“Even when I couldn’t move or speak, I realized that the simplest acts of care, like the gentle touch of a nurse or the presence of my family, were full of love and quietly helped me heal in ways no medicine could.”

In this episode of The Zen Den, former Buddhist nun and spiritual teacher Maggie Calder shares her extraordinary near-death experience after a serious motorcycle accident left her in a coma for 18 days. Maggie describes awakening in a world beyond the physical, surrounded by love, light, and a deep sense of belonging.

Joined by guest host Robin, she talks about returning to life with a fresh perspective, living with more presence, and discovering the power of stillness and connection. They explore how consciousness and healing are linked and how love can be felt in every moment, even through challenges.

Listen to this heartfelt conversation about life after death, the beauty of awakening, and the reminder that no matter what, you are love.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The powerful story of Maggie Calder’s near-death experience and what she encountered beyond this life
• How her time in a state of “creamy white light” transformed her understanding of peace, love, and oneness
• The moment she returned to her body after 18 days in a coma and how it reshaped her perception of physical reality

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Episode Snippet

(00:02:32) A life of joy and passion before the accident

(00:04:09) The day everything changed: motorcycle accident

(00:10:39) Entering the light: meeting my deceased parents

(00:14:25) The message to return to life

(00:17:12) “You are love”

(00:20:19) Seeing energy in everything

(00:23:30) Reconnecting with the earth through energy

(00:25:38) Love without exchange

(00:28:03) Desire to communicate

(00:30:13) Humans as energetic beings

(00:32:17) Using visualization and meditation to activate healing

(00:35:02) Discovering the body’s perfect design

(00:36:13) A surgeon’s innovation restores her arm and renews hope

(00:38:14) We are all perfect and made of love

(00:42:14) Our bodies are our home

Key Takeaways:

• Even in a hospital room, love can show up through the hands and hearts of those who care.
• We are all made of energy, connected by a divine thread that flows through everything.
• The afterlife isn’t a place of fear but of peace, light, and belonging.
• Healing happens not only through medicine but through the energy of kindness and compassion.
• Coming back to life is a reminder that we are, and have always been, love itself.
• Communication can happen even when you can't talk.

About Maggie Calder:

Maggie Calder is a former Buddhist nun and spiritual guide who has traveled the world with Eckhart Tolle and led a healing retreat center in Chicago. She helps listeners find their Zen state, a place of calm and presence, by sharing her wisdom on mindfulness and inner peace.

Connect with me:

Email: maggiecalder.ca@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiecalder

The Zen Den is a welcoming space for everyone, no matter your background or beliefs, where real conversations happen about how to find peace in a chaotic world. Each episode will explore a challenge or difficulty and guide you toward your own natural Zen state: calm, centered, and clear. Join Maggie in this conscious movement to awaken higher consciousness, live in harmony, and let your authentic truth shine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“With each pedal stroke, each bit of run, all the small training days that led towards the event, it was building my self-confidence, making me realize what I was capable of.”

In this episode of The Zen Den, Maggie Calder sits down with 18-time Ironman finisher, artist, and community builder Kat Calder for a heartfelt conversation about courage, mindfulness, and endurance, both on the racecourse and in everyday life. Kat shares how training and racing alongside her husband, Kevin, taught her to transform fear into focus and chaos into calm. She explains the practice of staying within her “one square meter,” a simple yet powerful reminder to control what’s within reach while letting go of everything else.

Their exchange goes beyond sport, touching on the universal lessons of resilience, balance, and the importance of finding stillness in motion. Kat also reflects on how the Ironman journey strengthened her relationships, deepened her gratitude, and inspired her to give back through coaching and community work.

Join us for an inspiring conversation on how to slow the mind, steady the breath, and discover peace even in the race of life.

