To be seen on my own terms, by Lex Gillette

To be seen on my own terms, by Lex Gillette

Author: WaitWhat February 3, 2026 Duration: 33:02
Lex Gillette is a 5-time medalist at the Paralympic Games, and a world record holder in the long jump, but he’s more than that too. As he learns to navigate the world after losing his sight, he’s worried about being left out and overlooked — or, just as bad, being seen only in terms of his disability and his athletic gifts. Lex shares the story of how he began to forge his identity on his own terms, creating a spotlight that he steps into with his entire being. Each episode of Meditative Story combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with immersive music and gentle mindfulness prompts. Read the transcript for this story: meditativestory.com Sign up for the Meditative Story newsletter: https://meditativestory.com/subscribe See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a particular kind of quiet that happens when a story pulls you in completely, and that’s the space where Meditative Story lives. Produced by WaitWhat, this series weaves extraordinary, personal narratives from all walks of life with gentle meditation prompts that arise naturally within the tale itself. It’s not a guided meditation followed by a story, or vice versa; the two are seamlessly blended, all set against an original score of breathtaking, cinematic music. The result feels less like a traditional mindfulness exercise and more like being transported into a deeply reflective state through the power of nuanced storytelling and immersive sound design. Listeners often find themselves returning to favorite episodes, discovering new layers of meaning or calm with each revisit. This podcast sits at a unique crossroads of human experience, touching on themes of society, culture, health, and spirituality without prescribing a single path. It’s an invitation to pause, to listen closely, and to find a moment of mental clarity within the flow of a compelling human story. The production values are intentionally high, making each episode a rich audio experience that supports both engagement and relaxation. For anyone curious about an alternative, narrative-driven approach to mindfulness, this series offers a resonant and beautifully crafted journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Meditative Story
Podcast Episodes
Home will be with me wherever I go, by Nadia Owusu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:31
As the daughter of UN diplomat, Nadia Owusu grows up across several worlds. Trailing her father from Africa to Europe before moving to the United States for university, Nadia grapples with her fractured identity. But whe…
Magic is a serious business, by Gracia María [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:23
Gracia María is a modern-day medicine woman, practicing community rituals in the tradition of her Peruvian ancestors. In connecting with her ancient roots, though, she realizes she also needs to rebuild the bonds with he…
The strength we seek is all around us, by Mirna Valerio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
As a runner of marathons and ultramarathons, author and advocate Mirna Valerio knows a thing or two about finding reserves of power within herself. When she makes the decision to leave her job as an educator and build a…
What holds the world together, by SG Goodman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:15
As a young girl, mowing her neighbor's lawn in the Kentucky heat, SG Goodman learns many important things: how to avoid running into the chain-link fence, the art of blowing the grass away from the house ... and the way…
Day of the Dead meditation: a celebration of life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:06
On the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, we allow ourselves space for our memories and our grief about those we’ve lost — as well as for joy, and even humor, around the continuity between life and death…
Cherishing every moment in time, by Louie Schwartzberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:02
During an extended stay in a remote corner of the California coast, award-winning cinematographer Louie Schwartzberg gains a new perspective on the universe. While pioneering techniques for capturing time-lapse and high-…
Creating my own sanctuary, by Angela Ahrendts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:21
The strawberry field past the maple tree. A hidden nook beneath the stairs. The magical hour before anyone else is awake. Throughout her life, Angela Ahrendts has sought out sanctuaries – sacred spaces to reconnect and t…
Navigating life in my own skin, by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
In precisely chosen words, the writer, artist and Zen priest Zenju Earthlyn Manuel tells a story from her girlhood, a road trip from LA to Louisiana in 1957. While five-year-old Zenju sits in the back seat dreaming of co…
Through friendship, a better version of myself, by Reid Hoffman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:00
How do you find joy in your life? For entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author Reid Hoffman, it’s through the act of genuine, honest, and intimate conversations with friends. Once a self-described misfit, in college,…
Calming the mind and body for sleep, by Rohan Gunatillake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:10
Having trouble quieting your mind at night? Join Rohan for this soothing, nighttime meditation designed to ease your body and mind into a restful sleep. Drawing on the close connection between mindfulness and relaxation,…