FEATURED MEDIA
THE BOSTON GLOBE
A new book considers what silence is and how it can enrich us
By Christina Tucker
There was part of me that didn’t want to read “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise,” didn’t want to hear what disservice I was doing myself by insulating myself in a semi-permanent cocoon of sound. But pushing through that type of resistance and discomfort is what this column, devoted to self-help books, is for. So I settled in, tried to move my skepticism to the side, and started to read. Spoiler: I loved it.
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THE WASHINGTON POST
We once had a law to defend human attention. It’s time for an update.
By Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz
The Noise Control Act of 1972 sought to give Americans the right to a reasonably quiet environment. We need something similar for our digital world.
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MCKINSEY & COMPANY: AUTHOR TALKS
Noise, notifications, anxiety. Internally and externally, life has never been more distracting—which is why finding moments of silence has never been more important.
In this edition of Author Talks, McKinsey’s Kunal Modi chats with former policy maker Justin Zorn and consultant Leigh Marz about their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.
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HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
How to Build a Culture That Honors Quiet Time
by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz
Across our society today, norms of noisiness run deep. Demands like constant connectivity and maintaining a competitive advantage still prevail in most office cultures. Few organizations prize or prioritize pristine human attention. But there are simple strategies we can employ in order to find our own personal sanctuaries and to shift broader cultures. By reclaiming silence in the workplace, we can create the conditions for reducing burnout and enhancing creative problem solving.
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VOX
The power of silence in a deafening world
by Justin Zorn and Leigh Mars
Why there’s more noise, and more kinds of it — and why it might be ruining our focus. Part of the July 2022 issue of The Highlight, our home for ambitious stories that explain our world.
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FAST COMPANY
3 ways to find pockets of focus time during packed days
by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz
Over the course of dozens of interviews with leaders in business, politics, science, and the arts for our book Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, we’ve heard about the importance of creating these quiet sanctuaries for health, cognition, and creativity. We’ve discovered a range of strategies for finding time and space for quiet in the midst of a busy schedule.
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TIME
How Listening to Silence Changes Our Brains
By Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz
It’s not just your imagination. The world is literally louder right now than it’s been at any time in known history. Even if COVID shelter-in-place orders brought a fleeting decline in decibel levels, the arc of modern life seems inescapable: more cars, helicopters, buzzing drones, pinging gadgets, ringing hospital monitors, blaring TVs in waiting rooms, and constant conversation in open-plan offices.
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NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Even New Yorkers deserve quiet in their lives
By Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz
Everybody knows New York is noisy. Screeching subways, roaring garbage trucks, revving packs of dirt bikes, chopping helicopters, loud parties, barking dogs, jackhammers, police sirens and warnings to “stand clear of the closing doors” are baked into the identity of the city. At a time of so many glaring challenges — from the rising cost of living to extreme weather — it’s hard to regard excessive decibel levels as a top-tier concern.
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GLOBE AND MAIL
Don’t underestimate how productive quiet time can be
By Harry Schachter
This article is for Globe and Mail subscribers only.
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SALON
By Mary Elizabeth Williams
Is noise bad for us? The authors of "Golden" on why silence is good for your brain.
While Justin Talbot Zorn and Leigh Marz's fascinating new book, "Golden: The Power of Silence In a World of Noise", does explore the physical and emotional toll of living in our noisy modern world, it understands that moving to a nice, quiet cave is not really an option for most of us. Instead, they explore the value of learning first to turn down the volume inside our own heads.
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99% INVISIBLE
Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz talk with Roman Mars, host and creator of the 99% Invisible podcast. They discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.
POLITICOLOGY
We live in a loud world that’s getting louder. We encounter noise all around us—from the chatter of polite conversations, to street noise in a big city, to the constant intrusion of the dings of notifications. But what is all of this noise doing to us, and what does it mean to find quiet in the midst of it? In fact, what is silence, anyway? How can it affect our minds, our bodies, and our relationships?
