If you’ve been thinking about signing up for a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat—especially as your first experience with meditation—this episode might give you a perspective you haven’t heard before. I’ve been meditating for over 25 years and have had a daily practice for more than 20 of those years. 

While I’m not against retreats or Vipassana itself, I’ve seen some patterns emerge that raise a few important red flags—particularly for beginners. 

In this episode, I walk through those red flags one by one, culminating in the biggest one that often gets overlooked, even by seasoned meditators. I’ll also share what I’ve found to be a more realistic, sustainable way to build a practice that actually sticks. 

This isn’t a takedown—it’s a grounded, honest take on what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose a path that you’ll still want to be walking six months, or even six years, from now.