MindfulOpus

About MindfulOpus

The MindfulOpus podcast is where we switch from Grind to Kind in our artistic process – so that artists like you can avoid burnout, ditch performance anxiety, and create a thriving, healthy life - on and off stage. The podcast is hosted by Jo Zakany, former violist with The Cleveland Orchestra, yoga teacher, and coach for classical musicians.

Publisher

Jo Zakany | Coach for Classical Musicians

Category

arts · music

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Sept 2025

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   From Getting Busy to Getting Happy: Finding Your Own Path with Mike Block

   S3. E6: What if the goal of your music career isn't to get busy, but to get happy? I sit down with my longtime friend, pioneering multi-style cellist, singer, composer, and educator Mike Block, for an honest conversation about conservatory pressure, curiosity, and finding a path that feels like your own. Mike shares how he learned to choose work based on the experience he wanted to have, and how exploring beyond classical cello led him toward new musical communities, invention, and entrepreneurship. We talk about how he ended up being Yo-Yo Ma's cello partner in Silkroad, his invention of the Block Strap, pitching Forte 3D on Shark Tank (spoiler: he got a deal!), and the rewards and tradeoffs of being a pioneer—including what you have to leave behind to make room for something new. CONNECT WITH MIKE BLOCK Website: https://www.mikeblockmusic.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blockcello/ STUDENTOPUS Monthly, live drop-in coaching for college and conservatory music students. Bring a question or join to listen and learn! October's session, "Excellence over Perfection," is Tuesday, October 6, 12–1 p.m. Eastern, live on Zoom ($25). Sessions take place on the first Tuesday of each month. Details and registration at mindfulopus.com/studentopus MINDFULOPUS Performance and well-being coaching for classical musicians. For more about my work: Book a consult over at mindfulopus.com Follow on instagram: @mindfulopus Subscribe to hear conversations that help you switch from grind to kind, and where your artistry doesn't have to come at the cost of your humanity. Here's to all the Fellow Opus Creators out there! May you create your own amazing life, one opus at a time… Timestamps: 00:00 – Opening 00:49 – Meet Mike Block 03:09 – Conversation begins 10:25 – Following your curiosity 13:48 – Setting musical goals 34:14 – The Block Strap 36:06 – Forte3D and Shark Tank 42:34 – Being a pioneer 50:48 – Rapid-fire questions 58:31 – Connect with Mike Block 1:00:55 – Closing

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Five Things I Wish I'd Known in Music School

   S3 Ep. 5. Surprise Fellow Opus Creator, I'm popping in for a bonus episode! Recently in getting ready for our first StudentOpus session, I've been thinking a lot about my own conservatory years: the pressure to get everything right, the fear of making mistakes, and how often I put my own well-being last. So I'm popping in with a bonus episode to share five lessons I wish I'd known then. I talk about why mistakes belong in the learning process, what procrastination might be trying to protect you from, and why taking care of yourself matters just as much as practicing. We'll also talk about trusting your own judgment – and remembering that your artistry doesn't have to come at the cost of your humanity. If you're a college music student, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone. And if you've been out of school for years, you may find yourself nodding along, too. Join us for StudentOpus: Our first live, online group coaching session is Tuesday, October 6, from 12–1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. This session, we'll focus on working from excellence over perfection. It's only $25, and you can both sign up and find out more details at: mindfulopus.com/studentopus. Much love, fellow Opus Creator. ✨ Timestamps: 00:00  Welcome 03:40  Lesson 1: Mistakes are part of learning 07:59  Lesson 2: Procrastination can come from fear of not being good enough 10:42  Lesson 3: Taking care of yourself is as important as practicing 13:56  Lesson 4: You have more choice than you realize 17:33  Lesson 5: Your artistry doesn't have to come at the cost of your humanity Interested in StudentOpus, our online group coaching community for college music students? We meet the first Tuesday of every month, and our first session is TUESDAY OCTOBER 6TH from 12-1pm EST! It's only $25, and you can both sign up and find out more details at: mindfulopus.com/studentopus Also - Come say hi! @mindfulopus on Instagram, or mindfulopus.com

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   The Myth of Having It All Figured Out: Impostor Syndrome and The Pressures Of Being A Performing Artist

   S3. E4: What happens when, from the outside, you look like you're thriving and have it all figured out—but on the inside, you're riddled with self-doubt, a noisy inner critic, and the fear that one mistake could expose you? In this solo episode, I'm exploring imposter syndrome and the unique pressures that come with being a performing artist, especially in classical music. I look at why we can be so quick to push away our successes while holding tightly to our mistakes, why reassurance doesn't always quiet the doubt, and how perfectionism can become a shield we use to protect ourselves from rejection, failure, or being "found out." I also share a framework I use in my own life and with my coaching clients: recognizing the voice of the "agent"—the part of us that says keep going, don't screw this up, prove yourself, be what they expect—and learning how to turn that same energy into an advocate. We'll talk about moving from perfection to excellence, external validation to internal values, pressure to purpose, and finding more artistic agency in an industry that can make it very easy to feel like you always have something to prove. This isn't about curing imposter syndrome or never feeling self-doubt again. It's about learning to notice what's happening, understand what those thoughts are trying to protect you from, and give yourself more choice in what happens next. And if you're a college music student looking for more support with performance nerves, burnout, your inner critic, procrastination, scheduling, or simply navigating life as a musician, registration is now open for StudentOpus—my live monthly online group coaching for college music students. Learn more at mindfulopus.com/studentopus. Much love, fellow Opus Creator. ✨ Timestamps: 00:00  Welcome 02:43  Understanding imposter syndrome 04:45  How self-doubt distorts success and failure 07:59  When praise creates more pressure 09:47  Perfectionism and performance expectations 12:15  Learning from artists who embrace imperfection 14:47  Imposter syndrome as a protective mechanism 17:44  Understanding the fears behind anxious thoughts 19:24  Cultural pressures in classical music 20:51  Calming the nervous system and examining the facts 23:01  Turning your inner critic into an advocate 24:57  Reclaiming artistic agency 26:13   Practicing mindfulness and self-compassion 27:13   From pressure to purpose 28:06   Why change is an ongoing practice 29:49   Closing reflections and Student Opus Also - Come say hi! @mindfulopus on Instagram, or mindfulopus.com

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

13 ratings

Contact MindfulOpus

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris

• 

  Good Hang with Amy Poehler

• 

  The Mel Robbins Podcast

• 

  Mastering Coaching Skills

• 

  The Ezra Klein Show