Mindfulness Mode

Bio

Karolina Wudniak is a book designer and the founder of Paper Wing Studio. Originally from Poland, she now calls the Vancouver area home. With a background in journalism and writing, Karolina discovered her passion for graphic design after moving to Canada. She specializes in book covers and layouts, combining words and visuals to create clear, thoughtful designs. Nature, mindfulness, and creativity influence her work. She enjoys running in forests, hiking, biking, and camping with her family on weekends.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover

• Why white space can make books easier to experience

• How mindfulness and thoughtful design are connected

• Where AI can support the creative process

• Why AI can sometimes interfere with authentic creativity

• How nature can help overcome creative blocks

• Why authentic human input matters in creative work

• How making space can support creativity and focus

Mindfulness and Creativity

What happens when mindfulness meets creativity and design? In this episode of Mindfulness Mode, Karolina Wudniak explores how creating space, both visually and mentally can help us think clearly, strengthen creativity, and become more intentional about where we place our attention.

The Power of White Space

White space is an important part of book design. When a page contains too much information, the reader can quickly become overwhelmed.

Giving words and images room to breathe allows the brain to better absorb what it sees. Karolina explains how this design principle connects with mindfulness: sometimes we also need space in our minds to process what is happening around us.

Finding Clarity in the Noise

Good design requires deciding what is important and what is simply noise. Adding more elements does not always make a message clearer.

Karolina believes in being intentional about what stays and what can be removed. The same principle can apply to everyday life as we decide what deserves our attention.

AI and Human Creativity

Artificial intelligence can make certain design tasks faster. Karolina uses AI for practical jobs such as extending backgrounds or removing elements from images—tasks that could otherwise take hours.

However, she has stepped away from using AI for much of her creative and marketing work because she felt it was taking something away from her own creativity.

Keeping the Human Voice

Karolina also discusses receiving AI-generated answers from clients. When she asks how they want readers to feel when experiencing their books, she wants to understand the client's genuine thoughts and emotions—not an AI-generated response.

Authenticity provides valuable information that helps guide the creative process.

Nature as a Creative Reset

When information becomes chaotic or Karolina encounters a creative block, she often turns to nature.

Instead of remaining at her computer and forcing ideas, she gives herself time to process. A trip to the forest can clear her mind, allowing her to return to her work with fresh ideas and a clearer direction.

Mindfulness and Emotions

Mindfulness has also changed the way Karolina approaches emotions. Rather than storing uncomfortable feelings inside, she has learned to sit with them and give herself time to process them.

This ability to make room for difficult emotions is an important part of her mindfulness practice.

Breathe and Begin Again

Karolina does not rely on a specific daily breathing technique. Instead, breathing becomes a simple tool when she feels stressed or blocked.

She pauses what she is doing and allows herself to breathe, creating an opportunity to calm down before continuing.

Creating More Space

Throughout the conversation, one message continually returns: space matters.

Whether it is space on a book page, space between thoughts, time spent in nature, or a pause during a stressful moment, creating room can help us reduce noise and reconnect with what matters.

Contact

• Website: Paperwing Studio

Bio

Mathew Holowitz is the CEO and founder at Equa Health, making meditation fun and easy to measure. His work has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and more than 8,000 people have taken part in his training.

Mathew received the Innovation Commercialization Fellowship from Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned an MBA and a master’s degree in Public Policy. For nearly a decade, he has led his Experiential Meditation workshops, helping people explore mindfulness in a practical and engaging way.

Mathew also has experience building partnerships in the fast-growing technology industry. He previously worked with Lucid Design Group, helping the company grow before it was acquired by Acuity Brands.

Outside of his work with Equa, Mathew continues to lead mindfulness workshops. He is also a musician and plays guitar in the band Labor Dog.

