In this powerful episode, mindfulness pioneer Jon Kabat-Zinn joins John R. Miles for a profound exploration of awareness, healing, and the human condition. Best known for his groundbreaking work in bringing mindfulness into mainstream medicine and his beloved book Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life, Jon shares why tuning into our inner experience is not only essential but urgent.
From the crisis of mattering in modern life to the overstimulation of our digital age, Jon reveals how mindfulness is not just a practice, but a radical act of self-care and transformation. Whether you’re facing stress, pain, or simply seeking more presence, this conversation offers a deeply moving invitation to feel more fully—and heal more deeply.
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“The awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally—that’s mindfulness.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
In case you didn’t already know it, John R. Miles (@John_R_Miles) takes your comments and questions for Momentum Friday right here every week! If you want him to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Momentum Friday episodes, drop us a line at [email protected]. Now, let’s dive in!
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Castbox, Google Podcasts, Listen Notes, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. You can watch the interview on YouTube below.
How Mindfulness Transforms Stress, Pain, and Purpose
In this deep and timely conversation, Jon Kabat-Zinn reflects on the transformative power of mindfulness in a world overwhelmed by distraction, disconnection, and discomfort. From his early inspirations at MIT to applying mindfulness in hospitals, military settings, and even with Olympic athletes, Jon emphasizes the radical importance of tuning into what we feel, especially when it’s painful.
He and John R. Miles discuss the hidden cost of emotional avoidance, the urgency of cultivating inner awareness, and how mindfulness can reconnect us with what truly matters, both personally and globally. This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who feels the stress of modern life and is searching for a grounded path forward.
In This Episode You’ll Learn:
- You can’t heal what you won’t feel – Avoiding pain and discomfort blocks emotional and physical healing.
- Awareness is foundational – True human flourishing starts with the courage to be present in each moment.
- Mindfulness works in crisis – From war zones to hospitals, meditation can be a life-saving tool for resilience.
- Digital overload is real – Balancing our analog humanity with the rise of AI and constant connectivity is essential.
- Mattering matters – A silent crisis today is people feeling like they don’t matter—mindfulness can restore that sense of significance.
- Meditation is not a luxury – It’s a radical act of sanity in a stressed-out world.
WHY IS THIS EPISODE A MUST-LISTEN?
This episode is not just about meditation—it’s about reclaiming your agency in a world that often pulls you away from yourself. Whether you’re facing burnout, emotional numbness, or simply want to live with more presence and purpose, Jon Kabat-Zinn offers wisdom that meets you where you are. His insights don’t just inform—they transform. This conversation is a guiding light for anyone seeking clarity, healing, and deeper meaning in the noise of everyday life.
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The Role of Meditation in Reducing Stress and Pain
In this powerful segment of the episode, Jon Kabat-Zinn explores how meditation, specifically mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), serves as a transformative tool for those experiencing chronic stress, illness, and pain. Drawing from decades of work in clinical and hospital settings—including his groundbreaking program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center—Jon explains how cultivating non-judgmental awareness through meditation doesn’t make pain disappear, but radically changes our relationship to it.
Jon shares how mindfulness offers a way to step outside of the habitual reactivity to stress and discomfort, allowing us to face physical and emotional pain with openness rather than resistance. This shift is not just psychological—it has biological effects, altering brain activity and even how we experience suffering at the neurological level.
He reflects on real-world examples, from patients in severe medical distress to individuals struggling with mental health, who have found relief and resilience through mindfulness practice. As he puts it, “You can’t heal what you won’t feel.” That insight forms the emotional core of his work and the ethos behind his influential book, Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life.
This part of the conversation is especially impactful for listeners feeling overwhelmed by stress, or for those seeking a non-pharmaceutical path to relief. Jon makes it clear: meditation is not an escape from pain—it’s a doorway to healing.
Thanks, Jon Kabat-Zinn
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RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW WITH JON KABAT-ZINN
Please note that some of the links on this page (books, movies, music, etc.) lead to affiliate programs for which The Passion Struck podcast receives compensation. It’s just one of the ways we keep the lights on around here. Thank you so much for being so supportive!
- Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Website
- Jon Kabat’s Twitter
- BUY Jon’s Book ‘Wherever You Go, There You Are”
- APA’s recognition of mattering as critical to child mental health
- Passion Struck Core Value System: https://passionstruck.com/the-passion-struck-core-belief-system/
- Listen to Passion Struck’s interviews with New York Times bestselling authors Gretchen Rubin and Seth Godin.
- Check out Passion Struck’s Episode Starter Packs on Spotify or Passion Struck starter packs to get started with the podcast.
Can’t miss my episode with Ethan Mollick on the Impact of AI on Life and Work
Catch my interview with Simone Stolzoff on the Amazing Art of Finding Work-Life Harmony
My interview with Brian Evergreen on How You Humanize Work in the Age of AI
About Today’s Guest, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Jon Kabat-Zinn is a pioneering scientist, meditation teacher, and bestselling author best known for bringing mindfulness into mainstream medicine and society. He is the creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), a program that has helped millions reduce pain, stress, and illness through the cultivation of awareness.
A Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Jon has spent decades integrating mindfulness with science, healthcare, and education. His groundbreaking work has influenced hospitals, schools, corporations, and even the military. He is the author of several influential books, including Wherever You Go, There You Are and Full Catastrophe Living, which continue to inspire people worldwide to live with presence, compassion, and clarity.
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