What if the most important moment in meditation is not the breath you follow, but the instant you notice you’ve wandered—and choose to return with love? James Baraz joins us to unpack that gentle pivot, showing how a kind return trains patience, forgiveness, and steadiness in daily life. 

James Baraz's website: https://www.awakeningjoy.info/

We walk through practical instruction, the value of real silence, and how to read the room so guidance supports rather than crowds out insight.

James traces his journey from early retreats with Joseph Goldstein and time with Ram Dass to taking the teacher’s seat with humility. He shares two deceptively simple rules that shaped his path—say “I don’t know” when you don’t, and don’t fear looking foolish—and how they dissolve both imposter syndrome and inflated self-image. From there, we get tactical about secular teaching: speak in people’s own idiom, avoid trigger words without diluting meaning, and anchor practice in ethics. Integrity isn’t optional; it’s the foundation that actually calms the mind and builds trust.

We broaden the lens to social impact—climate, inequity, and the race between fear and consciousness. Mindfulness is a gateway, not a finish line. When we embody calm and care, classrooms quiet, teams soften, and communities shift. James offers an intention practice to fuel purpose, plus a reminder that transformation is real: we can rewire toward generosity, clarity, and compassion. There will be sorrow and beauty; keep turning toward the light, and let your light help others see.

If this conversation sparks something in you, share it with a friend who teaches, subscribe for more grounded practice tools, and leave a review to help others find the show. What intention will guide your next step?

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A simple wooden bench beneath redwoods can teach more about mindfulness than a stack of books. Sean Fargo shares how years as a Buddhist monk distilled into one essential practice: sit at the base of a tree, feel your breath, and let nature lead. From Thai forests to a Berkeley backyard, he traces the quiet power of practicing outdoors and explains why fresh air, shifting light, and the textures of the world sharpen attention and soften judgment.

We explore a practical, element-based approach—earth, fire, air, water, and space—that makes awareness tangible. You’ll hear how to work with sun on the skin, breeze on the face, and the honest feedback of uneven ground. Sean offers simple ways to start today: eyes open or closed, sitting in a park, or taking a slow walk while sensing heel, ball, toe. For teachers, he maps out how to guide groups off Zoom and into parks, trails, and campgrounds, where presence becomes easier and distractions become part of the practice instead of problems to fix.

If you’ve wondered whether public meditation looks strange, this conversation offers permission and a plan. We talk about building resilience by staying with both pleasant and unpleasant conditions, noticing judgments, and returning to raw sensation. By the end, you’ll have a clear, friendly roadmap for bringing your practice outdoors—alone, with friends, or with a class—and a renewed trust that nature is a steady mentor when we show up to listen.

Subscribe for more grounded guidance, share this episode with someone who loves the outdoors, and tell us in the comments: where in nature do you practice mindfulness?

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Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

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What if home isn’t a location but a feeling you can access anywhere? On a quiet stretch of California’s Central Valley, we explore how mindfulness turns a long drive into a place of safety, gratitude, and deep belonging. Instead of rushing from one address to the next, we lean into breath, body, and the living world around us—the weight of the seat, the warmth of the sun, the whisper of wind, even the tumbleweeds—and discover a home that doesn’t depend on walls.

We get honest about the old habit of racing to arrive: optimizing departure times, passing at the perfect angle, pushing for speed. Then we slow down, sense into the ground that holds us, and let presence soften the road. Through simple practices—feeling the inhale and exhale, grounding through contact points, widening awareness to include sky and land—we learn to relate to the environment as part of our inner home. Safety stops being a future destination and becomes a moment-to-moment experience in the body.

Along the way, we ask a few powerful questions: Can I be at home in my body right now? Can I trust the earth beneath me? Can I welcome the air and space around me? With each question, the heart opens to care, and gratitude naturally rises. That gratitude eases transitions—new places, uncertain paths, and the in-between miles feel less like exile and more like belonging. If you’re moving through change, traveling, or simply craving steadiness, this conversation offers a gentle map back to yourself.

If this resonated with you, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s on the move, and leave a quick review to help others find a sense of home, wherever they are.

