Speaking of Meditation

Guest Bio
Dylan Smith is an Ayurvedic practitioner and holistic health educator based in Byron Bay, Australia. Founder of Vital Veda, Dylan shares the principles of Ayurveda through consultations, courses, and his podcast. He has trained extensively with the renowned Raju family of South India and brings deep lineage-based knowledge into a modern, relatable context. With a background in Vedic Meditation and a lifelong connection to the Vedic tradition, Dylan is passionate about helping people enliven their natural health through rhythm, routine, and awareness.
 
Key Topics Covered
Growing up in a meditating family and rediscovering practice as an adult
The moment that shifted Dylan’s path from architecture to Ayurveda
Why health isn’t something to fix — it’s something to enliven
Daily rhythm and the science behind it (including circadian medicine)
The synergy between Vedic Meditation and Ayurvedic treatments
Simple lifestyle shifts: hot water, early bedtimes, mindful digestion
How Ayurveda adapts across climates, cultures, and constitutions
Why Dylan encourages patients to “transcend food rules” and go back to principles
 
Notable Quotes
💬 “It wasn’t a big aha moment. I just said, ‘Okay.’ And that was the beginning.”

💬 “You don’t need to treat the disease. You enliven health — and the body remembers.”
 
💬“Meditation is the foundation. But it’s not the house. Ayurveda helps you build the rest.”

💬 “You feel it in the pulse — meditators have lightness. Even under stress, that clarity remains.”
 
Timestamps
00:00 — Introducing Dylan Smith and his Vedic roots
04:00 — Childhood exposure vs. conscious return to meditation
07:00 — The Deepak Chopra moment and pivot to Ayurveda
11:30 — What Ayurveda really is: dharma, rhythm, and the four aims of life
16:00 — Digestion, fruit rules, and transcending food dogma
18:50 — How meditation complements Ayurvedic healing
22:00 — Treating the nervous system: differences in meditators’ physiology
25:00 — Simple daily tools: hot water, early sleep, living in rhythm
30:00 — Waking up early, morning energy, and creative clarity

Links & Resources
Dylan Smith’s website: https://vitalveda.com.au
Vital Veda Podcast: https://vitalveda.com.au/podcast
Instagram: @vitalveda
Dr. Raju clinic in India: https://www.drraju.com
Recommended reading: Perfect Health by Deepak Chopra
Learn to Meditate: https://www.londonmeditationcentre.com/learn-to-meditate
 

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Speaking of Meditation is written and produced by Michael Miller, with direction by Jillian Lavender and assistance from Emma Rae.
Original music by Rich Jacques.
https://www.richjacques.com
Graphics by Elle and Elle.
http://www.elleelle.com
Speaking of Meditation… What are you noticing? Who is benefitting? And how are you staying inspired?

About Victoria Spicer
Victoria is a pioneer in wellbeing and travel, and the co-founder of the Global Retreat Company. With a 40-year career spanning high-end PR and conscious business development, she’s helped shape the global retreat landscape by supporting authentic, purpose-driven destinations like Ananda in the Himalayas and the original Mayr Clinic. Known for her intuitive insight, anti-jargon style, and commitment to integrity, Victoria remains a trusted voice in the world of holistic wellbeing. She’s also a longtime Vedic Meditator, and chairs Indigo Eight, a communications agency amplifying values-led businesses in travel and health.
 
Key Topics Covered
How Victoria helped shape the global wellness and retreat industry
The evolution from luxury PR to purpose-led communications
Meditation as a tool for grief, clarity, and creative direction
Her early experience with TM and reconnection through Vedic Meditation
What it means to lead with intuition in business
The power of retreats as modern medicine
Thoughts on wellness language, hype vs. resonance, and doing less better
Her vision for the Global Retreat Company and the future of retreating
 
Notable Quotes

💬 “Meditation has been the constant thread that’s stopped me from spiraling.”
💬 “Resonance — that’s how we decide which clients to take on now. Not how big their brand is.”
💬 “The wellness industry didn’t exist when I started. We built it — quietly, intuitively, and without hype.”
💬 “India is medicine. Just being there is enough.”
💬 “When I was diagnosed with cancer, I knew — this isn’t what’s going to take me out. It’s a message.”
 
