Meditative Story

Varshini Prakash began her activist career protesting university policies while a student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In 2017, she co-founded the Sunrise Movement, which has galvanized youth throughout North America to demand a green economy and hold elected officials accountable. In addition to her position as Sunrise’s executive director, Varshini co-edited the book Winning the Green New Deal: Why We Must, How We Can.Listen to Kristin Windbigler's episode of Meditative Story, "We’re doing this thing together": ​​https://listen.meditativestory.com/KristinWindbiglerPIORead Winning the Green New Deal: Why We Must, How We Can: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Winning-the-Green-New-Deal/Varshini-Prakash/9781982142438Follow Varshini on Twitter: https://twitter.com/varshprakash Learn more about Sunrise Movement: https://www.sunrisemovement.orgEach episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gretchen Rubin is an expert on happiness, and she's spent her career helping people build the habits to achieve it. But she assumed that if something works for her, it should work for just about anyone. A series of chance encounters, and a healthy helping of curiosity, makes Gretchen realize that maybe there isn't one path to happiness after all. That there's no right or wrong way to build a meaningful life, just the way that works for you. Learn more at https://gretchenrubin.com/Find the Happier podcast at https://gretchenrubin.com/podcasts/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: at https://meditativestory.com/gretchen-rubin/Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sometimes on Meditative Story, we break from our usual episodes to share a reflection from our host, Rohan Gunatillake, occasioned by moments that we might like to take a beat to sit with. Today, Rohan welcomes the interstellar shift in our solar system that produces the Spring Equinox. On our special planet we call home, we only experience two days per year where day and night measure equal length. For Rohan, the arrival of Spring is an opportunity to reflect on balance, on renewal, and yes, on the welcome perspective of being one speck of creation in this incredible, dynamic cosmos.Listen to Isabel Allende’s episode of Meditative Story, "From great loss, a great freedom": https://listen.meditativestory.com/IsabelAllendePIO.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a WNBA player, AD is used to saying, “I’m good” as an automatic response, no matter the injury. It’s what allows them to be a successful athlete, and to wrap their whole self around that identity. But when basketball is fully stripped away from them, they have to look inward to explore who they are — and the full range of identity available to them.Listen to Dallas Taylor's episode of Meditative Story, "I focus on sensations that ground me": https://listen.meditativestory.com/DallasTaylorPIOEach episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Best-selling author Isabel Allende has led an extraordinary life marked by moments of tragic loss. A coup in her home country of Chile forces her family into exile, and an unexpected illness takes away one of the most important people in her life. And yet, at 80 years old, Isabel feels a lightness that contradicts the attachment she felt in her youth. In this episode, Isabel teaches us how the most unbearable losses can sometimes offer the most profound gift: the freedom to live a joyful, fearless life.Isabel's website: https://isabelallende.com/Isabel's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allendeisabel/Isabel's Twitter: https://twitter.com/isabelallendeIsabel's episode on our sister podcast, Spark & Fire: https://sparkandfire.com/isabelallende/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Like so many of us, Chad Sanders wants to feel a sense of belonging — but as he grows up, he feels too often like he's living in the shadows of other people’s judgment. Fortunately, life has a way of giving us glimpses into our limitless possibility. A magical high school English class and, later, an auspicious walk with the filmmaker Spike Lee give Chad two unforgettable windows to his creative flow. Turns out, by letting go of how others think he should be, Chad learns he can walk into every room as himself.This episode is a Signal Awards Silver winner for Best Individual Episode — Bedtime Podcast.Listen to Franklin Leonard’s episode of Meditative Story, "Writing the Main Character": https://listen.meditativestory.com/LeonardSandersepEach episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Through his long and storied career as a stuntman, Curtis Rivers has appeared in scores of films and television shows, ranging from James Bond movies to Captain America to Game of Thrones. He has won a Screen Actor Guilds Awards as well as membership in the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame. The Briton is also a two-time Guinness World Record Holder, in the longest-duration parachute jump (45 minutes) and the longest bungee cord jump (from a hot-air balloon just above 15,000 feet). In today’s Meditative Story, Curtis shares how his ability to visualize the path ahead became a key component to his success, and allowed him to forge a new future for himself along the way.  