Stillness in the Storms

Epizode

• What Your Anger Is Really Saying 28.06.2026 21min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukMy teacher Junpo once said a line I have never been able to put down. I have never known an angry person who did not care. Sit with that for a second. Every time you have lost your temper, underneath it was something you cared about.This one is for the person who snaps at the people they love, then sits in the guilt an hour later. Steven starts with a simple picture. Anger is a hammer. In the right hands it builds, in the wrong hands it breaks, and the answer is never to throw the hammer away. Without anger nothing would ever change. You would not be whole without it.The trouble starts young. Don't make a fuss. Calm down. So we learn to sit on it, and what we sit on leaks out sideways, a sharp word, a slammed door, a silence that strips paint. Steven calls anger the bodyguard. It is almost always the second feeling, stood in front of something softer, a hurt, a fear, a sense of not being heard. Drawing on Mondo Zen, the teaching of Junpo's lineage, he names what tends to sit underneath. Fear, sadness, and a deep caring.Then the line that stops you short. No one can make you angry. The reaction is yours. He is honest that even he argues with that one, and uses a real disagreement with his parents the night before to show how little space there can be between the spark and the fire. That space is the whole thing, and it is what meditation quietly widens.There is a question that takes the heat out of almost any row, for the other person and for yourself. I can see you care. Tell me why it matters. You walk round the bodyguard and speak straight to what it is guarding. Steven takes it all the way into politics, sitting down for a cup of tea with people he disagrees with, and finding the caring underneath every single time.He closes on another of Junpo's lines. Your angst is your liberation. The tight, angry knot is exactly where the freedom is. So next time the heat rises, before you do anything with it, ask one quiet question. Not who is to blame. Just, what am I really trying to protect.Why listenSee your anger as honest information and a guard over something softer, not a flaw to be ashamed ofLearn a simple question that defuses an argument, at home or with someone you cannot agree withUnderstand why you snap fastest at the people closest to you, and how to find the gap before you reactA kinder way to hold your own temper, drawn from Steven's teacher Junpo and the Mondo Zen traditionQuotes"I have never known an angry person who did not care." (Junpo)"It is not the hammer's fault. You need that tool in your toolbox.""Anger is always the second feeling. There is always something softer underneath.""No one can ever really make you angry. The reaction is yours.""I can see you care. Tell me why it matters so much to you.""You cannot meet anger with anger and expect everything to be okay.""Your angst is your liberation." (Junpo)"Be kind to your anger. Don't throw it out."Companion meditationA short meditation goes with this episode, over on Inner Peace Meditations. A few minutes of practising exactly this, finding the gap and meeting the heat before it runs the show. Sit with it once or twice this week. It will do more than any amount of talking about it.With gratitude toAlyce, Kim up in the Yukon, Mayer, Ken, Linda and Michael for keeping the show advert free this time, along with a few kind souls who chose to stay nameless, including one wonderfully generous gift. To the regulars who keep it going month after month, Audra, Laura, Laurie and Stuart, and so many more of you. And a warm welcome to Sue, Jude, Jenna, Mia and Rita, who started supporting this month.
• The Mind That Will Not Be Quiet 18.06.2026 14min

  You have somewhere between thirty and forty thoughts a minute, and you never asked for a single one of them. So why do we lie there at three in the morning treating our own mind like it has done something wrong?This one is for the overthinker, the one who cannot find the off switch. The shift that changes everything is small and easy to miss. You are not the thought, you are the one who hears it. There is the thought, and there is the one who notices the thought, and they are not the same.Steven uses the image of a quiet railway station. Every thought is a train pulling in. Some are loud, some are quiet, some you have ridden a hundred times out of habit. The bit we forget is that you do not have to get on. You can stay on the bench and watch it roll out again.He also names the trap the spiritual crowd fall into. Watching your thoughts is not going cold, and it is not pretending nothing touches you. The one who watches still feels it. You can notice the storm and still be stood out in the weather getting soaked.At the heart of it is the gap. The tiny space between a thought arriving and you reacting to it. That gap is where your whole life actually happens, and widening it is what meditation is really for.So tonight, when the first train pulls in, try one sentence. Ah, there is a thought. That is it. You are already back on the bench.Companion meditationA short meditation goes with this episode, over on Inner Peace Meditations. Sit with it once or twice this week. It will do more than any amount of talking about it.Become the Watcher: A Meditation to Quiet an Overthinking Mind https://innerpeacemeditations.com/episode/become-the-watcher-a-meditation-to-quiet-an-overthinking-mindLinksReach Steven, the newsletter and everything else: stevenwebb.uk Inner Peace Meditations: innerpeacemeditations.com Leave a review on Apple or Spotify. It helps more people find a bit of calm in a hard week. Keep the podcast advert free: buymeacoffee.com/stevenwebbWith gratitude toAddie, Darren, Alice, Caroline and My Herb for keeping the show advert free this week, and to Sin, Annie, Laura, Adam, Dominique and Senga. A special thank you to Stuart, who hits two years as a monthly supporter this month. That is not a small thing.