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JILLIAN MICHAELS
Quieting Internal and External Noise to Find Your Purpose and Live with Passion, with Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz on "Keeping It Real: Conversations with Jillian Michaels".
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THE DARIN OLIEN SHOW
We live in a noisy world– both literally and figuratively. In today’s point-counterpoint culture, it can be hard to silence the noise. But we need to learn how to. Because silence is the only way we can refine our perception and gain clarity.
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HOW TO BE AWESOME AT YOUR JOB
Episode 783: How to Restore Energy and Clarity by Tuning in to Silence with Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn talk with podcast host Pete Mockaitis.
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PODCAST TRAILER
ULTRAHABITS with JR SINGH
Episode 64: The power of silence in a noisy world – Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz
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NEW DIMENSIONS RADIO
Moving Beyond the Noise to Pristine Attention with Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn. We spend a bulk of our time in a very boisterous world of noise. We are in a constant deluge of information and chat whether it is from our email and social media, or the 24-hour news cycles with its constant announcements of breaking news. Even our households can be filled with noise. Despite 40 years of mindfulness trainings, we’ve yet to be successful in getting beyond the noise in our own heads.
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THIRD EYE DROPS
Authors Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn enter the mind meld to muse about the power and science of silence. We also riff on the neuroscience of well-being, mystical experiences, the importance of leaving room for a spiritual dimension in life, psychedelic medicine, and more!
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THE ASTRAL HUSTLE
Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz join Cory Allen on his podcast to talk about loudness of the world and how silence and stillness can bring clarity and peace into our lives.
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(Interview begins at 4:50)
DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED with CANDICE KING & KAYLA EWELL
Kayla is joined by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz to share their knowledge that comes from countless discussions with scientists, engineers, and politicians on the importance of silence.
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NEXT BIG IDEA CLUB
Each quarter, Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink choose two groundbreaking, new nonfiction books for the Next Big Idea book club community. You then get their selections delivered to your door, via eBook, or as original video e-courses through the Next Big Idea App.
Justin and Leigh share 5 key insights from their new book. Listen to the audio version—read by Justin and Leigh themselves—in the Next Big Idea App.
MORE INFO & NEXT BIG IDEA APP DOWNLOAD
SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (SHRM)
Golden makes “The Summer’s Best Business Books” list by SHRM — the Society of Human Resource Management — the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today’s evolving workplaces.
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THE MARK DIVINE SHOW
Noise is not your friend
Podcast host Mark Divine speaks with Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, authors of Golden. Together, they explore finding silence and stillness in a world that's getting noisier and busier by the minute, as well as the economic, social, and health consequences of that noise, externally and internally.
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AWAKIN with PAVI MEHTA
Silence isn’t just the absence of noise.
It’s a presence that brings us energy, clarity, and deeper connection. Leigh Marz, a confessed naturalist and leadership coach, and Justin Talbot Zorn, a policymaker and meditation teacher on Capitol Hill, explore the meaning of silence in a wide range of contexts—from the West Wing of the White House to San Quentin’s death row; from Ivy League brain research laboratories to rock concerts and underground psychedelic circles.
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ALUMNI LEARNING CONSORTIUM
Getting Beyond the Noise: A Non-Meditator’s Guide to the Power of Silence
Do you ever crave a moment of silence from the constant notifications and technology interruptions? How do we move beyond the noise that is all around us? In this deep-dive webinar, co-authors of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn, take us on an unlikely journey—from the West Wing of the White House to San Quentin’s death row; from Ivy League brain research laboratories to underground psychedelic circles; from the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park to the main stage at a heavy metal festival—to explore the meaning of silence and the art of finding it in any situation.
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MORE REVIEWS & COVERAGE
BEYOND THE TO-DO LIST
This week I was excited to welcome Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz to the show to discuss their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise. This book instantly rocketed up my list of the best productivity books of the year! Golden reveals how to go beyond the ordinary rules and tools of mindfulness. It’s a field guide for navigating the noise of the modern world—not just the noise in our ears but also on our screens and in our heads.