Curtis now works primarily as a stunt coordinator and inspirational speaker. He is the author of The Fearless Path: What a Movie Stuntman’s Spiritual Path can Teach You about Success. Listen to Forrest Galante's Meditative Story "Adapting to life's unexpected nature": https://listen.meditativestory.com/ForrestGalantePIOInformation on Curtis' book: https://www.curtisrivers.co.uk/the-bookCurtis' Website: www.CurtisRivers.comCurtis' LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/curtisrivers/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate love of all kinds — whether it’s the unconditional love of a pet, the instinctual reflex to help those who are suffering, or, perhaps most important, the time we take to send love back to ourselves. Love has many dimensions, and it doesn’t always involve a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Take some time with Rohan as he guides you through a celebration of love in its many varied forms.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/jade-bowler/Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hannah Cross is a licensed clinical social worker, devoted to helping people with emotional and behavioral concerns. The way she approaches her work is rooted in a life-changing early job, one she almost didn’t take — at a youth incarceration center. Working with these young people, she comes to realize that while the textbook approach might sometimes fail, there’s a reliable healing power in a simple, loving presence. This insight helps her see her own younger self anew, and embrace her past.Listen to Rev. Monique Ortiz's Meditative Story "The heart comes out at night": https://listen.meditativestory.com/RevMoniqueOrtizPIOEach episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What’s the hardest part about being the main character in your own life? You’re also writing the script as you go along. And sometimes it’s hard to know when you need a scene change. Filmmaker Franklin Leonard encounters plenty of dramatic moments as he seeks to follow his creative dream. But those big moments, he comes to realize, aren’t what will change him into the person he truly wants to be. Change happens not in an explosion or a sudden shift of scenery, but slowly, in moments of reflection, and sometimes after years of pleasing others. What matters is … it happens.We are thrilled to share that Franklin Leonard's Meditative Story was awarded Best Individual Episode in the category of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at 2023’s inaugural Signal Awards.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story at https://meditativestory.com/franklin-leonard/Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a teenager, Jade Bowler is laser-focused on her dream of leaving home, with ambitious plans for the future. It’s only after her plans fall apart that Jade realizes big achievements aren’t the only thing that can bring her happiness. Reveling in smaller, quieter moments of casual magic shows her the beauty of everyday existence.Listen to Jacob Sartorius' Meditative Story "I take a breath. I buy myself a moment": https://listen.meditativestory.com/JacobSartoriusPIOFind Jade on all your social media platforms @UnjadedJade Unjaded Jade YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnJadedJade/featuredJade's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unjadedjade/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/jade-bowler/Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Figuring out how to express your authentic self is a journey in discovering what lights you up. For Eric Whitacre, the choral composer and conductor, these lessons came to him through his passions for outer space, water, and music. Join Eric and Rohan in this conversation about how Eric learned to channel his energy into creating meaningful connections and finding his place in the world, and consider what instrument might be most (metaphorically) you.Eric’s masterclass series, The Beautiful Mess: https://virtualschool.ericwhitacre.com/Eric's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericwhitacre/Eric's Water Night: https://ericwhitacre.com/music-catalog/water-nightEric’s website: ericwhitacre.com Read the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/eric-whitacre-soul-curriculum/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michelle Thaller is an astronomer and science communicator who helped unveil the latest images from the Webb Telescope — the one that's currently sending us never-before-seen images of deep space. In her Meditative Story, she explores the significance of a single human — you — in a universe so immense that your very existence is of no consequence ... yet of every consequence.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Choral music composer and conductor Eric Whitacre directs choirs around the globe, but as a kid in northern Nevada, he feels like the black sheep. He doesn’t know how to channel his endless energy to create meaningful connections or find his place in the world. His remarkable experiences with outer space, multi-part harmonies, and a (literal) leap of faith teach him crucial lessons about embracing what lights him up to be his true self.Listen to Max Richter's episode of Meditative Story "Music, memory, moments": https://listen.meditativestory.com/MaxRichterPIOLearn more about Eric:Eric’s website: ericwhitacre.com Eric's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericwhitacre/Find Eric’s masterclass series, The Beautiful Mess, here: https://virtualschool.ericwhitacre.com/Listen to Water Night here: https://ericwhitacre.com/music-catalog/water-nightRead the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/eric-whitacre/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Staying connected with our loved ones is not always easy, especially if, like Jai Punjabi, you live far away from home. As a founder of Wait What, the company behind Meditative Story, Jai’s work in New York means his once-a-year visit to the family home in Bombay, India, is precious time. Made even more so by the food he eats when he’s there with his family. But what makes the dishes so delicious? Join Rohan and Jai as they unpack the ways in which the spirit of culinary improvisation, and putting trust in the process, can translate from the kitchen to the rest of our lives.