PODCAST · education
Pay Attention
by Holly McNeill
Pay Attention is a podcast dedicated to a journey from the chaos of the mind to the clarity of the open heart. As a seasoned architect turned teacher and spiritual guide, Holly McNeill spent two decades while working full time and as a single mom exploring neuroscience, psychology, Buddhism, and spirituality all to uncover the transformative power of the present moment. Here you'll find practical tips and insights on how the mind works, why you get stuck, how to break free, how to create space for real change, and what lies beyond the chaos. All here to help you build a life of clarity, peace, and purpose.
Episodes
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S2:E15 Keep Scratching The Surface | Curiosity, Action & Growth
In this final guest episode before the summer break of Season 2, Holly McNeill, the Mindfulness Architect, welcomes Austra Putnina — a Latvian-born, Estonia-based podcaster, coach, and multi-passionate seeker of growth. Together, Holly and Austra explore what it means to pay attention early, to...
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S2:E14 Mindfulness: Why One Size Doesn't Fit All
In this episode of Pay Attention with Holly McNeill, Holly is joined by mindfulness teacher Christoph Spiessens and CBT therapist Liezl Laidlaw to explore a powerful truth: mindfulness is not one-size-fits-all. Together, they unpack why traditional approaches can unintentionally exclude many...
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S2:E13 From Chaos To Clarity: The Practice Of Awareness with Mark Nunberg
What does it truly mean to live a practice? In this deeply grounded and reflective episode of Pay Attention, Holly reconnects with meditation teacher Mark Nunberg of Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis —a place that played a meaningful role in her own journey. Together, they explore…
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S2:E12 The Hidden Battle: A Veteran's Journey Through Trauma, Psychedelic Healing and Hope with Maria Gonzalez
Did you know 22 veterans take their lives every day in the U.S.? In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Pay Attention, Holly sits down with Maria Gonzalez to explore the hidden toll of trauma on veterans and their families. Maria shares her family's journey through years of chronic pain,...
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S2:E11 What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You (Part 2)
What if recurring dreams held the key to understanding who we truly are—and what we're here to do? In this follow-up to their first conversation on dream tending, host Holly McNeill invites dream tender and therapist Valerie Johns back for a raw and revealing live dream tending session. If you've...
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S2:E10 What Your Dreams Are Telling You with Valerie Johns
To stay in the world of dreams just a bit longer, this week on Pay Attention we're going back to the archives to revisit an earlier conversation on dream tending with Valerie Johns. What if your dreams weren't random at all, but meaningful messages from the deepest parts of you? This episode...
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S2:E9 Gateway to the Inner Self: What Lucid Dreams Reveal About Consciousness
What happens when awareness awakens inside a dream? In this episode of Pay Attention, Holly McNeill continues her exploration of consciousness — not just in the waking world, but in the landscapes we enter each night. She sits down with Robert Waggoner, one of the world's most respected lucid...
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S2:E8 Dear Universe: The Story We Inherit — and the One We Choose
Following last week's open and expansive conversation, this episode turns gently toward something powerful: choice. Holly sits down with psychotherapist and poet Robby Cale for a reflective conversation that begins with his spoken-word piece, "Dear Universe," and unfolds into an exploration of…
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S2:E7 When The Soul Speaks, Listen: Proof You're Not Crazy with Cheyenne Moore & Ann Arnd-Caddigan
Is it a mental health crisis, or is it a spiritual awakening? In this live episode of the Pay Attention Podcast, host Holly McNeill is joined by guest host Cheyenne Moore and Dr. Margaret Arnd-Caddigan to explore the intersection of spiritual awakening and mental health. We tackle the terrifying...
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S2 E6 How Lucid Dreaming Heals Trauma & Anxiety with Clare Johnson
In this episode of Pay Attention, Holly sits down with Clare Johnson, PhD, one of the world's leading voices in lucid dreaming, for a deep conversation about the dream world. Discover how conscious dreaming can be a powerful gateway to healing, insight, and awareness. Key Topics Discussed in This...
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S2:E5 The Invisible Made Visible - Awareness Felt Through Energy & Art
Last week, we explored what research is revealing about the mind–body connection—and how science is beginning to build a bridge toward contemplative practice and lived experience. This week, we step into the experience itself. In this episode, Holly is joined by Marc Noël, a Belgium-based artist,...
