

The Morning Ritual
Lilly Macfarlane
For centuries, rituals have offered a sense of structure, meaning, and clarity in daily life. The Morning Ritual is a podcast devoted to exploring the power of daily practices. Here, we believe that transformation doesn’t happen in a single moment, but in the quiet, consistent choices we make every day. By showing up for ourselves through ritual, we learn how to show up more fully for our relationships, our work, our communities — and the world.Each week, host Lilly Macfarlane sits down with teachers, artists, healers, and entrepreneurs to explore how their daily rituals help them stay grounded, clear, and aligned with their purpose. This podcast isn’t just for early risers or seasoned meditators. It’s for anyone curious about living with more presence, depth, and integrity. Rate, review & most importantly, enjoy! Let's connect! Don't be shy, please reach out on: www.lillybalch.com Instagram: @_themorningritual https://substack.com/@themorningritualThe Morning Ritual is produced by The Space (London).
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 12, 2025 • 43min
The Intersection of Creativity and Healing with Desmond & Dempsey’s Molly Goddard
Today, we’re exploring creativity and how it intertwines with healing.I’m joined by Molly Goddard, the co-founder and Creative Director of the luxury pyjama and sleepwear brand, Desmond & Dempsey.Together, we unpack what it means to bring imagination into form, to balance intuition with structure, and to stay connected to your creative spirit amidst the realities of running a business. We also explore how the creative process itself can be a path to self-discovery and healing.This conversation is a gentle reminder that creativity lives within all of us — and when we nurture it, we reconnect with our most authentic selves.------------------------------------For (free!) meditations visit my substack.Loving the podcast? Leaving a rating or review helps more than you know—it truly makes our day.You can also find TMR on Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube.The Morning Ritual is produced by The Space (London) with end to end video production by Charlene Huskinson.-----------------------------------------TMR is sponsored by Cozy Earth. Head to www.cozyearth.com and use my code RITUAL for up to 20% off!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Nov 4, 2025 • 43min
Reconnect with Your Power & Show Up Fully for Life
In this engaging conversation, Lily Balch, a yoga therapist and meditation teacher, and Josh, founder of Before the Lights gym, dive deep into the transformative power of meditation. Lily shares her journey from professional dancer to wellness advocate, highlighting the importance of connecting with the 'Capital S Self' for true essence. They explore how daily meditation enhances focus and creativity while discussing the benefits of yoga nidra and sound healing. A guided grounding meditation helps listeners reconnect with their energy and presence.

Oct 22, 2025 • 22min
Reclaiming Rest: A Meditation for Deeper Sleep (An Evening Ritual)
Explore the transformative practice of Yoga Nidra, perfect for easing into sleep or recharging during the day. Discover tips on creating a calming environment with pillows and blankets before your meditation. Enjoy guided body scans to release tension from your arms and core, and learn to set a personal intention to guide your relaxation. Immerse yourself in a visualization beneath a starry sky to evoke peace. Conclude with gentle movements as you awaken your body and spirit, ready to embrace a refreshed day.

Oct 15, 2025 • 54min
Understanding Rest, Relaxation, and Better Sleep with Laurent Roure
Lilly chats with Laurent Roure, a restorative teacher who merges yoga and breathwork practices to enhance wellbeing. They delve into the distinction between rest and relaxation, emphasizing that rest involves pausing while relaxation nurtures the nervous system. Laurent discusses how grounding can foster creativity and tackle anxiety and insomnia. The duo also shares practical tips on establishing healthy circadian rhythms, managing evening habits for better sleep, and the rejuvenating effects of short naps.

Oct 8, 2025 • 49min
How to Shift Your Self-Talk for More Clarity & Joy with Jenny Conway
Join mindset coach Jenny Conway, founder of Evamoso, as she shares her insights on transforming self-talk to enhance clarity and joy. Jenny dives into her journey from a cancer diagnosis to a thriving coaching career, revealing how breathwork and visualization were pivotal to her recovery. Discussing the power of intrinsic desire, she offers actionable tools like belief rewriting and morning visualizations. Jenny emphasizes the importance of treating yourself with compassion, unlocking personal growth without burnout.

Oct 1, 2025 • 29min
Why Meditation Sometimes Doesn’t Work (and What to Do Instead)
Explore why meditation can sometimes fall flat and even add frustration instead of calm. The discussion highlights how the nervous system impacts our ability to find stillness and suggests completing the stress cycle through movement before meditating. Practical alternatives like yoga postures, breathwork, and mindfulness tools are shared, reframing the practice as compassionate rather than punitive. Listeners learn to assess their readiness for meditation and discover how to ground themselves for better mental health.

