Classic Replay: Davidji on Making Meditation Stick
✨ Episode Summary: This classic replay episode is one of those golden ones that deserves a second (or third!) listen. In this heartfelt and high-energy convo, Cheri welcomes the legendary Davidji—named one of USA Today's top five meditation teachers to follow—to wrap up her 12-week series with a deep dive on making meditation a lifelong habit. From his iconic "RPM" method to the science behind morning rituals and his game-changing 16 Seconds to Bliss technique, Davidji offers wisdom that's wildly practical and deeply soulful. Plus, there’s a beautiful guided meditation and a few tender moments about Peaches (yes, the Buddha-princess pup). A must-revisit for anyone ready to recommit to stillness—one breath at a time. 🎧 Originally aired thanks to our dear friend Owen—this is a lovingly handpicked replay. Enjoy the magic all over again. 🧘 Key Learning Points:Ritual beats willpower. Davidji’s "RPM" formula—Rise, Pee, Meditate—makes your practice as natural as brushing your teeth.Subtle wins are still wins. Meditation changes your brain and your life, but the signs might whisper, not shout—so stay tuned in.16 Seconds to Bliss works—even if you know the trick. A simple breath technique can stop stress in its tracks and bring you back to the now, anywhere, anytime.📚 Mentions & Shout-Outs:🧔♂️ Davidji – Meditation master, author, and founder of the Masters of Wisdom & Meditation Teacher Training🐶 Peaches – Davidji’s mindful Morkie and tiny teacher of unconditional love📖 Books by Davidji:Secrets of Meditation – the OG foundation (and all proceeds go to charity!)Destressifying – Cheri’s favorite, packed with real-world tools like SODA and SQUEEZESacred Powers – a deep dive into transformation through powerful inner questions🧪 Study Mention: Broadcasting Happiness by Michelle Gielan – research showing how your first 30 minutes shape your entire daySpecial thanks to Owen Flake – For helping bring this classic episode back to the feed through producing and editing. We love you!
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45:15
Back to the Basics, Baby
✨ Episode Summary: Welcome to Season 2! In this warm and witty kickoff, your favorite stress therapist brings us back to what matters: stillness, consciousness, and the radical magic of not saying “I’m tired.” Through heartfelt stories (including a rainy river trip that turned into a core memory), this episode reminds us why meditation matters and how we can reclaim our peace—one breath at a time. It all leads to a gentle guided breath meditation to help you get grounded, get quiet, and just be. Whether you're new or returning, this episode is your loving nudge to start again—with humor, honesty, and heart. 🧘♀️ 3 Key Learning Points:Tired is a choice—stop saying it! You create your reality with your words. Saying “I’m tired” only fuels the fatigue.Complaining makes things worse. Every. Single. Time. Even in miserable moments, keeping humor and presence can transform the experience.Meditation is not about nothing. It’s training your mind to focus on one thing—your breath, a mantra, or stillness—and taking custody of your consciousness.💫 Mentions & Shout-Outs:🛶 Rainy canoe trip with Andre – a core memory filled with laughter and no complaints.📿 "You create your reality" – inspired by Parmahansa Yogananda.🧠 Quote nod to Michael A. Singer – on the mind being separate from the self.📵 The Brick – a real gadget the host uses to remove distractions from her phone.💬 Classic quote reimagined: "All of man’s problems stem from his inability to sit quietly in a room alone for 15 minutes."🧘♂️ Guided Meditation Included – a back-to-basics breath-focused meditation with gentle grounding.📩 Special Love for Owen Flake – for producing the show with care and clarity!
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28:39
Take Back Your Mind
✨ Episode Summary: In this season opener, The Stress Therapist serves up a powerful, heartfelt reminder that you are the master of your own mind. With humor, honesty, and a healthy dose of soul, she challenges the cult of “busy” and the habit of “tired,” urging listeners to rethink their default responses to stress. Through stories (including a soggy canoe trip that turned into a cherished memory), real talk about phone addiction, and a return to the basics of breath-focused meditation, this episode lovingly resets your nervous system. Plus: a guided meditation to help you reclaim your inner stillness. 💗 🧠 Three Key Learning Points:Complaining multiplies suffering: Saying “I’m tired” or “I’m busy” doesn't just describe your reality—it creates it.Custody of consciousness is yours: Your mind is sacred real estate. Meditation helps you reclaim it from devices, distractions, and other people’s agendas.Silence is a mirror: Silent retreats and daily meditation help you hear your inner voice—and begin to like the person you hear.📣 Mentions & Shout-Outs:🧘 Guided Meditation: Simple breath awareness meditation included in this episode (around minute 18).📿 Paramahansa Yogananda: Quoted on the power of not affirming tiredness.🚣 Andre (bestie!): Canoe trip partner and honorary reminder that opposites make great friends.🧱 The “Brick” device: Not a sponsor, but helps remove phone distractions.🧠 Michael A. Singer: Referenced for the idea of being the observer of your thoughts.💌 Listener Love: “Only you can do this. You’re the only one who lives there.”💡 Offer to Self: Try going the rest of your life without saying you're tired. Seriously—see what shifts.🎁 Call to Action: “Work on the inside, too.” Just like eating broccoli or hitting the gym—meditation is care for your inner self.(And hey, major love to Owen Flake, always credited for his tech magic and calming influence behind the scenes.)
