We are living in constant loud noise - the news of our country, voices in our head, awaiting comparison on our social media, kids asking all the questions - it seems impossible to find silence. Even when we find it, some of us avoid it because sitting "quietly" can be scarier than the rest. The freedom we get in silence can be daunting - what do we do with it? Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz joined me to discuss their research and book Golden: The Power of Silence in the World of Noise. Drawing on lessons from neuroscience, business, spirituality, politics, and the arts, Leigh and Justin explore why auditory, informational, and internal silence is essential for physical health, mental clarity, ecological sustainability, and a vibrant community. We talked about how they and others define silence, why we shouldn't fear it, the benefits and healing capacity of stillness, and how we have the power to choose our response to it. 

 

Justin is a Senior Advisor at CEPR (Center for Economic and Policy Research) in Washington D.C. and meditation teacher (and policymaker) for the U.S. Congress. Leigh is a leadership and collaboration consultant teaching experimental mindsets at NASA, Harvard, Google, IKEA, and the Green Science Policy Institute.