Viral Mindfulness the Podcast
Religion & Spirituality
About
Featured on CNN, viralmindfulness.com, HIV Plus Magazine, The Gay HotSpot, and the cover of Positively Aware—my work as a mindfulness teacher and artist encourages you to discover your spiritual rhythm.I earned a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Utah in 2003, and a Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University (1999).During migration from a basement office (with no windows) at Salt Lake Community College’s Health & Wellness Services, I resigned from the traditional clinical world, and moved my practice online in 2012.I live near the ocean in Huntington Beach, California, and enjoy yoga, running trails at the Wetlands, bird watching, live theater & music, and painting. As a spiritual muse, teacher, and musician, you're invited to join my online tribe.
Episodes
- Being With the Dying: How to Offer Love at the End of Life
In this first spring episode of Viral Mindfulness, Alexander Blue Feather reflects on grief, transition, and what it means to be present with someone who is dying. After sharing updates from his new South Bay home and the one-year threshol…
- "Live The Life That Chooses You" The Final Chapter of Our Winter Soul Care Series
Are you feeling disillusioned? Disappointed? Bitter? Sour? In this final installment of the Winter Soul Care Series, Alexander Blue Feather offers a powerful closing reflection on self-compassion as medicine for modern life. Opening with R…
- Our Frenzied Fidelity to Speed -- May We Approach Geologic Speed
Modern life trains us to move faster. You must produce more, respond quicker and stay endlessly available. I give your soul permission to refuse this pace. In Episode Six of the Winter Soul Care Series, Alexander Blue Feather invites you i…
- Intimacy With Soul - Core Practices That Sustain Us (Reflection Question 02)
In this episode of the Winter Soul Care series, Alexander invites you into a gentle writing practice centered on one essential question from Francis Weller: What core practices help sustain your intimacy with soul? Listeners are encouraged…
- Write About Repetition - Reflection Question 01 : Nourish the Ritual of Everyday Life
In this episode of the Winter Soul Care series, Alexander invites you into a simple, grounding writing practice inspired by the work of Francis Weller. Following the previous walking meditation, this episode shifts from movement to the pag…
- Kissing the Earth With Your Feet (Guided Walking Meditation) Huntington State Beach
In this gentle installment of the Winter Soul Care series, Alexander Blue Feather invites you into a shared walking meditation—recorded live along the shoreline at Huntington State Beach. Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Thích Nhấ…
- Amnesia + Anesthesia: Why We're Trained to Forget and Go Numb
In this episode of Viral Mindfulness, I explore repetition as a core value of the soul and a vital practice for staying awake in unordinary times. Part five of the Winter’s Edge Soul Care series, this teaching draws on Francis Weller’s wor…
- Does Your Soul Value Restraint? A Mindfulness Podcast Series for Winter (Part 4 of 7: Soul Care Series)
In this episode of Viral Mindfulness, I explore the gift of restraint as a powerful and often overlooked soul practice. Drawing from Francis Weller’s teachings, this fourth installment of the Winter’s Edge Soul Care series invites us to sl…
- Singing The Blues + Tending The Candle's Flame
In this Winter’s Edge check-in episode, I pause at the beginning of 2026 to reflect, breathe together, and tend the nervous system in the midst of winter, grief, and collective uncertainty. Lighting a candle, I acknowledge the anniversary…
- Why Inner Work Needs a Vessel
In this third episode of my Winter’s Edge Soul Care series, we explore the art of vesseling. The creation of a safe, patient container where deep inner work can unfold in its own time. Drawing from Francis Weller, I reflect on how grief, s…
- The Quality In Your Approach
In this second teaching of my seven-part Winter’s Edge Soul Care series, we explore the reverence of approach. How the way we meet our inner life shapes what becomes possible in return. Drawing from Francis Weller and John O’Donohue, I ref…
- Winter's Edge: The Grandeur of the Soul
Welcome to Winter’s Edge and to Part One of a seven-episode series on how to care for your soul during the long dark of winter. In this opening teaching, I explore “the grandeur of the soul”—the first of seven soul-care themes drawn from F…
- Autumn's Edge - Harvey On The Drums + Season Preview
Welcome to Autumn’s Edge — that threshold space where we lean toward winter, darkness, and the long soul-season ahead. In this episode of Viral Mindfulness, I check in from Southern California on Monday, November 24, 2025, and share what’s…
- From Meth & Marijuana to Mindfulness: A Decade Sober! With AI-Generated Interview Questions
Over ten years ago, in a bathroom of a swanky stranger's apartment in downtown Los Angeles, strung out and afraid, I looked up and whispered: “God, I need help.” That moment became the turning point. On June 23, 2015, I put down meth, in A…
- This Is The Time To Become Immense
On September 24, 2025, I celebrated ten years of continuous sobriety from all mind-altering substances. A full decade. In this episode, I reflect on that journey—alongside the grief, uncertainty, and overwhelm so many of us are navigating…
- Make Sit Happen: A Field Guide to September
