Zen Commuter

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, ...

In this calming and insightful episode of Zen Commuter, I welcomes breathwork and meditation guide Trea Drake for a heart-centered conversation on the power of the breath. Together, we explore how mindful breathing serves as a gateway to inner peace, presence, and healing.

Whether you're a seasoned meditator or just ...

In this episode of Zen Commuter, I sit down with Dr. Mary Sanders, a skilled energy healer who specializes in helping people recover from burnout and chronic stress. With a unique blend of chiropractic care, energy medicine, and intuitive insight, Dr. Sanders supports individuals in reconnecting with their inner vitality and balance. If you’ve been feeling drained...

Jonah Primo has spent the last 8 years studying mindfulness, meditation and philosophy in order to build practical frameworks that people can apply to everyday life and situations. He hosted the flagship podcast for meditation app "Waking Up", produces Australia's #1 philosophy podcast "Principle of Charity", and has interviewed and worked with neuroscientists inclu...

Today on Zen Commuter, I’m joined by the insightful and inspiring Jodi Rose Gonzales—artist, author, and art therapist. Jodi blends creativity and mindfulness to help others navigate life’s challenges with clarity and grace. Her unique approach to healing through expressive art and spiritual reflection offers a powerful path to inner peace. Get ready for a conversat...

Welcome to Zen Commuter! Today, I’m joined by Leslie Draffin for a fascinating conversation about the intersection of plant medicine, spirituality, and women’s wellness. We’ll explore how microdosing mushrooms can support mental clarity, emotional balance, and even spiritual awakening. Leslie also shares insights on how understanding the menstrual cycle can be a pow...

Welcome to Zen Commuter and day five of Tricycle Week! Today, we’re exploring a challenge many meditators face—the uneasy relationship with the timer. Whether it’s impatience, restlessness, or the feeling that the minutes are stretching endlessly, the ticking clock can sometimes feel like an obstacle rather than a guide. But what if we could change our perspective a...

Welcome to Zen Commuter and day four of Tricycle Week! Today, we’re diving into a topic that challenges the way we see productivity and rest—laziness. Is laziness a real obstacle, or is it simply a rejection of society’s constant push to always be moving? We’ll explore the three aspects of laziness and question whether what we call “being lazy” is actually an intentional choice to be rather than d...

Welcome to Zen Commuter and day three of Tricycle Week! Today, we’re tackling a challenge that tests even the most mindful among us—dealing with toxic people. Whether it’s a difficult coworker, a critical family member, or someone who constantly drains your energy, these interactions can leave us feeling powerless and frustrated. But here’s the truth: our inner peac...

Welcome to Zen Commuter and day two of Tricycle Week! Today, we dive into an important question: Is meditation truly beneficial for young students? Across the country, schools have introduced mindfulness programs with the hope of improving focus, reducing stress, and fostering emotional well-being. But do these programs actually deliver on their promise? We’ll explo...

Welcome to Tricycle Week on Zen Commuter! I’m kicking things off with a reading from Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, featuring Thich Nhat Hanh’s insightful article, "Listening to Our Ancestors."

In this episode, we explore how connecting with our spiritual and familial lineage can bring wisdom, healing, and a deeper s...

What if the key to peak performance and lasting well-being was as simple as stillness? In this episode of Ze Commuter, I sit down with Richard Earney, a leading expert in fitness and movement, to explore how meditation enhances physical and mental well-being. Richard shares his insights on the mind-body connection, explaining how mindfulness isn’t just for relaxation—it’s a powerful tool for focus...

What if the key to peak performance and lasting well-being was as simple as stillness? In this episode of Ze Commuter, I sit down with Richard Earney, a leading expert in fitness and movement, to explore how meditation enhances physical and mental well-being. Richard shares his insights on the mind-body connection, explaining how mindfulness isn’t just for relaxatio...

In this episode of Zen Commuter, actor Matt Drago shares how he stays grounded in the unpredictable world of Hollywood. From his experience on Somewhere in Montana to his personal mindfulness practices, Matt reveals how staying present has helped shape his career and personal life. Tune in to hear his insights on resilience, creativity, and inner peace.

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Sonal is a certified meditation teacher and the founder of CONNECT Meditation. In her workshops and sessions, she blends ancient Eastern wisdom with modern science to make mindfulness accessible to today’s practitioners. Raised in India and now based in Boston, Sonal’s background in corporate human resources, learning and development, and life coaching allows her to...

Catherine is an integrative spiritual consultant, former trauma and hospice chaplain, and first time author of the book Everyday Awakening. In her book as well as her private practice, she counsels people on what it means to be alive, and how to awaken into their heart and soul. She has faced death twice and companioned hundreds of people as they died. The deep peac...

Jeff Patterson, from Portland, OR, USA, has over 36 years of experience, practicing and teaching the meditative and martial arts. As the founder of Northwest Fighting Arts/Portland Tai Chi Academy and The Yielding Warrior, where he emphasizes the transformative power of meditative and martial arts practices, particularly the yielding concept. He has published two bo...