Meditate This!: Recent Episodes
Peter Falker and Jason Hollander
Meditate This! is two regular guys interviewing some of the world's leading experts about meditation, mindfulness, science, spirituality, and art of living mindfully. Enjoy our spin-off episodes Mindfulness Schmindfulness and How I Meditate
Like all god's creatures, we love each of our guests equally. But we'll admit, when we got on the phone with Robert Thurman, there was something that stopped us a bit in our tracks.
Yes, he was completely easy to talk to and, yes, he was willing to answer everything we asked. But his ability to explain the concepts of Buddhism and mindfulness with the weight of a genius scholar and practitioner just brought us to another level of awareness as we navigated his seemingly unending knowledge.
Hear Professor Thurman explain his unforeseeable path to India that led him into the inner circle of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and onto a path of bringing Buddhist thoughts to the West for more than four decades. And be sure to pick up a copy of Thurman's latest book, Man of Peaceor explore Tibet House, which he co-founded in 1987 with actor Richard Gere and musician Philip Glass at the request of the Dalai Lama.
She loves me. She loves me not. She loves me. She loves me not...
Ever spent a moment...or several years(!) wondering whether your mate is right for you—or if you're right for them? You're sure as hell not alone. Romantic relationships are seriously confusing, and much of the time we're unaware of our true feelings because our brains work most happily in autopilot mode.
If you're ready for a deeper dive into the land of love (or, not-love), listen to our conversation with Stan Tatkin, clinician, researcher, teacher, and developer of the Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT). Stan teaches family medicine residents at Kaiser Permanente, Woodland Hills, CA, and is an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine. He is author of several books, including Wired for Dating: How Understanding Neurobiology and Attachment Style Can Help You Find Your Ideal Mate, and Wired for Love: How Understanding Your Partner’s Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship, and Your Brain on Love: The Neurobiology of Healthy Relationships.
Visit: www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
When Kaiser met Pete in junior high, he could barely have dreamed he'd appear a quarter-century later not once but twice on a world-renowned podcast co-hosted by his new, lanky, piano-playing friend . For one thing, there were no podcasts back then. Heck, Rubik's Cubes were still the rage. Also, neither of them were exactly the most mindful 13-year-olds in the greater Twin Cities area. They'd likely have been shoved in lockers by the school mindfulness bully, if one existed. (We're looking at you, Sven.) But here we are now, welcoming a second fantastic Meditate This! appearance by Kaiser. See, the dream came true. Except for the "world-renowned" part.
Also, if you feel like this intro and really everything else about mindfulness is generally confusing or intimidating, fear no more: Kaiser breaks down just what you need to know and/or think about as you approach meditation—which, happily, isn't all that much. And he simultaneously explains what you don't necessarily need to know or think about as you consider meditation or really any other endeavors during these complicated, meandering minutes we hear ticking on theoretical clocks sitting inside operating systems sitting inside glass and plastic phones sitting inside our 100% (supposedly) cotton pant pockets. All clear? Ok, perfect. Episode 125 everybody!
For more Kaiser Clark, listen to Episode 103.
www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
By trade, Robert Kuhn asks the world's most brilliant people about life's biggest questions. It sounded pretty familiar to us here at Meditate This!—with one small exception: Kuhn has a background that puts him on par with just about anyone he interviews, giving the questions an extra level of potency.
Kuhn holds a doctorate in brain research and is the author and editor of over 25 books. A long-time adviser to the Chinese government and multinational corporations, he has been a columnist for China Daily and theSouth China Morning Post, and has appeared on the BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, and more. But perhaps Kuhn is most famous for creating and hosting the public television series Closer to Truth, which presents scientists and philosophers discussing life's most fundamental issues. Hear him tackle those subjects with Pete and Jay while explaining to them just why ping pong remains his favorite refuge from life's daily cacophony.
See and hear more at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Nichol Bradford has an affinity for tech—as evidenced by her work as a former senior executive for gaming at Activision Blizzard (for which she managed operations on World of Warcraft in China), Disney, and Vivendi. But the Wharton MBA also appreciates tech's promise because she believes it's our best chance at helping humanity navigate the variety of impending crises.
As founder and CEO of the Willow Group, Bradford has helped pioneer Finders Course in secular mindfulness based on the scientific findings from eight years of research with over 1,000 participants. The online course uses the most empirical mechanisms for each providing each student a practice that will help them achieve "ongoing and persistent non-symbolic experience." Hear this co-founder and executive director of the Transformative Technology Lab at Sofia University explain how her work is helping 73 percent of students access this state of mind within four months—and why its more urgent than ever that more people join them.
Visit us at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Have you updated your bucket list lately? We’re guessing there are a few things you may have overlooked. After this interview, you might decide to add a couple items to your list: the study of transpersonal psychology and achieving self-transcendence. What are those things you ask? Well, Pete had the same questions and got some serious answers from his guest today.
Sit back and absorb the fresh wisdom from a pioneer in education. As the President of Sofia University in Palo Alto, Ca, Liz Li, Ph.D. is committed to improving the human condition by continuing a legacy established in 1975. Founded as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, this university weaves a unique thread through all of its core curriculum. And they're getting a lot more attention with the addition of Dr. Deepak Chopra as a professor, to create a new initiative built around transpersonal aspects of consciousness.
Ok, you looked confused. So just hit play and we'll take care of the rest.
Visit us at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Listen on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music.
It's never happened before that a guest has been daring enough to return to the mic for a second round conversation with Pete and Jay, but Judson Brewer was up for giving it another go. And how lucky for the audience because Judson talks through all the ideas in his new book The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love – Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits and more, offering perspective on "flow," the idea of a true self, resistance versus resilience, and well, the state of our brains during this unusual political moment. What more could you need? Nothing. Just press play!
See more and visit us at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
So, um...about that thing. You know. The thing no one likes to talk about. Yes, that thing. No, not taxes, the other thing.
Right. Death. Ok, we all have different relationships to the word and the concept, and we also all have one thing in common: Nobody knows anything about it for sure. But Sensei Robert Chodo Campbell and Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison have been closer to the experience, with regularity, than just about anyone else.
As co-founders of the Zen Center for Contemplative Care in New York City, they established a training program that enables people "to care in mindful and compassionate ways in hospitals, hospices, and homes, as well as their everyday relationships." That means sitting with patients as they transition, time and again. It is heroic work, but as Koshin says, they two consider it a true privilege. Read more about Robert and Koshin, but first, hear our illuminating conversation with them.
Visit us at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Have you ever wondered about the secret to perfecting your meditation practice, increasing your daily degree of happiness, and finding the strength to tackle all those things that scare you? Well, search no more. In less than an hour, Pete and Jay will make every last thing clear and give you the tools to transform your life overnight. Well, it could take two nights. Whatever. Just listen. It's free.
Visit: www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Another escapade into the world of mindfulness conferences landed Pete at the Mindful Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. In this interview, he sits down with Caroline S. Welch, the CEO of Mind Your Brain, Inc. and the co-founder of MindSightMedia, Inc with her husband Dr. Dan Siegel (episode 112 of MT! Podcast). We cover some key points (4 to be specific) of mindfulness and how the power of presence can bring more well-being into your life.
Caroline’s background as a corporate litigator and early exposure to meditation on a silent retreat in Sri Lanka gives her a unique and valuable perspective on how mindfulness can bring clarity and resilience to one’s professional life. Enjoy this calm and clear conversation with Caroline Welch!
See more at www. MeditateThisPodcast.com
JP Sears is trying to raise the planet's consciousness and help people live the most fulfilling life possible. He does this, in part, by making funny videos on YouTube that completely mock the very thoughts and practices that help people realize this kind of change. It leaves many left to wonder, just who is JP Sears? The good news for you—we've got him here in Episode 117 in all his glory: funny but insightful, irreverent but respectful. Take a listen. Or don't. He's cool with you doing whatever you gotta do.