• Giving Space: Love Without Taking Over 07.06.2026 16min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukSometimes the most loving thing we can do is stay close without stepping in too quickly.This week I want to talk about one of the hardest forms of love: giving someone space. Not walking away. Not going cold. Not pretending we do not care. But staying close without taking over.It came up for me while talking with my daughter, noticing how quickly I wanted to jump in with answers, advice, solutions and opinions. And I could see the same thing in myself, in council meetings, in family conversations, and even in the way I meet my own thoughts and feelings. Something arises and I want to fix it before I have really heard it.But space is not neglect. Real space says: I am here. I trust you. Take your time.In this episode, I explore why the instinct to help is not wrong, but why fixing too quickly can sometimes be about easing our own discomfort. We look at the small pause after a feeling appears, the gap between notes in music, the three seconds before we answer, and the strange wisdom that often appears when we stop crowding the moment.Key topics:Why giving space is not the same as walking awayThe urge to fix the people we love, especially our childrenHow a few seconds of pause can let wisdom appearThoughts, feelings and body sensations that do not need an instant storyThe gap between the notes, and why space gives life meaningCouncil meetings, family tables, and the need to prove we know somethingAsking whether we are helping or reducing our own discomfortThe three second rule for conversations, emotions and difficult momentsCompanion meditation: IPM 105, Giving Space. A gentle Zen influenced meditation using the image of a closed shed and an open field to feel the difference between being crowded by what arises and giving it room to be seen clearly.If this episode meant something to you, please share it, leave a review, or treat me to a coffee: stevenwebb.ukWith thanks this week to: Cheryl, Nitya, Yvonne, Eleanor and Ryan, Karen, Lani, Jess and Stuart.And thank you to the kind anonymous souls and everyone who supports the work quietly in the background. You keep this podcast advert-free. Thank you.
• The First 30 Seconds: Why Every Feeling Is a Gift 31.05.2026 16min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukThe First 30 Seconds: Why Every Feeling Is a GiftYour body's fear response is not a fault. It is thirty seconds of something brilliant.You hear two cars crash outside your door, or a horn behind you, or the word "bear" round a campfire, and before you have thought a single thought your body has already moved. This week I walk through what actually happens in those first thirty seconds, a bit of it borrowed from David Ji's book Destressify. The adrenaline, the heart, the sugar your liver lets go, the hands that go cold so a cut would bleed less. None of it a malfunction. All of it the body doing the most competent, protective thing it knows.Then I want to go further than the science. Fear is a gift. So is anxiety, alertness, even stress. We are taught to get rid of them, and I once sat on a show whose whole aim was to delete fear for good. I spent every break arguing the other way. The trouble is never the feeling. The trouble is when it takes over, when it runs eight hours a day, when it stops you doing the things you want to do. So we keep the whole stick, the joyful end and the hard end, instead of chopping the bad bits off and ending up with nothing. We hear the feeling, we understand it, we let it be there, and then we decide. Hear it, then decide. That is the whole thing.Key topics:What really happens in the body's first thirty seconds, step by stepWhy none of it is a malfunction, and why the calm ones round the campfire did not surviveFear, anxiety, stress and alertness as gifts, and the show that wanted to delete fearThe healthy and unhealthy version of every feeling, including the misread "everything is just thoughts" version of ZenThe stick you keep chopping, and why you end up unable to tell the joy from the painOnly ever seeing three colours, and what we miss when we numb the spectrumThe five second gap, and hearing the feeling before you decide what to doCompanion meditation: IPM 104 on Inner Peace Meditations. [insert IPM 104 title]Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.If this episode meant something to you, please share it, leave a review, or treat me to a coffee: stevenwebb.ukWith thanks this week to:A warm welcome to Susan, a brand new monthly supporter.And a special word for Stuart, who reached two years as a monthly supporter this week. That is not a small thing.To everyone who supported the show across these past two weeks: Addie, Amy, Barbara, Michael, Karen, Laura, David, Jenna and Mia, and Johnny.And the kind anonymous souls and everyone on Insight Timer. You keep this podcast advert-free. Thank you.
• Waking Up to Body Betrayal: How to Find Peace in the Pain 17.05.2026 16min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukWaking Up to Body Betrayal: How to Find Peace in the PainYour body isn't letting you down. It's been carrying you all along.Do you ever wake up and just know it's going to hurt the second you move? I do. Most mornings. This week I want to talk about what to do with a body that feels like it's letting you down, betraying you, or just isn't what it used to be. About the soldiers inside you that have been quietly repairing you all night and why they get tired. About the difference between pain (the fact) and suffering (the story you add on top). And about an ancient violin, which turned out to be the image I needed for the body I've been carrying for thirty years.We are in a partnership with this body. It is not the enemy. It is the only one we get.Key topics:The morning moment when the body hurts before you've even movedThe soldiers inside you who repair you every night, and why they get tired as we ageWhy we treat the body as the enemy when really we are this bodyThe "where are you, really?" tennis-ball thought experimentThe difference between pain (the fact) and suffering (the story we add)Treating your body like an ancient violin: more careful, more respectful, a different tuneCompanion meditation: A Morning Meditation for the Body You Wake Into – a gentle, lying-down practice for that moment before the day begins. Find it on Inner Peace Meditations.Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.If this episode meant something to you, please share it, leave a review, or treat me to a coffee: stevenwebb.ukWith thanks this week to (this is actually three weeks worth):New monthly supporter: Sin.Monthly supporters whose contributions came in this cycle: Ellen, Dominique, Adam, Annie, Joe, Sujata, Senga, Jack, Glenn, Denise, Laurie, Audra, Rosie, Laura, Kasia, Megan, Alison, Mallory, Elizabeth, Stefan, Barb, Cheryl, Katarzyna, Jill, Tracey, Hannah, Emmanuelle, Rita, Julie, Daniel, María.And the kind anonymous souls and everyone on Insight Timer. You keep this podcast advert-free. Thank you.
