In this episode of the Mindfulness Exercises Podcast, Sean Fargo speaks with Dr. Dan Siegel—Harvard-trained physician, psychiatrist, bestselling author, and pioneer in the field of interpersonal neurobiology.
Dan shares how his journey from medicine to psychiatry led him to redefine what we mean by “mind.” Together, Sean and Dan explore how mindfulness, relationships, and brain science intersect—and how integration is the foundation of well-being.
They also dive into Dan’s groundbreaking work, including the Wheel of Awareness meditation, and his newest book Personality and Wholeness in Therapy, which bridges neurobiology with the Enneagram to reveal how personality patterns shape our growth.
This conversation blends science, story, and heart—reminding us that true integration is made visible through kindness and compassion.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔ How Dan Siegel went from skeptic to leader in mindfulness research
✔ Why the mind is more than just what the brain does
✔ The four facets of the mind: subjective experience, consciousness, information processing, and self-organization
✔ Growth edges: how to move from personality patterns toward wholeness
Episode Chapters:
00:00 — Intro
02:18 — From Medicine to Mindfulness Research
07:05 — What Is the Mind, Really?
12:40 — Integration as the Basis of Well-Being
18:15 — The Wheel of Awareness Practice
32:08 — Personality, the Enneagram & Wholeness
💡 Learn more about Dr. Dan Siegel’s work:🔗 drdansiegel.com📘 Books: Personality & Whole Wellness Therapy, Wheel of Awareness
Certify To Teach Mindfulness & Meditation
Since 2015, we've trained over 2,000 people to teach mindfulness in healthcare, business, education, yoga, sports teams, and the U.S. Government.
MindfulnessExercises.com/certify
Certify At Your Own Pace: Just complete 40 hours of self-paced meditation + online workbook completion with lifetime access to personalized support.
Deepen Your Own Mindful Presence: Whatever your starting place is, we will help you deepen your own embodied, experiential understanding.
Teach With Integrity & Authenticity: We help you find your unique voice to make mindfulness relevant and practical for your own students or clients.
Receive International Accreditation: Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, international healthcare centers, coaching schools, and the U.S. Government.
Boost Your Career: Use our templates to quickly form your own paid mindfulness courses, workshops, keynotes or coaching packages.