As cofounder and president of Happify, giving people a fun way to pass the time is nothing new for Ofer Leidner. He cofounded and built several digital media businesses, including iPlay/Oberon Media, which offered those downloadable games for phones that consume hours and become an obsession for some. But despite his success, Ofer didn’t feel great about the effects of his work. So he channeled his skills toward a whole new venture, where folks may still become immersed, but now, hopefully, for all the right reasons. Hear how Ofer and his colleagues are helping users break bad habits and start healthy new ones.
Visit us at: www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
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John F. Simon, Jr. was riding high in the New York art scene in the early 1990s as a new media artist using LCD screens to project his computer renderings. His work sold quickly and is now part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among others
But all that success rang hollow for him and in recent years he has channeled his creative energy into other modes of expression. In his new book Drawing Your Own Path: 33 practices at the Crossroads of Art and Meditationencourages reader to create their own artistic mindfulness routine, which they can then share and discuss with a community online at drawyourownpath.com. Hear more about why a daily drawing exercise might just be the mindful lift you need.
Visit www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
There are plenty of words that describe Agapi Stassinopolous, but they only go so far. Warm, magnetic, wise, theatrical, and honest—they all say the right thing, but in order to really understand Agapi and what she can offer, you really need to listen. The energy and spirit she projects, the way her smile comes through when she speaks, it all confirms the many reasons why hearing Agapi (or see her in NYC on Jan. 10!) helps explain the insight and inspiration she delivers.
Her new book—Wake Up to the Joy of You: 52 Meditations and Practices for a Calmer, Happier Life—offer readers a sense of what's possible, and is available in print as well as audio. Be sure to give it a try and discover why Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert says: “Open this book at any chapter and you will tap into your calm and joy, no matter what challenges you may be facing.” Also—follow Agapi's journey and learn more about her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and do watch her this Jan. 6 on the Today Show in the 10:00 a.m. hour..
Listen on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher Radio
and at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
It's not everyday that you find an MD/PhD who gains as much insight from talking about 2,000-year-old Buddhist philosophy as he does from the latest findings in the *New England Journal of Medicine*. Judson Brewer is director of research in the Center for Mindfulness at the University Massachusetts Medical School, and holds affiliations at the Yale University School of Medicine and MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. He also really likes to sit in meditation because, well, it once changed his life.
As a young student overwhelmed with figuring out his future, Judson saw firsthand how mindfulness could improve health issues related to stress—as well as the angst of a difficult breakup. With this in mind, he has dedicated his career to helping others transform their lives—especially those riddled with addiction. In his forthcoming book, The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love—Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits, Judson outlines the reasons behind the decisions we make and how we can literally rethink our behavior. It's a highly relatable expansion of his famous TED Talk, which has garnered almost six million views, and complements two very helpful apps he has developed—Craving to Quit and Eat Right Now. Take a listen to Judson's accessible ideas and be prepared to re-imagine, for good reason, many of your own patterns and habits.
To paint a picture of Dr. Dan Siegel, we could easily provide you with a long list of highly impressive credentials. But that wouldn’t represent Dan the person. Missing from that list would be how he unwinds at home by blasting his karaoke machine and dancing around the room. Or that he takes steps to include everyone in the big conversations--making even hard science relatable. In short, Dan aims for every last person to flourish.
There’s plenty in this episode for everyone to learn, including Pete, who discovered why meditation has changed what life has to offer, and what 14-year-old brains can teach us. In the end, you may actually learn more about yourself than you do about Dan, but that’s what he cares about most anyway.
Enjoy! -Pete and Jay
Listen at iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play Music
www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Ask someone "what" they are and the answer will often be expressed in a single word to summarize their job: accountant...firefighter...salesperson...electrician...chef. For Elise Carr, founder of StellaMuse, the answer takes a lot longer, and seems to radiate like a sunbeam. Some specific things do come to mind, though: Pioneer of Yoni power, divinely empowered woman, sacred spirituality and sexuality director, life empowerment mentor, certified holistic health coach, writer, speaker, Tantra practitioner, Reiki master, model, artist, and trailblazer. Whew!
But beyond these labels, you'll hear why Elise is a person at peace, someone who has found her truth and dedicated her life to enabling others to pursue their own. Hear the series of events that propelled her onto this quest, why a fateful night in Paris changed everything, and where she may be heading next.
Back in 2003, people didn't talk much about acupuncture or meditation or aromatherapy–especially not in relation to treating serious illness. But Penny George saw an opportunity. As a breast cancer survivor herself, she was keenly aware of the need for nurturing the mind and spirit while addressing major issues with one's body. She thought: What if a center with ties to traditional medical care could offer patients the benefits of energy work, biofeedback, healing touch, and more?
Thus, the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing was born 13 years ago and has since grown into the largest hospital-based integrative medicine program in the country as part of Allina Health, the largest healthcare system in the Upper Midwest. This pioneering center is just one of many important philanthropic efforts undertaken by Penny, who holds a doctorate in counseling psychology and is co-founder of Sellergren-George Consulting Psychologists. In this episode, Penny tells us why integrative medicine is gaining such popularity and offers insight into how she has cultivated a life where growth and change have always remained a priority.
What does it mean to flourish as a human being? Well, for many of us that might be a question not often asked, but for Aneel Chima it is his life's work to help us figure it out. While Aneel might be just as happy driving a city bus, he's currently very content as the co-leader of the Stanford University WellnessEd Project, which he co-founded and developed. In addition, Aneel co-founded At-The-Core, where he facilitates actualization and trans-formative change using emotional, social, and neurophysiological drivers of optimal team and leadership performance.
Above all these lofty goals and ambitions, Aneel is super-nice person, willing to sit patiently and teach what it means to thrive. We don't guarantee that he would give every stranger he meets a personal walking tour of Stanford University, an hour and a half interview, followed by a falafal dinner, but he certainly made Pete feel welcome by demonstrating what the traits of human flourishing look like up close: compassion, kindness, and wisdom.
What happens when a listener of the Meditate This! Podcast blows out the candles on their birthday cake? Their wish comes true and they appear as a guest on Mindfulness Schmindfulness. We can only assume that's what happened as one lucky listener was invited to the MT! Studios for an interrogation of her life. Meet Ryan, both skeptic and seeker, as she shares with us her life struggles and some very interesting signposts along the way. Ryan now says she never realized she could be this happy in life, which we assume has nothing to do with listening to our podcast.
Listen at:
www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
and at iTunes, Stitcher Radio, and Google Play Music
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
In 1996 Micheline Nader hit a wall. Stress had weakened her immune system and resulted in a bleeding ulcer. Facing the bankruptcy of her business, she says, "I was so terrified that I could not get out of bed. My fear was more crippling than my pain." A serial entrepreneur, Micheline couldn't muster one more appearance of "Superwoman" to save the day. She needed a better plan and that led to her finding what she calls her True Self. Once she found it, everything turned around and her business became a huge success.
Micheline was no stranger to adversity. Having grown up in Lebanon, she endured the pain of losing her father at age 16 to esophageal cancer. He was the love of her life, but little did she know that she was on a crash course with a similar fate. In the depths of her suffering, she made space in her life and connected with her "higher consciousness", which led to the strategy she lays out in her new book, The Dolphin's Dance - a 5 Step Journey into Conscious Awareness.
Listen at:
www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
and at iTunes, Stitcher Radio, and Google Play Music
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NASA engineer, Stanford University lecturer, TED talker, consciousness hacker—is there anything Mikey Siegel can't do? The answer: We'll soon find out. See, Mikey is on one serious mission—to change the word from the inside out by starting with the alleviation of that nasty little bug that bites us all: human suffering.
As Mikey explains: "My focus is on supporting the development of totally new transformative tools and technologies that can revolutionize the way we relate to ourselves, each other, and the world. I believe that every single human endeavor can be a catalyst for collective awakening, and that is the evolutionary direction for our species." We can't wait to see what Mikey comes up with next. But first, hear all the hows and whys in this undeniably* mind-expanding conversation.
*If you do deny it, you must ask yourself why!
