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Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

150 episodes listed below

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Clear Dharma for steady attention.

The gist

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein presents steady, practice-oriented Dharma talks rooted in mindfulness and insight meditation. Recent episodes work carefully through consciousness, the five aggregates, equanimity, dying, and the difference between pleasant experience and genuine freedom.

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About Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein is a Buddhist meditation teaching series built around careful attention to experience. It does not rush. Recent episodes move through dense Dharma themes with a plainspoken patience: selflessness, dukkha, consciousness, equanimity, ultimate and relative truth, and the changing nature of body and mind. The show often begins from a question that sounds theoretical, then brings it back to what happens in actual practice. What is a self? What notices experience? Why does pleasantness become grasping? Why does unpleasantness become resistance? These questions are treated as matters for meditation, not just belief. The teaching repeatedly returns to the five aggregates as a practical map of body, feeling tone, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. It gives particular attention to feeling tone, the subtle pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral quality that can condition desire and aversion before a person notices it. That makes the show useful for listeners trying to understand why meditation can feel peaceful one day and difficult the next. A difficult sitting is not dismissed. A pleasant one is not overvalued. The measure is mindfulness. Episodes also address illness, aging, death, and the clarity that can come from contemplating impermanence without turning away. The language can be philosophically demanding, but the delivery stays grounded in ordinary examples: the body changing, thoughts passing, leaves falling, the urge to manipulate experience. Its spiritual seriousness is balanced by a practical emphasis on relaxation, letting be, and seeing phenomena arise and pass on their own. The result is less a comfort podcast than a steady training in perception. It suits listeners who want Buddhist practice explained slowly, rigorously, and with direct relevance to how suffering takes shape in the mind.

Made for: For meditators, Dharma students, and reflective listeners who want Buddhist practice taught with patience and conceptual depth. It especially suits people interested in impermanence, selflessness, awareness, and how practice meets illness, aging, and ordinary discomfort.

What sets it apart: The show stands out for linking Buddhist frameworks to the moment-by-moment mechanics of meditation. It treats freedom less as an inspirational idea than as a change in how experience is known and clung to.

In their own words

Joseph Goldstein has been a leading light for the practice of Insight and Loving Kindness meditation since his days in India and Burma where he studied with eminent masters of the tradition. In his podcast, The Insight Hour, Joseph delivers these essential mindfulness teachings in a practical and down to earth way that illuminates the practice through his own personal experience and wonderful story telling.

As heard by us

Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026

It turns selflessness, impermanence, and feeling tone into precise tools for noticing how meditation and daily experience unfold.

Joseph Goldstein keeps returning Buddhist doctrine to the texture of ordinary experience. Insight Hour moves between sustained teaching and questions, using meditation as the testing ground for ideas about impermanence, selflessness, desire, aversion, suffering, and freedom.

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

A white beard becomes a lesson in attachment; Joseph Goldstein may make you inspect your own mirror.

Press play if you want

  • to stop treating a painful meditation sit like a failed exam
  • to notice how quickly a pleasant feeling becomes a demand for more
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
mindfulness meditationselflessness and no-selffive aggregatesdukkha and freedomimpermanencefeeling toneequanimityillness and death

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Episodes

  1. 1

    Ep. 225 – Understanding Formation and Consciousness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 22

    ·1h 3m
  2. 2

    Ep. 259 – Selflessness, Dukkha, and Freedom

    ·48m
  3. 3

    Ep. 258 – The Goal Without the Grasp: Aspiration in Buddhist Practice

    ·31m
  4. 4

    Ep. 257 – Releasing the Knower: Equanimity and Awareness

    ·33m
  5. 5

    Ep. 210 – Mindfulness Of Body, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 7

    ·57m
  6. 6

    Ep. 209 – The Art of Letting Go, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 6

    ·49m
  7. 7

    Ep. 208 – Bare Knowing & Continuous Mindfulness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 5

    ·1h
  8. 8

    Ep. 256 – The Experience of Consciousness: Question About Cultivating Awareness & Focus On the Buddhist Path

    ·1h 5m
  9. 9

    Ep. 255 – Emptiness, Luminosity, Responsiveness

    ·1h
  10. 10

    Ep. 254 – The Mystery of Consciousness

    ·1h 5m
  11. 11

    Ep. 253 – No Foothold: Integrating Relative & Ultimate Truth In Our Lives

    ·58m
  12. 12

    Ep. 252 – Equanimity: A Direct Path to Liberation

    ·34m
  13. 13

    Ep. 251 – The Selfless Path to Happiness

    ·40m
  14. 14

    Ep. 250 – Why Meditate?

