

How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality
PRX
While religion and science often seem at odds, there’s one thing they can agree on: people who take part in spiritual practices tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The big question is: Why? In How God Works, professor Dave DeSteno takes us on a journey to find out how spirituality impacts our minds and bodies, as well as the world in which we live.He speaks to leading scientists and philosophers, religious thinkers, and thought leaders to explore what we can learn from the world’s faith traditions to help us meet some of life’s biggest challenges. Along the way, he’ll look at how we can adapt and use spiritual practices in our own lives, whatever our beliefs, including none at all.It’s by working across the boundaries that usually divide us – science versus religion, one faith versus another – that we’ll find new ways to make life better for everyone.
Episodes
Mentioned books

7 snips
Mar 29, 2026 • 43min
What Women Want
Dr. Dianne Stewart, Emory professor and scholar of African heritage religions, explains women's spiritual authority in Orisha and Vodou. Dania Suleiman, writer and lawyer on faith and feminism, shares how religious women defend rights and reshape gender roles. They discuss legal battles over religious expression, reinterpretations of scripture, ritual power, and diverse paths to liberation.

35 snips
Mar 15, 2026 • 31min
DIY Spirituality?
Liz Bucar, a religion professor who studies how spiritual practices shape ethics and social life, explores the 'spiritual salad bar' where people pick practices without context. She discusses yoga’s deeper roots, when stripping traditions causes harm, and how lineage, embodiment, and communal devotional elements can restore meaning and ethical depth to wellness practices.

6 snips
Mar 8, 2026 • 2min
Season 10 Trailer
Kelly Dunham, nurse, educator, comedian and host of Cared For, brings community-centered caregiving perspective. Conversations tease shifts in American spiritual identity and questioning faith. Topics include Judaism’s embrace of doubt, faith and personal choice like the hijab, how practices shape belief, and science, comedy, genes and AI intersecting with religion.

12 snips
Feb 22, 2026 • 1h 22min
Uniter or Divider? Explore Religion in Modern America. A How God Works Live Event (From the Archive)
Diana Butler Bass, Christian historian who studies contemporary faith movements. Angela Buchdahl, Central Synagogue rabbi known for interfaith leadership. Simran Jeet Singh, Sikh public intellectual promoting pluralism. Kurt Gray, psychologist studying moral cognition. They discuss rising anti‑Semitism and Christian nationalism, 9/11’s impact on Sikh identity, how rituals and threat shape morality, and practical ways congregations build bridges.

38 snips
Feb 8, 2026 • 37min
The Spiritual (and Political) Crisis in the US (From the Archive)
Krista Tippett, a radio journalist who explores spirituality and meaning, and Senator Chris Murphy, a lawmaker urging a moral revival, discuss America's spiritual unraveling. They probe loneliness, despair, and the loss of moral vocabulary. Conversations touch on inner life, community rebuilding, and why progressives should recover spiritual language.

37 snips
Jan 25, 2026 • 35min
Mattering
Patty Van Cappellen, Duke researcher of spirituality and meaning, and Jennifer Wallace, award-winning journalist and author of Mattering, explore why feeling valued is a basic human need. They discuss how recognition, dependence, rituals, religion, and daily practices foster a sense of mattering. Conversations touch on societal shifts, caregiver strain, and practical ways to add value and reinforce worth.

7 snips
Jan 11, 2026 • 38min
Rethinking Sin (From the Archive)
In this thought-provoking conversation, Elizabeth Oldfield, an author and host of The Sacred podcast, challenges the traditional notions of sin. She reinterprets Christianity's seven deadly sins as tools for modern spiritual practice, emphasizing relationships and connection over shame. Elizabeth explores how distraction and gluttony numb the soul, advocates for gratitude to combat greed, and highlights pride as a barrier to love. The discussion ultimately presents sin as a user manual for flourishing, inviting listeners to embrace self-forgiveness and personal growth.

9 snips
Dec 28, 2025 • 40min
The End of the World As We Know It
This discussion features Dina Nayeri, a novelist and essayist from a background steeped in apocalyptic beliefs, and Kim Haines-Eitzen, a scholar of ancient apocalyptic literature. Nayeri reflects on her childhood in an underground Christian community during Iran's revolution, revealing how rapture beliefs impacted her view on urgency and resilience. Haines-Eitzen delves into the origins of apocalyptic thought, emphasizing its transformative potential rather than just destruction. Both guests urge engagement with community and collective hope to navigate uncertain times.

Dec 14, 2025 • 39min
Dream Yoga
Neuroscientists Ken Paller and Robin Nusslock dive into the fascinating world of lucid dreaming and its intersection with Tibetan Dream Yoga. Ken shares insights from his research on communicating with dreamers, revealing groundbreaking experiments where questions are sent into dreams. Meanwhile, Robin discusses collaborations with Tibetan monks to enhance spiritual practices through sleep. They explore the therapeutic potential of lucid dreaming and the ethical considerations that come with manipulating this mysterious realm of the mind.

Nov 30, 2025 • 41min
Shamanism
In this engaging conversation with Manvir Singh, an anthropologist and director of the Integrative Anthropology Lab at UC Davis, we delve into the fascinating world of shamanism. Singh critiques stereotypes, offering a more inclusive definition and highlighting shamans' roles across various cultures as healers and diviners. He discusses the therapeutic effects of ritual immersion and empathy while drawing parallels between shamanic authority and modern leadership. The conversation also explores shamanism's resurgence in today's uncertain climate, connecting ancient practices to contemporary experiences.