Some couples argue about who should take out the garbage or pick up the kids. Maureen Pelton and Charlie Hartwell only show hints of frustration when insisting that the other should realize how well-rounded they are. It's a nice problem to have, especially since most of their moments together is spent engaged in their favorite pastime: laughing. The rest is occupied with changing the world by helping raise our collective consciousness.
As co-founders of the Shift Institute, Maureen and Charlie aim to help individuals realize their best, truest self. That effort is complemented by the venture capital efforts of Bridge Builders, which invests in mindfulness companies that are utilizing the most innovative technology and communications. In all, Maureen and Charlie are making a difference every day--sometimes one person at a time, sometimes by the millions. Who wouldn't smile at that?
Note: Today's episode features special guest star Cookie in her first live interview.
Achieving the status of being a regular, average guy might not sound like much. But for Kaiser Clark, it’s the biggest accomplishment of his life so far. Growing up with severe ADHD and struggling with substance abuse from a very young age, Kaiser used to think obtaining mythic powers, changing who he was, and becoming "special" was the answer to his problems.
On his quest, he utilized various forms of meditation and even had an experience he called "piercing the veil of consciousness." But Kaiser now feels that none of that really matters much. It’s about surrendering, becoming more of who you are, and living as best you can.
Thanks for listening! Remember to rate and review on iTunes!!!!
Pete and Jay
Five sure-fire steps to the perfect life. One burrito half-eaten by Ozzie. And Pete making contact. A Schmindfulness for the ages—both here and beyooooond.
..and Happy Birthday Diane!!!!
Be sure to tell a friend about this podcast, rate and review on iTunes, and join our mailing list at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
The very fact that you're reading this sentence has something to do with R. Adam Engle. No, he didn't invent the internet or anything. He just happened to co-found the Mind and Life Institute and develop, back in the 1980s, the very first Mind and Life Dialogues between the 14th Dalai Lama and a panel of some of the world's most prominent scientists.
The result? A wave of new research, understanding, and acceptance of mindful practice and effectiveness in the West—culminating (well, sorta) with Time magazine declaring the beginning of a "Mindful Revolution" in 2014.
Hear this pioneer describe how a kid from Yonkers helped a 2,500 year old Eastern tradition take root in a country that tends to be more concerned with the latest thing.
Listen on:
Website: Meditate This! Podcast iTunes Stitcher Radio Google Play
The very fact that you're reading this sentence has something to do with R. Adam Engle. No, he didn't invent the internet or anything. He just happened to co-found the Mind and Life Institute and develop, back in the 1980s, the very first Mind and Life Dialogues between the 14th Dalai Lama and a panel of some of the world's most prominent scientists.
The result? A wave of new research, understanding, and acceptance of mindful practice and effectiveness in the West—culminating (well, sorta) with Time magazine declaring the beginning of a "Mindful Revolution" in 2014.
Hear this pioneer describe how a kid from Yonkers helped a 2,500 year old Eastern tradition take root in a country that tends to be more concerned with the latest thing.
Listen on:
Website: Meditate This! Podcast iTunes Stitcher Radio Google Play
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
Whether it be on a retreat into literal darkness that helped her contemplate her life so far or the bright and bustling business she has built over the past three decades, Tami Simon pursues truth in every corner it may hide.
As the founder of Sounds True, a multimedia publishing company that offers spiritual wisdom from the likes of Eckhart Tolle, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and Pema Chodron—among so many others—Simon has built a profound resource for those seeking to understand. And now Simon is adding to the conversation herself with the audio program Being True. Take a listen—right afterlistening to her tell us the story of how she came to be one of the consciousness movement's most influential promoters.
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
Growing up in Chicago during the 1950s and 1960s, Radhanath Swami (then Richard Slavin) had plenty to be restless about—civil rights injustices, Vietnam, and a general aversion to the trappings of suburban comfort. By 19, he'd had enough. It was time to go in search of something greater. That quest took him—as a penniless hitchhiker—though Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and finally, to India. It was there that he embarked on a more than 45-year study of Bhakti yoga that has included living in Himalayan caves and forests.
His early travels were documented in the book The Journey Home and more recent explorations are brought to light in his new book, The Journey Within. But before you read both, be sure to hear Radhanath Swami tell Pete and Jay how he searches for the underlying love and simplicity in everything he does and uses it to guide his every moment.
Please visit us....
www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Twitter: @MeditateThis
Facebook: Meditate This
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
Charlie Hartwell has always pursued balance. He complemented his degrees from Brown and Harvard with the education that comes from world travels that included hitchhiking alone by night on desolate roads. While working on Wall Street by day, he spent nights helping start a charity in Africa. He excelled at marketing for the likes of Heinz and Pillsbury while always searching for the intangible - the words that couldn't be spoken.
It makes perfect sense that he's now using his business acumen to help expand consciousness across the globe. As the operating partner in Bridge Builders Collaborative and co-founder, with his wife Maureen, of ShiftIt Institute, Hartwell is driving the evolution of an ancient tradition to provide comfort and insight to those who need it most. Hear how he came to this latest pursuit and why he believes this effort will be the defining achievement of his life.
Please visit us....
www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Twitter: @MeditateThis
Facebook: Meditate This
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
All of us talk about it. There's something else we feel like we should be doing—if only we knew what. Or how. Or where. Karan Bajaj was born and raised in the Indian Himalayas, but it was only when he became a successful marketer—earning the title of "top 40 under 40" by Advertising Age in 2007—that he started to feel the call toward a more spiritual path. But that didn't mean abandoning his life and accomplishments completely. Instead, Bajaj embarked on a rather inventive system of working 4 years on and 1 year off. In the "unscripted" periods, he travels the world, writes, and deepens his exploration of Eastern mysticism.
Bajaj's books include Johnny Gone Down (a #1 bestseller in India) and his latest novel,The Yoga of Max's Discontent. A beloved blogger who offers regular tips on writing andmeditation, Bajaj has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, and more.
Hear his highly accessible perspectives on living mindfully in a fairly mindless world, the many questions raised when discussing the afterlife, and the art of honoring your inclinations while making your sure always leave that window open for the next adventure.
Please...
Visit our website: www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
Follow us on Twitter: @MeditateThis
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MeditateThis
S&M. Meatball subs. Interviewing Swamis. What don't Pete and Jay cover in this episode of "Mailbag"?
Hear them answer questions from listeners across the country on the great central issues of our time. This episode tackles quick fixes for anxiety, the roots of their interest in mindfulness, and how they use their natural curiosity to talk to some of the wisest people in the world. Pour yourself a milkshake and get ready for some good old-fashioned fun.
Please submit your questions for our next mailbag to MeditateThisPodcast@Gmail.com.
Or send it via Twitter to @MeditateThis.
OR...post it on our Facebook page.
Thank You! (you're welcome)
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
When one steps into MNDFL, it's easy to think you've made a wrong turn. Meditation studios are supposed to be a little dusty, a little impersonal. They certainly do not look like that Hamptons beach house you saw in that design magazine. But MNDFL's founders, Ellie Burrows (chief executive officer) and Lodro Rinzler (chief spiritual officer), had a different idea when they conceived of their new venture: create a drop-in meditation space where one can feel at home (literally), and where the "tradition" is simply soft music, plush couches, and hot tea.
The studio on 8th Street in Greenwich Village has attracted lots of attention from the likes of The New York Times, Vogue, and beyond. In Episode 86, hear Ellie describe her own personal journey as well as the unique ideas that brought this pioneering space to life.
Visit us at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com.
Please rate and review on iTunes!!! Ozzie says thank you!!
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
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How do you meditate?
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What was is like the very first time you meditated?
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An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
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What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
Hop aboard Cory Allen's spaceship as he explains the many places his music might take you. Feel like spelunking in the labyrinth of your soul? It can do that. Maybe shoot out into the deepest ends of the universe? It can do that too. And when not composing and producing music, Cory can lead you on one serious guided meditation.
So sit back and let his smooth baritone words ease you across this spectrum of mindful conversation. After, be sure to listen to his binaural beats and other music—or catch his excellent podcast The Astral Hustle, on which Pete and Jay were honored to be featured for April 11.
