STOPTIME: Live in the Moment.
Ranked in the top 5% of podcasts globally and winner of the 2022 Communicator Award for Podcasting, STOPTIME:Live in the Moment combines mindfulness, well being and the performing arts and features thought provoking and motivational conversations with high performing creative artists around practicing the art of living in the moment and embracing who we are, and where we are at. Long form interviews are interspersed with brief solo episodes that prompt and invite us to think more deeply. Hosted by Certified Professional Coach Lisa Hopkins, featured guests are from Broadway, Hollywood and beyond. Although her guests are extraordinary innovators and creative...
Lighten Your Load: A Breathwork & Body Scan Meditation
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This episode focuses on the art of letting go and creating emotional space through guided meditation. By exploring bodily awareness and using breathing techniques, we release tension and invite new possibilities into our lives.
⢠Exploring relaxation techniques and awareness of the bodyÂ
⢠Understanding where we hold tension emotionally and physicallyÂ
⢠Inviting softness and spaciousness into everyday lifeÂ
⢠Visualizing the process of letting go and releasing old storiesÂ
⢠Setting intentions for what to welcome into our livesÂ
⢠Recognizing the power of mindfulness in changing lives...
Love, Adventure, and the Art of Writing Our Own Story đâ¨
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In this heartfelt anniversary episode, I share a personal story that spans nearly four decadesâfrom meeting my husband Philip as a teenager, to getting married aboard a tall ship on Lake Ontario, to the life weâve created together as captains of our own ship.
Originally written on our 21st wedding anniversary, this reflectionâtitled Life By Usâlooks back on our unique wedding day, the adventures weâve embraced, and the symbols that continue to guide us: motion, journey, and the waxing and waning of the moo...
Krystal Joy Brown: All of the Aboveâand Then Some
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Krystal Joy Brown is a Broadway actor and multidisciplinary artist, and her life right now is a bold mix of performance, producing, directing, writing, and grad school work in creative coding and physical computing. We talk about why a creative career doesnât have to be linear, how âfiguring it outâ can become paralysis, and what changes when you stop asking how it all connects and start letting the Venn diagram form on its own. Along the way, she shares the reality behind visible success: grief, depression, imposter syndro...
Five Minutes of Self-Discovery and Emotional Healing through Mindful Breathing
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Embark on a journey of self-discovery and emotional healing that starts with the simplest act - breathing. This episode promises to guide you through mindful practices that help you connect with your body, and find peace within your being. We begin with the grounding sensation of the earth beneath us, its steady support a constant reminder of our place in this universe. Let your breath guide you, melting away the tensions and stress of the day as we focus on the present moment.
Stepping into the...
The Antidote to Mental Clutter: Transforming Internal Noise into Calm
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What if the path to inner peace isn't about fighting the noise in your mind but transforming it? This soul-nourishing meditation journey begins with powerful wordsâsilence, peace, tranquility, calmâinviting you to notice the physical and emotional shifts they create within you.
We're hardwired to focus on noise. It pulls our attention from what matters toward what irritates or disturbs us. Through a guided inventory, you'll identify both external distractions (the neighbor's lawn mower, that friend who never stops talking, the constant social media chatter) and...
Transform Your Day: Morning Gratitude and Mindfulness Meditation
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What if you could transform your entire day just by starting with a few moments of mindfulness? Begin your mornings with an unshakeable sense of gratitude and positivity as we guide you through a soothing morning meditation. Join us as we ease into a state of peaceful wakefulness with deep, cleansing breaths, freeing your mind from the clutter of past and future concerns. Feel the energy flow through you as you place your hands on your stomach and visualize the sunrise, letting its warmth invigorate your entire being...
We Know Itâs Not Good for Us. So Why Do We Do It Anyway?
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Ever find yourself making choices you regret almost immediately? Discover how to break free from this cycle of self-sabotage and impulsivity in our latest episode. We'll dive into the psychology behind why we often choose short-term gratification over our long-term goals and how this impacts our mental well-being. Listen in as Lisa Hopkins provides practical strategies to slow down and make choices that align with your core values.
