The MS Gym Podcast: “Finding the Still in Mindfulness”
Hosts: Brooke Slick & Jodi Feltham
Guest: Steven Scattini (The Inner Monk, Mindfulness Coach)
Date: April 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The MS Gym Podcast explores the true essence and practical realities of mindfulness, debunking myths and illuminating its role beyond meditation, particularly for individuals navigating chronic illness like Multiple Sclerosis. Guest Steven Scattini, a mindfulness coach and former Tibetan Buddhist monk, joins Jodi Feltham for an in-depth conversation on his personal journey—from troubled youth to monastic life in Asia, cultural reintegration in Canada, marrying an “MS Warrior,” and coaching others to “find the still” within. The episode features pragmatic advice, real-world challenges, and concludes with a brief, guided mindfulness session.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Mindfulness Really Is (vs. Meditation)

• Definition & Distinction:
  • Mindfulness is often conflated with meditation but they serve different purposes.
    • “A lot of people think it's the same as meditation, and it’s not... Meditation and mindfulness are very compatible, but they're different.” (Steven, 02:18)
  • Mindfulness is a built-in human capacity for present-moment, judgment-free awareness.
    • “…the moment you’re born… all you have is mindfulness. …You look at a newborn baby… They’re just aware.” (Steven, 02:45)
• Nature of Mindfulness:
  • Unlike meditation, mindfulness doesn’t pursue a specific goal (relaxation, peace, etc.). Instead, it is about seeing things as they are, observing without attachment or aversion.
    • “With mindfulness, you're not trying to be anything… You’re just looking.” (Steven, 02:24)
• Barriers to Mindfulness:
  • Socialization, automaticity (shortcut-seeking brain), and learned judgments obscure our innate mindfulness—practice is needed to reconnect.
    • “We reach a point where we don’t want to make that effort anymore… Mindfulness is a process of just falling back on that ability to watch things nakedly without judgment.” (Steven, 03:35)

2. Steven’s Journey: From Tibetan Monk to Everyday Mindfulness

• Monastic Experience:
  • Steven recounts being an “example” in Tibetan monastic life, feeling cultural and institutional pressure to perform rather than to authentically be—leading to a pivotal realization.
    • “I realized that something was wrong. I was not being myself. …The whole point of being a monk is to find myself… I was putting on a show.” (Steven, 06:23)
  • Paradoxically, Steven followed the Buddha’s teaching by “leaving Buddhism”—shedding labels and expectations in pursuit of personal truth.
    • “In order to really follow the Buddha, I had to leave Buddhism... That’s what the Buddha taught when you get down to it.” (Steven, 07:10)

3. Mindfulness in the Modern World (and Beyond Religion)

• Mindfulness for All:
  • Steven refutes the idea that mindfulness is only for the religious or spiritual.
    • “You don’t have to put absolute trust in the teacher. The real teacher is your own practice, is your own experience.” (Steven, 10:05)
  • Skepticism and resistance in Western productivity-focused culture:
    • “Most people think they don’t [need mindfulness]. They think it’s a waste of time to stop… You’re just sitting there and doing nothing at all, apparently… In this culture of ours—our non-stop, go-get-’em culture—it’s very hard to convince people to stop and look.” (Steven, 10:55)

4. Mindfulness and Chronic Illness (Especially MS)

• Shocks and Acceptance:
  • Chronic and life-altering diagnoses bring a “different relationship with reality.”
    • “Once you're diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, you have a different relationship with reality… you hit a brick wall, you hit reality.” (Steven, 13:37)
  • Facing impermanence directly is core to Buddhist practice and profoundly beneficial—even if initially difficult:
    • “The first thing I was taught... was to meditate on my own death… Sounds really depressing, but… when you face this stuff, then all those illusions you have about life… they disappear… and you discover that you can cope with this.” (Steven, 15:01)
  • Gratitude, authenticity, and loss of “fake fronts”—recurring themes for people with MS.
• Coaching for Different Stages:
  • Steven tailors mindfulness approaches depending on a person’s stage—shock, acceptance, or habituation.
  • At crisis stage, mindfulness isn’t a quick fix—acceptance is crucial before it becomes transformative.
    • “If you’ve just had this shock and you come to me, I’ll do my best… but mindfulness is not really going to take root at this point because you’ve got to deal with that shock, that fear. …Once you’ve reached that acceptance then you can start looking at mindfulness as a possible tool.” (Steven, 18:28)
  • Mindfulness uncovers and helps loosen destructive habits and internal conversations, even though it cannot cure physical symptoms.