Be sure to listen to the follow up mini-episode called How I Meditate, where Cory Allen tells us about his personal meditation practice.
www.MeditateThisPodcast.com
What happens when excited Meditate This! fans across the United States get a chance to ask Pete and Jay any questions they want? Well, let's just say the U.S. Postal Service had to work a lot of overtime last month—like they do during the Christmas deluge, delivering letters full of dreams and inquiry to Santa Claus.
But it was all well worth it because we've got answers to some of your deepest and darkest questions (well, not that dark). So join Pete and Jay as they respond to listeners who wonder how they can de-stress, find more time during the day, and, you know, what exactly happens when we die. Just another day at the office for Pete and Jay. Enjoy! (Note: no reindeer were used in the making of this episode.)
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
We've all heard about it. The warm, bright light someone sees when they're near death. The angelic, universal hum. The feeling of everything being, as Radiohead once sang, "in its right place."
Well, imagine that experience being reflected and championed by a renowned neurosurgeon who understands the mysteries of the brain better than almost anyone.
With his New York Times bestseller,Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife,Dr. Eben Alexander gained immediate attention from believers and skeptics alike as he detailed his experience of traveling to a harmonious realm while in a coma after contracting bacterial meningitis. This episode changed him from a materialist scientist to a spiritual mystic in pursuit of bringing the message of unconditional love to the masses.
We dive right in with Dr. Alexander and learn how meditation can take us to the domain where consciousness and free-will are the true foundations of this universe. Climb aboard and take the trip!
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
What is your authentic self, and where the heck can you find it? Before you answer, take note: Our guest in episode 80 discovered her true self 30 years ago during a multi-dimensional, mystical experience.
Ever since then, Maureen Pelton has been on a journey to help others along their own path of self-discovery. She is founder of the ShiftIt Institute, which includes integrative psychotherapy, coaching, and consulting to 150 organizations, training health care professionals and facilitating workshops.
As Maureen tells us, many people are afraid to search for their authentic self. It's not always pleasant, and might even challenge your relationships with the people who love you the most. If you’ve always felt there was something missing in your life, maybe you’re ready to start the journey—right here on Meditate This! Podcast (of all places).
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
Alana Kessler isn't just founder, owner, and director of Sangha Yoga Shala—she's also a member. Yoga, especially Yin Yoga, has provided the perspective she needs to stay healthy and grounded each day. With a master’s in clinical nutrition and a bachelor’s in nutrition and dietetics from NYU, she knows well how essential the relationship is between a happy body and a happy mind.
Hear her chronicle a nearly decade-long struggle with an eating disorder and how she found her way through to the healthy state she now enjoys. When in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, be sure to stop by the studio and say hello or explore her new health and wellness website, The Heart Practice.
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
Welcome to How I Meditate from the Meditate This! Podcast. This series is intended reveal personal experiences with meditation and mindfulness as a way to help others refine, rejuvenate, or even just begin a practice. Meditation can seem weird, creepy, and meaningless. But maybe it helps to hear how it's different for someone else...or how it's not.
Each episode answers 4 basic questions:
-
How do you meditate?
-
What was is like the very first time you meditated?
-
An example of when you noticed meditation made a difference in your life.
-
What other activities help you stay mindful on a regular basis?
Please visit the How I Meditate page at www.MeditateThisPodcast.com to learn more and submit your own How I Meditate story.
Thanks!
Pete and Jay
A trip to the grocery store. A day spent shopping for new jeans. While we may see these tasks as mundane, even tedious, these are just two things that Toni Bernhard is no longer able to do.
With an illness that keeps her mostly confined to bed, Bernhard, a longtime Buddhist practitioner,shares her story by writing through the pain and exhaustion that each day brings. Her first book,How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregiversbegan as a manual for herself, but she soon realized they were words others needed to hear. The work won two Nautilus Book Awards: a gold medal in self-help/psychology and a silver medal in memoir. It was also named one of the "Best Books of 2010" by Spirituality and Practice magazine.
Her second book, How to Wake Up: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Navigating Joy and Sorrow, coincides with her increased presence on social media, and a life now spent interacting with sick individuals all over the world. Her blog “Turning Straw Into Gold” is published on Psychology Today's website.
Now her third book, How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness: A Mindful Guide,offers patients and caregivers a new perspective on finding acceptance for what is and finding a path in the search for well-being.
A trip to the grocery store. A day spent shopping for new jeans. While we may see these tasks as mundane, even tedious, these are just two things the Toni Bernhard is no longer able to do.
With an illness that keeps her mostly confined to bed, Bernhard, a longtime Buddhist practitioner,shares her story by writing through the pain and exhaustion that each day brings. Her first book, How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregiversbegan as a manual for herself, but she soon realized they were words others needed to hear. The work won two Nautilus Book Awards: a gold medal in self-help/psychology and a silver medal in memoir. It was also named one of the "Best Books of 2010" by Spirituality and Practice magazine.
Her second book, How to Wake Up: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Navigating Joy and Sorrow, coincides with her increased presence on social media, and a life now spent interacting with sick individuals all over the world. Her blog “Turning Straw Into Gold” is published on Psychology Today's website.
Now her third book, How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness: A Mindful Guide,offers patients and caregivers a new perspective on finding acceptance for what is and finding a path in the search for well-being.
TIME magazine once called Gene Baur "the conscience of the food movement," and it's easy to see why. A vegan who has been championing animal rights for more than three decades, Baur co-founded the animal rescue organization Farm Sanctuary in 1986. His efforts has earned widespread media coverage—including an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart—and he has penned two books. Take a listen to this passionate and informative episode, and hear Gene describe his vision for a future where man lives in harmony with all the animals of the earth.
Feel it? The holiday magic that courses through your veins and lights your feelings with love and joy? We sincerely hope you do.
But what if you don't? Well, that's okay, too. The holiday season is loaded with all kinds of pressure—but you are entitled to embrace wherever you are. So take a listen and hear Pete and Jay's tips on how to stay your authentic self in the midst of what might be some pretty, pretty intense moments of cheer.
This episode of Voices of Mindfulness features Gina White, the founder of Mindful Junkie. She is an experienced Pilates and Mindfulness practitioner and instructor. She is currently working on her master's degree in Mindfulness at Lesley University. Gina has pink hair, great energy, and is committed to making mindfulness "normal" in addition to servicing people (err...in service to people).
Visit www.MindfulJunkie.com and learn more about Gina. Thanks Gina!!
Today's episode of Voices of Mindfulness features Meico Whitlock, a digital communications consultant from Washington DC. He tells us where he finds meaning in life through connection. Pete tells us why he admires his dog. This episode ends with a great conversation about how social media can become mindful media.
Thanks Meico for sitting down with us! Sorry about butchering your name!!!
This very peppy episode of Voices of Mindfulness features Lisa Nirell, the author of The Mindful Marketer. She is the Chief Energy Officer of EnergizeGrowth LLC and is an expert in strategic growth. Lisa is a sought-after speaker for associations and leaders worldwide.
Thanks Lisa!!!
This episode of Voice of Mindfulness features Lori Anderson, the President and CEO of International Sign Association. She took up the practice of mindfulness 8 years ago after a diagnosis of breast cancer, and credits mindfulness with changing her life. She tells us how it has personally transformed her over the years and the influence it has on the people she works with.
Lori, we are grateful to have met you and thank you for stopping by to tell us your story. All the best!!
Today's guest on Voices of Mindfulness is Victor. He is retired from 20 years of service in the U.S. Army after graduating from West Point. He tells us his story of almost becoming a Zen Buddhist monk at a young age and using mindfulness to deal with emotional trauma in the military. He is now an executive coach using mindfulness to help people both in leadership and personal development.
Our thanks to Victor for his many years of service and also for spending time with us.
This episode of Voices of Mindfulness features Sara Flitner, the Mayor of Jackson, Wy. She joins us to talk about her goal of bringing the principles of mindfulness to community leaders and those in service. She is the founder of Flitner Strategies, a company specializing in communication strategy, messaging, and pragmatic collaborative problem solving.