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S2:E4 The Mind-Body Connection | What Research Is Revealing with Dr. Ann Van De Winckel
One clear goal of this podcast is to build the bridge between science, contemplative practice, and lived experience. We have real and significant pieces to take us from struggle to peace, and from chaos to clarity. We feel them in the body. We sense them in the mind. We practice them in daily…
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S2:E3 When The Mind Goes Quiet, The Body Remembers with Maira Holzmann
In the last two episodes of Pay Attention, we explored why doing more isn't the answer—and why deeply ingrained habits can't be changed through intellectual insight or thinking alone. So what does create real change? In this episode, Holly McNeill is joined by somatic psychotherapist Maira…
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S2:E2 You Can't Outthink Your Habitual Thoughts with Amy Kemp
Coming out of last week's conversation with Dr. Patel on Less Is More and the power of doing less for our physical health, this episode of Pay Attention turns toward the mental and emotional habits that quietly shape our lives. Holly sits down with Amy Kemp, author of I See You, to explore why...
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S2:E1 Less Is More In The New Year - Compassionate Care & Healing
As the New Year begins, many of us feel pressure to fix, improve, or overhaul our lives. In this episode of Pay Attention, Holly McNeill is joined by osteopathic physician Dr. Neal Patel for a grounded, compassionate conversation about what healing can look like when we slow down and do less—not...
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42: Creating The New Year with Intentional Attention
The Mindfulness Architect, Holly McNeill, reflects on New Year's resolutions—and why intention alone is rarely enough to create real change. Rather than offering another checklist or goal-setting framework, this episode invites listeners to pause and examine what they are actually paying…
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41: The Gift of the Human Journey
On this Christmas Eve, I invite you to pause. In a season that can feel joyful for some and heavy for others, this episode is a quiet reflection on the gift of the human journey — with all of its beauty, struggle, tenderness, and possibility. There is a natural flow to life, and much of our...
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40: Trusting The Intuition Within with Dr. Lenka Schulze
This week, the Mindfulness Architect, Holly McNeill is joined by Dr. Lenka Schulze, an Intuologist, Author, Educator and Spiritual Guide. Her lifelong experience, ongoing research, and ample knowledge in the area of intuition and consciousness, create a solid platform from which she invites…
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39: Why Our Inner Stories Shape Us with Rita Ernst
This week, the Mindfulness Architect, Holly McNeill is joined by Rita Ernst, the Amazon best-selling author of Show Up Positive (2022) and Culture Impact: Strategies to Create World-Changing Workplaces (2023). Forbes, MSNBC, and over 30 podcasts worldwide have featured Rita as a culture and…
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38: Happiness Is A Habit - Tiny Changes, Big Shifts with Michele Phillips
On this episode, the Mindfulness Architect, Holly McNeill is joined by Michele Phillips, President of Key Performance — a powerhouse in elevating happiness, excellence, and human potential in the workplace. With more than 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, Michele blends neuroscience, habit...
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37: To The Alienated, Estranged & Separated During The Holidays
This special Thanksgiving episode is a pause — a gentle breath — for anyone who feels alienated, estranged, or separated during the holidays. In one of the most personal episodes she's ever shared, Holly opens her heart and tells the story of her long, painful journey through parental alienation,...
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35: Embrace The Mess: Create The Life You Love with Marc Scheff
What if the chaos in your life was actually the beginning of something beautiful? In this inspiring conversation, host Holly McNeill sits down with artist-turned-coach Marc Scheff to explore how creativity, risk-taking, and letting go can reshape the way we live and work. From leaving behind a...
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36: Disrupting The Script: Awakening Beyond Autopilot with Dr. Jada Phillips
What if the pause you've been avoiding is the very thing that could change your life? In this powerful conversation, host Holly McNeill sits down with trauma therapist and coach Dr. Jada Phillips to explore what it means to step off autopilot and come back home to yourself. From working in…
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34: Mindfulness Meets The Techie Brain with Adam Kobler
What happens when a tech-savvy mind takes a deep dive into mindfulness? In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with Adam Kobler—leadership coach, technologist, and founder of Protagonist—to explore how meditation and awareness transformed his life and career. From his…
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33: Speaking From The Soul with Cheyenne Moore
Is self-discovery a final destination—or a story we keep rewriting? ✨ In this heartfelt episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with Cheyenne Moore—author, producer, and host of Safe Space with Cheyenne—for a conversation that feels like coming home. (Fun fact: Safe Space was the...
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32: You're Not Crazy, You're Connected - Embracing The Paranormal
Holly's guest this Wednesday is ✨ Dr. Margaret Arnd-Caddigan ✨ A lifelong explorer of both the seen and the unseen, Margaret bridges the worlds of psychotherapy, spirituality, and the paranormal. With a PhD in social work and a master's in religious studies, she began her career studying the...
