Thirty-nine episodes ago, I hit record with more passion than skill and a lot more fear than confidence. Now, as we close season one of Be Still and Live, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes story I’ve mostly kept to myself: the days that felt deeply rewarding, the days I wondered if I was wasting time and money, and the surprising amount of work that happens after the “fun part” of the interview. If you’ve ever started something meaningful and felt unqualified, I think you’ll recognize yourself here.

I also get honest about something creators, parents, and modern humans all face: disconnection. Podcasting can feel one-sided because download numbers don’t tell me who you are, what you’re carrying, or what conversations actually helped. I want that to change. I’m asking you to reach out so we can build genuine community, not just content, and so season two can speak directly to what you’re navigating in real life.

Then we go deeper into the heart of the message: stillness as a practice, not a brand. After stepping away with my family, I realized I’d been pulled into the productivity matrix while teaching slowing down, mindfulness, and faith-centered calm. So I’m choosing a season of rest, presence, prayer, and simpler rhythms and I’m bringing that learning back into the next chapter of the podcast. Season two will lean into the millennial midlife parent experience: raising kids in a world of constant noise, caring for aging parents, lowering stress, simplifying life, building healthier homes, and finding peace when culture demands more.

If you want more calm, meaning, and practical hope, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What topic do you want us to take on next?

Connect with Gillian:

E-mail - gillian@sileocoaching.com

Instagram

* Be Still and Live Self-Led Course * - Sign Up HERE

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If this conversation brings you a breath of calm, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find their own rhythm to thrive. Your feedback helps me reach more people who need this message too.

It’s easy - just click here, scroll to the bottom, tap those five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” I’d love to know what resonated most with you in this episode!
And don’t forget to hit that follow button if you haven’t already! There’s plenty more coming your way - practical tips, inspiring stories, and tools to help you live a life you love. You won’t want to miss out!

Let's Connect on Instagram
sileocoaching.com
Free Guided Fog to Freedom Meditation HERE

This podcast is produced, mixed, and edited by Cardinal Studio.
For information about how to start your podcast, please visit www.cardinalstudio.co OR e-mail mike@cardinalstudio.co

If you've been wondering how to sleep better, you're not alone. Sleep problems and insomnia are more common than ever, leaving many people stuck in a frustrating cycle: you're exhausted, you try harder to sleep, your mind races, and bedtime starts to feel like a test you can't pass.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Benjamin Long, a dual board-certified sleep medicine physician and pediatrician, to explore why insomnia has become so widespread—and what actually works when you can't fall asleep, can't stay asleep, or wake up with racing thoughts.

Together, we unpack the real causes of poor sleep in today's world, including our 24/7 culture, constant technology, circadian rhythm disruption, and chronic nervous system stress. Dr. Long explains why light is the most powerful regulator of your internal clock, why sleep hygiene alone often isn't enough for chronic insomnia, and how evidence-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) can help you break the cycle.

We also explore sleep through the lens of faith. Dr. Long describes sleep as a gift from God and an act of embodied trust, drawing from Psalm 127 while challenging the hustle culture that keeps so many of us striving instead of resting. We discuss research connecting faith, meaning, and purpose with better sleep, while also acknowledging how fear, shame, or unhealthy beliefs can sometimes make sleep even more difficult.

Whether you're struggling with insomnia, chronic sleep deprivation, or simply looking for practical ways to sleep better, this conversation offers both scientific insight and biblical encouragement.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why insomnia has become so common
• The hidden factors disrupting your circadian rhythm
• Why your nervous system may be keeping you awake
• What CBT-I is and why it's considered the gold standard for treating insomnia
• Practical strategies you can use tonight to improve your sleep
• How scheduled "worry time" can become a meaningful prayer practice
• Why faith and trust can play an important role in healthy rest

If this episode encourages you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use a better night's sleep. Your support helps more people discover healthier rhythms of rest.

Connect with Dr Long:

https://thewholeheartedmd.com/

Instagram

* Be Still and Live Self-Led Course * - Sign Up HERE

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If this conversation brings you a breath of calm, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find their own rhythm to thrive. Your feedback helps me reach more people who need this message too.

It’s easy - just click here, scroll to the bottom, tap those five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” I’d love to know what resonated most with you in this episode!
And don’t forget to hit that follow button if you haven’t already! There’s plenty more coming your way - practical tips, inspiring stories, and tools to help you live a life you love. You won’t want to miss out!

Let's Connect on Instagram
sileocoaching.com
Free Guided Fog to Freedom Meditation HERE

This podcast is produced, mixed, and edited by Cardinal Studio.
For information about how to start your podcast, please visit www.cardinalstudio.co OR e-mail mike@cardinalstudio.co

Success. Achievement. A full calendar. From the outside, it can look like you've made it. But what happens when success alone still leaves you feeling empty?

In this episode of Be Still and Live, I sit down with Anna Robinson—a soul activist, poet, and tea ceremonialist—to explore the deeper journey of spiritual awakening and why external success can never fully satisfy the longing for meaning, peace, and connection.

Anna shares the moment she realized the life she'd built no longer reflected who she truly was. Together, we explore what it means to move beyond achievement and into heart-led living, learning to trust your inner wisdom instead of chasing validation from the outside world.

We also have an honest conversation about spirituality, why the word God can feel complicated for many people, and how reconnecting with your body, creating moments of stillness, and embracing self-compassion can become powerful catalysts for transformation.

You'll also discover:

• Why chronic stress and anxiety can be signs of deeper misalignment.
• How stillness helps you hear your own inner guidance.
• The impact of your media consumption on your nervous system and wellbeing.
• Anna's tea ceremony practice and the simple principle that changes everything: once the ceremony begins, everything is perfect.

If you've ever wondered why success isn't enough—or you've felt the quiet pull toward something deeper—this conversation offers a grounded, practical perspective on spiritual awakening and finding fulfillment from the inside out.

If this episode resonates with you, subscribe to Be Still and Live, leave a review, and share it with someone who's searching for more meaning, peace, and purpose.

What's one small stillness practice you'll commit to this week?

* Be Still and Live Self-Led Course * - Sign Up HERE

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
If this conversation brings you a breath of calm, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find their own rhythm to thrive. Your feedback helps me reach more people who need this message too.

It’s easy - just click here, scroll to the bottom, tap those five stars, and hit “Write a Review.” I’d love to know what resonated most with you in this episode!
And don’t forget to hit that follow button if you haven’t already! There’s plenty more coming your way - practical tips, inspiring stories, and tools to help you live a life you love. You won’t want to miss out!

Let's Connect on Instagram
sileocoaching.com
Free Guided Fog to Freedom Meditation HERE

This podcast is produced, mixed, and edited by Cardinal Studio.
For information about how to start your podcast, please visit www.cardinalstudio.co OR e-mail mike@cardinalstudio.co