In This Episode

• Why meditation isn’t always supposed to feel relaxing
• How discomfort can become a valuable mindfulness practice opportunity
• Why people often stop using meditation apps
• How physiological data can help people understand their meditation practice
• How Equa Health tracks breathing using sensors already inside your phone
• Why the breath can be a powerful tool for changing your state
• How meditation creates space between action and reaction
• How mindfulness can help us respond differently to difficult emotions
• The role of AI and personalization in the future of mindfulness
• Why technology may enhance the human connection in meditation

A Conversation About Resilience

One of the central ideas behind Equa Health is that resilience is a skill that can be developed. Rather than viewing meditation as a way to escape stress or uncomfortable feelings, Mathew encourages people to lean into those moments.

As he explains, the challenging moments during meditation can be practice opportunities. Learning to pause, notice what is happening, and create space between an experience and our reaction can eventually change how we respond to challenges throughout the day.

The Future of Mindfulness Technology

Mathew also shares Equa Health’s vision for combining mindfulness training with physiological feedback and personalization. By understanding things like breathing patterns, the goal is to eventually tailor training to what someone needs in the moment—much like having a coach available when stress, fatigue, or distraction arises.

At the same time, Mathew believes technology has limits. Apps can help make mindfulness more accessible, but human connection and personal guidance remain an important part of the practice.

About Equa Health

Equa Health is a mindfulness platform focused on building resilience through evidence-based meditation training. The company launched in 2021 out of Carnegie Mellon University and combines a structured mindfulness curriculum with technology designed to help users understand and improve their practice.

Contact

To learn more about Equa Health, search for EQUA Health online or find EQUA in the App Store or Google Play.

Bio

Michael Schauch is an alpinist, author, explorer, entrepreneur, and storyteller whose adventures have taken him deep into the Himalaya. His greatest discoveries often have less to do with reaching a summit than with what happens within us along the way. In this episode of Mindfulness Mode, Michael joins Bruce Langford to explore stillness, nature, Buddhist wisdom, human connection, and the powerful idea of anattā, or “non-self.” Michael’s new book, Anattā: Heart of Wisdom, asks us to look beyond our fixed stories of identity and discover a deeper freedom in connection with life. It’s a conversation about mountains, mindfulness, compassion, joy, and finding our way home to what matters most. Michael is also the author of A Story of Karma: Finding Love and Truth in the Lost Valley of the Himalaya.

Episode Overview

What can mountains, mindfulness, and the idea of “non-self” teach us about living with greater clarity, compassion, and connection? In this conversation, Bruce Langford welcomes mountaineer, author, explorer, entrepreneur, and storyteller Michael Schauch for a deeply human conversation about stillness, nature, Buddhist wisdom, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.

Michael’s new book, Anattā: Heart of Wisdom, grows out of years of exploration in the Himalaya and a continuing inquiry into one of Buddhism’s most profound ideas: anattā, or “non-self.” Rather than being an abstract philosophical concept, Michael explores how letting go of rigid ideas about identity can open the door to greater freedom, loving-kindness, and connection.

In This Episode

How the mountains can become a place of meditation, perspective, and deep listening.

What anattā—or “non-self”—can mean in everyday life, beyond Buddhist terminology.

Why loosening our attachment to identity can reduce conflict and create more room for compassion.

How nature can reveal patterns in the mind and help us reconnect with what matters.

The relationship between stillness, joy, loving-kindness, and genuine human connection.

How Michael’s Himalayan experiences shaped his understanding of life, impermanence, and belonging.

Why the stories we tell about ourselves can both connect us and keep us trapped.

The continuing influence of Michael’s friendship with Brent Seal and the lessons of mental resilience, courage, and connection.

Key Themes

Stillness: Finding a quieter place beneath the noise of the mind and reconnecting with what is already present.

Non-self: Exploring the Buddhist insight that the self is not as fixed, separate, or permanent as we often imagine.

Nature as teacher: Using mountains, forests, weather, and wild places as invitations to pay attention and see more clearly.

Connection: Moving beyond the illusion of separateness toward empathy, compassion, and a deeper sense of belonging.