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Victoria’s path from luxury PR to wellness pioneer
09:00 – Working with Régine, nightclub queen of the ’80s
10:00 – Launching a travel PR firm with no formal training
13:00 – Early wellness clients: the Mayr Clinic and Ananda
16:00 – Meditation, loss, and reconnecting with practice
21:00 – Grief, resilience, and how meditation helped
24:00 – India as a place of deep transformation
28:00 – Leaving the big agency world and founding Indigo Eight
34:00 – Building Global Retreat Company during Covid
37:00 – Why retreats are essential in the modern world
40:00 – On integrity, purpose, and doing business differently
44:00 – Final reflections: why she continues to share meditation
 
Links & Resources
Global Retreat Company
Indigo Eight
Ananda in the Himalayas
Original Mayr Clinic
London Meditation Centre
 

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Speaking of Meditation is written and produced by Michael Miller, with direction by Jillian Lavender and assistance from Emma Rae.
Original music by Rich Jacques.
https://www.richjacques.com
Graphics by Elle and Elle.
http://www.elleelle.com
Speaking of Meditation… What are you noticing? Who is benefitting? And how are you staying inspired?

About Ahmed Hallajian
Ahmed Hallajian is a born and bred Londoner working in the entertainment industry. After graduating from the London School of Economics, Ahmed began a career in auditing at the National Audit Office, but quickly realized the path wasn’t for him. He pivoted into self-development content on YouTube, then into software engineering, landing a job at Amazon. Yet something still felt misaligned. In 2024, he learned Vedic Meditation — a turning point that helped clarify what truly mattered. Today, Ahmed channels his curiosity and creativity into storytelling, while continuing to explore the evolving nature of self, purpose, and personal clarity.
 
Key Topics Covered
Why Ahmed kept changing careers — and what he was really searching for
The surprising influence of Seinfeld and celebrity on his openness to meditation
How Vedic Meditation helped relieve a low-grade fog he hadn’t even recognized
The difference between coping and clarity, and what changed after learning
Letting go of tech and finding a more aligned, people-focused path
How meditation shifted his phone habits, screen time, and social energy
The challenge of keeping up meditation while traveling with non-meditators
A modern take on spirituality and how Ahmed talks about meditation with friends
 
Notable Quotes
💬 “There was life before and life after. I’m still adjusting to what my preferences are — what kind of person I am.”
💬 “I always had a sense of what I didn’t want. Meditation gave me clarity about what I do want.”
💬 “It didn’t feel like me changing habits. It just happened — like a signal I could finally hear.”
💬 “Meditation doesn’t make you wise. It just helps you notice what actually matters.”
💬 “I’m not better than anyone, but I’m more in touch with what brings me joy.”
 
Timestamps
00:03 — Introducing Ahmed Hallajian and his unconventional career journey
03:20 — Growing up with Seinfeld and early influences toward meditation
06:40 — Struggling at work and the turning point that led to learning
10:45 — The experience of learning to meditate and immediate after-effects
14:30 — From anxious stagnation to clarity and mental lightness
17:20 — Changing his relationship with tech, screen time, and presence
20:00 — How others noticed the change before he did
24:10 — Leaving Amazon and shifting into a more social, creative career
28:30 — Rethinking introversion and discovering his true work preferences
32:00 — Staying consistent with meditation while traveling
36:15 — How he speaks about meditation with friends and why he doesn’t evangelize
39:00 — Practical vs. spiritual benefits — and what keeps him inspired
 
Links and Resources
London Meditation Centre — Learn Vedic Meditation

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Speaking of Meditation is written and produced by Michael Miller, with direction by Jillian Lavender and assistance from Emma Rae.
Original music by Rich Jacques.
https://www.richjacques.com
Graphics by Elle and Elle.
http://www.elleelle.com
Speaking of Meditation… What are you noticing? Who is benefitting? And how are you staying inspired?

About Eddie Stern
Eddie Stern is a yoga teacher, author, researcher, and community activist based in New York City. A long-time student of Pattabhi Jois, Eddie helped bring Ashtanga Yoga to a global audience, but over time shifted his focus toward devotional practice, mantra, breathwork, and the deeper spiritual currents behind yoga. He is the creator of the Breathing App and founder of Manhattan’s first vedically consecrated Ganesh temple. Eddie’s work bridges ancient wisdom with modern science, making inner practices accessible for a new generation.
 