• "I'm Fine": When It's Armour, When It's Honest, and How to Tell 03.05.2026 21min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukTwo words I have said roughly 25,000 times. Most of them on autopilot.DescriptionTwo words. Probably the most common two words spoken in the English language. Two words I say almost every single morning, and you probably do too. I'm fine. In this episode I work out that I have said it about 25,000 times to my carers over the last 35 years, and almost none of those times did I actually stop and think about it. I want to look at why we say it, what it costs us, and what happens when we don't. There is a Brené Brown quote, an old Zen master story I have always loved, a Thursday afternoon last week where I cried for 20 minutes and then bought a book on Amazon, and a small image about letting go before your hand hurts. You don't have to stop saying I'm fine. You just have to notice when you do.Key Topics25,000 mornings, two carers, and the most automatic answer in my lifeWhy "I'm fine" is armour, and why armour is not always the wrong thing to wearThe three reasons we wear it (and why "just think positive" is the worst advice in self help)The cost of saying it on autopilot, especially to the people who actually want to hear youAn old Zen story about a master on his deathbed who said the most enlightened thing he could have saidBrené Brown on numbing emotions, and why you cannot block only the bad weatherA real Thursday afternoon I sat here and cried for 20 minutes, then immediately bought a bookThe hand metaphor: I let go a little earlier than I used to, before my hand hurtsCompanion MeditationWhen Anxiety Visits (IPM101). Five minutes. You sit down, you say hello to whatever is actually here, and you ask it why it came. It is the practical opposite of saying "I'm fine." Available on Insight Timer, Aura, and the Inner Peace Meditations podcast.If this episode meant something to you, please share it, leave a review, or treat me to a coffee at stevenwebb.uk.SupportersAlex, Nina, Zoe, A Ma, Kevin, Katarzyna, Deborah, Christopher, and Ariel for recent coffees and PayPal donations.Special thanks: MumMik's Cleaning Services for buying a course this week.You keep this podcast advert free.
• 8 Billion Minds. Why Meditation Doesn't Work for Everyone (And What You Can Do About It) 26.04.2026 22min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukThere are eight billion minds in the world, and not one of them was made to fit the same cushion.DescriptionThis week I want to talk about why meditation works beautifully for some people and barely at all for others, and why no single teacher, book or technique was ever going to be the answer for everybody. I tell the story of my own rock bottom at forty, a Saturday afternoon in town with a broken wheelchair and a security guard who said nothing but meant everything. From there to the slow accidental discovery of meditation through As a Man Thinketh, and what it really means to live with an ADHD mind that refuses to sit still. We're all on our own road. The world wasn't designed for you, or me, or any of us. But you can widen your road, push your boundaries, and stop trying to fit into a shape that was never yours.Key TopicsWhy one meditation method will never work for eight billion different mindsThe night I hit rock bottom, and the kindness that started everythingReading As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, and why ten books saying the same thing is hard to ignoreNeuroplasticity, and how you can widen your road even if you can't change itADHD, dyslexia and finding ways to meditate when your mind refuses to be quietWhy accepting yourself is so much easier than trying to change everyone elseIf this episode meant something to you, please share it, leave a review, or treat me to a coffee at stevenwebb.uk.Supporters Thanked in EpisodeSuzanne, Maria, Michael, Tiffany, Ellen, Kathleen, Edyll, Nicola, Jess, Lynette, Linda, Laura, Yavuz, and a few kind anonymous souls.Special thanks: Jane, marking one year as a monthly supporter on 15th April 2026.You keep this podcast advert free.
• Demystifying Meditation: What You Need to Know 18.04.2026 29min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukBack to Basics: Why Meditate?DescriptionYou've tried meditation. Maybe you dip in and out of it. You feel a little better for a few days, then life gets loud and you forget. Then you snap at someone, or you fire off the email you regret, and you think "I know better than this." This episode is for you, and honestly, it's for me too.In this back to basics episode, I bust the biggest myths about meditation. I talk about why we don't meditate to clear the mind, why five minutes really is enough, why a wandering mind is not a failed mind, and why the real test of meditation is not how peaceful you feel on the cushion, but how you handle the family barbecue, the doctor's waiting room, and the colleague who winds you up.If you've ever felt like you're doing meditation wrong, this is your invitation to start again. Simply, honestly, and from wherever you are.Key topicsWhy meditation matters in real life, not just on the cushionThe seven biggest myths about meditation, bustedThe gap between thought and reaction, and why it's the whole gameWhy little and often beats long and rareHow to know if your meditation practice is actually workingCompanion meditationInner Peace Meditations #99: Peace Right Where You Are. A simple five minute guided meditation to go with this episode. No visualisation, no setup, no special place. Just breath, thoughts, and the peace that's already here.With thanks toSin, Margaret, Annie, Melike, Helen, Laura, Adam, Dominique, and a special welcome to Linda who has just joined as a new monthly supporter. You are the reason this podcast stays advert free.If this episode meant something to you, please share it with someone who might need it, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or treat me to a coffee at stevenwebb.uk.
