Sharon Salzberg – Metta Hour – Ep. 208 – Real Life Series with Pete Holmes

For episode 208 of the Metta Hour Podcast, we have the sixth episode in a special series celebrating Sharon’s new book, “Real Life.”

This interview features a conversation between Sharon and Pete Holmes, pulled from the Living An Authentic Life Summit. Pete is a comedian, writer, actor, cartoonist, podcast host, author, and spiritual seeker. His book, Comedy Sex God, explores his relationship with faith and comedy. His popular podcast, You Made It Weird, is a comedic exploration of the meaning of life, with guests ranging from Seth Rogen to Blake Griffin. As a comedian, Pete created and starred in the semi-autobiographical HBO show Crashing, which he executive produced alongside Judd Apatow. He is also an accomplished stand-up comedian with numerous television specials and late-night appearances.

sharon salzberg

 In this episode, Pete and Sharon speak about:

• Writing one’s biography 

• Fame is an agreed-upon conceit

• Pete’s teacher Ram Dass

• Specialness addiction

• Pete’s experience facing his ego in his work

• Fame is something that happens in other people’s minds

• Franciscan teacher Richard Rohr

• Growing up as a fundamentalist Christian

• Pete’s experience with Hero’s Journey

• What is still true amidst immense challenges

• Pete’s motto: “What is This?”

• Letting go of specialness 

• What matters when we die

• Pete’s first meeting with Ram Dass

• How do we love our neighbors when we don’t like them?

• Faith and despair

• The practice of “Yes, Thank-You.”

To learn more about Pete’s work, you can visit his website. This is his first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

Listen to more from Sharon Salzberg:
Tune into Ep. 1 of the Metta Hour to learn about The Buddha Within
Get into Embodied Mindfulness with Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg in Ep. 110 of Metta Hour
Check out Ep. 83 of Metta Hour featuring John O’Donohue
Hear from Tara Brach and Sharon Salzberg in Ep. 56 of Metta Hour
Listen to Ep. 164 of Metta Hour with Robert Thurman