Shamanism

When life feels uncertain, who do you turn to? Across cultures and throughout history, many of us have looked to people who seemed to have a special set of abilities and knowledge… shamans.

Episode 5 of the How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality podcast, hosted by PRX, titled "Shamanism" was published on November 30, 2025 and runs 40 minutes.

November 30, 2025 ·40m · How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality

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Summary

When life feels uncertain, who do you turn to? Across cultures and throughout history, many of us have looked to people who seemed to have a special set of abilities and knowledge… shamans. On this episode, we’ll talk to anthropologist Manvir Singh about what shamanism actually is, how it works, and why its appeal is both timeless and universal. From a remote island in Indonesia to American Pentecostal churches, we’ll explore how shamans harness ritual, empathy, and performance to help people find meaning and relief in times of need. Manvir Singh directs the Integrative Anthropology Lab at the University of California, Davis. He is the author of Shamanism: The Timeless Religion, and a contributing writer for The New Yorker. Find out more about his work on his website.

Episode Description

When life feels uncertain, who do you turn to? Across cultures and throughout history, many of us have looked to people who seemed to have a special set of abilities and knowledge… shamans.

On this episode, we’ll talk to anthropologist Manvir Singh about what shamanism actually is, how it works, and why its appeal is both timeless and universal. From a remote island in Indonesia to American Pentecostal churches, we’ll explore how shamans harness ritual, empathy, and performance to help people find meaning and relief in times of need.

Manvir Singh directs the Integrative Anthropology Lab at the University of California, Davis. He is the author of Shamanism: The Timeless Religion, and a contributing writer for The New Yorker. Find out more about his work on his website.