Zen Habits Podcast Leo Babauta

At the intersection of technical precision and creative insight lies a unique pathway to understanding the world around us. By blending the analytical skills of engineering with the reflective practices of writing and mysticism, we unlock new dimensions of personal and professional growth, transforming challenges into innovative solutions.
In this episode, I'm excited to welcome Beth Adele Long — an engineer by training, a writer by passion, and a mystic by inclination — who embodies this unique convergence of skills. Beth shares her experiences of writing both a memoir and a technical guide, providing a fascinating look at how diverse disciplines can inform and enrich each other, and how feedback becomes a vital tool in navigating the creative process and cultivating resilience. Together, we explore how her expertise in resilience engineering informs her creative pursuits, fostering a richer, more comprehensive understanding of life’s complexities.
Join us as we dive into a discussion that bridges the gap between systematic thinking and the boundless world of creative expression, illustrating the transformative power of integrating these realms.
Topics CoveredBlending technical proficiency with creative writingThe role of personal resilience in professional successLearning from failures in software development and writingThe impact of receiving and integrating feedbackOvercoming imposter syndrome through multiple creative projectsInsights from co-founding Spiral Press and its innovative approach to publishingThe integration of mysticism in a technical careerStrategies for managing multiple projects and maintaining creative energy
TranscriptYou can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Beth's Bio & ResourcesBeth Adele Long is an engineer by training and a mystic by inclination. She currently coaches software companies in Resilience Engineering; writes memoir, travelogues, and fantastical fiction; and is a co-founder of Spiral Press. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her dazzling husband and a beautiful patchwork family.
Beth's websiteSpiral Press Collective
Zen Habits ResourcesThe Fearless Living Academy
Fearless Mastery
Connect with LeoZen Habits
Youtube channel
X (Twitter)
Instagram
Zen Habits Facebook Group
Tiktok channel
Email: podcast@zenhabits.net
CreditsMusic: Salem Belladonna & Robrecht...

As creators, we often find ourselves entangled in a web of indecision, perfectionism, and self-doubt, which prevents us from fully unlocking our creative potential. To liberate ourselves, we need to embrace the unknown, confronting and accepting the risks of failure, judgment, and feelings of inadequacy. But how can we transform our fear of the unknown into a playground of creativity and discovery?
In this episode, we explore the challenges and fears that hold us back from stepping into the unknown of our creative projects, and how adopting a stance of playful curiosity can lead us to unexpected discoveries. We examine how fear, resistance, and the quest for a "safe middle ground" affect our creative journeys and introduce the archetype of The Fool as a guiding principle in creative exploration.
Join me as we explore how the practice of stepping boldly into the unknown, armed with curiosity and a sense of adventure, can transform the creative process into a journey of self-discovery and meaningful expression.
Topics CoveredThe importance of exploring the unknown in creative projectsConfronting and understanding the fears that prevent us from creative explorationThe archetype of The Fool as a metaphor for embracing uncertainty and risk in creativityOvercoming indecision, perfectionism, and the fear of judgementThe illusion of a "safe middle ground" in creativity and its pitfallsThe role of curiosity, play, and adventure in transforming the creative processAdopting The Fool stance in creative endeavorsChoosing a stand and stepping into the unknown with confidence and purpose
TranscriptYou can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Connect with LeoZen Habits
Youtube channel
X (Twitter)
Instagram
Zen Habits Facebook Group
Tiktok channel
Email: podcast@zenhabits.net
ResourcesThe Fearless Living Academy
Fearless Mastery
CreditsMusic: Salem Belladonna & Robrecht Dumarey
Editor: Justin Cruz
Post-production: Diana C. Guzmán Caro & Amanda Goddard

At the heart of every challenge lies the potential for innovation, unity, and profound personal growth. Music, with its boundless capacity to express, heal, and unite, offers a unique vantage point on life's challenges.
This week I have the privilege to be joined by Linda McIntyre, a composer, conductor, and pioneer at the forefront of using music as a transformative force to bring light to the shadows of Parkinson's disease. Her work with the New Voice Choir not only showcases the transformative power of music but also the strength found in community and shared experiences.
In this episode, we uncover the layers of Linda's mission, diving into the relationship between music and wellness, the communal strength born from shared vulnerability, and the transformative journey of turning adversity into art. We explore the nuances of creating a safe, nurturing space where music serves as both a bridge and a destination, inviting us to consider the broader implications of artistic expression as a form of therapy and celebration.
Join us as we tune into the melodies of resilience, exploring how creativity, when fueled by love and resilience, can transcend personal challenges, and inspire collective healing and joy.
Topics CoveredThe interplay of music and healing in Parkinson's managementBuilding community and support through choir participationHarnessing personal challenges as fuel for creative expressionThe transformative journey from individual struggle to collective strengthThe role of creativity in enhancing physical and mental well-beingAdapting artistic practices for inclusivity and accessibilityThe importance and value of routine in sustaining creative projectsNavigating the challenges of leadership and inspiration in therapeutic settingsMusic as a bridge between personal experience and communal healingThe impact of collaborative art on overcoming societal stigmas
TranscriptYou can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Linda's Bio & ResourcesLinda is an award-winning composer, arranger, teacher, director, & performer – just an all-round muso, really! More recently, her PhD candidature has been added to the mix with the aim of producing a portfolio of new music based on a narrative of lived trauma.
As a composer with Parkinson’s, Linda is in a unique position to record a case study within her PhD, evaluating the impacts of Parkinson’s disease on her deepest levels of mathematical creativity across a period of years. Some surprising reverse developments have already come to light within this process!
She is the co-founder & musical director of New Voice Choir (NVC), a group that celebrates people with Parkinson’s and their supporters.
The combining of music composition with Parkinson’s, teaching, and the uplifting NVC community has become an abiding passion for Linda.
NVC’s website: www.newvoicechoir.org.auVideo: Fighting Parkinson’s the Musical Way
Zen Habits ResourcesThe Fearless Living Academy
Fearless Mastery
Connect with LeoZen Habits
Youtube...