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31: Unlocking High Performance and Overcoming Trauma with Dr. Don Wood
Welcome to Pay Attention — a podcast guiding you from the chaos of the mind 🌀 to the clarity of the open heart ❤️. (broadcast every Wednesday at 10 am PST / 1 pm EST). We're going BACK TO THE ARCHIVES on this powerful episode of The Pay Attention Podcast.🌿 In this episode, host Holly McNeill...
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30: From Heartbreak to Healing: Sara Davison on Divorce, Abuse, and Reclaiming Your Power
We're going BACK TO THE ARCHIVES on this powerful episode of The Pay Attention Podcast. Host Holly McNeill sits down with Sara Davison—The Divorce Coach. A multi-award-winning coach, two-time bestselling author, and host of the Heartbreak to Happiness Podcast, Sara is also a global media voice on...
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28: From Chaos of the Mind to Clarity of the Heart
Step into a space where the noise quiets and presence takes center stage. 🎙️ Pay Attention is a weekly podcast (Wednesdays at 10am PST / 1pm EST) hosted by Holly McNeill — an architect turned teacher and spiritual guide who has spent decades weaving together neuroscience 🧠, psychology 📚,...
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29: Rewiring Your Life with Better Habits with Dr. Tamsin Astor
What if changing your life was as simple as changing your habits? In this powerful episode, host Holly McNeill sits down with Dr. Tamsin Astor—Chief Habit Scientist, neuroscientist, yoga teacher, and Ayurvedic coach—to explore how Eastern wisdom and Western neuroscience converge to help us take...
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27: The Puzzle Pieces of Global Impact with Gretchen Villegas
What if the key to solving global poverty starts with truly listening? In this powerful episode, Holly McNeill sits down with Gretchen Villegas, a global development executive and "social impact architect," whose journey began as a Peace Corps volunteer in South America and led to decades of...
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26: From Rock Bottom to High-Speed Healing with Debora Wayne
What if your chronic pain isn't just physical — but deeply connected to your thoughts, emotions, and energy field? In this episode of Pay Attention, Holly McNeill sits down with Debora Wayne, founder of the International Chronic Pain Institute® and creator of the revolutionary HighSpeed Healing®...
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25: What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You | Inside Holly's Dreams (Part 2)
What if recurring dreams held the key to understanding who we truly are—and what we're here to do? In this follow-up to their first conversation on dream tending, host Holly McNeill invites dream tender and therapist Valerie Johns back for a raw and revealing live dream tending session. If you've...
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24: What Your Dreams Are Trying to Tell You (Part 1)
What if your dreams weren't random at all—but meaningful messages from the deepest parts of you? In this two-part episode of Pay Attention, Holly McNeill sits down with dream tender and therapist Valerie Johns for a profound, soul-stirring conversation about how your dreams can support emotional...
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23: "Hey, Wait": A Pause Practice with Jay Moon Fields
In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill chats with Jay Moon Fields, a leading educator, coach and author. She stops by the show to discuss her Hey Wait framework, which teaches people how to honor their emotional experiences and share them authentically, helping them to break free…
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22: Orgasm Equality — Reclaiming Pleasure, Dismantling Shame with Dr. Laurie Mintz
Following last week's conversation about trauma and body-based healing, this episode of Pay Attention moves us into the next essential layer: reclaiming pleasure. Holly sits down with Dr. Laurie Mintz—licensed psychologist, sex educator, and author of Becoming Cliterate—to explore how cultural...
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21: Reclaiming Intimacy: Healing the Hidden Shame of Trauma with Juliette Karaman
In this powerful episode of Pay Attention, Holly is joined by Juliette Karaman, mentor, hypnotherapist, and creator of the Touch Base method, to explore how trauma—especially sexual trauma—gets stored in the body and quietly shapes our self-worth, relationships, and sense of safety. Juliette…
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20: Your Soul's Secrets Are on File | Inside Holly's Akashic Records (Part 2)
In this intimate follow-up to Part 1, we open the Akashic Records—literally. This episode features Holly McNeill's actual reading with Akashic Records expert Jennifer ALLY Kern, paired with in-depth commentary that unpacks the insights as they unfold. From patterns rooted in Holly's nervous…
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19: Your Soul's Secrets Are on File | Akashic Records Explained (Part 1)
I'm excited to share this episode exploring the Akashic Records—an ancient concept that invites us to look at consciousness, memory, and energy through a broader lens. This conversation is part of my ongoing exploration of how science, psychology, and spirituality intersect to deepen our...
