# Beyond the Roles We Play: Richard Perry on Finding Your True Self

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-soul-mirror-podcast-7393518/beyond-the-roles-we-play-richard-perry-on-finding-your-true-self
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-soul-mirror-podcast-7393518/beyond-the-roles-we-play-richard-perry-on-finding-your-true-self.md
Podcast: [The Soul Mirror Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-soul-mirror-podcast-7393518)
Published: 2026-07-13T10:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://the-soul-mirror-podcast.captivate.fm/episode/beyond-the-roles-we-play-richard-perry-on-finding-your-true-self
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/fd4384ac-f46a-49b2-950d-0fcbe4d05489.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-soul-mirror-podcast-7393518/episodes/beyond-the-roles-we-play-richard-perry-on-finding-your-true-self
Duration seconds: 1562

## Resource

Most of us are fluent in playing roles: the achiever, the provider, the one who always has it together. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt the quiet exhaustion of performing a version of themselves that no longer fits, and wondered who they'd be without the costume. Host Shreya sits down with guitarist, writer, and meditation practitioner Richard Perry to explore the space between identity and true self. Richard shares his own path from a lifetime of chasing expectations to discovering stillness through breath, sound, and presence. Together they unpack how small daily patterns like recurring thoughts and the need to appear composed keep us from meeting who we actually are, and offer a gentle, practical way back whenever life pulls us into old roles again. About the Guest: Richard Perry is a guitarist, writer, and meditation practitioner whose search for the right guitar unexpectedly became a deeper path into sound, awareness, and self-discovery. His work explores identity, presence, and the practice of returning to one's authentic self. Key Takeaways: Identity built on meeting others' expectations, rather than personal authenticity, can quietly become a false sense of self over time. Recurring, unexamined thoughts are one of the biggest daily forces that disconnect people from their true self. Contentment, not momentary happiness, is a more honest measure to sit with when checking in on your inner state. Using an everyday sound or sensation, such as a bird singing or your own breath, as a personal trigger can pull you back into presence. Slipping back into old patterns after progress isn't failure. Change happens gradually and requires consistent, gentle practice. Connect With the Guest: Website: richardjperry.com Episode Chapters: [00:00] The Costume We Forg…

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