Catching Z's: The Millennials Guide To Mindfulness

Jakob Brewer has an amazing awareness about himself.  He just recently started getting serious about meditation and achieved a milestone of 1,000 minutes of meditation time and I had to have him on to talk about his experience.  We chat about:  How a wild epiphany during meditation caused him to want to dive deeper Getting to 1,000 minutes of meditation Previous self care regiments prior to diving deep into meditation How Meditation has caused allowed him to not resent his thoughts How meditation has influenced his spirituality What he was most surprised about himself that he learned through meditation We tackle SIYLI’s July Dyad! Jakob's Twitter July Dyad

Jay has a lot of experience in the design field and you can feel the mindfulness influence that he brings to his work.  The way that he approaches thinking about design concepts is refreshing and forward thinking.  We chat about:  Getting exposed to meditation growing up in India and being taught the gayatri mantra  How a jam session turned into getting deeper into meditation The ups and downs of sitting on a 10 day retreat Tips of how to keep going when starting out in meditation Getting into human computer interaction design Taking feedback on his early design concepts in graduate school Why Technologists should take a hippocratic oath towards product design What good technology design looks like Being an Attention activist Why he’s hopeful for the future of mindfulness and technology   attentionactivist.com jayvidyarthi.com

On this month's Catching up with Catching Z's, I talk about some recent conversations that I've been having with individuals about starting a meditation practice and the benefits it can have on your life.  It's important to keep in mind why this practice is worth putting forth the effort and I dive into that on this episode!    

Karen Salmansohn is hilarious and is wonderful to talk to.  She embraces her journey in life and talks about concepts in very digestible ways.  She talks about how she has applied this to her most recent book, Instant Calm, which has 2 minute sensory meditations in it and is available everywhere August 27th.  Pre-order it at the link below! We also talk about:  How she got into meditation Her new book Instant Calm and the power of sensory meditations (including chocolate meditations) Why sensory meditations are helpful beginning steps to a meditation practice Why she describes her books genre as "Self help for people who wouldn’t be caught dead doing self help" How meditation can be a selfie for your soul How meditation and other factors gave her wild success How she uses humor to “jiggle free your ego” In what circumstances humor can backfire If having celebrities endorse you comes with added pressure Pre-order Instant Calm here! https://www.notsalmon.com/

Brian Aikens is doing amazing work in Pennsylvania teaching kids SEL and changing their lives from the inside out.  He has an amazing dedication to his craft and has a true passion for helping kids.  We talk about:  How stressing out in graduate school got him introduced to meditation What effects he feels today from meditation Bringin SEL techniques into schools Changes that the kids go through that he sees through SEL How SEL helps kids get a solid foundation for life Insight Minds  Little techniques to bring SEL into the classroom How to get kids the confidence to succeed http://insightminds.com/ Insight Minds Twitter  

Stephan is a licensed psychotherapist as well as a spiritual teacher, and he has been a pioneer in the integration of Eastern wisdom and Western psychology and in the embodiment of awakened awareness in everyday life.  We had a wonderful, life-changing chat about many things but the direct approach to mindfulness he teaches is truly a life-changing practice, at least it was for me! We also talk about:  Finding Zen as his first meditative practice The idea of coming home and what it means to Stephan What he felt he wasn’t getting from his zen practice and why this led him to get his masters in psychotherapy Prescription use for mental health Blending Mindfulness and Psychotherapy  His new book "Beyond Mindfulness: The Direct Approach to Lasting Peace, Happiness, and Love" Using the Direct Approach to Mindfulness Defining awakening The Myth of Striving   https://www.stephanbodian.org

Donald Altman was a fascinating person to chat with.  His background is in psychotherapy, he's a former Buddhist monk, and grounded in a lot of research and science that comes through on almost every topic that we discuss together.  We talked about: Being a buddhist monk at the age of 40 and how this formalized his meditation practice How a Cadbury chocolate egg at the monastery taught him a lot about understanding himself What studies show about our mind wandering and our happiness His latest book, Reflect,  and how it can be used as it's own meditation practice Reflection vs. rumination The underlying reasons for mindless eating Uncovering the true essence of ourselves How to navigate the seemingly daunting task of facing our past trauma How research has shown the power that gratitude can have in our lives Get Donald's new book, Reflect, by entering promo code DONALD10 when you checkout! Get it here: https://www.pesi.com/ Donald's website Reflect Community Upcoming E-course from Donald https://www.tracky

Lyonzo Vargas is a special soul and you get that vibe the minute you hear him talk.  I had a great time talking to him about how he got to where he is and how visualization meditations have helped influenced that path.  We chat about:  How anxiety as an artist got him to find meditation The pressures that he had as an artist Using visualization meditation to manifest things in his life Mario Kart reference to life and it’s various checkpoints How his meditation practice has influenced his vision How he views manifesting things in life How GLBLVLLG got started and how they diversify wellness How the GLBVLLG experience allows people to be their most authentic selves Why we lack the ability to be our most authentic selves in today’s world  We tackle SIYLI's May Dyad   https://www.glblvllg.com/ Lyonzo's twitter  

This was a very special conversation for me to have with my role model, my inspiration, my father, Mike Zolfo. It gives you some good insight into why I am the way that I am.  We talk about the ups and downs of being a father, how he has viewed being a father, what being a father means to him and the joy that this has brought him in his life.  He gives some advice to present and future dads and talks about how he and my mom instilled resilience in us.  We share an emotional moment at the end where it all comes to a head and I realize the impact that my dad has had on me and on the journey of where I am today and how I am now passing this down to my son, Wylie. Love you, Dad!    Previous episode with my dad

