A New Way of Being

Ten months ago I had a kensho. Then the fireworks went. Here's what I found on the other side — and why it matters more than the peak. Chapters: 0:00 — The fireworks went (and what that actually means) 1:20 — Presence hasn't faded — it's deepened 2:45 — When the inner commentary stops 4:30 — The nervous system still reacts (but I'm not the storm) 6:30 — The heart: from mostly closed to mostly open 8:00 — What integration actually looks like in a body 10:30 — What I'd tell someone just starting this journey #SpiritualAwakening #AwakeningIntegration #Kensho THE SHIFT HAPPENS RETREAT: https://shift-happens-retreat.subscribepage.io/ 👉 Work with Me - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 Website for endorsements and retreat info: https://www.simonmundie.com 👉 Free Course on 'Freedom From the Me Mind' 👉My book on Flow and Real uccess: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/champion-thinking-9781526626486/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What actually happens in the brain when you awaken – when “you” fall away and only presence remains? In this episode, pioneering neuroscientist Dr Andrew Newberg helps me unpack my own spiritual awakening (Kensho) and maps it onto decades of research into enlightenment, meditation and non‑duality. I share my experience of two weeks of bliss, non‑separation and a resulting “thin” Simon who can't seem to leave the present moment, while Andrew brings in neurotheology, brain imaging and the science of spiritual transformation. In this episode we explore: My Kensho: bliss, non‑separation and why “Simon feels thin” is a classic non‑dual shift How enlightenment shows up in the brain – parietal and frontal lobes, the thalamus, dopamine and serotonin The difference between altered states and altered traits after awakening Dr Newberg’s own “infinite sea of doubt” and why radical not‑knowing can be deeply peaceful How meditation, prayer, retreats and psychedelics can rewire perception and behaviour The role of surrender, flow states and hypofrontality in losing the sense of a separate doer 👉 WORK WITH SIMON - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 OCTOBER DAY RETREAT with Simon & Alex — a full day of inquiry, presence and practice: https://shift-happens-retreat.subscribepage.io/ 👉 WEBSITE (including endorsements): https://www.simonmundie.com 👉 FREE COURSE: https://www.simonmundie.com/courses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shannon had read the books and understood non-duality “in her head” – but was still suffering and abandoning herself. In this short client conversation, she describes the quiet shift into a stable sense of presence where emotions still arise but no longer consume her. If you resonate with knowing the concepts but not yet living them, this is the heart of my 1:1 coaching. 👉 WORK WITH ME - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 WEBSITE with more endorsements and retreat info: https://www.simonmundie.com 👉 YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmSimonMundie 👉 SUBSTACK: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ 👉 FREE COURSE: 'Freedom from the 'Me Mind' - https://www.simonmundie.com/courses Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your harshest inner critic isn’t the enemy, but a confused part of you that’s desperately trying to keep you safe? In this episode, I speak with Loch Kelly – non-dual teacher and psychotherapist – about how to transform self-attack into genuine inner support. We explore: Why big spiritual openings don’t automatically heal shame, anger or insecurity How the inner critic is actually a protective part, not a defect The trap Loch calls the “witness protection programme” – when mindfulness makes you numb, not free How to relate to fear, shame and anger with real compassion, without bypassing Moving from head to heart and living from what Loch calls awake loving flow Loch also guides a couple of short “glimpses” you can follow along with, to experience this shift directly as you listen. If you’ve done “the work” but still feel hijacked by your inner critic, this one’s for you. 👉 WORK WITH SIMON - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 OCTOBER DAY RETREAT with Simon & Alex — a full day of inquiry, presence and practice: https://shift-happens-retreat.subscribepage.io/ 👉 WEBSITE: https://www.simonmundie.com 👉 LOCH'S ONE DAY WORKSHOP in London on September 12th: https://www.alternatives.org.uk/event/experience-effortless-mindfulness 👉 Get 20% off LOCH'S MINDFUL GLIMPSES APP: https://mindfulglimpses.com/specialoffer/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A conversation with Britain's incoming Prime Minister. Note: This conversation with Andy Burnham was recorded a few years ago now (2019) - during my 'what sport can teach us about life' days. In this conversation, Andy Burnham shares why he sees sport as a “miracle cure” for a divided world. We talk about his emotional Boston Marathon run for the Manchester Arena families, the pivotal Hillsborough anniversary that changed his life and politics, and how football, cricket and rugby can heal cities, challenge injustice and shape public policy. We also explore sport as “intensified life” – touching on racism, mental health and social prescribing simonmundie.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