Tune in for an empowering discussion that reminds us all that we have the power to change our b...
A Meditation for Peace: Calming the Mind, Opening the Heart, Healing the World
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What if peace isnât something you hold, but a place you can always return to? We invite you into a guided meditation that starts with the breath, softens the grip of racing thoughts, and opens the heart to a wider circle of care. Across a few grounded minutes, we move from inner calm to compassionate connection, showing how awarenessânot controlâcreates space for steadiness even when life stays complex.
We begin by arriving as we are, shifting from counted inhales to an easy, natural rhythm...
The Vent & Victory Exercise
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What if there was a simple way to let go of what's weighing on youâand make more room for what's going well?
In this episode, I share one of my favorite coaching exercises: Vent & Victory.
It begins with a ventânot to dwell on what's frustrating you, but to release it. There's a big difference between intentionally expressing what's bothering you in a supportive space and endlessly replaying it around the proverbial water cooler. One creates space. The other give...
Balancing Your Energy Centers Through the Seven Chakras
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Ready to realign your energy and find balance in just 12 minutes? This guided chakra meditation takes you on a transformative journey through your body's seven energy centers using the powerful combination of breath, visualization, and color.
We begin at your root chakra, where a glowing red light helps you feel grounded and safe, releasing fears that may be holding you back. As we move to your sacral center, warm orange energy ignites your creativity and helps you embrace change with grace. Your solar plexus chakra brightens...
What Are You Tolerating?
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We often think of tolerance as a virtue.
But what happens when tolerating becomes a way of abandoning ourselves?
In this episode, I explore the subtle ways we adapt, accommodate, and contort ourselves long after something has stopped serving us. Whether it's a relationship, a commitment, a habit, or even something we once loved, there comes a point when holding on drains more energy than it gives back.
Sometimes we blame ourselves when things no longer feel right. We assume we need...
Breathing into Calmness: A Guided Meditation for Anxiety Relief and Confidence Building
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Let the rhythmic ebb and flow of the ocean's waves usher you into serenityâno need for packing or travel plans, just a simple decision to press play. Embark on a journey where each breath unlocks deeper layers of calm, and every affirmation anchors you firmly in the present moment. In our intimate session on breathing and visualization for anxiety, we unfurl the secrets of soothing your mind with deep abdominal breaths and transport you to a sunrise-kissed shore. The soft whispers of "I am calm" and "I am...
Distracted by Distraction: Finding Your Way Back to Creativity
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Sometimes the hardest part of creating isn't the work itselfâit's everything that happens before we begin.
In this episode, I share an unedited piece of stream-of-consciousness writing that I never intended to publish. It's an honest glimpse into creative procrastination, distraction, self-doubt, and the quiet moment when something begins to shift.
If you've ever found yourself organizing your desk, answering emails, making one more cup of coffee, or doing almost anything except the thing you most want to do, this episode is...
Drifting Into Rest: A Full-Body Scan for Deep Relaxation
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Tonightâs meditation is an invitation to slow down and gently transition from wakefulness into rest.
We begin by settling into the space where youâll sleepâtending to the small external details that help your body and nervous system feel safe and uninterrupted. From there, we turn inward, using breath and awareness to soften mental activity and release the day.
This guided practice moves through a slow, full-body scan, inviting curiosity rather than effort. Sensations are noticed without judgmentâpressure, warmth, heaviness, vibration, or even...
đ Where You Come From Matters âand it isn't a place đŤ
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A chance encounter on a train becomes a moment to challenge assumptions about nationality and kindness. When an elderly couple attributes my patience to being Canadian, I return to clarify that values, not citizenship, define our interactions with others.
⢠Reassuring an anxious elderly couple that their pace wasn't inconveniencing me
⢠Couple assuming my kindness was because I was Canadian
⢠Returning to explain I'm a dual citizen and my kindness comes from within
⢠Reflecting on how assumptions rob us of authentic connections
⢠Understanding that value...
