In this episode, I’m joined by Nasim Badaghi — a mindfulness teacher who recently submitted her PhD.
We talk about mindfulness beyond the buzzword: where it actually comes from, what it really means, and what it doesn’t mean.

She shares insights from her PhD research on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and its impact on psychological distress in cancer patients. We speak about rumination, the “automatic pilot,” and what happens in the brain when we begin to practice awareness differently.

But this episode isn’t just academic.
We explore the personal side of mindfulness — how it changes the way we relate to our thoughts, and why mindfulness can feel almost rebellious in a world that constantly pushes productivity.

We also speak about the nuances — that mindfulness is powerful, but not necessarily for everyone. Especially for people with trauma, it requires care, pacing, and sometimes guidance.

This conversation is an invitation to slow down. To observe. To become aware of your inner patterns — not to fix them immediately, but simply to see them.
Because sometimes awareness alone is enough.

Chapters (compressed)
00:00 Introduction & Mindfulness Basics — definitions, origins, and practices
15:05 MBCT & MBSR Explained — interventions, automatic pilot, and rumination
36:30 Mindfulness in Cancer Care — study methodology, key findings, and brain activity
58:19 Practical Mindfulness — techniques for daily life and personal transformation
01:15:09 Collective Awareness & Trauma — mindfulness in community and cautious approach

Publications
Badaghi et al. (2024). Positive health outcomes of mindfulness-based interventions for cancer patients and survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102505
Badaghi et al. (2025). Online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to reduce psychological distress in people with cancer: Randomized controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.70286
Badaghi et al. (2024). Online delivery of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for people with cancer: Feasibility trial. JMIR Formative Research. https://doi.org/10.2196/52338

Books
Kabat-Zinn — Wherever You Go, There You Are
Brahm — Kindfulness
Kuyken & Feldmann — Mindfulness: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Psychology

Online Resources
home.mindfulness-network.org
oxfordmindfulness.org
dhamma.org

insighttimer.com

Contact Nasim Badaghi
Instagram: @nbadaghi

Linkedin: linkedin.com/nasimbadaghi

Contact me
Instagram: @annehochwald

Website: annehochwald.com