In this episode, I sit down with Mark Walsh — embodiment teacher, 3rd generation educator, Aikido Blackbelt, recovering alcoholic and a psychology graduate and someone who’s not afraid to name what he sees, even when it’s uncomfortable.
While I don’t always agree with everything he says, I deeply appreciate the way he speaks up — and the patterns he brings into view around disregulation, leadership, and the shifting landscape of education over decades. This conversation is a rich and sometimes edgy exploration of what it means to teach from presence, with clarity and character.
We talk about:
// TIMESTAMP
00:00 Welcome to The Embodied Educator
1.14 Mark’s most impactful teachers,
3.31 What the *** is Embodiment?
5.21 What is learning? Is it dangerous enough :P
8.28 Loss of Virtues in Schools in the West over decades
12.04 How to directly take on a certain embodiment?
14.40 How to bring Character Formation into education?
17.17 Safe enough space to a dangerous enough space? And dysregulatory multicultural societies
24.07 Spirituality & Tetrachy model of disconnection
33:07 Gender Roles and Education39:07 Balancing Principles in Western Culture39:59 The Good, the True, and the Beautiful40:24 The Importance of Truth in Education41:51 The Role of Beauty in Education43:05 Addressing Bias and Embodiment in Teaching46:06 The Impact of Teacher's Embodiment on Students50:20 Navigating Uncomfortable Truths54:18 Centering and Meditation Practice58:26 Operational Language in Embodiment Teaching01:03:36 The Best Practice is the One You Love01:09:10 Final Thoughts and Resources54:18 Mark leads a Centering and Meditation Practice, in line with the 4 layers of centering he talks about: self, others, world, spirit
Mark Walsh has spent the last 20 years helping people get out of their heads and into their bodies—sometimes gracefully, sometimes not. He’s the author of The Body in Coaching and Training and Embodied Meditation, and hosts The Embodiment Podcast, which has over 3 million downloads. He also ran The Embodiment Conference, ambitiously featuring 1,000 teachers and half a million attendees, which happened to be the world’s largest Zoom event.
As the founder of Embodiment Unlimited, Mark has trained over 2,000 embodiment coaches across 40+ countries (some of which still let him back in). His latest project, Feral Philosophy, is a deeper, more unfiltered look at embodiment, free from the usual wellness clichés.
His work has taken him from an alcoholic to a psychology graduate; from war zones to boardrooms; from teaching yogis and coaches to working with police and military personnel. He also co-founded Sane Ukraine, now run by Ukrainian professionals to provide trauma and embodiment training for therapists, trainers, and coaches.
With a background in psychology, aikido (black belt), and various movement practices—including yoga, meditation, dance, bodywork, and improv comedy—Mark blends deep expertise with a refreshingly direct, down-to-earth style. He’s worked with companies like Google, Unilever, and Shell, though he’s much happier when he’s not wearing a suit.
He swears more than most coaches, dances worse than he thinks, and isn’t a fan of fluffy self-help talk—but he is passionate about helping people reconnect with themselves in a real, practical way.
📱Instagram: @warkmalsh
🤳🏻 LinkedIn: @Mark Walsh
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast https://embodimentunlimited.com/podcast/
FREE E-book: https://embodimentunlimited.com/coaching-top12-book/
Liz hosts a 3-Day At Home Retreat for International Educators; starting the academic year renewed and with new rituals for Sacred Rest to sustain your teaching throughout the year.
22-24 August; more info here
🌍 www.theembodiededucator.nl | liz@theembodiededucator.nl
👀 Watch+subscribe via Youtube @TheEmbodiedEducator
📱LinkedIn: @Liz Wientjes
📱Instagram: @Liz Wientjes - The Embodied Educator
Donation https://donate.stripe.com/eVq8wO6e10wEa25fHt2Nq06
The Embodied Educator Podcast 👩🏻🏫 is hosted by Liz Wientjes. She's been in higher education for over 15 years teaching Communication, assessing, guiding and coaching many international students. To broaden her classroom horizon, over the last three years Liz has also freelanced in Primary Education and high school where she's discovering new teaching qualities and challenges!
This podcast comes from the crossroad with her other passion❤️🔥 embodiment. As a Pilates teacher, a (Flamenco) dancer, young horseback rider and as bodyworker. This blend came to be The Embodied Educator. Brains don't learn. Humans learn. Humans with a nervous system, a heart, a pulse, sensations, and a natural push for aliveness. So why do we create so much learning spaces that don't feed/allow/ackwknowledge that aliveness? Not just for the body but for our whole being?!
That's what this free and made with love and care podcast is about. If you support our mission, a review, likes+starrs+shares and/or a donation help this podcast to grow. Consider paying it forward, any way available for you. Thanks for being part of this Community of Care for Education.
Paul Linden - being in movement
William Smith - Ren Shin Kan aikido
Mark talks about Japanese Budo - i believe this website might shine a light on what is the philosophy
BOOK: The Culture Map - Erin Meyer (A book I found very helpful in understanding cultures better - especially being with an israeli)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Some parts are written with help of AI - apologies if there's an inconsistency or inaccuracy - I create this podcast in my spare time and totally out of love for learning, teaching and paying it forward :-)