    ·1h 3m
  15. 15

    Ep. 249 – Right Effort, Mindfulness & Concentration, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 46

    ·1h 3m
  16. 16

    Ep. 248 – Right Action & Livelihood, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 45

    ·55m
  17. 17

    Ep. 247 – Right Speech, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 44

    ·57m
  18. 18

    Ep. 246 – Compassionate Responsiveness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 43

    ·47m
  19. 19

    Ep. 245 – Training the Heart for Lovingkindness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 42

    ·50m
  20. 20

    Ep. 243 – Illuminating Our Lives with Right View, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 40

    ·52m
  21. 21

    Ep. 242 – Right View and the Eightfold Path, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 39

    ·54m
  22. 22

    Ep. 241 – The End Of Dukkha, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 38

    ·1h 1m
  23. 23

    Ep. 240 – The Origin of Dukkha, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 37

    ·56m
  24. 24

    Ep. 239 – The Truth Of Dukkha, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 36

    ·54m
  25. 25

    Ep. 238 – Understanding Equanimity, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 35

    ·1h
  26. 26

    Ep. 237 – Continuity of Mindfulness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 34

    ·58m
  27. 27

    Ep. 236 – An Intro to Samadhi, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 33

    ·58m
  28. 28

    Ep. 235 – Reaching Tranquility, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 32

    ·58m
  29. 29

    Ep. 233 – Passion For Practice, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 30

    ·57m
  30. 30

    Ep. 232 – Applying Our Effort Skillfully, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 29

    ·55m
  31. 31

    Ep. 231 – Inner Investigation, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 28

    ·59m
  32. 32

    Ep. 230 – The Factors of Awakening, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 27

    ·57m
  33. 33

    Ep. 229 – Freedom From Our Mental Shackles, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 26

    ·55m
  34. 34

    Ep. 228 – Suffering And The Senses, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 25

    ·1h
  35. 35

    Ep. 227 – The Six Sense Bases, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 24

    ·57m
  36. 36

    Ep. 226 – Non-Self, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 23

    ·1h 5m
  37. 37

    Ep. 260 – The Union of Relative & Ultimate Truth

    ·40m
  38. 38

    Ep. 224 – Buddhist Teachings on Perception & Formation, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 21

    ·59m
  39. 39

    Ep. 223 – Buddhism's Five Aggregates, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 20

    ·59m
  40. 40

    Ep. 222 – Doubt, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 19

    ·55m
  41. 41

    Ep. 221 – Overcoming Restlessness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 18

    ·58m
  42. 42

    Ep. 220 – The Laziness Trap, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 17

    ·1h 3m
  43. 43

    Ep. 219 – Fear & Aversion, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 16

    ·1h 4m
  44. 44

    Ep. 218 – Freedom From Desire, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 15

    ·1h
  45. 45

    Ep. 217 – External Mindfulness and Objective Experience, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 14

    ·1h 3m
  46. 46

    Ep. 216 – Mindfulness Of Mind, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 13

    ·58m
  47. 47

    Ep. 215 – Mindfulness of Our Emotions, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 12

    ·55m
  48. 48

    Ep. 214 – The Nature of Feelings, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 11

    ·55m
  49. 49

    Ep. 213 – The Four Elements, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 10

    ·53m
  50. 50

    Ep. 212 – Clear Knowing, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 9

    ·58m
  51. 51

    Ep. 211 – Mindfulness Of Postures, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 8

    ·58m
  52. 52

    Ep. 207 – Impermanence, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 4

    ·1h 2m
  53. 53

    Ep. 206 – Concentration And Contemplation, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 3

