PODCAST · religion
Zen Commuter
by Thom Walters
Zen Commuter is about meditation and how it can improve the quality of your life. Thom Walters speaks with acclaimed meditation teachers, authors and everyday practitioners, to help listeners understand how to start a mindfulness habit, as well as keep it going. Along the way he discusses topics that help listeners cultivate a calmer, wiser and happier life. Come join Thom Monday through Friday to deepen your meditation practice.
Episodes
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ZC 2172: How to Restart Your Practice After a Break
A missed day becomes a week, and before you know it, your meditation cushion feels like an old friend you've lost touch with. But returning to your practice doesn't require making up for lost time or judging yourself for stepping away. It begins with a willingness to sit again, even for just a…
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ZC 2171: Equanimity
There was a word I knew, or at least I thought I knew; equanimity. For the most part, I got it right. But there was a deeper meaning that I was missing, so I figured we could learn about it together. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please...
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ZC 2170: Tricycle Wednesday - Taking the Ache out of Attachment
What happens when our desire to enjoy something becomes a need to hold on to it? In today's episode, we explore Venerable Thubten Chodron's Tricycle article, "Taking the Ache Out of Attachment," and the ways clinging to people, possessions, and expectations can disturb our peace. Through…
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ZC 2169: Airport Zendo
An airport might seem like an unlikely place to find stillness, but meditation doesn't require a quiet room or perfect conditions. In today's episode, we explore how the bustle of travel can become an invitation to practice—listening to the sounds around us, noticing our reactions, and returning...
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ZC 2168 Don't Pick Joy
Our culture tells us that happiness and joy are to be chased…are acceptable, and that anything that is not those things should be avoided or changed. Today I talk about being okay with not be "okay". THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please...
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ZC 2167: Five Ways Meditation Increases Resilience
Life brings challenges, and meditation can help us meet them with greater awareness, steadiness, and kindness. In today's episode, we explore how our practice supports resilience by helping us recognize stress sooner, create space before reacting, and allow difficult feelings without becoming…
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ZC 2166: Tricycle Wednesday - Approaching Grief by Roy Remer
Grief is deeply personal, and there is no single right way to experience it. In today's Zen Commuter, I share "Approaching Grief" by Roy Remer, from the Summer 2026 issue of Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. Through his compassionate insights and my own reflections, we explore how awareness can help...
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ZC 2165: Coming Back to Now: Finding Calm in the Present Moment
Calm often begins with coming back to where we are. When our minds are caught up in yesterday's conversations or tomorrow's uncertainties, we can miss the quiet moments available to us right now. In this episode of Zen Commuter, we explore how present moment awareness can help us loosen our grip…
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ZC 2164: Lion's Roar - Ride the Wave by C.J. Bahnsen
What can the ocean teach us about awareness? In today's episode, I share "Ride the Waves," a Lion's Roar article by C. J. Bahnsen, exploring what his experiences as a novice bodysurfer taught him about spacious awareness. It's an invitation to consider how we meet the changing moments of our own...
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2163: Tricycle - Listening (R)
On today's Tricycle Tuesday, I explore "Helping Yourself Helps Others" by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto, from the Spring 2026 issue of Tricycle. The article reminds us that caring for ourselves and caring for others aren't competing paths: as we cultivate wisdom, steadiness, and compassion within...
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2162: Tricycle - Laziness (R)
THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons on the page. Be a part of the show! 🎙 Send me a voice message: speakpipe.com/zencommuter 📧 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram: @thom_walters 🐦 Twitter:...
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ZC 2161: When You Stop Meditating
Having a consistent practice is a good thing, but it's not the only thing. Today I share my own experience with the recent time when my practice became irregular. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social media buttons...
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ZC 2160: Feeding Your Soul: My Chat with Jen Kalawur (Part 2) (R)
Today I continue my warm and wonderful chat with Jen Kalawur. In this segment, we talk about the importance of listening to your intuition when it let's know what your body and mind truly need. To that end, we also talk about the importance of a healthy diet: not food, but information. And…
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ZC 2159: Releasing Family Trauma - A refreshing Talk with Jen Kalawur (Part 1)
On today's episode, I sit down with Jennifer Kalawur, a mindful leadership coach whose work blends emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and grounded presence. Together, we explore how mindfulness reshapes the way we lead, communicate, and care for ourselves in a world that often pulls us in...