• The Dignity of Being Tired: Give Yourself a Break 11.04.2026 16min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukThe Dignity of Being Tired: Give Yourself a BreakWhat if tiredness isn't weakness? What if it's the most honest thing your body is telling you?In this episode, we talk about why we treat exhaustion like a personal failure instead of listening to what it's actually telling us. I share what it was like being Mayor of Truro, running on empty, showing up to every event because stopping felt like letting people down. We explore why busyness has become a badge of honour, why animals rest without guilt and we can't, and what actually happens in your brain when you don't get proper rest. This isn't about life hacks. It's about giving yourself permission to stop before you have nothing left.Key topics:Why tiredness is not a weakness but honest information from your bodyThe culture of celebrating exhaustion as proof of commitmentWhat happens in your brain during deep sleep and why rest mattersThich Nhat Hanh on how animals rest and heal without guiltPractical permission to disconnect and stop being on callCompanion meditation: Inner Peace Meditations #98 — Permission to RestIf this episode meant something to you, please share it, leave a review, or treat me to a coffee: stevenwebb.ukWith thanks to: Senga, Sujata, Jack, Denise, Glenn, Aileen, Joe, Laurie, Barb, Audra, Bronwyn, and Emily.
• What Rises When You Stop Pushing 05.04.2026 20min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukWhat Rises When You Stop PushingAn Easter Sunday conversation about what comes back to us when we finally stop forcing. Steven opens with daffodils appearing on Cornish roadsides and moves into a wide-ranging reflection on renewal — drawing on Alan Watts, Shunryu Suzuki, and Junpo Denis Kelly to explore why the things we thought we'd lost often return on their own. This one speaks directly to anyone at a low point.All episodes of Stillness in the Storms are brought to you without adverts by the generous donations of listeners treating Steven to a coffee.DETAILSLevel: All levels Type: Conversational podcast episode Duration: ~20:00 Companion meditation: Inner Peace Meditations EP97 — "Find the Green Shoot"IN THIS EPISODEDaffodils on roadsides and what spring actually looks like before it looks like springAlan Watts on waves and rhythm — the wave rises, crests, and falls, but the ocean never runs out of wavesJunpo Denis Kelly on what arises first: caring. Anger comes from caring.Shunryu Suzuki and beginner's mind — meeting the season as though you've never seen one beforeA reference to Tony Hoagland's poem "The Color of the Sky" and the line about the end turning out to be the middleSteven's own recent hospital stay and what it clarified about renewalA direct word to anyone feeling behind or broken: you're neitherWHO IS THIS FOR?You're going through a difficult period and need to hear that it doesn't last forever — without being told to think positiveYou're curious about Alan Watts, Zen philosophy, or contemplative ideas but want them grounded in real life, not theoryYou've been forcing yourself to recover, improve, or move on and it's not workingYou want a thoughtful Easter listen that goes deeper than chocolate eggsYou enjoy Steven's conversational style and want something reflective to sit with over a cup of teaWHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAYA different way to think about low points — not as failure but as the turning point of a wavePermission to stop forcing renewal and trust that some things return on their ownA felt sense of being spoken to honestly by someone who has been thereFresh ways into Watts, Suzuki, and Kelly that connect to everyday experienceThe companion meditation (IPM EP97) as a practice to carry the themes furtherABOUT STEVEN WEBBSteven Webb is a meditation teacher, podcaster, politician, and the host of Inner Peace Meditations. A former mayor of Truro in the county of Cornwall, Steven continues to split his time between politics and the contemplative work he is best known for. After a life-changing accident left him paralysed from the chest down, he found his way to inner peace through mindfulness, Zen philosophy, and the teachings of Alan Watts and Shunryu Suzuki. He now helps others find calm and resilience — especially those who find meditation difficult. Steven lives in Cornwall, England and shares his work at stevenwebb.com. You can also find his podcast on politics and public life, Stillness in the Storms, at https://stillnessinthestorms.com/KEYWORDSstillness in the storms, renewal, spring, Alan Watts, Shunryu Suzuki, Junpo Denis Kelly, beginner's mind, Easter, inner peace, low point, waves
• Finding Inner Peace: Do You Need to Be a Buddhist? 29.03.2026 19min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukFinding Inner Peace: Do You Need to Be a Buddhist?Host: Steven Webb Website: stevenwebb.ukHave you ever caught yourself collecting meditation apps, lining up Buddhist statues on a shelf, and wondering if you're doing peace wrong? In this honest Sunday morning episode — recorded while recovering from an operation and still on painkillers — Steven asks a question that quietly nags at a lot of seekers: do you actually need to call yourself a Buddhist to find inner peace?Steven traces his own path from collecting the accessories of Buddhism to hitting rock bottom at forty, when inner peace stopped being a nice idea and became something he genuinely needed. What he found was that suffering doesn't come from life itself — it comes from our relationship to it. The clinging. The resistance. The stories we tell ourselves about what should be happening instead of what is.Drawing on Alan Watts's famous reminder that "the menu is not the meal," Steven makes a gentle but clear distinction: the label, the tradition, the institution — that's the menu. The direct experience of stillness, right where you are — that's the meal. He also explores Jun Po Denis Kelly's Mondo Zen approach, where awakening isn't reserved for monasteries but happens in ordinary, messy, everyday life.Along the way, Steven touches on the different branches of Buddhism — Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, Zen — and points out that the core practices of meditation, mindful awareness, and compassion don't ask you to believe in anything at all. He shares one of his favourite insights: that every one of us interprets reality differently through our own senses and brain — and understanding that simple fact is where real compassion begins.Steven's conclusion? He's not a Buddhist. Not really a Christian either. But the teachings