Downright Mindful

Downright Mindful Media
  • 5.0 (13)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Real conversations. Real people. Real life. Hosted by Matt Parris and Paul Sausville, Downright Mindful is a long-form podcast that blends humor, reflection, and storytelling. From small-town life and teaching to fatherhood, faith, and the human condition — every episode aims to slow things down and think a little deeper. Produced by Downright Mindful Media in Cleveland, Tennessee.

  1. 8H AGO

    High School Courtrooms & Big Tech Lawsuits

    In Episode 71 of Downright Mindful, Paul and Matt start in an unexpected place… ink pens. From there, Paul asks Matt about taking a team from Walker Valley High School to compete in the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division High School Mock Trial for the first time. The conversation explores how mock trial sharpens thinking, builds confidence, and changes what happens inside the classroom. Then the discussion shifts to a headline Paul saw on student news — a young woman filing a civil suit against Meta and YouTube, raising bigger questions about media, responsibility, and the role of technology in young people’s lives. And just before release, life adds another layer — Matt’s first grandchild is born. As this episode drops, everyone is healthy, and the family has grown. Classroom law. Cultural questions. And real life unfolding in real time. 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/downright-mindful/id1776503597 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3sANbCaTFQag9nMCnR01N7?si=0950bd8497ee47ad 📩 downrightmindful@gmail.com

    1 hr

  2. FEB 8

    Life, Love, and Basketball: A Sausville Story

    In Episode 70, Matt interviews Paul as a continuation of an earlier conversation about life and basketball. Paul and his wife Sarah met while playing college basketball, and the game has shaped much of their family’s story. All three of their sons have had successful high school basketball careers, with the youngest now entering his senior year. Matt asks the question that’s quietly been sitting in the background for years:Where do you go when the game is over? They talk about what this family’s relationship with basketball looks like once Isaac is finished—whether that’s after high school or college—and what it means to let go of something that has structured time, identity, and relationships for so long. Along the way, Paul and Matt share stories and memories of their sons playing together, the gyms they’ve sat in, the seasons that flew by, and the gratitude that comes with realizing you’re near the end of a chapter—even if you’re not quite ready to close the book. This episode isn’t about wins or stats. It’s about transition, memory, and learning how to carry the good parts forward. 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/downright-mindful/id1776503597 🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3sANbCaTFQag9nMCnR01N7 📩 Contactdownrightmindful@gmail.com

    34 min

  3. FEB 1

    From Wanting More to Finding Meaning

    In Episode 69, Paul leads the conversation by introducing the Diderot Effect—the idea that one new thing often creates a chain reaction of wants, upgrades, and expectations we never planned for. From there, the conversation unfolds naturally. Paul asks questions that invite Matt to share personal stories and lived experiences, and together they explore how desire, identity, and contentment are often more connected than we realize. By the end of the episode, the discussion lands on Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning and the deeper question underneath it all—what actually sustains a meaningful life when comfort, possessions, or momentum fall short. This is not a lecture and not a manifesto. Just two guys thinking out loud, connecting ideas to real life, and leaving space for reflection. 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/downright-mindful/id1776503597 🎧 Listen on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3sANbCaTFQag9nMCnR01N7 📩 Contactdownrightmindful@gmail.com

    54 min

  4. JAN 25

    Talking Books Reading Habits and Imaginary Interviews

    In Episode 68, Matt and Paul talk books. Matt shares how he has been thrift shopping for books and building his reading stack in a more intentional way. From there, the conversation moves through favorite reads, reading habits, and the kinds of books that tend to stick with us over time. Paul then leads Matt into a more imaginative question. If you could interview fictional characters, who would you choose and why? What follows is a thoughtful and fun conversation that blends literature, curiosity, and reflection. It’s less about rankings or recommendations and more about why stories matter and how characters can shape the way we think. 🎧 Find Downright Mindful onApple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/downright-mindful/id1776503597Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3sANbCaTFQag9nMCnR01N7 📩 Contact us downrightmindful@gmail.com