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ZC 2158: Your Mind Wandered—Now What?
Getting distracted during meditation doesn't mean you're doing it wrong—it means you've just become aware. In today's episode of Zen Commuter, I share three simple steps for meeting that moment: recognize that your mind has wandered, respond to yourself with kindness rather than judgment, and...
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ZC 2157 Tricycle Tuesday - Helping Others Helps Yourself
On today's Tricycle Tuesday, I explore "Helping Yourself Helps Others" by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto, from the Spring 2026 issue of Tricycle. The article reminds us that caring for ourselves and caring for others aren't competing paths: as we cultivate wisdom, steadiness, and compassion within...
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ZC 2156: Mobile Mindfulness Studio: Meditating in Your Car (R)
Many people feel like they don't have time to meditate, especially during a busy commute. But what if that commute became part of your practice? Today on Zen Commuter, we'll talk about how to use your car as a space for mindfulness. While safety must always be the priority, there are ways to...
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ZC 2155: Posture
How we sit in a meditation varies by practitioner. However, there are some aspects of a meditative posture that will serve your session and practice. Let's talk about them. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this conversation inspired you, please share it using the social…
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ZC 2154: Hiatus
I have been away from the mic for, well, for as long as I have been away. And while there is no explanation needed; I provide one nonetheless. Thank you all for your grace and understanding. I missed you all, and am glad to be back. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of the Show If this...
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ZC 2153: Tricycle Tuesday - Fort Worth's "Walk for Peace" Monks
Nineteen Buddhist monks set out from Fort Worth, Texas, on a 2,300-mile pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., carrying a message of peace, compassion, and nonviolence. Despite harsh weather, physical exhaustion, and serious injury, their simple act of placing one foot in front of the other captured the...
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ZC 2152: Nothing Needs to Change
One of the greatest benefits of meditation is its ability to help us understand that we can sit with anything that comes our way, seemingly good or bad. With a solid practice, we can objectively think thoughts and feel emotions, without the need to be dragged into them against our will. Today I...
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ZC 2151: Sink into the Day
Sometimes (for many people, always) we see the end of the day as the finish line. Along the way we treat each interaction or moment as something to rate or change. We tally the score at the end of the day and determine if the day was a success or a failure. Did you know that no day is ever a...
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ZC 2150: The Antidote to Anger by Karen Maizen Miller
In this episode, I share and reflect on part of a thoughtful article from Lion's Roar exploring anger through the lens of Buddhist practice. As one of the "three poisons" alongside greed and ignorance, anger can easily pull us away from peace and connection when left unexamined. Rather than...
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ZC 2149: 8 Reasons You Don't Meditate
If you have meditated in the past and have fallen off your practice, then today's episode is for you. If you are listening to this episode and your practice has stopped, then it's safe to say you are eager to start it up again. But if you don't know why it stopped, it might get derailed again. No...
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ZC 2148 - Meditation, Identity, and the Stories That Shape Us — with Christopher Rivas (R)
In this episode, we sit down with multi-hyphenate storyteller Christopher Rivas — actor, writer, Buddhist practitioner, and host of the Brown Enough podcast. We dive deep into themes of identity, race, belonging, and what it means to "live in the middle space." Christopher shares his journeys…
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ZC 2147: Tricycle Tuesday - Silent Underground by Aryavandana
In today's episode, I share a thoughtful piece from Tricycle: The Buddhist Review titled Silent Underground by Aryavandana. It's a gentle yet powerful reflection on the unseen roots of our practice—the quiet, often unnoticed ways that mindfulness and compassion take hold beneath the surface of…
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ZC 2146: You Are Completely Safe
Today I want to talk about the comfort that comes from knowing that in every situation you are completely safe. You might be thinking…"Thom, that is a nice thought, but not a real one…Have you seen the world lately?" I have, and I'm sticking by my premise. And hopefully, if it serves you, you…
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ZC 2145: Tricycle Tuesday - The Economy of Grace
In today's Tricycle Tuesday, we explore the article The Economy of Grace, a reflection on the quiet abundance that arises when we shift from striving to allowing. Rather than measuring life through effort and achievement, this piece invites us to recognize the grace that is already…
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ZC 2144: Three Questions to Ask Yourself When You sit Down to Meditate
Today I bring you along to my meditation chair, when I get ready to practice. Specifically, I let you in on how I decide to practice each day. There are three questions I ask myself once I sit down that determine the path of my practice for that day. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Become a Super-Fan of…
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ZC 2143: Discerning the Voices in Your Mind
If you sit quietly for even a few moments, you'll notice that your mind is rarely silent. Thoughts arise, opinions appear, and sometimes it feels like there's an entire panel discussion happening inside your head. But not every voice carries the same wisdom. In today's episode, we explore how to...