of compassion, understanding, and love that run through all traditions? Those he agrees with completely. And the world, he says, could use a lot more of all three.Key TakeawaysSuffering comes from our relationship to life, not from life itself. It's the clinging and the resistance that create the pain, not the circumstances.The menu is not the meal. Labels, traditions, and institutions point toward inner peace — but they aren't the experience itself. Direct stillness is.You don't need to be a Buddhist to practise Buddhism's core teachings. Meditation, mindful awareness, and compassion require no belief system.Awakening happens in ordinary life. Jun Po Denis Kelly's Mondo Zen reminds us that you don't need a monastery — you need honesty and presence, right where you are.We all experience reality differently. Understanding that each person's brain interprets the world in its own way is the beginning of genuine compassion.Enlightenment isn't a permanent state. There are more enlightened moments and less enlightened moments — and that's perfectly fine.Compassion is the common ground. Across every tradition, the call is the same: more understanding, more love, more kindness.Thank You to Our SupportersNew monthly supporters: Stephen, Kaylin, AllisonOne-time supporters: Femke, Hannah, Andrew, Tracy, Helen, Tiffany Lynn, Gem, Ulysses, Anonymous, Suta, Jess, Leigh, Gerit, Cheryl, KrysiaYour generosity keeps this podcast going — thank you.Stay curious, and I love you.Steven
• "Is This All There Is?" Answering the Quiet Question in Your Heart 15.03.2026 23min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukEpisode DescriptionYou've built a life. You've done the things you were supposed to do. But underneath it all, there's a quiet question that won't leave you alone: "Is this all there is?" In this episode, Steven Webb shares the deeply personal story of lying in a hospital bed at eighteen, paralysed and unable to speak, wrestling with the two biggest questions of his life. What he discovered is that "is this all there is?" isn't a sign of ingratitude or crisis. It's a doorway to something extraordinary: wonder, mystery, and the breathtaking magic of not knowing. Drawing on the wisdom of Rumi, Alan Watts, and Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki, Steven explores how we can trade our cleverness for bewilderment and see the world through beginner's eyes again.Who Is This Episode For?This episode is for anyone who has ever looked at their life and felt that quiet ache of "is this it?", especially when everything looks fine on the outside. If you're in midlife and questioning what it's all been for, if you feel guilty for wanting something deeper when you know you should be grateful, or if you've simply stopped seeing the magic in everyday moments, Steven Webb recorded this conversation for you.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeSteven opens with a vivid image of a butterfly landing in front of you and asks when you last truly saw the world for the first time. He then takes you back to his hospital bed at eighteen, where two questions rattled around in his mind for months: "Who am I?" and "Is this it?" He explores why this question tends to arrive in midlife, when the forward momentum of building a career, a family, and a life finally slows down enough for you to look around and wonder what it was all for. Carl Jung's idea of the second half of life as a turning inward sits alongside Rumi's invitation to sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment, Alan Watts' beautiful image of the unknown becoming a window rather than a blank space, and Shunryu Suzuki's teaching on beginner's mind. Steven weaves in a story about a little girl discovering that the world through a caravan window is the same world outside the door, and his own moment watching a wave at the Headland Hotel and realising that exact wave would never happen again. The episode closes with a powerful reframe: the question was never really "is this all there is?" The question was always "am I paying attention?"Memorable Quotes from This Episode"That question is not a sign that something's wrong with you. It might actually be one of the most important questions you've ever asked." — Steven Webb"You are not ungrateful. You're not broken. You are not having some kind of crisis." — Steven Webb"Not knowing didn't become a wall. It became a window." — Steven Webb"Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment." — Rumi"In beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in an expert's mind there are few." — Shunryu Suzuki"The magic is in not knowing. The magic is in the fact that right now, in this moment, you are a conscious being in an incomprehensibly vast universe, and you have no idea why. And to me, that's not depressing. That's breathtaking." — Steven Webb"The question was never really, is this all there is? The question was always, am I paying attention?" — Steven WebbTry This TodayNext time the "is this it?" feeling visits you, don't push it away. Go outside or look out of a window. Pick one thing: a tree, a cloud, a bird, a wave. And look at it as if you've never seen it before. Because in a very real sense, you haven't. That exact moment, that exact configuration of light and shadow, has never existed before and will never exist again. Let yourself be bewildered by it.Supporter ThanksThis podcast is completely free and has no adverts or sponsors. It is made possible entirely by the kind people who treat Steven to a coffee. Every contribution pays for the podcast and supports all of Steven's work.A huge and heartfelt thank you to this episode's supporters: Angie, Helen, Suja, Suzanne, Lorna, Liz, Daphne, Sarah, Mikey, Jen, and Venetia. And to the monthly supporters: Joe, Audra, Sin, Jack, Glen, Barb, and Venetia. Thank you also to the wonderful supporters on Insight Timer.If this episode helped you, please consider buying Steven a coffee. Even one makes a difference.About Steven WebbSteven Webb is a meditation teacher, former Mayor of Truro, and C5 tetraplegic. He has spent decades learning what it means to find peace in the most difficult circumstances. Through Stillness in the Storms, he offers honest, warm conversations to help people navigate life's hardest moments. Through Inner Peace Meditations, he provides guided meditations as companions to each episode.Find out more and explore all of Steven's work at stevenwebb.ukConnectWebsite: https://stevenwebb.ukListen, subscribe, and leave a review on your favourite podcast app. Sharing this episode with someone who needs to hear it is one of the best ways to support the show.
