#88 Pamela Dangelmaier on intentional silence and more-than-verbal ways of relating
“The breath is a really good anchor point to start to simply notice the sound of the breath, the sensation of the breath, because the breath is anchored in the here and now. It’s not in the past, it’s not in the future, it is right now.
Simply noticing that can help us to understand where we’re at - is our breathing fast? Is it slow? Is it short? Is it deep? Is it loud? Is it quiet? Whatever it might be, simply by noticing, it brings us back into the present moment. I think that I believe that when people do this more often, to make a conscious choice to be just a little quieter, they will then begin to appreciate the benefits that come from being silent. ”
In the loud of the ever-changing world, what does it truly mean to engage in silence with intention? How can intended, desired pause open up possibilities for deepening relationships with oneself and community, beyond the realms of verbal communication?
This month, we bring to our show Pamela Dangelmaier, a sought-after motivational speaker, TEDx presenter, and mindfulness coach, known for her ability to turn profound concepts into relatable, real-world insights. With a passion for intentional silence, she empowers individuals and leaders to embrace quiet moments as a gateway to clarity, creativity, and meaningful action.
Holding a Graduate Certificate in Mindfulness-Based Teaching & Learning from UFV—where she earned the Award for Outstanding Achievement—and advanced training from Martha Beck’s Wayfinder program, Pamela seamlessly blends science, mindfulness, and storytelling. A founding member of the Mindful Coach Association and a member of the American Mindfulness Research Association, she champions the power of stillness in a noisy world.
As a published novelist, e-commerce entrepreneur, and dedicated mindfulness advocate, Pamela infuses every aspect of her life with the same practices she teaches—pausing, listening deeply, and engaging with presence.
What will be covered:
Intentional silence, silence with purpose and based in mindfulness, as way of connecting with the self, community and environment, but also practice for being present
Challenging notion of silence being indicative of lost direction, lack of knowledge or under-confidence through basing silence in intention —> example of Pamela’s Tedx talk
Reclaiming the power in silence by shifting the narrative of loudness as powerful
Addressing fear and anxiety around silence in a busy and noisy dominant culture by taking small doses of silence eg mindfulness practice
Feeling comfortable with breath that is anchored in the present
Intentional silence and deep listening - how to stay present in conversation, engaged with all senses, and hold space for all stories to be shared
Reviving the lost art of silence in all landscapes - natural and urban - by noticing silence and pause in everyday life
Community moments of silence as redefining power as proactive and community-driven e.g. inviting silence in communal spaces like walking routes to give people permission to engage in silence
Episode resources:
The Lost Art of Silence by Sara Anderson
Taking the Leap by Pema Chödrön
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Mind Full of Everything is a podcast calling for the radical healing of the self and community to outgrow the broken dominant culture of radical individualism and disconnection from our place as interdependent beings, so that we can collectively re-envision a safer, healthier and equitable world. Each episode takes a healing-centric approach to explore the embodied ways in which we can collectively restore and transform our journeys as stewards of community and earth through conversations with writers, researchers, coaches and educators, as well as reflection episodes with the host Agrita Dandriyal on her journey navigating the world as a deeply conscious, culturally-rooted and relational being. Learn more here.
