After 16.5 million downloads, the globally recognized podcast evolves into a comprehensive platform combining a decade of Buddhist teachings with AI-assisted learning

OAKLEY, UT / ACCESS Newswire / January 8, 2026 / Eightfold Path (eightfoldpath.com), a new learning platform for Buddhist philosophy, launches this month to coincide with the 10-year anniversary of the Secular Buddhism Podcast. The platform consolidates a decade of teachings into a unified digital home featuring an AI companion trained on 214 podcast episodes, three books, and multiple courses - designed to help anyone apply Buddhist wisdom to everyday life without needing to become Buddhist.

"This platform sits at the intersection of two things I'm passionate about: teaching Buddhism and developing with AI," says Noah Rasheta, creator and host of the Secular Buddhism Podcast. "I'm currently pursuing a master's in AI, and after ten years of podcasting I had this massive library of content I wanted to make more accessible.

"But the real motivation is personal. When I first started learning Buddhism, I looked for a teacher. I contacted several and realized how difficult it was to find someone to actually work with. So I learned on my own, read hundreds of books, and eventually completed a lay ministry program. But that early stage, when you have all these questions and don't know who to ask, is where most people get stuck.

"The AI companion gives people what I wished I'd had: a mentor, a study companion, someone to brainstorm with during that crucial beginning of the journey."

A Decade of Accessible Buddhist Education

Since December 2015, the Secular Buddhism Podcast has introduced millions of listeners worldwide to Buddhist concepts through a universal, non-dogmatic approach. The podcast has accumulated over 16.5 million downloads, maintains 70,000+ active monthly listeners, and has built a community of over 2,000 practitioners. Rasheta's first book reached #1 on Amazon's Buddhism bestseller list.

The new Eightfold Path platform represents the natural evolution of this work - consolidating scattered resources into a single destination where learners can access the complete podcast archive with searchable transcripts, structured courses, and an AI companion that understands the full context of Rasheta's teachings.

AI as Companion, Not Teacher

Unlike generic AI chatbots or Buddhist apps trained on ancient texts alone, the platform's AI companion - internally called "Noah AI" - is built on RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) technology trained specifically on Rasheta's body of work. This creates an AI that can help users explore how Buddhist concepts apply to their specific situations, acting as a guide on the path rather than a teacher delivering doctrine.

"One core Buddhist teaching is 'be a lamp unto yourself' - the teacher you're looking for is yourself," Rasheta explains. "The AI embodies that philosophy. It doesn't preach or push. It helps people think through their own challenges using these timeless frameworks."

Platform Philosophy: Tools, Not Teachings

Eightfold Path operates on a distinctive model: all educational content - including the complete podcast archive, transcripts, and introductory courses - remains freely accessible. Those who choose to support the platform gain access to enhanced tools like unlimited AI conversations, saved chat history, and community features.

"People pay for tools, never for teachings" is the guiding principle. This approach ensures that financial barriers never prevent someone from accessing wisdom that could help them live more mindfully.

Key Facts

• 16.5 million+ total podcast downloads

• 214 podcast episodes

• 70,000+ monthly active listeners

• 10 years of teaching

• 2,000+ community members

• #1 Amazon Bestseller in Buddhism categories

About Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path is a learning platform that makes Buddhist philosophy accessible to anyone, regardless of background or belief. It presents Buddhist concepts as one path among many valid approaches to understanding life and reducing suffering. The platform combines a decade of podcast content (214 episodes), three books, structured courses, an active community, and AI-assisted learning tools. Founded by Noah Rasheta, a Buddhist teacher and author based in Utah, the platform serves learners in over 100 countries.

About Noah Rasheta

Noah Rasheta is a Buddhist teacher, author, and the creator of the Secular Buddhism Podcast, one of the world's most popular Buddhism podcasts with over 16.5 million downloads since 2015. He is the author of several books including No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners, which reached #1 on Amazon's Buddhism bestseller list. Noah is a Buddhist lay minister who has studied under various teachers across multiple traditions. Based in Oakley, Utah, he is also a paragliding instructor and family man whose experiences frequently inform his teaching style.

His signature phrase: "Don't use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist. Use it to be a better whatever you already are."

High-resolution images and additional press materials: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nv6dshq02zllpk8fq91z1/AEfyPOWdckVI2flIiAKOJys?rlkey=m4fihwmqaz2pacal5s5c6aazo&st=os72xkhr&dl=0

Media Contact

Noah Rasheta
Host, Secular Buddhism Podcast
Founder, EightfoldPath.com
Email: noah@eightfoldpath.com
Website: eightfoldpath.com
Location: Oakley, Utah, USA

SOURCE: Eightfold Path