If you’ve been craving a return to center, this episode is for you. I’m thrilled to finally invite you into Make Sit Happen—my brand new 21-day meditation adventure, created for anyone ready to build a practice that feels soulful, sustaina…
- Sally is a Grandma (and Other Updates)
This is your first September dispatch and a quick intimate check-in. In this soul-bearing State of the Union, I reflect on the wild swirl of the past six weeks: illness, unexpected change, travel to the East Coast, and a frightening accide…
- WAKING BLUE -- An Original Piano Composition by Alexander Blue Feather
Meet the piano piece that’s been with me most of my life. In this solo episode, I share the story behind Waking Blue. A song I began composing at age 13, long before I had language for who I was becoming. From Beethoven to Salt Lake City,…
- Dear Alexander: A Listener Asks About Cardell
In this heart-forward installment of Dear Alexander, Blue Feather responds to a soul sibling’s question: What stories do you remember of your dad, Cardell, and what’s helping you now in the midst of grief? What unfolds is part tribute, par…
- Everyone Should Sit Next to a River and Listen (MAKE SIT HAPPEN) Salmon River Meditation, Stanley, Idaho, Summer 2025
For years, I’ve carried around a simple little illustration: a kid sitting beside a river, with the words: “Everyone should sit next to a river and listen.” This 10-minute meditation was recorded during my first morning camping near Redfis…
- MAKE SIT HAPPEN: Redfish Lake Meditation (Stanley, Idaho)
Welcome to a 10-minute "Make Sit Happen" meditation recorded in real time on the shores of Redfish Lake, Idaho (my father’s home-state, where I recently scattered some of his ashes). This is a gentle, contemplative sit, accompanied by the…
- UPDATED AUDIO: Salt and Peppering My Dad's Ashes: My Grief Ritual at Redfish Lake, Idaho
🎧 UPDATED AUDIO – Now Ears-Approved! This re-released version comes with smoothed-out sound for your comfort. The original audio had a few sharp turns (thank you for your grace). This one is tuned to invite you into stillness, memory, and…
- Salt and Peppering My Dad's Ashes: My Grief Ritual at Redfish Lake, Idaho
In this episode of Viral Mindfulness, Alexander Blue Feather invites you along on an intimate pilgrimage through Idaho’s Redfish Lake, a landscape of dark skies, towering saw-toothed mountains, and quiet revelation. Carrying his father’s a…
- MAKE SIT HAPPEN: June Lake Beach (California)
In this 10-minute guided meditation, you’re invited to settle into the sound of water and memory. Recorded live on the shore of June Lake Beach, this track features the gentle tide and natural surf—a found-sound meditation bed from the Eas…
- First Dispatch From the Feathered Road (U.S. Route 395) June Lake: From Ice Cream to Ashes
Alexander Blue Feather takes us deep into the heart of the Eastern Sierras in this rich, reflective, and often hilarious travelogue. Recorded over several days during his solo summer road trip, this episode is an audio journal of wonder an…
- MAKE SIT HAPPEN: A Seat For Compassion -- Loving-Kindness Meditation
n this guided meditation, Alexander Blue Feather leads us through a loving-kindness practice inspired by the grief-woven wisdom of Francis Weller. You’ll begin by grounding your body like a tree—rooted, upright, and open—before stepping in…
- Another Seat At The Table: On Self Compassion
What if progress isn’t the point? What if your soul doesn’t move in a straight line, but in spirals and stillness? In this poetic reflection, Alexander Blue Feather reads from The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller and Rumi’s The Guest…
- Behind The Velvet Curtain: Broadway's Divine Drama
In this weekend's special edition of Viral Mindfulness, Alexander Blue Feather invites you to step behind the velvet curtain into the sacred glow of Broadway. As CNN broadcasts George Clooney’s "Good Night, and Good Luck" live from the Win…
- Still Defying Gravity: Queer, HIV-Positive & 10 Years Thriving Sober
“Elphaba wasn’t the villain. She was the spellbreaker.” In this powerful Pride Month episode, Alexander Blue Feather reflects on the moment Wicked became his lifeline. It was June 2003, freshly diagnosed with HIV, newly exiled from the Mor…
- Rabbit Rabbit: Interrupting Wanting With Being
Rabbit rabbit! Welcome to June. In this heartfelt kickoff to the month, Alexander Blue Feather invites you into an intimate exploration of quirky traditions, grief rituals, spiritual recommitment, and summertime synchronicity. He shares th…
- Blue Feather In The Desert Of Dementia: Journey Through Loss and Love
In this deeply personal episode of Viral Mindfulness, Alexander Bluefeather shares an intimate reflection on the passing of his father. Recorded in real time as he heads across the desert toward a family gathering and celebration of life,…
- "Candy Floss and Dancing Bears" Pirate Poetry With Harvey
In this tender and whimsical episode, Alexander Blue Feather invites you into a weekend of poetry, play, and presence with Harvey Pink Feather. From basement pirate poetry sessions to the gentle rhythms of 'Blossomise' by Simon Armitage, t…
- Spinning Light In Midwinter: Call Me Jedi Blue Feather
As winter lingers and the first whispers of spring stir beneath the surface, how do we honor this in-between season? In this episode, Alexander Blue Feather reflects on Imbolc, the Gaelic festival marking the midpoint between winter solsti…
- From Silence -- I Need Your Sit and Solidarity!
