#848: From Stress to Stillness — Guided Meditation with Zen Master Henry Shukman

January 19, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: A short podcast episode blending a quick intro by the host with a guided 10-minute meditation session—part of a new "Meditation Monday" experiment.
The Key Players:
- Tim Ferriss: Bestselling author and podcaster, introducing the series and promoting Henry's app; he's a repeat fan who's used it to slash his anxiety.
- Henry Shookman: Rare Sambozen meditation master (one of only a few dozen worldwide); returns for his third appearance, sharing personal insights.
The Vibe: Deeply calm and educational, like a soothing reset button—perfect for stressed-out listeners seeking instant peace amid chaos.

🗝️ Key Themes & Topics

This episode dives into mindfulness as a daily superpower, emphasizing stress not as an enemy to fight but as something to embrace. The 3 main topics blend promo, backstory, and hands-on practice.

Topic 1: Launching Meditation Monday. Tim unveils his new weekly series: short meditations building a "Zen toolkit" for calm and productivity, spotlighting Henry's proven techniques.
Topic 2: Henry's Journey with Stress. Personal roots in chronic childhood illness; meditation at 25 transformed his stress management, backed by research on its body-based effects.
Topic 3: The Paradox of Allowing Stress. Counterintuitive core: Don't battle stress—**allow and incl

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Henry Shookman**
2 (01:14) **Understanding Stress**
3 (01:53) **Settling into Position and Breathing**
4 (03:25) **Body Awareness and Relaxation**
5 (05:25) **Locating Stress in the Chest**
6 (05:59) **Softening the Ribcage**
7 (07:48) **Allowing Sensations**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

This episode is part of a series called Meditation Monday. The teacher, Henry Shukman, has been on my podcast twice before. He is one of only a few dozen masters in the world authorized to teach Sanbo Zen, and now, he’ll be your teacher.

In addition to my long-form interviews each week, every Monday I’ll bring you a short 10-minute or so meditation, which will help you for the rest of the week.

Over this four-episode series, you’ll develop a Zen toolkit to help you find greater calm, peace, and effectiveness in your daily life.

Henry’s app, The Way, has changed my life since I first started using it. Unlike other meditation apps, where you’re overwhelmed with a thousand choices, The Way is a clear step-by-step training program guided entirely by Henry. Through a logical progression, you’ll develop real skills that stick with you.

I’ve been using it daily, often twice a day, and it’s lowered my anxiety more than I thought possible.

As a listener of my podcast, you can get 30 free sessions by visiting https://thewayapp.com/tim and downloading the app.

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