Season One · Pilot Project · Fellowship Opening
The Three Cups Podcast
Give voice to the challenges and wisdom of monastic education and help preserve a living tradition for the generations ahead.
The Three Cups Podcast is a seasonal media initiative of the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute (SINI). Through rich and reflective dialogue, it examines how monastic education and the transmission of the Dharma are navigating contemporary challenges while adapting to the realities of the modern world.
The project positions monastics as the primary voice, enabling them to share their own stories and perspectives and emerge as active agents of change within a dialogue driven by the community.
The work feeds directly into the development of a program curriculum and teacher manual, and aims to build a lasting following among the monastic community and the next generation of Dharma teachers.
The Fellowship
About the Role
We are seeking a Buddhist Education Correspondent and Podcast Producer to conduct recorded interviews with traditionally trained monastics across the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Each correspondent will be responsible for:
- Conducting guest research and background preparation for each interviewee
- Preparing a blend of standard and personalised questions for each episode
- Conducting and recording audio-only interviews (45–60 minutes each, one guest per episode)
- Collaborating with lead mentor Steve James (Guru Viking) on editing and episode feedback
- Contributing insights to the broader teacher manual development
- Working in collaboration with the Three Cups coordinator across all stages of the project
published interviews over the 8-month fellowship period
All interviews are conducted in Tibetan to preserve authenticity and depth. They are primarily held online or locally, with occasional travel supported for high-value conversations.
This opportunity is open to lay and monastic applicants. It is particularly well-suited to:
- Anthropologists or cultural researchers with an interest in Buddhist education
- Education researchers or curriculum specialists
- Practitioners deeply concerned about the future of Dharma transmission
- Fluent Tibetan speakers with strong interpersonal and communication skills
No prior podcasting experience is required — full professional training is provided.
For candidates not requiring personal compensation, SINI will donate the equivalent amount to a monastery or nunnery of their choice in direct support of monastic education.
This fellowship provides a rare gateway into the heart of the monastic world:
- SINI will open doors across all four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, providing a wide network of contacts in the monastic field.
- Build lasting spiritual and professional relationships with traditionally trained monastics and leading educators.
- Contribute to the enduring role of the formal sangha through community-driven dialogue.
An Educational Opportunity
Training with Steve James
Selected correspondents will receive dedicated training from Steve James (Guru Viking Podcast), one of the leading independent podcast producers in the Dharma world. Steve will serve as lead mentor and technical advisor throughout the season.
Two 2-hour training sessions with structured homework between sessions
Sessions will be held in late April; with optional sessions in early July
Ongoing editorial feedback and support on all published episodes
This pilot season focuses on an audio-only format.
Guru Viking Podcast →Giving Voice to a Quiet Transformation
The Vision Behind the Podcast
This podcast arises from a deep wish to give voice to the contemporary challenges facing monastic education, as its systems undergo quiet but serious erosion. It offers a space where these questions can be explored with care and respect, in support of living traditions and the enduring role of the formal sangha.
At a time when monastic institutions face both internal pressures and a decline in new entrants to the path, this platform seeks to foster honest dialogue and thoughtful, creative responses. Through rich conversations, insights, and shared experiences, the Three Cups Monastic Education Program highlights innovative approaches and educational initiatives that support the continuity of the Dharma for future generations.
This podcast invites educators, researchers, practitioners, and all those concerned with the future of Buddhist traditions to join in a shared process of reflection and exploration.
Contract Timeline
How to Apply
Applications close April 17th, 2026.
Join us in this vital initiative to preserve, amplify, and pass on the living wisdom of the tradition.
Google Application Form →Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for a brief online interview following the application review.
senge.vicens@sinibridge.org · WhatsApp +32496065875