Episode Details

In this powerful conversation from the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo speaks with Julie Lythcott-Haims — New York Times bestselling author, activist, politician, and former Stanford dean — about how mindfulness can help us face shame, rewrite old stories, and create space for authentic belonging.

Julie shares how she first discovered mindfulness in her 30s, how body awareness helped her get out of her own way, and how storytelling became a tool for healing unprocessed pain. She reflects on writing Real American, her memoir on race and belonging, and the liberation that came from releasing stories she had carried for decades.

⏱️ Chapters 

00:00 – Intro 

04:11 – mindfulness as a path to self-awareness

06:40 – Writing as emotional release 

10:35 – Holding space with compassion 

14:41 – The courage of vulnerability 

21:16 – Helicopter Parenting: lesson in parenting and self-growth 

30:25 – Post-It notes of connection 

33:00 – Freeing others through your story

36:57 – Releasing fear and finding courage to be seen

38:25 – A moment of belonging with a taxi driver

41:03 – Building bridges across difference 

46:25 – Living authentically with compassion

🔗Know more about Julie

• Julie Lythcott-Haims: julielythcotthaims.com
• Substack: julielythcotthaims.substack.com
• TED Talk: How to Raise an Adult
• Books: How to Raise an Adult, Real American, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult

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Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life.

Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work.

Each episode offers a mix of:

• Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings
• Conversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers
• Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers
• Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change

If you’re interested in:

• Mindfulness meditation for everyday life
• Trauma-sensitive and compassion-based practices
• Teaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative way
• Deepening your own practice while supporting others

…you’re in the right place.

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