Key Topics Covered
Eddie’s early spiritual awakening and his influential high school teacher
First trip to India and the slow process of cultural immersion
Training with Pattabhi Jois and the deep dive into Ashtanga Yoga
The tension between tradition, evolution, and authenticity in yoga
Moving beyond physical practice toward breath, mantra, and ritual
Eddie’s reflections on breaking from lineage without losing reverence
Founding a Vedic temple in Manhattan and embracing a Hindu identity
How slow, resonant breathing can transform health — and life
Advice for seekers starting their spiritual journey today
 
Notable Quotes
💬 “You need to spend a little time each day attending to the invisible part of yourself.”
💬“We ripen at our own pace. You can’t force it — just like you can’t ripen a fruit before it’s ready.”
💬“Traditions that survive are the ones that allow themselves to evolve without losing their spirit.”
💬“The guru is not a person. The guru is a stream of knowledge that flows through people.”
💬“Everything we call tradition was created by someone who simply thought it was a good idea. Respect that — but don’t mistake it for something it’s not.”
 
Timestamps
00:03 — Introduction to Eddie Stern and his journey
02:50 — Eddie’s early spiritual awakening in high school
06:50 — First experiences traveling and studying in India
11:00 — From Shivananda Yoga to Ashtanga Yoga
14:00 — The ripening process: why we change only when ready
19:10 — Breaking from guru structures and lineage identities
24:00 — The evolving nature of yoga traditions
30:00 — Founding a Vedic temple in Manhattan
34:30 — Breathwork, health, and the creation of the Breathing App
38:40 — Eddie’s personal meditation and ritual practices
40:55 — Advice for people beginning their spiritual journey
 
Links and Resources
Eddie Stern’s Website
The Breathing App (iOS)
The Breathing App (Android)
Healing Through Breathing on Audible
One Simple Thing: A New Look at the Science of Yoga
Urban Yogis — Yoga and Meditation for Underserved Communities
London Meditation Centre — Learn Vedic Meditation
 

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Speaking of Meditation is written and produced by Michael Miller, with direction by Jillian Lavender and assistance from Emma Rae.
Original music by Rich Jacques.
https://www.richjacques.com
Graphics by Elle and Elle.
http://www.elleelle.com
Speaking of Meditation… What are you noticing? Who is benefitting? And how are you staying inspired?

Joh Jarvis — Letting Go, Starting Over, and Teaching Meditation in Prisons
Guest Bio
Joh Jarvis is a former senior executive media producer and journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where she led current affairs programs and large teams of content makers. After a 23-year career in media, she became a teacher of Vedic Meditation and moved to New York in 2015 to teach full-time. In 2021, she founded The Light Inside, a nonprofit delivering meditation programs to incarcerated people and correctional staff across the U.S. Her work includes programs at Rikers Island, the North Dakota State Penitentiary, and other correctional facilities, helping hundreds discover calm, connection, and purpose from within.
 
Key Topics Covered
• Joh’s early spiritual intuition and resistance to conventional paths
• Her media career, personal struggles, and turning point after loss
• The impact of meditation on her recovery and reinvention
• Moving to New York at 49 and starting a new life
• Founding The Light Inside and teaching in maximum-security prisons
• How incarcerated people respond to meditation—and transform through it
• What it means to bring softness, freedom, and humanity into hard places
 
Notable Quotes
💬 “I didn’t realize what I was looking for in drugs and alcohol was a spiritual experience.”
💬 “Meditation uncovered something in me I didn’t know existed—spontaneous joy.”
💬 “You don’t want to feel soft in here… but that’s what meditation gave me.”
💬 “What made me feel good wasn’t just valuable—it was critical.”
 
Links & Resources
🔗 Watch: Joh Jarvis & Meditation Inside Rikers Island (YouTube)
🔗 The Light Inside – Learn More or Donate
🔗 Learn to Meditate – London Meditation Centre
 
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to Joh Jarvis and her work bringing meditation into prisons
06:40 – Coming out, intuition, and learning not to care what people think
14:05 – Grief, addiction, and the breakdown that led to real change
21:20 – Discovering Vedic Meditation—and a surprising first teacher
24:00 – “I’ve never felt like this”: a radical inner shift after learning to meditate
39:00 – Moving to New York at 49: two suitcases, no safety net, full reset
45:10 – Founding The Light Inside and entering Rikers Island
51:30 – A student’s transformation: “I feel soft—and that’s dangerous in here”
59:20 – What drives her now: feeling useful, staying connected to purpose

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Speaking of Meditation is written and produced by Michael Miller, with direction by Jillian Lavender and assistance from Emma Rae.
Original music by Rich Jacques.
https://www.richjacques.com
Graphics by Elle and Elle.
http://www.elleelle.com
Speaking of Meditation… What are you noticing? Who is benefitting? And how are you staying inspired?