Presence That Works in Real Life: Jody Weiss on Attention Training, Nervous System Regulation, and Micro-Practices for High-Pressure Leaders

Jan 22, 2026

In a dynamic conversation, Jody Weiss, a meditator and community builder, delves into the transformative power of psychedelics for veterans with PTSD. She highlights evidence-based practices like I-REST Yoga Nidra and ketamine therapy, showcasing rapid recovery stories. Jody emphasizes the importance of daily attention training and urban mindfulness exercises, even amid the chaos of Manhattan. She also discusses the nurturing spaces she's created with Women Funding the World and Consciousness Drinks, aimed at supporting mental health initiatives and connecting healers with resources.

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INSIGHT

Meditation Calms The PTSD Mind

Meditation and I-REST (Yoga Nidra) can quiet the 'negative spinning' mind that fuels PTSD symptoms.
Clinical studies show VA centers teach I-REST because pausing awareness reduces stress and increases presence.

INSIGHT

Disrupting Habit Opens Consciousness

Psychedelics and non-dual practices both disrupt habitual perception and can reveal a wider field of consciousness.
That disruption is therapeutic because it quiets the intellect and allows new perspectives to emerge.

ADVICE

Train Attention With Micro-Practices

Do train attention with short, repeated practices throughout the day rather than relying on a single morning routine.
Practice 'kind firmness' by pausing at the bottom of the breath for increasing durations to strengthen mental control.

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Imagine stepping off the freezing Manhattan street and finding a steady warmth at the bottom of your breath. That’s the thread running through our conversation with Jody Weiss—meditator, community builder, and co-host of Exploring Reality Maybe—as we explore how presence and modern therapies change lives. From VA-approved iREST Yoga Nidra to evidence-based ketamine infusions, we look at what actually helps veterans with PTSD, executives in crisis, and healers carrying the weight of others’ pain.

We dig into a practical definition of “home base” and why training attention throughout the day matters more than a single morning routine. Jody shares non-dual practices that quiet the intellect, interrupt rigid patterns, and open a wider field of perception. We connect stories of rapid transformation—like first responders stepping back from the brink—with neuroscientific advances in brain mapping that reveal how new circuits can unlock relief in days. The goal isn’t to numb or escape; it’s to become more present and more free.

This episode also celebrates the power of community and conscious capital. Jody describes Women Funding the World and Consciousness Drinks, spaces where clinicians, shamans, researchers, and investors meet to nurture the nurturers and fund work that sustains life. We talk about equine therapy, the stigma and renaissance of psychedelics, and the simple city practices—yes, even in Times Square—that “melt identit

John R. Boyd's Conceptual Spiral was originally titled No Way Out. In his own words:

“There is no way out unless we can eliminate the features just cited. Since we don’t know how to do this, we must continue the whirl of reorientation…”

A promotional message for Ember Health. Safe and effective IV ketamine care for individuals seeking relief from depression. Ember Health's evidence-based, partner-oriented, and patient-centered care model, boasting an 84% treatment success rate with 44% of patients reaching depression remission. It also mentions their extensive experience with over 40,000 infusions and treatment of more than 2,500 patients, including veterans, first responders, and individuals with anxiety and PTSD

John Boyd’s Conceptual Spiral was originally titled “No Way Out.” In his words:

“There is no way out unless we can eliminate the features just cited. Since we don’t know how to do this, we must continue the whirl of reorientation…”

Download a complete transcript of Conceptual Spiral for free by clicking here.

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