the July 23, 2020 episode with Congressman , who frames nonviolent protest as "love in action," drawing from his 1960s experiences to stress persistent moral evolution against . These discussions prioritize introspective, cross-ideological dialogue over resolution, aiming to cultivate personal and communal virtues amid polarization, as seen in episodes on race and healing that link to broader cultural shifts. This approach contrasts with conventional by foregrounding spiritual and poetic lenses on moral quandaries, though it has drawn critique for selective framing of issues like inequality through lenses favoring progressive reformers.

The On Being Project

Organizational Mission and Structure

The On Being Project operates as an independent dedicated to fostering deep into human existence through media and public engagement initiatives. Its mission centers on orienting toward the remaking of the world by addressing hardship and embracing vitality, as articulated by founder : "We want to meet what is hard and hurting. We want to rise to what is beautiful and life-giving. We want to do that where we live, and we want to do it walking alongside others." This involves nourishing personal and collective growth, elevating wisdom traditions, practicing moral imagination, resourcing innovative projects, and rendering ethical complexity compelling to audiences. The organization's vision envisions a society more attuned to its humanity, equipped to navigate contemporary challenges via reflective practices that integrate mind, body, and spirit. Established in 2013 as Public Productions following the host's departure from , the entity rebranded and expanded into The On Being Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in , . It functions as a media and social healing enterprise, producing podcasts, live events, and dialogue platforms rather than adhering to traditional institutional hierarchies, emphasizing ecosystem-building through partnerships with healers, poets, and social innovators. Funding derives from diversified sources including donations, grants, and sponsorships to ensure long-term sustainability, with annual filings reporting operational revenues supporting and . Leadership is centralized under , who serves as founder, president, host of the flagship On Being , and , drawing on her background in and public radio since launching the program in 2003. An Executive Council, comprising Tippett and Executive Vice President —who oversees public life and social healing efforts with expertise in global —guides strategic direction. Operational support falls to roles such as Director of Operations and Andrea Prevost, who manages project execution and strategic alignment. Content-specific leadership includes Pádraig Ó Tuama as host of the Poetry Unbound , focusing on theological and poetic reflection. The board of directors provides governance oversight, with members including Treasurer Jay Cowles, a former media executive; Srinija Srinivasan, a tech entrepreneur and Stanford board member; and Konda Mason, CEO of Impact Hub Oakland emphasizing . This structure prioritizes agile, mission-driven collaboration over rigid departmental silos, enabling initiatives like the Civil Conversations Project while maintaining fiscal accountability as a nonprofit with tax-deductible contributions.

Expanded Podcasts and Media Initiatives

The On Being Project has developed Poetry Unbound as a flagship expanded podcast, hosted by Irish poet and theologian , which debuted on January 7, 2020. Each episode centers on a single poem selected from diverse voices, including contemporary poets like Fady Joudah and historical figures, with Ó Tuama offering unhurried readings, personal reflections, and invitations for listener contemplation, typically in 10- to 15-minute formats. The series emphasizes poetry's capacity to illuminate emotional and existential realities without overt interpretation, amassing over 200 episodes across multiple seasons by 2025. Complementing this, the project introduced The Hope Portal in 2024, a limited seven-episode audio series curated by , drawing on excerpts from her interviews with thinkers such as , , and . Episodes, averaging 15 minutes, integrate guided reflections and journaling prompts to cultivate what Tippett describes as "muscular, reality-based hope" amid societal challenges, positioning it as an interactive tool for personal renewal rather than traditional podcast discourse. Beyond podcasts, media initiatives include the Poetry Unbound newsletter, launched alongside the podcast, which delivers weekly poem selections with accompanying essays and audio, fostering ongoing engagement with poetic practice. The project also maintains digital libraries of curated archival content, organizing episodes, transcripts, and writings thematically—such as on mortality or wonder—to extend to its 20-year repository. These efforts reflect the organization's shift toward tools for contemplative living, independent of public radio distribution since 2017.