Impermanence: Recognizing that we are continually changing—and that this can be an opening rather than a threat.

Joy and loving-kindness: Making room for delight, humor, gratitude, and compassion even when life is difficult.

A Conversation Worth Sitting With

Michael’s message is ultimately less about escaping life than becoming more intimate with it. The mountains provide a powerful backdrop, but the real terrain is internal: our assumptions, attachments, fears, identities, and capacity for connection. Anattā invites us to ask what might be possible if we loosen our grip on the story of a separate, permanent self—and meet life with more openness.

About Anattā: Heart of Wisdom

In Anattā: Heart of Wisdom, Michael Schauch weaves contemplative essays and poetry with stories from years of exploration in the Himalaya. The book explores the Buddhist idea of “non-self” and its relationship to nature, identity, conflict, loving-kindness, and our sense of connection with one another. The book is scheduled for publication by Hohm Press on September 15, 2026.

Resources & Links

Michael Schauch’s website

Anattā: Heart of Wisdom — book information

Michael Schauch on Instagram

Mindfulness Mode

BIO

Moses Yang and Bryan Wong are the co-founders of Beam Telepet, an innovative Canadian platform that connects pet owners with licensed veterinarians and other trusted pet care professionals through accessible virtual services. As President, Moses is passionate about building sustainable, mission-driven healthcare businesses, while CTO Bryan combines technology and healthcare expertise to solve complex challenges. Together, they are making quality pet care more accessible while supporting the peace of mind that comes from knowing help is just a click away. They have created a mindful, compassionate approach to caring for ourselves and the animals we love.

Contact Info
Website: beamtelepet.ca
Beam Telepet serves pet owners across Canada by connecting them with licensed veterinarians through convenient virtual consultations and affordable prescription services. Users can choose veterinarians based on location and language, with expansion into additional provinces underway.

Beam Telepet Information
Beam Telepet was founded by Moses Yang and Bryan Wong to make quality pet healthcare more accessible and affordable. Inspired by their own experiences as pet owners, they created a platform that combines virtual veterinary consultations with prescription fulfillment, helping pet owners save significantly on medications while collaborating—not competing—with veterinary clinics. The platform also connects pharmacies, veterinarians, and pet care providers to better serve Canada's growing community of pet owners.

Most Influential Person
Bryan credits his fiancée as his greatest source of support and grounding. During the challenging months of developing Beam Telepet, she helped him overcome self-doubt and stay focused on the company's mission. Moses finds inspiration in his wife, a pharmacist, whose expertise helped shape the business, while his tennis routine provides the mental clarity he needs to work through challenges.

Effect on Emotions
Moses manages stress and difficult emotions through tennis. Time on the court allows him to clear his mind, enjoy nature, and often discover solutions to business challenges. Bryan finds emotional grounding by spending time with his two cats, whose playful and unpredictable nature reminds him to persevere despite life's uncertainties.

Quotes

"If we think of the interests of the customer first, then we can build a business that benefits everyone in the community." Moses Yang

"Controlled breathing and slowing things down physically tells your mind to slow down as well." Bryan Wong

Bio

Adrien Sala is a writer, storyteller and passionate advocate for better sleep who is dedicated to helping people transform their relationship with rest. Inspired by his own struggle with insomnia and an overactive mind, he created Wiki Sleep, a platform that uses calming stories and cognitive diversion to help listeners fall asleep naturally. Drawing on mindfulness, meditation and the power of human connection, Adrien is building a complete ecosystem of sleep support. I met him at Web Summit in Vancouver in May 2026, where his passion for helping others was unmistakable.

Contact Info

Website: Wiki Sleep
App: Available on Apple and Android devices
Subscription: $7.99/month in Canada or $49.99 annually

Most Influential Person

Adrien credits a friend named Abe, whom he met while working on private yachts in the Mediterranean, as having the greatest influence on his mindfulness journey. Abe encouraged him to spend nearly a year in India studying yoga, meditation, and mindful living.