Join me in solidarity for a powerful moment of silence. As I approach the final 30 hours of an at-home profound noble silence journey, I’m inviting you to step into your own quiet for just ten minutes. It all began at 4 AM PT on Monday, De…
- MAKE SIT HAPPEN: We Make The Light | For This Winter's Day
Join me for a calming guided meditation where we explore the quiet beauty of winter. Together, we make “sit” happen, creating a space for stillness amid the busyness of life. With the soft glow of a candle and Katherine May’s reflective wo…
- Meet Lovable Urchin George (1985): From Stage Lights to Candle Light in Winter's Stillness
In this reflective holiday episode, Alexander shares a cherished memory from 1985 as a seventh-grader in Salt Lake City, Utah. He recalls performing in a regional production of Scrooge, The Musical, playing several roles, including George,…
- Howling at the Moon and Slowing Down with Snail Juice
In this episode of Viral Mindfulness the Podcast, I invite you into a season of slowing down, reflecting, and reconnecting. From howling at the full moon in Provincetown with Harvey and Nova Rain to embracing the calming metaphor of snail…
- Make Sit Happen: Touch The Present Moment, Explore Quality of Thoughts and Mind
Before you dive into a longer meditation, take a moment to check in with your mind. Where are you at right now? To ground yourself in the present, it can help to ask a few simple questions, ones that bring you into direct contact with what…
- Autumn's Edge 03 Finding Space (and Colours) In The "Chaos" Of Your Mind
In this episode, I reflect on the experience of engaging in a 7-day meditation challenge, offering insights on the power of simple, short meditations and the universal struggle with meditation. I share personal experiences of how incorpora…
- Make Sit Happen: Touch The Present Moment, Explore Any Physical Sensations
Before you dive into a longer meditation, take a moment to check in with your mind. Where are you at right now? To ground yourself in the present, it can help to ask a few simple questions, ones that bring you into direct contact with what…
- Make Sit Happen: Touch The Present Moment, What Are You Feeling?
Before you dive into a longer meditation, take a moment to check in with your mind. Where are you at right now? To ground yourself in the present, it can help to ask a few simple questions, ones that bring you into direct contact with what…
- Is Hope Sus? Why Letting Go Might Just Set You Free
In this episode, we explore why hope, while seemingly positive, might actually be keeping you stuck. Drawing inspiration from the slang "sus" (popularized by the game Among Us), we’ll dive into how hope can sometimes feel like a trap—suspi…
- Bash Bish Falls, Mt. Washington, Massachusetts
In this episode I'll introduce you to Massachusetts largest waterfall. Sit next to Bash Bish Falls and listen for 3 minutes. Listen. Notice. Love. Sit. Stay until the three minutes is up.
- Autumn's Edge 01: Super Simple 7-Day Meditation Challenge
Welcome to Autumn's Edge. Let's start with a 7-day meditation challenge. Super simple suggestions in this episode! Start today and finish Thursday, October 3, 2024. The next few episodes will be guided meditation tracks, also called MAKE S…
- The Fifth Season
"In Chinese lore, the Fifth Season is late summer, when the glare is gone and only the color of things as they are can reach us. It takes all the seasons to become this bare. All the turmoil to be worn of edges. All the loss to hold on to…
- "How Can We Possibly Be Joyful In A Moment Like This?"
Join me for an early morning cup of coffee next to a cozy campfire in Copake, New York. We'll discuss joy as an opportunity, even a "calling -- precisely in a moment like this" (Krista Tippett). My joy dances intimately with the pain, stru…
- The Music Will Save Us In The End
Behind the scenes of my Spring Piano Recital and Watercolour Series: Romance With Rainwater. Harvey Rose and John Harvey Cates pop in with a little audio fun from their garden in New City, NY. All things Alexander → viralmindfulness.com →…
- Make Sit Happen: The Life Of A Garden
In this 20 minute guided meditation we'll explore a garden within your heart and mind's eye, as we simmer on the words of Maria Papova: "The life of a garden is a vivid reminder that anything of beauty and radiance takes time, takes care,…
- LIVE from Taos, New Mexico, Part 2 Conversations On Fear
Kitty girls, squirrel friends and soul siblings! We just hit 20,000 downloads on the podcast. Thanks for the love! Are you ready to sashay your way along the trails with me? Honey, we're talking about Flagstaff, Arizona, and Santa Fe, New…
- LIVE from Santa Fe, New Mexico | Conversations On Fear
LIVE from Santa Fe, New Mexico | Conversations On Fear by Alexander Smith | Mindfulness Teacher