Untangle

Welcome to a weekly special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationship stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 70 of the world’s top meditation experts.

And best of all, you can now unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.

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When you hear the word retreat, you probably imagine an expensive getaway, a yoga retreat in Bali, or a silent meditation center tucked away in the mountains. But what if retreating was something you could do for an hour in your own home—and what if those small moments could transform your sense of wellbeing, creativity, relationships, and overall peace of mind? Sounds pretty good, right? 

Today's guest is Caroline Sylge, a poet, author and journalist and a trusted expert on retreats and retreating. She is the founder of the retreat platform queenofretreats.com, powered by The Global Retreat Company. And she's the author of the book we discuss today, How to Retreat, a Guide to Stepping Away from the Everyday to Find Space for Your Self.

Retreating, she says, isn't about escaping your life—it's about stepping away just long enough to return with more clarity, energy, and purpose.

We explore how anyone can create meaningful "micro-retreats," why doing nothing can actually be deeply restorative, the surprising connection between retreating and creativity, and practical ways to build moments of reflection into everyday life—without spending a fortune or leaving home.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or simply craving more peace, this episode offers practical tools to help you reconnect with yourself and create space for what matters most.

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Welcome to a special edition of Untangle, Meditation Mondays. We’re taking this time to share meditations from our sister app, Meditation Studio. We know that life gets messy and, when it does, Meditation is here to help us find a sense of calm and inner peace. Whether you’re facing daily work or relationships stress, unexpected challenges, or just want to improve focus, we hope meditation Monday’s will be your go to for a weekly guided meditation treat. And if you’re craving more…which I always do…the Meditation Studio app offers over 800 expert-guided meditations from over 75 of the world’s top meditation experts.And best of all…get 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio.

Resource: Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio

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 In today’s encore episode, Dr. Shahrzad Jalali, Clinical Psychologist and Author of the book The Fire that Makes Us: Unveiling the Transformative Power of Trauma, shares her personal journey through trauma, exploring the complexities of healing and the impact of unprocessed experiences on our lives. She shares her wisdom on the importance of understanding trauma, how we can heal the nervous system, and the role of meaning-making in reframing our experiences. Whether it’s a big t or little t, trauma depends on how we each experience it and, whether big or little, she believes that trauma can be a powerful catalyst for growth, and that it is possible to free yourself from the grip of negative emotions associated with it. 

Dr. Jalali introduces her Regulate to Rise program, which offers practical techniques for healing trauma and even dispelling negative emotions. There’s a lot about Jungian psychology here and the significance of mindfulness. She does a beautiful job underscoring the importance of self-awareness, prioritizing true values, and embracing and navigating our own personal journey’s. 

Resource: https://drshahrzadjalali.com

Check out choosemuse.com when you have a minute and learn more about how the brain sensing headband can transform your brain's potential and get 15% off Muse with code UNTANGLE15. 

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Are you living someone else’s concept of who you are supposed to be? In this episode of Untangle, our guest is Dr. Ellen Albertson, "The Midlife Whisperer," to discuss why the dip in happiness around age 50 isn't a crisis—it’s a wake-up call. Dr. Ellen breaks down the physiological and psychological changes women face during perimenopause and menopause, and introduces her 7-step framework from her book, Rock Your Midlife. Discover how to silence your inner critic, prioritize self-compassion, and harness the "dragonfly" energy to transform your second half of life into your most authentic and vibrant chapter yet.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The U-Shaped Happiness Curve: Why life satisfaction often dips around age 50 before rising again as we age.
• The "Anti-Authenticity Trifecta": How people-pleasing, perfectionism, and a harsh inner critic lead to midlife exhaustion.
• Nervous System Regulation: Why moving out of your comfort zone triggers a "fight-or-flight" response, and how to use HeartMath and breathwork to find safety.
• Fear vs. Excitement: A psychological hack to reframe your fears as exhilaration so you can start taking joyful risks.
• Dr. Ellen’s 7-Step Framework: A guided breakdown of finding your true self, loving yourself, energizing your body, reprogramming your brain, rehabbing relationships, empowering yourself, and seeking enlightenment.
• The Dragonfly Metaphor: Why the dragonfly is the ultimate symbol for midlife transformation and setting boundaries with people who still see you as a nymph.