Civil Conversations Project and Dialogue Efforts

The Civil Conversations Project, an initiative of the On Being Project, seeks to renew public discourse and promote social healing by modeling civil conversations on contentious issues such as division, belonging, and ethical challenges. Launched in 2012 by host , it originated as a series of public radio discussions and online resources to counter polarized with practices drawn from and moral imagination. The project emphasizes transforming adversarial exchanges into opportunities for common humanity, drawing on episodes that feature diverse voices like poet on grief and resilience amid global , or activist Colette Pichon Battle on ecological and in crisis. In 2019, the project evolved under new Executive Director , who shifted focus toward building "beloved community" through and virtues-based interactions that address societal fractures. This phase prioritizes moral wrestling in dialogue to foster long-term social repair, integrating insights from mentors like historian Vincent Harding. Dialogue efforts extend beyond podcasts to practical tools, including curated libraries of over 100 programs on and as agents of . A core resource is the Better Conversations: A Starter Guide, created by On Being producers based on more than 15 years of hosting reflective interviews; it offers a customizable roadmap for groups—whether acquaintances or strangers—to sustain conversations over weeks or months, adaptable to specific intentions like or conflict navigation. The guide, available as a free print-optimized PDF, encourages structured yet flexible exchanges grounded in rather than debate. Guiding these efforts are the On Being Project's six Grounding Virtues, which provide a framework for civil dialogue:
  • Words That Matter: Prioritizing vivid, truthful language to forge human connections and clarify shared realities.
  • : Cultivating inviting spaces that build trust and enable encounters across differences.
  • : Embracing openness to surprise, which tempers certainty and invites mutual discovery.
  • Patience: Adopting a long-view perspective to support gradual personal and communal change.
  • Generous Listening: Practicing active, vulnerable attention to uncover others' inner lives and humanity.
  • Adventurous : Engaging disagreement boldly while pursuing creative paths to coexistence.
These virtues underpin live events, such as the 2023 On Air Fest, and online prompts for reflection, aiming to equip participants with tools for real-world application in divided contexts.

Reception and Influence

Awards and Recognitions

On Being and its founder Krista Tippett have garnered significant recognition for advancing thoughtful public conversations on human existence, spirituality, and ethics. In 2007, the program received the George Foster Peabody Award for its radio and online production "The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi", which featured an interview with scholar Fatemeh Keshavarz exploring the poet's influence beyond religious boundaries. This accolade, often called the "Oscar of broadcasting," highlighted the show's innovative approach to spiritual themes. In 2014, President awarded Tippett the at the , citing her work on On Being for "thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence" and embracing complexity to invite broad participation in incisive questioning. The medal recognizes contributions that deepen the nation's understanding of history, , , and . The podcast further earned the 2023 iHeartRadio Podcast Award for Best & Podcast, affirming its prominence in the genre amid competition from programs like The Joel Osteen Podcast. Additional honors include the Medal from the , bestowed on Tippett for exemplifying freedoms of speech and worship through the project's civil discourse initiatives. Tippett has also received honorary doctorates from institutions such as and , reflecting academic endorsement of On Being's intellectual rigor. The project has accumulated top honors across , media, and podcasting platforms, distributed over 400 U.S. radio stations.

Audience Metrics and Cultural Reach

Prior to its transition to a podcast-only format in 2022, On Being reached more than 650,000 listeners weekly through broadcasts on 389 public radio stations. By that point, the had accumulated over 375 million total downloads, reflecting sustained engagement over two decades of production. On platforms like , it maintains a 4.6 out of 5 rating from 9,972 user reviews as of 2025, indicating consistent listener approval amid its weekly releases and archive of nearly 1,000 episodes. The program's cultural reach extends beyond raw listenership through its multi-platform distribution and thematic focus on spiritual inquiry, science, poetry, and ethical challenges, which has positioned it as a resource for integrating personal meaning-making with broader societal discourse. Independent research commissioned for the project has documented its impact on religious communities and civic life, with listeners reporting shifts in perspectives on spirituality and human experience influenced by episodes featuring figures like Jane Goodall and Eckhart Tolle. This influence is amplified by ancillary offerings such as the Poetry Unbound spin-off and the Civil Conversations Project, which promote dialogue on divisive topics and have drawn partnerships with institutions exploring science-religion intersections. The On Being Project's nonprofit model, emphasizing nonprofit media innovation, has sustained its presence in public discourse, evidenced by its role in fostering "soul-searching" conversations that resonate across diverse audiences seeking wisdom amid cultural tumult.

