Welcome to AWAKEN Season 6

Welcome to Season 6 of AWAKEN—a Webby Honoree podcast about the dynamic path to enlightenment and what it means to “wake up.” This season explores wrath as a powerful force for awakening and transformation. Hosted by singer, writer, and frontwoman of the bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre Kathleen Hanna, the series focuses on Buddhist and Hindu paintings and sculptures of wrathful deities from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art’s collection to illuminate their teachings on fierce compassion. Experts in the realms of art, social science, Buddhism, and more share how wrath, when used with intention and skill, can be harnessed for protection and meaningful action.

AWAKEN Season 6 launches October 27, 2026.

Read the transcript and learn more about the Rubin: https://rubinmuseum.org/welcome-to-awaken-season-6/

Creators and Guests

Host

Kathleen Hanna

Kathleen Hanna is an American singer, musician and pioneer of the feminist punk riot grrrl movement, and punk zine writer.

What is Awaken?

AWAKEN is a Webby Honoree podcast about the dynamic path to enlightenment and what it means to “wake up.” Throughout the series we dive into the personal stories of guests who share how they’ve experienced a shift in their awareness, and as a result, their perspective on life.

Kathleen Hanna:
At a time when anger seems more present and potent than ever, how can a better understanding of wrath help us transform this challenging emotion into an effective catalyst for change?

Annabella Pitkin:
Wrath is a kind of pure energy that comes with clarity and awareness, a kind of fierce energy.

Sharon Salzberg:
We get destroyed if we're overwhelmed by anger. Can we extract the energy without getting consumed by the fire?

Kathleen Hanna:
Welcome to season six of Awaken, a podcast from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art about the dynamic path to enlightenment and what it means to wake up. I am Kathleen Hanna, punk singer, writer, and front woman for the bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. I'm also your host for this season of Awaken, where we're exploring the concept of wrath as a powerful force for awakening and transformation.

adrienne maree brown:
In order to feel something so strong as wrath, it has to be rooted in something as deep as love.

Valarie Kaur:
I see wrath as sacred. The aim of divine rage is not vengeance. The aim of divine rage is to reorder the world.

Kathleen Hanna:
With stories and wisdom from artists, writers, activists, Buddhist teachers, and others, we'll explore how wrath can be used for protection and meaningful action when applied with intention, skill, and compassion. Buddhist and Hindu art have long been a pathway to insights and awakening. And in this season, we look at artworks of wrathful deities from the Rubin Museum's collection to learn what these terrifying figures can teach us about harnessing wrath for the benefit of all.

Myisha Cherry:
There's something for all of us to do, and we need to use our anger and our compassion. Then we'll see the change that we want.

Kathleen Hanna:
Wake up to what is possible. Tune in to season six of Awaken at rubinmuseum.org or wherever you get your podcasts.