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TALKING TO COOL PEOPLE
Join Jason, Leigh and Justin for a fascinating conversation on the power of silence, what it's like to co-author a book (really) Leigh and Justin ask a deep question that has Jason explore something from his early childhood.
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SOCIOLOGY RUINS EVERYTHING
Not many people realize institutions and society regulate silence. The noise in our lives, both external and internal, is actually controlled by laws and norms, and that noise affects our physical and mental health. So what role do the social sciences play in this phenomenon? I'm joined by Leigh Marz and Justin Talbot-Zorn to talk about silence as a human right.
APPLE PODCAST
SPOTIFY
HAARETZ
The study of silence is developing day by day, and the benefit of silence for health is just beginning to be revealed. "Quiet means being in less strenuous conditions," explained an Israeli researcher, "it's like walking on a sidewalk and not in deep sea sand." This article is in Hebrew and subscription is required to read. Use Google Translate or other web translator to read in English.
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THRIVE
Gandhi Had a Secret for Dealing With Bad News Burnout
by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz
What’s the healthiest way to engage with the news in times like these? The scale and intensity of today’s headlines is leaving many people depressed and depleted in a perpetual doom-scrolling abyss. It’s driving many others to simply unplug and withdraw. It’s hard to be simultaneously informed and centered right now.
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FREEDOM SLAY
Gandhi Had a Secret for Dealing With Bad News Burnout
Episode 116 - Why Silence is Essential to Succeed with Gaynete' Jones
What’s the healthiest way to engage with the news in times like these? The scale and intensity of today’s headlines is leaving many people depressed and depleted in a perpetual doom-scrolling abyss. It’s driving many others to simply unplug and withdraw. It’s hard to be simultaneously informed and centered right now.
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BOSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL
Noise means faster progress and we all need that, right? Not necessarily and not all the time, according to the authors of Golden: The Power of Silence in a World Of Noise, an incredibly absorbing and insightful new book by leadership experts Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz...Readers will value their countless examples and practical tips on recognizing those opportunities every day, every week, and all the time.
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THE ELEGANT WARRIOR PODCAST
with Heather Hansen
What is the deepest silence you’ve ever known? Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz discuss the world's loudness and how silence and stillness can bring clarity and peace into our lives, why silence isn’t just an absence of noise, but a presence that brings energy, clarity and deeper connection. They also explore why silence can be a good alternative to meditation and mindfulness, how the impact of noise falls disproportionately on those with a lower income, and how to create pockets of silence throughout the day in order to rejuvenate yourself.
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CBC RADIO: ENRIGHT ESSAYS
A new book sets out to clinically examine our increasingly noisy world and plots a way to find its opposite — silence. Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, is both a warning and a prescription. But the authors agree that finding a welcoming silence is an uphill struggle. They trace the quest for silence back more than 2,500 years to the days of Pythagoras, who urged his students: "Learn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb." To Pythagoras, silence was the key to wisdom.
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SPEAKING TO INFLUENCE
with Dr. Laura Sicola
There’s tension in silence, but so much to learn. This week Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn share why we feel the need to fill the silence and how to create better communication by speaking less and listening more. Join Laura, Leigh, and Justin as they discuss the impact of taking time to create space in conversations, meetings, and daily life.
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THRIVE
How the Power of Silence Becomes Magnified When It’s Shared
by Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz
In a world filled with noise, there’s an alchemy to experiencing silence with others.
Arianna Huffington's Thrive published an excerpt from their landmark book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.
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WITH WHIT PODCAST
Whitney Port is a a CEO, fashion designer, entrepreneur, creative consultant, digital influencer, and TV personality. In this podcast episode, she talks with Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz about their book, Golden.