Criticisms and Debates

Ideological and Theological Imbalances

Critics from secular and scientific perspectives have argued that On Being displays an ideological imbalance by prioritizing accommodating narratives around and over rigorous empirical . Evolutionary biologist Jerry A. Coyne, in a 2015 analysis, contended that host fails to define "spirituality" precisely, allowing it to blur into unsubstantiated divine implications, particularly when interviewing scientists whose work challenges religious claims; he cited her tendency to soften atheistic conclusions from evolutionary biologists like , framing them within a harmonious "mystery" rather than conflict. This approach, Coyne asserted, reflects a broader bias toward religious , evident in episodes where theological assertions receive undue validation without countervailing data-driven rebuttals. Similar sentiments appear in listener feedback on platforms like , where the program is described as "mindless " antithetical to evidence-based inquiry, prioritizing emotional resonance over falsifiable claims. Theologically, the podcast has faced accusations of imbalance toward progressive, non-doctrinal universalism at the expense of orthodox traditions. Tippett's background, including her disillusionment with conservative Christian rhetoric during the 1980s Moral Majority era, informs a format that emphasizes interfaith harmony and human-centered "wisdom" over confessional specificity, as noted in analyses from Christian outlets. For instance, episodes feature progressive figures like Franciscan Richard Rohr, who advocates contemplative practices transcending institutional dogma, but rarely engage sustained defenses of evangelical or Catholic orthodoxy on topics like sin, salvation, or scriptural inerrancy. This selective focus aligns with a "spiritual but not religious" ethos appealing to millennial "nones," yet critics argue it dilutes causal theological realism—such as accountability to divine judgment—favoring poetic ambiguity, a pattern echoed in broader critiques of progressive Christianity for rejecting absolute truth in favor of inclusivity. Ideologically, the program's association with until its departure has drawn claims of left-leaning skew in addressing social challenges, with guests often framing issues through lenses of implicit bias, whiteness, or —e.g., episodes with on racial identity or on prophetic faith—while conservative viewpoints, though occasionally included (as with Sen. or pastor ), are contextualized within narratives of moderation rather than systemic critique of progressive policies. Such patterns, attributable to 's documented audience demographics (predominantly urban, educated liberals as of listener surveys), may amplify perceptions of imbalance, though Tippett has interviewed cross-ideological pairs like liberal Sally Kohn and conservative to foster dialogue. Empirical data on guest diversity remains limited, but the emphasis on "civil conversations" amid polarized topics risks prioritizing consensus over dissecting causal disparities in policy outcomes, such as economic data on welfare dependencies or in justice discussions.

Handling of Controversial Topics

The On Being Project engages controversial topics through structured conversations that prioritize , shared humanity, and exploration of personal narratives over adversarial debate or policy advocacy. Episodes on issues like feature guests such as Frances Kissling, a longtime pro-choice leader who discusses building bridges by acknowledging valid elements in opposing pro-life arguments, such as respect for nascent life, without conceding her core position. Similarly, discussions of political and cultural divides, including implicit bias and partisan , draw on social scientists like and to examine cognitive and emotional mechanisms driving polarization, framing them as opportunities for self-awareness rather than blame. This method aligns with the project's Civil Conversations initiative, which seeks to model amid societal tensions, as seen in episodes pairing interlocutors across ideological lines, such as conservative columnist David Brooks and liberal commentator on the role of in politics. However, it has faced scrutiny for potentially softening substantive disagreements. In a 2020 social media exchange, host critiqued a headline invoking "white women tears" as counterproductive to cross-racial understanding, prompting accusations from some progressive listeners of "" and insufficient deference to Black women's historical experiences of emotional manipulation in . Tippett apologized for the tweet's tone but upheld her view that such risks entrenching division, illustrating tensions between the program's dialogic ethos and expectations of unambiguous alignment with prevailing cultural critiques. Critics from varied perspectives have questioned whether this emphasis on relationality adequately confronts empirical or ethical asymmetries in debates, such as those surrounding gender roles or religious extremism, where episodes tend to favor framing over direct evidentiary challenges. The approach has nonetheless sustained broad appeal by sidestepping the performative outrage common in treatments of similar subjects.

References

  1. https://onbeing.org/series/podcast/
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