đ§ď¸â¨ From Storm to Sunlight (A Guided Meditation for Moving Through Darkness Into Light)
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A guided meditation designed to help you move through emotional heaviness using the imagery of a storm transforming into sunlight and a rainbow. This visualization mirrors life's natural cycles of darkness and light, reminding us that transformation often begins in unexpected places.
⢠Beginning in the midst of a storm that represents emotional weight and heaviness
⢠Experiencing the gradual lightening of rain and thinning of clouds as a metaphor for emotional release
⢠Witnessing sunlight breaking through and a rainbow appearing as symbols of transformation and hope
đ âYesterday Is but Todayâs MemoryâŚâ: Wisdom from Khalil Gibran
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Have you ever considered that our obsession with measuring time might be missing the point entirely? Khalil Gibran's masterpiece "The Prophet" offers us a profound alternative perspective that could transform how we experience each moment of our lives.
Today I felt moved to share a beautiful passage from "The Prophet" that speaks to the nature of time itself. Published in 1923, this timeless work continues to offer wisdom that feels startlingly relevant to our rushed modern existence. Gibran challenges our conventional understanding of time as something linear...
Guided Visualization: Transforming Turbulence into Tranquility
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Can you imagine turning your deepest frustrations and grief into a source of peace and strength? This episode takes you on a transformative journey through the power of visualization meditation. First, we guide you through a stormy lake, using the energy from your pent-up emotions as a force to paddle against the current. As you confront and move through these turbulent waters, the scene gradually shifts to a serene environment, symbolizing the shift from chaos to tranquility. This process helps us understand that our feelings, while valid, do...
When Passion Turns to Pressure
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Ever felt like you're pushing a boulder uphill trying to help someone who just won't budge? This powerful coaching session tackles the exhausting cycle of trying too hard to create change in others when they're not ready to receive it.
We explore the fascinating shift from operating out of obligation ("I have to do this work") to approaching your passion with a sense of privilege ("I get to do this work"). The coach acknowledges their tendency toward intensity and overwhelming others with information, leading to the...
Ross Baum & Angelica ChĂŠri: Trust, Collaboration & the Road to Broadway
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Ross Baum & Angelica ChĂŠri on Trust, Collaboration & the Road to Broadway
What does it take to stay connected to yourself while building a dream over more than a decade?
In this inspiring and deeply human conversation, I sit down with Broadway-bound collaborators Ross Baum and Angelica ChĂŠri, creators of WANTED, the acclaimed new musical opening this fall at the James Earl Jones Theatre.
Together, Ross and Angelica reflect on their 12-year creative partnership, from meeting as graduate students at...
Waiting to Develop: Taking the Time to Process in a Picture-Perfect World
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What has happened to the art of capturing genuine, spontaneous moments? Join me, Lisa Hopkins, as I reflect on the essence of photography and the elusive beauty of imperfect memories. From the joyous chaos of photo booths during our teenage years to the meticulous curation of our lives on social media, I ponder the balance between capturing real experiences and our pursuit of digital perfection. Together, we explore the profound shift in how we perceive and engage with the world through the lens, and I challenge you to...
You Are Ready: A Motivational Grounding Practice
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When the world gets loud, motivation can feel slippery. This short motivational grounding practice is your calm, focused resetâa reminder to stop forcing momentum and start remembering the steady confidence already within you. Through simple breathwork, clear affirmations, and gentle visualization, youâll invite your nervous system to settle and your focus to return to what truly matters. The goal isnât hype; itâs peace. A grounded signal that says: you are capable, you are prepared, and you are ready for whatever comes next.
Support...
Thought Exercise: Challenging Comfort Zones and Embracing Life's Potential
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Are you tethered to your comfort zone, mistaking it for true happiness? This episode, hosted by Lisa Hopkins, embarks on a transformative journey, challenging you to confront 'what-if' scenarios that shake the very foundations of our daily lives. We delve into the art of questioning our dependencies and attachments, guiding you to make more enlightened choices that resonate with your values and purpose. It's not about predicting a grim future; it's about awakening to the parts of yourself you may have inadvertently let slip away.
