Speaking of Meditation

Megha Mohan 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.”

My guest is Dr Tim Spector OBE, award-winning Professor of Genetics, author, and founder of worldwide phenomenon the Zoe App.

Tim's work is renowned in the scientific community. He's hailed in popular culture as the straight-talking doctor who's changing the way we eat, with best-selling books such as The Diet Myth and Food For Life. His current project, the Zoe App, tracks the power of the gut microbiome on overall health and longevity.

Tim's been meditating since the 70's. Learning as a teenager to aid his studies ("I got bored so easily"), he had no clue if he'd keep it up. Surprisingly to Tim, he's been doing it regularly for almost five decades.

Sarah Lyall is a prominent writer for the New York Times, her career spanning almost two decades as their London correspondent. She now covers international affairs, culture and media. Her recent feature on prominent psychologist Esther Perel was hailed by Esther herself as “wonderful”. Sarah’s journey into meditation isn’t conventional — she admits she wasn’t interested when she signed up, and did it only because her daughter wanted to. Everything changed when she learned. Meditation is her space to calm down, to worry less, and show up for her loved ones in a completely different way.

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”.

Noomi Melchior Natan is an experienced leadership coach, and host of the Female Inner Power podcast. For more than 15 years she has coached leaders and business owners on how to overcome the blocks to success

Peter Magnani had a successful career as a senior executive in media and advertising. After learning meditation he formed his own company and created the app Beam.

Renée Elliot founded Planet Organic, the UK’s first organic supermarket, and recently required the company from administration. She is the author of cutting-edge cookbooks, a prolific corporate and public motivational speaker and a full-on mother of 3.

Jesse Peretz is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, producer, and creator known for Netflix’s GLOW, Hulu’s SHRILL, and HBO’s GIRLS. He is considered one of the most versatile and impactful people in the film and television industry.

Lucy Beresford is an author, a psychotherapist, a radio host, and a television presenter. She never thought meditation would be her cup of tea... until it was.

India Sehmi is a Lifestyle Influencer, writer and photographer. In a world that can demand "being on" all the time, meditation brings her back to centre.