Loch Kelly plain and simple changed the way that I look at mindfulness.  He shares many wonderful tips about the technique that he has adopted he refers to as "effortless mindfulness".  We tackle many other topics along the way.  How a broadcaster talking about a quarterback with eyes in the back of his head got him into trying to do an early form of meditation Deliberate mindfulness vs. effortless mindfulness Traveling to Asia landed him in Nepal studying effortless mindfulness Why some of these ancient practices were kept secret Research backing this practice His “new normal” after practicing effortless mindfulness What his definition of awakening is How to practice effortless mindfulness His new book (in bookstores June 5, The Way of Effortless Mindfulness  https://lochkelly.org/

Sounds like a crazy headline but truly the only thing that I can use to describe my recent experience.  Hard to interpret right now, and even saying that sounds crazy but know that y'all will be along for my exploration into this new found way of meditating!    Richard Miller Episode Loch Kelly's website Stephan Bodian's website

Amanda is a dedicated Yogini with over 20 years of practice and fifteen years of teaching. She teaches weekly classes at the studio which she co-founded in 2001 with MC YOGI,  in Point Reyes, California. Ten Thousand Buddhas by Amanda Giacomini is a worldwide, highly sought after art project, including large scale murals & fine art paintings. Featured on National Geographic Channel, New York Magazine, Yoga Journal, Yoga International, Mantra Magazine, Origin Magazine, Marin Magazine, LA Yoga Mag, and Tricycle Magazine.  Had an amazing, life-changing chat with Amanda about a lot of things like:  experiencing formal meditation when she was 14 going to asia when she was 19 how art has played an important role in her life how the art in the ajanta caves made a lasting impact on her and was a catalyst for the 10k buddhas adventure. feelings when creating art vs. meditating https://www.10000buddhas.com/

Samuel Johns is an entrepreneur and Ironman triathlete. While working with other ambitious individuals at fast-growing companies, he realized his mission was to coach individuals to identify and connect with their core values, and from there go on to build skills and habits to live with greater clarity, connection, and wellbeing. His background in business, athletics and mindfulness serve as pillars to his work as a coach.  Samuel and I had an amazing conversation talking about how he got into Mindfulness and how that has allowed him to excel as an Ironman triathlete.  He shares the benefits that he is able to receive through his practice as well as how he got started being a producer for 10% happier.  He is so well spoken and relatable and I know you will find value in what he has to say!   http://www.samueljohns.com/  

This was a wonderful and unique experience for me to get to interview my mom for a special mothers day episode.  We get into all of the wonderful things about being a mother of 3 from her perspective as well as her role as a teacher for 23 years and how that has influenced being a mother, and vice versa.  Love you, Mom!    Thirty Million Words Book

I had the privilege of taking a 5 week Mindset Course through Potential Project and I share my biggest takeaways on this episode!    Potential Project 10% Happier interview with Potential Project Founder and Director  

Larry Payne, Ph.D. is an internationally respected yoga teacher and back specialist. The L.A. Times named Larry “One of America’s most respected Yoga teachers”. He co-authored Yoga Therapy Rx, Yoga for Dummies and The Business of Teaching Yoga. Larry is founding president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, founder of the Corporate Yoga program at the J. Paul Getty Museum, the first Yoga teacher to offer Yoga classes at the World Economic Forum, co-founder of the yoga curriculum at UCLA’s School of Medicine, and the founding director of the new Yoga therapy certification program at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. In this episode we talk about: How him and richard miller met How he got into yoga and the people he was fortunate to study with How yoga is a stress reducer How Krishnamarchya adapted yoga to be about the individual (vini yoga) The evolution of today’s yoga What Prime of Life yoga is How Yoga Therapy started How his want for material things has changed over time What hi

Hava Rose was truly delightful to talk with.  She talks about her introduction to meditation through the delightful voice of Eckhart Tolle on the audiobook version of The Power of Now.  This led her to seek a deeper calling from within and begin to address what the universe was telling her.  She speaks from a place of extreme awareness and does so in an elegant way.  We got into a really touching conversation about her viewpoint about death and about how this has changed recently due to some events that happened in her life, some profound insight ensued! We then talk about her current company, Namaste Nourish and how food can be used as a wellness tool and a tool for a community to be built around! We also tackle SIYLI's April Dyad by discussing what happiness means to us! Something for everyone in this one.    Namaste Nourish Hava Rose Instagram April 2019 Dyad  

I talk about the sources of inspiration for me recently!  These include Dan Harris' 10% Happier podcast, Tanur Badgley's People of Purpose Podcast newsletter, and all the things that are happening in space right now!    10% Happier Podcast People of Purpose Newsletter SpaceX Virgin Galactic NASA

Lucia Giovannini is a former Italian supermodel turned best-selling author, spiritual teacher, transformational coach, environmental & animal activist, and author of 13 books. Her best-selling book, “A Whole New Life”, was first published in Italian and is now translated into eight languages, including an English version published by Hay House India. Lucia provided me with a wonderful conversation about many things including:  How she first got into meditation and how that ended up with her going to india for 2 months How she got into modeling and why she felt a calling to leave modeling Even being successful having thoughts of doubt and how to overcome them Her book a whole new life What neuro semantics are and how they can help us contribute to transformation The importance of spirituality in transformation Viewing Change as a process and not a thing   luciagiovannini.com A whole new life Facebook Group Lucia's Facebook  

I chat with Jacob Aqua about his meditation practice, his super powers, the benefits he receives from meditation, and we tackle a random SIYLI dyad prompt from September 2017!  BONUS SCAT SINGING in the intro!    J. Aqua Wellness J. Aqua Wellness Instagram J. Aqua Wellness Facebook September 2017 Dyad