About Our Guest: Dr. Ellen Albertson is a psychologist, registered dietitian, and transformational coach who has spent her career working with midlife women. She is the author of Rock Your Midlife: 7 Steps to Transform Yourself and Make Your Next Chapter Your Best Chapter. After navigating her own midlife awakening, surviving breast cancer, and finding new love, she now splits her time between Vermont and Costa Rica, helping women step into their power.

Resources: The midlifewhisperer.com

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An 11 minute meditation to start your day with a dose of gratitude.

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In this Encore episode, originally aired in January, we sit down with Ingrid Fetell Lee, the author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness. Ingrid, a designer and researcher, shares the science of joy, and does a deep dive into how our surroundings impact our well-being AND how we can harness the power of color, shape, and space to actually cultivate more happiness in our lives. We explore the intersection of design, psychology, and emotion, as well as practical ways to create more joy in our everyday environments. She shares how small, simple things can often have a huge impact on how we feel and how we experience the world.

Resource: https://aestheticsofjoy.com/

As always, we’re Untangle, the podcast from Muse, the brain sensing headband dedicated to unlocking your brains potential AND Meditation Studio the five star app. Unlock 30 days of Meditation Studio for free at choosemuse.com/meditationstudio. 

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Today we're exploring why our obsession with speed, productivity, and always being on time may actually be keeping us from living fully and meaningfully. 

Our guest is Alex Snider, author of Sometimes You Should Be Late: The Quiet Rebellion of Slowing Down in a World Obsessed with Speed.. After a life-changing bike accident left him with a traumatic brain injury, Alex was forced to slow down—and what began as recovery evolved into a profound shift in how he understands mindfulness, our relationship to time, and the way we move through life.

In this conversation, we discuss the hidden costs of urgency and an urgency culture, how slowing down creates more compassion and better relationships, and why being emotionally present may matter more than being perfectly punctual.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by back-to-back meetings, endless to-do lists, or the pressure to optimize every minute, this episode offers a refreshing—and practical—new perspective.

Resource: slowmindfulness.com

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What if many of today's most common health problems—from digestive issues and inflammation to stress and fatigue—could be addressed by reconnecting with circadian rhythms that humans have followed for thousands of years?

Today I sit down with Dr. John Douillard, globally recognized leader in the fields of Ayurveda, natural health, nutrition, and sports medicine to explore the ancient science of Ayurveda and how its principles are supported by modern research. He’s most well known for integrating traditional Indian healing with modern medicine and nutrition science. 

Dr. Douillard explains how seasonal eating, digestive health, breathing techniques, and daily lifestyle habits influence everything from our microbiome and immune system to our energy, mood, and longevity. He also challenges some of today's most popular nutrition trends, including the widespread avoidance of wheat and the obsession with high-protein diets.

Whether you're struggling with digestive issues, looking for natural ways to improve your health, or simply curious about what ancient healing systems can teach us today, Dr. Douillard offers lot’s of practical tools and a fresh perspective on how we can stay healthy throughout our lives. 

Resource: lifespa.com

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What if resilience isn't about bouncing back—but about staying present through whatever life brings?

Today I sit down with Margaret Cullen, a licensed psychotherapist and a pioneer in bringing contemplative practices into mainstream settings. She’s also the author of a book called Quiet Strength, Find Peace, Feel Alive, and love Boundlessly Through the power of Equanimity. 

Drawing from decades of meditation practice, compassion training at Stanford, neuroscience research, and wisdom traditions from around the world, Margaret explains why equanimity may be the missing ingredient in our pursuit of well-being. She shares how it differs from mindfulness, its relationship to compassion, and how it helps us navigate suffering, relationships, uncertainty, and the emotional ups and downs of everyday life. 

Whether you're facing personal challenges, simply looking for greater balance in an increasingly reactive world, caring for a loved one, or just living this chaotic life…this conversation offers practical wisdom for cultivating a steadier heart and mind.

Resource: margaretcullen.com

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