SPEAKING OF MEDITATION
A Podcast hosted by Michael Miller
ABOUT THE PODCAST
Speaking of Meditation: Real-life stories from people who meditate. Why they do it, and how it’s changed their lives.
If you’ve tried meditation and struggled, or you’re practicing and need more inspiration, these stories will encourage and motivate you.
Speaking of Meditation is hosted and produced by Michael Miller, one of the most in-demand Vedic Meditation teachers in the world. Listen as he goes deep with fascinating guests about the game-changing effect of closing your eyes.
SEASON 3
#24 Megha Mohan, BBC’s Global Gender & Identity Correspondent
Megha 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”.
#23 Dr Tim Spector, Doctor, Writer, Zoe App Founder
Dr Tim is an award-winning Professor of Genetics, author and founder of the worldwide phenomenon the Zoe App. His work is renowned in the scientific community, and he’s hailed in popular culture as the straight-talking doctor who’s changing the way we eat. Learning to meditate in the 70’s, he had no clue he’d keep it up. “I surprised myself I’ve carried on… I thought I was too much of a rebel.”
#22 Sarah Lyall, New York Times Writer
Sarah is a prominent writer for the New York Times, her career spanning almost two decades as their London correspondent, and now covering international affairs, culture and media. Her recent feature on acclaimed psychologist Esther Perel was hailed by Esther as “wonderful”. Sarah’s journey into meditation isn’t conventional — she admits she wasn’t interested when she signed up.
#21 Philip Knatchbull, CEO, Film Producer and Distributor
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”.
#20 Noomi Melchoir Natan, Leadership Coach, Podcast Host
Noomi is an executive coach, leadership consultant, and the host of the Female Inner Power podcast. She’s passionate about helping women escape the shadow of the ‘good girl’ persona and tap into their full power. A 15-year meditator, she’s absolutely dedicated to her practice: “it’s like cleaning your mind everyday. I show for everyone in a completely different way.”
#19 Peter Magnani, Ad Executive, founder of Beam app
Leading advertising exec Peter certainly didn’t see himself as the “tree-hugging type”, and thought meditation was cultish. It took hitting a personal rock bottom for him to realise something had to change. Meditation changed everything for him. He left his high-level job to become the founder of Beam, a data-led, self-management tool which enables people to use their own data to track and improve their wellbeing on every level. “It’s totally practical. Meditation is an essential foundation.”
#18 Renée Elliot, founder of Planet Organic
Renée is the founder of Planet Organic, the UK’s original organic supermarket. Recognised as one of Britain’s 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women and London’s 1,000 Most Influential People, Renée has changed the way people think about food. She’s been meditating since 1991, and shares how her practice provides the “golden thread” running through her life. “Thank the Lord for meditation. I am a different person because of it.”
#17 Jesse Peretz, Emmy-nominated Filmmaker, Producer, Creator
Jesse is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, producer and creator, known for Netflix’s Glow, Hulu’s Shrill, and HBO’s Girls. His latest TV project City on Fire, debuts on Apple TV in May. He shares stories about group meditations on the set of Girls, how his practice is fundamental to his career success, and why he thinks that “everyone should meditate… even if that’s a corny thing to say”.
SEASON 2
#16 Lucy Beresford, Author, Broadcaster, Psychotherapist
Lucy is an expert in sex and relationships – her TEDx talk, “Infidelity: to stay or to go?” has been viewed over 2.5 million times. She’s often on TV and radio providing psychological insights on current affairs. Lucy was convinced meditation “absolutely wasn’t for her”. Then she learned, and found it provided the missing piece of understanding to her life.
#15 India Sehmi, Photographer, Writer, Lifestyle Influencer
India works in the lifestyle influencer space. Her Instagram @theindiaedit spans fashion, interiors, travel, wellness, food, and beauty. In addition to creating content on Instagram, India uses her photography skills shooting for brands and hotels. She says meditation has made her a “zen person” — something her friends would never have said of her before. “Things just wash over me now. I’m much more present.”