Sep 24, 2025 • 47min
Rethinking Resilience with Dr. Lauretta Greer (Coaching Psychologist)
In this episode, Lilly sits down with Dr. Lauretta Greer, a trauma-informed Coaching Psychologist who specialises in personal development, transitions, and stress management. With a passion for stress prevention and resilience, Lauretta’s mission is to help people enhance their skills, improve mental and physical health, and take charge of their lives.What you gain from this conversation:What a Coaching Psychologist actually does and how it differs from traditional coaching or therapyTwo definitions of resilience Lauretta uses with her clients — and why they matterHow to tell the difference between healthy stress and toxic stressThe “Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn” stress responses (and how to move through them)PERMA: Positive Psychology in real life — a simple framework for everyday resiliencePractical tools & reframing techniques for when you’re feeling overwhelmedWhen meditation and mindfulness can backfire and how to adjust your practiceHow Lauretta’s upcoming book The Grey Space explores the evolving space between therapy and coachingKey Takeaways:Resilience isn’t just “bouncing back” — it’s learning to adapt, grow and integrate life’s challenges.Stress can be helpful or harmful; knowing the difference is the first step.Mindfulness works best when it leaves the cushion and enters everyday life.Coaches and mental-health professionals need support in the “grey space” between therapy and coaching.Resources & Links: Dr. Lauretta Greer’s Website- https://drlaurettagreer.com/ Her upcoming book 'The Grey Space' is available for pre-order! -------------------------For (free!) meditations visit my substack.Loving the podcast? Leaving a rating or review helps more than you know—it truly makes our day.You can also find TMR on Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube.The Morning Ritual is produced by The Space (London) with end to end video production by Charlene Huskinson.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Sep 17, 2025 • 19min
A Guided Practice for Steadiness & Ease
Today’s practice is all about stillness. We find stillness in the body in an attempt to find more stillness in the mind. This is a meditation technique known as Kaya Sthairyam, ‘kaya' meaning body and 'sthairyam' meaning stillness.While the mind will never be completely still, it can become more settled, more spacious, and less reactive. When the body is restless, the mind often mirrors that and when the body becomes steady, it’s like a signal to the mind to slow down.Through this practice we release unnecessary muscular effort and allow the body to become grounded and unmoving. This stillness is not forced, it’s an allowing, a surrender, an undoing.For more (free!) meditations visit my substack. ------------------------Loving the podcast? Leaving a rating or review helps more than you know—it truly makes our day.You can also find TMR on Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube.The Morning Ritual is produced by The Space (London) with end to end video production by Charlene Huskinson.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Sep 10, 2025 • 36min
Where Ancient Wisdom & Modern Science Meet with Therapist Coco Plank
I'm joined by friend and fellow podcaster, Courtney Plank, also known as Coco. Coco is the founder of Coco Plank Therapy, where she draws on Buddhist Psychology and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction to help clients break free from unhelpful patterns and create lives filled with purpose and connection.Through the lens of Buddhism and Yoga Philosophy, we reflect on how these traditions offer timeless ways of reconnecting to ourselves, our communities, and our true nature.Some of the themes we cover include:The parallels between Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths & Eightfold Path and Yoga’s Eight LimbsHow neuroscience supports the Buddhist practice of observing and fact-checking our thoughtsThe rituals and practices that keep us grounded and steady on the pathReclaiming forgotten wisdom traditions for modern lifeBalancing self-inquiry (through meditation, therapy, and reflection) with outward actionThe role of podcasting as both a practice and a pathway to deeper connectionHow nurturing creativity reminds us that every human is creativeHow to live more heart-centered and communicate in ways that foster real connectionUltimately, this episode is about remembering our shared longing: to connect more deeply- with ourselves, with each other, and with the world around us.----------------------------------------------------------------------------Loving the podcast? Leaving a rating or review helps more than you know, it truly makes our day.You can also find TMR on Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube.The Morning Ritual is produced by The Space (London) with end to end video production by Charlene Huskinson.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Sep 3, 2025 • 54min
Breathwork to Build Resilience and Unlock Your Potential with Will Twigden
Have you ever noticed how your breath changes when you’re stressed, anxious, or rushing through life? The way you breathe directly shapes the way you live. In this episode, I sit down with breathwork facilitator Will Twigden to explore how repatterning your breath can restore calm, release long-held tension, and open the door to a more authentic, purposeful way of living.Will spent a decade in the corporate world. He was always on, chasing results, yet feeling anxious and disconnected. Today, he helps high achievers build resilience and clarity through Facilitated Breath Repatterning (FBR), a powerful somatic method rooted in breath mechanics, stress physiology, and nervous system healing.We discuss:Will’s journey from corporate burnout to becoming a breathwork teacherWhy your breath mirrors your internal state (and how to change it)How modern stress shapes our breathing patternsWhat makes Facilitated Breath Repatterning different from other breathwork practicesPractical ways to use your breath to reduce stress, improve focus, and unlock potentialWhether you’re curious about breathwork, navigating stress, or seeking tools for personal transformation, this conversation will inspire you to see your breath in a whole new way.Connect with Will and learn more at https://www.willtwigden.com/ Subscribe to The Morning Ritual on Substack for our free guided practices -------------------------------------------------------------Loving the podcast? Leaving a rating or review helps more than you know, it truly makes our day.You can also find TMR on Instagram, TikTok, & Youtube.The Morning Ritual is produced by The Space (London) with end to end video production by Charlene Huskinson.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands


