The Mindfulness in Politics Podcast

Episode: The Monks' Walk for Peace 19 monks. 108 days. 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington, D.C. Josh and Igor discuss the remarkable response to the monks' walk for peace and what it reveals about what our culture is really yearning for right now. Key Topics: - Why thousands showed up at every stop across rural and urban America - The difference between internal vs. external approaches to change...

One of the themes of our project is the belief that mindfulness tools can help people working in politics, policy, and media work more effectively and avoid burning out when faced with inevitable challenges and setbacks. Part of that comes from widening the lens through which we view the world and our work within it. Our very first guest, Jeff Krehely , said it best when he described political wor...

The uncomfortable truth: You can climb every ladder, hit every goal, and still feel empty. This week, we talk with Jon Rosemberg, who spent decades in corporate America before realizing success and thriving aren't the same thing—and one doesn't lead to the other. You'll learn: → Why "productivity = value" is the lie keeping you stuck → The three ingredients of success (money, status, power) vs. th...

If you work in politics or policy, you already know this truth in your bones: the threats feel enormous, the losses sting sharply, and the wins? They slide right through you before you can even catch your breath. There's actual neuroscience behind why this happens. This week, we sat down with psychologist and bestselling author Rick Hanson to understand why our brains are wired to hold onto the ne...

Beyond Self-Interest with Myriam Oehri Last year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted World Meditation Day by consensus, recognizing meditation as a tool that can help prevent violence and conflict at a global scale. Myriam Oehri, former deputy ambassador for Liechtenstein to the UN and the woman instrumental in making this happen, joins us to discuss why meditation isn't just personal—it'...

The Innovation Paradox with H.L. Ray Ever find yourself triple-booked and treating exhaustion like a badge of honor? Leadership coach H.L. Ray used to do the same—until he discovered that being too busy was actually killing his innovation and authenticity. In this episode, H.L. shares why creating space isn't a luxury for high performers—it's a requirement for breakthrough thinking and genuine lea...

Breaking the Habit Loop Ever find yourself automatically reaching for your phone at every notification, even when you're trying to focus on important work? You're not alone—and it's not a lack of willpower. It's neuroscience. In this episode, Josh and Igor explore why our brains form automatic habits and how mindfulness can help us break free from counterproductive patterns. Learn about: -- The ne...

We all experience intrusive thoughts—those unwanted, repetitive worries that loop endlessly in our minds. But why do we get stuck in these mental spirals, and more importantly, how can we break free? Josh and Igor explore: - What intrusive thoughts are and why they're so sticky - The key concepts of impermanence and non-attachment - How to create distance between thought and response - The power o...

What do you do when you've achieved everything you worked for—and you're still deeply unhappy? That's the question Zerlina Maxwell had to confront after years of relentless drive led her to the top of cable news. She had the show, the platform, the visibility. And she was miserable. The death of her mother during the pandemic forced a profound reckoning. So Zerlina did something radical: she moved...

We've all been there: sweaty palms, racing heart, a brain flooding with everything that could go wrong. You're about to walk into that big meeting or give that presentation, and the anxiety feels overwhelming. In this episode, we dive into why that nervous response happens in the first place—and why it's not actually a personal failure or weakness. Your brain treats presentations like threats beca...

This week, we spoke with Patty First, chief strategy and impact officer at Raben and an executive coach who specializes in using positive psychology to help organizations and people thrive. Patty shared something with us that stopped us in our tracks: she's passed out everywhere—singing in a church choir at nine years old, on her wedding day, at holiday parties, and yes, even in the West Wing of t...

This week, we sat down with Tenzin Lodoe, a researcher who has studied technology's impact on wellbeing at Harvard University and the White House, to talk about something many of us struggle with: our relationship with social media. If you've ever felt that hollow emptiness after scrolling, or wondered why you can't seem to put your phone down even when you know you should, this conversation is fo...

In this conversation, we explore the profound effects that spending time in nature has on our mental health and wellbeing—from the evolutionary wiring of our brains to the practical benefits of even brief outdoor moments. Topics we discuss: How our brains actually use less energy processing natural stimuli compared to urban environments The "small self" phenomenon: why vast landscapes make our pro...

When something goes wrong, how long do you stay frustrated? In this episode, we’ll share what neuroscience reveals about the surprisingly short lifespan of our emotional reactions—and how you can use that knowledge to break free from a cycle of disappointment and anxiety. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindf...

On this week’s Mindfulness in Politics Project, we talk with Jeff Krehely , a professional coach, nonprofit consultant and policy wonk. Over more than two decades of mindfulness practice, Jeff has discovered more motivation - including for new projects - and less stress from work that’s inherently, well, stressful. We talk with Jeff about navigating major professional and societal shifts, reducing...

JL: Igor, a lot of our focus in the project’s early weeks has been on how mindfulness practices can help us stay sane, cool-headed people while doing really high-stress work. But the opposite is really true too, isn’t it? Getting ourselves into a balanced, grounded place can really optimize our effectiveness and position us to do our very best work. IV: Totally. Once I started practicing, I discov...

We've all been there—you wake up and within seconds, your mind is flooded with worries about the day ahead. In this conversation, we explore why those familiar anxieties seem to have a direct line to our consciousness the moment we open our eyes, and more importantly, what we can do about it. We discuss three practical mindfulness techniques that can help break the morning anxiety cycle: using bre...

The people working to strengthen our democracy are burning out. Staffers, advocates, journalists – leaving because the pace isn't sustainable. We're changing that. Practical mindfulness tools designed for high-pressure political and media work. Join us! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindfulnessinpolitics.su...