Are We Experty Enough?

Quick answer: "Are we experty enough?" is the question that opens the first episode of Mindfulness Off the Cushion, the Austin Mindfulness Center's podcast about practicing mindfulness in everyday life. The honest answer: no one is ever fully "experty enough" at mindfulness—everyone is a lifelong student, and that's okay.

In the inaugural episode of the Mindfulness Off the Cushion podcast, we begin where countless new podcasters begin: asking whether we're qualified to sound off on mindfulness at all. Spoiler alert—we'll never be experty enough, and that's okay. Here's what the first episode covers, who's behind the microphones, and why a beginner's mindset may be the most useful qualification of all.

Who hosts Mindfulness Off the Cushion?

Four co-hosts from the Austin Mindfulness Center, each bringing a different mix of clinical training and lived experience with mindfulness.

Christina Philburn, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose practice centers on compassion and mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches; she has taught at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas and at Dell Medical School. Patrick Harris, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and PhD candidate in Mind-Body Medicine who also teaches psychology and practices clinical hypnotherapy. Claudio Barrientos is a Certified Mindfulness Instructor who first studied mindfulness in 1999 under a former student of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and now teaches the eight-week MBSR program. And Lance Vaughn, co-owner of the Austin Mindfulness Center, joins as a self-proclaimed mindfulness student and recent MBSR graduate—a reminder that everyone is truly a lifelong student of mindful living.

Does the world need another mindfulness podcast?

We think so—because most mindfulness podcasts focus on meditation "on the cushion," while this one deals directly with mindfulness as it occurs off the cushion, in everyday life.

You may have listened to a forerunner like Dan Harris's 10% Happier; Mindfulness Off the Cushion works as a kind of companion piece. The term "off the cushion" has a lineage—used by Harris and, earlier, by meditation teacher and author Sharon Salzberg. There's also room for more diverse voices: with two therapists, an independently trained instructor, and a relatively new student in the same room, the conversations open up to more practical applications, more clinical discussion, and more lighthearted moments too.

What does "where do you keep the ketchup?" have to do with mindfulness?

It's a reminder that lived experience shapes everything—including how each of us can realistically bring mindfulness into daily life.

Depending on your upbringing, culture, or home country, your ketchup may live in the refrigerator, the pantry, or nowhere at all. The point: when we talk about bringing mindfulness off the cushion, we need to account for a variety of perspectives and lived experiences, and do so without disrupting the diverse ways we live our lives. Being a therapist or teacher doesn't automatically make someone an expert in your life—that's yours.

What's the difference between accommodation and assimilation in learning mindfulness?

Accommodation asks you to reshape your life around a new skill; assimilation builds the skill on top of strengths you already have—and the latter tends to fit everyday life more naturally.

Accommodation can be uncomfortable, even like reinventing the wheel. Assimilating pieces at a time lends itself to a more open-minded approach: maybe some mindfulness practices resonate with you more naturally than others, and that's okay. Rather than aiming to become a meditation expert, try remaining open to learning at a beginner's pace. This practical, skills-first approach is also at the heart of mindfulness-based therapy, where a therapist helps you fold these tools into the life you already live.

Why it's okay not to be an expert

There is no fixed path or particular qualification that makes someone a mindfulness expert—we're all still learning. The goal is simply to practice being mindful in everyday life, alongside each other. Inspired by Dr. Kabat-Zinn, the first episode closes with a paraphrased mantra that sums up the spirit of the podcast: "In this present moment be curious, generous, and grateful. Patiently practice non-judgment and acceptance. Trust yourself, let go, and just be." You can listen to the podcast at motc.buzzsprout.com or wherever you get podcasts.

Getting started. If you'd like more than a podcast—someone to help you apply mindfulness to anxiety, stress, or daily struggles—our mindfulness therapy team in Austin can help.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a difference between meditation and mindfulness?

Yes. Meditation is a formal practice, often done seated "on the cushion," while mindfulness is the broader skill of present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness that you can bring into everyday activities—off the cushion.

Do I need to be an expert to benefit from mindfulness?

No. There is no qualification that makes someone a mindfulness expert; everyone is a lifelong student. An open, beginner's-pace approach is often more sustainable than chasing mastery.

Where can I listen to Mindfulness Off the Cushion?

The podcast is available at motc.buzzsprout.com and on most major podcast platforms. It's sponsored by the Austin Mindfulness Center.

Get started with a therapist at Austin Mindfulness Center—in person in Austin or online across Texas.