What does it truly mean to live a practice? In this deeply grounded and reflective episode of Pay Attention, Holly reconnects with meditation teacher Mark Nunberg of Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis —a place that played a meaningful role in her own journey. Together, they explore the unfolding path of contemplative practice—not as a concept, but as a way of living. Mark shares how his early questioning of success and purpose led him to Buddhism and insight meditation, and how over three decades of teaching have revealed a simple but profound truth: clarity doesn't come from thinking more—it comes from seeing clearly. In this conversation, you'll discover:

• What it really means to live a practice—not just do one
• How awareness matures through small, consistent inroads
• Why suffering (dukkha) can be a doorway rather than a problem
• How thoughts lose their power when they are seen clearly
• The shift from identifying with the mind to observing it
• What liberation actually points to—and how it's available in everyday life
• Mark reminds us that the goal isn't to eliminate thoughts, but to change our relationship to them—and that real transformation happens not through force, but through awareness.

If you've ever felt lost, overwhelmed by your thoughts, or curious about what lies beyond the "chaos of the mind," this conversation offers a grounded and accessible path forward.

What if recurring dreams held the key to understanding who we truly are—and what we're here to do?

In this follow-up to their first conversation on dream tending, host Holly McNeill invites dream tender and therapist Valerie Johns back for a raw and revealing live dream tending session.

If you've ever wondered who Holly really is beyond the mic, this is the episode. It's raw, unpolished, and deeply personal—and through the process, Holly learns more than she expected.

Together, Holly and Valerie explore:

· How live dream tending can reveal hidden wisdom within recurring dreams

· Why dreams often uncover unresolved identity, self-worth, and the longing for mentorship

· How the ego loses control in the dream state—and why that matters for personal growth

· How some dreams come from the collective unconscious, calling us to healing and action in the world

This isn't just a conversation—it's a vulnerable, transformative experience that invites listeners to tend their own inner landscapes with curiosity and care.

✨ Haven't listened to Part 1 yet? Go back and start there for Valerie's full introduction and insights into dream tending.

Connect with Valerie Johns:
🌐 valeriejohns.com
📷 Ihttps://www.instagram.com/valeriejohnsla/
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-johns-66155216/

To stay in the world of dreams just a bit longer, this week on Pay Attention we're going back to the archives to revisit an earlier conversation on dream tending with Valerie Johns.

What if your dreams weren't random at all, but meaningful messages from the deepest parts of you?

This episode originally aired in Season 1 as Episode 24. Unlike traditional dream interpretation, Valerie's approach to dream tending encourages us to form a relationship with our dreams—to listen, explore, and allow the subconscious to speak. In this conversation, Holly McNeill sits down with Valerie to explore how dreams can support emotional healing, personal clarity, and spiritual growth.

Together they discuss:

• Why we forget our dreams—and how to start remembering them

• Why recurring dreams and nightmares may actually be calls for attention

• How the ego has no control in the dream world—and doesn't like it

• How some dreams may arise from the collective unconscious, pointing us toward healing and action in the world

✨ Part 2 of this conversation will re-air next week with Holly and Valerie joining live.

If you're curious and don't want to wait, you can find it now in the archives as Season 1, Episode 25, where Valerie leads Holly through a live dream tending session.

Connect with Valerie Johns: 🌐 valeriejohns.com 📷 / valeriejohnsla 🔗 / valerie-johns-66155216