Calm With Me

You're mid-route. Your foot slips. Before your rational brain catches up, something ancient takes over and your heart is hammering, your breath has gone short and shallow and your hands are gripping harder than they should. Fear in the outdoors is fast, physical, and deeply intelligent. And if you know how to work with it, it's one of the most powerful entry points to presence you'll e...

Last episode, we explored Blue Mind — what water does to your brain from the outside. Today we go deeper. Literally. In this episode, Dr. Meredith Calvert unpacks the neuroscience of what happens when you actually go underwater: the ancient mammalian dive reflex that slows your heart without asking permission, the breath-buoyancy feedback loop that makes scuba diving one of the most intimate nervo...

Season two of Calm With Me begins at the water’s edge. In this episode, neuroscientist, yoga teacher, and scuba diver Dr. Meredith Calvert explores the science behind “Blue Mind,” the deeply restorative state our brains enter around water. From childhood memories of England’s rugged coastline to the neuroscience of soft fascination, dopamine, serotonin, and nervous system regulation, this episode...

In this episode of Calm With Me , Meredith returns to the topic of the perimenopausal brain, exploring not just the physical symptoms but the deeper shift in identity that many women experience during this transition. Perimenopause often begins gradually, with mood changes, sleep disruption, anxiety, and physical symptoms appearing years before menstrual cycles noticeably change. Without clear inf...

In this episode, Meredith dives into the neuroscience of perimenopause, reframing this midlife shift not as decline but as a profound, fiery transformation. She explains how fluctuating estrogen reshapes neural circuits, why brain fog and mood swings appear, and how the brain ultimately recalibrates through neuroplasticity. Rather than fragile butterflies, Meredith invites listeners to embody the...

In this special Halloween episode of Calm With Me , Dr. Meredith explores the metaphor of the “hungry ghost” — that restless inner part of us that’s always grasping for more… more achievement, more validation, more stuff. Blending neuroscience and yogic wisdom, she unpacks why the brain is wired to chase, how our nervous systems get caught in loops of craving, and what it takes to shift from perpe...

When you step into the wild, whether its hiking a ridgeline, exploring coral reefs, or simply looking up at the sky, something profound happens inside your brain. Your focus softens, your nervous system steadies, and your awareness expands. Psychologists call this state soft fascination —a calm, alert attention that restores mental clarity and opens the doorway to awe. In this episode, Dr. Meredit...

Why does time seem to race by as we get older, yet stretch endlessly when we’re on vacation, in awe, or in love? In this episode of Calm With Me , Meredith explores the fascinating intersection of yogic philosophy and modern neuroscience to uncover how we can actually, intentionally, slow down our experience of time. From the ancient wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras to Stanford neuroscientist Dav...

In this seventh episode of Calm With Me, host Meredith Calvert how stress affects our ability to parent effectively, as well as the positive impacts of mindfulness practices on both kids and parents. She shares some specific practices, such as 'safe words' and belly breathing to help manage parental stress and build deeper connections with our kids. Listeners are guided through various bre...

In this episode of Calm With Me, host Dr. Meredith Calvert dives into the physiology and brain science behind panic attacks, exploring how the brains and breathing of those with panic disorder differ, and what we can learn from this about managing panic attacks and extreme anxiety. Meredith shares a few stories from her own life, including a magical dolphin encounter that turned deadly. She also s...

In this episode of Calm With Me, host Dr. Meredith Calvert explores the neuroscience of being pleasantly surprised, discussing how and why the brain has evolved to react positively to the unexpected and why we remember the delights that sneak up on us, more than those we ancticipate. Beginning with a story of a surprise encounter during a family hike, she offers tools for finding more unexpected d...

In this episode of Calm With Me, host Dr. Meredith Calvert explores the neuroscience of being pleasantly surprised, discussing how and why the brain has evolved to react positively to the unexpected and why we remember the delights that sneak up on us, more than those we ancticipate. Beginning with a story of a surprise encounter during a family hike, she offers tools for finding more unexpected d...

In this episode of Calm With Me, host Meredith Calvert explores the neurobiology of stress and its impact on our lives. She discusses the global stress epidemic, the physiological responses to stress, and how breathwork and mindfulness can help manage and reverse these effects. Listeners are guided through various breathing practices designed to reduce stress and promote relaxation. The episode em...

In this episode of Calm With Me, host Meredith Calvert explores the neuroscience of balance and burnout, discussing how chronic stress rewires the brain and offering practical tips for restoring balance through mindfulness and breathwork. Drawing parallels between motorcycle riding and life, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus and managing energy to avoid burnout and achieve a more...

In this inaugural episode of Calm With Me, Dr. Meredith Calvert introduces her journey from chaos to calm, sharing her background as a neuroscientist and yoga instructor. She emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and offers practical steps to tackle overwhelm and anxiety. The episode focuses on two simple yet effective steps: meeting oneself in the present moment and paying attention to breath,...