Help Support the NBN and NBN en Español on Patreon | Visit New Books Network en Español!

New Books Network

About Matthew O'Connell

Matthew O'Connell is a life coach and the host of the The Imperfect Buddha podcast. You can find The Imperfect Buddha on Facebook and Twitter (@imperfectbuddha).


NBN Episodes hosted by Matthew:

The Imperfect Buddha Podcast August 22, 2023

Meditating Three Minutes a Day

A Conversation with Richard Dixey

Richard Dixey

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Listen:
After a month or two of absence, the podcast returns for a new season, beginning with an unexpectedly wide ranging conversation with Dr. Richard Dixey. Richard holds a Ph.D. from …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast May 29, 2023

Buddhism and Transcendence

A Conversation with Curtis White

Curtis White

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Acclaimed cultural critic Curtis White examines current fissures in Western Buddhism and argues against the growth of scientific and corporate dharma, particularly in the Secular Buddhist movement. Most of his …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast May 18, 2023

Simon Cox on the Subtle Body

Simon Cox

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
What links Vajrayana Buddhism and Vajrayogini to Alistair Crowley and the neo-Platonists? A topic of speculation, desire and imagination, the Subtle Body, also known as the energy body, is an …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast May 16, 2023

"I Refuse to Change"

A Think Piece

Matthew O'Connell

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
“There is positive and negative resistance, and plenty of somethings in between. But who determines the terms upon which such a psychological force is cast? If it’s you, then you …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast April 28, 2023

Ken McLeod on the Magic of Vajrayana

Ken McLeod

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
“A moving description of a life in practice which goes far beyond text-based ideas of prayer, devotion, guru-connection, or meditation, and most especially of tantric practice." Anne Klein, former Chair …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast April 17, 2023

The Ancient Greek Version of Buddhism

A Discussion with Douglas C. Bates

Douglas C. Bates

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
“It is not events that disturb us, but what we believe about them.” Is this true? Well, apparently Pyrrho, a rather obscure Greek philosopher claimed it to be the case …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast April 1, 2023

Incognito

The Astounding Life of Alexandra David-Neel

Dianne Harke

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
I grew up with Alexandra David-Neel’s books on my mum’s bookshelf. She was part of the myth making process that led to my own fascination with Tibet, as something real …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast March 28, 2023

A Review of "A Critique of Western Buddhism"

Matthew O'Connell

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Regular guest to the podcast Glenn Wallis wrote  A Critique of Western Buddhism: Ruins of the Buddhist Real (Bloomsbury) back in 2018. Time has flown since and in honour of the non-Buddhism …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast February 28, 2023

Contemplative, Existential Psychotherapy and Dzogchen

A Discussion with Ken Bradford

Ken Bradford

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Ken Bradford, Ph.D., has been a practitioner in the Theravada and Tibetan Buddhist traditions since 1975, and engaged in introducing meditative sensibilities and nondual wisdom streams into the experience-near practice …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast February 1, 2023

Nietzsche, Wokeism, Non-Buddhist Mysticism

A Discussion with Glenn Wallis

Glenn Wallis

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
What does it mean to be a hundred? Perhaps Fredric Nietzsche would know. He’s in part the star of the show. Along with regular guest Glenn Wallis. We look at …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast December 11, 2022

Non-Duality

A Discussion with Peter Fenner

Peter G. Fenner

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Peter Fenner, Ph.D, is an adapter and teacher of non-duality, and an author. His two books, Radiant Mind: Awakening Unconditioned Awareness (Sounds True, 2007) and Natural Awakening: An Advanced Guide for …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast November 25, 2022

Being Buddhist and Some Thoughts on "Identity"

Matthew O'Connell

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
The Think Pieces continue. This month, it is a look back at a piece on being Buddhist and identity. The text version can be found below. Themes picked up on …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast November 18, 2022

Buddhist Medicine and Buddish

A Discussion with C. Pierce Salguero

C. Pierce Salguero

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
In this episode, Pierce Salguero comes on to discuss two of his books: Buddhish, A Guide to the 20 Most Important Buddhist Ideas for the Curious and Skeptical (Beacon Press …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast October 27, 2022

Doubt

Part 5

Matthew O'Connell

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
And so it continues. The fifth and final installment in this series on doubt continues to explore an enlightened vision of practice in the 21st century. It explores the call …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast September 30, 2022

Intercultural Buddhism and Philosophy

A Discussion with Jin Y. Park

Jin Y. Park

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Welcome to the new season of the Imperfect Buddha Podcast. After a well-earned and challenging summer filled with drought, war, political strife and ridiculous heat, we’re back in the saddle …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast July 1, 2022

Derrida Meets Nagarjuna

A Discussion with Peter Salmon

Peter Salmon

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
In an historic event, the second Buddha himself Nagarjuna returns from the dead to team up with Jacques Derrida, non-Buddha, perhaps, to take on emptiness. They clash with identity politics …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast June 10, 2022

Doubt

Part 4

Matthew O'Connell

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
The fourth installment in this series on doubt continues to explore an enlightened vision of practice in the 21st century. It explores the call to practice, honesty, doubt’s place and …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast June 8, 2022

Jason M. Wirth on Zen, the Kyoto School, and Whether Nitezsche is a Buddha

Jason M. Wirth

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Welcome to this Great feast conversation. Philosophy Professor at Seattle University, Soto Zen Priest, Sangha leader, and Dharma teacher, Jason M. Wirth is the author of Nietzsche and other Buddhas …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast May 20, 2022

Peter Salmon on Jacques Derrida and the Buddha

A Conversation with Peter Salmon

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Today I talk with Peter Salmon, author of An Event, Perhaps; an intellectual biography of Jacques Derrida. Our conversation was rich: We tackle Derrida and Buddhism, Derrida and the culture …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast May 19, 2022

Doubt

Part 3

Matthew O'Connell

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
In the third part of this series on Doubt, we head off to the Great Feast. Come along and dine with the Buddha, your favourite philosophers, and any other great …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast May 4, 2022

Doubt

Part 2

Matthew O'Connell

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
“Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.” Voltaire You know too much, yet understand too little. And it’s the same for me, and everyone you and …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast May 4, 2022

Daniel Ingram on Practice

Daniel Ingram

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
In this episode, returning guest Daniel Ingram comes on to discuss a range of fascinating questions concerning practice. We explore coming through the pandemic, the impact of long-term relationships on …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast March 8, 2022

Stef Aupers on Conspirituality

Stef Aupers

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
Stef Aupers is professor of media culture in the Institute for Media Studies at the University of KU Leuven in the Netherlands. As a cultural sociologist, he studies the role …
The Imperfect Buddha Podcast March 7, 2022

Doubt

Part 1

Hosted by Matthew O'Connell
“Doubt is an uncomfortable condition, but certainty is a ridiculous one.” Voltaire You know too much, yet understand too little. And it’s the same for me, and everyone you and …