Does Hinduism Really Exist? | The Free Radical Podcast #56 — Arjuna | October, 15, 2025
In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, Swami Padmanabha sits down with Arjuna—devotee, podcaster, and creator of Theology Unleashed. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Arjuna has been practicing bhakti-yoga for 15 years, grew up in a Christian background, and brings a thoughtful, inclusivist lens to the world’s wisdom traditions.
Together they explore a provocative question: Does “Hinduism” really exist?Where did the term come from? Does it actually reflect the richness and diversity of the Indian subcontinent’s traditions—ranging from atheism, skepticism, and logic to panentheism, polytheism, monotheism, impersonalism, and radical personalism? Or does it flatten this vast landscape into something misleadingly uniform?
✨ This conversation unpacks the nuances behind the term and searches for creative, universal ways to engage with India’s spiritual heritage—and beyond—in a manner that truly honors its depth and diversity.
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXo_MpsMr20
▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels
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1:22:20
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1:22:20
Hindu and Catholic, Priest and Scholar—a Love Story | Francis X Clooney—Free Radical Podcast 10/1/25
In this episode, Swami Padmanabha sits down with Francis X. Clooney, Jesuit priest, scholar, and Parkman Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. A pioneer in comparative theology, Professor Clooney has spent decades engaging Hindu and Christian traditions through deep study of Sanskrit and Tamil classics, interreligious dialogue, and spiritual practice.
Their conversation revolves around his newly published memoir, Hindu and Catholic, Priest and Scholar: A Love Story, and touches on themes of vocation, celibacy, academia and faith, Ramanuja and Gaudiya Vaishnavism, interspirituality, Ignatian spirituality, poetry, regret, choice, and the ever-evolving path of divine love.
This enriching dialogue explores what it means to live faithfully and authentically at the crossroads of traditions, scholarship, and personal devotion.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jGFqVkFDMtc
▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels
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▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon
▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM
~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels
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1:10:47
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1:10:47
What Coaching Really Is (and Isn’t) | The Free Radical Podcast #54 — Lily Seto, Sept 17, 2025
In this episode, Swami Padmanabha is joined by Lily Seto, seasoned professional coach, mentor coach, and coaching supervisor with nearly two decades of global experience.
Lily shares her profound insights on:
* What coaching truly is and how it can transform lives* The skills of intentional presence, deep listening, and empathy* Empowering others to find their own answers and insights* How coaching can be a contemplative practice, creating space for attention, silence, and reflection* The importance of holding uncomfortable but safe spaces for growth and self-discovery
Known for her ethical rigor, clarity, and depth, Lily has pioneered coaching programs for public, private, and nonprofit sectors, co-founded an ICF-accredited Indigenous coach training program, and continues to guide her own coaching school, Eighth Element Coaching. Her work has been recognized globally, including awards for excellence in coaching, mentoring, and supervision.
This conversation is a rich exploration of coaching as both an art and a practice of presence, offering insights for coaches, leaders, and anyone seeking deeper engagement with themselves and others.
▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels
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▶ YOUTUBE
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▶ WEBSITE
▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon
▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM
~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels
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1:17:47
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1:17:47
Ethics Before Ecstasy: The Role of Spiritual Integrity | The Free Radical Podcast #53—Rick Archer , Sept 3, 2025
In this episode of the Free Radical Podcast, Swami Padmanabha sits down with Rick Archer, creator of Buddha at the Gas Pump and co-founder of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. A lifelong meditator with over 55 years of daily practice, Rick has interviewed more than 725 people on their journeys of awakening.
Their conversation dives into spiritual integrity, the difference between holiness and wholeness, the role of feedback and accountability for teachers, and what students should look for in a guide—all woven together with Rick’s own life story as a practitioner and teacher.
https://youtu.be/ZY4Ja6-KXTw?si=gJwlCE-jDxz5haKO
▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ YOUTUBE
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▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon
▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM
~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels
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1:14:57
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1:14:57
Enneadharma: The Enneagram Meets Devotion | The Free Radical Podcast #52 — Sri Radha Govinda, Aug 20, 2025
In this insightful and heartful episode, Swami Padmanabha welcomes Sri Radha Govinda Devi—Vaishnavi teacher, astrologer, author, and president of the Goa Academy. With experience spanning continents and disciplines, she brings a multidimensional approach to spiritual growth, guiding others through Vedic astrology, Anartha Nivritti, personality analysis, and bhakti-based relationship work.
The conversation centers on the Enneagram as a tool for self-awareness within the path of Bhakti. Together, they explore how understanding our personality types can deepen compassion, enhance spiritual practice, and foster authentic connection with both ourselves and the Divine. Themes like spiritual bypassing, belonging vs. fitting in, and how ancient texts like the Mahabharata offer insights into human psychology are woven throughout.
This episode is a dynamic exploration of identity, diversity, and the sacred work of showing up fully human on the path of devotion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q_lEXxTkp4
▶ CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Gaudiya Reform Forum on Facebook .~ Swami Padmanabha’s Channels
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ YOUTUBE
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ WEBSITE
▶ PURCHASE RADICAL PERSONALISM: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion in hardcover, paperback, and/or Kindle formats on Amazon
▶ WRITE your REVIEW of RADICAL PERSONALISM
~ Tadatmya Sangha’s Channels
▶ WEBSITE
▶ FACEBOOK
▶ INSTAGRAM
▶ YOUTUBE
The Free Radical Podcast is a creative encounter among like-minded and like-hearted spirits, regardless of their background or affiliation—or even non-affiliation. Following the call of our 21st Century spirituality, we embrace a trans-institutional commitment to spirituality rather than an institutionalized version of it. It is not so much about the demarkation of buildings but the exploration of hearts, not so much about fitting in but about deeply belonging—not so much about mere holiness but about wholeness as well. And it is the freedom born in the fire of these shared hearts who deeply belong to a process of becoming fully whole, fully persons, that creates the sacred space to step into new ways of being, deeper ways of being, radical—to the core—ways of being….and being what?….Being fully integrated individuals, whose humanity contextualizes their spirituality.Swami Padmanabha is an author, monk, and spiritual mentor who has just published his second book, called "Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion."
The format of the podcast is not an interview as much as spontaneous exploration in dialogue, encouraging a multi-trait interdisciplinary method of approaching how we understand something—of looking at it from different angles and perspectives. We don’t expect to agree on everything with each person, but we do expect to use our differences as a way to approach each other, rather than an excuse for further distancing. The time has come to let down the draw bridges and learn how to deeply relate with ourselves, each other, and the world in meaningful ways. This experience of mutual enlightenment can be also called “Collective Introspection.” This joint reflection is probably “the highest form of worship and communion. Restricted to the individual, this power of reflection remains limited and rudimentary. It is only in connection to kindred spirits that we can discover our own depth and wholeness. In other words, the deepest form of reflection can be developed only in communion with others. It is essentially a social phenomenon.” (excerpt from Radical Personalism: Revival Manifesto for Proactive Devotion”).
The Free Radical Podcast attempts to invoke sacred space and sacred conversation through deep expressive exchanges with like-minded souls with whom we share one same purpose in mind and heart, that purpose being to align our lives with the loving will of the Sweet Absolute, and to compassionately point to those things that need to be addressed for that miracle to continue happening in each of us.
Please join the conversation. It won’t be the same without you.
New Zealand