Mindfulness Off the Cushion Austin Mindfulness Center

Our episode today is being published around the holiday season. I couldn’t imagine a better gift than this: the gift of mindful communication, or skillful communication.

We all know that communication is a fundamental part of human interaction and plays a crucial role in shaping our relationships and human experiences. I wish topics like effective communication and emotional regulation were taught in a more intentional way at home and school.

There is a wealth of power hidden in the simple-yet-challenging act of bringing awareness to the language we use in our lives. And by that I mean not just the world we live in, but also the world within us. There is so much to be discovered when we practice bringing awareness to our thoughts and emotions and learning how to express ourselves in a skillful and helpful way.

Our interview today is with Mudita Nisker and Dan Clurman, the authors of "Let's Talk: An Essential Guide to Skillful Communication.” In our discussion, we have the opportunity to explore their insights and perspectives on this important subject. Their book offers practical guidance and strategies for improving communication skills and cultivating deeper connections with others.

Mudita Nisker is a licensed marriage family therapist (LMFT), coach, and trainer. A strong advocate of lifelong learning, she’s led women’s communication-training groups for over thirty-five years.

Dan Clurman is a coach, trainer, and professor. Over the past thirty years, he has provided communication training and coaching to individuals and organizations in the private, public, government, and nonprofit sectors.

Let’s Talk offers invaluable guidance for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and relationships. Whether you are a parent, lover, teacher, or leader, you can benefit greatly from the kindly guidance provided in this book. By reading and applying the strategies outlined in "Let's Talk," you can improve your communication with everyone in your life and find yourself getting into fewer conflicts. And when conflicts do arise, you will be better equipped to navigate them with more skill and grace.

Since this interview with Dan and Mudita, I have purchased multiple copies of their book and I even started a little book club with my wife and three young boys. Not just for me and my learning, but also for them and preparing them for their lives. I don’t want them to be challenged in the same way that I was. I hope to give them the gifts of self awareness, emotional literacy, self regulation, and effective communication. And I couldn’t think of a better book to use as our guide to transform the way we relate to ourselves and others — one conversation at a time.

Learn more at letstalkmethod.com

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We would love to hear from you! - What would you like to know about mindfulness or how it can help you with the issues you are facing? Record your question for our podcast team. If your message is selected, we will answer it on the podcast!

Ask us a question on our website at https://www.austinmindfulness.org/podcast

Host Lance Vaughn, co-owner of the Austin Mindfulness Center and mindfulness student.

Co-host Claudio Barrientos, LMSW, Certified Mindfulness Instructor at Austin Mindfulness Center.

Special guest Brother Dave Kenneally has been practicing mindfulness for over twenty years. A former Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps AND a former Buddhist Monk in the tradition of the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, he seems to have a penchant for shaving his head and wearing a uniform. Or perhaps it’s his love of service. After spending six years living in Buddhist Monasteries and Practice Centers, he now resides in San Diego, CA and travels the world teaching mindfulness. 
Dave is a Certified Teacher of the Search Inside Yourself Program, a course in mindfulness, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence, designed at Google for the corporate setting. He has experience teaching mindfulness to a wide variety of populations including business leaders, teachers, yoga instructors, social workers, cancer patients and their families, teens, and military veterans. He has helped facilitate programs from New York City to Anchorage, Alaska and everywhere in between. 
A certified instructor for the US Veterans Affairs Department teaching the 8 week course: Taking Charge of My Life and Health, Dave brings Mindfulness to Vets, helping them heal and thrive in every aspect of their lives.
As an Ordained member of the late Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing, Brother Dave believes that all of us can use the tools of mindfulness to live fuller, happier lives right now. He likes to say that he spent all those years training in monasteries so you don’t have to. 
Website: https://www.davekenneally.com/

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We would love to hear from you! - What would you like to know about mindfulness or how it can help you with the issues you are facing? Record your question for our podcast team. If your message is selected, we will answer it on the podcast!

Ask us a question on our website at https://www.austinmindfulness.org/podcast

Host Lance Vaughn, co-owner of Austin Mindfulness Center and self-described ‘mindfulness student.’

Co-host Claudio Barrientos, LMSW, Certified Mindfulness Instructor at Austin Mindfulness Center.

Special guest Dr. Caroline Buzanko - Her mission is to inspire and empower mental health professionals, educators, and families in promoting children and teens' resilience and long-term success.

Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/ 
Emotion Cards and Body Outline: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/emotioncardsbodyoutlines/
Anxiety Compass Parent masterclass: https://koru-learning-institute.thinkific.com/courses/anxiety-compass-for-parents

Facebook 
Dr. Buzanko Page: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/
Super parents of Kids with Anxiety Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/720299805212614

Podcasts
Parents of the Year: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/parents-of-the-year/id1611916146
Overpowering Emotions:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/overpowering-emotions-podcast-helping-children-and/id1618828819

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We would love to hear from you! - What would you like to know about mindfulness or how it can help you with the issues you are facing? Record your question for our podcast team. If your message is selected, we will answer it on the podcast!

Ask us a question on our website at https://www.austinmindfulness.org/podcast

Host Lance Vaughn, co-owner of Austin Mindfulness Center and self-described ‘mindfulness student.’

Co-host Claudio Barrientos, LMSW, Certified Mindfulness Instructor at Austin Mindfulness Center.

Today we’ll learn how a mindful mindset can be incredibly useful when trying to create a space for healing. And the most important ingredient when you’re creating a space for healing is your simple presence. Simple, and yet, not as easy to do as you might think.