Embark...
The Joy of Deliberate Wandering
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Freedom awaits just outside your front door. When was the last time you stepped out with absolutely no agenda, no timeline, and nowhere specific to be?Â
Wandering deliberately through life might be the most revolutionary act in our overscheduled world. This reflective exploration delves into how we've become prisoners of directionâconstantly told where to go since childhood, whether it's to bed, to school, or to work. Even our precious leisure time hasn't escaped this conditioning, as we frantically plot the perfect vacation itinerary or reach for...
Tolstoyâs The Three Questions: A Timeless Parable About Slowing Down
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Weâre all moving so fast â planning ahead, rushing toward the next thing, trying to get it all right. But what if the clarity weâre searching for only arrives when we slow down long enough to notice whatâs right in front of us?
In this episode, Lisa narrates Leo Tolstoyâs beloved parable âThe Three Questionsâ â a timeless story that reveals the power of presence, the wisdom of tending to this moment, and the truth that the âright timeâ is rarely somewhere in the futureâŚitâs n...
Six-Minute Sanctuary: Quick Meditation for Stress Relief and Balance
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Ever wished you had a quick reset button for life's stressful moments? Our latest meditation session offers just thatâa six-minute sanctuary designed to bring you tranquility and balance right where you are. We guide you through mindful breathing techniques and gentle movements, helping you release tension and embrace a moment of pure self-connection. This session is perfect for those jam-packed days when you need a quick escape to recalibrate and find your center.
Start by tuning into your breath and let go of the hustle an...
Anna Robb on Spectacle, Leadership & Belonging
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This week on STOPTIME: Live in the Moment, Lisa sits down with powerhouse producer and global live entertainment leader Anna Robb for a deeply thoughtful conversation about creativity, leadership, risk-taking, and what it truly means to live fully in the present.
Originally from Australia and now based in Hong Kong, Anna has spent more than 25 years producing and leading some of the most ambitious live entertainment projects in the world â from The Beatles LOVE with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas to The House of Dancing Wa...
Gratitude Meditation: Reconnecting with Joy Right Now
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Can cultivating gratitude truly transform your life? Join us on a journey of self-discovery as we explore the profound impact of gratitude meditation on our well-being. This episode promises to guide you through a powerful exercise that not only lifts your mood but also enhances creativity and problem-solving skills. Imagine starting with a simple breathing technique, releasing all tension and distractions, and then shifting focus to the countless gifts life has bestowed upon youâfrom the basic joys of existence to the unsung heroes who enrich our daily li...
Exploring the Essence of Home: Inspired by Khalil Gibran's Vision
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What if your home was not just a place to live, but a living, breathing extension of your very essence? Inspired by the poignant words of Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet," I, Lisa Hopkins, invite you on a journey through the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of what it means to call a place home. We uncover Gibran's insightful vision of houses that inspire freedom and untamed passion, challenging the notion that comfort should define our living spaces. Through his eloquent prose, we are urged to see our homes as...
⨠Embrace Your Inner Child: A Golden Light Meditation for Healing & Release
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Support the show
đâ¨đ **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** đâ¨đÂ
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! đđÂ
đ Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC
đ **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on...
Tamar Greene: Diving in and Dreaming Recorded May 2024
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When the spotlight hits, the heart races; it's the thrill of the stage, the power of a story well-told. That's precisely the electrifying energy Tamar Greene, our star guest who's currently donning the revolutionary boots of George Washington in the Broadway hit "Hamilton," brings to this episode. Tamar isn't just a performer; he's a first-generation American with a tale of resilience, a beacon of social advocacy, and a tech-savvy maestro who weaves his cultural tapestry into every note he sings. Our candid conversation traverses the many layers of...