Our many thanks to Sara for spending time with us! She's awesome!!!!
This episode of Voices of Mindfulness features Cassandra and her story of attempted suicide and the road to recovery. She is author of How to Go from BooHoo to WooHoo in 90 Days. She has a wonderful energy and presence and we were so fortunate to have this conversation.
Thanks Cassandra!
This episode of Voices of Mindfulness features Dory Halati. After 24 "miserable" years as a banker, she became a therapist, going from a negative mindset to one centered around gratitude. Her current mission is to change the mindset of Iranian-Americans.
Thanks Dory!! We enjoyed our time with you.
This episode of Voices of Mindfulness features Jenna, who is currently a student at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has started a company called the Lead Up to help spread mindfulness to the Millennial generation.
Thanks Jenna for joining us!
This episode of Voices of Mindfulness features Adera Abdela all the way from Ethiopia. He talks to us about how receptive Ethiopia is to the concepts of mindfulness and meditation. As with most Ethiopians, Adera found it all a little weird in the beginning, but is now out there teaching others how to practice.
Adera is the Managing Director of a company called SAK Business and Personal Development PLC. You can find him at www.SAKEthiopia.com
Thanks Adera!
This Voices of Mindfulness episode features Aisha Moore. She is a coach, facilitator, and blogger specializing in techniques for self-care. Check out her website at www.SelfCareByAisha.com
Thanks Aisha!
This Voices of Mindfulness episode features former police officer Ed Cabello, who was diagnosed with PTSD and has found meditation to be very effective. He is currently a mind coach in Sydney, Australia. You can visit Ed at his website, www.WhatsYourMindset.com.au.
Thanks Ed for sitting down with us and telling your story!!
Pete and Jay get up close and personal (with permission) to find out how mindfulness is changing the lives of people on the street - or at least people attending a mindfulness conference. Please enjoy the stories and life lessons from some really interesting people who are walking the walk on mindfulness.
These interviews were conducted live at the Mindful Leadership Summit in Washington DC.
In 2006, Darya Rose discovered a scientific secret—one that proved we could prevent and possibly cure most major diseases. So what was this magic pill called? Simple: food. A neuroscience Ph.D and author of the book Foodist, Rose has spent her career advocating for better nutrition as a means to a healthy body...and mind. A recent transplant from San Francisco to New York City with her husband, tech entrepreneur Kevin Rose, Rose actively posts to Summer Tomato, which she created in 2009 and was named one of TIME magazine's 50 Best Websites of 2011. Take a listen and discover some of her secrets for feeling better—one bite at a time.
Sure, he was the CEO of Medtronic and a senior executive at Honeywell and Litton Industries. And sure he sits on the Board of Directors for Exxon Mobil, Mayo Clinic and Goldman Sachs. And yes, he's a professor of Management Practice and a Henry B. Arthur Fellow of Ethics at Harvard Business School.
But Bill George is no central casting version of a "businessman." A meditation practitioner for more than 40 years, Bill has spent long periods on retreat and still starts each plane trip with a 20-minute meditation. So listen to this very special perspective from a man who is trying to help leaders transform their thinking from "me" to "we."
As the lead neuroscientist for TruBrain who teaches a course on healthy brain aging at UCLA, Dr. Andrew Hill is someone worth paying attention to—if your brain matters to you, that is. In this episode, he explains nootropics and how they can help you focus, how neurofeedback training can aid those with addiction and depression, and how mindfulness can help alleviate the toll stress takes on your brain. You'll feel new clarity and motivation just from listening. Oh, and Pete tries to solve a riddle (unsuccessfully). Tune in!
Experiencing a life of twist and turns from a challenging childhood in Alaska to eventually curing herself of an "incurable" cyst, Julie Piatt (aka Sri Mati) has relentlessly pursued a spiritual connection. A self-described modern mystic, Julie become born-again at 10, turned to drugs at age 12, and eventually found her creative soul in her late 20s. Perhaps best known for designing her ultra-athlete husband Rich Roll's plant-based diet, Julie is also a singer-songwriter, yoga and meditation instructor, and accomplished plant-based chef.
She developed her own guided meditation series, called Jai Meditation, that she credits with helping her find her musical voice during the healing process. Most recently, she and Rich have published an inspiring cookbook called The Plantpower Way, which was just featured in a The New York Times article.
Sit back and enjoy the story of Julie's life—and a few samples of the music it inspired.
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Eric Forbis is co-founder and co-director of the Mindful Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, which brings together leaders from across the country to explore how to become more mindful and compassionate.
Eric is also co-founder and director of BuddhaFest, a four-day festival of films, talks, meditation and music—inspired by the principles of mindfulness and compassion. The festival has been held annually for six years in the Washington, DC area.
Years ago, a near-fatal car crash changed the course of Susan Piver's life. But it didn't mean she suddenly gained perfect clarity. Proving that one builds their world brick-by-brick, Piver started along a winding path that would lead her eventually to start the Open Heart Project, become a New York Times bestselling author of eight books, and sit in conversation with the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Katie Couric. Give her story and her ideas a listen—and just try to not be enchanted.
A series of tragic events brought Lynne Goldberg away from the business life she'd always envisioned toward an existence that pays more attention to, well, existence. After study with the likes of Deepak Chopra, Sri Dharma Mittra, and Tony Robbins, Lynne co-founded OMG. I Can Meditate!—a website and App that is billed as "the world's easiest and most enjoyable way to learn to meditate." Hear Lynne describe how OMG came to be and why you may just change your life with a few tweaks to your daily routine.
The illusion was perfectly in place 15 years ago. Allison Carmen had the high-powered job as an attorney, the family she always wanted, and the comfortable life track on which she could theoretically cruise. But underneath the cool veneer, she was nearly in panic. Every step felt perilous, every chance seemed likely to fail. The world was uncertain, which made it nearly unbearable.
But she didn't buckle. Instead, she searched—not for security, but for the unlikely ability to face the concept of maybe (maybe good, maybe awful, maybe just "eh") in everything. Suddenly, the narrowing box of unpredictability expanded and the world became more nuanced, more complex—and more full of possibility. The danger of maybe transformed into the power of maybe. Now a life coach and business consultant for major companies, artists, actors, writers, and more, she's also written a popular book The Gift of Maybe: Finding Hope and Possibility in Uncertain Times. A regular contributor to Psychology Today and The Huffington Post, hear Allison's passion for maybe come through and, hopefully, lead you to put your faith in it as well.
Mo Edjlali had it all—a degree from Virginia Tech, his own technology staffing firm, and a really nice car. Things were looking good as could be until the crash of 2008 came along and, suddenly, wiped away his business, his bank account, and most of his self-confidence. What emerged was a new perspective, which soon became the basis for a life more and more focused on mindfulness and meaning. Now the co-founder of Mindful Leader Inc., Mo co-produces the Mindful Leadership Summit in Washington DC each fall and is organizing other new events throughout the year. Hear all about his unusual path to this new life and the equally unusual bathtub mindfulness practice he had as a child.
If you watched TV at any point between 1995 and 2011, there's a good chance you saw Paul Gilmartin co-hosting the very entertaining cooking/comedy skits on the TBS show Dinner and a Movie. You may also have seen him performing on the shows Politically Incorrect and The Late Show With Craig Ferguson, as well as his own half-hour special Comedy Central Presents Paul Gilmartin. What you didn't see, however, is the deep pain that Paul was often hiding. Throughout an impressive career he has struggled with severe depression, which he still works to manage through medication, meditation, and a general regime of healthy living.
Gilmartin was so inspired by the art of overcoming depression, he wanted to let others know they're not alone and, hopefully, offer some paths to possible solutions. Since 2011, The Mental Illness Happy Hour has been one of the most popular podcasts—featuring artists, comedians, and an occasional medical professional. The show has been acclaimed by The Atlantic, Psychology Today, and The New York Times, which calls it "a perversely safe place in which he and his guests talk about their fears, addictions, and traumatic childhoods."
