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BHNN Guest Podcast – Ep. 269 – Almost Home with Mirabai Bush, Nina Rao, Krishna Das & Sunanda Markus

Joined by long-time friends Nina Rao, Krishna Das, and Sunanda Markus, Mirabai Bush shares stories from her memoir Almost Home.

Full episode

This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Mirabai, Nina, Krishna Das, and Sunanda discuss:

  • Mirabai’s catholic upbringing and working to understand her place in the world

  • How Mirabai became the only woman to work on the Saturn Apollo project

  • Mirabai’s meditation studies with Goenka

  • When Krishna Das, Mirabai, and Sunanda met Maharaj-ji

  • Learning about the grace in suffering

  • Knowing that love is real and available to us all

“That hard childhood creates that longing for belonging; with Maharaj-ji I felt like at last I belonged—in this moment, in this body, in this world, because I was so totally loved. He changed my idea of what this life could be. I had such a small idea of who we could be in this world, and it just became vastly expanded with him.” –Mirabai Bush

Jake Feinberg Show: The Nina Rao Interview

Devotional mantra singer, Nina Rao, talks about her early exposure to this timeless tradition from her grandfather in India, coming to the states and ultimately connecting with Krishna Das in 1996. She has been a fixture in his Kirtan Band since then.

On The Jake Feinberg Show (radio) and in Facebook Lives, Jake Feinberg has now conducted over 2,000 interviews with “The Cats”—popular musicians across the spectrum from rock to jazz, R&B to folk, pop to country, bluegrass to fusion. Jake’s unique interviewing style puts musicians at their ease and inspires them to reflect candidly on topics familiar or unexpected. The Cats tell little stories, muse about life, uncover aspects of the music business, dig deep into overcoming adversity, revel in camaraderie, and open their souls.

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus – Ep. 641 – Bhumi Devi: Honoring the Sacred Mother with Nina Rao

Discussing the inspiration behind her upcoming album, Bhumi Devi, Nina Rao and Raghu Markus explore preserving the planet and devotion to the sacred mother.

Support the pre-sale of Bhumi Devi with exclusive reward levels on Kickstarter until June 2. Click here for more information.

This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Nina chat about:

  • Moderating our consumption and doing our best to heal the earth

  • Nina’s work in preserving wilderness areas

  • Wisely receiving gifts from Mother Earth while preserving uncorrupted lands

  • The unconditional love and presence that resonates through Maharaj-ji

  • The reciprocal relationship we have with the divine

  • When Nina met Siddhi Ma, and seeing her as merged with Maharaj-ji

  • The first time Nina chanted for Siddhi Ma

  • Satsang: connecting with Maharaj-ji through community

  • Prayers to the Goddess in Nina’s new album, Bhumi Devi

“The way in which this happens is Satsang. I was with Siddhi Ma one time, and someone said, ‘How can we get closer to Maharaj-ji?’ She said, “Get together, have food, and sing the Chalisa.’” –Raghu Markus

Connect with Nina Rao this Summer at the Ram Dass Legacy Summer Mountain Retreat! Learn more HERE.

Spicy Soul Mama Podcast Episode 18 with Guest Nina Rao

Nina was recently featured on the Spicy Soul Mama podcast, where host Shelley Karpaty explores parenting and creativity as a spiritual path. The podcast is a little oasis, a place to come home to your heart, your creativity, and your spirit, not just as a mom, dad, partner, or professional, but as a whole human being. It acts as a reminder that joy, curiosity, and creativity are the antidotes to chaos and fear. Shelley and Nina discuss what Bhakti and loving awareness is, along with what it means to embrace parenting as a spiritual path, including wisdom from Sri Siddhi Ma on what the role of a parent entails.

You can read more about Shelley’s experiences and listen to the full podcast on the Spicy Soul Mama Substack.

Sita's Gems: Reclaiming Sita's Voice from the Shadows

Sita, the heroine of the Hindu epic Ramayana and a divine feminine avatar of Lakshmi, is often misunderstood. She is praised for her patience, remembered for her suffering, but rarely honored for her sovereign choices, her hidden fire, her radical return to Self.

In this extraordinary episode, Acharya Shunya brings together the creators of Sitayana—a groundbreaking audio retelling of the Ramayana through Sita's eyes. Together with producer Michael Sternfeld, devotional artist Nina Rao, mystic Mirabai Starr, and author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, she explores exile, dharma, silence, devotion, and the moment when Sita says no… and returns to the Earth. Includes a stirring passage from "Sita Returns to Mother Earth" and a devotional song offered by Nina Rao to invoke her presence through sacred sound.