    ·1h 5m
  54. 54

    Ep. 205 – Mindfulness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 2

    ·59m
  55. 55

    Ep. 204 – The Direct Path to Liberation, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt.1

    ·56m
  56. 56

    Ep. 203 – Ask Joseph: Questions From Student To Teacher

    ·1h 45m
  57. 57

    Ep. 202 – The Subtlety of Practice

    ·1h 5m
  58. 58

    Ep. 200 – Getting Insight On The Nature of Thought

    ·37m
  59. 59

    Ep. 199 – Self And Selfless

    ·52m
  60. 60

    Ep. 198 – Facing Our Fears

    ·1h 1m
  61. 61

    Ep. 197 – Flavors of Loving-Kindness

    ·37m
  62. 62

    Ep. 196 – Guided Meditation: Busy Life, No-Self

    ·27m
  63. 63

    Ep. 195 – Approaching Suffering without Reactivity

    ·1h 2m
  64. 64

    Ep. 194 – The Buddha’s Sacred Journey

    ·1h 2m
  65. 65

    Ep. 193 - Sudden Awakening, Gradual Cultivation

    ·57m
  66. 66

    Ep. 192 - The Buddha's Life And Journey

    ·55m
  67. 67

    Bonus Episode: Joseph's Meditative Story with Rohan Gunatillake

    ·40m
  68. 68

    Ep. 191 - Knowing, Awareness And Wisdom

    ·54m
  69. 69

    Ep. 190 - Questions and Answers on Buddhist Practice

    ·1h 7m
  70. 70

    Ep. 189 – Creating A Concept of Self

    ·58m
  71. 71

    Ep. 188 – Skillful Means for Non-Clinging

    ·1h 12m
  72. 72

    Ep. 187 - Love & Fear

    ·1h 5m
  73. 73

    Ep. 186 - Working With Thought And Emotion

    ·59m
  74. 74

    Ep. 185 - Suffering And The Illusion Of Self

    ·1h 9m
  75. 75

    Ep. 184 – Our Unskillful Actions: Doing More Good Than Bad

    ·1h
  76. 76

    Ep. 183 – The Why and How of Practice

    ·59m
  77. 77

    Ep. 182 – Equanimity: "There in the Middleness"

    ·57m
  78. 78

    Ep. 181 – The Way of the Tao

    ·57m
  79. 79

    Ep. 180 – Relative and Ultimate Bodhicitta Part 2

    ·58m
  80. 80

    Ep. 179 – Relative and Ultimate Bodhicitta Part I

    ·58m
  81. 81

    Ep. 178 – The Wisdom Of "No"

    ·1h
  82. 82

    Ep. 177 – Understanding Equanimity

    ·1h 6m
  83. 83

    Ep. 176 – Questions About The Path to Awakening

    ·1h
  84. 84

    Ep. 175 – Instructions on Working with Thoughts

    ·27m
  85. 85

    Ep. 174 – Liberation Teachings for Daily Life

    ·1h 11m
  86. 86

    Ep. 173 – Understanding Karma & Samsara

    ·1h 11m
  87. 87

    Ep. 172 – Consciousness: The Power of Mind

    ·59m
  88. 88

    Ep. 171 – Fulfillments of Understanding

    ·56m
  89. 89

    Ep. 170 – Samsara

    ·55m
  90. 90

    Ep. 169 – The Heart of Wisdom

    ·48m
  91. 91

    Ep. 168 – The Five Spiritual Faculties

    ·50m
  92. 92

    Ep. 167 – Self and Self Loss

    ·55m
  93. 93

    Ep. 166 – Opening to Fear

    ·49m
  94. 94

    Ep. 165 – The Relationship of Practice and World Peace

    ·45m
  95. 95

    Ep. 164 – Dependent Origination

    ·56m
  96. 96

    Ep. 163 – The Tao and the Rhythm of Experience

    ·51m
  97. 97

    Ep. 162 – Happiness: The Progress of Insight

    ·54m
  98. 98

    Ep. 244 – Freedom in Letting Go: Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 41

    ·55m
  99. 99

    Ep. 234 – Happiness and the Mirror Within, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 31

    Joseph Goldstein explores how cultivating faith, generosity, and wisdom leads to Dharma joy and happiness, as part of a series on the Satipatthana Sutta.

