Multi-platinum selling songwriter and mental health activist, Niall Breslin, is the voice of mindfulness on Spotify’s new podcast series, ‘Wake Up/Wind Down’. If you haven’t listened yet, check it out.
The podcast consists of two short episodes each day. In the morning, there’s a ‘Wake Up’ chat to help you log into your day and clear your head before you dive into the the chaos of the modern world that we don’t know what will happen in the future. Then, in the evening’s ‘Wind Down’ session, there’s a short meditation to settle the mind and help you log off for the day.
Bressie wants to help us notice the good stuff in life and become more aware of the things that distract us. He’s hoping that together we can make our days a little bit better. And he does it in his usual down-to-earth style with a little bit of humour thrown in.
First Episode
In the first episode, Bressie reveals that many people spend half of the day thinking about something other than what they’re doing, according to research. “So, many of us spend half our lives with our heads up our arses,” he tells us. “That’s not really a fulfilling way to live if you ask me. But our minds love to wander, and our worlds love to distract them over and over again. And because of this, we can miss so much of the good stuff, the simple and mundane moments that can give our brain a lovely hug when we need it the most.”
If you’re thinking who has time for all this mindfulness stuff, we hear you. After all, it’s only the lucky few among us who get to spend lockdown with buckets of spare time. The rest of us are trying to work from home while the kids kill each other over who’s turn it is to use the laptop. Or we’re up to our eyes doing extra hours as an essential worker. Factor in the extra queuing time at the shops and it’s no wonder some of us are finding our ‘new normal’ busier than ever.
If that sounds familiar, then this podcast series is perfect because the clips are short enough to fit into the busiest schedule. So, it turns out you do have time for mindfulness. Wake Up/Wind Down is short and sweet, with five minute morning and ten minute evening clips. And it’s been doing really well, reaching No. 2 in Spotify’s U.K. chart and No. 1 in the U.S.
The podcast is part of a Spotify playlist called ‘Your Daily Wellness’ which includes a selection of songs chosen especially for you plus some other short clips to help focus the mind. You’ll find it in the ‘Made For You’ section on your Spotify home screen. The ‘Wake Up/Wind Down’ podcast is included each weekday morning and evening. It’s available in Ireland, the U.K. and the U.S.
Speaking on the announcement, Niall said “I’m delighted to be part of this brand-new Spotify podcast and to be able to share my work with listeners across the globe. This is the perfect time to take a moment for yourself, re-frame the mind and create a positive mental space in this hectic 24-hour news feed cycle environment we find ourselves living in today.” Amen to that.
