Michael Acton Smith: Reduce Stress in 7 Minutes a Day & The Surprising Way the Founder of the Biggest Meditation Company Meditates and How We Can Easily Apply This Tip
Michael Acton Smith, co-founder of Calm, shares the benefits of meditation, the future of mental health, and the connection between AI and mindfulness. They discuss building relationships based on friendship, overcoming stress, choosing collaboration, and building something unique. The value of stillness and listening to your inner voice is highlighted.
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Quick takeaways
Calm made meditation more accessible and enjoyable through innovations like the Daily Calm and sleep stories, popularizing mental health practices.
Calm is exploring the potential of AI to offer 24/7 personalized mental health support and bridge the gap between proactive practices and therapy.
Finding balance in a digitally connected world is crucial; Calm advocates for conscious use of technology and setting boundaries for mental well-being.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Calm: Popularizing Meditation and Sleep
Calm, a leading mental wellness brand, has transformed many lives through its app, which offers meditation, sleep, and relaxation content. The founders, Michael Acton Smith and Alex Chu, aimed to make meditation more accessible and enjoyable. They introduced the Daily Calm, offering different content every day, making the practice engaging and memorable. Calm also pioneered sleep stories, captivating tales that help users drift off peacefully. These innovations and collaborations with celebrities like Matthew McConaughey made meditation and mental health more relatable and popularized the practice.
The Power of AI in Mental Health
Calm is exploring the potential of AI in mental health with its vision of building the world's greatest health coach. AI could offer 24/7 support, analyzing health data and providing personalized recommendations. The aim is to bridge the gap between proactive mental health practices and therapy, making mental health support more accessible. Adding storytelling, gamification, and a touch of magic could further enhance the user experience and engagement. Calm Studios is dedicated to envisioning the future of mental health and creating innovative solutions utilizing the power of AI.
Finding Balance in the Digital World
In a world of distractions and constant connectivity, finding balance and being mindful of one's attention is crucial. Calm emphasizes the importance of being aware of where one's attention is directed, particularly in the digital realm. While social media and technology can bring joy and opportunities, mindlessly scrolling and overindulging can lead to anxiety and stress. Calm encourages conscious and intentional use of digital platforms, advocating for finding a balance between enjoying their benefits and setting boundaries to protect one's mental well-being.
The importance of collaboration and focus in achieving goals
The podcast episode explores the idea of collaboration and focus as important factors in achieving goals and making a positive impact on society. The speaker discusses how partnering with others who share the same mission can be more beneficial than pursuing individual success driven by ego. The importance of self-awareness and avoiding reactive responses to stimuli is highlighted, emphasizing the value of mindful and conscious decision-making. It is suggested that finding a unique twist on existing successful ideas and being patient in the journey are key components of success.
The power of mindfulness, stillness, and intuition in business and personal growth
The podcast episode delves into the power of mindfulness, stillness, and intuition in business and personal growth. The speaker emphasizes the importance of listening to one's inner voice and being conscious of choices and decisions. The value of responding instead of reacting to stimuli and practicing self-awareness is discussed. The conversation also touches upon the benefits of solitude and taking time to listen to oneself. The speaker encourages individuals to find their purpose, align their choices with their values, and embrace a journey of self-discovery and lifelong learning.
Do you want to reduce your stress in just 7 minutes a day?
Do you want to learn how to make meditation easy and accessible for you?
Today, I welcome my good friend Michael Acton Smith. Michael is the co-founder and co-Executive Chairman of Calm, the leading mental wellness brand with the #1 App for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation. Calm has grown to over 100 million downloads, was the Apple 2017 app of the year, and is the world's first mental health unicorn. Long fascinated by neuroscience, flow states and mental fitness, Michael is passionate about spreading meditation as a simple but valuable skill around the world.
Michael discusses the interesting twist of putting an entertainment voice in meditation, challenging myths, and misconceptions surrounding this powerful practice. We tap into the future of mental health, exploring why sometimes we need to step back to find the answers. Patience has always been the secret to success.
As the conversation progressed, we stirred into the potential of AI and its role in the next evolution of Calm and potentially address the question: How can technology be harnessed to serve humanity better? There is a future in AI and how it immensely helps spread mental health awareness and promote mindfulness practice.
In this interview, you will learn:
The many benefits of meditation
How to practice mindfulness
How to sit in silence and calm your mind
How to leverage your creativity
The connection between AI and mental health
It's an episode packed with insights, laughter, and a sprinkle of mindfulness. Together, let's explore the boundless possibilities of a calm and balanced life together!
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
02:18 How Did the Calm Partnership Come About?
05:26 Making Meditation and Mindfulness More Accessible
09:06 The Impact of Daily Calm and Sleep Story on People
11:53 Putting an Entertainment Voice in Meditation
15:27 Myths and Misconceptions About Meditation
18:27 What is the Future of Mental Health?
22:01 Why You Need to Step Back to Find Answers
26:29 Why Patience is the Secret to Success
29:46 How Do You Combine Business and Creativity?
32:19 How Can AI Help Humanity?
39:37 The Potential of AI and The Next Evolution of Calm
42:03 How to Find Balance Between Digital and Physical Activities
47:02 The Benefits of Reacting Instead of Responding to Triggers
51:41 How to Positively Introduce Meditation to Children
55:52 How to Develop the Practice of Sitting in Silence