    ·48m
  100. 100

    Ep. 201 – A Guided Practice on Working with Thought and Emotions

    A guided meditation practice on working with thoughts and emotions, preceded by an announcement for a free online event on mindfulness meditation teacher training.

    ·32m
  101. 101

    Ep. 260 – The Union of Relative & Ultimate Truth

    Hidden gem

    Joseph Goldstein explores the union of relative and ultimate truth in Buddhist philosophy.

    Apr 9, 2026·40m·2 clips
  102. 102

    Ep. 259 – Selflessness, Dukkha, and Freedom

    Hidden gem

    In Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein, William asks Goldstein why Buddhist traditions treat self, non-self, and no-self as central questions.

    Mar 13, 2026·48m·3 clips
  103. 103

    Ep. 258 – The Goal Without the Grasp: Aspiration in Buddhist Practice

    Joseph Goldstein discusses the role of aspiration in Buddhist practice, exploring how to hold goals without attachment.

    Feb 5, 2026·31m
  104. 104

    Ep. 257 – Releasing the Knower: Equanimity and Awareness

    This episode promotes a free online event with Buddhist teacher David Nickturn about teaching mindfulness meditation and a teacher training program.

    Jan 8, 2026·33m
  105. 105

    Ep. 256 – The Experience of Consciousness: Question About Cultivating Awareness & Focus On the Buddhist Path

    Joseph Goldstein discusses cultivating awareness and focus on the Buddhist path, with a promotion for a free online event on teaching mindfulness meditation.

    Dec 11, 2025·1h 5m
  106. 106

    Ep. 255 – Emptiness, Luminosity, Responsiveness

    A Buddhist teacher discusses the concepts of emptiness, luminosity, and responsiveness in meditation, and promotes a free online event about mindfulness teacher training.

    Nov 20, 2025·1h
  107. 107

    Ep. 254 – The Mystery of Consciousness

    Hidden gem

    Joseph Goldstein's Insight Hour episode on "The Mystery of Consciousness" uses walking meditation, passive voice, and the phrase "sensations being known" to examine selflessness.

    Oct 31, 2025·1h 5m·2 clips
  108. 108

    Ep. 253 – No Foothold: Integrating Relative & Ultimate Truth In Our Lives

    Hidden gem

    Joseph Goldstein uses his recent retreat on Insight Hour to examine the integration of “relative and more ultimate truth” through the Buddhist frameworks of the five aggregates and the six sense spheres.

    Oct 10, 2025·58m·2 clips
  109. 109

    Ep. 252 – Equanimity: A Direct Path to Liberation

    Hidden gem

    Joseph Goldstein frames "equanimity" in Insight Hour as the capacity to meet "pleasant and unpleasant" without reactivity, and he links that to the Buddha's line that "liberation is impossible" when attachment and aversion dominate.

    Sep 19, 2025·34m·2 clips
  110. 110

    Ep. 251 – The Selfless Path to Happiness

    Hidden gem

    "Being afraid of impermanence is like being afraid of gravity."

    Aug 30, 2025·40m·2 clips
  111. 111

    Ep. 250 – Why Meditate?

    Aug 7, 2025·1h 3m
  112. 112

    Ep. 249 – Right Effort, Mindfulness & Concentration, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 46

    Jul 24, 2025·1h 3m
  113. 113

    Ep. 248 – Right Action & Livelihood, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 45

    Jul 9, 2025·55m
  114. 114

    Ep. 247 – Right Speech, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 44

    Jun 26, 2025·57m
  115. 115

    Ep. 246 – Compassionate Responsiveness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 43

    Jun 6, 2025·47m
  116. 116

    Ep. 245 – Training the Heart for Lovingkindness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 42

    May 15, 2025·50m
  117. 117

    Ep. 244 – Freedom in Letting Go: Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 41

    Apr 24, 2025·55m
  118. 118

    Ep. 243 – Illuminating Our Lives with Right View, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 40

    Hidden gem

    A Buddhist teacher discusses the importance of right view and perception in meditation, using the Satipatthana Sutta as a guide.