If you watched TV at any point between 1995 and 2011, there's a good chance you saw Paul Gilmartin co-hosting the very entertaining cooking/comedy skits on the TBS show Dinner and a Movie. You may also have seen him performing on the shows Politically Incorrect and The Late Show With Craig Ferguson, as well as his own half-hour special Comedy Central Presents Paul Gilmartin. What you didn't see, however, is the deep pain that Paul was often hiding. Throughout an impressive career he has struggled with severe depression, which he still works to manage through medication, meditation, and a general regime of healthy living.
Gilmartin was so inspired by the art of overcoming depression, he wanted to let others know they're not alone and, hopefully, offer some paths to possible solutions. Since 2011, The Mental Illness Happy Hour has been one of the most popular podcasts—featuring artists, comedians, and an occasional medical professional. The show has been acclaimed by The Atlantic, Psychology Today, and The New York Times, which calls it "a perversely safe place in which he and his guests talk about their fears, addictions, and traumatic childhoods."
Did you hit the gym today? Good!
Our guest Rich Roll did as well, but he may have stayed a little longer...
As one of the Top 25 fittest men in the world(!) according to Men's Fitness magazine, Rich does not do anything halfway. A former lawyer who changed his life after one fateful and frightening walk up the stairs, he has become a popular podcaster and a #1 bestselling author with Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself. Oh, and I guess we should mention that he once completed the Epic 5 Challenge—performing five ironman-distance triathlons on five Hawaiian islands in under one week.
Hear how ultra endurance is inevitably linked to ultra focus and why Rich credits mindfulness for keeping him moving when it' may seem impossible.
Scott Taylor is not your typical small business consultant. Sure, the former CEO can help you launch and grow your business as good as anyone, but he also brings an added bonus—an expertise in guiding others through a Near-Death Experience (NDE). Okay, let us explain...
Scott teaches a 6-day workshop exploring near-death experience and is author and voice of “Into the Light”, a CD produced by The Monroe Institute, a Virginia-based center devoted to the work of Bob Monroe (1915-1995)—a successful businessman who was committed to pushing the boundaries of the human mind. Through the years, Scott and his colleagues have educated tens of thousands of people through the institute’s residential and outreach programs in the art of enhancing their mental abilities, resolving emotional conflicts, experiencing consciousness outside of time and space, and more.
Put on your seat belt and get ready for a serious trip as Scott details the journeys he's been on and describes how you might take one too.
Scott Taylor is not your typical small business consultant. Sure, the former CEO can help you launch and grow your business as good as anyone, but he also brings an added bonus—an expertise in guiding others through a Near-Death Experience (NDE). Okay, let us explain...
Scott teaches a 6-day workshop exploring near-death experience and is author and voice of “Into the Light”, a CD produced by The Monroe Institute, a Virginia-based center devoted to the work of Bob Monroe (1915-1995)—a successful businessman who was committed to pushing the boundaries of the human mind. Through the years, Scott and his colleagues have educated tens of thousands of people through the institute’s residential and outreach programs in the art of enhancing their mental abilities, resolving emotional conflicts, experiencing consciousness outside of time and space, and more.
Put on your seat belt and get ready for a serious trip as Scott details the journeys he's been on and describes how you might take one too.
Shawn Stevenson has lived several lives: suburban dream, inner city survival, and now a path of being awake and in service. In the process, he's become an expert at empowering others to answer the harder-than-you-think questions of "why" and "how."
Now an author, speaker, and host of the very popular podcast "The Model Health Show," Shawn believes in creating a blueprint tailored to your specific goals and circumstance. If you still need to shine a light on some facet of your life, listening to this two-parter may just help you take that first step.
Shawn Stevenson has lived several lives: suburban dream, inner city survival, and now a path of being awake and in service. In the process, he's become an expert at empowering others to answer the harder-than-you-think questions of "why" and "how."
Now an author, speaker, and host of the very popular podcast "The Model Health Show," Shawn believes in creating a blueprint tailored to your specific goals and circumstance. If you still need to shine a light on some facet of your life, listening to this two-parter may just help you take that first step.
Just imagine being in charge of putting on 20,000 concerts a year—for the likes of Beyonce, Jay Z, Coldplay, Shakira, and John Mayer. As the CEO of Global Music for Live Nation, Jason Garner was a busy guy with a lot of important people depending on him. Then one day, he found out his mom had stage 4 stomach cancer, and all that just sort of...didn't matter anymore. Through six months of caring for her before she died, Garner came to realize that he needed more from life, and he set out to discover what that was. Traveling to China and spending hundreds of hours in training, he found a new path and tells the story of arriving on it in the book ...And I Breathed: My Journey From a Life of Matter to a Life That Matters. Hear what now inspires Garner each day and why he believes one doesn't need to lose their true self while discovering all they can be.
Ariel Garten does not like sitting still. But she does like being happy! So when the neuroscientist, fashion designer, psychotherapist, artist, and CEO of InteraXon started using her own product, Muse—a headband that acts as a brain fitness tool to help people start meditating—she was thrilled to discover the benefits of a regular mindfulness practice. Hear her explain how it might just change your life, and why mindfulness is the key to so many new beginnings. Also, check out her recent TED talk titled "Know thyself—with a brain scanner."
On the occasion of celebrating 40 episodes recorded, Pete & Jay look back at their eclectic list of guests and see if they can draw a few life lessons from all the wisdom they've been exposed to. Pete shares how mindfulness made a big difference during a recent traumatic family medical ordeal. In the process, Jay tries to understand physics and Pete talks more about his 6-pack. Enjoy this very special episode of Meditate This!
Armed with the savvy and wisdom only a Sagamore Junior High education provides and that one expects from a former Burger King "Employee of the Month," Anthony Del Broccolo is currently a writer and producer on the hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, with credits that also include Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker, Lil' Bush, Zooey 101, Drake & Josh, and All That. And though he's spent his career making millions laugh, hear how the Long Island native endured decades of depression and anxiety until he was able to name his issues and confront them head on. You'll also get some very practical tools for managing anxiety from a guy who has invested years experimenting with just what works.
Do yourself a favor and give this one a serious listen. And then, do Anthony a favor and go watch the Big Bang Theory. (Hey, good ratings help manage stress too.)
A self-proclaimed mindhacker, Vincent Horn is using the most modern forms of communication to translate the ancient art of staying present. In addition to starting the wildly popular Buddhist Geeks podcast, Vincent speaks and teaches all over the world—an endeavor that has inspired Wired UK’s to put him on their Smart List of "50 people who will change the world.”
In this episode, we hear just how Vincent was led toward this lifestyle, why he feels compelled to share it, and what happens in the highly rare, occasional moments when he loses his cool.
It might seem like the guys catching the ball on the 50 yard line usually wind up with all the glory, but for Pat Flynn, playing trumpet in the University of California–Berkeley marching band helped put him on the path that would lead to fame and fortune.
Now a world-renowned blogger, podcaster, marketer, and educator on all things social media, Pat has built an empire with his unique brand of communication over at SmartPassiveIncome.com. But like anyone who wants to keep ahead, he was intrigued when he heard of more and more business leaders taking up this meditation thing. And so Pat tried it too—and the rest is history. Hear Pat describe his own techy approach to meditation, and how the practice is helping him tackle what promises to be a year full of happy challenges.
What do you do when you're running a rock music station and having a good ol' time up in Montreal and suddenly you hear someone on tape filled with this bizarrely overwhelming vibration of love and peace and light that you can only describe it as feeling finally "at home"?
Simple. Devote your life to their practice. It's worked out pretty well for Raghu Markus. After meeting Ram Dass in the late 1960s, he went on to spend years in India with him and their spiritual guide, Neem Karoli Baba Maharaji. These last decades have been filled with music and transformational media, having launched Triloka Records and Karuna Music, which included such artists as Krishna Das, Hugh Masekela, Walela, and Jai Uttal. Media projects have featured Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, and Les Nubians. Currently the executive director of of Ram Dass's Love Serve Remember Foundation, Raghu Markus also co-hosts the podcast "Mindrolling" on the Mindpod Network, which he helped to create. Listen to them. Learn some truth! But first, hear him break down the path to all things in Episode 36!