    52 min

  5. JAN 18

    How I Journal in 2026 A Simple Daily Writing Routine That Actually Works

    In this episode of Downright Mindful, Matt and Paul talk journaling. Paul is a daily writer, which makes him the right person to have this conversation with. Writing has long been one of the ways he processes ideas, reflects, and thinks clearly. Matt catches Paul up on how his own journaling has changed in 2026. Instead of scattered notes and half-filled notebooks, Matt now follows daily routines using a few simple journaling strategies across dedicated notebooks. This is not about productivity hacks or aesthetic journals. It is about consistency, clarity, and building habits that last. If you have tried journaling before and struggled to stick with it, or if you are looking for a realistic daily writing routine, this conversation is for you. 🎧 Listen to Downright MindfulApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/downright-mindful/id1776503597 Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3sANbCaTFQag9nMCnR01N7 📩 Contactdownrightmindful@gmail.com

    1h 12m

  6. JAN 11

    Then, Now, and What’s Next

    In Episode 66, Paul and Matt slow things down and take a wide look at time. Paul walks Matt through three simple questions. What was life like a year ago? What does the present look like right now? And what might January of 2027 hold? The conversation is reflective without being heavy and honest without trying to solve anything. It’s about noticing growth, naming change, and admitting what still feels unfinished. This episode also sets the stage for next week’s conversation, where Matt catches listeners up on journaling and the inner work it creates. A quiet episode. A thoughtful one. And a reminder that reflection does not require answers to be valuable. You can find Downright Mindful on Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube

    48 min

  7. JAN 4

    Helping Students Find Their Way: Richard Jackson and Katie DelBonis

    In Episode 65, Paul and Matt sit down with Richard Jackson and Katie DelBonis, two educators whose work often happens quietly but makes a lasting impact. Richard, a former school counselor turned career coach for Bradley County Schools, shares how he now helps students explore career paths as early as middle school and even fifth grade. His work opens doors to CTE opportunities, workforce training, and real-world decision making long before students are asked to choose what comes next. Katie, a school counselor at Walker Valley High School, talks about a powerful student-led project where teens identify real needs in their own peer community and step in to help. From coordinating anonymous giving to delivering Christmas support to families, Katie plays the role of protector, organizer, and sometimes Santa Claus all at once. Along the way, Richard and Katie share hometown stories, Lee University connections, and what it really means to walk alongside students during the most formative years of their lives. This episode is about guidance, dignity, and showing up in ways most people never see. 🎧 Spotify: Downright Mindful 🍎 Apple Podcasts: Downright Mindful 📺 YouTube: Downright Mindful 📩 Email: downrightmindful@gmail.com

    39 min

  8. 12/28/2025

    Getting to Know Valanna White

    In Episode 64 of Downright Mindful, Paul and Matt sit down with Valanna White, a teacher at Walker Valley High School, for a fun, lighthearted conversation. Paul leads the episode with a series of “Would You Rather” questions that spark laughter, stories, and a few unexpected moments—including Valanna sharing her beautiful singing voice. The conversation offers a relaxed preview of Valanna as a future guest, giving listeners a chance to get to know her personality, humor, and creativity. This episode is easygoing, conversational, and a reminder that sometimes the best conversations happen when there’s no agenda—just good questions and good company. You can find Downright Mindful on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.Search Downright Mindful on your favorite platform, follow the show, and subscribe on YouTube for full-length episodes and future video content.

    38 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Real conversations. Real people. Real life. Hosted by Matt Parris and Paul Sausville, Downright Mindful is a long-form podcast that blends humor, reflection, and storytelling. From small-town life and teaching to fatherhood, faith, and the human condition — every episode aims to slow things down and think a little deeper. Produced by Downright Mindful Media in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Information

  • Creator
    Downright Mindful Media
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Downright Mindful Media
  • Show Website
    Downright Mindful