Zen Commuter

Zen Commuter is about meditation and how it can improve the quality of your life. Thom Walters speaks with acclaimed meditation teachers, authors and everyday practitioners, to help listeners understand how to start a mindfulness habit, as well as keep it going. Along the way he discusses topics that help listeners cultivate a calmer, wiser and happier life. Come join Thom Monday through Friday to deepen your meditation practice.

The Daily Buddhist by Brendan Barca and Pema Sherpa 06/04/2025

Buddhism in the Everyday: Brendan Barca’s Insights for Modern Life 06/03/2025

Tricycle Week: The Power of a Quiet Life by Lewis Richmond 05/28/2025

Tricycle Week: Encourage Others by Overcoming Your Own Suffering by Venerable Pannavati 05/28/2025

A Preview of Tricycle Week: The Kamma of Goodwill 05/15/2025

Vedic Meditation and Modern Stress - A Conversation with Michael Rosenfeld 05/09/2025

Jeff Patterson: Meditation Instructor and Author of The Yielding Warrior (R) 05/07/2025

Three Insight Timer Features to Enhance Your Meditation Practice 05/06/2025

Journey to Inner Stillness: A Conversation with Manal El Ramly 05/05/2025

Breath as a Bridge: Exploring Meditation with Trea Drake 04/24/2025

Restoring Balance: Energy Healing and Inner Calm with Mary Sanders 04/16/2025

From Philosophy to Practice: Jonah Primo’s Guide to Everyday Mindfulness 04/09/2025

Creative Calm: A Conversation with Jodi Rose Gonzales 04/04/2025

Creative Calm: A Conversation with Jodi Rose Gonzales 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 conversation that’s equal parts calming and deeply thought-provoking. Topics Covered: ✅ Defining what creativity is, on one level, and how it can help us better understand who we are ✅ The intersection of mindfulness and meditation ✅ How to foster introspection through creativity. Jodi Rose Gonzales is a visual artist, art therapist, author, and mindfulness coach who inspires her students through teachings intended to spread more hope and healing around the world. She is recognized as a top artist by Marquis Who’s Who in America, and a Global Impact Artist by the International Association of Top Professionals. Jodi has authored two Amazon #1 New Releases including the Doodle’s Code and Drawn to Yoga, she is featured in an international bestseller called 50 Fearless Leaders, and she’s the host of The iROSE Podcast. She helps busy creative people who are intentional about personal growth using art-based mindfulness, a unique method that helps people develop insight and self-awareness—AND manage anxiety and stress—in one simple practice. Links from the Episode: Begin your free creative journey with Jodi Rose Meditation Coaching (Complimentary consultation) THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show Thanks again for listening to the show! If it has helped you in any way, please share it using the social media buttons you see on the page. Be a part of the show! Send me a message: Email: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Donate: Subscribe: | Rate and review us in Apple Podcasts! /episode/index/show/zencommuter/id/36009440

Embracing the Divine Feminine: A Conversation with Leslie Draffin 03/28/2025

Embracing the Divine Feminine: A Conversation with Leslie Draffin 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 powerful tool for self-awareness and personal growth. Whether you're curious about the benefits of microdosing or looking to deepen your connection with your body and mind, this episode offers valuable wisdom you won’t want to miss. Topics Covered: ✅ Utilizing plant medicine to help women ease menstrual symptoms and connect to their power ✅ Overview of how microdosing works ✅ How meditation helps all people connect with what is true and resonant for them Leslie Draffin is a women's somatic coach, psychedelic microdosing guide, breath & meditation teacher & menstrual cycle educator. She helps midlife women embrace their bodies, sex, and psychedelics so they can overcome the wound of unworthiness, get free from mental health challenges and build a life they're excited about. Leslie believes somatic practices like breathwork along with sacred Earth medicine have the power to bring us home to ourselves, awaken our authenticity and heal the trauma locked within our subconscious. 📌 Follow Leslie Drafffin: Activate your Inner Magic: free microdosing guide: Instagram: Podcast - The Light Within: Meditation Coaching (Complimentary consultation) THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show Thanks again for listening to the show! If it has helped you in any way, please share it using the social media buttons you see on the page. Be a part of the show! Send me a message: Email: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Donate: Subscribe: | Rate and review us in Apple Podcasts! /episode/index/show/zencommuter/id/35910005

Tricycle Week: Sitting Still in a World That Won’t Stop—Overcoming Discomfort in Meditation 03/26/2025

Tricycle Week: Sitting Still in a World That Won’t Stop—Overcoming Discomfort in Meditation 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 and learn to sit with that discomfort? In this episode, we’ll discuss how to become more comfortable with the timer in meditation and what it reveals about our minds. Plus, we’ll feature a reading of I Think the Clock Is Broken by Christopher Rivas, offering insights into time, presence, and the art of letting go. Let’s learn to embrace the practice—one moment at a time. Topics Covered: Persistent Time Anxiety During Meditation: Despite years of practice, Rivas often experiences a nagging suspicion that his meditation timer has malfunctioned, leading to an urge to check the clock. This recurring doubt underscores a common struggle with time perception during meditation. The Illusion of Control and Fear of Letting Go: Rivas identifies this anxiety as stemming from a deeper desire for control and a fear of uncertainty. He suggests that the discomfort with an indefinite meditation period reflects a broader discomfort with unpredictability in life. Societal Conditioning Linking Time to Productivity: He critiques societal norms that equate time with productivity, observing that this mindset can make stillness feel counterproductive. Rivas proposes that embracing meditation without strict time constraints can serve as an act of rebellion against this pervasive cultural narrative. Meditation Coaching (Complimentary consultation) THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show Thanks again for listening to the show! If it has helped you in any way, please share it using the social media buttons you see on the page. Be a part of the show! Send me a message: Email: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Donate: Subscribe: | Rate and review us in Apple Podcasts! /episode/index/show/zencommuter/id/35863690

Tricycle Week: Understanding the 3 Types of Laziness—Is Your Laziness Real? 03/22/2025

Tricycle Week: How Mindfulness Helps You Handle Toxic People and Protect Your Peace 03/21/2025

Tricycle Week: Is Meditation Beneficial for Young Students? Insights from Emma Varvaloucas 03/19/2025

Tricycle Week: Is Meditation Beneficial for Young Students? Insights from Emma Varvaloucas 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 explore key research, including insights from Emma Varvaloucas’ article, Classroom Mindfulness Put to the Test, which examines the largest study to date on mindfulness in schools. Are these programs helping, or do they come with unintended consequences? Let’s uncover the science behind meditation in the classroom. Topics Covered: ✅ Origins and Expansion of Mindfulness Practices: The article traces the development of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from its inception by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 to its widespread application in adult mental health. ✅ Introduction of Mindfulness in Educational Settings: It discusses the rationale behind implementing mindfulness programs in schools, aiming to address rising mental health issues among adolescents by teaching them mindfulness techniques. ✅ Evaluation of the MYRIAD Study's Findings: The article analyzes the outcomes of the MYRIAD trial, the largest study on adolescent mindfulness programs, which revealed unexpected results, including potential ineffectiveness and possible adverse effects for some students. Meditation Coaching (Complimentary consultation) THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show Thanks again for listening to the show! If it has helped you in any way, please share it using the social media buttons you see on the page. Be a part of the show! Send me a message: Email: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: Donate: Subscribe: | Rate and review us in Apple Podcasts! /episode/index/show/zencommuter/id/35782875