Affect on Emotions

Mindfulness has helped Adrien become less reactive and more reflective. He believes that taking time to process what others say before responding has improved his emotional balance. Combined with quality sleep, mindfulness helps him stay calmer and avoid becoming irritable or stressed.

Thoughts on Breathing

Adrien considers breathing one of the most accessible and powerful tools available. Taking a few deep breaths can quickly restore calm and balance. Each Wiki Sleep episode begins with guided breathing to help listeners settle into a relaxed state before sleep.

Being Present and Real

For Adrien, mindfulness means being fully present and connecting meaningfully with others rather than simply going through the motions. Even amid the busyness of events like Web Summit, he strives to have authentic one-on-one conversations and remain aware of his intentions throughout the day.

Reshaping Our Relationship with Sleep

Adrien believes that sleep anxiety can be eased by creating positive associations with bedtime. Through engaging stories and carefully engineered audio experiences, he helps listeners replace stress and overthinking with curiosity and enjoyment. Over time, this process can transform bedtime from something to dread into something to look forward to.

Suggested Resources

• Wiki Sleep app

• Breathing exercises featured in Wiki Sleep

• Meditation and mindfulness practices

• "Stuff You Should Know" podcast

• Story-based audio content for sleep support

Memorable Quote

"Your body wants to sleep. The biggest thing you can do is get out of the way of your brain so you can sleep." – Adrien Sala

Guest Bio

Divynoor Kochhar is a founder and marketer who previously operated two solo marketing agencies. After recognizing a gap in the marketing technology landscape, he created Repliva, an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform designed to help founders and small businesses identify strategic blind spots and build stronger marketing plans. Remarkably, he developed the platform while recovering from knee surgery in a hospital bed. Born with the rare condition fibular hemimelia, Divynoor has overcome numerous challenges with resilience and optimism. At just 19 years old, he is already making an impact in the worlds of entrepreneurship, AI, and marketing innovation. Divynoor was interviewed at Web Summit in Vancouver on May 12, 2026.

In Short

Bruce sits down with Divynoor Kochhar, a 19-year-old entrepreneur, founder, and marketer who built an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform while recovering from knee surgery. Divynoor shares how a rare congenital condition, multiple surgeries, and years of bullying shaped his outlook on life and business.

The conversation explores the connection between mindfulness, resilience, gratitude, and entrepreneurship. Divynoor explains how his platform, Repliva, helps founders and small businesses identify strategic blind spots in their marketing, and why thoughtful strategy matters more than simply moving faster.

Beyond business, Divynoor opens up about overcoming adversity, the power of family support, his daily mindfulness practice inspired by Tony Robbins, and the mindset that has helped him navigate life's challenges with optimism and determination.

In This Episode

• Growing up with the rare condition fibular hemimelia
• Undergoing multiple surgeries from childhood onward
• Building a company while recovering in a hospital bed
• The inspiration behind Repliva and its approach to marketing strategy
• Why AI needs a human in the loop
• Lessons learned from entrepreneurship at a young age
• A daily gratitude and visualization practice for reducing stress
• Overcoming bullying and finding resilience
• The importance of unconditional support from family and friends
• How perspective can transform challenges into opportunities

Memorable Quote

"See that problem, give it a big fat smile, and move on." — Divynoor Kochhar

About the Guest

Divynoor Kochhar is a founder and marketer who previously operated two solo marketing agencies. After recognizing a gap in the marketing technology landscape, he created Repliva, an AI-powered marketing intelligence platform designed to help founders and small businesses identify strategic blind spots and build stronger marketing plans. Remarkably, he developed the platform while recovering from knee surgery in a hospital bed. Born with the rare condition fibular hemimelia, Divynoor has overcome numerous challenges with resilience and optimism. At just 19 years old, he is already making an impact in the worlds of entrepreneurship, AI, and marketing innovation.