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Life is Ironman

(00:01:32) Introducing our guest, Katherine Calder-Becker

(00:02:19) The beginning of a shared dream

(00:04:38) The fear that came with every new challenge

(00:08:05) Turning fear into courage

(00:10:50) Finding calm through breath

(00:13:23) Mastering the “one square meter” mindset

(00:18:03) Bonding happens through shared challenges

(00:19:11) Ironman mirrors life’s rhythm

(00:20:46) Connect with Kat Calder-Becker

(00:21:19) Breathing into stillness

Key Takeaways:

• Life is Iron Man. We're all living Iron Man in a way.
• When you accomplish a goal, it helps you train your mind and body to work together.

About Kat Calder-Becker:

Katherine Calder-Becker is a world-class endurance athlete, adventurer, and Guinness World Record title holder who has redefined what’s possible through grit, courage, and joy. Alongside her husband, she has completed 18 Ironman races, multiple World Major Marathons, and two Grand Canyon double crossings. In 2011, the couple took their passion even further, competing in five Ultraman events and earning the Guinness World Record for the most Ultraman triathlons finished by a married couple.

Connect with Kat Calder-Becker:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtrippers/

About Maggie Calder:

Maggie Calder is a former Buddhist nun and spiritual guide who has traveled the world with Eckhart Tolle and led a healing retreat center in Chicago. She helps listeners find their Zen state, a place of calm and presence, by sharing her wisdom on mindfulness and inner peace.

Connect with me:

Email: maggiecalder.ca@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiecalder

The Zen Den is a welcoming space for everyone, no matter your background or beliefs, where real conversations happen about how to find peace in a chaotic world. Each episode will explore a challenge or difficulty and guide you toward your own natural Zen state: calm, centered, and clear. Join Maggie in this conscious movement to awaken higher consciousness, live in harmony, and let your authentic truth shine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“When you focus on the present, the rest of the day flows with ease.”

In this episode of The Zen Den, host Maggie Calder welcomes Wayne Penny, who spent 42 years at Coca-Cola before retiring. Wayne reflects on his career, the challenges of leading through the uncertainty of COVID, and how mindfulness transformed not only his leadership but also his personal relationships. From bringing Maggie into corporate WebEx meetings to support his team, to discovering the beauty of stillness and presence in retirement, Wayne shares how mindfulness has been a grounding practice in both professional and personal life.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation on slowing down, savoring the present, and embracing a more centered way of living.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How mindfulness can dissolve fear and uncertainty in high-stress environments
• Simple practices to quiet a busy mind and find presence
• Why starting the day with gratitude sets a powerful tone
• How deepened family bonds can grow from mindful living
• The ripple effect of bringing mindfulness into leadership and corporate culture

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Morning gratitude and ocean views

(00:02:53) Navigating uncertainty during COVID

(00:03:39) Bringing mindfulness to a corporate team

(00:06:09) Mindfulness practices that stick

(00:08:00) Stronger family connections through presence

(00:10:30) Training your focus to notice life’s details

(00:11:52) Finding your Zen state

Key Takeaways:

• Starting the day with gratitude changes how the whole day flows.
• Mindfulness doesn’t erase the bumps in your day, but it makes them easier to navigate.
• Quieting the busy mind opens the door to deeper conversations and stronger relationships.
• Nature is a gentle reminder to slow down and simply be.

About Wayne Penny:

Wayne Penny is a retired Coca-Cola executive who spent over four decades in leadership, traveling the world for work and sports events. His journey into mindfulness began as a way to support his team through the uncertainty of the COVID era. Today, he continues to embrace mindful living in retirement, deepening his relationships with family and finding joy in life’s simplest moments.

Connect with Wayne Penny:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-penny-6965654b

About Maggie Calder:

Maggie Calder is a former Buddhist nun and spiritual guide who has traveled the world with Eckhart Tolle and led a healing retreat center in Chicago. She helps listeners find their Zen state, a place of calm and presence, by sharing her wisdom on mindfulness and inner peace.

Connect with me:

Email: maggiecalder.ca@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiecalder

The Zen Den is a welcoming space for everyone, no matter your background or beliefs, where real conversations happen about how to find peace in a chaotic world. Each episode will explore a challenge or difficulty and guide you toward your own natural Zen state: calm, centered, and clear. Join Maggie in this conscious movement to awaken higher consciousness, live in harmony, and let your authentic truth shine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.