{"podcast":{"title":"MindfulOpus","slug":"mindfulopus-7516546","podcast_index_feed_id":7516546,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/594395/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/594395","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/b/1/4/1/b141132f65174188d959afa2a1bf1c87/MindfulOpus_podcast_cover_art_1500x1500-20250930-rsbrndzle0.png","author":"Jo Zakany","episode_count":21,"summary":"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.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-17T04:18:15.914559+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mindfulopus-7516546"},"episode":{"title":"Finding Alignment: Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir on Creativity, Authenticity & Change","slug":"finding-alignment-saeunn-thorsteinsdottir-on-creativity-authenticity-change","published_at":"2026-04-07T06:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mindfulopus-7516546/finding-alignment-saeunn-thorsteinsdottir-on-creativity-authenticity-change","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mindfulopus-7516546","url":"https://mindfulopus.com/","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/9656012c-dddd-431b-80b7-a729bb8584a3/MIO_S2_EP4_EDITED_V3.mp3?dest-id=5166550","summary":"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 with who I am?\" This conversation explores that turning point—what it means to return to yourself, and the courage it takes to choose that path even when it comes with uncertainty. Host Jo Zakany is joined by cellist Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, whose career has spanned some of the world's most renowned stages, including Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall, and the Barbican Centre. After years within the traditional classical music path, she began to listen more deeply to her own inner compass—ultimately stepping away from misaligned structures to build a more meaningful, self-directed creative life. Together, they explore the difference between grind and alignment, the body's role in recognizing what isn't working, and how small moments of authenticity can begin to reshape everything. From improvisation and deep listening to creating music as a form of connection and reflection, this conversation offers a grounded and honest look at what it means to trust yourself—and create from that place. YOU'LL DISCOVER • Why authenticity can feel risky, even when it's true • How the body signals misalignment before the mind understands it • The difference between pushing through and actually being aligned • How small moments of truth can shift your entire creative path • Why improvisation can reconnect you to your voice and intuition • How deep listening transforms both creativity and connection • The role alignment plays in attracting the right people and opportunities Timestamps: (02:10) authenticity, fear, and showing up as yourself (06:35) ear…","meta_description":"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,…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3311,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mindfulopus-7516546/episodes/finding-alignment-saeunn-thorsteinsdottir-on-creativity-authenticity-change/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mindfulopus-7516546/finding-alignment-saeunn-thorsteinsdottir-on-creativity-authenticity-change.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}