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Work with Sean Fargo: Sean.MindfulnessExercises.com/

Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

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What if forgiveness didn’t ask you to forget, pretend, or minimize? We open a kinder door: releasing the grip of the past without erasing it, and training attention so old stories don’t run the show. Through a grounded, step-by-step loving-kindness practice with Sharon Salzberg, we move from caring for ourselves to offering warmth to a benefactor, a neutral person, and ultimately to all beings—showing how compassion can be both steady and discerning.

Sharon's website: SharonSalzberg.com

We start by reframing forgiveness as a shift in identification, not a wipe of memory. Then we teach a simple sequence of phrases—may I be safe, be happy, be healthy, live with ease—and explain why the power lies in sincere repetition. Wandering minds are expected; the core skill is noticing, letting go, and returning. That small return mirrors forgiveness itself: again and again, we choose presence over replay.

As the circle widens, we explore the ease of offering to someone who makes you smile, the surprising depth of wishing well for a neutral person, and the humbling recognition of our shared vulnerability. Life can turn on a dime; kindness helps us meet that truth without hardening. By the end, you’ll feel how goodwill does not negate boundaries or justice—it clarifies them. Remembering remains, but resentment loosens its hold, making room for steadiness, clarity, and a more generous way to move through the world.

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Work with Sean Fargo: Sean.MindfulnessExercises.com/

Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

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Happiness often feels slippery—too abstract to hold, too dependent on luck or perfect circumstances. We take a different path and lay out a grounded map you can actually use. The conversation with Austin Hill Shaw centers on three core human needs that, together, create a durable sense of wellbeing: connection, contribution, and meaning. Rather than chasing a mood, we practice a rhythm that returns us to what makes life feel alive.

Austin's website: AustinHillShaw.com

We start with connection in its many layers: a kinder relationship with ourselves, a deeper bond with loved ones, and a lived sense of belonging to neighborhood and the natural world. You’ll hear how our “time traveling” minds pull us into the past and future, and how simple attention—breath, body, and presence—brings us back. From there, we turn to contribution as the desire to matter. We explore how to match your real strengths to real needs, why small acts of service change your day’s shape, and how to protect generosity from burnout with clear boundaries and honest pacing.

Finally, we unpack meaning in two parts. There’s the framework that helps life make sense—your philosophy, spiritual path, or guiding principles—and there are those ineffable moments that words can’t hold: birth, grief, awe in nature, music that cracks you open. We talk about inviting awe without forcing it, and about letting meaning guide decisions when the world feels noisy. By the end, you’ll have a simple, memorable model you can act on today: connect, contribute, and cultivate meaning. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a steadier map, and leave a quick review telling us which pillar you’re working on next.

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Work with Sean Fargo: Sean.MindfulnessExercises.com/

Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

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The holidays can be dazzling and demanding at the same time—lights and laughter on the outside, pressure and mixed emotions on the inside. We tackle that paradox head-on with simple, compassionate mindfulness tools you can use in real time to steady your nervous system and protect what matters most.

We start with family dynamics, where old patterns and sensitive topics often intensify stress. You’ll learn mindful listening that lowers reactivity, silent loving-kindness that shields your heart without excusing harmful behavior, and practical boundaries that let you say no or leave early when you feel drained. We also share a quick “mindful escape” you can use during any gathering to re-center in under a minute.

From there, we shift into the money and meaning of the season. Explore mindful giving that starts with intention, mindful receiving that honors care even when the gift misses the mark, and mindful consumption that aligns spending with your values. Before you click buy, try a single breath and two questions: Is this needed, and does it match what matters? Those tiny pauses can prevent debt-fueled stress and restore a sense of peace.

To make mindfulness easy and portable, we teach the STOP technique—Stop, Take a breath, Observe, Proceed—as well as a sensory reset that encourages you to smell the pine, taste the first bite, and listen to one song without multitasking. We close by highlighting the most generous offering of the season: your full presence. Put the phone down, make eye contact, and truly listen; that attention becomes a gift that outlasts any box or bow.

If this conversation helps you breathe a little easier, follow the show, share it with a friend who might need it, and leave a quick review to help others find these tools. Your presence here means a lot—thank you for listening and for choosing calm in a loud season.