Listen on: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Listen Notes

Nourishing the Divine Feminine Within | Awakening in Prison Podcast

Listen Here

Together with Susan Shannon, M. Div., BCC, Nina Rao discusses the power of devotional music and spirituality in nurturing the Divine Feminine. She reveals how her practices cultivate connection, presence, and inner peace.

The Awakening in Prison Podcast series currently lives on Edovo, making this content accessible to any incarcerated individual with access to this digital platform free of charge. This is a part of a series that specifically supports women in prison.

The Buddhist Prison Ministry provides the prison population with transformative tools and wisdom from the Buddhist tradition. Buddhist Prison Ministry operates almost exclusively on the incredible generosity of it’s growing team of volunteers.

Hari Ka Das Podcast | Episode 2 | Nina Rao: The Woman Who Anchored Krishna Das

Everyone knows Krishna Das, the voice of devotion, the sound of Bhakti that has carried millions back to their hearts. But very few know the woman who held that journey together with grace, love, and silent strength.This is the story of Nina Rao. In this conversation with Hari Ka Das, Nina ji opens up about:

• Her first visit to Kaichi Dham

• The moment she felt Maharajji’s presence

• How her life transformed alongside Krishna Das

• Why Bhakti is felt, not performed

• And what it means to serve without needing to be seen

• How Bhakti can heal depression

Some journeys are not loud. Some devotion does not sing. Some love holds everything in place quietly. This episode is that reminder. 🎧 If your heart is seeking something… watch this.

Connect & Follow:

Instagram → @harikadasofficial

YouTube → @harikadasofficial

Winning with a compelling voice, compassion, and clarity: Nina Rao chants KatzJustice.com

Winning with a compelling voice, compassion, and clarity. [En]chanter -- and more -- Nina Rao joins Fairfax Criminal Lawyer / Virginia DUI Attorney Jonathan L. Katz in addressing giving voice to ourselves, finding calm in the eye of the storm, and tackling adversity.

Jon Katz pursues your best defense against felony, misdemeanor, DUI, drug & sex prosecutions. Defending in Fairfax County, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William & Beyond. This episode is also available in audio podcast format at https://podcast.beattheprosecution.co... , including Apple podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Call 703-383-1100 for a free in-person consultation with Jon Katz about your court-pending criminal case. KatzJustice.com

Integral Yoga Podcast | The Power of Spiritual Practice: Nina Rao on Chanting, Gurus, and Everyday Enlightenment

Join Nina Rao, acclaimed kirtan artist and devotee in the lineage of Neem Karoli Baba, in this heartfelt conversation with host Avi Gordon at Yogaville. Nina shares her journey from cultural rituals in India to discovering the depth of sadhana (spiritual practice) in New York through yoga, Krishna Das, and her guru Sri Siddhi Ma. Explore how consistent practice—through chanting, prayer, and mindfulness—fosters unconditional love, equanimity, and compassion in daily life. Topics include integrating practice into parenting, overcoming negativity, and remembering our interconnectedness.

Nina Rao first learned sacred chants as a young girl from her grandfather in south India, and the chants stayed quietly with her until she rediscovered this powerful practice with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. Since then she has been KD’s business manager and accompanies him musically. In 1998 she met her guru, Sri Siddhi Ma, in the foothills of the Himalayas and spent time with her regularly for 19 years, while Ma was in the body. Nina has been chanting regularly as her main practice, has recorded albums that are widely streamed and played around the world, leads chant events, studies and shares Veda chanting and, spiritual texts, is a hospice volunteer, is a podcast host for Be Here Now Network, goes on yatra/pilgrimage, and is a wildlife conservationist as chairperson for Saving Wild Tigers, and hopes that everyone will make a Homegrown National Park in their home by planting native species. Along with the 21 Taras Collective she has released a new album of 7 mantras in 2025. Nina co-hosted and released along with 10 women wisdom leaders, the audio course and program “Sita’s Gems”, lifting Sita Devi from victim to heroine of the Ramayana.

My Legacy Podcast: Krishna Das and Nina Rao | From Rock & Roll to Sacred Sound

From rock ’n’ roll dreams to sacred sound, Krishna Das’s story is one of redemption and renewal. Known as the “chant master of American yoga,” KD has touched millions through kirtan—a practice of music, devotion, and letting go. 

Joined by his longtime collaborator Nina Rao, he sits down with hosts Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, Marc Kielburger, and Craig Kielburger to share how music, devotion, and service became the foundation of his life. 