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ZC 2142: Tricycle Tuesday - Slow Down, Take Your Seat - A Meditation by Ayya Santacitta
Hey, my friend. It's been a while since we have had an actual meditation. So today I thought I would combine the best of two worlds; meditation and Tricycle Tuesday. :0) This one was written by Ayya Santacitta, and is a perfect session for helping us cultivate stillness and the ability to slow...
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ZC 2140: Journey to Inner Stillness: A Conversation with Manal El Ramly (R)
My guest today is Manal El-Ramly, author of Transcending Anxiety: From Fear to Freedom, TEDx speaker ('Why You Don't Need to Search for Your Purpose'), creator of the Mattain Method, and a beloved teacher on Insight Timer. Manal helps individuals overcome anxiety, limiting beliefs, and overwhelm…
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ZC 2139: Tricycle Tueday - Connecting with the Root of Our Being
In this episode of Zen Commuter, I share reflections inspired by a recent Tricycle article on connecting with the root of our being. Lately, I've been reminded that the places, roles, and things we associate with "home" are only temporary expressions of something much deeper. The real root isn't...
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ZC 2138: Running on Empty? Cool.
Many people feel that low energy is something to be conquered. If you're feeling a little lackluster, something must be off, or wrong. Guess what? I used to think that too. As recently as today. Thankfully, a trip to the cushion set me straight. So let's learn a lesson together. THANKS FOR...
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ZC 2137: The Metaphors That Shape Our Lives
Drawing inspiration from a recent Tricycle magazine article, this episode explores the powerful metaphors we unconsciously use to describe our lives—and how they influence the way we suffer, grow, and find freedom. When we examine the stories and images we live by, we discover new ways to relate…
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ZC 2136: Why Won't My Mind Stop Thinking?
One of the most common meditation frustrations is the belief that something is wrong when the mind keeps thinking. In this episode, we gently bust one of the biggest myths about meditation: that a quiet mind is the goal. You'll learn why thoughts are not a sign of failure, what meditation is...
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ZC 2135: Five Ways Meditation Builds Quiet Confidence
In today's episode of Zen Commuter, we explore how meditation naturally builds confidence—not through positive thinking or self-improvement, but through familiarity with ourselves. As we sit and observe the mind, we begin to see thoughts for what they are rather than who we are. Over time, this...
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ZC 2134: Meditation Myths - Am I Meditating Right?
It is a new year, meaning there are plenty of people reworking their current practice, or starting one fresh. Regarding both of these groups, it's going to be helpful to wipe away any misperceptions and myths. To that end, I am going to answer a question I get asked by almost every student I…
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ZC 2133: Tricycle Tueday - What is Right Speech by Sensei Dhara Kowal
Hey my good friend, thanks for coming back to another episode of Zen Commuter. Today, upon returning from a hiatus, I thought it would be a perfect day to talk about Right Speech. And the best way to do that is with an article from Tricycle magazine. Sensei Dhara Kowal wrote a perfect article…
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ZC 2132: The Practice of Staying: Meditation as a Companion in Grief
As we say farewell to another year, I'm reminded that there are many times in our lives when we must say goodbye. Many of those moments are unplanned, like the loss of a loved one, a dear pet, or even a job. Today, I invite you to join me as I talk about how a meditation practice can help you...
