077: Stillness & Calm Through Meditation with Bob Roth: Why TM Works in Real Life

In this episode of The Alchemist Lounge, we sit down with Bob Roth, CEO of the David Lynch Foundation and one of the world’s leading teachers of Transcendental Meditation (TM), to explore the science, practice, and social impact of meditation. Bob breaks down the three core categories of meditation, shares how TM delivers deep physiological rest, and explains why his team is working to integrate TM into hospitals, the VA, and workplaces through Meditate America. We also dig into research on the “group effect” of meditation and real-world results from programs like DC Central Kitchen.

In this episode, you will hear:

  • (0:00) The ocean analogy: why not all meditations are the same—focused attention, open monitoring, and self-transcending (TM).
  • (1:16) What makes TM different: effortless access to quieter levels of mind + distinct brainwave patterns.
  • (12:42) Bob’s path from student to teacher; Meditate America’s plan to bring TM into the healthcare system.
  • (15:00) The “group effect”: evidence that collective TM practice reduces societal stress and crime.
  • (20:31) Cooling the mind to heal the body: TM’s impact on stress, sleep, and physiology.
  • (28:40) Clinical outcomes: TM for veterans with PTSD, frontline clinicians, and burnout during COVID.
  • (29:58) Case study—DC Central Kitchen: how TM became part of the program and the changes they saw.
  • (50:38) Where beginners should start: Bob’s learning pathway & why TM is taught by certified teachers.

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