Beloved teacher, coach and author George Mumford returns to the Metta Hour for episode 294 to talk about the 2nd edition release of his book, The Mindful Athlete.

George Mumford, a.k.a. The Performance Whisperer, is a globally recognized speaker, teacher, and pioneer in sports psychology and performance. Since 1989, he’s been honing his groundbreaking performance and mindfulness techniques with people from locker rooms to boardrooms, Yale to jail — as Phil Jackson’s ‘Secret Weapon’ to winning eight NBA Championships, helping Michael Jordan transform his leadership, and teaching Kobe Bryant to “just be.” George’s work incorporates principles based in positive psychology, mindfulness, philosophy, neuroscience, the recovery movement, group and organizational dynamics, and spiritual traditions from around the world. This is his third appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

In this conversation, George and Sharon speak about:

• The second edition of The Mindful Athlete

• George’s three-fold training

• Debunking mindfulness myths

• Mindfulness versus right mindfulness

• The Five Superpowers

• How George adapts teachings

• Compassion’s role in peak performance

• Dissolution of ego for team success

• Why George reads a book-a-day

• Circular learning style

• Ajahn Sumedho’s wisdom

• The resilience of the NY Knicks

• Finding our enthusiasm

• How effort creates energy

Additional Resources

The episode closes with a guided meditation from George. You can learn more about George’s work right here and get a copy of the second edition of The Mindful Athlete right here.

Related Metta Hour Episodes

Episode 71 George Mumford’s first appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2018

Episode 214 George Mumford’s second appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2023 as part of the Mental Health Series.

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The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering?

How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.

For the ninth and final episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Shelly Tygielski. Philanthropist and social activist Shelly Tygielski has been hailed by individuals ranging from President Joe Biden to Arianna Huffington and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn to Maria Shriver. She is the founder of the global, grassroots mutual aid organization, Pandemic of Love and the co-founder of Partners in Kind, a purpose in production equity fund that invests in projects that focus on social impact in entertainment. Her work has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including CNN Heroes, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS This Morning, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. A Garrison Institute Fellow, Shelly has been called one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” by Mindful.org and teaches self-care and resilience at organizations and to audiences around the world. She is also the author of several books, “Sit Down to Rise Up” and “How We Ended Racism.” This is her second appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.

In this conversation, Shelly and Sharon speak about:

• What motivated Shelly to get her PH.D.

• The definition of Mutual Aid

• Mutual Aid across history

• Peter Kropotkin’s view of society

• Cooperation vs competition in society

• Thriving interspecies ecosystems

• How Shelly’s practice has evolved over time

• Finding a balance in our compassion

• Prioritizing self-care in engaged compassion

• How Shelly has let go of her caregiving guilt

• The signs that burnout is lurking

• Seeing resentment as a signal flare

• Shelly’s advice to change-makers

• Activism with our own sustainability in mind

• Asking for help before falling into burnout

• Joy is not an abandonment of responsibility

• How Shelly finds joy in nature and with music

Additional Resources

The episode closes with Shelly leading a lovingkindness meditation. Learn more about Shelly’s work and her different books right here. Learn more about Pandemic of Love right here.

Related Metta Hour Episodes

Episode 121: Shelly’s first appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2020.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today’s world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering?

How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers.

For the eighth episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Rev. Paul Raushenbush. This is his first appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast. Rev. Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. An ordained Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush is a longtime interfaith leader and renowned advocate for civil rights and religious freedom. Rev. Raushenbush has published two books and contributed essays to several volumes on faith in public life. He also hosts the weekly podcast and radio show “The State of Belief,” in partnership with Religion News Service.

In this conversation, Sharon and Paul speak about:

• How Rev. Raushenbush came to service

• The Social Gospel

• Rev. Raushenbush’s interfaith family

• How spiritual practice can fuel activism

• Insisting on joy in moments of great sorrow

• Embodying the future we hope for now

• Rev. Raushenbush’s POV that we are all neighbors

• Figuring out how to help

• What inspired this Engaged Compassion series

• How art can be resistance

• Where Rev. Raushenbush turns for inspiration

• The work of Interfaith Alliance

• The possibilities of lovingkindness

• Rev. Raushenbush’s husband’s new book, “Good Morning Moon”

Additional Resources

The episode closes with a reflection from Rev. Raushenbush. Learn more about Rev. Raushenbush’s work right here. Learn more about Interfaith Alliance right here, including its many local chapters.

Related Metta Hour Episodes

Episode 281: The first episode of the Engaged Compassion Series with Jerry Colonna, released in March of 2026.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.