Together, they reveal how: 

  • Letting go is a daily practice that builds real strength 

  • Music can transform pain into connection 

  • Service and love are inseparable 

Bonus Drop: A Krishna Das Sacred Sound Performance

Whether this is your first time hearing kirtan or you’ve been chanting for years, let this offering be a moment of stillness, healing, and renewal.

Subscribe to the My Legacy Podcast now to catch new episodes every Tuesday and bonus content every Thursday. And watch full episodes on YouTube every Wednesday.

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus – Ep. 609 – The Bhakti-Buddhist Lineage: Stories of Ram Dass and Maharaj-ji with Robert Thurman & Nina Rao

Recorded live at the 2025 Summer Mountain Retreat, this homestyle chat with Raghu Markus, Nina Rao, and Robert Thurman explores the Bhakti-Buddhist lineage of Ram Dass and Maharaj-ji.

Join us this December for the 2025 Ram Dass Legacy Open Your Heart in Paradise retreat in Maui!

This time on Mindrolling, Raghu, Nina, and Robert discuss:

  • The story of finding Neem Karoli Baba and filling up on poori and potatoes

  • How Maharaj-ji miraculously healed Krishna Das’s injured knee

  • The wonderful interplay between Ram Dass and Buddhist teachers

  • Nina’s relationship with Sri Siddhi Ma, an intimate devotee of Maharaj-ji (considered by many to be a saint in her own right)

  • Seeing everyone as the guru and living the best way that we can

  • Nina’s journey to the foothills of the Himalayas and meeting Siddhi Ma for the first time

  • The Buddhist perspective on the soul (ātman) and whether we truly have one

  • Why ‘Be Here Now’ is actually a mantra of care and femininity

  • The Bhagavad Gita and the meaning of karma yoga

  • Letting go of fear around birth and death by focusing on liberation from suffering

  • Being here now in the best way we can by loving those around us rather than running away from the pain in the world

“My own take on it in terms of what we represent and what goes on here is really, truly, a combination of Bhakti and discriminating wisdom represented by Buddhist perspective.” – Raghu Markus

About Nina Rao:

Nina Rao is a devotional singer. She tours with Krishna Das, playing cymbals, singing, and acting as his business manager. Nina has two of her own albums, “Antarayaami – Knower of All Hearts” and “Anubhav”. Nina regularly leads kirtan, workshops, and retreats in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York and beyond. Together with Chandra and Genevieve Walker, Nina operates the 21 Taras Collective. You can keep up with Nina on her website or find her on Instagram @nina_rao and on Facebook @NinaRaoChant.

“I didn’t realize that I was looking for a guru until Krishna Das started talking about Neem Karoli Baba. When I heard about him and I felt that presence that came alive when Krishna Das was talking about Maharaj-ji, I wanted to meet him.” – Nina Rao

About Robert Thurman:

Robert Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University and President of the Tibet House U.S., and is the President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies. His new book, Wisdom Is Bliss: Four Friendly Fun Facts That Can Change Your Life, is now available.

“What is the best way to ‘be here now’? It’s to love Raghu, to love Nina, to love Maharaj-ji, it’s to love everything here and now and make it beautiful and the best. Be as beautiful and as best as you can be because that’s absolute. That’s the way to ‘be Nirvana now’.”  – Robert Thurman

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

Nina Rao talks with Jesse Dvorak on Art & Void

In this episode, Jesse Dvorak sits down with Nina Rao—chant leader, recording kirtan artist, and longtime assistant to Krishna Das—to explore the spiritual depth found in mantra, chanting, and sacred sound. Nina shares her personal journey into the world of kirtan, how traditional practices can quiet the mind and open the heart, and why devotion through sound is a powerful access point to creative flow and inner clarity. Whether you're a spiritual seeker, artist, or writer, this conversation is a reminder that true creativity begins with presence. Topics include: The practice and purpose of chanting The role of devotion in artistic expression How mantra supports mental and emotional healing Bridging spiritual tradition with modern creative life

Listen on SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS

Jack Rowland In Too Deep Podcast with Nina Rao

Nina Rao is a Kirtan singer and performer with two incredible solo albums out now. She tours with Krishna Das singing and performing in his band as well as being his business manager. She is a podcast host on the Be Here Now Network, a spiritual teacher and has worked as a conservationist.

Listen on Spotify here:

BHNN Guest Podcast – Ep. 167 – Serving the Multitude with Nani Ma and Nina Rao

Nina Rao interviews Nani Ma about her deep devotion to serving her guru and her service work with Ganga Prem Hospice.