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Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

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Perfectionism says mindfulness must be done “right.” We flip that script. In this conversation, we share an everyday approach to mindfulness designed for overwhelmed and neurodivergent brains—one that starts with safety, honors choice, and turns presence into something you can actually enjoy.

We begin by grounding in self-compassion and a simple reframe: rather than labeling thoughts and feelings as right or wrong, notice whether they feel pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. That shift softens inner criticism and reveals the body-level signatures of judgment—tightness, holding, disconnection—so you can meet them with care. From there, we build a practical toolkit: mindful walking to anchor attention in the feet, mindful standing to steady posture and breath, and short breath check-ins you can use while moving, working, or speaking.

Because novelty and play boost engagement, we add choice-based micro-practices: spot five colors, listen for five sounds, or savor a quick tasting of chocolate or different waters, paying attention to texture, aroma, and aftertaste. These pleasant, low-stakes exercises train present-moment awareness without triggering the pressure to “meditate perfectly.” For days that can hold more intensity, we fold in compassionate phrases and gentle touch, always letting you opt out, scale down, or switch anchors.

Throughout, we emphasize trauma-sensitive mindfulness: consent, titration, and external anchoring before deep internal focus when needed. We highlight resources from leaders like David Treleaven, Christopher Germer, and Willoughby Britton to help coaches and practitioners stay attuned to safety. By the end, you’ll have a flexible menu to reduce overwhelm, loosen perfectionism, and make mindfulness a supportive part of daily life—no incense, cushions, or hour-long sits required.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who could use gentler tools, and leave a review with the micro-practice you’ll try this week.

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Free Mindfulness Exercises: MindfulnessExercises.com

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Work with Sean Fargo: Sean.MindfulnessExercises.com/

Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

Email: [email protected]

Start at the only place that never lies: the body. We open with a simple grounding—seat, feet, contact with the earth—and follow a thread of curiosity through head, chest, and belly to discover what the moment actually needs. Instead of forcing a schedule or chasing a perfect state, we let the felt sense choose the next step, whether that’s steadying with the breath, offering loving-kindness, or naming a few real things to be grateful for.

Across the conversation, we get practical about working with planning mind and emotional heaviness by sensing energy rather than wrestling with thoughts. You’ll hear how mindfulness of the body becomes the stable spine of practice: listening to sounds, noticing temperature shifts, tracking movement and stillness, and recognizing how pleasant and unpleasant tones color experience. We also explore a quiet but powerful intention—opening to more joy—without denying discomfort or papering over pain. Joy shows up in small, honest ways when we stop bracing and start noticing.

We contrast organic practice with rigid routines, acknowledging that some thrive on structure while others need flexibility. The throughline is integrity: begin with direct sensation, meet it without judgment, and let that guide what you do next. If the mind is busy, we gather attention. If the heart is tight, we offer warmth. If the moment is simple, we rest with the breath. By training this responsiveness, practice becomes sustainable and personal, a skillful way to meet change in real time.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who could use a gentler approach to mindfulness, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Your notes and stories shape future episodes—tell us where your practice led you today.

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Free Mindfulness Exercises: MindfulnessExercises.com

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Work with Sean Fargo: Sean.MindfulnessExercises.com/

Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

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Healing isn’t a checkbox; it’s a way of relating to what hurts. We sit down with Insight Meditation teacher and author Justin Michelson to explore a grounded path through stress, pain, and trauma that begins with self-compassion and widens into nature, lineage, and something larger than ourselves. 

Justin's website: JustinMichelsonDharma.com

Justin's book: The Dharma of Healing

From his first teen meditation class to hard-won lessons with overwhelming energies, Justin shares how he moved from striving to surrender—trading the warrior stance for a bow that restores safety and connection.

We dive into a powerful framework he calls the four turnings of the wheel of healing: surface compassion for daily frictions, depth compassion for buried fear and grief, collective compassion for what family and culture seeded in us, and universal compassion that lets us rest in a benevolent field. Along the way, we unpack his striking metaphor of self-aversion as psychological autoimmunity—how our ancient impulse to pull away from pain turns inward and keeps wounds stuck—and how kind attention unwinds that loop. For listeners far from forests, Justin offers simple, sensory ways to let nature be a teacher: a patch of sun, a street tree, the feel of wind as a reminder that we’re held by more than our thoughts.

