“When you focus on the present, the rest of the day flows with ease.”

In this episode of The Zen Den, host Maggie Calder welcomes Wayne Penny, who spent 42 years at Coca-Cola before retiring. Wayne reflects on his career, the challenges of leading through the uncertainty of COVID, and how mindfulness transformed not only his leadership but also his personal relationships. From bringing Maggie into corporate WebEx meetings to support his team, to discovering the beauty of stillness and presence in retirement, Wayne shares how mindfulness has been a grounding practice in both professional and personal life.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation on slowing down, savoring the present, and embracing a more centered way of living.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How mindfulness can dissolve fear and uncertainty in high-stress environments
• Simple practices to quiet a busy mind and find presence
• Why starting the day with gratitude sets a powerful tone
• How deepened family bonds can grow from mindful living
• The ripple effect of bringing mindfulness into leadership and corporate culture

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Morning gratitude and ocean views

(00:02:53) Navigating uncertainty during COVID

(00:03:39) Bringing mindfulness to a corporate team

(00:06:09) Mindfulness practices that stick

(00:08:00) Stronger family connections through presence

(00:10:30) Training your focus to notice life’s details

(00:11:52) Finding your Zen state

Key Takeaways:

• Starting the day with gratitude changes how the whole day flows.
• Mindfulness doesn’t erase the bumps in your day, but it makes them easier to navigate.
• Quieting the busy mind opens the door to deeper conversations and stronger relationships.
• Nature is a gentle reminder to slow down and simply be.

About Wayne Penny:

Wayne Penny is a retired Coca-Cola executive who spent over four decades in leadership, traveling the world for work and sports events. His journey into mindfulness began as a way to support his team through the uncertainty of the COVID era. Today, he continues to embrace mindful living in retirement, deepening his relationships with family and finding joy in life’s simplest moments.

Connect with Wayne Penny:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-penny-6965654b

About Maggie Calder:

Maggie Calder is a former Buddhist nun and spiritual guide who has traveled the world with Eckhart Tolle and led a healing retreat center in Chicago. She helps listeners find their Zen state, a place of calm and presence, by sharing her wisdom on mindfulness and inner peace.

Connect with me:

Email: maggiecalder.ca@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiecalder

The Zen Den is a welcoming space for everyone, no matter your background or beliefs, where real conversations happen about how to find peace in a chaotic world. Each episode will explore a challenge or difficulty and guide you toward your own natural Zen state: calm, centered, and clear. Join Maggie in this conscious movement to awaken higher consciousness, live in harmony, and let your authentic truth shine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Nature is not outside of us. It is within us, sustaining us, guiding us, and reminding us who we are.” – LoriAnn Bird

Welcome to The Zen Den, a space where we explore how to find real inner peace in the middle of life’s chaos.

In this episode, I talk with my dear friend LoriAnn Bird, an educator, author, and plant wisdom guide, about the sacred reciprocity between humans and the natural world. LoriAnn shares her story of reclaiming ancestral teachings, her deep passion for native and medicinal plants, and how our relationship with nature impacts not only our physical health, but also our sense of peace, purpose, and belonging.

Together, we explore how caring for plants restores balance in our lives, how nature heals our nervous systems, and why cultivating reciprocity with the Earth may be the key to finding our inner Zen.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How practicing reciprocity with plants brings peace, purpose, and a sense of legacy
• The role of native and medicinal plants in supporting ecosystems and human wellness
• The calming and restorative effects of birdsong, trees, and plant frequencies on the nervous system
• Simple daily rituals that connect us to nature: walking barefoot, touching trees, and tending plants
• How to build meaningful relationships with the plants in your home
• Why respect, reverence, and reciprocity are essential teachings for modern life
• The hidden benefits of “weeds” like dandelion, chickweed, and purslane
• How forests model collaboration, generosity, and kindness for humans

Timestamps:

00:00 - Episode Snippet

03:04 - Witnessing the loss of birds and habitat

05:30 - Emotional impact of diminished plant life

07:17 - Nature heals us

09:08 - Reciprocity with plants

12:25 - How to find inner peace through nature and stillness

15:03 - How nature activates all our senses

20:07 - Reclaiming cultural foods and medicinal plants

23:18 - Plants as teachers of mental, physical, and spiritual wellness

27:24 - Closing meditation: Gratitude for plant life and Earth

About LoriAnn Bird:

LoriAnn Bird is an Indigenous Métis herbalist and educator who shares the wisdom of wild, medicinal, and edible plants in our everyday spaces. Her work invites us to reconnect with the living world, restoring relationships with Indigenous plants, reclaiming true local foods and medicines, and fostering ecological healing.