5. Guided Mindfulness Session

(20:00 - 24:10)

• Steven leads a 2-minute breathing meditation:
  • Encourages awareness of the breath, body sensations, shifting thoughts, and a present-centered focus:
    • “You feel your breath changing. You feel your mood change. And the thoughts, they're still there… but you don't have to follow them. You let them go. And you stay with the breath.” (Steven, 22:03)

6. Mindfulness Is More Than "Feeling Nice"

• Facing the Uncomfortable:
  • Mindfulness includes noticing pain, anxiety, and self-criticism—not only chasing positive states.
    • “There’s all sorts of nasty stuff that goes on in there… especially self-talk. …We are nasty with ourselves in ways we would never be with anyone else.” (Steven, 24:17)
• Practical Benefit:
  • Even a few minutes of mindful breathing can reduce the weight of distressing thoughts:
    • “Just taking a few minutes to do those breaths…it makes those thoughts less potent and you feel less overwhelmed.” (Host, 25:12)
  • Mindfulness supports better relationships by creating space between stimulus and reaction.

7. The Importance of Community & Support

• Why Community Matters:
  • Mindfulness can be isolating; support from a practice group or peers is essential for persistence and growth.
    • “You need support. …A lot of people sign up for a 10-day course… but it peters out because you can’t—not without support. …Community is a big deal. This is not an isolated practice.” (Steven, 27:48)
• Steven’s Offerings:
  • Runs “Mindfulness Live,” three 30-minute weekly online sessions to create routine, stability, and community (“like brushing your teeth”).
  • Website: schettini.com (spelled out at 29:03)

8. Impact & Closing Thoughts

• On Anxiety & Control:
  • Anxiety is an internal process, not just a reaction to external events. Mindfulness helps regain some agency:
    • “My boss makes me anxious or my diagnosis makes me anxious…. But no, anxiety is something we do to ourselves… It’s within our control. Not total control… but you do have a say and you have to cultivate that so you make it stronger by practicing it.” (Steven, 26:49)
• Invitation to Practice:
  • Mindfulness is for anyone, but embracing it is “swimming against the stream” of mainstream culture. Regular, community-supported practice is key.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “In order to really follow the Buddha, I had to leave Buddhism.” — Steven (07:10)
• “Mindfulness is not about feeling good, it’s about feeling everything. So sometimes you’re feeling awful and that’s your meditation session.” — Steven (11:37)
• “Once you’ve achieved that attitude towards it, then it takes root and it changes your life. It really does.” — Steven (29:58)
• “It’s not just a private, personal thing. No, it really does change the way you relate to people. Doesn’t necessarily change them, but it changes you.” — Steven (25:59)
• “You need to know that you’re not crazy, you’re not alone, that there is some purpose in what you’re doing.” — Steven (28:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00-02:15 — Introduction to mindfulness and Steven’s background
• 02:15-05:23 — Defining mindfulness vs. meditation
• 05:23-08:58 — Steven’s experience as a monk and transition back to the West
• 09:58-12:10 — Mindfulness outside of religion; skepticism and myths
• 13:30-16:17 — Mindfulness for people with chronic/life-threatening illness
• 18:11-19:58 — Coaching people at different stages and the process of acceptance
• 20:00-24:10 — Guided mindfulness practice
• 25:05-26:38 — Mindfulness benefits: internal states, relationships, and boundaries
• 27:24-28:39 — Mindfulness is swimming against the current; need for community
• 29:03 — Steven’s offerings and contact info
• 30:40-31:01 — Personal impact of community on Steven’s wife, Caroline

Further Learning

• Visit schettini.com for Steven’s writings, guided mindfulness sessions, and coaching opportunities.
• Join routine, community-based mindfulness practice for sustained transformation.

Summary prepared for The MS Gym Podcast listeners and community.
Episode language and tone preserved to capture the warmth, vulnerability, and practical wisdom of the dialogue.