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28:55
Pickleball Energy for Your Soul: The Secret to True Motivation
🪷 Show Notes: Ever wonder why you just can't seem to get motivated — even for the stuff you actually want to do? In this soul-sparking episode, Cheri breaks down the true nature of motivation and why it's not what you think. Spoiler: it doesn't magically show up before the action... it comes after. From her early days working with people living with schizophrenia to her own personal spiral of stress and transformation, Cheri shares raw stories, real science, and hilarious truth bombs that will make you want to lace up your sneakers (or at least drink some water). We unpack the little-by-little mentality, the “Pickleball Principle,” and the magic of doing less so you can feel more. Plus, a peaceful guided meditation using the powerful mantra “Om” awaits at the end — perfect if you’re ready to start showing up for yourself with love, not pressure. ✨ 3 Key Takeaways:Motivation follows action, not the other way around. If you're waiting to feel motivated before you start, you'll wait forever.Do less, feel better. Start small and stop on a high note — your brain and habits will thank you.Feel good first. When a behavior feels good, you’re far more likely to stick with it (hello, pickleball people!).🙌 Mentions & Shout-Outs:🧠 Volition vs. Motivation — insight from psychiatric work🧘♂️ Davidji – Cheri’s beloved meditation teacher & voice of “RPM: Rise, Pee, Meditate”🎾 Pickleball People – the ultimate metaphor for effortless motivation🐾 Cheri’s Retreats – beachy, mountainy, dog-friendly, magical (come along!)🎵 Sonic Yogi – musical support for the guided Om meditation🛠️ Cheri’s garage – a hot mess, but metaphor gold💧 Hydration struggles & spousal water-bragging rights 😂🚘 Shout-out to her “CHEROKEE” license plate — and the evolving school of “Cheri Flake School”🧘♀️ Guided Meditation Included: Yes! A short, centering mantra-based meditation using “Om” to bring you back to center and energize your mind. Produced & edited with heart by 🎧 Owen Flake.Hosted by Cheri Flake, The Stress Therapist.
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27:48
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27:48
No One Is Coming to Save You....And that's GOOD News!
✨ Episode Summary: In this fiercely empowering episode, Cheri Flake dives deep into the illusion of control and the ultimate truth: you are the master of your life. Through reflections on Lucinda Williams' haunting lyrics and personal stories from her therapy practice, Cheri explores how we give our power away—and how to take it back. She challenges us to stop waiting for permission, resolution, or the perfect moment, and instead embrace radical responsibility for our healing and joy. The episode wraps with a powerful guided chakra meditation to help you turn inward and reconnect with your innate light. 🧠 Three Key Learning Points:🌪️ Control is an Inside Job: Real empowerment begins the moment you take 100% responsibility for your life—no exceptions, no blame.💡 Joy Isn’t Lost, It’s Buried: Stop searching “out there”—happiness lives within, waiting to be uncovered through stillness and silence.🔥 Unresolved Isn’t Always Unfinished: What you can’t fix might be sacred. Acceptance can be the most divine protection of all.📣 Mentions & Shout-Outs:🎸 Lucinda Williams – Her song “Joy” is a soulful metaphor for the search we all do outside of ourselves.📚 Wayne Dyer – His teachings on radical responsibility helped shape this episode’s core message.🧘♀️ Silent Retreats – Cheri shares insights from her mountain retreats and upcoming offerings.📍 Georgia Retreats – 🍂 September 2025 in the Blue Ridge Mountains & 🏖️ Jekyll Island retreats: meditation, yoga, and transformation in stunning locations.💌 Join the mailing list at ilovetherapy.com so you don’t miss a thing!📲 Instagram: @thestresstherapist🐦 Twitter/X: @estresstherapy🎧 Production Credit: Big love and thanks to 🎧 Owen Flake for producing and editing this episode with care and clarity.
About Stress Therapy with Cheri Flake: Meditation & Stress Relief for Real Life
Are you stressed out, overwhelmed, or just plain over it? Stress Therapy with Cheri Flake teaches you proven stress management techniques and meditation for beginners that fit into real life.Licensed mental health counselor Cheri Flake brings 25+ years of clinical experience to help you master stress relief through accessible meditation, mindfulness practices, and anxiety management strategies. Whether you're dealing with work stress, sleep trouble, emotional eating, or attention problems, you'll learn practical stress therapy methods that work for busy people living in the real world.Cheri is absolutely unlike any therapist, meditation teacher or hypnotherapist you have ever encountered. Known as "Dolly Parton meets the Dalai Lama," Cheri makes meditation simple and stress management doable - even if you think you can't meditate or have tried everything before. Each episode delivers actionable stress relief techniques from thousands of therapy sessions, workshops, and meditation retreats.Perfect for anyone seeking anxiety relief, better stress management, or beginner-friendly meditation that actually sticks. This isn't just head-nodding platitudes - it's real guidance with real results for real people ready to start living NOW.Topics include meditation for stress, anxiety management, mindfulness for busy schedules, stress-related health issues, sleep improvement, emotional eating solutions, and building lasting healthy habits.Your stress therapy session begins right NOW. 🧡www.thestresstherapist.com
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