Episode Details

A grounded conversation on practical mindfulness, plant-based living, and the inner work that sustains holistic health. Dr. Will Tuttle—author of The World Peace Diet and former Zen monk—connects compassion, food choices, and creative practice to personal and planetary well-being. Dr. Crystal T. Harrell—resilience expert and Yale-trained public health scholar—traces her path from early loss and anxiety to mindful embodiment through walking meditation, presence, and self-knowledge. We keep it pragmatic: how to make consciousness visible in daily routines (even dishwashing), why “inner authority” matters more than external voices, and what one principle can reset your health today.

About the Guests:  

Dr. Will Tuttle — Visionary pianist, former Zen monk, and bestselling author of The World Peace Diet. Five decades teaching compassion, vegan ethics, and creative spirituality.

Dr. Crystal T. Harrell — #1 bestselling author, resilience expert, and PhD in Public Health (Yale). Advocates mindfulness-based stress reduction, self-discovery, and accessible, embodied practices.

Key Takeaways:

• Mindfulness is the lever: bring awareness to food, thoughts, speech, purchases, and relationships to reduce harm and increase health.

• Plant-based living is framed as compassion in action—benefiting animals, ecosystems, and often human health—while challenging waste in industrial food systems.

• Meditation is not only seated stillness; walking, washing dishes, and careful movement can all be effective mindfulness practices.

• “Inner authority” beats outside noise: cultivate discernment through consistent practice rather than outsourcing well-being to trends.

• Creativity (music, writing) can be a contemplative path that integrates purpose with daily life.

• Trauma-informed mindfulness matters: gentle practices (e.g., walking without devices, sensory noticing) help re-inhabit the body.

• Self-knowledge is non-negotiable; choose practices that align with you (journaling, movement, silence) and do them with intention.

• Love is experiential: feeling loved grows as we practice being loving—even toward simple tasks and objects—training attention toward gratitude.

• One-principle reset: practice mindful attention today (to your meal, breath, or next conversation) and let every action radiate fewer harmful ripples.

• Holistic health is a way of being, not a checklist; it’s how we relate to self, others, nature, and the unseen.

Connect with the Guests  

• Dr. Will Tuttle: Website & resources: worldpeacediet.com

• Books: The World Peace Diet, The World Peace Way

• Music, art, and events available on the website.

• Dr. Crystal T. Harrell: Website: https://crystaltharrell.com/
  YouTube and resources are linked on her site.