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Streamed from Spotify
NEXT BIG IDEA CLUB
5 Books About Finding Peace and Quiet in a Noisy World. From the honking cars on our morning commutes to the incessant pings from our smartphones, we live in a world of noise. And then there’s a second cacophony in our own heads—a swirl of thoughts and worries that won’t seem to die down.
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TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP WITH HENNA INAM
EPISODE 44
What if the most serious personal and global challenges won’t be solved with more thinking or talking? What if human beings have access to deeper forms of intelligence that we have access to only in silence?
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THE MARK STRUCZEWSKI PODCAST
The Mark Struczewski Podcast showcases guests from many industries who share their stories, knowledge, and insights. With Mark Struczewski and his guests, you'll find motivation, inspiration, and practical steps to help you become the best version of yourself!
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WATCH ON YOUTUBE
CRR GLOBAL USA
As an ecologist, confessed naturalist, coach and author, Leigh Marz instinctively understands the interplay between and within systems. Enroute to discovering Organization and Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC™), Leigh supported youth and women in crisis and served as executive director for a national violence-prevention program.
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BIOPHILIC SOLUTIONS
The Ultimate Biophilic Summer Reading List
"I have highlighted like half this book because it's so good." — Jennifer Walsh, co-host of Biophilic Solutions Podcast
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(Listen in at 12:33)
LIVING ROOM CONVERSATIONS: CONVERSATION GUIDE
Silence and Noise: Finding Stillness in the Modern World
Our entire lives are a combination of silence and sound. We often associate silence with the absence of noise, but silence is far more complex (and interesting) than the mere absence of auditory noise. We can experience silence both internally and externally.
READ ARTICLE & GET THE GUIDE
FAST COMPANY
How to become more comfortable with awkward silence at work
Many find silence anxiety-inducing. But getting used to the quiet at work can give you a real advantage.
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MEDIUM
Social Impact Authors: How & Why Authors Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz Are Helping To Change Our World
"As part of my series about “authors who are making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz." — Yitzi Weiner, A “Positive” Influencer, Founder & Editor of Authority Magazine, CEO of Thought Leader Incubator
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PSYCHOLOGISTS OFF THE CLOCK
Shedding light on the many dimensions of silence, Justin and Leigh explore how cutting through the clutter can lead to greater clarity, structure, and improved health in our lives. You’ll discover how to transcend the noise and uncover a more fulfilling life and edified mind in the process.
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RISING LITERALLY
Leigh Marz is a consultant and leadership coach. Justin Zorn is a former policy maker and meditation teacher in the US Congress. They are the co-authors of “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise”. In their book, they redefine silence as a presence that brings us energy, clarity, and deeper connection. We explore noise overload, the restorative power of silence on the brain, and the connection between pristine silence and awe.
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STAY GROUNDED with RAJ JANA
Episode 231: Justin & Leigh: The Deepest Silence You’ve Ever Known
If you’re ready to allow silence to be your greatest teacher, tune into this powerful episode to learn how to embody the practice of silence. In turn, you’ll discover how to access new depths of who you are through connectedness, slowness, and pristine quite.
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THE PRODUCTIVITY SHOW
Episode 427: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise
It may sound counterintuitive, but in this episode, leadership coaches Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn from Astrea Strategies share how you can use the power of silence, and how to find moments of peace and clarity in our increasingly busy lives. They also discuss lessons and actionable strategies from their new book Golden: The Power of Silence in A World of Noise.
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GRADE A NATION
with Chris Thomas
On this installment of Grade A Nation, Chris Thomas chats with Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn, authors of the book, “Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.” The book approaches noise and silence in a sophisticated manner that should get people thinking about how the extent of noise and silence in one’s life can play a role in personal well-being and work performance, among other aspects of life.
