Episode 65: Connecting with Life

Episode 68 - Julie Jensen

In this episode, host Stephanie Romero speaks with guest Julie Jansen, a somatic movement teacher, meditation practitioner, and forest therapy guide, about the deep connections between embodiment, nature, and mindfulness. Julie shares formative childhood memories of nature—fireflies, wildlife, and moments of awe—that shaped her lifelong relationship with the natural world, even without a nature-centered upbringing. Her path eventually led through yoga teacher training, meditation practice, and motherhood, which deepened her commitment to embodied awareness and presence. Julie also discusses founding Earth Body Presence [https://www.earthbodypresence.com/] during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to foster community through mindfulness, movement, and relational presence. The conversation explores somatic practices as tools for emotional processing, emphasizing that emotions are experienced in the body and supported through movement and walking. Julie introduces forest bathing and forest therapy, rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku and informed by her training with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, highlighting their role in regulating the nervous system, reducing stress, and restoring connection to the natural world. A central theme of the episode is “remembering”—reconnecting to the understanding that humans are not separate from the Earth but part of it. Julie frames forest therapy as a practice of remembering our “earth bodies” and living in reciprocal relationship with the natural world. The conversation also touches on relational mindfulness, the practice of listening without agenda, and how slowing down can serve as both healing and quiet resistance in a productivity-driven culture. Julie closes by recommending Love Letter to the Earth by Thich Nhat Hanh. Key themes: * Somatic awareness and emotional processing through the body * Nature-based mindfulness and forest therapy * Nervous system regulation through time in nature * “Remembering” our connection to the Earth * Relational mindfulness and presence in communication * Slowing down as resistance to extractive culture Resource mentioned: * Love Letter to the Earth by Thich Nhat Hanh Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com [https://www.awakencollaborative.com/] Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com) Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting. The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh! Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support [http://www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support] Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 67: Adam Lobel

In this thought-provoking episode, Stephanie Romero sits down with longtime meditation teacher, scholar, environmental activist, and community leader Adam Lobel to explore what it means to live, lead, and practice amidst profound personal and societal change. Adam shares his journey from a young spiritual seeker discovering Tibetan Buddhism and the Shambhala tradition to becoming a respected teacher and leader within the movement. He reflects candidly on the painful collapse of that community, the lessons learned through uncertainty and loss, and how those experiences ultimately led him to develop a new framework for navigating our complex world: The Four Fields. Together, Stephanie and Adam explore how mindfulness, emotional inquiry, ecological awareness, imagination, and contemplative practice can help us respond to today's overlapping crises—from climate change and social injustice to technological disruption and collective uncertainty. Adam introduces listeners to practical concepts such as the "Three S's" of earth-based practice—slow down, sense, and soften—and discusses the importance of reconnecting with the natural world, embracing emotional complexity, cultivating open awareness, and learning to live with groundlessness. This conversation is an invitation to move beyond simple answers and into deeper relationship with ourselves, one another, and the living world. Whether you're a contemplative practitioner, a leader navigating uncertainty, or simply someone seeking wisdom in challenging times, you'll find inspiration, insight, and practical guidance for living with greater presence and purpose. In this episode, you'll learn: * How meditation and contemplative practice can support resilience in uncertain times * What Adam's Four Fields framework teaches about personal and collective transformation * Why ecological awareness is an essential part of wellbeing * How emotional inquiry can help us navigate grief, anxiety, and moral injury * The role of imagination, vision, and open awareness in shaping a more compassionate future Join us for a powerful conversation about healing, courage, community, and the possibility of creating a wiser and more connected world. ----more---- Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com [https://www.awakencollaborative.com/] Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com) Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting. The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh! Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support [http://www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support] Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 66: The Practice of Meditation with the Unexpected

In this calming and reflective episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dawn Lehman guides listeners through A Practice of Meditation with The Unexpected, a gentle mindfulness experience designed to help us meet uncertainty with presence, compassion, and curiosity. Through grounding awareness, thoughtful pauses, and mindful reflection, Dawn invites listeners to notice how they relate to unexpected moments in life rather than resisting them. Whether you are navigating change, stress, transition, or simply seeking a moment to reconnect with yourself, this guided meditation offers space to slow down, breathe deeply, and build resilience for life’s unfolding moments. This practice reminds us that while we cannot always control what happens around us, we can cultivate awareness and steadiness within ourselves. Find a quiet space, settle in, and allow yourself these moments of reflection and renewal. Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com [https://www.awakencollaborative.com/] Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com) Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting. The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh! Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support [http://www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support] Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 65: Connecting with Life

In this gentle guided meditation, Dawn Lehman invites listeners to slow down and cultivate a deeper sense of connection — with their bodies, their breath, their ancestors, loved ones, and the living world around them. Through grounding reflections and compassionate awareness, the practice reminds us that we are never truly separate, but part of an interconnected web of life sustained by shared breath, care, and presence. Dawn’s calming guidance encourages listeners to honor whatever arises with kindness while reconnecting to their own worth and belonging. Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com [https://www.awakencollaborative.com/] Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com) Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting. The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh! Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support [http://www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support] Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Episode 64: Gavrila Abramson

In this thoughtful and deeply embodied conversation, Stephanie Romero sits down with meditation teacher, somatic psychotherapist, and Dharma practitioner Gavrila Abramson to explore the intersections of Buddhism, trauma-sensitive practice, embodiment, and healing. Gavrila shares her personal journey from burnout and depression while working as an engineer in New York to discovering meditation and spiritual practice in an ashram in the Israeli desert—a turning point that transformed the direction of her life. Together, Stephanie and Gavrila unpack how many people come to the Dharma through suffering, and how Buddhist teachings can offer not only insight into human pain, but compassionate pathways toward liberation. The conversation dives into trauma-informed meditation, the importance of choice and safety in practice, and the ways modern mindfulness often overlooks the body, ethics, and relational aspects of the Buddha’s original teachings. They also discuss patriarchy in Buddhist communities, the need for diverse voices in spiritual spaces, and the importance of finding teachers and practices that resonate with one’s lived experience. Gavrila reflects on her evolving work around “Buddhism Beyond Patriarchy,” the healing power of chanting and music, and her philosophy of “Whole Complete Perfect”—a practice of radical acceptance rooted in compassion rather than self-improvement. This episode is a rich exploration of embodied spirituality, nervous system healing, authenticity, and what it means to belong fully within a liberative path. Topics include: * Trauma-sensitive mindfulness and meditation * Somatic psychotherapy and embodiment * Buddhism beyond patriarchy * Healing through chanting and sacred music * The Four Foundations of Mindfulness * Ethics, non-harming, and engaged Buddhism * Perfectionism, self-acceptance, and wholeness * Finding teachers and practices that truly nourish Recommended resources mentioned in the episode: * The First Free Women by Matt Weingast * Deepa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master by Amy Schmidt * Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism by Kittisaro and Thanissara * Teachings from Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, and Shunryu Suzuki Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com [https://www.awakencollaborative.com/] Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com) Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting. The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh! Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support [http://www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support] Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.