Connect

Learn more about Repliva and Divynoor's work at Repliva.com.

Thank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and sharing the episode with someone who could benefit from its message of resilience, gratitude, and mindful living.

Tanja Diamond is a Tantra Master and Coach extraordinaire. She’s the creator of the High Speed Evolution Coaching Program. Tanja helps individuals become more grounded and in control of their lives in respect to relations, love, and finances. Tanja is an expert in the area of Tantra, sex, teens, and parenting. She has spent over 18,000 hours coaching and consulting clients over the past 30 years. Tanja is known as the “Coaches' coach”.

Contact Info

• Website: www.LearningTantra.com
• Search "Tanja Diamond" on Google
• Social Media: @TanjaDiamond

Most Influential Person

• My Tantra Master.

Effect on Emotions

• Well, emotions aren't something that can be controlled, but mindfulness controls my behavior after I have an emotional response.

Thoughts on Breathing

• A breath work practice is critical and the foundation of mindfulness. Without it you're not being mindful.

Suggested Resources

• Book: Just Breathe: Mastering Breathwork for Success in Life, Love, business, and Beyond by Dan Brule
• App: N/A (I don't use apps)

Bullying Story

• Tanja recounts being severely bullied as a child after developing psoriasis that covered most of her body. Misunderstood as contagious, she faced isolation, ridicule, and cruel pranks, including a fake “secret admirer” setup that ended in public humiliation.
• Even adults treated her harshly. Over time, she coped by shifting her mindset, rejecting others’ judgments, and choosing self-acceptance. She eventually began to embrace her appearance and now refuses to hide anymore.

Dr. Rhoberta Shaler is the 'Relationship Help Doctor'. She helps people fix relationships in crisis and find calm again. She works with partners, exes, adult children, and coworkers dealing with difficult people she calls “Hijackals.” She teaches clear steps to protect your peace, set limits, and stop the chaos. Even the United States Marines have asked for her guidance. She works with clients worldwide online and is a speaker and the author of 16 books.

Contact Info

• Website: www.ForRelationshipHelp.com
• Free Book: www.Hijackals.com
• Podcast: Emotional Savvy: The Relationship Help Show'
• Podcast: Save Your Sanity: Help For Handling Hijackals
• Get Spiritual Quotes: Go to www.DailySpiritualQuotes.com

Most Influential Person

• Joel Goldsmith (Author)

Effect on Emotions

• I think mindfulness levels your emotions. It doesn't take out the peaks and valleys, but you understand that you choose the state that you stay in.

Thoughts on Breathing

• Breathing deeply is essential. When you relax your shoulders, open your chest, and take a slow breath, your body begins to reset.
• Within about 20 seconds, oxygen moves through your bloodstream, refreshing you.
• This simple act helps your body recharge, calm down, and think more clearly, making it easier to handle stress and stay focused.

Suggested Resources

• Book: The Heart of Mysticism: The Infinite Way Letters 1955-1959 by Joel Goldsmith
• App: Cell Phone Alarm

Bullying Story

• I spent many years in education as a teacher and later a school administrator.
• At one point, I created a daily circle where students, including those with special needs, sat quietly together with their parents. This helped reduce conflict and build connection.
• Later, I led a school for at-risk teens and focused on calm, care, and consistency instead of control. Over time, behavior improved greatly, and student retention grew from three months to no openings for 18 months.

Josh Tomeoni is a financial planner, men’s coach, and founder of Narrative Financial Group. Considering himself an Ex-Derelict, Josh works with high-earning professionals and businessmen aged 40–60 who are rebuilding after divorce or major transitions. He helps them turn scattered accounts and tax traps into a clear, executable plan that protects their kids, capital, and future. With nearly 20 years in planning and his own story of starting over, Josh blends strategy with lived experience. Author of The Gospel of an Ex-Derelict, Josh is father of three and an avid skiier and hiking enthusiast.