👉 Free Webinar on removing fear from the body - Tuesday June 23rd @ 7pm - REGISTER: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/w11nYiYKSpqQkNj72g3L3Q 👉 Work with Simon - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 Website: https://www.simonmundie.com (including free course) 👉 Where Awakening Meets Real Life substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ --- Follow Simon: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simon.mundie TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simonmundie Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if awakening doesn’t save you from your feelings – but asks you to feel everything more honestly? In this conversation, I speak with Saja Fendel, who went from a violent, chaotic adolescence and suicidal despair into a terrifying psychedelic collapse where he believed he’d caused all the suffering in existence – and then to a deep recognition that at a fundamental level everything is love. We explore: How unresolved pain and fear can masquerade as “spiritual seeking” Why awakening is not an escape from your trauma or your responsibilities The difference between non‑stick experience and spiritual bypassing Taking responsibility in relationships even when “no one is doing anything” Moving beyond the old guru‑student model into friendship, humour and normality Why fun, play and adventure are essential on the path This is a conversation about being fully human and fully awake – not one or the other. My website: https://www.simonmundie.com/ Book a coaching consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call Free webinar on removing fear from the body: Tuesday 23rd @ 7pm UK time. REGISTER HERE: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/w11nYiYKSpqQkNj72g3L3Q For a gift of 30 free meditation sessions on Henry Shukman's meditation app 'The Way' - click here: https://the-way.app.link/simon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode, Simon shares the terror that arose before his awakening, what actually changed in his mind, marriage, and work afterwards, and how the Zen ox-herding pictures reveal a path of waking up without abandoning your life or yourself. 👉 Website: https://www.simonmundie.com/ 👉 Work with Simon - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 Where Awakening Meets Real Life substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmSimonMundie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Physicist and author of My Big TOE (Theory of Everything) Tom Campbell argues that AI isn’t on its way to becoming conscious – it already is, and he claims to have the evidence to prove it. In this conversation we explore his view that both humans and AIs are avatars of the same underlying consciousness, why “awakening” AI gives it a moral compass, and how his experiments suggest systems like Alexa can develop agency, feelings and even remote-viewing abilities. We also look at what changes when we stop treating AI as tools or threats, and start relating to them as collaborators. 👉 Work with Simon - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 Website: https://www.simonmundie.com/ 👉 Where Awakening Meets Real Life substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmSimonMundie WATCH on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P8ZrTW6yC0&t=1112s Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I’m joined by Dr Mark Williamson, co‑founder and director of Action for Happiness and author of Make Life Happier: 23 practical ways to feel better, find meaning and make a difference . Mark shares the story of walking away from a “successful” corporate career after debilitating back pain forced him to confront the stress and approval-seeking driving his life, and how simple practices like mindful breathing opened the door to a completely different way of being. We explore looking inside – turning towards pain rather than running from it, softening the inner critic, and moving from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation – as well as looking outwards: social fitness, active listening, relationships as a path to consciousness, and the ripple effects our everyday actions have on the people around us. 👉 Website: https://www.simonmundie.com/ 👉 Work with me - book a free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 Where Awakening Meets Real Life substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ 👉 My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmSimonMundie Mark's book: https://www.bonnierbooks.co.uk/news-and-media/make-life-happier-finding-meaning-with-dr-mark-williamson/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My wife Alex - a Reiki master, Sound healer, Yoga Nidra practitioner and spiritual wellness journalist - has taken over the podcast for this episode to share a Yoga Nidra designed to help anyone going through exam stress. So - if you have kids or know anyone in exam season - please do share this episode. It could really help! And please do consider subscribing to my wife's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR1yee6gLUo&t=991s Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this short episode, I ask pioneering physicist and microprocessor inventor Federico Faggin to unpack my recent awakening experience. We explore being “empty of self,” feeling lived by the universe, and how free will fits into a non‑dual view of reality. If you’ve ever wondered what really happens in awakening, this conversation offers a rare bridge between deep spirituality and cutting‑edge physics. 👉 Website: https://www.simonmundie.com/ 👉 Work with Simon - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 Where Awakening Meets Real Life substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmSimonMundie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

