Zen Commuter

On today's Tricycle Tuesday, I explore "Helping Yourself Helps Others" by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto, from the Spring 2026 issue of Tricycle . The article reminds us that caring for ourselves and caring for others aren't competing paths: as we cultivate wisdom, steadiness, and compassion within ourselves, we become better able to bring those qualities into the world. Our practice doesn't end when we ri...

THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show! 🎙 Send me a voice message: speakpipe.com/zencommuter 📧 Email: thom@zencommuter.com 📱 Instagram: @thom_walters 🐦 Twitter: @thom_walters 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/zencommuter Subscribe : Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Having a consistent practice is a good thing, but it's not the only thing.  Today I share my own experience with the recent time when my practice became irregular. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show! 🎙 Send me a voice message: speakpipe.com/zencommuter 📧 Email: th...

Today I continue my warm and wonderful chat with Jen Kalawur. In this segment, we talk about the importance of listening to your intuition when it let's know what your body and mind truly need. To that end, we also talk about the importance of a healthy diet: not food, but information. And finally, Jen talks about the important work she does in helping her clients see their lives in a fuller, more...

On today's episode, I sit down with Jennifer Kalawur, a mindful leadership coach whose work blends emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and grounded presence. Together, we explore how mindfulness reshapes the way we lead, communicate, and care for ourselves in a world that often pulls us in every direction. Jennifer shares her own journey, the practices that keep her anchored, and the powerful...

Getting distracted during meditation doesn't mean you're doing it wrong—it means you've just become aware. In today's episode of Zen Commuter, I share three simple steps for meeting that moment: recognize that your mind has wandered, respond to yourself with kindness rather than judgment, and gently return to your breath or chosen anchor. Each return is not a failure but a repetition that strength...

On today's Tricycle Tuesday, I explore "Helping Yourself Helps Others" by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto, from the Spring 2026 issue of Tricycle . The article reminds us that caring for ourselves and caring for others aren't competing paths: as we cultivate wisdom, steadiness, and compassion within ourselves, we become better able to bring those qualities into the world. Our practice doesn't end when we ri...

Many people feel like they don't have time to meditate, especially during a busy commute. But what if that commute became part of your practice? Today on Zen Commuter , we'll talk about how to use your car as a space for mindfulness. While safety must always be the priority, there are ways to incorporate stillness and presence even while driving. Whether you're parked or driving, there are ways to...

How we sit in a meditation varies by practitioner. However, there are some aspects of a meditative posture that will serve your session and practice. Let's talk about them. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show! 🎙 Send me a voice message: speakpipe.com/zencommuter 📧...

I have been away from the mic for, well, for as long as I have been away. And while there is no explanation needed; I provide one nonetheless. Thank you all for your grace and understanding. I missed you all, and am glad to be back. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the sh...

Nineteen Buddhist monks set out from Fort Worth, Texas, on a 2,300-mile pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., carrying a message of peace, compassion, and nonviolence. Despite harsh weather, physical exhaustion, and serious injury, their simple act of placing one foot in front of the other captured the attention of millions. In the Tricycle article, "What Do Buddhists Think of Fort Worth's 'Walk for Pea...

One of the greatest benefits of meditation is its ability to help us understand that we can sit with anything that comes our way, seemingly good or bad. With a solid practice, we can objectively think thoughts and feel emotions, without the need to be dragged into them against our will. Today I talk about the calm that comes from knowing that nothing needs to change. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a...

Sometimes (for many people, always) we see the end of the day as the finish line. Along the way we treat each interaction or moment as something to rate or change. We tally the score at the end of the day and determine if the day was a success or a failure. Did you know that no day is ever a success or failure; it simply is. But there is a way to enhance your perception of the day. Come listen how...

In this episode, I share and reflect on part of a thoughtful article from Lion's Roar exploring anger through the lens of Buddhist practice. As one of the "three poisons" alongside greed and ignorance, anger can easily pull us away from peace and connection when left unexamined. Rather than condemning anger or pretending it shouldn't exist, this discussion gently explores how awareness, compassion...

If you have meditated in the past and have fallen off your practice, then today's episode is for you. If you are listening to this episode and your practice has stopped, then it's safe to say you are eager to start it up again. But if you don't know why it stopped, it might get derailed again. No worries. Today, I share with you eight reasons why you may have stopped. the purpose is easy; if you k...

In this episode, we sit down with multi-hyphenate storyteller Christopher Rivas — actor, writer, Buddhist practitioner, and host of the  Brown Enough  podcast. We dive deep into themes of identity, race, belonging, and what it means to "live in the middle space." Christopher shares his journeys into Buddhism, the stories behind his creative work (including  Brown Enough  and  Rubirosa ), and how l...

In today's episode, I share a thoughtful piece from Tricycle: The Buddhist Review titled Silent Underground by Aryavandana. It's a gentle yet powerful reflection on the unseen roots of our practice—the quiet, often unnoticed ways that mindfulness and compassion take hold beneath the surface of our daily lives. Much like roots growing in the dark, our practice doesn't always announce itself, but ov...

Today I want to talk about the comfort that comes from knowing that in every situation you are completely safe. You might be thinking…"Thom, that is a nice thought, but not a real one…Have you seen the world lately?" I have, and I'm sticking by my premise. And hopefully, if it serves you, you might do the same. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you,...

In today's Tricycle Tuesday , we explore the article The Economy of Grace , a reflection on the quiet abundance that arises when we shift from striving to allowing. Rather than measuring life through effort and achievement, this piece invites us to recognize the grace that is already present—flowing through our relationships, our practice, and the simple moments we often overlook. Join me as we co...

Today I bring you along to my meditation chair, when I get ready to practice. Specifically, I let you in on how I decide to practice each day. There are three questions I ask myself once I sit down that determine the path of my practice for that day. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. B...

If you sit quietly for even a few moments, you'll notice that your mind is rarely silent. Thoughts arise, opinions appear, and sometimes it feels like there's an entire panel discussion happening inside your head. But not every voice carries the same wisdom. In today's episode, we explore how to discern the difference between ordinary mental chatter and the quieter, steadier voice of deeper unders...

Hey, my friend. It's been a while since we have had an actual meditation. So today I thought I would combine the best of two worlds; meditation and Tricycle Tuesday. :0) This one was written by Ayya Santacitta, and is a perfect session for helping us cultivate stillness and the ability to slow down. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please shar...

My guest today is Manal El-Ramly, author of Transcending Anxiety: From Fear to Freedom, TEDx speaker ('Why You Don't Need to Search for Your Purpose'), creator of the Mattain Method, and a beloved teacher on Insight Timer. Manal helps individuals overcome anxiety, limiting beliefs, and overwhelm by understanding and aligning their four bodies – physical, emotional, mental, and egoic. What You'll D...

In this episode of Zen Commuter , I share reflections inspired by a recent Tricycle article on connecting with the root of our being. Lately, I've been reminded that the places, roles, and things we associate with "home" are only temporary expressions of something much deeper. The real root isn't somewhere outside of us—it's the quiet, steady presence that's always been there, beneath our thoughts...

Many people feel that low energy is something to be conquered. If you're feeling a little lackluster, something must be off, or wrong. Guess what? I used to think that too. As recently as today. Thankfully, a trip to the cushion set me straight. So let's learn a lesson together.   THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the soci...