Nectar Talks, a podcast hosted by devotees at ISKCON Alachua, has launched its second season following the success of its first. The podcast is dedicated to capturing and sharing the essence of devotees’ spiritual journeys. 

In a recent conversation with ISKCON News, Amrita-keli Dasi, one of the podcast hosts, shared some exciting updates about the new season. Among the enhancements is upgraded equipment, which will significantly improve both the quality and overall experience of the interviews.

Nectar Talks began as virtual talks on Zoom and YouTube during the pandemic when isolation and social distancing made it difficult for devotees to connect in person. “It became a window into the hearts of the local community to draw out the inspirations that sustain each of us in our devotion to Krishna.  Every one of us has ‘nectar’ to share. Our goal is to draw it out in love and in celebration of what Srila Prabhupada continues to gift us,” shared Amrita-keli Dasi.

In its second season, Nectar Talks has made a significant leap forward by moving from Zoom to a dedicated podcast studio at Krishna.com. The show is hosted by Namamrita Das and Amrita-keli Dasi, with Madhurya-lila Devi Dasi and Vaishnavi Devi Dasi managing the technical aspects and behind-the-scenes organization. Additionally, Kunja Bihari Mody, a 10th grader from Bhaktivedanta Academy who assisted with editing the first episode, will continue as the series editor in the new season.

Season Two of Nectar Talks is a remarkable collaboration between the Nectar Talks team and Krishna.com. The partnership with Krishna.com has been crucial in elevating the show’s technical and production quality. Manorama Das and Uddhava Das from Krishna.com helped to transform the podcast space. Amrita-keli said, “The process of upgrading our equipment and creating a physical podcast space was a labor of love. Manorama invited us to explore the studio at Krishna.com, thereby establishing a new home for the show. Over several weeks, we transformed a ground-level storage room into an inviting interview space. It was a significant overhaul. We pooled together cameras from the crew and purchased additional items necessary to elevate the show to the next level.”

The new Krishna.com studio for Season Two.

The response from viewers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many reaching out to express their appreciation. The first episode of the new season, featuring Temple President Mukhya Devi Dasi, was particularly well received. Everyone welcomed the transition away from Zoom. While ZOom served its purpose, the in-person format provided the show with enhancements that the audience was eagerly anticipating.

The interviews at Nectar Talks cover a diverse range of devotional experiences, highlighting the beauty, struggles, doubts, and healing journeys shared by the devotees. The team aims to create a welcoming space where devotees feel comfortable sharing from the depths of their hearts and where they can speak openly about what inspires and sustains them through life’s challenges, as well as the most cherished lessons they’ve learned along their spiritual paths.

Season Two features a more diverse array of guests, including disciples of Srila Prabhupada, second-generation devotees, dedicated behind-the-scenes servants, and individuals whose valuable contributions might otherwise go unnoticed.

Season 2 episode featuring Mukhya Devi Dasi.

Amrita-keli Dasi concluded, “We have so much to learn from the people living right here among us. Two extraordinary Nectar Talks guests, Sanka Das and Sudharma Devi, have already left this world. Having a recorded interview with them months before their departure is sobering and extremely auspicious. Hopefully, we can build a little digital library of Prabhupada disciple nectar talks in the coming years.”

If you’d like to support the podcast financially, click here. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram and spread the word by sharing the episodes of Nectar Talks on social media, providing feedback, or nominating yourself or others for an interview. 

To watch the episodes of Season 2 of Nectar Talks, visit their links on YouTube, Spotify or Apple podcasts.