If you are interested in donating to Ganga Prem Hospice, you can do so through a donation to End of Life Care International with a memo specifying you would like it to go to Ganga Prem.

About Nani Ma:
Nani Ma is from the United Kingdom and sought spiritual enlightenment at a very young age. One day, she realized that serving the multitude and helping the needy is also an aspect of spiritual practice. So, she started taking care of the terminally ill cancer patients in the hospital, guiding the people who are suffering from pain and death to embark on a new journey. Together with Dr. A. K. Dewan, she established the Ganga Prem Hospice. Ganga Prem Hospice is a spiritually-orientated, non-profit hospice for terminally ill cancer patients. The Hospice has been constructed at the foot of the Himalayas on the bank of the river Ganga.

“When we watch our breath, it slows down. The breath and the mind are connected. Either the breath slows down and the mind slows down, or the mind catches hold of one thing, which is the name, and the name has its power by itself. The name has its own power.” – Nani Ma

Raghu Markus – Mindrolling – Ep. 528 – The 21 Taras with Nina Rao & Chandra Easton

Raghu, Nina, and Chandra spend this episode discussing:

  • Chandra’s Buddhist upbringing

  • The deity Tara and the sacred feminine

  • Nina and Chandra’s collaboration with chanting and mantras

  • An acapella chant offered from Nina

  • Tara for harmony

  • Tantra and spirituality for the people

  • The 21 praises to Tara

  • Durga, Saraswati, and other feminine deities we can invoke through mantras

  • The eighth Tara as a fierce and invincible embodiment

  • The mara of doubt

“The main purpose of doing this aspect of the 21 Tara’s practice through chanting and more of a kirtan style is to uplift people, just like kirtan does. To bring joy, open people’s heart to the blessings of these Taras and to Devi and to the universal way. And also to help them remember the mantra, because some of them are pretty long they can be a little challenging to remember.” – Chandra Easton

Raghu Markus – Mindrolling – Ep. 528 – The 21 Taras with Nina Rao & Chandra Easton

Melodies Of Chanting And Navigating The Spiritual Landscape | Nina Rao and Radhika Das

“My grandfather's harmonium melodies were the soundtrack of my childhood, carrying the spirit of devotion that would later resonate through my own life's journey. As I sit down with Nina Rao, a celebrated Kirtan leader, her stories echo my experiences, weaving a tapestry of spiritual connection rooted in the vibrant chants of Kirtan. We delve into the essence of communal chanting, finding joy and peace within its harmonies, and discussing how these practices cultivate emotional and spiritual fulfillment. Nina's narrative transports us from the Satsang of her youth to the dynamic Kirtan circles of New York, highlighting the profound impact of community and shared devotion on our paths to inner happiness. Our conversation takes an introspective turn as we navigate the role of women in spiritual practices and the melding of Eastern traditions with Western consciousness. I share my own pilgrimage back to my roots, studying Vedic chanting with a teacher in India, and how this journey illuminated the significance of feminine voices in these sacred spaces. The episode unfolds further insights into the evolution of bhakti and kirtan in the West, the reverence for sacred texts, and the shifting perceptions of spirituality and the Divine in our modern society. We are humbled by the legacy of those who have cleared the way for us, acknowledging the profound gratitude for the spiritual inheritance that enriches our lives today. Finally, we embrace the transformative power of daily spiritual rituals, discussing how they enhance compassion, foster an enlightened mind, and contribute to a holistic sense of well-being.”

GoOD Friends w/ Nina Rao and Curly Nikki - The Power of Mantra, the Real Meaning of Ram, and the Hanuman Chalisa

"I'm here because I followed the path of practice that my Guru laid out for me." - Nina Rao
In this chat she shares about her Guru, Sri Siddhi Ma, her powerful and anchoring experiences on the pathless path, the real meaning of the Ram mantra, and the importance of service and constant God remembrance. She leads us in to Presence by chanting Sri Ram Jai Ram and the Hanuman Chalisa.
Show notes:
Vinayaka Always (the track featuring her grandfather) (Antarayaami - Knower of All Hearts, 2013)
Sri Siddhi Ma: The Story of Neem Karoli Baba's Spiritual Legacy
Nikki's favorite kirtan w/ Nina - Sri Ram Kirtan Sadhana
Flow of Grace (book by Krishna Das about Hanuman Chalisa)
Hanuman Chalisa in English (PDF)
Chant the Hanuman Chalisa w/ Nina - Free Course
Learn the Hanuman Chalisa w/ Nina via Insight Timer

*To claim your free gift, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, screenshot it and send it to me at nikki@curlynikki.com!