Julie Lythcott-Haims on the Power of Telling Your Truth

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In this powerful episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, host Sean Fargo sits down with Julie Lythcott-Haims New York Times bestselling author, activist, politician, and former Stanford dean for a deeply human conversation on mindfulness, shame, storytelling, and authentic belonging.

Julie opens up about how mindfulness first entered her life in her 30s, becoming a lifeline for navigating the weight of internalized shame and self-doubt. Through body awareness and compassionate presence, she learned to “get out of her own way” and begin healing the unprocessed pain that shaped her sense of self.

Drawing from her acclaimed memoir, Real American, Julie reflects on how writing became a form of emotional release a way to face long-held stories about race, identity, and belonging. By bringing these stories into the light, she discovered the freedom that comes from honesty, vulnerability, and self-acceptance.

Together, Sean and Julie explore how mindfulness can help us meet shame with compassion, open our hearts to difference, and live courageously in our truth. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, leader, or seeker of healing, this conversation reminds us that belonging begins with being at home within ourselves.

This episode is sponsored by the Mindfulness Exercises Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. Learn more about this unique, online, self-paced program at mindfulnessexercises.com/certify

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

How mindfulness helps us face and transform shame
The healing power of storytelling in rewriting old narratives
How to hold space for yourself and others with compassion
Why vulnerability is the foundation of true connection
Lessons on parenting, growth, and self-compassion from Julie’s journey
How sharing your story can liberate others and bridge divides

Show Notes:

Mindfulness as a Path to Self-Awareness

Julie reflects on discovering mindfulness in her 30s and how presence helped her move beyond self-criticism into curiosity and care.

Writing as Emotional Release

Through her memoir Real American, Julie shares how storytelling became a sacred practice — one that allowed her to face long-held pain with honesty and grace.

Holding Space with Compassion

She explores how mindfulness enables us to listen deeply to ourselves and others without judgment, creating the foundation for authentic connection.

The Courage of Vulnerability

Julie and Sean discuss how courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to be seen, even when our voices tremble.

Helicopter Parenting & Self-Growth

Drawing from her bestselling book How to Raise an Adult, Julie shares how mindful parenting invites both children and adults into greater awareness and independence.

Post-It Notes of Connection

Julie reveals how small acts of kindness and acknowledgment can restore our shared humanity even in divided times.

Releasing Fear & Finding Belonging

Through powerful stories, including an intimate exchange with a taxi driver, Julie illustrates how mindfulness helps dissolve barriers between self and other.