• When Letting Go Feels Impossible, Try This Instead 06.03.2026 20min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukWhen Letting Go Feels Impossible, Try This InsteadStillness in the Storms with Steven WebbEpisode DescriptionEveryone tells you to "let go." Let go of control, of worry, of the past. It sounds lovely, but how do you actually do it, especially when it feels like you're holding everything together? In this episode, Steven shares a deeply personal story about stubbornness, disability, and the moment he discovered that freedom doesn't come from letting go at all. It comes from acceptance.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeSteven opens with the story of his first years after leaving hospital with a spinal cord injury, and the nearly two year battle with his own stubbornness before accepting an electric wheelchair that transformed his life. From there, he explores why the phrase "let go" can actually create more suffering, not less, and offers a powerful alternative: acceptance. The episode includes a simple practice you can try today to step out of the tug of war with whatever you've been fighting.Key ThemesIdentity and stubbornness: how pride keeps us stuckWhy "letting go" can become just another thing to fail atThe difference between letting go and acceptanceThe quicksand effect: the more you force, the deeper you sinkThe butterfly analogy: opening your hand without expectationHow acceptance creates space for life to moveFreedom as a result of acceptance, not forceMemorable Quote"Freedom is not about letting go. Freedom is about acceptance. When you accept something, truly accept it, you take away its power over you."Try This TodayFind a quiet moment. Think about something you've been trying to force yourself to let go of. Instead of pushing it away, open your hands, palms up, and say to yourself: "This is here. I'm not going to fight it today." Notice the gap between struggling and stillness. That's where peace lives.Support This PodcastStillness in the Storms is completely free with no adverts. It is made possible entirely by the kind people who treat Steven to a coffee. Every contribution helps pay for the podcast and supports all of Steven's work.If this episode helped you, please consider buying Steven a coffee. Even one makes a difference.About Steven WebbSteven Webb is a meditation teacher, former Mayor of Truro, and C5 tetraplegic. He has spent decades learning what it means to find peace in the most difficult circumstances. Through Stillness in the Storms, he offers honest, warm conversations to help people navigate life's hardest moments.Find out more and explore all of Steven's work at stevenwebb.ukConnectWebsite: https://stevenwebb.ukListen, subscribe, and leave a review on your favourite podcast app. Sharing this episode with someone who needs to hear it is one of the best ways to support the show.
• Who Are You When No One Needs Anything? 26.02.2026 12min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukEpisode DescriptionFor years, you've been the go to person. The mother, the partner, the colleague, the carer. Your whole identity is wrapped up in what you do for others. But what happens when the kids leave, or the career changes, or you just stop long enough to ask… who am I underneath all of that?In this episode, Steven shares a personal story from his time as Mayor of Truro, where former mayors warned him about the strange emptiness that comes when a defining role ends. He explores why losing a role can feel like grief, why that "who am I now?" question is not a sign of ingratitude but an invitation to go deeper, and how you can start the quiet, beautiful process of meeting yourself again.If you've ever felt lost in the space between who you were and who you're becoming, this one is for you.In This EpisodeSteven talks about the identity we build from doing things for others and what happens when those roles shift or fade. He explores why this transition hurts so much and why grief and gratitude can exist side by side. He shares wisdom on sitting in the uncomfortable "in between" space rather than rushing to fill it. And he offers a simple five minute practice you can try today to begin reconnecting with who you really are beneath the roles.Key ThemesIdentity and midlife transitions. The grief of losing a role. Empty nest and changing family dynamics. Finding stillness in the not knowing. Meeting yourself again after decades of caring for others.Memorable Moment"You are not your roles. You never were. The mother, the carer, the professional, the person everyone depends on: those are things you do, and you do them beautifully. But they are not who you are. Who you are is the one who remains when all of that falls away. And she is still there. She's been waiting for you."Try This TodayFind five minutes of quiet. Sit with a cup of tea, go for a short walk, or sit somewhere peaceful. Ask yourself: "What would I do today if nobody needed anything from me?" Don't judge the answer. Just notice what comes up. That's a thread. Keep pulling gently on it and it will lead you back to yourself.Support This PodcastStillness in the Storms is completely free with no adverts and no sponsors. It exists because of the kind people who treat Steven to a coffee. Every contribution helps pay for the podcast and supports all of Steven's work.A huge thank you to this episode's supporters: Tiffany, Fran, Kay, Caroline, Ruth, Mazdak, Cara, Suja, and several generous anonymous donors, along with supporters on Insight Timer.If this episode helped you, please consider buying Steven a coffee. Even one makes a difference.About Steven WebbSteven Webb is a meditation teacher, former Mayor of Truro, and C5 tetraplegic. He has spent decades learning what it means to find peace in the most difficult circumstances. Through Stillness in the Storms, he offers honest, warm conversations to help people navigate life's hardest moments.Find out more and explore all of Steven's work at stevenwebb.ukConnectWebsite: https://stevenwebb.ukListen, subscribe, and leave a review on your favourite podcast app. Sharing this episode with someone who needs to hear it is one of the best ways to support the show.
