Why did Kathy Wesley transition from journalism to become a Tibetan Buddhist Lama? Why did neurologist Julie Brefczynski-Lewis incorporate Tibetan Buddhist compassion practices into her research? Both are addressing modern problems at the root: the essential challenge.

In this final episode, we look at a study that shows why compassion practice works, and we look at the world-wide obstacles that threaten our ability to be compassionate. Doug Swift's year-long experiement of practicing compassion comes to an end. How did it go? Listen in!

Studies show that toddlers get more pleasure giving than receiving. But culture can override these natural impulses. We find a place where kids are taught compassion practices, an important skill to have in the context of our mental health crisis.

Huck, a high school theater kid who was raised with the KTC Center teachings, was excited to have the lead role in Radium Girls. He didn't expect to be taunted while performing, or for the bullying to continue and intensify in the weeks to come. Meanwhile, the state of Ohio was passing a raft of anti-trans legislation, another kind of bullying. How could compassion practice help in this kind of environment?

Rohit Singh studies Tibetan Budhism in Nepal and Northern India, and teaches the subject at Denison University in Ohio. He believes that western education is very successful in some ways, but it doesn't do much to develop our emotional intelligence. We also hear from a therapist and a radio journalist who have integrated the compassion practices to develop their own emotional intelligence in today's western world.