    Apr 18, 2025·52m·2 clips
  119. 119

    Ep. 242 – Right View and the Eightfold Path, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 39

    Apr 10, 2025·54m
  120. 120

    Ep. 241 – The End Of Dukkha, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 38

    Apr 2, 2025·1h 1m
  121. 121

    Ep. 240 – The Origin of Dukkha, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 37

    Mar 26, 2025·56m
  122. 122

    Ep. 239 – The Truth Of Dukkha, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 36

    Mar 19, 2025·54m
  123. 123

    Ep. 238 – Understanding Equanimity, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 35

    Mar 13, 2025·1h
  124. 124

    Ep. 237 – Continuity of Mindfulness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 34

    Mar 6, 2025·58m
  125. 125

    Ep. 236 – An Intro to Samadhi, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 33

    Feb 26, 2025·58m
  126. 126

    Ep. 235 – Reaching Tranquility, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 32

    Feb 19, 2025·58m
  127. 127

    Ep. 234 – Happiness and the Mirror Within, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 31

    Joseph Goldstein explores the cultivation of happiness through faith, generosity, and wisdom in the context of the Satipatthana Sutta.

    Jan 30, 2025·48m
  128. 128

    Ep. 233 – Passion For Practice, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 30

    Jan 23, 2025·57m
  129. 129

    Ep. 232 – Applying Our Effort Skillfully, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 29

    Jan 17, 2025·55m
  130. 130

    Ep. 231 – Inner Investigation, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 28

    Jan 9, 2025·59m
  131. 131

    Ep. 230 – The Factors of Awakening, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 27

    Jan 3, 2025·57m
  132. 132

    Ep. 229 – Freedom From Our Mental Shackles, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 26

    Dec 27, 2024·55m
  133. 133

    Ep. 228 – Suffering And The Senses, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 25

    Dec 19, 2024·1h
  134. 134

    Ep. 227 – The Six Sense Bases, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 24

    Dec 11, 2024·57m
  135. 135

    Ep. 226 – Non-Self, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 23

    Dec 5, 2024·1h 5m
  136. 136

    Ep. 225 – Understanding Formation and Consciousness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 22

    Nov 27, 2024·1h 3m
  137. 137

    Ep. 224 – Buddhist Teachings on Perception & Formation, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 21

    Nov 21, 2024·59m
  138. 138

    Ep. 223 – Buddhism's Five Aggregates, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 20

    Nov 14, 2024·59m
  139. 139

    Ep. 222 – Doubt, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 19

    Nov 7, 2024·55m
  140. 140

    Ep. 221 – Overcoming Restlessness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 18

    Oct 31, 2024·58m
  141. 141

    Ep. 220 – The Laziness Trap, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 17

    Oct 23, 2024·1h 3m
  142. 142

    Ep. 219 – Fear & Aversion, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 16

    Oct 17, 2024·1h 4m
  143. 143

    Ep. 218 – Freedom From Desire, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 15

    Oct 10, 2024·1h
  144. 144

    Ep. 217 – External Mindfulness and Objective Experience, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 14

    Oct 3, 2024·1h 3m
  145. 145

    Ep. 216 – Mindfulness Of Mind, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 13

    Sep 26, 2024·58m
  146. 146

    Ep. 215 – Mindfulness of Our Emotions, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 12

    Sep 19, 2024·55m
  147. 147

    Ep. 214 – The Nature of Feelings, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 11

    Sep 12, 2024·55m
  148. 148

    Ep. 213 – The Four Elements, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 10

    Sep 4, 2024·53m
  149. 149

    Ep. 212 – Clear Knowing, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 9

    Aug 28, 2024·58m
  150. 150

    Ep. 211 – Mindfulness Of Postures, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 8

    Aug 22, 2024·58m