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What if one of the most important skills we can teach is the ability to notice where our attention is and intentionally bring it back?
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Ilana Nankin sits down with longtime friend and collaborator Dr. Kris Evans to explore the science and practice of mindfulness and meta-awareness.
Kris recently completed his PhD at Stanford University, where his research focused on attention, mindset, and human agency. Together, Ilana and Kris unpack how mindful awareness helps us recognize our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and gives us the power to choose how we respond.
They also share research conducted with Breathe For Change educators during the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed remarkable improvements in stress, anxiety, well-being, mindfulness, and belonging during one of the most challenging periods in modern history.
In a world increasingly shaped by AI, distraction, and constant stimulation, this conversation is a powerful reminder that our ability to pay attention may be one of the most important human capacities we can cultivate.
Here are some of the best moments from the episode:
- How Kris Evans and Ilana First Connected
- Why Self-Awareness Changes Everything
- Understanding the Mind Behind Human Behavior
- The Difference Between Attention and Awareness
- Why Mindfulness Is More Than an Internal Practice
- The Power of Emotional Regulation
- How Awareness Shapes Relationships and Leadership
- Bringing Science and Evidence Into Mindfulness
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