Facing a dreaded 20-hour layover after weeks away from home, Pico Iyer decides to leave the airport and explore the city outside. He walks down the quiet streets, hoping to distract himself with a few new experiences. What happens, though, couldn’t be more unexpected. A feeling of recognition and familiarity washes over him. He feels as if he’s been in this ... Show More
Oct 13
My first meditation retreat, by Rohan Gunatillake
The idea of a meditation retreat is deeply romantic. But the reality can be very different. Join our host Rohan Gunatillake on his first retreat, at a monastery in the English countryside, where he locks in to his meditation practice for the first time – and on the same night, al ... Show More
16m 57s
Aug 2022
The meaning of home – and the joy of traveling | Pico Iyer
Welcome to the TED Talks Daily summer book club, a series featuring talks and interviews to inspire your next great read. Up first, a meditation on the meaning of home, the joy of traveling and the serenity of standing still from writer Pico Iyer. After the talk, Pico shares a bo ... Show More
21m 1s
Sep 2018
Pico Iyer: The Art of Stillness
Best-selling author and travel writer Pico Iyer discusses the benefits of bringing stillness into our lives. Pico, a lifelong traveler who has journeyed all over the world, from India to Ethiopia to Cuba to Kathmandu, realized our lives are crowded, chaotic and noisy. He says the ... Show More
33m 51s
Jan 2025
How a Wildfire Sent Pico Iyer in Search of Silence
<p>Decades ago, after he lost in home in a California wildfire, the travel writer and essayist Pico Iyer started to go to a small monastery in Big Sur in search of solitude. On this week's episode he discusses those retreats, which he writes about in his new book "Aflame: Learnin ... Show More
42m 56s
Feb 2023
The Truth About Paradise (It's Not What You Think) | Pico Iyer
<p>What if paradise was real? But, instead of searching and traveling a journey to the far ends of the earth to find it, you could touch it at any moment, in any place, no matter how amazing or awful the setting or circumstance. </p><br><p>And what if paradise or peace is so ... Show More
1h 7m
Oct 2025
The Mindful Way to Navigate Change When You Feel Alone
Change can feel disorienting — like you’re no longer who you were but not yet who you’re becoming. In this episode, Dora reflects on the sacred space of transition, sharing how mindfulness helps us honor the pause, soften loneliness, and find peace in the in-between. Learn more a ... Show More
4m 18s
Apr 2022
24: Leaving your comfort zone
I recently went to abroad, and it was my first time travelling since the pandemic started. On the flight home, I started thinking about comfort zones, and how easy it is to let comfort dictate our lives. I contemplated the question "how free am I, really?".
20m 37s
<p>Step away from the noise and unlock profound clarity by learning from silence. </p><br><p>In this insightful conversation, bestselling author Pico Iyer shares life-changing wisdom from his new book <a href="https://amzn.to/3CGkUR5" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em ... Show More