An 8-Minute Nervous System Reset: When Everything Feels Like Too Much
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Your body doesnât need a perfect routine, it needs a reliable reset. When stress shows up as tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, or a mind that wonât stop spinning, a few minutes of guided breathing and grounding can change the whole tone of your day. We walk you through a short nervous system reset you can do anywhere, with simple cues that help you feel supported in your body right now.
We start with the basics of mindfulness for stress relief: noticing contact points like...
Kristoffer Diaz: Aligning Passion with Purpose Recorded November 2024
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Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony-nominated librettist Christopher Diaz joins us to share the rhythm and passion behind his creative journey. In this episode, Christopher opens up about balancing his multiple roles as a playwright, screenwriter, and educator at NYU while maintaining a fulfilling family life. He reflects on how teaching adds a unique cadence to his schedule, allowing him to stay grounded amidst the whirlwind of theater. With warmth and honesty, Christopher talks about his lifelong love affair with theater, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and celebrating achievements...
Step Out Of The Mental Spiral
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Your mind wonât stop replaying, analyzing, and forecasting. Instead of treating that as a problem to fix, we offer a different path: step slightly to the side of the mental spiral and learn how to choose your attention again.
We start with a simple grounding sequence you can do anywhere, no perfect posture required. We soften the body first, dropping the shoulders, unclenching the jaw, and easing the space behind the eyes, then shift to breath awareness without trying to control it. As thoughts keep co...
What To Do When Your Networking Is Not-Working
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Ever been stumped by the question 'What do you do?' We've got you covered in our latest podcast episode! Discover the art of curating an answer that invites curiosity & truly represents your unique essence. This engaging chat takes the fear out of networking and provides you with the tools to not just survive, but thrive in any networking situation. You'll learn about the pitfalls of fear-based thinking and its impact on your networking abilities, as well as the significance of the two C's of curation and curiosity i...
When Life Feels Heavy: A Meditation for Strength & Steadiness
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Support the show
đâ¨đ **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** đâ¨đÂ
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! đđÂ
đ Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC
đ **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on...
Director/Choreographer Susan Stroman: Dancing Through Life (Recorded December 2023)
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Ever wonder what it takes to choreograph Broadway's biggest hits? Step into the creative world of Susan Stroman, a five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer. Susan joins us to share her life's work, from her recent projects like the Broadway musical New York, New York and the play POTUS or Behind Every Great Dumbass, to her future plans of authoring a book. Hear her unfiltered journey as she navigates the world of storytelling and collaboration, drawing on her rich background in English literature and her collaborations with notable...
Journey to Serenity: A Guided Body Scan Meditation for Restful Sleep
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This episode is a loving gift, designed to guide you into a tranquil and restful sleep. So, exhale the stress, inhale the calm and let us take you on this relaxing voyage to dreamland. A guided body scan meditation for restful sleep. A lullaby for your mind, body, and soul.Â
Support the show
đâ¨đ **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** đâ¨đÂ
Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays tha...
When Your Intuition Was Right All Along: The Story Youâve Been Keeping Alive
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How often do we allow ourselves to ignore our intuition, building walls of limiting beliefs to shield us from uncomfortable truths? Join me, Lisa Hopkins, as I recount a profoundly unsettling event that challenged the very fabric of my perceived reality. Through a reflective journey marked by mundane but metaphorically rich experiencesâlike a grocery store trip and the unexpected purchase of Ziploc bagsâI uncover powerful lessons the universe subtly offered me. This episode is an introspective deep dive into the ways we navigate life's unexpected twists and...
𪡠Guided Meditation for Balance, Calm, and Inner Alignment
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Feeling off balance or overwhelmed? This guided meditation invites you to gently realign your mind, body, and spirit. Through mindful breathwork, grounding visualization, and energetic awareness, youâll restore your natural state of harmony and ease.
This short restorative practice helps regulate your nervous system, quiet mental chatter, and reconnect you to your inner steadinessâso you can move through your day with clarity and calm.
Take these moments to pause, breathe, and return home to yourself. đż
Support the show
đâ¨đ **Buy 'The Plac...