Connect with Laurieanne Bird:

Website: https://loriannbird.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthandcompany/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Revered-Roots-Ancestral-Teachings-Medicinal/dp/0760393257

About Maggie Calder:

Maggie Calder is a former Buddhist nun and spiritual guide who has traveled the world with Eckhart Tolle and led a healing retreat center in Chicago. She helps listeners find their Zen state, a place of calm and presence, by sharing her wisdom on mindfulness and inner peace.

Connect with me:

Email: thezenden.world@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiecalder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Raising children is a constant lesson in presence, patience, and the art of balancing worry with trust.”

I’m Maggie Calder, and I’m so excited to welcome you to The Zen Den, a space where we explore how to find real inner peace in the middle of life’s chaos.

In this episode, Maggie Calder talks with Susannah Adams about the beauty and challenges of motherhood. They explore everything from caring for newborns to guiding teenagers, and how parents can find moments of peace amid worry and busy days. They also share tips on family connection, mindful routines, and taking small moments for yourself. Tune in to hear heartfelt stories, gentle guidance, and practical ways to bring calm, balance, and joy into your parenting journey.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The raw, real highs and lows of motherhood, from sleepless nights to heart-melting moments
• How surrender, trust, and selflessness can transform the parenting journey
• Simple ways to find your Zen and stay grounded, even when life feels chaotic
• How intentional family rituals create deeper bonds
• Why taking time for yourself isn’t selfish, but the key to showing up fully for your loved ones
• Secrets to balancing parenting, personal growth, and your passions without losing yourself

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Episode Snippet

(00:01:34) Introducing our guest, Susannah Adams

(00:03:36) Birth requires surrender and trust

(00:06:00) Trust the wisdom of mothers past

(00:07:35) Infancy is beautiful but demanding

(00:09:10) Tender bonds restore strength

(00:11:12) Worry is part of parenting

(00:13:16) How do you find your Zen state?

(00:15:25) Family values ground us

(00:18:38) Create your own family rituals

(00:20:28) Solitude keeps you present

(00:22:13) Nature eases household tension

(00:23:21) Connect with Susannah Adams

(00:24:24) Closing blessings and reflection

Key Takeaways:

“Parenthood is the biggest job ever, and it never stops.”

“As a parent, it's always been my intention to keep a few steps ahead of them in my personal growth, to be able to help them in their challenges.”

“Some of the challenges from birth are enormous, a feat to enable our bodies to go through this as women, as mothers, to surrender and cleave yourself open to bring the little being through.”

“Part of what's seeding you to drop into that inner peace is the trust in the infinite, that whatever is happening will be safe.”

“Stepping outside when things are chaotic allows a change of scenery and a sense of abundance.”

About Susannah Adams:

Susannah Adams is a talented musician, sound healer, and mother of two, dedicated to creating music that nurtures the mind, body, and soul. Susannah combines her personal experiences, creativity, and deep sensitivity to craft music that serves as a restorative resource for listeners seeking balance in their busy lives.

Connect with Susannah Adams:

Website: https://www.susannahadams.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bliss.singer/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@susannahadams4525

Email: contact@susannahadams.com

About Maggie Calder:

Maggie Calder is a former Buddhist nun and spiritual guide who has traveled the world with Eckhart Tolle and led a healing retreat center in Chicago. She helps listeners find their Zen state, a place of calm and presence, by sharing her wisdom on mindfulness and inner peace.

Connect with me:

Email: thezenden.world@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiecalder/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.