slow inside

carrie schmitt is one of the most devoted humans i know to living with creativity as a living, breathing presence. her entire life is an altar to this relationship. from the way she paints and prays by the sea, to the way she listens for guidance in the smallest moments of her day.she is a painter, teacher, and author of three books, including Awakening Creativity: A Sacred Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Artist. she “began painting in 2009, while bedridden after being diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy to heat. what began as a lifeline has since become a path of devotion. today, carrie paints, writes, teaches online classes, hosts art retreats, and mentors women who long for a joyful, intimate relationship with Creativity.”in this conversation, we explore creativity not as a talent or skill, but as a beloved. a divine, animating force that moves through every aspect of our lives. guided by the “temples” in her book: reverence, beauty, devotion, and more, carrie shares how she relates to creativity as a sacred presence, how she dissolved the idea of the inner critic, and what it means to live a life shaped by signs, synchronicity, and trust in the unseen.may this conversation invite you to rethink what creativity really is, remember your own devotion, and consider the possibility that you, too, are already in a living relationship with something vast, mysterious, and profoundly kind.some things we talk about:letting go of a good, steady offering (and reliable income) to follow a deeper spiritual calling in her workcreativity as a living, breathing presence rather than a skill or talentwhy carrie doesn’t believe in the inner critic and how changing our framework dissolves itthe questions to ask instead of “Is this good or bad?” to discover what’s most alive in your creativitydevotion and reverence as daily practices, including carrie’s painting ritual of bowing, blessing her hands, and promising to love each painting no matter whathow to discover what you are truly devoted to (including the “one word in your journal” practice)living guided by spirit in very ordinary decisions and the question carrie asks each morning.why our culture’s fixation on productivity, numbers, and validation can drown out our creative spiritcarrie’s perspective on AI, creativity, and why no machine can touch the soul of our relationship with the unseenhow devotion “doesn’t just free us from what doesn’t serve our creativity; it also frees us from ourselves”listen to this episode and all past episodes at daphnecohn.com

while we navigate crises like climate, politics, war, technology, poverty and inequality, we need humans who commit themselves fully to a life of presence, compassion and care. humans whose devotion becomes their offering, gifting us a way forward led by fierce love and steadfast courage.mara is one of those people.mara is “a mother, writer, yogi, artist, teacher, mindfulness leader, ceremonialist, and spiritual coach. teaching for over two decades, mara hosts international wellness retreats and corporate mindfulness programs across the globe.she is the author of Ritual As Remedy: Embodied Practices For Soul Care and Sage, Huntress, Lover, Queen: Access Your Power and Creativity through Sacred Female Archetypes. mara is also the creator of the Divine Matrix oracle deck.in this conversation, we explore the true nature of ritual and how intention can turn the ordinary into the sacred, how to meet the inner voice of “not enough,” the truth beneath the noise, midlife as awakening, the dance between freedom and discipline, and the tender strength of innocence returning through wisdom.may this conversation remind you that ritual doesn’t require perfection or performance — only presence. that your body already knows the way. and that beauty, love, and wonder are not luxuries, but ways of staying alive to the soul of this world. some things we talk about: how the tiniest act, done with intention, becomes ritual, and why weaving it into everyday life changes everything.a simple morning anchor (before phone or news) that “activates divine will” and resets the day with one question.a simple, practical way to meet the inner “not enough” voice.the game-changer difference between pushing over yourself (overfunctioning) vs pushing into what matters.holding beauty and suffering at once (non-duality) and why beauty/compassion are fuel for meaningful action.discovering your personal operating system: bridging your gifts with your core teachings (wounds → wisdom).midlife as awakening: elder-sage vision meets maiden-innocence—and what “ultimate truth, love, and joy” point to.what to do when guidance is inconvenient or uncomfortable.a permission slip for daily life that can help you instantly release and begin again. to listen to past episodes go here.  

“the day i gave voice to the scared, shamed, and broken parts of myself,” writes ashley, “and acknowledged, out loud, that i had an alcohol and drug addiction problem was a defining moment in my life, a radical step towards the embodiment i had been running from since childhood… it set me on my path to discovery, and ultimately study and teach, the deeply transformative power of the breath, somatics, and capital “R” Rest, with an important emphasis on community and integration.”ashley is a renowned breathwork teacher, somatic practitioner, host of the deeper call podcast and author of how to breathe and permission to rest.in this conversation, we explore the radical power of rest and embodiment.ashley shares her journey from addiction and recovery to discovering rest as a lifelong, often more difficult, practice than sobriety. we unpack why slowing down is so challenging in a culture addicted to speed and productivity, how rest reveals our deepest exhaustion and aliveness, and why reclaiming rest is both personal medicine and a revolutionary act.this episode is an invitation to soften, to listen more deeply to the body, and to explore rest not as a luxury or escape but as a profound practice of presence, healing, and resistance. Some things we talk about…rest as medicine for burnout – why supplements, diets, and hacks don’t work until you address the body’s real need for slowing down.how rest heals trauma – how gentle, somatic practices can create safety and support nervous system repair.micro-rituals of rest you can use today – simple, doable practices like a hand to heart, three breaths, or savoring a cup of tea.breaking free from “output = worth” – how to reclaim your value beyond productivity and honor hidden forms of labor.why rest feels so hard – cultural conditioning, trauma responses, and the shame that keeps us from slowing down.reclaiming attention in an always-on world – how choosing to pause, single-task, and move slower becomes an act of agency.rest as revolutionary – how your slowing down ripples into family, community, and culture as a radical act of change.how to be gentle with yourself – why rest can’t be forced, and how softness opens more than striving.listen to past episodes at daphnecohn.com