• Apricity and the Calm After the Storm 17.01.2026 16min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukEpisode DescriptionIn this episode, Steven shares a personal update following the record-breaking winds of Storm Goretti in Cornwall. After the chaos of the storm, a chance encounter with a lady named Joanne reminds him of the beauty of "apricity"—the warmth of the sun on a cold winter's day.Join Steven for a gentle conversation about finding calm in a noisy world. He explores why we often "doom scroll," the relief of realising how little we are actually in control of, and why slowing down might be the best way to handle uncertain times.Key HighlightsThe Calm After the Chaos: How quickly things change from 100mph winds to a beautiful, spring-like day, reminding us that nothing is permanent.Word of the Day: Steven shares his favourite word, apricity, and why we need to appreciate those moments of warmth during life’s winters.The Illusion of Control: Why realising we aren't in control of 99.9% of things (including world leaders or the weather) can actually be a huge relief.Simple Wisdom: A reminder that knitting, walking, or just taking a breath at a traffic light can be as powerful as formal meditation.Memorable Quotes"Apricity... it means to feel the warmth of the sun on a cold day." "Once we realize we're not in control of 99.9% of the stuff that happens to us... you can look at it as, 'Thank Christ for that.' I wouldn't wanna be in control of all this anyway." "Just rest your mind. Give your mind something else to do than scrolling your phone." Links & SupportWebsite: stevenwebb.uk Support the Show: Treat Steven to a coffee at his website to help keep the podcast ad-free.Inner Peace Meditations: Listen to Steven's meditation podcast for more ways to slow down.
• Forget Resolutions: Why One Word Is All You Need This Year 03.01.2026 14min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukForget Resolutions: Why One Word Is All You Need This YearHappy New Year to you all! It is great to be back recording after a tough few weeks battling a severe chest infection. Before we dive into today’s episode, I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported me and donated over Christmas.Your kindness keeps this podcast ad-free and helps cover the editing and admin costs which allows me to keep going. A special shout out to Jessica, Laura, Catherine, Joan, Ulysses, Lisa, Kerry, and Audra. And wow, thank you to Joan and Ulysses for the 40 coffees! You are all absolutely brilliant.In this episode:I share a bit about my recent battle with "man flu" and the complications of dealing with a chest infection while being paralyzed. It was a stark reminder of how fragile things can be, leading to an ambulance visit and plenty of steroids.But this experience led me to my focus for this year. Instead of setting strict resolutions that we often break, I am inviting you to choose just one word for the year. My word is Simplify.We explore what it means to strip life down to its simplest form to remove obstacles and reduce suffering. Whether it is closing tabs on a browser or just sitting in silence, simplifying is about finding peace in the moment.We also talk about:Why I chose "Simplify" as my word for the year.The spiritual journey of reducing suffering and attachment.How to handle emotions like anxiety and overwhelm by listening to what they are teaching us.Examples of words you might choose, such as Acceptance, Trust, release, or Curiosity.What is your word for the year? I would love to hear it.Links and Contact: If you want to get in touch, share your word, or just say hello, you can message me directly at:https://stevenwebb.ukThank you for listening and for your continued support.
• When Jesus and the Buddha Sit at the Same Table 16.11.2025 24min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukIn this episode I explore a question many people quietly carry. Can you love Jesus and still practise awareness. Can the comfort of Christian faith sit alongside the clarity of Buddhist teaching. Do you have to choose one path or can they both live in the same heart.This conversation begins with the famous poem Footprints in the Sand and widens into a look at what truly carries us when life cracks open. I talk about Sunday school, my favourite childhood hymn, the years when I tried to get rid of all religion, and how awareness eventually softened everything.We touch on the sermon on the Mount, the beauty held in Corinthians thirteen, the voice of the Buddha, and the simple human truth that all wisdom traditions point toward compassion and presence. The episode is really about how to build a spiritual toolbox that actually works, without throwing away the tools that once held you through the hardest nights.If you have ever wondered whether your Christian faith can live peacefully beside meditation and Buddhist ideas, this episode will speak to you.Quotes from the episode“Anything that opens your heart and brings less suffering into the world is worth keeping.”“You do not need to choose between Jesus and awareness. You can hold both. The presence beneath them is the same.”“We suffer when we cling. We grow when we include.”“Whatever carries you in the storms, honour it. Add more tools if they help. Nothing precious needs to be thrown away.”“You can sit with Jesus and the Buddha at the same table. Trust me, they would get along.”Listen to my guided meditationsInner Peace Meditations is linked on the websiteSupport the podcast or buy me a coffeeAll links are at https://stevenwebb.ukTakeaways: In this episode, I explore the intersections between Jesus, Buddhism, and the Bible, sharing my personal journey with spirituality. I reflect on pivotal moments in my life that challenged my beliefs and how I came to appreciate different teachings. The idea that many religious teachings are not new but rather reinterpretations of universal truths is a central theme of my discussion. I emphasize the importance of community and support during difficult times, regardless of religious affiliation or beliefs. Compassion is key, whether in Christianity or Buddhism, and recognizing our shared humanity helps reduce suffering. I encourage listeners to embrace a diverse toolbox of beliefs, integrating various teachings that resonate personally.
