Natalie Fisk Quli, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Theravada Buddhist Studies at the Institute of Buddhist Studies. Dr. Quli also serves as Senior Editor of Pacific World: Journal of the Institute of Buddhist Studies and is a member of its Editorial Committee. Dr. Quli is also Assistant Editor for the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies's journal, The Pure Land: Journal of Pure Land Buddhism.

We discuss bipolar II disorder's impact on research and scholarship, identifying as "Buddh-ish," the major influence of power and power dynamics in the shaping of Buddhist sanghas in America, the complexity of new age spiritual movements and their inclusions/appropriations of Buddhism, and the differences between male and female Buddhist convert paths towards monasticism within American Theravada communities.