#14 Richard Stokes, Leadership Coach & Podcast Host
Richard is a leadership coach, business owner and host of The Mojo Podcast. Following a 20+ year stint in the advertising world, Richard is now happily into his ‘second career’, living in Ibiza with his wife and young son. He cites learning to meditate as the catalyst for profound change in his business and personal life.
#13 Lisa Allardice, Guardian writer
Lisa is the Guardian’s chief books writer. Just over a year ago, she read Jillian’s book, Why Meditate? Because it Works, and decided to come and learn to meditate and review the book for the Observer. Her article inspired hundreds of people to reach out to us, and many are now meditators as a result. We have a great conversation about how meditation has completely changed things for her.
#12 Emma Guns, Podcast Host
Emma is the host of the podcast The Emma Guns Show where she interviews celebrities, creators, editors and authors. Previously she was Beauty Editor at OK! magazine for a decade. Emma learned to meditate in January 2022 after reading Jillian Lavender’s book Why Meditate? Because it Works and has been an amazing advocate for meditation since, including interviewing Jillian on her show.
#11 Jeff Kober, Actor, Meditation Teacher
Jeff is an Emmy-Awarding winning actor. You may have seen him as dark or twisted characters on The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy, Shameless, New Girl and NCIS: Los Angeles. He’s also undertaken a life-long spiritual search that led him to Vedic Meditation. He and I are good friends, undertaking our 3.5 month teacher training programme together. Alongside his acting work, he is one of the most in-demand meditation teachers in LA.
#10 Annie Kelly, Guardian Journalist & Editor
Annie learned to meditate with me in London back in 2012. In her own words, she came to meditation with “slight scepticism, and mass desperation”. A decade later, she speaks about how that weekend changed her life. We discuss the toll investigating Human Rights abuses has had on her life and mental health, and how meditation is her foundation.
#9 Dr Frank Lipman, Functional Medicine Expert
I met Frank in 2018 and taught him and his entire team to meditate. Since then we have stayed close and he has sent many of his patients along to learn. Frank speaks candidly about the profound effects meditation has had on his personal and professional life.
SEASON 1
#8 Robert Hammond, High Line co-founder
I interview fellow Vedic Meditation teacher and founder of New York’s iconic High Line park, Robert Hammond. Robbie speaks openly about his struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, despite experiencing what many would see as great success. We explore his journey from student to teacher, and how he’s found a new level of happiness with his life (and with meditation!)
#7 Laurie Keith, VP of Media
San Francisco-based media Vice President Laurie is a remarkable example of how meditation helps her live a full, productive, dynamic (and yet non-manic) life. We talk about how meditation sharpened her intuition and led her to some big life changes in a smooth and exciting way, including her career and relationships.
#6 Tausif Rahman, Tech Marketer
Tausif opens up about his struggle with the challenges of his mental health, including insomnia and anxiety — and how meditation brought him out the other side. His determination is truly inspiring.
#5 Anna & James Burke, Artists & Business Owners
Anna and James talk about the power of learning and evolving their meditation practice together and how they support each other on that journey. As busy parents of three young children and both running their own business, it’s inspiring to hear how meditation is at the centre of their lives.
#4 Yvette Robinson, Actress
Yvette shares her journey from naughty teenager in Perth (the most isolated city in the world) to London and starring in West End shows, and how meditation got her through challenging times.
#3 Nathan Larson, Musician
Musician and composer Nathan Larson recounts his evolution from punk to grunge to film composer and reflects on how meditation allows him to tap into his creativity.
#2 Lily Spicer, Press Officer
Press officer Lily Spicer talks about how meditation saw her through her teens, helped her thrive in school, and how her friends are finally coming round to meditation as well.
#1 Roz Barr, Architect
Award-winning architect Roz Barr talks about why she learned meditation, how her personal history led her to her work and to meditation, and how her practice feeds her creativity.