Pay Attention

S2:E15 Keep Scratching The Surface | Curiosity, Action & Growth

In this final guest episode before the summer break of Season 2, Holly McNeill, the Mindfulness Architect, welcomes Austra Putnina — a Latvian-born, Estonia-based podcaster, coach, and multi-passionate seeker of growth. Together, Holly and Austra explore what it means to pay attention early, to notice the thoughts and patterns that shape us, and to begin moving even before we fully know where we are going. Austra shares how curiosity, basketball, discipline, resilience, and repeated action helped her transform self-doubt into growth, reminding us that change does not happen overnight, but through small, sustainable steps taken again and again. This conversation is a joyful, heart-opening reminder that we are not stuck. We do not have to have the whole path figured out. Sometimes the most important thing is simply to get curious, take one small step, and trust that time, practice, and awareness will do the rest. As Holly and Austra discuss, there is no finish line to becoming — only deeper and deeper layers of clarity, courage, and self-understanding.

S2:E14 Mindfulness: Why One Size Doesn't Fit All

In this episode of Pay Attention with Holly McNeill, Holly is joined by mindfulness teacher Christoph Spiessens and CBT therapist Liezl Laidlaw to explore a powerful truth: mindfulness is not one-size-fits-all. Together, they unpack why traditional approaches can unintentionally exclude many people—especially those who are neurodivergent—and how we can begin to approach mindfulness with more flexibility, curiosity, and self-trust. From movement-based practices to rethinking the breath as an anchor, this conversation opens the door to a more inclusive, compassionate way of paying attention. One that gives you permission to find what actually works for you. If you've ever felt like you were "failing" at mindfulness, this episode will change how you see the practice—and yourself.

S2:E13 From Chaos To Clarity: The Practice Of Awareness with Mark Nunberg

What does it truly mean to live a practice? In this deeply grounded and reflective episode of Pay Attention, Holly reconnects with meditation teacher Mark Nunberg of Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis —a place that played a meaningful role in her own journey. Together, they explore the unfolding path of contemplative practice—not as a concept, but as a way of living. Mark shares how his early questioning of success and purpose led him to Buddhism and insight meditation, and how over three decades of teaching have revealed a simple but profound truth: clarity doesn't come from thinking more—it comes from seeing clearly. In this conversation, you'll discover: * What it really means to live a practice—not just do one * How awareness matures through small, consistent inroads * Why suffering (dukkha) can be a doorway rather than a problem * How thoughts lose their power when they are seen clearly * The shift from identifying with the mind to observing it * What liberation actually points to—and how it's available in everyday life * Mark reminds us that the goal isn't to eliminate thoughts, but to change our relationship to them—and that real transformation happens not through force, but through awareness. If you've ever felt lost, overwhelmed by your thoughts, or curious about what lies beyond the "chaos of the mind," this conversation offers a grounded and accessible path forward.

S2:E11 What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You (Part 2)

What if recurring dreams held the key to understanding who we truly are—and what we're here to do? In this follow-up to their first conversation on dream tending, host Holly McNeill invites dream tender and therapist Valerie Johns back for a raw and revealing live dream tending session. If you've ever wondered who Holly really is beyond the mic, this is the episode. It's raw, unpolished, and deeply personal—and through the process, Holly learns more than she expected. Together, Holly and Valerie explore: · How live dream tending can reveal hidden wisdom within recurring dreams · Why dreams often uncover unresolved identity, self-worth, and the longing for mentorship · How the ego loses control in the dream state—and why that matters for personal growth · How some dreams come from the collective unconscious, calling us to healing and action in the world This isn't just a conversation—it's a vulnerable, transformative experience that invites listeners to tend their own inner landscapes with curiosity and care. ✨ Haven't listened to Part 1 yet? Go back and start there for Valerie's full introduction and insights into dream tending. Connect with Valerie Johns: 🌐 valeriejohns.com [https://valeriejohns.com/]📷 Ihttps://www.instagram.com/valeriejohnsla/ [https://www.instagram.com/valeriejohnsla/]🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-johns-66155216/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-johns-66155216/]

S2:E10 What Your Dreams Are Telling You with Valerie Johns

To stay in the world of dreams just a bit longer, this week on Pay Attention we're going back to the archives to revisit an earlier conversation on dream tending with Valerie Johns. What if your dreams weren't random at all, but meaningful messages from the deepest parts of you? This episode originally aired in Season 1 as Episode 24. Unlike traditional dream interpretation, Valerie's approach to dream tending encourages us to form a relationship with our dreams—to listen, explore, and allow the subconscious to speak. In this conversation, Holly McNeill sits down with Valerie to explore how dreams can support emotional healing, personal clarity, and spiritual growth. Together they discuss: • Why we forget our dreams—and how to start remembering them • Why recurring dreams and nightmares may actually be calls for attention • How the ego has no control in the dream world—and doesn't like it • How some dreams may arise from the collective unconscious, pointing us toward healing and action in the world ✨ Part 2 of this conversation will re-air next week with Holly and Valerie joining live. If you're curious and don't want to wait, you can find it now in the archives as Season 1, Episode 25, where Valerie leads Holly through a live dream tending session. Connect with Valerie Johns: 🌐 valeriejohns.com 📷 / valeriejohnsla 🔗 / valerie-johns-66155216