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ZC 2131: Feeding Your Soul: My Chat with Jen Kalawur (Part 2)
Today I continue my warm and wonderful chat with Jen Kalawur. In this segment, we talk about the importance of listening to your intuition when it let's know what your body and mind truly need. To that end, we also talk about the importance of a healthy diet: not food, but information. And…
more -
ZC 2130: Releasing Family Trauma - A refreshing Talk with Jen Kalawur (Part 1)
On today's episode, I sit down with Jennifer Kalawur, a mindful leadership coach whose work blends emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and grounded presence. Together, we explore how mindfulness reshapes the way we lead, communicate, and care for ourselves in a world that often pulls us in...
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ZC 2129: Aligning Purpose and Prosperity with Dean Patrick
In today's episode, I sit down with author and meditator Dean Patrick for a meaningful conversation about meditation, self-care, and redefining what success really means. Dean shares how his own inner practice has shaped his life, and we explore the shift from striving to aligning — from doing to...
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ZC 2128 - Meditation, Identity, and the Stories That Shape Us — with Christopher Rivas
In this episode, we sit down with multi-hyphenate storyteller Christopher Rivas — actor, writer, Buddhist practitioner, and host of the Brown Enough podcast. We dive deep into themes of identity, race, belonging, and what it means to "live in the middle space." Christopher shares his journeys…
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ZC 2127: Tricycle Week Fall - How to Meditate While Raising Kids
Believe it or not, consistency is one of the hardest parts of a meditation practice; setting time each day to sit in stillness. As a single man, it's easier for me, than say, a parent with young children. However, Tricycle would have you believe it's still possible for parents to keep up with…
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ZC 2126: Tricycle Week - Winter Light: Old age Brings an Intensity of Experience by Douglas Penick
While I don't know the exact demographic of Zen Commuter listeners, I have confidence in saying that many of you are my chronological peers. To that end, today's article from Tricycle will resonate with you as well. Even though I don't fully embrace all the sentiments of the article, it did...
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ZC 2125: Tricycle Week: Blind Passions: Seeing What Holds Us Back
In this episode of Zen Commuter, I read Mark Unno's essay "Blind Passions," a powerful reflection on how unseen desires shape our lives and our practice. Together, we'll explore how passion can cloud our vision, but also how, when understood, it can become a doorway to deeper awareness and...
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ZC 2124: Tricycle Week, Autumn Edition - Non-Self Storage by Christopher Rivas
While the days have yet to capture that wonderfully crisp Autumn breeze, my mailbox tells me that it is indeed Fall. Well, at least it's on its way; as evidenced by the latest edition of Tricycle Magazine. Without checking the author first, I selected the article that piqued my interest the most....
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ZC 2123: Easing a Cancer Journey with Steve Olsen
In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Steve Olsen, a retired dentist who shares his powerful journey of healing and resilience. After facing a life-altering cancer diagnosis, Steve turned to meditation and the neuroacoustic app nuCalm as vital tools in his recovery. His story is a testament…
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ZC 2122: Under Open Skies: How to Meditate Outside
In today's episode of Zen Commuter, we take our practice beyond four walls and into the wide embrace of nature. Meditating outside offers a unique opportunity to reconnect—not just with the present moment, but with the world around us. Whether it's a quiet park bench, a forest trail, or your own...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Zen Commuter is about meditation and how it can improve the quality of your life. Thom Walters speaks with acclaimed meditation teachers, authors and everyday practitioners, to help listeners understand how to start a mindfulness habit, as well as keep it going. Along the way he discusses topics that help listeners cultivate a calmer, wiser and happier life. Come join Thom Monday through Friday to deepen your meditation practice.
HOSTED BY
Thom Walters
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Zen Commuter have?
Zen Commuter currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Zen Commuter about?
Zen Commuter is about meditation and how it can improve the quality of your life. Thom Walters speaks with acclaimed meditation teachers, authors and everyday practitioners, to help listeners understand how to start a mindfulness habit, as well as keep it going. Along the way he discusses topics...
How often does Zen Commuter release new episodes?
Zen Commuter has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Zen Commuter?
You can listen to Zen Commuter 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 Zen Commuter?
Zen Commuter is created and hosted by Thom Walters.
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