Speaking of Meditation
About the Podcast
Speaking of Meditation: Real-life stories from people who meditate. Why they do it, and how it’s changed their lives.
If you’ve tried meditation and struggled, or you’re practicing and need more inspiration, these stories will encourage and motivate you.
Speaking of Meditation is hosted and produced by Michael Miller, one of the most in-demand Vedic Meditation teachers in the world. Listen as he goes deep with fascinating guests about the game-changing effect of closing your eyes.
SEASON 4
#32 Dylan Smith — Living in Rhythm: Where Ayurveda Meets Meditation (LIVE SHOW)
Ayurvedic practitioner Dylan Smith grew up with Vedic Meditation, but it was a visit to an Ayurvedic clinic in India — and a single chapter in a Deepak Chopra book — that set him on a new path. In this live recorded episode, he shares how daily rhythm, digestion, and lifestyle can enliven health — and why he sees a real difference in the physiology of those who meditate.
#31 Victoria Spicer — Resonance Over Hype: Intuition, Integrity, and the Power of Retreat
Victoria Spicer has spent decades elevating some of the world’s most iconic retreats. But behind the glamour, a deeper calling was always present. She talks about grief, intuition, and the quiet power of retreat — and how Vedic Meditation helped her reconnect with what truly resonates.
#30 Ahmed Hallajian — Reinvention, Restlessness, and the Clarity to Change Direction
Ahmed’s path has taken him from accounting to YouTube, from big tech to entertainment. Along the way, something always felt missing — until meditation offered a new kind of clarity. In this episode, Ahmed shares how Vedic Meditation helped him shift direction and reconnect with what really matters.
#29 Eddie Stern — Spirit Over Form: Yoga’s Evolution for a Living Tradition
Eddie Stern spent decades at the centre of the global yoga scene. But over time, he realised the real power of practice wasn’t in the poses—it was in what lies beneath. He talks about the shift from physical form to inner experience, and how breath, mantra, and devotion became the heart of his teaching.
#28 Joh Jarvis – Letting Go, Starting Over, and Teaching Meditation in Prisons
Joh Jarvis walked away from a high-powered media career to follow something deeper. Now she teaches Vedic Meditation in prisons across the U.S. — helping people reconnect with calm, clarity, and themselves. This is her story of starting over and finding purpose in the most unexpected place.
#27 Marie Farenc – Meditation, Vision Loss & Finding Strength in Stillness
Marie was a film translator when a diagnosis of myopic macular degeneration (MMD) turned her world upside down. With two young children and a demanding career, the stress was relentless. Seeking relief, she found Vedic Meditation — and everything changed. In this episode, Marie shares how meditation helped her regain stability, manage anxiety, and transform her outlook on life.
#26 Suzanne Duckett — Why Wellness Needs Less Spin and More Substance
The wellness industry is everywhere—but what really works? Former Tatler Spa Guide editor Suzanne Duckett has spent decades exploring the best in beauty and self-care. She shares what she’s learned, the evolution of corporate wellness, and why meditation isn’t just another trend—it’s the real foundation.
#25 Sophie Dear – How Meditation Helped Me Break the Burnout Cycle
Sophie Dear is a self-worth and relationship coach and a yoga teacher. After working in high-pressure TV production, she experienced severe burnout, insomnia, and anxiety. Seeking balance, she trained as a yoga teacher, but soon realized she was falling into the same patterns of exhaustion. Her journey took her to Bali, where she began a deeper exploration of self-worth, boundaries, and healing. Learning Vedic Meditation in 2019 became a turning point in her transformation.
SEASON 3
#24 Megha Mohan, BBC’s Global Gender & Identity Correspondent
Megha is the BBC’s first Gender and Identity Correspondent. Her work takes her across the world, covering women’s rights, LGBT communities, and race and ethnicity. In a life that can lack routine, meditation is her foundation. “Wherever I am in the world, I have those two 20 minute slots”.
#23 Dr Tim Spector, Doctor, Writer, Zoe App Founder
Dr Tim is an award-winning Professor of Genetics, author and founder of the worldwide phenomenon the Zoe App. His work is renowned in the scientific community, and he’s hailed in popular culture as the straight-talking doctor who’s changing the way we eat. Learning to meditate in the 70’s, he had no clue he’d keep it up. “I surprised myself I’ve carried on… I thought I was too much of a rebel.”
#22 Sarah Lyall, New York Times Writer
Sarah is a prominent writer for the New York Times, her career spanning almost two decades as their London correspondent, and now covering international affairs, culture and media. Her recent feature on acclaimed psychologist Esther Perel was hailed by Esther as “wonderful”. Sarah’s journey into meditation isn’t conventional — she admits she wasn’t interested when she signed up.
#21 Philip Knatchbull, CEO, Film Producer and Distributor
Philip is the CEO of Curzon Cinemas, a member of BAFTA, and received an OBE for services to film distribution. He’s enjoyed a fascinating career in the film world, growing up on the sets of Agatha Christie pictures and Passage to India, and has worked with greats such as Sir Paul McCartney. Meditation wasn’t on his radar until a few years ago, when he realised he was “sleep-walking my way through life”. After trying the apps, he found Vedic Meditation, and hasn’t looked back. “Now, I treasure each day”.
#20 Noomi Melchoir Natan, Leadership Coach, Podcast Host
Noomi is an executive coach, leadership consultant, and the host of the Female Inner Power podcast. She’s passionate about helping women escape the shadow of the ‘good girl’ persona and tap into their full power. A 15-year meditator, she’s absolutely dedicated to her practice: “it’s like cleaning your mind everyday. I show for everyone in a completely different way.”
#19 Peter Magnani, Ad Executive, founder of Beam app
Leading advertising exec Peter certainly didn’t see himself as the “tree-hugging type”, and thought meditation was cultish. It took hitting a personal rock bottom for him to realise something had to change. Meditation changed everything for him. He left his high-level job to become the founder of Beam, a data-led, self-management tool which enables people to use their own data to track and improve their wellbeing on every level. “It’s totally practical. Meditation is an essential foundation.”
#18 Renée Elliot, founder of Planet Organic
Renée is the founder of Planet Organic, the UK’s original organic supermarket. Recognised as one of Britain’s 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women and London’s 1,000 Most Influential People, Renée has changed the way people think about food. She’s been meditating since 1991, and shares how her practice provides the “golden thread” running through her life. “Thank the Lord for meditation. I am a different person because of it.”
#17 Jesse Peretz, Emmy-nominated Filmmaker, Producer, Creator
Jesse is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, producer and creator, known for Netflix’s Glow, Hulu’s Shrill, and HBO’s Girls. His latest TV project City on Fire, debuts on Apple TV in May. He shares stories about group meditations on the set of Girls, how his practice is fundamental to his career success, and why he thinks that “everyone should meditate… even if that’s a corny thing to say”.
SEASON 2
#16 Lucy Beresford, Author, Broadcaster, Psychotherapist
Lucy is an expert in sex and relationships – her TEDx talk, “Infidelity: to stay or to go?” has been viewed over 2.5 million times. She’s often on TV and radio providing psychological insights on current affairs. Lucy was convinced meditation “absolutely wasn’t for her”. Then she learned, and found it provided the missing piece of understanding to her life.