In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, host Stephanie Romero speaks with Bhante Pema, resident monk at the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center. Bhante Pema reflects on his early ordination in Sri Lanka at age 10, inspired by his granduncle, and his journey to leading monastic and community spaces in the U.S. The conversation addresses the distinct ways Western and Eastern audiences approach practice, emphasizing that meditation cannot stand in isolation without ethical living and generosity. Bhante Pema also shares insights on academic versus spiritual instruction, virtual youth programs, daily monastic routines, and the core mechanics of Theravada Vipassana meditation.

Key Themes

• Monastic Journey: Ordained as a novice monk in November 1986 in Sri Lanka, pursuing higher education in Thailand, Singapore, and the U.S. before coming to serve the Pittsburgh Buddhist Center in 2008.

• Ethics as a Foundation for Meditation: Why moral precepts (such as the five lay precepts) are not rigid rules, but preventive practices that reduce mental agitation and regret to prepare the mind for deep meditation.

• Cultural Differences in Practice: Contrasting the Sri Lankan immigrant community's focus on generosity (Dana) and ethics with Western practitioners' eagerness to jump directly into meditation.

• Mindfulness for Youth: Implementing Zoom-based yoga, movement, loving-kindness (Metta), and gratitude meditation to support children's emotional wellbeing.

• Understanding Vipassana: Moving beyond pure calming practices (Samatha) to observe the impermanent, constantly arising, and passing nature of experience.

Resources Mentioned

• Pittsburgh Buddhist Center & Cleveland Satellite Center: Community centers offering retreats, classes, and cultural events.

• Bhavana Society: Forest monastery in West Virginia, co-founded by Bhante Gunaratana and Bhante Rahula.

• Book: Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana

• Book: 8 Mindful Steps to Happiness by Bhante Gunaratana.

• Book: Being Nobody, Going Nowhere by Ayya Khema.

• Book: In Buddha's Words: An Anthology of the Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

• Book: Why Buddhism is True by Robert Wright.

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, host Stephanie Romero sits down with Reverend Jim Magaw, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (Sunny Hill). Reverend Jim reflects on his personal journey with spiritual exploration and 28 years of addiction recovery, sharing how contemplative tools offer a container to observe life's challenges rather than escape them. The conversation explores practical strategies for preventing burnout in helping professions, the integration of micro-meditations into busy schedules, and how grounded spiritual practice fuels sustainable social justice work. Stephanie and Jim also discuss leading through theological pluralism, fostering curiosity across differing perspectives, and building meaningful community connections right in our own backyards.

Key Themes

• Spirituality in Recovery: How contemplative practices address spiritual emptiness and provide a container for holding difficult urges and emotions.

• Micro-Practices for Self-Care: Utilizing brief, intentional pauses throughout the day—such as two-minute breathing breaks and music—to prevent burnout in demanding leadership roles.

• Sustainable Social Activism: Finding a middle path between apathy and constant anger by grounding justice work in community partnerships and actionable steps.

• Theological Pluralism & Curiosity: Cultivating spaces that welcome diverse belief systems, encouraging deep listening and genuine curiosity over division.

• Relational Community Building: The impact of local engagement, interfaith relationships, and small acts of neighborly kindness.

Resources:

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.

In this inspiring episode of The Ripple Effect of Wellbeing in Work and Life, Dr. Stephanie Romero sits down with master educator and 36-year Raja Yoga practitioner Felicia Savage Friedman to explore the powerful intersection of embodied mindfulness and anti-racism activism. Together, they discuss breaking free from perfectionism, recognizing rest and joy as innate birthrights rather than rewards, and using the eight-limbed path of yoga to heal internalized oppression. Tune in to learn how grounding your contemplative practice in unconditional love creates a sustainable foundation for both personal resilience and collective liberation.

Resources:

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Translation and Commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda)

  • Context: Felicia references studying and following The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by her teacher’s lineage (Swami Satchidananda) as the core text for her 8-limbed Raja Yoga practice.

  • Where to Find It:

    • Barnes & Noble

    • Amazon

• The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB)

  • Context: Felicia attended their Undoing Racism training in St. Louis in 2014, which provided her with the structural analysis and anti-racist framework that she merged with her Raja Yoga practice.

  • Website: pisab.org

• National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA)

  • Context: Felicia brought in NETA to host intensive yoga teacher training certifications earlier in her career.

  • Website: netafit.org

• American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

  • Context: Felicia worked with Amanda K. Gross conducting community listening sessions through AFSC.

  • Website: afsc.org

• The Midwife Center for Birth & Women's Health (Formerly "Birthplace" – Pittsburgh, PA)

  • Context: The birth center where Felicia delivered her daughter Maya out-of-hospital using her Raja Yoga and breathwork practices.

  • Website: midwifecenter.org

• The Kingsley Association (Pittsburgh, PA)

  • Context: The community center in Pittsburgh’s Larimer/East Liberty neighborhood where Felicia previously taught yoga classes.

  • Website: kingsleyassociation.org

• Raja Yoga (The 8-Limbed Path): The classical path of yoga outlined in Patanjali’s Sutras involving ethics (Yamas/Niyamas), physical postures (Asana), breath control (Pranayama), sensory withdrawal (Pratyahara), concentration (Dharana), meditation (Dhyana), and self-realization (Samadhi).

• Hatha Yoga: A subset of the 8-limbed path focusing on physical postures (Asana) and breath control (Pranayama).

Learn More at www.awakencollaborative.com

Music: Weather Any Storm by Cody Francis and Forever and A Day by Kim Aspen (canva.com)

Produced by Say Some Thing Studios, a creative media division of Elevate 1 Consulting.

The Awaken Collaborative supports Awaken Pittsburgh!

Awaken Pittsburgh, a 501c3 non-profit organization, relies on the generosity of our community to achieve our mission of fostering well-being, empathy, and compassion for all. Your support helps mindfulness practitioners reach individuals across the Greater Pittsburgh Area through evidence-based programs, activities, and events. Give Today! www.awakenpittsburgh.org/support

Music: "Chill Mode" by Audiobinger from the free music archive. This work is openly licensed via CC BY 4.0.