Well, that’s Awkward Podcast – EP12: Is Meditation For Real Life?
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- January 12, 2026
Meditation has a branding problem. Somewhere along the way, it became synonymous with sitting cross-legged in perfect silence, a blank mind, and a kind of spiritual serenity that most of us have never experienced — especially not in midlife, when our brains are juggling work, relationships, hormones and about 200 open mental tabs.
In Episode 12 of Well, That’s Awkward, hosts Susan Osman and Rachel Branson pull meditation out of the Instagram fantasy and into real life — where it’s messy, noisy, emotional and surprisingly effective.
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What Meditation Really Looks Like
This episode breaks down the biggest myth about meditation: that you have to be still, silent and thought-free for it to “count.”
Susan and Rachel explore the many forms of meditation that exist beyond the cushion, including:
- guided meditation
- silent meditation
- breath-based practices
- Osho-style active meditation
- shaking, movement and dance
- vocal release and yes… speaking gibberish
In fact, the first time Susan and Rachel met was on a retreat where they bonded over yoga shaking, odd noises and laughing at how wildly un-zen it all felt — which turned out to be exactly the point.
Why Midlife Brains Struggle With Stillness
Midlife often brings heightened stress, hormonal shifts and emotional load — which can make traditional meditation feel frustrating rather than calming.
This episode explores:
- why the mind gets louder when we try to be still
- how movement and breath can help regulate the nervous system
- why active meditation is often more accessible than silence
- how meditation helps clear emotional residue, not just thoughts
Rather than trying to “empty the mind,” meditation becomes a way to release what the body is holding — stress, tension, worry and old patterns.
Finding Calm Without Becoming a Monk
The conversation also gently dismantles the idea that meditation requires hours of practice, incense or mountain-top isolation.
Susan and Rachel talk about how small, realistic practices — breathing, moving, noticing — can create calm in the middle of very normal, very busy lives.
Because meditation isn’t about perfection.
It’s about presence.
And sometimes presence looks like wobbling, shaking, sighing and laughing through it.
Listen to Episode 12: Meditation (But Make It Real Life)
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and at
WellbeingMagazine.com/podcast
New episodes drop every Monday at 6pm for Mocktail Monday — honest conversations, zero alcohol and plenty of laughter.
Why This Episode Matters
Many people give up on meditation because they think they’re “doing it wrong.” This episode invites listeners to let go of that pressure and discover forms of meditation that actually fit their lives, bodies and minds.
Because calm doesn’t come from trying harder.
It comes from allowing yourself to be exactly where you are.
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