Questioning our commitment to a project each time we face resistance or doubt undermines the foundation of our creative practice. However, attempting to create without acknowledging and incorporating our fears into the process can result in a lack of authenticity and depth in our work. By understanding and embracing our fears, we uncover ways to forge a deeper, more resilient commitment to our projects.
In this episode, we discuss the critical role of commitment in creative work and examine the fears and doubts that challenge it. We unpack how these forces, seemingly at odds, can actually fuel our journey towards meaningful work. We explore the shadows of doubt that loom over our creative projects and unveil the strategies that help us embrace these fears, turning them into catalysts for deeper dedication and authenticity in our work.
Join me as we discover how acknowledging and working with our fears can lead to a more profound and fulfilling commitment to our creative projects.
Topics CoveredThe interplay of commitment and fear in creativityIdentifying and overcoming creative fearsPractical steps to cultivate commitmentThe role of scheduling and accountabilityEmpowering creativity by acknowledging and addressing fearsEmbracing and managing disappointment in the creative processExpressing fears through creative work and finding meaning
TranscriptYou can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Connect with LeoZen Habits
Youtube channel
X (Twitter)
Instagram
Zen Habits Facebook Group
Tiktok channel
Email: podcast@zenhabits.net
ResourcesThe Fearless Living Academy
Fearless Mastery
CreditsMusic: Salem Beladonna & Robrecht Dumarey
Editor: Justin Cruz
Post-production: Diana C. Guzmán Caro & Amanda Goddard

Embracing the full spectrum of our experiences, including the shadows, is essential for true personal transformation and growth. Viewing challenges not as barriers but as opportunities for growth—through the lens of alchemy, where difficulties are transformed into raw materials for personal evolution—can fundamentally shift our approach to life's obstacles.
In this episode, I'm thrilled to be joined by Salem, a visionary artist and co-creator of the Zen Habits podcast theme song, who masterfully weaves the transformative power of alchemy into her music and life. Together, we explore the depths of artistic expression, the challenges of mental health, and the beauty of transforming 'lead into gold'. Salem offers us a glimpse into her creative process, sharing how negative experiences can be channeled into sources of strength and inspiration, illustrating this through her approach to music, performance, and teaching.
This episode explores how personal growth intertwines with art, offering a profound look at the healing and transformative potential of fully embracing and expressing our authentic selves.
Topics CoveredThe concept of alchemy in art and personal transformationOvercoming anxiety, self-doubt, and societal pressuresThe importance of self-care and discipline in creativityUsing negative experiences as sources of strength and inspirationThe interplay between personal growth and artistic expressionThe role of ritual and routine in creative and mental healthThe transformative power of embracing one's full selfOvercoming external pressures and staying true to one's artistic visionExploring the boundaries between personal experiences and artistic expression
TranscriptYou can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Salem's Bio & ResourcesSalem Belladonna is a sound alchemist (composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, teacher). Art creates a powerful impact on our experience, and Salem hopes that her creations will encourage listeners to explore and heal their own relationships with darkness. Salem Sanctuary is her lesson studio, where she offers studies in music, yoga, and alchemical philosophy.
Salem's websiteSalem's Sanctuary: Music, Alchemy, Yoga
Zen Habits ResourcesThe Fearless Living Academy
Fearless Mastery
Connect with LeoZen Habits
Youtube channel
X (Twitter)
Instagram
Zen Habits Facebook Group
Tiktok channel
Email: podcast@zenhabits.net
CreditsMusic: Salem Belladonna & a...

Many of us resist stepping into the unknown, clinging to comfort zones that stifle creativity and self-discovery. We shy away from new challenges due to a deep-seated fear of failure or embarrassment, missing out on invaluable learning opportunities, and limiting our capacity for innovation.
In this episode, we shine a light on the power of embracing the unknown to discover our true creative potential. We discuss the challenges of starting and continuing creative projects, examining the fears and uncertainties that often arise. We introduce strategies for overcoming these challenges, emphasizing the importance of being present, practicing with intention, and navigating fear through mindfulness and breath work.
Join me as we dive into the opportunities that lie in the moments of uncertainty, and as we explore the beauty of learning to trust our ability to stay present in the unknown.
Topics CoveredUnderstanding resistance in creative projectsThe role of uncertainty in creativityExploring your edges and blind spotsThe power of embracing messinessLearning from the archetype of The FoolDeveloping trust in the unknownStaying present in the moment of creationLeading with breath in the face of fearEmbracing the unknown in the present moment
TranscriptYou can find the transcript on the episode's web page by clicking here.
Connect with LeoZen Habits
Youtube channel
X (Twitter)
Instagram
Zen Habits Facebook Group
Tiktok channel
Email: podcast@zenhabits.net
ResourcesThe Fearless Living Academy
Fearless Mastery
CreditsMusic: Salem Belladonna & Robrecht Dumarey
Editor: Justin Cruz
Post-production: Diana C. Guzmán Caro & Amanda Goddard