Contact Info

• Website: https://exderelict.com 

• Book: The Gospel of an Ex-Derelict: Fight. Fail. Rebuild by Josh Tomeoni

Most Influential Person

• Eckhart Tolle

Effect on Emotions

• The emotions still come [in spite of mindfulness].

• What's changed is not being able to control my emotions, but being able to control my response to my emotions. 

Thoughts on Breathing

• There are a lot of different breathing techniques. One that has helped me the most is the tried and true, just deep breaths. That is one of the easiest ones for me to remember.

• There is also the three-two-three breathing method. That is the type of breathing you have when you would normally be crying. It allows the intensity to get out. This is the one that I do with my children. 

Suggested Resources

• Book: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 

• Book: Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle
• Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Book: The Gospel of an Ex-Derelict: Fight. Fail. Rebuild by Josh Tomeoni

• App: N/A

Bullying Story

• Analytical people often get trapped in negative mental loops that spiral out of control.

• When I blamed myself for my divorce, these intrusive thoughts felt like drowning, leading me toward self-destructive escapes.

• To break this cycle, it is vital to use mindfulness to interrupt the pattern before the "domino effect" drives you toward addictive behaviors to numb the pain.

Bob Rosen is a CEO adviser, organizational psychologist, and bestselling author dedicated to advancing the practice of leadership worldwide. As the founder of Healthy Companies International, Bob has devoted his career to helping executives realize their full leadership potential and build healthier, more effective organizations.

Under his direction, Healthy Companies initiated a comprehensive study of leadership that has spanned more than forty-five countries. Over the course of his research, Dr. Rosen has personally interviewed more than 500 CEOs from leading global enterprises, including Ford, Citigroup, PepsiCo, and Johnson & Johnson. His insights and strategic counsel have made him a trusted adviser to many of these organizations, and he serves as the convener of the Healthy CEO Roundtable, a forum for senior leaders committed to sustainable, conscious leadership.

Dr. Rosen’s book, Conscious: The Power of Awareness in Business and Life, explores how greater self- and situational awareness can drive personal growth and organizational success in an increasingly complex world.

Contact Info

• Company: Healthy Companies

• Website: www.HealthyCompanies.com

• Website: www.BobRosen.com

• Free Consultation

• Book: Conscious: The Power of Awareness In Business and Life by Bob Rosen and Emma-Kate Swann

Most Influential Person

• My husband, Jay.

Effect on Emotions

• I think that everybody feels their emotions in a band and some people have a narrow band of emotions and some people have a medium band and some people have a very wide band, like a manic depressive would have a very wide band and some people are stoic and have a narrow band.

• I'm in the middle. And so I feel life intensely; both the ups and the downs and so my mindfulness has enabled me to manage that so that my band isn't too wide and hijack me in the process.

Thoughts on Breathing

• Oh, I have to remind myself all the time. I sort of laugh at myself when I'm in the shower or I'm walking and I notice that I'm not even breathing. I'm like holding my breath and so deep breathing is such a wonderful skill to develop in terms of getting more peaceful and mindful.

Suggested Resources

• Book: Conscious: The Power of Awareness In Business and Life by Bob Rosen and Emma-Kate Swann

• Book: Anger Is Your Ally: A Revolution in Our Understanding of Anger by Bina Breitner

• Book: Anything by Pema Chodron, the Buddhist nun from Halifax.

• App: N/A

Bullying Story

• I’ll give a personal and a business example. Personally, as a gay man who has been with my husband for 35 years, I’ve been very aware of how society’s consciousness around gay and lesbian people has evolved. I also look at the Me Too movement, where many men abused women without being conscious of it, enabled by social norms, while women often didn’t feel able to speak out.

• As women developed greater awareness and confidence in their own power, that began to change.

• A business example is ABC Studios and Roseanne Barr. The network knew Roseanne’s history and prejudices but pursued a hit series anyway. With greater awareness of the likely consequences of giving her a platform, they might have reconsidered that decision.