logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
28m 34s

My roads diverging, by Steve Almond

Waitwhat
About this episode

It happens not in a yellow wood, but in author Steve Almond's befuddled 20s, when he is facing for the first time a decision that might actually matter. To the left lies success. To the right, something more interesting.

If this episode resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you. Please take a moment to share your reflections by rating and reviewing Meditative Story in your podcast player. It helps other listeners find their way to the show, and we’d be so grateful.

Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.com

Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribe

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 8
What kindness means to us
At a time when it feels like the world needs kindness more than ever, Rohan and the Meditative Story team share a unique, immersive exploration of the ways kindness can show up in all of our lives, featuring contributions from the Meditative Story community. This purposefully cra ... Show More
10m 18s
Jul 1
There’s nobody like you, by Eddie Huang
In 2009, Eddie Huang, author of the acclaimed memoir Fresh Off the Boat, opens Baohaus, his first Taiwanese restaurant on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. It’s a wild, chaotic gamble that exemplifies Eddie’s spirit. But as the restaurant’s success grows, Eddie is faced with the chall ... Show More
33m 7s
Jun 24
Letting go of the need to do it all, by Meredith Goldstein
Meredith Goldstein writes the wildly popular Love Letters column in the Boston Globe, but for much of her life, she’s viewed romantic relationships as a trap. Meredith grows up seeing the limitations of her mom’s insular life, and knows she wants more for herself. It’s only when ... Show More
37m 18s
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
A Personal Story from Dan
As you might already know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month – and, while mental health is important every month, it’s an important opportunity to share resources that can help one another.  So, in that spirit – we’re going to bring you a bonus episode from a podcast we love c ... Show More
28m 11s
Sep 2023
From The One You Feed | A Conversation with Dan Harris
In this episode from The One You Feed podcast, Dan sits down with host Eric Zimmer and discusses his original skepticism of meditation and the benefits he discovered from developing a regular meditation practice. Listen to The One You Feed for more compelling interviews. 
52m 57s
Apr 2022
Prologue: What’s More Than A Feeling?
Before we dive deep into stories about fear, acceptance, jealousy, joy, shame and other big feelings, we have to get philosophical and ask: what are emotions anyway? Host Saleem Reshamwala was always trying to figure this question out when he was growing up as a mashup kid: bounc ... Show More
35m 17s
Jan 2022
Welcome to More Than A Feeling
Most of us have gotten at least a little emotional at some point recently. It’s natural. But why do we have emotions and how much should we pay attention to them on any given day? Can we learn to skillfully choose which emotions to listen to and which ones to just let move on by? ... Show More
6m 35s
Nov 2021
Best of the Archives: How Your Emotions Are Made | Lisa Feldman Barrett
Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is at the forefront of understanding human emotions: what they are, why humans evolved to have them, how they’re different from feelings, and what science says about how to manage them. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeas ... Show More
1h 7m
Mar 2021
The Profound Upside of Self-Diminishment | George Saunders
There is a powerful scene in a novel called Lincoln In the Bardo, where President Abraham Lincoln has come to the cemetery where his young son, Willie, is soon to be buried. Willie had passed away at the White House where he had gotten sick. Lincoln is so distraught that he goes ... Show More
1h 8m
Aug 2021
Improving Your Relationships - Buddhist Style | Martine Batchelor
This great deep-Dharma episode is all about using an ancient, fascinating, and readily-accessible Buddhist concept as a way to improve your interactions with other human beings. The concept in question is called vedana, or “feeling tone.” Our guest, Martine Batchelor, will explai ... Show More
1h 8m
Sep 2021
Psychedelics and Meditation | Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan has done more than perhaps anybody else in recent history to change the conversation on the use of psychedelic drugs, or plant medicine. He is author of the best selling book called How to Change Your Mind and he recently followed up with another book called This i ... Show More
51m 42s
Apr 2022
Fear: Get Me Out of Here
Everyone’s afraid of something. But how often do we talk openly about our biggest fears with friends or even complete strangers? In this episode, producer Mark Pagán opens up to Saleem about something that’s been freaking him out for years, so much so that it's seriously affected ... Show More
54m 13s