Rephonic
Artwork for MindfulOpus
Well-Being
Perfectionism
Classical Music
Mindfulness
Burnout
Performance Anxiety
Self-Compassion
Creativity
Cleveland Orchestra
Yoga
Meditation
Auditions
Preparation Process
Values
Coaching
Auditioning
Anxiety
Improvisation
Mindset
Growth Mindset

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, violist with The Cleveland Orchestra, yoga teacher, and coach for classical musicians.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes18Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsArtsMusic

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Artwork for MindfulOpus

Latest Episodes

S2 Ep #6: This episode felt like a conversation I'd been wanting to have for a long time — one that goes beyond the highlight reel and into the real, sometimes messy, always human experience of building a sustainable life as a professional musician. ... more

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S2 Ep #5: The Four Pillars of Well-Being for Performers

Most of us who pursue music or are seeking excellence in any endeavour have been told at some point that it has to be everything. That if you're not living, eating, and breathing the work, you... more

YouTube

S2 Ep #4: There comes a point in any creative life where pushing harder stops working. Where the effort that once felt necessary begins to feel depleting, and the question starts to shift from "How do I make this work?" to "Is this actually aligned w... more

YouTube

S2 Ep #3: How To Work Hard Without Beating Yourself Up

Hard work is something most artists know intimately. But the way we relate to that hard work can make the difference between sustainable growth and eventual burnout.

In this solo episode, I ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir
Cellist and creative artist exploring improvisation and mindful practice
Independent artist
Episode: Finding Alignment: Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir on Creativity, Authenticity & Change
Jonathan Biss
Concert pianist, author, New York Times contributor
New York Times
Episode: Jonathan Biss: "Perfection Is Stagnation"
Ron Patterson
World-class violinist and recently retired professor of violin at the University of Washington School of Music
University of Washington School of Music
Episode: Stay in Your Boat: Stories on Life and Music with Ron Patterson
Lauren Roth-Gómez
Acting associate concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony, violinist
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Episode: Finding Freedom: Lauren Roth-Gómez's Journey of Self-Worth
Joshua Smith
Principal Flute of The Cleveland Orchestra, Grammy-nominated artist
The Cleveland Orchestra
Episode: Inside the Genius of Joshua Smith
James Patterson
Horn player with the Oslo Philharmonic
Oslo Philharmonic
Episode: The Mindful Audition: How Feeling Good Became James Patterson's Secret to Winning

Host

Jo Zakany
Host of Mindful Opus, violist with The Cleveland Orchestra, yoga teacher, and coach for classical musicians

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 16 ratings
  • My new mental wellness obsession

    I love Mindful Opus!!

    Calm, beautifully crafted episodes that offer real tools for mental well-being. It’s soothing, smart, and exactly what I want in a podcast. Highly recommend

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MP3156
    Canada5 months ago
  • Filtering for the Mind

    The clarity this podcast guides me to has been helping me considerably with my workflow. Thank you for encouraging radical kindness in my inner monologue!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Michael Pay
    United States6 months ago
  • Fabulous advice

    I’m a fellow classical musician, and Jo’s approach is wonderfully holistic and empowering. I loved the episode with her brother, and their interview inspired me to revisit visualizing specific nature scenes corresponding to various sections of recent concerto performances. I loved incorporating this tool, and I felt it not only helped my mindset but improved my performance. Can’t wait to hear more episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    grrrgrrr3956
    United States6 months ago
  • From grind to kind

    I am obsessed with this podcast! Jo and guests offer real-life guidance (and tools) on how to move through life more grounded, centered, and aware. I love the applications to the music profession, but the content is based in principles that can help anyone in any area of life. 🌟

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lauren RG
    United States6 months ago
  • Worth the listen

    Jo’s podcast is a fresh take on how to navigate the inner challenges that can come with being a

    musician. This podcast is especially helpful for those in the classical music industry as we tend to put so much focus on perfecting our crafts rather than taking care of our minds and emotions. I couldn’t recommend this unique podcast more!! 5 stars from me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    From a musician
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality guests and thoughtful discussions that feel applicable to both music and other fields.
Real-life guidance that translates to everyday practice and performance.
Clear articulation of how to maintain focus and kindness in a demanding career.
Holistic, empowering coaching approach that resonates with performers and beyond.
Calm, well-structured episodes with practical mental-wellbeing tools.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Finding Alignment: Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir on Creativity, Authenticity & Change
Q: How did you decide to pivot away from academia and integrate improvisation into your life and work?
The pivot happened gradually as the misalignment became draining. By listening to her body, Saeunn found that she couldn't stay in the old system and began building a new path around improvisation, service through art, and smaller, meaningful experiments that gradually grew into a sustainable career.
Stay in Your Boat: Stories on Life and Music with Ron Patterson
Q: What are some tips for performance anxiety?
He suggests transforming nervousness into excitement and highlights the importance of calming techniques such as meditation.
Stay in Your Boat: Stories on Life and Music with Ron Patterson
Q: What made you get into music?
Ron shares that he grew up in a musical family and began tinkering on the piano as a child before switching to the violin.
Finding Freedom: Lauren Roth-Gómez's Journey of Self-Worth
Q: How did you balance your desire to win your audition with releasing the outcome?
Lauren stated that she felt a sense of accomplishment just by doing her best in preparation, allowing her to feel like she had already won even before the results were announced.
Finding Freedom: Lauren Roth-Gómez's Journey of Self-Worth
Q: What was the moment that made you say yes to coaching?
Lauren reflected on her awareness of wanting to change several aspects of her life, recognizing that asking for help was a positive opportunity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About MindfulOpus

What is MindfulOpus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on transforming the artistic process from grind to kindness, with a core focus on well-being for performers. Episodes blend mindfulness, somatic practices, cognitive strategies, and values-driven living to help musicians prevent burnout, manage performance nerves, and cultivate sustainable excellence. Guests are usually seasoned classical musicians or coaches who share practical tools for mindset, authenticity, and creative growth, making the show especially helpful for listeners navigating high-pressure careers in music and beyond.

Where can I find podcast stats for MindfulOpus?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for MindfulOpus. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to MindfulOpus and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does MindfulOpus get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for MindfulOpus, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for MindfulOpus?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for MindfulOpus, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does MindfulOpus have?

To see how many followers or subscribers MindfulOpus has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to MindfulOpus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with MindfulOpus:

1. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
2. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
3. SmartLess
4. The Moth
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of MindfulOpus are there?

MindfulOpus launched 8 months ago and published 18 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact MindfulOpus?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for MindfulOpus?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for MindfulOpus from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for MindfulOpus?

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What guests have appeared on MindfulOpus?

Recent guests on MindfulOpus include:

1. Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir
2. Jonathan Biss
3. Ron Patterson
4. Lauren Roth-Gómez
5. Joshua Smith
6. James Patterson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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