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18: Today's Conversation Will Change the Way You Think About Self-Doubt
What if you could finally recognize just how powerful you really are? In today's conversation, Holly McNeil sits down with empowerment coach Dana Theus to unpack the deep, often hidden narratives that fuel imposter syndrome—especially for women. From generational beliefs encoded in our very DNA…
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17: Speaking From the Soul with Cheyenne Moore
Is self-discovery a destination, or is it something we're constantly rewriting? In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with Cheyenne Moore—author, producer, and host of the podcast Safe Space with Cheyenne (a full-circle moment, since it was the first show Holly ever…
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16: Healing Doesn't Have to Take a Lifetime with Barb Varcl Smith
What if you could heal in months what took someone else decades? This episode is for you. In this installment of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with Barb Varcl Smith—Trauma Therapist, international speaker, podcaster, mentor, and educator—joining from Scotland. Barb specializes in...
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15: Lead Like You Mean It: Jamie Diglio on Mindset, Strategy & Success
What separates a good leader from a truly great one — especially when the pressure is on? Today's episode has the answers. Holly sits down with Jamie Diglio — high-performance coach, TEDx speaker, Harvard Business School sales coach, author, and CEO — to unpack the mindset and strategy behind…
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14: Yoga & Mindfulness for Success With Adhana McCarthy
Do high-stakes situations leave you feeling frozen and overwhelmed? Guest Adhana McCarthy shares powerful mindfulness tools—like yoga and cognitive reframing—to help you regain clarity and confidence. As a scholar, Certified Yoga Therapist, Certified Life Coach, and Army Physician Assistant with…
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13: Finding Clarity in the Chaos with Dr. Shahana Alibhai
Amid the chaos of your daily thoughts, what truly cuts through? One thing—Clarity. In this episode, Holly sits down with Dr. Shahana Alibhai, a TEDx speaker, best-selling author, family physician, and mental health expert. Inspired by Dr. Shahana's powerful 2019 TED Talk, Holly was drawn to her...
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12: Breaking Free from Trauma with Dr. Jenny Hughes
Why do we react to trauma the way we do—and more importantly, how can we heal? In this powerful episode, Holly sits down with Dr. Jenny Hughes, a trauma expert, licensed clinical psychologist, and author of The PTSD Recovery Workbook and Triggers to Glimmers: A Vicarious Resilience Journal and...
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11: Finding Strength: Tiffany Harrington Shah on Resilience, Motherhood & Starting Over
In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly talks with her neighbor and friend, Tiffany Harrington Shah—a therapist and advocate for women, children, and mental health. Tiffany shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to building a career as an MFT while raising four daughters. In 2019,...
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10: Rewiring Pain: How to Understand and Manage Discomfort with Jen Uschold
In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly sits down with Jen Uschold, PT, NBHWC, CPQC—a seasoned physical therapist with over 30 years of experience specializing in pain science, mental fitness, and health coaching. As a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and a Fellow in Pain...
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09: Decide to Heal: How Faith Transforms Personal Growth with Alejandra Crisafulli
In this powerful episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill sits down with award-winning Master Coach and global speaker Alejandra Crisafulli, the visionary behind the 180 Method®. With over 21 years of coaching experience and a track record of transforming thousands of lives, Alejandra shares…
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08: Embracing Worth: Wes Woodson on Resilience, Compassion, and Mental Well-Being
In this episode of Pay Attention, host Holly McNeill returns to sunny California for an inspiring conversation with Wes Woodson. Holly first met Wes at the APCA Conference in Lincolnshire, Illinois, where they both took the stage as speakers. She was immediately struck by his authenticity,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Pay Attention is a podcast dedicated to a journey from the chaos of the mind to the clarity of the open heart. As a seasoned architect turned teacher and spiritual guide, Holly McNeill spent two decades while working full time and as a single mom exploring neuroscience, psychology, Buddhism, and spirituality all to uncover the transformative power of the present moment. Here you'll find practical tips and insights on how the mind works, why you get stuck, how to break free, how to create space for real change, and what lies beyond the chaos. All here to help you build a life of clarity, peace, and purpose.
HOSTED BY
Holly McNeill
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Pay Attention have?
Pay Attention currently has 57 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Pay Attention about?
Pay Attention is a podcast dedicated to a journey from the chaos of the mind to the clarity of the open heart. As a seasoned architect turned teacher and spiritual guide, Holly McNeill spent two decades while working full time and as a single mom exploring neuroscience, psychology, Buddhism, and...
How often does Pay Attention release new episodes?
Pay Attention has 57 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Pay Attention?
You can listen to Pay Attention on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Pay Attention?
Pay Attention is created and hosted by Holly McNeill.
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