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THE STORY BOX
with Jay Fantom
Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz Unboxing | The Power of Silence In A Noisy World
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HAPPY SPACE PODCAST
with Clare Kumar
Episode 11 – Silence is Golden – especially for HSPs
Noise can be one of the biggest challenges for sensitive people causing us to startle, experience significant stress and lose our focus. I have lived this acutely hence my passion (and longer than usual preamble) to my discussion with Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, the authors of Golden - The Power of Silence in a World Full of Noise. Leigh and Justin bring to life their examination of not only our relationship to sound and how society often undervalues silence, but also practical ways to successfully engage with this top stressor.
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LISTENING ON PURPOSE
How do you define silence? What do you consider noise? And how are the two connected to a sense of well-being and finding that elusive state of “flow?". Coming off the blockbuster release of their exploratory book Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz join Timothy Myers for a pathbreaking conversation that includes an invitation to experience a transformational exercise at the end.
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THE UNLOCK MOMENT with GARY CROTAZ, PhD
Episode 37
The Unlock Moment is that flash of remarkable clarity when you suddenly know the right path ahead. Host Gary Crotaz, PhD talks with Leigh and Justin about finding silence.
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TREND FOLLOWING
Host Michael Covel talks with Justin Zorn about introverted and extroverted personalities; silence for the nervous system, physical health, and cognition; how ambient noise affects our health; how to avoid distractions; and more.
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LIVE GREATLY PODCAST
The world is noisier today than it ever has been before, and we're left trying to process this excess of information! Kristel Bauer sat down with Leigh Marz & Justin Zorn on this Live Greatly podcast episode to chat about the power of silence.
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BIOPHILIC SOLUTIONS
In Episode 34 of Biophilic Solutions, Justin & Leigh talk with hosts Monica Olsen and Jennifer Walsh about the incessant noise and pace of modern life, finding silence to foster greater connection to the world and to each other, and why true silence is completely different for everyone.
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5 MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES
hat’s the deepest silence you’ve ever known? Today, the world is louder than ever. It’s not just the noise in our ears, but the noise on our screens and in our heads, so, this question may be difficult to answer. Yet, it’s a question that could contain a key to solving some of the most serious personal and even global challenges that we face.
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MY WAKEUP CALL
In this episode host Dr. Mark Goulston speaks with Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz, whose wakeup calls were discovering the power of mindfulness, meditation and silence to break through logjams and obstacles.
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MIND LOVE
Host Melissa Monte discusses the healing power of silence with Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn.
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BBC RADIO SCOTLAND
Host Cathy MacDonald talks with co-authors Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn about their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise.
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(Interview begins at 1:28:00)
TOTAL POTENTIAL
We live in a world of overwhelming noise, “mistaking stress for aliveness.” It’s the outward distraction of media and technology. It’s the spinning internal thoughts that won’t let you go. Noise is everywhere. Authors Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz share insights from their new book, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise. They also discuss how to find silence in busy family life.
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THE CREATIVE SUPERHEROES
Host Andrea Scher, CPCC, talks with Leigh and Justin about how silence is valuable as a creative tool.
RELATIONSHIP MATTERS
GOLDEN PART ONE: Navigating the Noise of the Modern World
GOLDEN PART TWO: Rethinking your Relationship with Silence
GOLDEN PART THREE: Silence as a Tool for Transformation
ANXIETY AT WORK PODCAST
Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz take us on an unlikely journey—from the West Wing of the White House to San Quentin’s death row; from Ivy League brain research laboratories to underground psychedelic circles; from the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park to the main stage at a heavy metal festival—to explore the meaning of silence and the art of finding it in any situation. Justin and Leigh talk with podcast hosts Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton.
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DO IT WITH DAN PODCAST
How long do you spend in true silence? Most of us don’t know what that feels like these days. With busy lives and young families, it can feel like we don’t have the option of silence. But what if you could find a way to be silent, even amid the chaos? Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz talk with podcast host Dan Mangena.
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THE ALEMBIC: OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH & BOOK TALK
A discussion between Alembic co-founder Michael Taft and the authors of GOLDEN: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise, Leigh Marz and Justin Zorn. This was a live streamed event on May 17, 2022 in Berkeley, California.