Feeling lethargic? Does life just seem dull and gray?
Then you MUST listen to our interview with Eleen Langer, best-selling author and Harvard professor of social psychology who has been dubbed the "mother of mindfulness." How much more convincing do you need? She has authored 11 books and more than 200 research articles. And she's going to tell you why making some very simple changes in how you perceive the world can have a very profound impact on how you live. So what are you waiting for? Sit up, put down your phone, and just press play! And afterwards, be sure to check out www.ellenlanger.com and www.langermindfulnessinstitute.com for links to her books and lots more information.
Most people get frustrated throughout the day—an unwanted assignment at work, a leaky sink at home. But there are some experiences that forever put those things in perspective.
Our guest in Episode 33,Allan Lokos, survived a plane crash in Myanmar on Christmas Day in 2012. Four doctors believed he would not live, but after a mighty struggle to endure, he's now regained much of the life he knew before the crash. Hear Allan explain the seemingly impossible road he took to get back and why his years of practicing and teaching meditation were key to his ability to persevere.
You can also read his story in the new book Through the Flames: Overcoming Disaster Through Compassion, Patience, and Determination.
Most people get frustrated throughout the day—an unwanted assignment at work, a leaky sink at home. But there are some experiences that forever put those things in perspective.
Our guest in Episode 33, Allan Lokos, survived a plane crash in Myanmar on Christmas Day in 2012. Four doctors believed he would not live, but after a mighty struggle to endure, he's now regained much of the life he knew before the crash. Hear Allan explain the seemingly impossible road he took to get back and why his years of practicing and teaching meditation were key to his ability to persevere.
You can also read his story in the new book Through the Flames: Overcoming Disaster Through Compassion, Patience, and Determination.
You've tried it all. You're searching for relief. Well, Meditate This! is here to offer options. In Episode 32, we present the wonderful Elizabeth Healy—owner and practitioner at West Village Acupuncture—who explains how the treatment works, who it might be right for, and what this thing called "Qi" (or "Chi") actually is. She also shares her own inspiring story of personal transformation Take a listen and get some clarity!
When was the last time you felt really angry? Oh? You don't get angry? Cool!
But we don't believe you. We asked Americans what makes them angry and they responded. We picked the four most tantalizing answers you could ever imagine! In episode 31, Pete and Jay break down why anger is as natural as feeling tired or hungry, and how blasting heavy metal might be a perfect way to manage it.
A former modern dancer in New York City, Genny Kapuler grew up in a time before "spirituality" was a thing you talked about at brunch. She started studying yoga in 1976 and became a teacher in 1990. Twenty-five years later, she is one of New York's legendary Iyengar instructors, working out of her wonderfully oh-so-Bohemian loft on Wooster Street in Soho. With a strong understanding of anatomy, Genny guides her students toward a deep understanding of their bodies and the way they move through the world. Funny, thought-provoking, and no-nonsense, hear what Genny means when she says "we're all in this together." Read more on Genny's perception of time.
The Oxford English dictionary defines "urgency" as... wait. Forget it! We don't have time for elaborate definitions and meditations on how to proceed. Let's all take a quick look at what we're making excuses for in our lives and get down to business. In this episode, Jay (aka- "The King of Procrastination") challenges us all to stop wasting energy on why we can't do something and to focus on starting. Like, today.
Because Jay is inherently lazy, he's by far the best person to offer advice on how you can transform yourself in the new year. All it takes is one tiny tweak to your routine--like walking a block out of the way or saying hello to a stranger. So put down that long list you're making, give this episode a listen, and keep it simple.
Pete has stepped in with a highly no-nonsense and helpful guide to doing that thing we're always talking about on Meditate This! Yup, meditation.
Hear why Pete doesn't care if you like him (he so does) and why it's okay if your meditation makes your mind race even more (it's inevitable). Also, it's funny.
This is THE first installment of a soon-to-be wildly popular series titled "Not Extremely Deep Thoughts." Sit back, relax, and enjoy. And remember this moment when you're watching Pete & Jay accept the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2032.
Explore the unseen world all around us by gaining new sight and perspective from Reverend Kat Katsanis-Semel. A professional intuitive with clients around the world, Kat has studied with Deepak Chopra, writes regularly for the Huffington Post, and is the Mindfulness Chaplain at NYU.
In this talk—which Pete believes somehow gave him powers of intuition, too—we focus on the notion of knowing and how we can all look a little closer at the signs and patterns in our lives. Just don't expect Pete to guess what number you're thinking.
Is it funny? (maybe)
Is it insightful? (debatable)
Is it under a half hour? YES!!!
So listen to Episode 25 where Pete And Jay talk about their experiences moving and the messy art of real change.
(pictured: Ozzie Falker after his most recent transformation from shaggy dog to cool Floridian)
Good luck finding Cami Smalley in a bad mood! As a health and wellness coach and founder of NurseLife—which specializes in holistic wellness, positive psychology coaching, personal growth, and stress management—she's always got a smile and a plan for those in need. And like any great coach, Cami is direct and action-oriented, so get ready for some sound advice on how you can change the patterns in your life and strengthen the roots that keep you grounded in the most difficult times.
Part 2 - On his Twitter page, @liamwilson describes himself as, of course, the bass player for Dillinger Escape Plan—a math-core (that means they play really complex stuff) band whose "One of Us Is The Killer" was named the #7 metal album of 2013 by Rolling Stone. But he also makes claim to being a "Good Vibe Technician," "Pillar Of Rock," piece of "Dust In The Wind," and "Modern-Primitive Whactivist." After listening to this wild ride of an interview (the very first for Meditate This with a bonafide rock star!) you'll get just what he means. And clearly we can all learn from a guy who meditates daily to help stay present in front of some of the craziest fans in all of rock-and-roll.
On his Twitter page, @liamwilson describes himself as, of course, the bass player for Dillinger Escape Plan—a math-core (that means they play really complex stuff) band whose "One of Us Is The Killer" was named the #7 metal album of 2013 by Rolling Stone. But he also makes claim to being a "Good Vibe Technician," "Pillar Of Rock," piece of "Dust In The Wind," and "Modern-Primitive Whactivist." After listening to this wild ride of an interview (the very first for Meditate This with a bonafide rock star!) you'll get just what he means. And clearly we can all learn from a guy who meditates daily to help stay present in front of some of the craziest fans in all of rock-and-roll.
So what exactly is Transcendental Meditation, or TM? Pete and Jay have heard those words countless times but never really understood the process and the purpose until they sat down with Mario Orsatti, director of special projects for the David Lynch Foundation. Hear Mario describe the origin of the practice, what a mantra is, and how it's helping thousands in schools and prisons, as well as returning military suffering from PTSD. Don't miss this special look into a form of meditation that's practiced by some of your favorite personalities—from Jennifer Aniston to Ellen DeGeneres to Jerry Seinfeld.
Part 3 - more about how TM works and how meditation could possibly change the world.
So what exactly is Transcendental Meditation, or TM? Pete and Jay have heard those words countless times but never really understood the process and the purpose until they sat down with Mario Orsatti, director of special projects for the David Lynch Foundation. Hear Mario describe the origin of the practice, what a mantra is, and how it's helping thousands in schools and prisons, as well as returning military suffering from PTSD. Don't miss this special look into a form of meditation that's practiced by some of your favorite personalities—from Jennifer Aniston to Ellen DeGeneres to Jerry Seinfeld.
Part 2 dives into the technique and an understanding of mantras.
So what exactly is Transcendental Meditation, or TM? Pete and Jay have heard those words countless times but never really understood the process and the purpose until they sat down with Mario Orsatti, director of special projects for the David Lynch Foundation. Hear Mario describe the origin of the practice, what a mantra is, and how it's helping thousands in schools and prisons, as well as returning military suffering from PTSD. Don't miss this special look into a form of meditation that's practiced by some of your favorite personalities—from Jennifer Aniston to Ellen DeGeneres to Jerry Seinfeld.