sarah blondin is  a storyteller, author, and meditation guide, who unceasingly ruminates on the complexities and nuances of life and the human heart.she is the author of heart minded: how to hold yourself and others in love, has over 630,000 followers on insight timer where she has been teaching meditation since 2016, iand the creator of several online courses including the deepest self and coming home to yourself. sarah is also the writer for the popular substack publication, sarah blondin: stories and meditations. a place of deep connection and intimate sharing. real words from a real life, from the heart, from the depths.in this tender and soul-stirring conversation, we explore what it means to live a heart-centered life in a world that feels increasingly fast, noisy, and pressurized. through honest reflections, personal stories, and gentle wisdom, sarah illuminates how we can meet life’s intensity without abandoning ourselves, the beauty and complexity of living with an exposed heart, embracing both joy and pain, and finding grace in the willingness to feel deeply.Some things we talk about…the polarity of the heart: how to both brace and bend under life’s pressuresparenthood & tenderness: motherhood as both a practice of protection and letting go while remembering our own vulnerability.the cost of openness: how much of our heart to expose, and the risk and aliveness that come with remaining open.practices of return: sitting under trees, slowing down, journaling, and breathwork as daily ways to come back to heart presence.writing as self-intimacy:  not to transcend life but to be witness to all of it: the chaos, grief, and beauty.resistance & trust: how bracing against life severs trust with the heart, and how forgiveness of life’s demands softens us back into connection.the risk of being seen: why tears, tenderness, and honesty feel vulnerable in public spaces, and how choosing to be visible can be a radical act of leadership.devotion to the heart: living a heart-centered life is not a single choice but a lifelong devotion—a relationship that deepens over time.catch up on past episdoes with extraordinary teachers, guides and artists here.  receive a weekly slow inside ritual here. and follow me on instagram @daphnecohn

such a tender, gorgeous conversation with elena. in her words and in her pauses, you feel the power of presence. you feel how different the world can be, how different the world is, when we arrive here. in this moment. this life.elena brower is a mother, mentor, poet, artist, volunteer, bestselling author, and host of the Practice You podcast. she’s been teaching asana since 1999, practicing Zen meditation since 2020, and received the Buddhist Precepts from Roshi Joan Halifax at Upaya Zen Center in 2023. now a candidate for Buddhist chaplaincy, elena offers her time in hospice and penitentiary settings.her weekly live yoga practices and meditations are featured on Glo; she offers retreats and workshops a few times a year, and her spoken-word poetry can be heard on Above & Beyond’s Flow State albums—for which she received an RIAA-certified Gold Record for her writing on “Don’t Leave.”elena is the creator of several online courses, including Perceptive Parenting and Simplify, helping us reimagine our priorities so we can experience more meaning each day. her bestselling journals and books explore the seasons of life and the art of deep listening. her next book, Hold Nothing, will be published by Shambhala Publications in late 2025.in this conversation we explore the nature of spiritual practice, love, presence, and self-remembering in challenging times. we talk about the role of respect in practice, the healing power of rewriting past memories, letting go of identity, and the sacredness of preparing for death as a soulful, grounded inquiry into how we live, love, and serve.take your time with this conversation. let elena’s wisdom soak through until it becomes your wisdom.  allow her presence to bring you home. to bring you here.00:00 Introduction and Warm Welcome01:12 Exploring the Concept of Respect05:18 Personal Reflections on Relationships10:15 Rewriting Memories for Healing23:37 The Practice of Zen Meditation28:25 Understanding the Self Through Letting Go34:59 The Softening of the Self36:48 Exploring the Concept of Original Face38:11 Invitation to Love Yourself38:42 The Role of Rigor and Certainty in Self-Love41:08 Loving Oneself to Serve the World45:41 The Power of Presence Over Problem-Solving47:01 The Practice of Being Present50:44 Teaching and Presence in Challenging Contexts54:13 Managing Mental Noise and Allowing the Mind to Rest55:22 Embracing Fear and Trauma01:02:15 Gratitude and Closing Thoughtslisten to past conversations with guests like poet david whyte, activist valarie kaur, author rob bell, artist julia cameron and dozens of others at daphnecohn.com