We can do this for others as we lay the groundwork for healthy communication. And we also do this for ourselves. We’ll explore this human ability we can develop, with practice, to sit with unpleasant thoughts, ideas, or people. And to do so without letting them get under our skin. And, as we have discussed, this uncommon and seemingly unattainable feat of being comfortable in our own skin. We’re going to revisit some old friends… ego and psychological flexibility.  
We’ll review t he ability we can cultivate to become aware of our ego habits and how these habits can get in the way of our own personal development… and building a better life… a more open and loving life. Amazingly, almost magically, it all ties back to the power of the present moment. And the relationship between present moment awareness and the domain of our thoughts and emotions.
Our guest today is Neal Hughes. Neal is a seasoned psychotherapist and a long-time mentor of Claudio’s. Neal has a wonderful paternal quality to him and I’m excited for you to have a chance to observe how he creates a warm and welcoming space for his clients, his friends, and himself.

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We would love to hear from you! - What would you like to know about mindfulness or how it can help you with the issues you are facing? Record your question for our podcast team. If your message is selected, we will answer it on the podcast!

Ask us a question on our website at https://www.austinmindfulness.org/podcast

Host Lance Vaughn, co-owner of Austin Mindfulness Center and self-described ‘mindfulness student.’

Co-host Claudio Barrientos, LMSW, Certified Mindfulness Instructor at Austin Mindfulness Center.

Today’s episode may not be for you, because today we’re going to approach the topic of corporate wellness. But, wait. Before you move on to another episode, I want to make you a promise. If you give our guest a few moments, he will likely teach you something that you can apply in your own life. I mean, look, here’s the thing. You can’t have corporate wellness without healthy people. And health is not just about your physical fitness. 

At the end of the day, you simply can’t be fully present at work or fully available to your coworkers without some patience, and self-awareness, and a non-judgmental attitude. Basically, regardless of the macro view, whether we’re talking globally, locally, or on your team, if we aren’t okay with what’s inside of us, we’re not going to be able to add value elsewhere. 
So, How can we practice being a mindful/conscious leader? And, what exactly is the connection between mindfulness, emotional intelligence and our interpersonal relationships? We will approach these topics in our episode today with our special guest, Mindfulness Instructor, Luis Gil.

Luis is a mindfulness instructor with over a decade of experience practicing and teaching at centers and organizations all over North America. He has trained and worked extensively with the community of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

He is a certified teacher of the Search Inside Yourself (SIY) Leadership Institute born at Google. The SIY programs take an evidence-based approach combining neuroscience and mindfulness techniques to teach practical self awareness, emotional intelligence and leadership tools.

If you care about yourself, and the work you do in this world, this indeed episode is for you. Let’s jump in and swim in the wealth of knowledge that lies within the mind, body, and life or Luis Gil.

Find and Follow Luis online

Joga.co: https://joga.co/

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We would love to hear from you! - What would you like to know about mindfulness or how it can help you with the issues you are facing? Record your question for our podcast team. If your message is selected, we will answer it on the podcast!

Ask us a question on our website at https://www.austinmindfulness.org/podcast

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Host Lance Vaughn, co-owner of Austin Mindfulness Center and self-described ‘mindfulness student.’

Co-host Claudio Barrientos, LMSW, Certified Mindfulness Instructor at Austin Mindfulness Center.

If you’re thriving in your life and looking for a way to be 10% happier or 1% more productive, we may not be the podcast for you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed stressed or struggling and you’re looking for help in your daily dance with suffering, welcome home. This podcast was made for you.

We hope you’ll join us as we share ways that you can practice bringing awareness to your inner world throughout your daily moments. We hope to point you toward the process of learning how to be more self-aware and compassionate toward yourself moment by moment. And as Claudio likes to say, there are a lot of moments in our lives, aren’t there? 

Why do we recommend you do this? So that you can more carefully step into a more intentional and patient role of caring for your own mental health and crafting a journey of healing. 

If you’re a long-time listener, thank you for hanging in there with us as we continue to find new ways to uncover the pathways that exist within us. Pathways that lead us to the best version of ourselves.

Today, Claudio and I launch our 4th season of MOTC. We’ll be interviewing mindfulness practitioners from all walks of life with the goal of showcasing their favorite ways to practice mindfulness off the cushion. Our hope is that you’ll be able to integrate some of these skills in your own practice.

Our first guest is a former teacher who discovered a way to bring peace to her classroom. Her name is Katrina Gleisberg and she is a mindfulness educator, coach, and meditation creator. After teaching special education, 3rd & 4th grades, and adult English Language Learners, she noticed a striking commonality: students of drastically different backgrounds and ages showed greater attention, calm, collaboration, and ability to take on challenges after short mindfulness practices throughout the day. She is now on a mission to spread mindfulness and holistic wellness everywhere she goes.
Find and Follow Katarina online

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarina-gleisberg-19b466a8/
Insight Timer:  https://insighttimer.com/katarina.gleis
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2b2F6lyEUK9P0U_BIIAXOA
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/katarina.gleisberg.mindfulness/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ELL-Teacher-Share-207630459925723/

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We would love to hear from you! - What would you like to know about mindfulness or how it can help you with the issues you are facing? Record your question for our podcast team. If your message is selected, we will answer it on the podcast!

Ask us a question on our website at https://www.austinmindfulness.org/podcast

Host