In a gripping two-parter, Yael Shy gives both beginner and long-time meditators sound advice on what to expect from a practice—and how to be sure it's right for you. As director of NYU's Center for Spiritual Life and The Mindfulness Project at NYU, Shy has years of experience teaching meditation and creating safe spaces for those who just want to dip a toe into this spiritual ocean. Hear her own story of triumph over serious anxiety and discover what she means when she poses the notion: "So much of our life is spent fighting...life."
In a gripping two-parter, Yael Shy gives both beginner and long-time meditators sound advice on what to expect from a practice—and how to be sure it's right for you. As director of NYU's Center for Spiritual Life and The Mindfulness Project at NYU, Shy has years of experience teaching meditation and creating safe spaces for those who just want to dip a toe into this spiritual ocean. Hear her own story of triumph over serious anxiety and discover what she means when she poses the notion: "So much of our life is spent fighting...life."
Imagine gaining insight into the ancient wisdom of mindfulness while experiencing the unique brand of banter that only Pete and Jay can deliver (aka: schmindfulness).
In part 2, bears, moose, and...Deet! Oh no. Pete and Jay discuss fear after a camping trip in the north woods. With Eckhart Tolle in the backpack (real men read Tolle), they venture into the wilderness.
Imagine gaining insight into the ancient wisdom of mindfulness while experiencing the unique brand of banter that only Pete and Jay can deliver (aka: schmindfulness). Hear the surprising origin story of the Meditate This! Podcast, why Jay's plans to do laundry almost prevented it from happening, and how one marriage proposal was profoundly changed by something heard on the show.
Amidst the struggle of coming to terms with the end of her old life, a new one began. A longtime Buddhist practitioner, Toni started writing through the pain and exhaustion that each day brings. Her first book, How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregiversbegan as a manual for herself, but she soon realized they were words others needed to hear. The work has since won two Nautilus Book Awards: a gold medal in self-help/psychology and a silver medal in memoir. It was also named one of the "Best Books of 2010" by Spirituality and Practice magazine.
Her second book, How to Wake Up: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Navigating Joy and Sorrow, coincides with her increased presence on social media, and a life now spent interacting with sick individuals all over the world. Her blog “Turning Straw Into Gold” is published on Psychology Today's website.
While her story is serious, her words will make you feel light. And her advice may well help you better navigate both the easiest and the hardest times you'll ever experience. Give yourself a great gift today and take a listen.
Amidst the struggle of coming to terms with the end of her old life, a new one began. A longtime Buddhist practitioner, Toni started writing through the pain and exhaustion that each day brings. Her first book, How to Be Sick: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregiversbegan as a manual for herself, but she soon realized they were words others needed to hear. The work has since won two Nautilus Book Awards: a gold medal in self-help/psychology and a silver medal in memoir. It was also named one of the "Best Books of 2010" by Spirituality and Practice magazine.
Her second book, How to Wake Up: A Buddhist-Inspired Guide to Navigating Joy and Sorrow, coincides with her increased presence on social media, and a life now spent interacting with sick individuals all over the world. Her blog “Turning Straw Into Gold” is published on Psychology Today's website.
While her story is serious, her words will make you feel light. And her advice may well help you better navigate both the easiest and the hardest times you'll ever experience. Give yourself a great gift today and take a listen.
Pete and Jay journey into the meaning of life with Dr. Neil Theise, a world-renowned pioneer in stem cell research and a diagnostic liver pathologist. Neil's career in science and medicine combined with his long-term practice of Zen Buddhism has opened new doors into thinking about consciousness, complexity theory, panpsychism, complimentarity, and other things Pete and Jay had never heard of before.
In Part 3 of 3 Neil expands on his Zen practice, what we might expect from long-term contemplative practice, and the notion of complimentarity. He leaves Pete and Jay a little stumped with his final reference. This just means we need another interivew!
Pete and Jay journey into the meaning of life with Dr. Neil Theise, a world-renowned pioneer in stem cell research and a diagnostic liver pathologist. Neil's career in science and medicine combined with his long-term practice of Zen Buddhism has opened new doors into thinking about consciousness, complexity theory, panpsychism, complimentarity, and other things Pete and Jay had never heard of before.
In Part 2 of 3 Neil ties together his scientific and spiritual backgrounds. Pete and Jay try to figure out whether they experience life any different than ants.
Pete and Jay journey into the meaning of life with Dr. Neil Theise, a world-renowned pioneer in stem cell research and a diagnostic liver pathologist. Neil's career in science and medicine combined with his long-term practice of Zen Buddhism has opened new doors into thinking about consciousness, complexity theory, panpsychism, complimentarity, and other things Pete and Jay had never heard of before.
In Part 1 of 3 Neil tells us the beginnging of his fascinating life story, describing his career choice as a pathologist all the way up to his first encounter with meditation.
It's not everyday that an executive working in strategic alliances at BMO Financial Group in Toronto leaves to start a new company based on teaching mindfulness to corporate clients. But that's just what Maria Gonzalez did when she founded Argonauta Strategic Alliances Consulting, which helps others create strategic alignment in a very mindful way. Gonzalez is also the best-selling author of Mindful Leadership and The Mindful Investor, has taught at McGill University, recently launched the Mindful Leadership App, and writes a blog for the Harvard Business Review. Hear just why we all can't afford not to be more mindful!
It's not everyday that an executive working in strategic alliances at BMO Financial Group in Toronto leaves to start a new company based on teaching mindfulness to corporate clients. But that's just what Maria Gonzalez did when she founded Argonauta Strategic Alliances Consulting, which helps others create strategic alignment in a very mindful way. Gonzalez is also the best-selling author ofThe Mindful Investor, has taught at McGill University, recently launched the Mindfulness Leadership App, and writes a blog for the Harvard Business Review. Hear just why we all can't afford not to be more mindful!
You've seen her on the Dr. Oz Show, the Today show, and as the health expert on CNN's Headline News. She wrote the best selling book What Doctors Eat, was the spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, and has taught at Emory University. Now imagine you have 25 minutes with Dr. Taz Bhatia to ask her question after question about how to stay healthy—and why it's so hard. Take a listen, and get ready to throw out all your sugary groceries!
You've seen her on The Colbert Reports and in TED talks. Her art has appeared on New Yorker covers, in several New York Times'series, and in books by Strunk & White, Lemony Snicket, and Michael Pollen. Now hear the great writer/illustrator Maira Kalman describe how a lifelong propensity toward mindfulness led her to discover the art of meditation.
You've seen her on The Colbert Reports and in TED talks. Her art has appeared on New Yorker covers, in several New York Times'series, and in books by Strunk & White, Lemony Snicket, and Michael Pollen. Now hear the great writer/illustrator Maira Kalman describe how a lifelong propensity toward mindfulness led her to discover the art of meditation.
Despite their total lack of education on the subject, Pete and Jay explore the spectacular depths of neuroscience with the esteemed Dr. Richard Davidson (best-selling author, founder of the Waisman Laboratory at the University of Madison, and personal friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama), who led the very first fMRI studies into how meditation can actually change the brain.
We're back with the amazing Sharon Salzberg talking more about happiness at work, measuring your meditation practice, and a quick lightening round. What would Sharon be doing if she wasn't a meditation teacher? Listen to find out. Plus a preview of our next guest. Don't miss it!
Hear Jay call her the "Michael Jordan" of Western mindfulness (Pete thinks LeBron James would've been a more current label). Either way, the wonderful Sharon Salzberg (best-selling author, lecturer, and founder of the Insight Meditation Society) talks about how you can find peace and happiness at work no matter what you're doing or whom you're doing it with. And she also tells us about her most memorable cab ride, where she might've worked if she didn't make a career in mindfulness, and offers her definition of the meaning of life.
Imagine two regular, regular guys get hold of a shiny microphone and manage to interview some of the world's leading experts about the science, spirituality, and art of living mindfully. Well, that's Meditate This! Take a listen, and maybe change your life.