NEW YORK, NY.- On August 19 the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art will launch the fifth season of AWAKEN, a podcast about the dynamic path to enlightenment, with a new host: singer, songwriter, and artist Devendra Banhart. Using a painting of the Wheel of Life (also known as Wheel of Existence) from the Rubin Museum’s collection as a guide, the new season explores the Buddhist concept of interdependence with eight episodes featuring stories and insights from experts in the realms of art, social science, Buddhism, and more. This season illuminates how greater awareness of our interconnected nature can be the wake up call that motivates actions for a better world.

“What a joy and honor to be hosting the new season of AWAKEN, an exciting deep dive into the heart of the Buddhist Wheel of Existence!” says Devendra Banhart. “The Wheel offers a map of inner and outer landscapes, of symbols and signs designed to guide one through the cycles of suffering, desire, and awakening.”

AWAKEN unpacks big ideas expressed in Himalayan art in an accessible way with tools and takeaways for diverse listeners. Each season is centered on a different theme inspired by the art in the Rubin Museum collection, and episodes feature personal stories from guests who share how they’ve experienced a shift in their awareness, and as a result, their perspective on life. Since its launch in 2021, AWAKEN has received over 425,000 downloads from listeners across the world.

Season five guests include author and futurist Mia Birdsong; Tibetan physician, scholar, and founder and medical director of the Sowa Rigpa Institute Dr. Nida Chenagtsang; social scientist, physician, and professor Nicholas A. Christakis; transmedia artist and professor Stephanie Dinkins; journalist and author A. J. Jacobs; indigenous musician, author, and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), and European lineages Lyla June Johnston; associate professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions Annabella Pitkin; Tibetan Buddhist teacher and author Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche; interdisciplinary artist and visual storyteller Osheen Siva; and pastoral counselor, teacher, and author Pamela Ayo Yetunde.

New episodes will drop weekly on Tuesdays from August 19 through October 7. AWAKEN is available for streaming on major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as at rubinmuseum.org/awaken. The trailer is out now.

AWAKEN season 5 episode dates and descriptions:

Episode 1: Introducing Interdependence (August 19)

Interdependence is so foundational to every aspect of our lives that it can be easy to miss. But what happens when we truly wake up to the reality that everyone and everything is interconnected? For centuries people have turned to the image of the Wheel of Life, also known as the Wheel of Existence, to better understand cause and effect and the very nature of existence. How do the teachings of the Wheel still apply to our world today?

Episode 2: Engaging with Community on a Personal Scale (August 26)

We may think interdependence is something that needs to be found, but it’s already right here, existing among the people we know and interact with on a regular basis. Our capacity to form mutually supportive relationships is a human drive deeply written in our bodies. What does it look like to seize upon and celebrate those connections? The section of the Wheel of Life depicting the god realm is the focus of this episode’s exploration of community.

Episode 3: Acknowledging Community on a Collective Scale (September 2)

We live in a world that requires the cooperation of millions, if not billions, of people. Even without knowing those people, they impact your life in countless visible and invisible ways—and vice versa. How can tapping into a greater awareness of those interconnections change how we operate in the world? The section of the Wheel of Life depicting the hungry ghost realm is the focus of this episode’s exploration of community.

Episode 4: Connecting with the Environment (September 9)

One of the places we see interdependence at play most clearly is in the natural world. Within our interconnected relationship to the environment comes the potential for humans to sustain great beauty but also create great harm. What does it look like to live in mutual reciprocity with the Earth in small but meaningful ways? The section of the Wheel of Life depicting the animal realm is the focus of this episode’s exploration of ecology.

Episode 5: Taking a Wider View of Health (September 16)

Our bodies may be the single most tangible reminder of interdependence. But good health isn’t just related to physical functioning—there are emotional and social components as well. What can a holistic perspective on health offer us? And how do our relationships relate to our well-being? The section of the Wheel of Life depicting the hell realm is the focus of this episode’s exploration of health.

Episode 6: Grappling with Our Relationship to Technology (September 23)

Technology isn’t inherently good or bad—it’s all about how we use it. At its best it can reveal hidden truths, build community, and serve as a tool for living. How can we navigate the increasingly interconnected relationship between technology and humanity in ways that harness its beneficial potential? The section of the Wheel of Life depicting the human realm is the focus of this episode’s exploration of technology.

Episode 7: Considering the Interplay of Culture (September 30)

The interconnected relationship between artist and viewer is what gives art its meaning and power. Art can capture ideas that are difficult to express in words and make them more understandable. How do artists reflect and deepen our understanding of interdependence? The section of the Wheel of Life depicting the human realm is the focus of this episode’s exploration of culture.

Episode 8: Integrating What We’ve Learned (October 7)

In the final episode, we explore how to integrate what we’ve learned about interdependence over the course of this season into our lives and put it into practice. How can we implement some of the teachings from the image of the Wheel of Life? We are all in this together. There is no other way. It’s time to wake up to this reality and act accordingly.