• The Truth About Inner Peace: 5 Myths Debunked 30.10.2025 22min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukToday, we're diving into the topic of inner peace and what it truly means. I share my personal journey of finding peace, especially after a life-changing injury that left me paralyzed. It’s not about always feeling good or avoiding pain; instead, it’s about recognizing that peace is always there beneath the chaos of life. I also unpack five common myths about inner peace that I used to believe, which held me back from truly understanding it. By the end of this episode, I hope to help you see how to tap into that inner calm, even when life gets tough. If you're curious to learn more, check out my website at https://stevenwebb.uk.In this episode of Stillness in the Storms, host Steven Webb shares his personal journey of finding inner peace after being paralyzed from the neck down. He offers practical wisdom and debunks common myths about what it means to be at peace, revealing that it's a state that is always accessible, even in the midst of life's greatest challenges.Benefits of Listening:Learn how to find inner peace, regardless of your external circumstances.Discover why you don't need to control your thoughts to be at peace.Understand that inner peace is not a permanent state, but a practice.Learn how to be fully present and engaged with life, without clinging or grasping.Be inspired by Stephen's story of resilience and hope.Key Quotes:"We are at peace when we're not suffering, or when we're doing something we enjoy.""Inner peace is always there. It's always present. A peaceful, quiet world is always present, even in the most dire circumstances.""You cannot wait until life calms down. You won't be able to have peace once life's sorted.""Peace means being fully present. It means without clinging and without that grasping."The Five Myths of Inner Peace:Inner peace means never feeling pain or discomfort.You must control your thoughts to be at peace.You find peace once life calms down.Inner peace is a permanent state.Peace means detachment from life.
• In a Hard World, Your Softest Skills Are Your Strongest Asset 20.09.2025 20min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukIn a Hard World, Your Softest Skills Are Your Strongest Asset"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." – Randy PauschIn a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, it's easy to feel like we're holding a losing hand. We're constantly handed challenges we didn't ask for, from personal struggles to global uncertainties. But what if our greatest strength isn't in getting new cards, but in learning how to play the ones we already have?In this episode, I explore the profound power of our 'soft skills' – the very human qualities that are often overlooked but are more crucial now than ever. We'll discuss how empathy, patience, kindness, and self-awareness are not weaknesses, but incredible assets that allow us to navigate life's toughest moments with grace and strength.Join me as we reframe our perspective, learning to see the immense value in our innate human goodness and discovering how to use these skills to not only survive the storms but to find stillness within them.In this episode, you will learn:How to shift your focus from the cards you're dealt to how you choose to play them.Why soft skills like empathy and kindness are essential tools for resilience.How to recognise and cultivate your own inner strengths, even when you feel powerless.A new perspective on navigating a world that seems to reward harshness over compassion.Thank you for being here and for being part of the Stillness in the Storms community. Your presence makes a difference.Resources & Connecting:Weekly Calm Newsletter & Blog: For more reflections, guided meditations, and updates, visit my website and sign up for my newsletter.Visit: stevenwebb.co.ukLeave a Review: If this episode resonated with you, please consider leaving a review on your favourite podcast platform. It truly helps others find the show.
• How to Be Your Own Loving Parent 05.09.2025 15min

  Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.ukSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.uk Episode DescriptionHave you ever felt adrift, wishing you had a wise and unconditionally loving guide to help you navigate life's storms? What if that guide was already inside you, waiting to be discovered?In this episode of Stillness in the Storms, Steven explores the transformative concept of "self-parenting," inspired by the work of Gabor Maté. This isn't about harsh discipline or re-living your childhood; it’s about learning to trade your harsh inner critic for a compassionate, wise, and loving inner parent.Discover how to identify the areas in your life—from procrastination and setting boundaries to health and self-talk—where this gentle inner guidance can bring more peace, accountability, and profound kindness. This episode is your invitation to cultivate the most supportive and empowering relationship you will ever have: the one with yourself.In This Episode, You Will Learn:What it truly means to "parent yourself" and why it's a powerful tool for personal growth and mental wellness.How to recognize the everyday moments where a kind, internal parent can help you make better choices (like getting out the door on time!).The crucial difference between self-criticism, which stifles growth, and self-acceptance, which creates the space for positive change.Practical areas where you can apply self-parenting today: managing your time, making healthier choices, and balancing work, life, and play.The most important role of your inner parent: offering yourself the unconditional love and reassurance you deserve, especially when you're struggling.Resources MentionedSupport the Podcast & Find More from Steven: Discover courses, meditations, and ways to support the show at https://stevenwebb.uk.Companion Meditations: Listen to guided meditations that accompany the podcast episodes on the Inner Peace Meditations podcast.Upcoming Course: Stay tuned for Steven's new 7-day audio course, "How to Find Peace in Busy Times."