Mindfulness Doesn’t Work
Getting Real with Mindfulness Podcast
Episode 3: Mindfulness Doesn’t Work
In this featured episode of Getting Real with Mindfulness, Victoria Fontana and Claire Kelly of Oxford Mindfulness explore what it really means for mindfulness to "work.”
Together, they examine the expectations we often bring to practice, why those expectations matter, and how shifting from striving and self-judgment toward curiosity and patience can support a more grounded relationship with our experience.
Whether you're new to mindfulness or have been practicing for years, this conversation offers a refreshing look at some of the assumptions we bring to practice and what mindfulness can, and cannot, do.
About Getting Real with Mindfulness
Getting Real with Mindfulness grew out of conversations between Claire Kelly and Victoria Fontana. They often found themselves discussing the questions, challenges, misconceptions, and unexpected moments that arise in mindfulness practice. Over time, they began to wonder whether others might enjoy being part of those conversations too.
The podcast is an invitation to explore mindfulness in a way that is honest, practical, and grounded in real experience. Together, Claire and Victoria take a curious look at topics that many practitioners encounter, from common myths and misunderstandings to the often messy realities of trying to bring mindfulness into everyday life.
They approach these conversations as fellow explorers: asking questions, sharing experiences and finding room for both seriousness and humor along the way.
About the Hosts
Claire Kelly is a mindfulness-based mentor and the Director of Teaching and Training at Oxford Mindfulness. With more than 25 years of experience in education, she is passionate about developing and delivering evidence-based programs that support mental health and wellbeing.
Victoria Fontana is a mindfulness and compassion teacher, executive coach, and educator who helps people cultivate greater clarity, resilience, and self-understanding in their lives and work. She teaches internationally through IE University, the Mindfulness and Health Institute, and through her own programs here at Mindgazing.com