Justin also opens a window into his Native Foods Nursery, where tending edible native plants becomes a living practice of reciprocity and belonging. Teaching, for him, is shared practice—not perfection—where the goal is to help people remember their own inner wisdom and build resilience that can meet a turbulent world. If you’ve been craving practices that are practical, humane, and spacious enough for real life, this conversation offers a map and the companionship to walk it.

If the episode resonates, share it with a friend who could use a gentler path forward, and leave a review so more people can find these practices. Subscribe for future conversations on mindfulness, compassion, and healing.

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Free Mindfulness Exercises: MindfulnessExercises.com

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Work with Sean Fargo: Sean.MindfulnessExercises.com/

Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

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Ever notice how your day turns into one long, uninterrupted scroll? We leave work on a call, weave through traffic still mid-story, and step into the kitchen without ever really arriving. We wanted to break that blur, so we dug into a simple framework: use the day’s natural hinge points—dawn, noon, midafternoon, dusk, and night—as scheduled pauses to reset attention and rebuild a sense of home.

This is an excerpt of an interview with Austin Hill Shaw: AustinHillShaw.com

Together we explore how technology stretches a single narrative across every context and what it does to the nervous system. Then we offer small, repeatable rituals that mark thresholds with care: end the call before you park, pause at the door with one conscious breath, remove your shoes as a deliberate handoff from “out there” to “in here,” and place your keys down with attention. We talk about how these gestures turn rooms into relationships and why nothing is inherently sacred until we treat it that way. That shift—treating space as worthy of care—changes how your home holds you, softens reactivity, and lets the next hour unfold with less friction.

We also lean into gratitude as the quiet engine of a grounded day. Not performative positivity, but a steady appreciation for heat and chill, ease and challenge, the small textures that prove we are alive and participating. By pairing gratitude with time anchors, you create clear chapter breaks that help the body settle and the mind reset. Start with one anchor—two minutes at dusk or a doorway pause—and notice how meals taste richer, conversations feel cleaner, and sleep lands sooner.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who lives on their phone, and leave a quick review telling us which daily anchor you’re claiming next.

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You can feel when a class lands: the room gets quiet, the body softens, and attention holds steady even as movement continues. That shift is not magic; it’s method. We sat down with senior teacher and writer Sara-Mai Conway to unpack a practical, human way to make yoga and meditation one continuous experience rather than two separate boxes on a schedule.

Sara-Mai's website: https://www.iwriteaboutwellness.com/

We start by redefining yoga as skillful energy movement using both outer and inner methods. Ethics calm mental noise, asana prepares the body for stillness, pranayama bridges body and mind, and focused attention matures into insight and, at times, a taste of samadhi. From there, we build a class like a guided sit: set a clear intention, select poses that serve it, and let every cue point back to the thread. 

Breath-focused flows become fluid and repetitive to highlight inhale and exhale. Gratitude takes shape in bows and forward folds. Grounding becomes literal through contact with the earth. Working with non-harming or self-compassion invites challenge while naming the inner talk that shows up.

Silence becomes a teacher rather than an absence. We share how to frame quiet as safe and time-bound, when to place formal meditation inside a flow, and how to ask simple, embodied questions that turn effort into awareness. Savasana shifts from background music to true stillness, and closing with a brief dedication helps wire benefits into daily life. Along the way, we talk about teaching with authenticity, trusting students with depth, and avoiding the “spiritual sandwich” where mindfulness appears only at the beginning and end.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep presence alive between the opening sit and the final rest, this conversation offers a clear structure, real-world cues, and permission to do less so students can feel more. Subscribe, share with a fellow teacher, and leave a review telling us the intention you’re bringing to your next class.

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Free Mindfulness Exercises: MindfulnessExercises.com

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Work with Sean Fargo: Sean.MindfulnessExercises.com/

Reduce Chronic Pain: Pain.MindfulnessExercises.com

Email: [email protected]