In this provocative and darkly comic solo performance, Eli Walker dissects the modern obsession with expertise, belonging, and the dangerous allure of spiritual authority. Part confessional memoir, part satirical takedown of wellness culture, "Kill the Buddha" follows Eli's journey from vulnerable acting student to viral entrepreneur to self-proclaimed "belonging expert"—and the spectacular unraveling that forces her to confront the difference between performing wisdom and living authentically.

Set against the backdrop of a disastrous podcast interview, the show weaves between past and present as Eli exposes the manipulative yoga teacher who exploited her search for meaning, the media machine that transformed her irreverent idea into a global brand, and her own complicity in packaging trauma into marketable life lessons. Through a gallery of characters—from a vapid Gen-Z podcast host to desperate callers seeking easy answers—Walker explores how our hunger for belonging can lead us to surrender our agency to anyone claiming to have "the way."

With raw honesty and biting humor, "Kill the Buddha" asks uncomfortable questions about authority, authenticity, and the stories we tell ourselves about growth and healing. In a world drowning in life coaches and quick fixes, Walker ultimately argues for the messy, uncertain work of finding your own truth—even when that means killing the very expertise you've built your identity around. Written and performed by Eli Walker. Directed by Molly Shayna Cohen.

"Kill the Buddha" is a fearless examination of how we perform wisdom in the age of social media, and what happens when the performance finally breaks down. Tickets in link below.