When Dylan Smith first learned to meditate at age six, it wasn’t a spiritual awakening — it was just part of life. Growing up in a meditating family in Sydney, he absorbed the importance almost by osmosis. But it wasn’t until a chance visit to an Ayurvedic clinic in India, years later, that everything changed. In this episode, recorded live in front of an audience of meditators, Dylan shares how a Deepak Chopra book sparked a complete shift in direction, what drew him to study with the legendary Raju family, and why Ayurveda isn’t just about treating illness, it’s about enlivening health. We talk about the synergy between meditation and daily routine, the power of rhythm, and what it really means to live in tune with nature. Grounded and refreshingly practical, Dylan brings Ayurveda to life in a way that’s both timeless and totally doable.

When Victoria Spicer began her career, “wellness” wasn’t even a word — and retreats were the domain of a lucky few. Over four decades, she helped shape the retreat and wellbeing industry from the inside out, bringing iconic destinations like Ananda in the Himalayas and the original Mayr Clinic to global attention. But behind the glossy surface of luxury travel, something deeper was calling. In this episode, Victoria shares how moments of personal loss, professional pressure, and intuitive clarity led her to realign her life’s work — and return to meditation after a decade away. She reflects on her early fascination with stillness, the power of retreat, and why she now chooses resonance over hype. It’s a conversation about integrity, transformation, and finding quiet strength in a noisy world.

When Ahmed Hallajian quit his job at Amazon, it wasn’t part of a grand plan — just another turning point in a life marked by reinvention. A restless curiosity had already led him from accounting to YouTube, from coding bootcamps to big tech. But beneath the career pivots was a deeper question: What do I actually want? In the spring of 2024, a conversation with a friend led Ahmed to Vedic Meditation — and everything began to shift. In this episode, Ahmad shares how meditation brought clarity to his internal chaos, why he now sees his twenties as a time of tuning into the signal (not the noise), and how a Seinfeld obsession may have planted the seed for it all. From burnout to balance, distraction to direction, this is a story about pausing long enough to hear your own inner voice — and having the courage to follow it.

When Eddie Stern first discovered yoga, it wasn’t about stretching or strength — it was a search for something invisible, something essential. For decades, he became one of Ashtanga Yoga’s leading voices, deeply embedded in tradition. But over time, the outer forms lost their meaning, and a deeper calling emerged. Letting go of old identities, Eddie returned to the devotional heart of practice — and found new ways to share it. In this episode, Eddie reflects on his journey from physical mastery to spiritual inquiry, why tradition must evolve to stay alive, and how simple practices like breath and mantra can reconnect us to what matters most.

When Joh Jarvis walked away from a high-powered media career, she wasn’t chasing a plan — she was following a feeling. Despite decades of professional success, something deeper was missing. After years of inner struggle and loss, meditation offered her relief and eventually, a sense of purpose. But it wasn’t until Joh found herself teaching meditation inside America’s prison system that everything truly clicked. In this episode, she shares how Vedic Meditation helped her rediscover her center, what it’s like to teach stillness in maximum-security facilities, and why this work is transforming lives — including her own.

When Marie Farenc was diagnosed with myopic macular degeneration, fear took hold—her vision was deteriorating, stress was mounting, and life felt overwhelming. Anxiety had followed her for years, but this was different. As she tried to hold everything together for her family, the weight of uncertainty became unbearable. Meditation was something she had dabbled in, but it never quite clicked. In this episode, Marie shares how finding Vedic Meditation helped her shift from despair to resilience, why she now feels more steady than ever, and how she discovered strength in stillness despite life’s uncertainty.

For decades, Suzanne Duckett was at the heart of the wellness industry—editing glossy magazines, curating luxury spa guides, and consulting for global brands. But behind the scenes, she saw the industry’s cracks: wellness repackaged as just another product to sell. In this episode, Suzanne shares how she went from reporting on beauty and self-care to cutting through the noise and finding what truly works. She talks about the moment she realized meditation wasn’t just another wellness trend—it was the real deal. We dive into her journey from media insider to meditation advocate, the rise (and fall) of corporate wellness, and why true well-being has nothing to do with gold-leaf facials in Monaco.

Sophie Dear’s life looked successful on the outside, but inside, she was exhausted. When burnout forced her out of TV, she threw herself into yoga—only to hit the same wall a few years later. Meditation became the missing piece. “I realized I was always trying to fix everything. Meditation helped me step back and actually change.” Now a self-worth and relationship coach, Sophie helps others escape the same cycle. In this conversation, we explore burnout, boundaries, and how meditation rewires self-worth.

Megha Mohan is the BBC's first Gender and Identity Correspondent. Her work takes her across the world, covering women's rights, LGBT communities, and race and ethnicity. In a life that can lack routine, meditation is her foundation. “Wherever I am in the world, I have those two 20 minute slots.”

My guest is Dr Tim Spector OBE, award-winning Professor of Genetics, author, and founder of worldwide phenomenon the Zoe App. Tim's work is renowned in the scientific community. He's hailed in popular culture as the straight-talking doctor who's changing the way we eat, with best-selling books such as The Diet Myth and Food For Life. His current project, the Zoe App, tracks the power of the gut microbiome on overall health and longevity. Tim's been meditating since the 70's. Learning as a teenager to aid his studies ("I got bored so easily"), he had no clue if he'd keep it up. Surprisingly to Tim, he's been doing it regularly for almost five decades.

Sarah Lyall is a prominent writer for the New York Times, her career spanning almost two decades as their London correspondent. She now covers international affairs, culture and media. Her recent feature on prominent psychologist Esther Perel was hailed by Esther herself as “wonderful”. Sarah’s journey into meditation isn’t conventional — she admits she wasn’t interested when she signed up, and did it only because her daughter wanted to. Everything changed when she learned. Meditation is her space to calm down, to worry less, and show up for her loved ones in a completely different way.

Philip is the CEO of Curzon Cinemas, a member of BAFTA, and received an OBE for services to film distribution. He’s enjoyed a fascinating career in the film world, growing up on the sets of Agatha Christie pictures and Passage to India, and has worked with greats such as Sir Paul McCartney. Meditation wasn’t on his radar until a few years ago, when he realised he was “sleep-walking my way through life”. After trying the apps, he found Vedic Meditation, and hasn’t looked back. “Now, I treasure each day”.

Noomi Melchior Natan is an experienced leadership coach, and host of the Female Inner Power podcast. For more than 15 years she has coached leaders and business owners on how to overcome the blocks to success

Peter Magnani had a successful career as a senior executive in media and advertising. After learning meditation he formed his own company and created the app Beam.

Renée Elliot founded Planet Organic, the UK’s first organic supermarket, and recently required the company from administration. She is the author of cutting-edge cookbooks, a prolific corporate and public motivational speaker and a full-on mother of 3.

Jesse Peretz is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, producer, and creator known for Netflix’s GLOW, Hulu’s SHRILL, and HBO’s GIRLS. He is considered one of the most versatile and impactful people in the film and television industry.

Lucy Beresford is an author, a psychotherapist, a radio host, and a television presenter. She never thought meditation would be her cup of tea... until it was.

India Sehmi is a Lifestyle Influencer, writer and photographer. In a world that can demand "being on" all the time, meditation brings her back to centre.

Richard Stokes is a Leadership Coach, Workshop Facilitator & Podcast Host who has found his purpose helping people navigate change.

Lisa Allardice is the Guardian's chief books writer, a long-time yogi, and a pursuer of all things self-development.