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/jai-punjabi-soul-curriculum/Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Growing up in the Kennedy family, Tim Shriver sees close relatives compete at the highest level of U.S. politics and learns a very specific definition of what it means to be a winner. As a result, a fierce competitiveness finds its way into every aspect of his life. But as the years go on, Tim begins to question whether this winner-takes-all mentality is the healthiest way to live. Maybe there’s a way that competition can bring out the best in all of us, regardless of who gets the gold medal.For more on Tim:Tim’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timothyshriver/Tim’s book, Fully Alive: http://www.timothyshriver.com/fully-aliveTim’s book, The Call to Unite: Voices of Hope and Awakening: https://unite.us/bookLearn more about Tim’s work with UNITE: https://unite.us/aboutLearn more about Tim’s work with Special Olympics: https://www.specialolympics.org/Read the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/tim-shriver/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What would it be like to turn your New Year’s resolutions on their head, by resolving to focus our attention in an entirely different way? That’s what Rohan is proposing with this holiday meditation designed to zoom in on the small wins from the year just past. Orienting ourselves toward small victories — whether it's making time to be with those we love, trying something entirely out of our comfort zone, or taking one small step toward a dream we’ve held dear — can help reveal the richness of life as it unfolds, and how full our cups often are. Sourcing from all the ways in which we worked hard, were more than enough, and witnessed the same in others, let’s bring that foundation into a brand new year of possibility and peace.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story at: www.meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When life is overwhelming, sometimes the smallest action — even one that seems insignificant in the moment — is what helps us move forward. Cristina Mittermeier is a nature photographer and adventurer who's used to navigating treacherous situations in the name of protecting the climate. But when her life takes an unexpected turn, she learns how to take small steps forward to begin unlocking her power.Listen to Lehua Kamalu's Meditative Story "Tracking the path of the sun": http://listen.meditativestory.com/LehuaKamaluWWFor more on Cristina Mittermeier and Sea Legacy, visit:Cristina’s Website: https://cristinamittermeier.com/Cristina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitty/Cristina’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmittermeierCristina’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmittermeier/Cristina’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cristinamittermeierRead the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/cristina-mittermeier/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can we maintain a sense of freshness, awe, and wonder in our perspective on the world? Today’s Soul Curriculum episode finds Rohan diving deeper into this question with nature filmmaker and author Tom Mustill. Tom shares more about his experiences living close to our animal kin, and what he’s learned from their behavior, both spectacular and mundane. With great warmth and heart, Tom talks about how a breaching humpback whale gave him a much-needed wake-up call — and how this encounter helped him know when to put down his camera to see the world with fresh eyes.Listen to Tom Mustill's full episode of Meditative Story, "The beetle and the whale": https://listen.meditativestory.com/TomMustillTom’s website: https://www.tommustill.com/Tom's book, How To Speak Whale, an Amazon Editors top 10 Science book of 2022, can be purchased here: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/tom-mustill/how-to-speak-whale/9781538739112/ Find Tom on Instagram and Twitter @tommustill.Read the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/tom-mustil-soul-curriculum/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over a tiny table in a crowded bar … on a bike crossing at the Mexican border … standing at the edge of a windswept cliff: There are places and moments where life comes into crystal-clear focus, and you realize something (or maybe everything) needs to change. In this episode, we've collected 4 powerful, personal stories of wake-up calls, when the universe showed these storytellers an entirely new perspective on the world that they could not ignore — and life was never the same again. May these stories support you in embracing your own gear shifts with grace and curiosity.  Listen to the full episodes here: David Duchovny: "When the student is ready, the master may be long gone": http://listen.meditativestory.com/Duchovny_WWs Ginger Zee: "I’m not just observing the winds, I’m riding them": https://listen.meditativestory.com/GZeeMickey Guyton: "Embracing what makes me different": http://listen.meditativestory.com/MickeyGuytonWWJoe Wicks: "Riding 2000 miles to find my purpose": ​​https://listen.meditativestory.com/JoeWicksMSRead the transcript for this story: https://meditativestory.com/waking-up-calls/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gyDGgDSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.