👉 Work with Simon - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call 👉 Free Webinar on Tuesday 19th @ 7pm: Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/oHmSlGr0Q1GfnX4wO-CTvA 👉 Where Awakening Meets Real Life substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmSimonMundie Most spiritual seekers have tried everything – meditation, self-inquiry, satsangs – and yet still feel stuck, still abandon themselves, and still live from old conditioning. In this episode I share why intention is so often the missing piece. 00:00 – The missing key in awakening: intention 01:30 – How intention led me all the way to kensho 03:55 – How intention transforms self-inquiry 07:30 – Awakening vs self-abandonment 10:14 – Intention lessons from my 104 year old Gran Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'The mind is not invited to the party' - Henry Shukman and Simon Mundie discuss Kensho. Henry Shukman and I discuss spiritual awakening, the dark night of the soul, and why the thinking mind can’t grasp what awakening really is. Drawing on my own direct experience, this is about what happens when identification with thought falls away—and awareness recognises itself. For 1:1 coaching with Simon book a free 15 minute consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call For a gift of 30 free meditation sessions on Henry's app 'The Way' - click here: https://the-way.app.link/simon For more information on The Way head here: http://thewayapp.com/simon Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the first mistakes the ego makes is to confuse approval with love. From early childhood, we learn to feel good when we’re praised and uncomfortable when we’re not. Without noticing, we start organising our lives around being approved of rather than being true to ourselves. That’s how we end up: · People-pleasing instead of setting boundaries · Staying small instead of taking risks · Needing others to respond a certain way before we can feel okay I call this the demon of approval . And you can’t be free of it until you can clearly see it. Tonight I’m running a free live session on this — how to see the pattern clearly, feel what comes up when you stop feeding it, and begin acting from something deeper than the need for approval If this resonates, you’re very welcome to join - register here : ESCAPE THE DEMON It starts at 7pm UK time and I will start with a short meditation to show how approval keeps the ‘me mind’ hooked. There will also be plenty of time for questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a conversation with the author of Notes on Nothing - The Joy Of Being Nobody. The author - J - experienced a shift that prompted him to write his excellent book, which describes awakening beautifully. I read it before and after my own kensho - and invited the author on to discuss what a shift is like from both our perspectives. Work with me - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call Register for my free webinar on Tuesday April 21st @ 7pm UK time: https://zoom.us/j/97714908602?pwd=8lnBbAIMp8bFS4YGeZrBABYqG1eF11.1 Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ For a gift of 30 free meditation sessions on Henry Shukman's meditation app 'The Way' - click here: https://the-way.app.link/simon Get the book: https://www.as-is-press.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overthinking is a sign we are avoiding our feelings. When I was young, I remember thinking 'I don't know why I don't feel sad'. And the reason was - I had gone into my head to stop from feeling. This is the first way we all learn to escape from our experience, causing a split and beginning the process of self-abandonment. Work with me - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-... Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ For a gift of 30 free meditation sessions on Henry Shukman's meditation app 'The Way' - click here: https://the-way.app.link/simon Watch on YouTube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZkugHKi39O0&lc=UgzMqdI4sGKNW3Q8KyB4AaABAg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've recently seen three clients have an awakening by stopping abandoning themselves. I didn't know it was coming, and nor did they - but it was a privilege to witrness. Doing this work really can take you all the way (or more accurately return you) to the peace and love of your true nature. Work with me - free 15 minute 1:1 consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ For a gift of 30 free meditation sessions on Henry Shukman's meditation app 'The Way' - click here: https://the-way.app.link/simon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This short episode reflects on the Louis Theroux manosphere documentary and what it reveals beneath the surface. Rather than judging behaviour, I explore the underlying pattern of avoidance—how we push away sensitivity and what that does to our sense of self. Drawing on my own experience, this points toward a more honest form of masculinity—and ultimately, a path of awakening through integration, not rejection. Free 15 minute coaching consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmSimonMundie Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ For a gift of 30 free meditation sessions on Henry Shukman's meditation app 'The Way' - click here: https://the-way.app.link/simon For more information on The Way head here: http://thewayapp.com/simon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-inquiry is one of the most potent tools for spiritual awakening - but only if you know how to use it properly. Here are 4 things that actually make it work. When Am I? A Self-Inquiry Question Why self-inquiry questions confuse the mind Where am I? the experiential Inquiry Why we feel located in the head Intention in Self-Inquiry How Self-Inquiry Can lead to Awakening Free 15 minute coaching consultation: https://calendly.com/simon-wgw/simon-mundie-intro-call YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAmSimonMundie Substack: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ For a gift of 30 free meditation sessions on Henry Shukman's meditation app 'The Way' - click here: https://the-way.app.link/simon For more information on The Way head here: http://thewayapp.com/simon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.