Meditative Story

Growing up in the Kennedy family, Tim Shriver sees close relatives compete at the highest level of U.S. politics and learns a very specific definition of what it means to be a winner. As a result, a fierce competitiveness finds its way into every aspect of his life. But as the years go on, Tim begins to question whether this winner-takes-all mentality is the healthiest way to live. Maybe there’s a way that competition can bring out the best in all of us, regardless of who gets the gold medal.For more on Tim:Tim’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timothyshriver/Tim’s book, Fully Alive: http://www.timothyshriver.com/fully-aliveTim’s book, The Call to Unite: Voices of Hope and Awakening: https://unite.us/bookLearn more about Tim’s work with UNITE: https://unite.us/aboutLearn more about Tim’s work with Special Olympics: https://www.specialolympics.org/Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What would it be like to turn your New Year’s resolutions on their head, by resolving to focus our attention in an entirely different way? That’s what Rohan is proposing with this holiday meditation designed to zoom in on the small wins from the year just past. Orienting ourselves toward small victories — whether it's making time to be with those we love, trying something entirely out of our comfort zone, or taking one small step toward a dream we’ve held dear — can help reveal the richness of life as it unfolds, and how full our cups often are. Sourcing from all the ways in which we worked hard, were more than enough, and witnessed the same in others, let’s bring that foundation into a brand new year of possibility and peace.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When life is overwhelming, sometimes the smallest action — even one that seems insignificant in the moment — is what helps us move forward. Cristina Mittermeier is a nature photographer and adventurer who's used to navigating treacherous situations in the name of protecting the climate. But when her life takes an unexpected turn, she learns how to take small steps forward to begin unlocking her power.Listen to Lehua Kamalu's Meditative Story "Tracking the path of the sun": http://listen.meditativestory.com/LehuaKamaluWWFor more on Cristina Mittermeier and Sea Legacy, visit:Cristina’s Website: https://cristinamittermeier.com/Cristina’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitty/Cristina’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmittermeierCristina’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmittermeier/Cristina’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cristinamittermeierEach episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can we maintain a sense of freshness, awe, and wonder in our perspective on the world? Today’s Soul Curriculum episode finds Rohan diving deeper into this question with nature filmmaker and author Tom Mustill. Tom shares more about his experiences living close to our animal kin, and what he’s learned from their behavior, both spectacular and mundane. With great warmth and heart, Tom talks about how a breaching humpback whale gave him a much-needed wake-up call — and how this encounter helped him know when to put down his camera to see the world with fresh eyes.Listen to Tom Mustill's full episode of Meditative Story, "The beetle and the whale": https://listen.meditativestory.com/TomMustillTom’s website: https://www.tommustill.com/Tom's book, How To Speak Whale, an Amazon Editors top 10 Science book of 2022, can be purchased here: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/tom-mustill/how-to-speak-whale/9781538739112/ Find Tom on Instagram and Twitter @tommustill.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over a tiny table in a crowded bar … on a bike crossing at the Mexican border … standing at the edge of a windswept cliff: There are places and moments where life comes into crystal-clear focus, and you realize something (or maybe everything) needs to change. In this episode, we've collected 4 powerful, personal stories of wake-up calls, when the universe showed these storytellers an entirely new perspective on the world that they could not ignore — and life was never the same again. May these stories support you in embracing your own gear shifts with grace and curiosity.  Listen to the full episodes here: David Duchovny: "When the student is ready, the master may be long gone": http://listen.meditativestory.com/Duchovny_WWs Ginger Zee: "I’m not just observing the winds, I’m riding them": https://listen.meditativestory.com/GZeeMickey Guyton: "Embracing what makes me different": http://listen.meditativestory.com/MickeyGuytonWWJoe Wicks: "Riding 2000 miles to find my purpose": ​​https://listen.meditativestory.com/JoeWicksMSEach episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before his rise to fame, David Duchovny is a popular kid – charming, funny, bright, and athletic, beloved by friends and teachers alike. But there’s one teacher who puts David off-balance, calling him out for foolishness where others see charm. Years after graduation, struggling to make it as an actor in Hollywood, David finally comes to recognize that what he mistook for dislike was in fact an encouragement to go his own way, in his own time.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nature filmmaker Tom Mustill travels the globe capturing breathtaking footage of animals while highlighting the work of the world’s leading conservationists. But one summer day, on a vacation kayak trip, he comes face to face with nature in a way he never expected. He shares the story of how this rare and terrifying encounter re-sparks his sense of wonder — reminding him to sometimes put down the camera to see the world as it truly is.Listen to John Moore’s episode of Meditative Story, "The perfect photograph I never took": http://listen.meditativestory.com/JohnMooreSeason1More about Tom Mustill:Tom’s website: https://www.tommustill.com/Tom's book, How To Speak Whale, an Amazon Editors top 10 Science book of 2022, can be purchased here: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/tom-mustill/how-to-speak-whale/9781538739112/ Find Tom on Instagram and Twitter @tommustill.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s Soul Curriculum, Rohan speaks candidly with writer Alex Morris about how to become more comfortable asking for help. As Alex shares, it’s often our preconceptions of how we will be received that prevent us from reaching out. However, as Alex realizes in his own story, when we take the risk and acknowledge our need for help, people around us rise to our aid and can help make our world wider. Alex also reinforces the beauty of helping's reciprocal nature: How good it can feel to be honest both in the ways we need help, and the ways in which we are able to step up for others.Listen to Alex Morris' full episode of Meditative Story, "Dancing on my own": https://listen.meditativestory.com/AlexMorris_Nov10Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When actor Michael Imperioli is 17, he makes an impulsive move: on the day he's supposed to drive up to college, instead he takes the train down to New York City and signs up for acting classes. His parents are baffled, but they give him an enormous gift: they trust him. As he grows as an artist, Michael realizes the way that the courage to trust – in your instincts, in your teachers, and in one another – is what forms the foundation for a brave, creative life.Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a young writer and performer, Sara Benincasa found her voice doing stand-up comedy. For years, it seemed better than therapy. But slowly, doubts surfaced. While the external validation she received made her feel successful and even loved, something was missing. In this episode of Meditative Story, Sara shares how she came to look inward, instead of outward, for richer feelings of worth. Sara Benincasa’s monthly podcast, "Well, This Isn't Normal," is about mental health and stress relief. Find it on Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher.More about Sara Benincasa: Her website: SaraBenincasa.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/SaraJBenincasaFind her weekly newsletter, Saratonin: SaraJBenincasa.Substack.comShe writes essays here: SaraJBenincasa.Medium.comSara’s Patreon includes the newsletter, access to private essays, and an exclusive weekly podcast: Patreon.com/SaraBenincasaEach episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.comSign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.