The Garrison Institute Presents: The Common Good

In this wide-ranging and personal conversation, physician, scientist, and bestselling author Siddhartha Mukherjee explores what genes, cells, and human societies reveal about our profound interdependence. Drawing from The Gene and The Song of the Cell, Mukherjee reframes biology not as a fixed blueprint, but as an improvisational system—shaped by horizontal gene transfer, environment, and the constant exchange of interdependent life forms. He weaves together Indian classical music, evolutionary science, and lived experience to argue that empathy and compassion are not optional virtues, but the foundation of truth, intelligence, and collective survival. The discussion extends to artificial intelligence, medicine, and the ethical challenge of building technologies with the capacity for empathy.  We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at [email protected] to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute and The Podglomerate.

In this five-minute guided meditation, Sharon invites you to anchor your awareness in the breath while practicing the gentle art of letting go. When thoughts arise, whether pleasant or difficult, you're guided to recognize them as "not breath," release them, and return your attention to the present moment.  You can find more meditations and contemplative resources like this at GarrisonInstitute.org, along with information about our Contemplative-Based Resilience initiative and other programs supporting those who serve our communities.

In this rich and inspiring conversation, meditation pioneer Sharon Salzberg explores how we move from the “three S’s” of modern life—separate, scared, and selfish—to the “three C’s”: connected, compassionate, and courageous. Sharon shares practical tools from her Real Happiness framework, the annual 28-day meditation challenge, and her decades of work with caregivers, frontline workers, and trauma survivors. She and host Jonathan Rose discuss building a genuine culture of wellness, transforming empathy into sustainable compassion, and understanding our deep interdependence in everyday life. Sharon also offers a glimpse into her upcoming projects, including a children’s book and a new play based on her spiritual journey. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at [email protected] to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute and The Podglomerate.

Visionary activist and spiritual teacher Konda Mason joins The Common Good to explore how healing the land is inseparable from healing ourselves. In this powerful conversation with Jonathan F.P. Rose, Konda shares the story of Jubilee Justice, a cooperative reclaiming Black agricultural wisdom through regenerative rice farming and community ownership across the American South. She traces rice’s deep African roots, the resilience of its farmers, and how cooperative economics can restore both soil and spirit. Konda also introduces her transformative Journeys Program, where truth-telling, ancestry, and compassion bridge divides of race, land, money, and faith. The episode closes with a grounding practice of ancestral connection—reminding us that joy and reverence are essential tools for justice. We’d love to hear your thoughts about the podcast, please send us a note at [email protected] to let us know what you think. Produced by The Garrison Institute and The Podglomerate.

In this five-minute guided meditation, Sharon invites you to tune into the sounds around you. Perfect for a quick reset during a busy day or as part of your regular mindfulness routine, this practice helps you use everyday sounds as gentle anchors to return to the present moment, wherever you are. You can find more meditations and contemplative resources like this at GarrisonInstitute.org, along with information about our Contemplative-Based Resilience initiative and other programs supporting those who serve our communities.